Asian Express Yorkshire - June 2nd Edition 2015

Asian

Express

Yorkshire

JUNE 2ND EDITION 2015

INSIDE THIS EDITION

See pages 85 & 86

®

Academic named ‘student icon of the year’

‘Prize of a lifetime’ for Leeds student

IIFA 2015 Stars rock Malaysia at Bollywood Oscars

See pages 44 & 45

MASJID-EQUBA OPENS ITS DOORS Harehills’ new mosque welcomes over 1,000 worshippers

By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk

Studying in Leeds has many benefits, from first class teaching to vibrant surroundings, there are so many reasons to love the city.

And now, for one international student, there are a further 7,000 reasons after she

picked up a regional award last week.

Arundhati Patel, from America, is currently a third year student on a Graphic and Communication Design course at the University of Leeds and was selected from hundreds of entrants to be named as the Leeds Student Icon 2015.

Continued on page 12

WINNER: Arundhati Patel was named Student Icon of the Year for Leeds, bagging herself a year’s free accommodation during her studies worth £7,000

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June 2015 - 2nd Edition

LAUNCH: During the dinner last week, new Give a Gift Challenges were launched, giving more people the chance to join in fundraising efforts (l-r) Akasah Naik, Siyam Siraj, Henna Rashid, Hibah Malik, Hajra Rafique, Ruby Malik, Abby Khan

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INSPIRING: Give a Gift Young Ambassador, Shreya Naik, smiles with her award

Gala dinner kicks off annual charity drive by Leeds’ Muslim community

Give a Gift 2015

launches The third annual Give a Gift dinner arrived with a touch of style last week as 300-plus guests were given a red carpet welcome to help launch this year’s charitable events.

Since 2013, the Give a Gift team have been raising funds and awareness for local charities Martin House Children’s Hospice and the Children’s Heart Unit at Leeds General Infirmary - through a number of initiatives.

The annual dinner not only helps launch the start of the year’s campaigning work but also commends those who have put so

By Ashley Grint

ashley@asianexpress.co.uk

much effort into making the project a success in recent times.

On Friday 5th June at the Aagrah Midpoint, dozens of children took centre stage as they were awarded with the title of ‘Young Ambassadors’ for their work on different projects.

Presented with trophies on stage by host Ruby Malik, the children became the latest to be recognised for the ongoing support they

DINNER: Groups enjoyed themselves at the VIP styled event (l-r) Ikram Butt, Hanif Malik, Shabir, Abrar Bashir, Habib Khan

provide and launched this year’s grand toy appeal.

In keeping with the youth theme, children also helped launch a new concept for the initiative this year – the Give a Gift Challenges.

From Sky diving to climbing Mt Snowdon, a number of new ventures are now available from the Give a Gift team in hope of raising even more money for the local causes.

Give a Gift ambassador, Rifhat Malik, said the event proved to be a fantastic evening, raising £20,000 for charity, and hoped this year’s

GLAMOROUS: Ladies celebrate the launch of this year’s Give a Gift scheme (l-r) Bhranti Naik, Sajida Rashid, Ruby Malik, Rifhat Malik, Janice Hargreaves, Amna Rafique

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AWARDED: Children who have helped promote the Give a Gift initiative were awarded with trophies and the titles of ‘Young Ambassadors’

initiative would be the best yet.

“Over the past two years, we have seen how the local Muslim community can come together to help out some fantastic causes such as Martin House and the Children’s Heart Unit,” she said.

“Following our launch event last week, I am confident that we can build on our previous success and make 2015 an even bigger and better year for all involved.

“The dinner on Friday night had a VIP theme to it because we wanted to show that each and every person involved with Give a Gift, is a ‘very important person’ to us.”

Entertainment on the night was provided by a number of acts, including a freestyle dancer, whilst speeches were given from charity representatives.

On behalf of Martin House, community fundraiser, Sarah Tarpey, spoke of the work the hospice does and the important role donations play in the upkeep of the charity.

She was joined on stage by Julie Walker – a mother of a child who uses the services, and gave her emotional account of the the work the charity does for families such as hers.

“Julie’s story was so touching,” Rifhat added. “It is for people like this that we do the work we do, and I think everybody was touched by the message she put across.”

The night was concluded with a special presentation to a young Leeds resident called Jake Frood, who at just five-years-old is the youngest black belt in the world.

Jake qualified for the British Championships in Spain later this year and thanks to a £1,500 sponsorship arrangement from Give a Gift and Parkland Properties, his dream trip can now come true.

“That is what Give a Gift is all about,” Rifhat said, “giving back to the young children who need some help.

“Last week’s event was enough to motivate any person to get on board this year and help us raise vital funds for children in the care of Martin House and the Children’s Heart Unit.”

The Give a Gift concept was developed by a partnership of organisations who recognised the need for the Muslim Community to play a wider role within mainstream society.

The Asian Express will be keeping readers up to date with all upcoming Give a Gift projects, with the flagship toy distribution PROMOTE: Ruby arriving next month.

If you would like to get Malik speaks of the involved with any of the Give work Give a Gift has a Gift challenges, contact the done over the past three years team on 07734 882 116.

FIRST TIME BUYER, BUY TO LET, REMORTGAGES, 95% MORTGAGES, HELP TO BUY SPEECH: CEO of the Children's Heart Surgery Fund, Sharon Coyle, is joined by Joe Barry, Leah Barry and Sharon Barry on stage

Kalda Khan CeMap - Mortgage Adviser

Tel: 07534566493 Urdu and Punjabi speaking consultants also available including home visits. email: kaldakhan@mortgagebrokercountrywide.co.uk www.mortgagebrokercountrywide.co.uk You can choose how we are paid for mortgages: pay a fee on average £600, or we can accept commission from the lender.

Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage PASSIONATE: Community fundraiser for Martin House, Sarah Tarpey, is joined on stage by Julie Walker

Mortgage Broker Countrywide is a trading style of Kalda Khan which is an appointed representative of Sesame Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The FCA does not regulate some forms of Buy to let mortgage

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WELL remembered Water well project complete in memory of crash victim PROUD: Saliq’s father, Amjad Malik, says he now hopes to support the development of more wells in other countries

MEMORY: A water well has been built in Muzafargarh, Pakistan, in memory of Saliq Malik

By Ashley Grint

have received a letter of thanks from the local residents and pictures with Saliq’s name on the well.”

A bereaved father from Pakistan currently faces an Bradford says he is proud to see acute shortage of drinking water his son’s memory live on ‘at the with roughly 35 per cent of the other side of the world’ after a water well was established in his name.

In September 2014, 15-yearold Saliq Malik was tragically killed when the car he was travelling in collided into a wall and lamppost on Gilpin Street, Barkerend.

In the weeks following the crash, the teenager’s family collected funds in memory of their relative and donated the money to the Penny Appeal charity.

Now, Saliq’s father, Amjad Malik, says the first memorial well has been completed in his son’s name, in the rural village of Basti Joaye Shah, in Muzafargarh, Pakistan.

“It is fantastic to finally see the water well finished,” he said. “We began collecting funds after Saliq passed away and donated it all to the Penny Appeal.

“We raised over £1,000 in the end and we have been kept up to date with all the TRAGIC: Saliq Malik was killed last developments throughout the year after he was involved in a car construction process.

“Now that it is completed, we crash in Barkerend, Bradford

ashley@asianexpress.co.uk

population – 65 million people having no access to a clean source of water.

Thanks to the new water supply built in memory of Saliq, families in the region are able to save time and maintain better health without the need to travel miles to find an alternative source.

A message from the residents who are being helped by the new pump was provided to Amjad and his family from the Penny Appeal.

It read: “Thanks dear donor for providing us a source of water. Now we can use water any time we need from our own water well. We are very grateful to you, may you have a luxurious life ever.”

The water well has the words ‘RIP Saliq Malik’ painted on it and took over six months to complete from start to finish.

Amjad adds that he hopes to continue spreading his son’s name with future projects already in mind.

“Every time someone fills up from that well, prayers are going to be said for Saliq,” he added.

“Therefore, we are still hoping to provide more water wells to other countries around the world where people are struggling to find a safe water supply and hopefully Saliq’s name can help us achieve this.”

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SUCCESS: At 19 years of age, Aukash Zahid has already seen his work published in 19 books

June 2015 - 2nd Edition

The power of poetry Smile – by Aukash Zahid

Sneaky Peek volunteers needed

A smile is an effortless gift to give, And can improve someone's day, During tough times, A smile is the best thing to display.

Bradford Council is looking for volunteers to greet visitors and provide help for this summer's Sneaky Peek event at Bradford City Hall.

Last year's event attracted an estimated 3,000 new visitors to City Hall with the chance to view objects from the Bradford Museums and Galleries collection and explore City Hall. The success of the event last year was down to the team of enthusiastic volunteers that helped explain the history of the building and bring to life the collections displayed.

This year's Sneaky Peek event at City Hall will take place on Wednesdays between 2pm and 4pm and Thursdays from 10am until 12pm from 5th August until 10th September.

To become a volunteer or for more information please contact Penny Green, Volunteer Coordinator for Bradford Museums and Galleries on 01274 435 900.

A smile can be used to hide your pain, And your worries and tears, A smile can be used as a blanket, To cover up your fears.

A smile is your enemy’s worst nightmare, And your haters most terrible sight, If ever in doubt or darkness, Use your smile to make the room bright.

So if anybody ever says you're not good enough, And makes you feel miserably and grey, Just keep your chin up, And smile away!

Student art show

Hundreds of pupils will proudly show their artwork to their friends and family at Bradford Council’s Summer Art Exhibition next week.

The newly regular event on Bradford Council’s Music & Arts Service calendar is another opportunity for students to showcase their artistic flair to the wider community.

Work ranges from Nursery to A level and covers a wide range of mediums and styles, whilst over the years; many successful young artists have sold their work as a result of this event.

It is hoped that the summer event will attract more visitors than ever before and will take place from 6pm on Thursday 18th June, at Future House, Bolling Road.

Twenty is plenty

A new 20mph speed limit came into force in Siddal last week as part of the Love our Streets campaign, which aims to help make Calderdale’s streets safe and pleasant.

The 20mph speed limit will be introduced to more residential streets throughout the region until 2017.

Siddal joins seven other areas that already have the 20mph limit.

Southowram will be next later this month, and the rollout will continue in seven further phases for the next three years.

Cllr Simon Young, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Wellbeing and Engagement, said: “Last year, 91 people were killed or seriously injured on our local roads – 10 were children.

Published poet promotes writing in schools

By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk

To forge a career in poetry is something very few people will ever get the chance to do, yet for one 19-year-old from Cambridge, he is already well on his way to becoming a famed wordsmith.

Aukash Zahid, who is currently studying at Kingston University, has already seen his work published in 19 separate books since he began his foray into the literary field four years ago.

Balancing his passion for writing with a modelling career, the young poet is an upcoming talent on the writing scene and recently launched his own CD from which his poems are recited.

Currently studying Journalism as a ‘back up plan’, he says it is his love for poetry which he hopes will pave a career for him, even sharing his skills with schools across the country.

“When I first started writing at the age of 15, I would have never imagined getting published in 19 books before the age of 19,” he said.

“In the Summer of 2014 I had a radio tour, from which I gained a lot of exposure.

LESSONS: Following his success in the literary children writing, field, Aukash has been invited into primary and asking me for schools to help promote poetry in the youth advice.

“I was amazed by a lot of the work the students your feelings down is sometimes much easier than talking. produced.”

“When working on my poems, I Whilst balancing the right rhythm with the right words is like to touch on many sensitive

“When I first started writing at the age of 15, I would have never imagined getting published in 19 books before the age of 19.”

“I was on quite a few TV shows during that time as well, and in September 2014, I was receiving offers from primary schools across the country to come in, and give their students poetry taster sessions and lectures on how I got into poetry.

“It was a great experience. It was nice to see so many young

something Aukash now specialises in, he says his own experiences as a British Asian Muslim inspires much of his work.

Also labelling Muhammad Ali as an inspiration, he explained what messages he tried to share through his writing.

“Poetry is a great way to express your feelings,” he said. “Writing

topics, as I want my readers to be able to relate to what they are reading.

“During my school tour, a lot of my writing material was focused on bullying and mental health. I believe it is important for children to be educated on these topics, as so many people fall victims of such hardship.”

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Teen arrested following stabbing at Bradford school SCENE: Dixons Kings Academy in Bradford where a teacher was stabbed by a student on Thursday morning

A 14-year-old pupil from Bradford has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after stabbing a science teacher in the stomach earlier this week.

On Thursday 11th June, officers were called to Dixons Kings Academy, in Lidget Green, after a 50-year-old male teacher, named locally as Vincent Uzomah, from Leeds, was attacked.

His injuries are not believed to be life threatening and he remains in hospital where he is being supported by his family.

A large scale search for the teen was conducted throughout Thursday following the reportat 8.55am, with an eventual arrest arriving in the afternoon in Bradford City Centre. He remains in custody for questioning.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson said investigations were still ongoing into this ‘very serious incident’.

“There were a number of pupils who witnessed the incident, which took place in a classroom, and they have been liaising with our specially trained officers,” he said. “This is believed to be an isolated incident and police are continuing enquiries to establish the facts.

“I would like to reassure residents and staff that all necessary resources are being deployed to investigate this ongoing and clearly very serious incident.”

Damien Miller, Superintendent Neighbourhood Operations, who leads Neighbourhood Policing across the Bradford District, added: “Lidget Green is a close knit community and I understand that students, parents, staff and the wider community will be upset by what has taken place here today at Dixons Kings Academy.

“I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the

VICTIM: Vincent Uzomah suffered a single stab wound to the stomach

public that the police are working with the school, community and partners throughout this investigation and will continue to do so in the weeks ahead.”

The school confirmed on Thursday evening that they would operate as normal on Friday whilst support has been made available students and staff.

A statement on the school’s website read: “Following today’s (Thursday 11th June) incident, the suspect has been taken in to custody by the police – The school is continuing to support the police in their enquiries.

“The member of staff is in a stable condition.

Specially trained police officers are supporting him and his family.

“Trained Educational Psychologists have been on site since this morning and will continue to support staff and students. Victim support will also be available for students, staff and parents.”

It continued: “We would like to thank the police for their support today. We cannot commend highly enough our students and staff for the way they have conducted themselves during a very difficult situation.

“Finally, thank you to parents and the wider community for their overwhelming support.

“Going forward we will be continuing to do everything possible to restore normality to our students’ everyday lives. We will be inviting all parents to an

open meeting early next week.”

The stabbing comes just over a year after Leeds teacher Ann Maguire was stabbed to death at Corpus Christi Catholic College by then 15-yearold Will Cornick.

He was handed a life sentence in November 2014.

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BUSY: Over 500 people attended the event last week to help raise funds for Islamic Relief

‘Inspirational night’

By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk

A special charity dinner in Bradford welcomed guests from around the world last week as the plight of Syrian refugees was heard in the city centre.

More than 500 people attended the Islamic Relief organised event on Sunday 7th June, and together were able to raise enough funds to support more than 1,000 families.

The night also signalled the launch of the charity’s ‘when you stop fasting, they don’t’ campaign,

by Islamic Relief UK director, Jehangir Malik – aiming to bring support to people across the globe fighting poverty.

Since the start of the ongoing conflict in Syria, millions have been affected and forced to flee the nation, seeking refuge in bordering countries and elsewhere.

Abdul Basit Ali, speaking on behalf of Islamic Relief, explained how more than 12 million people had been effected by the ongoing conflict, making the need for humanitarian aid in Syria ‘greater than ever’.

“There are over five-million children in Syria who need basic food, medical assistance and

education,” he said.

“With opportunities stolen, health compromised and parents lost, children are the worst affected, leaving them on the edge of survival.”

He added that it was often the most vulnerable who were now being left to support their families.

“The women of Syria are paying the highest price; having lost husbands and sons and brothers, many are taking on the financial and emotional responsibilities for their whole families,” he continued.

“For some, fleeing is the only option - yet many end up in places where shortages of basic food and healthcare make the difference between life and death.

“More than four years into the conflict, the suffering continues across Syria. At Islamic Relief we will continue to do our part in Syria and around the world.”

Amongst the specially flown in guests in for the Islamic Relief dinner last week, was world renowned nasheed artist, Zain Bhikha, who performed a selection from his new album ‘The Passing Traveller’.

Meanwhile, US speaker, Imam Johari, was another international performer, and he was joined by local MP’s Naz Shah and Imran

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Hussain.

Local businessman and affiliate of Islamic Relief, Sajad Hussain, explained more about the work the charity carries out around the world.

“Islamic Relief is one of the biggest Muslim charities in the world. Operating in 52 countries, they are one of only three registered charities recognised by the Disaster Emergency Committee,” he said.

“Although the headquarters may be in Birmingham, Bradford is considered as the hub of operations for the charity and the support was clearly seen last week throughout the inspirational night.

“Islamic Relief is now starting its affiliate programme in the Yorkshire area which aims to build up a tight network of professionals within this region.”

Charity dinner raises funds for 1,240 families

PERFORMER: Imam Johari from the US gave a passionate speech on the night

MUSIC: Renowned nasheed artist, Zain Bhikha, performed some of his latest singles and was joined on stage by children

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‘Prize of a lifetime’ for Leeds student Cover story continued

success in the city-wide competition means she will now receive a once in a lifetime prize which includes a year’s free tenancy in a luxurious IconInc apartment, worth £7,000.

The 25-year-old, who is also course representative for the school of design, was

Academic named ‘student icon of the year’

chosen for her evident ‘creative flare, hard work and dedication’ as an active student at the local university.

‘Aru’ as she is known, said it was a fantastic feeling to have won the prestigious award.

“Delighted doesn't begin to express how I feel about winning Leeds Student Icon 2015,” she said.

“It will give me the opportunity and time to continue my work with charities and societies while studying.

“As it will be my final year at the University of Leeds, I hope to save up enough to travel more after I graduate and continue to be inspired by different people and cultures.

“More than anything, I am extremely touched and grateful to all of the support I received for this contest - I owe a lot of

people cupcakes.”

From design to dance, Aru uses her creativity in all aspects of her life, and is involved in a number of international societies, speaking six languages herself.

Her active participation at university has seen her join a number of groups from the National Hindu Students Forum to the Leeds South Asian Society, as well as the Japanese and Korean Society.

On top of all that, she also dances competitively at Leeds Dancesport, specialising in ballroom and Latin, and recently was a background dancer in a Bollywood film that was shooting in Leeds.

Naveen Ahmed, Managing Director of Parklane Group of Companies who owns IconInc, explained why this list of credentials, plus much more,

ensured Aru was selected for the award.

“We launched the Leeds Student Icon competition, which is in its first year, to shine a spotlight on the remarkable and inspiring young people studying in our city,” he said.

“All too often the student community is recognised for the wrong reasons, and we wanted to celebrate the great and good of Leeds students and reward somebody special with the prize of a lifetime.

“The judges were extremely impressed with Aru’s hard work, determination and compassion, as were the Leeds public who came forward in their masses to vote for Aru. We hope she enjoys her year’s free tenancy with IconInc, and look forward to uncovering even more inspiring students in 2016.”

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Team Clean One area of Leeds is looking a lot tidier this week after a huge community clean up took place last month.

From residents to local councillors, police officers and partner organisations, volunteers swapped their usual daily equipment for brooms and litter pickers across the east of the city.

In Burmantofts and Richmond Hill, 83 bags of litter were removed from the city’s streets as part of Operation Champion – aiming to combat crime, licensing, vehicle and housing issues in the area.

Councillor Asghar Khan, chair of the Inner East Community Committee, was one of the team members who rolled up their sleeves to join in the clean up.

He said it was important for the and Richmond Hill, Ron Grahame.

He added: “Operation Champion community to get involved with initiatives such as these and hoped makes a real difference in our to hold similar projects in the future. community.

“It’s great to see officers from “Of course much of these days are about combating issues,” he said, “but it is also great to get out and meet the local residents.

“As a result of the day we have met with three residents who want to get involved in more activities in their local area. This is as much a result as cleaning up the streets and checking the licensing of vehicles.”

Also in attendance of the event was local councillor for Burmantofts

CLEAN: The team of volunteers headed out to the streets of East Leeds to pick litter and promote community cohesion

Day of Action helps people in East Leeds across the Council working with getting to meet their local Police their colleagues and us in order to team. make an improvement to people’s “With some intensive work we lives, whether this is dealing with can seek to make a real difference.” litter, unregistered vehicles or It was the first of such events to

“It’s great to see officers from across the Council working with their colleagues and us in order to make an improvement to people’s lives, whether this is dealing with litter, unregistered vehicles or getting to meet their local Police team.”

take place in the area, which also involved police officials meeting with local residents to discuss issues they may have regarding crime.

On a wider scale, officers have visited over 170 addresses as part of Operation Champion to offer crime prevention advice.

Fake TV devices which come on automatically for a few hours after dark and emit a light to aid in burglary prevention have been handed out whilst ground anchors have also been installed to help prevent shed and garage burglaries in the area.

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LAW GRADUATE TURNED PERFUME s man DESIGNER Lelaed unches his own fragrance line

ENTREPRENEUR: Arun Virdi has always been passionate about fragrances and has now launched his first ladies perfume ‘Sweet Bow’

A law graduate and fragrance enthusiast from Leeds is hoping to see his name alongside other high street perfume brands in the near future, as he launches his own exclusive fragrance line.

At just 22-years-old, Arun Virdi says he has already found his life’s calling, as his foray into the fragrance industry has produced its first hit with the ladies perfume ‘Sweet Bow’.

A light floral scent, developed to highlight your presence, the product is the first to be released under the Arun Virdi brand with a male scent soon to be in production by early 2016.

Explaining how he has always had a passion for fragrances, Arun said: “Fragrance for me is all about creating an atmosphere, an emotional connection to people, places, situations and most importantly a sense of wellbeing.

“It all started back when I was in high school and used to bring in a collection of fragrances.

“You see all these big brands and celebrity names on fragrances, and one day I thought, I could do that,” Arun added.

“I’ve always been a creative person. But it was when I turned 18-years-old that I had the idea of creating my own fragrance brand.”

With Sweet Bow already available online, and discussions ongoing to possibly launch in retail outlets soon, everything is going to plan for the young entrepreneur.

However, less than five years ago, the exciting young designer was still studying for a law degree with the intention of becoming a barrister.

Designing as a hobby in his free time, it wasn’t until he saw a documentary featuring some of the world’s most successful teens

that he decided to commit to his ‘real field of interest’.

Arun said: “I enjoyed studying law, but always knew I wanted to start my own business.

“I aspire to be just like Peter Jones off Dragons Den, who is one of my favourite motivational and inspirational figures I look up to. I would love to work with him someday.

“Every aspect of this first product has been designed specifically to give the customer a product that not only smells and looks good, but offers affordability.

“It has taken a long time to develop this first fragrance, but I am looking forward to expanding the Arun Virdi line in the very near future.”

To keep up to date with the Arun Virdi brand, visit www.arunvirdi.com or search for the fragrance brand on Facebook.

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HAIR NAILS & BEAUTY

Beauty Top Tips Healthy Skin in Ramadhan

June 2015 - 2nd Edition

Women’s mosque consultation Following on from last month’s announcement, of plans to develop Britain’s first ‘women only mosque’ in Bradford, the Muslim Women’s Council (MWC) will be hosting a special event this weekend.

On Sunday 14th June, women are invited to attend a special consultation to discuss plans for the development between 3.30pm and 7pm, at the Carlisle Business Centre, in Manningham.

The consultation is set to feature various panelists as the idea of a women-led place of worship and centre of excellence, is considered further.

The event will be followed by a seminar on Ramadan, led by lecturer in Islamic Studies at Lancaster University, and co-chair

Have your say on Bradford’s pioneering project

of the British Association of Islamic Studies, Dr Shuruq Naguib.

Bana Gora, CEO at the MWC said it was important for the faith to keep up with 21st century changes and a women’s mosque would only allow for greater access to Islam.

“We’ve carried out an audit of local mosques focusing on services provided to women;

above all access was the biggest problem,” she said.

“Our results highlight that the majority of mosques follow a patriarchal model, poor access for women; women’s representation on governance structures was non- existent, on committees and boards, segregated spaces that are dated and unwelcoming.

“The alienation that women feel

has profound consequences for younger generations who are taught that Islam treats both men and women as spiritual equals yet the practice within mosques contradicts the principles.

“In an era in which many young people feel that their faith is no longer relevant, or are going to extremes, we want to be able to provide a safe space for them to question, learn and grow whilst having an appreciation of their heritage as well as the opportunity to make informed choices relevant to the 21st Century”.

Sunday’s event will be free of charge, yet places are limited so people are urged to reserve their places ASAP. To confirm your place at the event, please contact the MWC on 01274 223 230.

During the holy month of Ramadhan, our routine, diet and food consumption change.

But what you need to know is that this sudden change in your dietary habits, combined with the long period of daily fasting, can have a bad effect on your skin.

A proper skincare regime is essential to avoid breakouts, dry patches, dull looking skin and all symptoms of the dehydration associated with fasting.

How can you take care of your skin during Ramadan?

• Clean, tone, exfoliate and moisturize your skin! The idea is to remove dead skin caused by the lack of water intake, restore the skin’s natural mineral levels and balance the skin’s oil production.

• Fasting dehydrates the skin so it’s very important to make sure that you rehydrate after iftar.

• We recommend that between iftar and suhoor you drink at least eight glasses of water in addition to any other fluids.

Fact:The human body only absorbs 50 to 60 per cent of fruit juice, and just 20 to 30 percent of sodas.

• Eat healthy! There are many foods that can repair dehydrated skin, such as cashews or almonds which are packed with healthy fibers, fatty acids and proteins which will maintain your skin's glow.

• Fruits such as strawberries and blueberries are high in anti-oxidants, which are known for their positive effect on healthy skin. Dates are also a great source of anti-oxidants, vitamin A, iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium that all promote optimum skin health. Apricots aid in the digestion process.

Make the best out of your fasting by including healthy nutrients in your iftar and suhoor!

07462 556 956 City Centre Branch, Kirkgate Next to McDonald’s

01274 307 040

14 Legrams Lane, Bradford BD7 1ND

•• Threading • Waxing • • Spa Treatment • •

MENTORS: Ajaz Ahmed LCF Law, Jonathan Freeman, MD of Mosaic, Sadia Ahmad, Winner of Highly Commended Mentor 2015, Tom Riordan, CE Leeds City Council, Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE Mosaic Yorkshire Regional Leadership Group Chair, Waseem Khan, Winner of Mentor of the Year 2015, Ibrar Ali, Yorkshire Regional Manager, Mosaic

Mentors awarded Celebrating the achievements of Mosaic’s volunteers

Mosaic, a mentoring charity set up by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2007, celebrated it’s mentors who create opportunities for young people growing up in our most deprived communities by helping to raise their aspirations and better fulfill their potential.

Guests at the event on Tuesday 9th June, which took place at Leeds Town Hall, included business leaders and volunteer mentors who have expertly supported Mosaic’s mentoring programmes during this academic year.

Keynote speaker was Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council. The event was hosted by entrepreneur Ajaz Ahmed, who is also a Mosaic champion and mentoring advocate.

The evening was held to celebrate the importance of

mentoring and in particular Mosaic’s mentors, their hard work and commitment to the young people it supports as well as recognising the hard work Mosaic’s network, teachers and supporters continue to dedicate to the range of programmes.

and volunteer mentors.

“Our mentors freely give up their valuable time to help the young people from this region and without their continued support, we simply wouldn’t be celebrating our success here today.

“We want to thank all the

people.”

Tom Riordan said: “I’m a great believer in the power of mentoring and it is encouraging to see such positive outcomes from the Mosaic programme across our region.

“The legacy of such important work will be felt for many years.

It’s not hard to see that the teamwork, commitment and dedication shown from mentors and mentees is really paying dividends in communities that need it most.”

Mr Riordan also presented a number of outstanding mentors with awards. Waseem Khan, a manager with Hentons accountants in Leeds, was presented with the Mosaic Yorkshire Mentor of the Year award.

Special commendations were given to Jack Richard for his work on the Enterprise Challenge and Secondary mentoring. Sadia Ahmad and Saiqa Khan-Khawaja were recognised for their

“We want to thank all the mentors, companies and organisations who have tirelessly supported our programmes throughout the year and helped to inspire so many young local people.”

Ibrar Ali, Regional Manager for Mosaic in Yorkshire commented: “It’s great to be able to get together and celebrate with so many of our corporate supporters

mentors, companies and organisations who have tirelessly supported our programmes throughout the year and helped to inspire so many young local

outstanding achievements on Mosaic’s ex-offender mentoring programme and primary school programme respectively.

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Arrest made over Beeston rape and attempted murder IMAGES: CCTV footage captured the suspect moments after the attempted murder and rape in Beeston, Leeds

APPEAL: Police arrested a 21-year-old Slovakian man last week after numerous appeals

Slovakian national in custody three months after attack Following an international investigation, a man has been arrested in Slovakia in connection with the attempted murder and rape of a woman in Leeds.

A 21-year-old Slovakian national was arrested by local police in the Kosice area of eastern Slovakia on Thursday 4th June after West Yorkshire detectives secured a European Arrest Warrant.

Officers investigating the attack of the 18-year-old woman in Beeston on 6th March this year, had been appealing for people with any information to come forward, with the crime reconstructed on BBC’s Crimewatch earlier this year.

The arrested man was identified as a suspect as a result of international enquiries by officers from West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiry Team.

Detective Superintendent Nick Wallen, who is leading the investigation, said: “The European Arrest Warrant process requires that police forces are in a position to charge any suspect they are seeking.

“Once the warrant was granted, we liaised with the Slovakian police through the National Crime Agency to secure the arrest of this man.”

“To that end we consulted the Crown Prosecution Service before applying to a district judge at Leeds Magistrates Court for the European Arrest Warrant.

“Once the warrant was granted, we liaised with the Slovakian police through the National Crime Agency to secure the arrest of this man. We are very grateful to the Slovakian authorities for their assistance.

“The man is currently in custody in Slovakia and we will now be pursuing the legal process with the aim of getting him extradited back to the United Kingdom to be charged to appear at court.”

Kirkgate restorations

A project to protect and preserve a key part of Leeds's heritage is set to begin thanks to a major funding package, financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Leeds City Council.

A grant of £110,000 will be used to repair 92 Kirkgate as part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), with work set to begin on site soon.

This is one of a number of historic buildings that have been part of the Kirkgate landscape since the 18th Century and which form part of the THI project.

Work on 92 Kirkgate will include repointing in lime mortar, re-roofing with stone slate, installation of sash windows and reinstatement of a traditional shop front.

The specialist work will not only restore the architecture, but will be in keeping with the nature of the building and the aesthetic of the area as a whole.

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‘Proving the doubters wrong’ Britain’s Got Talent star releases short film and eBook After a more than memorable appearance on Britain’s Got Talent in 2014, Bradford’s own Rafi Raja is back, as he released his own short movie and short story last week.

Aiming to prove his critics wrong, the determined writer, director and producer from Girlington has released his first eBook entitled ‘Love...It’s never easy’.

Based on the script of the short film by the same name, the story follows the relationship between a small town man and big city woman and the complications that arise from within their Asian communities.

The ‘classic’ love story rapidly teaches that love is never easy and at times the journey takes unexpected twists and turns.

At just 20 minutes long, Rafi’s short film is still a long way from hitting the big screens yet he remains confident in his abilities to

progress further in the field.

“The movie was written, directed and produced by myself,” he said. “It is just a short version of what could be as it was produced on a low budget and with extreme time constraints.

“I am now aiming to release a professionally produced feature length movie in partnership with a professional production company with one already agreeing to work alongside the project.

“There are many actors in the UK and Bollywood who will be sent a script soon so casting can begin.”

Away from the writing, Rafi adds that he is confident that he can still prove his doubters wrong after his Bollywood-style performance on Britain’s Got Talent.

Despite many positive comments about his enthusiasm, he was also subjected to what he labelled as ‘cyber-bullying’

with the controversial Katie Hopkins amongst those who had their say.

She previously tweeted: “Rafi doesn’t have a day job. He is unemployed. In Birmingham. Who’d a thought?”

Rafi hopes his new short

film will be the beginning of his comeback, adding: “Katie Hopkins you are a cyber-bully, I know how to take on bullies...to stay quiet and work under silence.”

DETERMINED: Rafi Raja says he hopes to turn his short film into a feature length movie

MEMORABLE: Rafi Raja’s appearance on Britain’s Got Talent is a highlight for many from the 2014 series

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AMBITIOUS: Parvez Hussain hopes to raise £3,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice through the triathlon

ARUN VIRDI

Sweet Bow

THE NEW FRAGRANCE FOR HER

Testing Triathlon for WWW.ARUNVIRDI.COM

Give a Gift Fundraiser to run, swim and cycle for charity

For most people, the idea of completing a 20km cycle may seem exhausting enough yet for 38-yearold Leeds resident Parvez Hussain, it is just the middle test of his gruelling triathlon challenge.

On Saturday 25th July, the ‘in-training triathlete’ will take on the London triathlon in hope of raising £3,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice.

Running, cycling and swimming his way to the finish line, he will cover 1500m with a freshwater swim before completing a further 35km on land – with 20km on bike and 15km on foot.

A Give a Gift volunteer, the father-of-three says he has always been committed to helping local causes and when he was challenged to push himself even further this year, he found ‘three challenges in one’.

“Over the last five to six years, I have raised thousands of pounds for charity through completing marathons and other challenges,” he said.

“This year I wanted to do something special for children and through connections with Give a Gift I was put in touch with Martin House. Their name alone is enough for people to get behind.”

He continued: “My aim this year is to raise £3,000 – the most I will ever have achieved in a year, and I

think it is very achievable with the help of the public.

“I have already had great support from sponsors, including British Gas and Leeds Muslim Council, and am extremely grateful for anything people can donate.”

Parvez had initially hoped to complete the triathlon at an earlier date yet after his initial ‘pencilled-in’ event was cancelled he had to opt for a challenge after Ramadan.

Describing himself as ‘ready’ now, he accepts the toll of fasting for a month could affect his training but is determined to conquer the challenge.

“Obviously Ramadan will affect how often I can train for the event but I am sure I will be ready come the end of July,” he added.

“This is certainly not the last you will hear from me as I continue to raise funds for these amazing causes. One day I even hope to climb Mt Everest with my kids.”

Gipton and Harehills councillor, Arif Hussain, says the local resident should be ‘extremely proud’ of his efforts.

“In this ward there are so many people looking to help charities and Parvez is a great example,” he said.

“I am proud of all his work for charity and would urge people of all backgrounds to get behind him and support Martin House.”

“This year I wanted to do something special for children and through connections with Give a Gift I was put in touch with Martin House. Their name alone is enough f or people to get behind the event.”

If you would like to make a donation, please visit: www.justgiving.com/Parvez-hussain2

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SHOPPING: A concept design of what the inside of The Broadway development will look like when it is opened in November

Opening date announced for Broadway Bradford’s Remember, remember the 5th November has a new meaning this year for Bradford’s residents as the eagerly awaited opening of The Broadway development finally arrives on Bonfire Night.

The milestone project in the city will be the largest UK retail centre to launch in 2015 and is anticipated to increase retail spend in the city by up to 78 per cent.

A footfall increase of around 32million people has been projected alongside £1bn in expenditure across the city’s stores.

Commenting on the progress, Duncan Bower, Director of Development at Westfield Corporation, said: “After years of hard work and crucial support from many sectors of the Bradford community, I am very pleased to announce an opening date for The Broadway of Thursday 5th November 2015.”

Significant developments have been made in recent months with the centre’s two largest stores handed over to anchors Marks & Spencer and Debenhams for their respective interior fit outs.

The two retail giants, who were the first to sign up to the revised scheme, will occupy state of the art units within the 570,000 sq ft development, and will help towards the city’s regeneration programme.

Andrew Crooks, Head of Region for Yorkshire at Marks & Spencer, said: “It’s great to see the development nearing completion and we are looking forward to welcoming customers to the new store in The Broadway.

“The store will create a fantastic new shopping experience and we hope that customers will join us on the opening day to see all of the new and exciting features that we will be bringing to the city.”

The Broadway is now over 70 per cent leased with many of the remaining units in the latter stages of negotiation.

Bradford Council Leader, Cllr David Green, said it is exciting times for the city and he was looking forward to seeing the centre bring a new concept to the city.

“It's great news to get the official opening date for The Broadway Bradford which has been eagerly anticipated by people across the region,” he said.

“We have been really pleased to see the progress of this development and it is right on schedule. The timing is perfect for all those wanting to come to Bradford to do their Christmas shopping.

“We will have so much to offer throughout the city centre with a great mix of major department stores, smaller and more unique shops, and thriving pubs, cafes and restaurants, all adding up to a great reason to come here.”

retail future set to open doors in November

PLANS: Bradford Council leader, Cllr David Green, speaks with Director of Development at Westfield Corporation, Duncan Bower, about the retail centre last year

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Bank of England visit marks 11 years of service Platinum Partnership Solicitors welcomes special guest to Bradford The financial future of Bradford was at the forefront of conversation earlier this week as a special event was held to celebrate 11 years of Platinum Partnership Solicitors.

On Monday 8th June, the Bank of England’s Financial Stability Deputy, Tom Henderson, hosted an informative presentation and lively discussion at Omar Khan’s Restaurant, with business leaders, councillors and esteemed guests in attendance.

Amongst the many topics discussed were the effects of the recent elections and financial stability across Bradford during a time of much upheaval and change.

PPS partner, Nasreen Karim, organised the event to coincide with her business’ anniversary celebrations and was delighted to see guests passionately engage with all topics discussed.

“It was fantastic to welcome Tom to Bradford and to host this special dinner,” she said.

“With the financial future of the country as a whole still a very hot topic off the back of last month’s elections, this event provided a good insight into the current financial climate.

“The lively debates were a brilliant example of how business leaders across Bradford and West Yorkshire are enthusiastic about the future of this region.”

For over a decade, Platinum Partnership Solicitors have been helping clients with all their legal needs, continuing to raise the benchmark of the legal profession through their fast, friendly and efficient approach.

Specialising in employment law, commercial services and health and safety compliance, they have helped thousands of clients reach the settlement they deserve.

For a full list of all the PPS services, and to get a leading legal team on your side, contact the office today or visit www.ppsolicitors.com

GUEST: BoE’s Financial Stability Deputy, Tom Henderson, was invited to Bradford by PPS partner, Nasreen Karim, pictured alongside Bankruptcy & Insolvency Solicitor Khizar Hayat

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Bradford man to ‘push his limits’ in aid of Nepal earthquake victims

100 mile cycle, 26 mile run, 10 mountainous climbs, one determined fundraiser

CYCLE: As part of his trio of fundraisers, Kamlesh will complete the 100 mile Prudential cycle challenge from London to Surrey

After climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity almost a decade ago, a long time fundraiser from Bradford says he could yet face his steepest mission this year, as he takes on three exhausting challenges.

Kamlesh Patel, 54, will not be completing the usual Three Peaks challenge next month, but will instead take on ten mountainous climbs over a gruelling day of trekking in the Lake District.

Determined to do even more, the St James’ Hospital employee will then complete a 100 mile cycling challenge in August, before rounding off his trio of challenges with the world renowned, Great North Run in September.

Raising funds for the relief efforts of the Nepal earthquake, Kamlesh says it will be his toughest fundraiser yet, adding that some of the challenges will be a new experience for him.

“I have completed marathons in New York and London before, but this will be something completely new for me,” he said.

“Hopefully I won’t be too tired by the time of the run and I have been in training for the Ten Peaks over recent weeks.

“It is the 100 mile cycle which I think is going to be the toughest as I have never done

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such a distance before on a bike.

“I only get nine hours to finish the route or I am disqualified so there is extra pressure on that section of the challenges.”

Earlier this year in April, Nepal was struck by a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake, killing over 8,000 people and leaving tens of thousands more injured.

The following month, a second quake struck the south Asian nation, resulting in a further 200 deaths and causing more structural damage to homes and buildings across the country.

After previously raising thousands of pounds for local causes, such as the Bradford Royal Infirmary and Marie

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Curie Hospice, Kamlesh says he is now determined to raise even more funds for those suffering in Nepal.

“We have all seen the images of people who have lost their homes and been injured in the earthquake,” he said.

“I want to do whatever I can to help raise funds for them and hopefully by completing these three challenges and pushing myself harder than I ever have, we can raise a fantastic sum of money.”

He added: “After my last marathon, my wife asked me if that was going to be it because I have been fundraising since 1985 now.

“I guess I just can’t stop pushing myself and testing my limits for these amazing causes.”

You can sponsor Kamlesh online at mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/kamleshpatelnepalearthquake2015

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Dr Aneesha Advice Column Every few weeks we are asking readers to pose common questions or concerns regarding cosmetic treatments to our specialist Dr Aneesha, Medical Director at Skyn doctor. Today's question is: I have had IPL treatment before which did help treat some of my coarse facial hairs but unfortunately has left me with finer hairs. The therapist told me these are difficult to treat and may not respond to anything. Is there anything you can do to help?

This is a common scenario we have encountered in our clinic with clients presenting with fine facial hairs that have failed to respond to IPL or Diode Lasers. Firstly let's just remind ourselves the technology behind Intense Pulsed Laser Therapy (IPL). IPL works like a flash lamp which sends out scattered wavelengths of light that cannot be focused like Laser. It has a much more shallow penetration of the skin and therefore is not overly powerful.

Laser technology produces a more concentrated beam that targets the melanin within the hair follicle. The focused nature of the energy helps to offer more precise targeting

skin tones).

It has always been challenging when faced with treating fine facial hairs, particularly in asian skin types. Our machine uses revolutionary technology which allows both lasers to be fired simultaneously and thus enabling us to target the finer hairs on both darker and lighter skin types, with excellent results being achieved. This is the world's first mixed technology laser and arguably the most advanced laser hair removal machine on the market. We are proud to be Yorkshire's only clinic offering this technology at affordable rates and have been overwhelmed by the positive of the hair and is more feedback received from our effective as a result. At Skyn clients.

Doctor we use the Duetto So if you've been MT Laser which comprises disappointed with previous two gold standard lasers in hair removal treatments or one machine. It uses simply want treatment with Alexandrite laser (gold the latest and most standard for lighter skin advanced technology on the tones) and ND YAG laser market, book your free (gold standard for darker patch test now.

To ask Dr Aneesha a question, email her at DrAneesha@skyndoctor.co.uk or visit www.skyndoctor.co.uk

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Dinner with a Prince A leading businessman from Bradford was invited to dine with royalty last week as he and his son attended a special event at Buckingham Palace.

Nirmal Singh MBE and Simmy Sekhon were two of the selected guests who attended a meeting with the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, inside the grounds of Britain’s most famous home.

Organised to inform prominent members of the Sikh community about the country’s pledge to give regions across the country their own power, and to promote charitable causes, it was a ‘day to remember’ according to the two Bradford businessmen.

“I have only visited the palace in the grounds before at the Her Majesty's Garden Party,” Mr Sekhon said, “but to visit the Palace from within and share a glass of bubbly with the Queen’s son is an honour and an unforgettable moment.

“I hope that it will be the first of many.”

Mr Singh added that he was intrigued to hear the Prince’s thoughts on the future of powersharing across the country and commitment to driving business in ‘the north’.

He said: “The Prince believes in giving the regions local power because they have the solution for national challenges.

“He said he supports the north and recognised the region for its work through the annual awards which he would only miss in the event of bad weather or state funerals of other nations.”

The Duke closed his speech to the whole room, adding that he wanted to see a return of the Sikh Regiment in the Armed Forces, after the invaluable contribution of Sikhs in Britain’s First and Second World War efforts.

Mr Singh and Mr Sekhon have now both pledged their financial support to the Prince’s charitable initiatives for the next three years.

Businessmen pledge support for royal charities

HONOURED: Nirmal Singh MBE and Simmy Sekhon were invited to Buckingham Palace on behalf of the Duke of York, Prince Andrew

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FILM: Welcome 2 Karachi was released in cinemas worldwide on Friday 29th May

ACTOR: Mehmood Sultan has been acting for 40 years and can currently be seen in the Bollywood film, Welcome 2 Karachi, showing in cinemas across the country

Bradford star on the big screen

A film fanatic grandfather from Bradford, who has featured in everything from Pakistani movies to ITV’s DCI Banks, says his latest appearance on the big screen is one of his ‘proudest yet’.

Over the past 40 years, 63-yearold Mehmood Sultan has been pursuing his love of acting, taking on small and large roles, in the UK and Pakistan.

Last year he was cast to play a part in the latest Indian actioncomedy, ‘Welcome 2 Karachi’, and upon its release in cinemas around the world last Friday, he says he couldn’t wait to see the final production.

“I have just always loved acting,” he said. “I do not act for the money, I do it because it is something that I am very passionate about.

“When the Welcome 2 Karachi opportunity came about I was invited down to London by the director and spent the night there before filming my scene.

“I play a Pakistani man and it was really good fun to do. I was amazed by how the film’s team were able to make London, Bradford, Birmingham and Wales all look like Karachi.”

For five years between 1990 and 1994, Mr Sultan lived in Karachi, Lahore, where he experienced a successful career in the Lollywood film industry.

Returning to the UK, he settled down in Bradford and despite continuing to carry out acting roles, he now works full time as a security guard in the city.

His latest opportunity came about earlier this year when he was invited to feature in another Pakistani film and will be flying out to Thailand next month for filming.

“Whenever I am offered an

Security guard turns actor for Bollywood hit

FEATURED: As well as appearing in over 20 Pakistani films, Mr Sultan was also cast in an episode of DCI Banks previously

acting role or my agent gets in touch with me, I always want to do it,” he added.

“The opportunity in Thailand is very exciting and I cannot wait to go over there.”

‘Welcome 2 Karachi’ features the pairing of Arshad Warsi and Jacky Bhagnani as two lost Indians, stuck in the dangerous city of Karachi.

With political turmoil rife in the

city, the duo have to fend for themselves with no money, no passports, no means of communication, and perhaps most importantly, no way of getting home.

The film is now showing in cinemas across the country with scenes notably shot locally in the Bradford Bazaar, Little Germany and Lister Mills.

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Local A design student from Huddersfield will be picking up a prestigious award later this month after his animation skills were commended for raising global issues such as slavery and child labour.

25-year-old Ziaul Haque was announced as this year’s winner of the Patricia Tindale Legacy Award in the RSA Student Design Awards, for his one minute video.

His animation, named ‘Design and Society: more than meets the eye’, came out on top in the Moving Pictures category and the Oldhamborn designer says his interest in social issues is what made the competition appeal to him.

“I had a choice of two briefs: curiosity or design and society and I chose the latter,” he said.

“The concept of my animation is that design is about more than just looking good, it can also tackle social issues. I chose to address slavery and child labour in third world countries.”

The judging panel had over 70 animations to choose from and Ziaul’s was one of eight to reach the final shortlist.

He describes his winning entry as his ‘against the odds’ award which involved him rising to the challenge of meeting deadlines and facing a panel of seven at the RSA interview.

He continued: “I was really surprised to receive the email from the RSA congratulating me on winning this award and I’m looking forward to the award ceremony where I’ll also have the opportunity

to network with other people in the design industry.”

Ziaul will receive his award at an event at the RSA in London on 11th June whilst his recognised work is currently on display in an online showcase.

Anneke Pettican, course leader for Graphic Design and Animation at the University of Huddersfield, said she was proud of the student’s

June 2015 - 2nd Edition efforts and that he has a ‘bright future ahead of him’.

“When Ziaul showed me his animated short I felt confident that it had every chance of winning the judges’ attention,” she said.

“He is a very talented individual with a bright future ahead of him. I am delighted by his success in such

DESIGN: Ziaul Haque will receive the Patricia Tindale Legacy Award in the RSA Student Design Awards for his short animation on social issues

Prize winning student tackles the big issues

Animation skills earn national award

a prestigious competition.”

The RSA Student Design Awards (SDAs) is an annual competition open to all students studying worldwide and are 91-years-old this year. Since 1924 the awards have challenged emerging artists and designers to use design thinking, craft and ingenuity to drive innovation.

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Wembley ‘dream come true’ City fan sings on pitch at FA Cup final

Bradford City may have just missed out on their chance to grace the hallowed Wembley pitch this season yet one Bantams fan got to live the dream on Saturday as he stepped out in front of a packed stadium.

Anwar Musa, from Laisterdyke, has been a City supporter ever since he moved to England in 1968, and is a dedicated season ticket holder come rain or snow.

Usually straining his vocal chords on the terraces every Saturday, the 52-year-old swapped the stands for the pitch last weekend as he was selected to represent his beloved Bradford in this year’s Football League fans choir.

Alongside one fan from each of the 64 league clubs that reached the third round of this season’s FA Cup, Anwar performed the traditional ‘Abide with me’ hymn ahead of kick off before watching Arsenal take on Aston Villa in England’s most prestigious cup competition.

Spending two days preparing and

rehearsing for the event before the big day finally arrived, the superfan says it surpassed all his expectations.

“It was absolutely brilliant,” he said. “To walk out in front of 90,000 people was like coming out as a gladiator, the wall of sound was incredible.

“I have been in the crowd three times before but to experience walking out on that pitch is something I will never forget.

“Singing abide with me, alongside the choir and the fans, was amazing and I was quite emotional to think I was representing Bradford City especially during this anniversary year.”

30 years ago, 52 City fans were killed in the Valley Parade stadium fire, a game which Anwar attended and narrowly escaped the flames in the Main Stand.

“All the other members of the choir understood the significance of the anniversary and were extremely supportive throughout the weekend,” he added.

Prior to stepping out onto the pitch for the first time, the choir were even given a quick motivational talk by a surprise guest.

“The highlight of the day for me was when England manager Roy Hodgson came out to speak with

PITCHSIDE: As part of a 64-piece football league choir, Anwar sung ‘Abide with me’ on the Wembley pitch prior to the FA Cup final kick off

us,” he said. “We were preparing to go out and sing when he came out of nowhere.”

Anwar’s cup final experience may have finished at the final whistle as Arsenal thrashed Aston Villa 4-0, but there was one more memory yet to be made after the 90 minutes.

“I was on my home from Watford train station when a young lad was looking at me with his dad and said ‘I know that man, I’ve seen him on TV. “I still laugh when thinking about that.”

MATCH: Rounding off his Wembley experience, Anwar watched on from the stands as Arsenal thumped Aston Villa 4-0

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Father researched ‘executions’ before killing family

TRAGIC: Jitendra Lad killed his wife and two daughters in their family home last October

Verdict of suicide and unlawful killings after Bradford tragedy A Bradford man, who killed his wife and two daughters before hanging himself last year, searched the web for ‘how to cut someone's throat and executions’ an inquest has heard.

49-year-old Jitendra Lad, from Clayton, killed his wife, Daksha, 44, and his teen daughters Trisha, 19 and Nisha, 16, in their family home in October 2014.

Their bodies were discovered by a neighbour on Monday 27th October, in what coroner, Martin Fleming, described as an ‘unimaginable scene of horror’.

Mr Lad was found hanged in the other Blackberry Way property, whilst the three family members were all found with stab wounds in their beds where they died on 25th October an inquest heard.

The father-of-two used a scuba

diving knife to inflict 33 wounds to his eldest daughter, Trisha, indicating signs of a struggle between the two, whilst Nisha had eight different wounds.

Their mother, Daksha, suffered four deep stab wounds which severed arteries in her neck and her chest.

In a statement read to Bradford Coroner's Court, Mr Lad's brother Raman said: “There was nothing about the family that was anything other than normal and close.

“I can think of no reason at all for what's happened. They were just a normal and happy family.”

However, Det Sgt Duncan Jackson told the Bradford hearing that Mr Lad had researched ‘depression’ days before the tragedy and how to carry out ‘executions’.

The officer added that Mr Lad had been stressed with work since being

promoted and even told a woman during a holiday last year that he was unhappy with his life and dreaded turning 50.

Senior investigating officer (SIO) Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police said after the inquests: “Whilst today we have heard the coroner's verdicts as to how the four members of the Lad family died, the grieving process and loss for the extended family will stay with them for many years to come. They will be missed by a great many people.

“The family through myself as the SIO would now wish to be left in peace to come to terms with their tragic loss and grief and will not be answering any questions.”

Meanwhile, Mr Fleming, upon recording a verdict of suicide on Mr Lad and unlawful killing on the other members of his family, said: “We will never know for sure what was going through Jitendra's mind at that time.”

SCENE: The bodies of the family were found on Monday 27th October at their Clayton home

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June 2015 - 2nd Edition

Masjid-e-Quba opens its doors

Harehills’ new mosque welcomes over 1,000 worshippers

By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk

The opening of Leeds’ newest mosque finally arrived this week with around 1,100 people turning out for the first call to prayer.

The Masjid-e-Quba was built in just seven months and brings a new state-of-the-art place of worship to the Harehills area.

Located on the corner of Hares Avenue and Shepherds

Lane, worshippers prayed outside in the sunshine on Friday 12th June as the two prayer halls were packed full for a memorable launch.

Followed by the serving of food, the day was a big success and highlighted the ‘need’ for the new development in the area.

Chairman of the Masjid, Rana Akram, and secretary, Akhlaq Mir, said they were delighted to see the doors open for the first time after watching the development in

OPEN: The Masjid-e-Quba was opened for the first time on Friday 12th June, pictured are committee members and Ontime Construction’s Aihtsham Rashid

recent months.

Mr Mir continued: “It’s overwhelming to see the construction finished. I am speechless.

“On behalf of the committee at the Masjid-eQuba, we would like to thank the community for their generosity in helping to fund the development of this site.

“To now be open before Ramadan is a great feeling.”

Treasurer of the Masjid, Muhammad Farooq, added that the generosity of the local public had been unimaginable.

“It is very moving to see the

June 2015 - 2nd Edition

public get behind this project,” he said. “This community has really come together to make this possible.”

Construction of the building was carried out by Ontime Constructions with the latest technological equipment installed.

Notably the place of worship is one of only two mosques in the country to have been fitted with the latest VRF air conditioning systems.

Contractor and developer, Aihtsham Rashid, said: “Usually a mosque in the UK will take between one and two years to construct but we were able to complete this within just a fraction of that time.

“We have beaten all our targets and managed to open in time for the holy month of Ramadan.

“No other mosque in England or Europe has been built at the same speed of this one.

“A big thank you goes to all the people who helped make this possible and the committee for their continuous support.”

Back in November 2014, the foundation stone for the new Masjid was laid by honourable guest scholar, Hanif Jalandhari, general secretary of the largest federation of Islamic Seminaries, Wafaq ul Madaris AlArabia.

FULL: People prayed in the streets as the two prayer halls inside were packed

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Your National and Local Business Round-up

Business news

ITC Telecoms Simplified

B

radford’s favourite telecommunications providers have been rolling out superfast broadband across the county for a few years now, bringing businesses into the 21st century.

However, as well as maintaining their position as leaders in the telecoms industry, ITC does much more than just connecting you to the web.

Full communications packages can be tailored to your exact needs with bespoke telephone systems, line rental and call packages available from a local name you can trust.

Read on to see just a few examples of the services the ITC team can provide for you.

Officetalk – Phone systems simplified Communication within any type of business is fundamental to their success, which is why ensuring every customer gets the correct telephone system suited to their requirements and the best PBX installation possible is always central to ITC’s business deployment plan.

By working with a variety of vendors, ITC are able to offer a broad range of options to each client, establishing the best possible return on investment.

ITC work with a number of established brands such as: Alcatel, BT, Nortel, LG, Mitel, Avaya, NEC and Panasonic.

Talktime – Calls simplified Whether you’re using a phone system or a traditional single landline, you should know that you have the right network services for your requirements.

ITC pride themselves on providing the most reliable service possible and offering fantastic deals on landline calls and line rental using their own network.

Furthermore, ITC have the support of a nationwide team of

engineers to call on around the clock so that you have complete peace of mind.

Velocity – Internet simplified As a responsible telecommunications provider and consultancy, ITC offer every client a wraparound solution covering all aspects of their communication requirements.

As an Internet provider ITC ensure you have a reliable business grade product, backed by a UK based, award winning support service. A reliable broadband connection is vital in the day to day running of most organisations, talk to ITC about your connectivity needs and packages that suit your organisation.

ITC also offer fibre optic broadband where it has been made available.

Freetalk – Mobile simplified Telecommunications aren’t limited to office-based solutions – you need to be able to stay in touch on the move too.

As technology improves and the pace of business increases, you need to assure you have the best mobile communications for your needs.

ITC have strong relationships with all the major mobile organisations, enabling them to find the best deals for your budget and handset requirements.

MiCloud – Hosting simplified MiCloud Simplified is ITC’s very own hosted telephone system platform for the next generation of communication combining telephone and internet.

There are no complications and it is so easy to set up.

MiCloud Simplified arrives preconfigured ready to be plugged into an electrical socket or POE switch and connects to the internet via a network cable.

Once powered up, your phone

system will be active, ready to start making and receiving calls, it’s as simple as that. This is a cost effective and scalable telephone system solution.

Speak to ITC about the benefits of MiCloud, including: call

waiting, call hold, call transfer, music on hold and call recording.

Further to the above services, ITC continue to lead the way in rolling out superfast broadband across Yorkshire & nationwide,

ranking in the top five nationally for the government’s ‘Super Connected Cities Scheme’.

To find out how ITC can help you, contact them today and get your telecoms services ‘simplified’.

Unit 3, Listerhills Science Park, Campus Road, Bradford, BD7 1HR Tel: 0845 652 0450 Email: info@clickitc.co.uk Web: www.clickitc.co.uk

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June 2015 - 2nd Edition

OFFER:

20% off Scent by Salim products this Ramadan

Oud by Scent Salim

It’s a privilege T

he High Court has ruled that legal professional privilege was waived in a claim brought for professional negligence arising out of the failure to investigate the beneficial ownership of land prior to the drafting of a will.

Privilege is a legal principle whereby a party is entitled to withhold evidence from production to a third party or the court. This evidence may be either written or oral. Once privilege has been established, an absolute right to withhold that document in question arises. There are two main types of privilege which come under the main heading of legal professional privilege, these being - legal advice privilege and litigation privilege.

As the name suggests, legal advice privilege arises when confidential communications pass between a lawyer and his client which have come into existence for the purposes of giving and receiving legal advice, relevant to the legal context. Alternatively, litigation privilege can only arise when litigation is pending or contemplated. Legal advice privilege only applies to communications between a lawyer and client whereas litigation privilege can apply to communications between a client or his lawyer and a third party. The purpose of legal advice privilege is to enable a client to place unrestricted confidence in his lawyer; the privilege belongs to the client and the client's lawyer is bound by it.

Privilege can be waived in a variety of different ways and can either be expressly or impliedly waived. Once privileged material has been placed before the Court the privilege will automatically be waived.

Please contact Luke Patel on 0113 227 9316 or by email at LPatel@LawBlacks.com

The case of Birdseye and another –vRoythornes and others involved a complicated set of circumstances relating to the will and codicil of a Mr Dring, both drawn up by Roythornes, a law firm based in Suffolk.

Mr Dring had executed a codicil, providing for Manor Farm to be given to his wife’s sister-in-law, Rosemary Cooke.

Sadly Mrs Cooke died shortly after Mr Dring and Roythornes told the claimants, Mrs Cooke’s daughters and the administrators of her estate, that the farm was owned by a company called Dring Bros. As a result the codicil was ineffective. Mrs Cooke’s daughters brought a claim in proprietary estoppel against Mr Dring’s estate and the matter was settled out of court for £300,000.

Crucially, the agreement did not provide any bar to bringing a subsequent claim against Roythornes and Mrs Cooke’s daughters issued professional negligence proceedings against the firm. These proceedings included a reference to Mr Dring’s executors – his friend Mr Doubleday and his accountant, Mr Pola, who were also joined as defendants. Mr Pola later applied to have the case struck out on the basis that matters were referred to which were privileged.

However, the Court ruled that the communications between the executors and Roythornes would have been privileged had privilege not been waived by both Mr Pola and Mr Doubleday. This case demonstrates that whilst privilege can be a vital tool in litigation, it is important to carefully establish whether certain evidence can give rise to privilege in the first place and how to avoid privilege being inadvertently waived.

Experience aromas of the world

F

or more than seven years, one business alone has remained committed to bringing scents of the world to homes in Leeds and now, with the opening of their first retail outlet last month, the city has never smelt so good.

Oud by Scent Salim is the realisation of a dream come true for owner and founder, Ilyas Salim.

The long time aroma enthusiast has collected hundreds of scents over the years, today selling over 750 scents from his Harehills Lane store.

With one of the biggest collections of oud products in the world, the store has 75 exotic, romantic, introvert and contemporary creations, from some of the biggest names in the world.

From the worldrenowned King Fahad blend to Scent Salim’s own recognised brand, there is something for every customer and every pocket.

Ilyas says the official launch of his new retail outlet is just another sign of the growing demand for the aroma specialists.

“We specialise in

perfume and scents from around the globe and have different types of musk, oudh wood, rose, plus so much more right here in our new flagship store,” he said.

“At Scent Salim we aim to offer remarkable products at unbelievable prices and by choosing us, you not only grab a bargain, but also get fantastic service.”

He added: “The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said there were three things that were dear to him, one of which was perfume and scents. It is my goal to continue providing fragrances from around the globe from right here at Oud by Scent Salim.”

Amongst the famed brands stocked at Oud by Scent Salim, are Arabian Oud, ASQ, Ajmal, Surrati and Amouage, alongside unique scents from across the Middle East and Asia.

As oud products continue to grow in popularity across the world, the likes of Gucci, Tom Ford and Creed have even launched their own lines of the popular scents.

Today thousands of international customers have opted to use Oud by Scent Salim for all their fragrance needs, and with more scents introduced on a regular basis, make sure you visit the store or website today.

107 Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS8 4DN Tel: 07722 000 822 Web: www.scentsalim.co.uk Search for ‘Scent Salim’ on Facebook for all new products and special offers

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Learning opportunities on offer for adults W

hether you are looking to update your skills, retrain, improve your career prospects or just want to learn for fun – Keighley Campus offers a range of courses for adults.

Part time and professional courses are on offer from vocational, GCSEs and apprenticeships to hobby and leisure - many run throughout the year and are flexible and designed to fit around your own needs.

In conjunction with Adult Learners Week 2015 (1319 June), the campus is opening its doors for a Community Open Day on Wednesday, June 17th, between 2 – 4pm to showcase among other things its adult learning offer and to raise awareness of the opportunities available.

As well as being able to tour the campus, you can take part in taster sessions and try various activities including Hair & Beauty demonstrations, ESOL tasters, fun with Maths & English and making your own key ring in the Fab Lab, while also meeting staff and finding out about part-time and professional courses starting from September.

Simply pop along or to find out a little more about what’s on offer for you, contact 0113 386 1997, email: courses@leedscitycollege.ac.uk or visit www.leedscitycollege.ac.uk

£22,000 per annum + Car + Mobile Phone This is an exciting opportunity to work for a growing food manufacturer.

We are looking for a passionate, self motivated and driven field sales representative in Birmingham to join our expanding sales team selling food products to a wide range of businesses in the UK. We pride ourselves on the standard of our service and our customers are those who know the value of quality and reliability.

We are looking for

We are looking for

VAN OWNERS /DRIVERS

VAN OWNERS /DRIVERS

WEST YORKSHIRE to work for a growing company in the following areas:

Leeds • Bradford Huddersfield • Halifax Batley • Dewsbury Must have a full UK drivers licence (Rate of pay to be negotiated)

Please apply with a letter and cv to: Nadim Hanif Managing Director Media Buzz Ltd • 4 Armley Court • Armley Rd • Leeds LS12 2LB •nadim@asianexpress.co.uk

MIDLANDS to work for a growing company in the following area:

Birmingham Area Must have a full UK drivers licence (Rate of pay to be negotiated)

Please apply with a letter and cv to: Nadim Hanif

What the role involves: • This is a field based role, Monday to Friday • The main focus of the role is winning new business which will involve cold calling and sourcing new leads • Selling on the day • We also care about our existing customers so the role also involves maintaining and enhancing those relationships.

What we are looking for: • Strong sales and communication skills • Determined to not only meet targets but exceed them • Excellent presentation and communication skills • Able to build long lasting relationships with customers and colleagues • Strong prospecting skills • Accurate administration • Experience in field sales in the food sector would be preferred but not essential • As the role is field based a full driving licence is essential

Managing Director Media Buzz Ltd • 4 Armley Court • Armley Rd • Leeds LS12 2LB •nadim@asianexpress.co.uk

What to do next: If you like the sound of a long-term career working for a well established, family run company and this you have the qualities to succeed in this role please send a covering letter and your CV to

Natasha Camenon by email: natasha@goldendelightfoods.co.uk

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Business

534 Huddersfield Road, Dewsbury, WF13 3ET Tel: 01924 462 020 Web: www.bluefishfisheries.co.uk

C

alls for a quality fish and chips restaurant in Dewsbury have finally been answered as Blue Fish Fisheries brings Britain’s most iconic dish to the heart of the town.

Offering up a scrumptious menu seven days a week, the ‘local chippie’ has already proven a massive hit, with local residents flocking down to the eatery since its opening two months ago.

Every dish on the menu, from the obvious favourite of fish and chips, to alternative options such as spit roast chicken and gourmet pies, have all been masterfully developed in the kitchen, bringing scrumptious flavours to happy customers.

Take the freshly battered haddock for example. Sourced off the shores of Iceland before they are frozen and brought into the UK, the sumptuous fish is

served up in crispy golden batter and perfectly accompanied by a tray full of chips.

Only vegetable oil is used by the team of cooks, with chieffryer Brian, headed with the task of ensuring each fish is the same crispy delight as the last.

June 2015 - 2nd Edition

Blue Fish Bringing fish and chips to the 21st century

Amar Mahmood is the man who is striving to bring fish and chips into the 21st century through Blue Fish and he explained what set the Dewsbury fisheries apart from the rest.

“We opened Blue Fish

fisheries with the simple goal of bringing traditional fish and chips to the heart of this town,” he said.

“Over the past two months, we have had a fantastic response from the public with customers coming from far and wide to

taste our delicious menu.

“Fish and chips of this quality have never been available here before so I am delighted to see how welcome we have been made and hope to continue serving up our classic British dishes.”

As well as serving up the tastiest meals inside the newly fitted restaurant, foodies will be delighted to hear that Blue Fish also do deliveries, bringing a new concept to fish and chips.

No longer do you have to go out to enjoy your favourite meal, with a home delivery service available for customers who needn’t even leave the house to pick up their takeaway.

Fish and Chips are the quintessential British dish families have enjoyed for generations and now in the 21st century, it is Blue Fish who are bringing the iconic meal to Dewsbury.

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Bringing Fish & Chips to the 21st Century

Fi sh & C h i p s Fi s h Ta co s B a ke d Po t ato e s S p i t R o a st C h i c ke n Eat -I n • Co l l e c t i o n • D e l i veri es OP E N I N G T I ME S : O p e n 7 D ays a We e k • 11a m to 11p m

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Manchester Superstore opens in Oldham Fresh off the back of clinching a prestigious BBC Food Award, Manchester Superstore has opened its latest site in Oldham as savings continue to spread across the North of England.

The country’s largest ethnic retailers opened their newest site, on Chamber Road, last weekend with thousands of customers coming down for the first day of business.

Oldham Lord Mayor, Cllr Ateeque Ur-Rehman, was joined by esteemed businessmen and guests of the business to officially cut the ribbon, bringing a new level of retail service to the Lancashire town.

The name Manchester Superstore has become a leader in the retail industry since its first store opened 26 years ago in Manchester.

From then, savings have been spread across the nation with the Oldham branch just the latest in a line of developments.

Run by chairman, Mr Ghafoor, who is also founder of the business, he explained how excited he was to be bringing a new level of service to Oldham.

“We continue to open more Manchester Superstores across the North of England as we strive to bring our wide range of

products to more and more people,” he said.

“We offer unbelievable value for money and it is fantastic to open this store here in Oldham.”

Earlier this year, the renowned superstore won the Food Retailer of the Year title in the BBC’s Food and Farming Awards, beating 50,000 other businesses to the title.

It was their Toxteth branch that eventually wowed the judges enough to earn the accolade for their huge range of produce, highly competitive prices and dedicated staff – all traits which are found in every Manchester Superstore.

On Saturday 6th June, customers queued outside the new Oldham branch to get a glimpse of some of the famous bargains and a range of products never before available in the area.

By importing much of their own fruit and veg, Manchester Superstore supply the freshest variety of produce, whilst their shelves are stacked full of brands from around the world.

Head down to the Oldham branch today and take advantage of some special opening deals or visit your local store through Ramadan, for even more spectacular offers.

EMPTY: Base camps at Mount Everest have been empty following the earthquakes in Nepal

‘Safe to return’ As Nepal continues to recover from the devastating earthquakes which killed almost 9,000 people in April and May, the nation’s economy is struggling to claw back one of its vital markets.

Tourism, including trekking and climbing permit fees, currently accounts for around four per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product, with the attraction of Mount Everest drawing in people from around the world.

Following the two earthquakes on 25th April and 12th May, dozens of climbers and guides were killed meaning forcing many tourists to flee the Himalayan nation.

Hotels and trekking companies meanwhile have said they have

suffered heavy cancellations ahead of the autumn with experts saying catastrophic landslides could be triggered during this monsoon season that begins in mid-June.

Nepal will ask international experts to assess the safety of Mount Everest trekking trails in an effort to convince tourists it is safe to return after two devastating earthquakes closed most routes.

“After the earthquakes, many trekking groups started raising questions about the safety of hikers,” said Tulsi Prasad Gautam, the head of Nepal's tourism department. “Their cost of insurance also began to rise.

Therefore, we are undertaking the study to increase their confidence.”

Degree of uncertainty To become a law minister there are certain credentials one must have, with perhaps the most obvious being some sort of qualification in the field of law.

In India, New Delhi’s law minister, Jitender Singh Tomar, was arrested on Tuesday 9th June, after he falsely claimed to have achieved a law degree while representing a political party with an anticorruption platform.

His arrest is the latest embarrassment for the Delhi government, run by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or Common Man Party, which won power in February, in one of the largest election victories in India's history.

“Our investigation showed that the minister submitted a fake law degree in the election affidavit and had also obtained a licence to practice as a lawyer,” said Deepak Mishra, special commissioner of New Delhi police.

Telephone calls to Tomar seeking comment went unanswered whilst an AAP spokesman later on Tuesday told Reuters Tomar had resigned from his post.

The minister's qualifications became a topic of controversy after lawyers from the Delhi Bar Council made a police complaint seeking to examine his college degree.

AAP supporters accused the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of orchestrating the arrest on trumped-up charges following clashes over the right to appoint senior bureaucrats and police officials.

FAKE: Former law minister for New Dehli, Jitender Singh Tomar, lied about achieving a law degree

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Inquiry urged Did Keith Vaz breach codes of conduct to help a wealthy Indian businessman looking to move to the UK? An Inquiry has been urged into immigration help that Leicester East MP and former chairman of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee (HASC) - Keith Vaz gave to a wealthy Indian businessman looking to move to the UK. The parliamentary standards commissioner will be asked to consider whether Keith Vaz breached codes of conduct by intervening to help the Indian Premier League founder Lalit Modi secure travel documents.

It has emerged Mr Vaz wrote to director-general of UK visas and immigration Sarah Rapson to ask if the tycoon's travel papers could be made available.

No one has responded from Mr Vaz's office on why he lobbied officials on Mr Modi's behalf.

Tory MP for North West Leicestershire, Andrew Bridgen will now ask parliamentary standards commissioner Kathryn Hudson to look at the matter.

Mr Bridgen said: “As part of his role as chair of the HASC, Mr Vaz is entrusted with scrutinising and holding immigration officials to account.

“By seeking to lobby the same officials on behalf of an individual who is not his constituent, there are questions as to whether Mr Vaz created a conflict of interest.”

Mr Vaz, who is seeking reelection as HASC chairman, has issued a statement on his website.

It does not refer to Mr Modi, but says: "In the past year, over 270 people living outside my constituency have contacted me in my then capacity as chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee.

“A huge volume of cases have reached my office as a result of committee work, and there is a

duty to deal with these cases in a courteous and helpful manner.”

Mr Vaz said 42 cases had been referred to other MPs, and 230 were taken up directly with the Home Office, either to the Passport Office or to Immigration and Visas in the past year.

of delays, inefficiencies and problems with the immigration system.

“This is in the public interest if we are going to get a system that works.

“Last year, during the passport crisis, I publicly called for

“By seeking to lobby the same officials on behalf of an individual who is not his constituent, there are questions as to whether Mr Vaz created a conflict of interest.”

He said: “The majority of these cases were following the passport crisis of last summer.

“I expected people to contact me about problems with the immigration system and other matters.

“I actively encouraged people to bring to my attention examples

everyone with a passport issue to write to me.

“I then took up all the cases referred to me, copying the letters to the relevant MPs. “Even after referral, many MPs asked me to continue to take on the cases.”

National

QUESTIONS RAISED: Leicester East MP Keith Vaz helped Indian Premier League founder Lalit Modi secure travel documents

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INVESTIGATION: The family of Sheku Bayoh, ,who died in police custody have accused officers of lying over the circumstances

GRIEF: Sheku Bayoh’s partner Collette Bell and his mother Aminita grieve at a service at Dysart Muslim Cemetery in Fife

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The family of Sheku Bayoh who died after being held by police last month say they will not rest until they get answers.

A funeral was held in Kirkcaldy, Fife, last week for the 31-year-old whose death is being investigated by Scotland's police watchdog.

His family's lawyer said the cause of death has not yet been established and asked why no officer has been suspended since Mr Bayoh's death on 3rd May .

More than 250 people turned out to show their support in the town, taking part in a procession to Kirkcaldy police station where a two-minute silence was held for the father-of-two.

Friends and relatives including his partner, Collette Bell, and his mother, Aminita, said goodbye to Mr Bayoh, who was originally from Sierra Leone, at a service at Dysart Muslim Cemetery.

Mourners dressed in light blue his favourite colour - instead of black, and many wore "justice for Sheku" t-shirts and wrist bands.

His elder sister Kosna told a packed meeting at Temple Hall Community Centre: "He may have been laid to rest today but we won't rest until we get justice."

An investigation into Mr Bayoh's death is being undertaken by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC).

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) said officers had been responding to a call of a man brandishing a knife on Hayfield

Hundreds turn out for funeral cortege of man who died in police custody

Road.

Campaigners have questioned the level and appropriateness of any force used in his detention and criticised the reported delay in officers giving statements to PIRC. The body said this week that officers had agreed to provide statements after ''several attempts'' to secure them.

Lawyer Aamer Anwar told today's meeting: "Nobody should be allowed to evade accountability or to frustrate the investigation process and Sheku Bayoh's family will not rest until they have the truth.

"They have put their total faith in the Lord Advocate and in the PIRC ... but the family will accept nothing less than a robust, independent, transparent and impartial inquiry.

"I hope the people who are gathered here today, his friends, the people who worked with him, the people of Scotland, will support this family in their

struggle for truth."

Mr Bayoh was described by Mr Anwar as a "fit and healthy" man who was training to be a gas engineer.

Ms Bell, mother of his son Issac, wiped away tears as she read a poem in memory of her partner and his mother Aminita told the people gathered: "I will never forget him, he's the only son I have. We want the truth."

Professor Peter Watson of PBW Law, who represents the police officers involved, said: "Everyone acknowledges that this is an extremely serious incident and requires investigation.

"The police officers involved, including the female officer who was attacked, have been happy to cooperate from the outset but it was the responsibility of PIRC to declare the officers' status and that is a basic legal requirement.

This was officially confirmed on 2nd June."

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Stingrays also collect the data of all other phones in the area, meaning innocent people's communications are spied on

National

Evidence found of rogue towers called Stingrays that listen in on people’s calls Evidence has surfaced this week that operational rogue mobile phone towers, which can listen in on people's calls without their knowledge, are being operated in the UK. IMSI catchers, also known as Stingrays, mimic mobile phone masts and trick phones into logging on.

The controversial surveillance technology is used by police agencies worldwide to target the communications of criminals.

However, Stingrays also collect the data of all other phones in the area, meaning innocent people's communications are spied on.

"With IMSI catchers, it's very difficult for them to be used in a targeted manner," Eric King, deputy director of Privacy International, said.

"In an urban space, thousands of people's mobile phones would be swept up in that dragnet. What they do with that data, we don't know.

"We know police have been using them for years, but this is the first time that it's been shown that they're being deployed in the UK," Mr King said.

The discovery was made by Sky News who used software made by GMSK Cryptophone, a German security company, to look for the telltale signs of Stingray activity.

Over three weeks, Sky News discovered more than 20 instances in London. This is believed to be the first direct evidence of Stingray use in the UK.

Mobile phone tapping in UK

The CEO of Cryptophone, Bjoern Rupp, said: "The discovery can clearly be categorised as strong indicators for the presence of IMSI catchers in multiple locations."

In November, The Times reported that the Metropolitan Police Service, the UK's largest police force, was using Stingray technology, citing anonymous sources.

And according to The Guardian, the Metropolitan Police paid £143,455 for the surveillance equipment in 2009.

Despite repeated Freedom of Information requests, the Met neither confirms nor denies that the force uses IMSI catchers.

Asked directly about the force's use of stingrays, Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Met commissioner and the UK's most senior police officer, said: "We're not going to talk about it, because the only people who benefit are the other side, and I see no reason in giving away that sort of thing.

The police's refusal to comment on IMSI catchers means the legal framework that governs their use is unclear and near impossible to say exactly who is operating the stingrays detected.

IMSI catchers are nowadays available to buy on the internet for around £1,000. This raises the possibility that they might be used by foreign governments, private enterprises, or criminals to steal UK citizens' personal data.

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Cancer spread ‘trigger’ discovered New therapies to stop the deadly progression of breast cancer in its tracks could stem from a fresh study into the disease, researchers believe.

Scientists at the University of Edinburgh said they have discovered a "trigger" that allows breast cancer cells to spread to the lungs.

They found that blocking those signals in mice with breast cancer "greatly reduces" the number of secondary tumours found in the lungs.

The researchers hope their findings may one day translate into new treatments to stop the progression of breast cancer within the human body.

The majority of deaths from breast cancer are said to be caused by the tumour spreading to other parts of the body, with the lungs often among the first organs to be affected.

Researchers at the university's MRC Centre for Reproductive Health investigated the role that immune cells called macrophages play in helping cells from the original tumour to spread.

Their previous research has shown that breast cancer cells need the support of macrophages to invade the lungs and set up secondary tumours.

The team's latest research found that macrophages require

signalling molecules called chemokines to communicate with breast cancer cells.

But when scientists blocked these signals in mice, they found the number of secondary tumours in the lungs was reduced by up to two-thirds.

In addition, blocking the signals helped to stop the cancer cells getting into the lungs from the blood stream, and hindered those that did get into the lungs from establishing themselves and forming new tumours.

Human cells appear to use the same chemokine signals to communicate with each other, prompting researchers to hope that their findings may translate into new treatments to stop breast cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

Targeting a signalling molecule called CCR1 may result in fewer unwanted side-effects for patients while stopping the spread of breast cancer cells, experts said the results suggest.

Centre director Professor Jeffrey Pollard said: "Our findings open the door to the development of treatments that target the tumour microenvironment, which may stop the deadly progression of breast cancer in its tracks."

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Pregnant woman finds lizard in can of tomatoes whilst making curry pregnant woman in A Birmingham, discovered a dead lizard floating inside a can of tomatoes as she was cooking for her husband and 15-month-old son at their home in Alum Rock Road.

Sanam Hussain, who is seven months pregnant, reportedly began screaming after she saw the creature.

Her husband Muhammad Hussain ran into the kitchen to find the lizard floating

around.

"My wife was making lunch for me and our 15-month-old son.

When she opened the can, she saw something and screamed at me to come through. I saw it was a dead baby lizard," Mr Hussain said.

"We are worried about food poisoning. The can was part of a pack of 12. We had already eaten seven of them. Now my wife is off her food. I think we have been put

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GRIZZLY DISCOVERY: The tomato cans were bought at Masala Bazaar in Birmingham, which is an Asian supermarket owned by Euro Foods

off tinned tomatoes for life."

Hussain says she Mrs immediately felt sick when she saw the lizard. "It was disgusting.

I am in shock. I am so worried about my baby because I am pregnant. I talked to my midwife about it and she said if I feel ill, I should contact the hospital."

Mr Hussain says he purchased the tomato cans at Masala Bazaar, which is an Asian supermarket owned by Euro Foods. Euro

Foods has reportedly contacted its Italian supplier to investigate how the lizard got into the cans.

"This is a major concern," the company said. "We are in touch with the family and are going to collect the offending can and have it analysed to see at what stage of the process the lizard got introduced. Once we have investigated, we will put in controls to stop this happening again."

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The University of Exeter is hosting a series of events for Being Human 2015, the UK’s only national festival of the humanities. This involves a broad range of events including digital storytelling in Dartmoor, a theme park installation game aimed at teenagers, macro filming workshops exploring the body to creating modern folk ballads that reflects the heritage of the South West.

The programme has been made possible by a grant from the festival organisers, the School of Advanced Study, University of London with additional funds for specific projects from the University of Exeter. Now in its second year, Being Human is supported by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and the British Academy (BA) with support from the Wellcome Trust.

Following a successful application, the University of Exeter has been awarded funding to hold the event during the festival week in November.

The series of events will champion the excellence of humanities research being undertaken in the South West and help to demonstrate the vitality and relevance of this today. Forty-one grants have been awarded to universities and cultural organisations across the UK to participate in the 11 days of Being Human.

The grant will help the university bring together researchers and local

communities to engage with the humanities. The Devon and Cornwall based events will be part of an 11 day national programme of big ideas, big debates and engaging activities for all ages.

The festival will inform, extend and ignite contemporary thinking and imagination around the humanities.

James Clark, professor of history and Associate Dean for Research and Knowledge Transfer in the College of Humanities at the University of Exeter said: “These events provide exciting opportunities for our Humanities researchers to share, test out and challenge their latest ideas in a rich variety of formats across the region and for all of us who are passionate about the Humanities to join a national conversation’.

During the inaugural festival in 2014 over 60 universities and cultural organisations organised over 160 free events sharing the best and most challenging thinking in the humanities with audiences across the country. Extending beyond face-to-face interactions in the UK, the festival crossed borders on the web, reaching more than 2.2 million across Twitter and website visitors from around the globe.

The 2015 festival programme promises to be exciting, entertaining and thought-provoking, with something for everyone in our diverse communities.

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Make criminals pay for their court costs

New legal aid reforms will ensure those accused of a crime will cough up the cost of their case and assets frozen New measures to make criminals, rather than hard working taxpayers, pay more towards their legal bills have come into force, Legal Aid Minister Shailesh Vara announced.

The changes are the latest in a package of legal aid reforms which make sure those accused of a crime and

are wealthy enough to pay for some, or all, of their legal representation do so.

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is expected to be able to order recovery of up to £2million legal aid a year on average as a result of today's changes to the Proceeds of Crime Act. Legal aid costs can now be recovered

from convicted criminals where their money and assets had been frozen by the courts under this law.

Previously legal aid did not qualify for recovery from those assets, and so the only way to force criminals to pay up was through a separate, often unsuccessful, court battle after the criminal trial was finished.

The new law change allows legal aid to be recovered once other compensation and confiscation orders have been made.

Legal Aid Minister Shailesh Vara said: “Too often people convicted of crimes have been able to avoid paying what they owe. Legal aid is taxpayers' money and it is right we do not spend it on those who can afford to pay their own costs. These measures will make sure legal aid is repaid, and are another vital step in creating a fair and credible system.”

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act those accused have financial assets identified which are then 'restrained' by the court meaning they cannot be spent or moved by the person who has been charged until their trial is over. If they are convicted these assets can then be used by the court to pay compensation to victims or to make confiscation orders.

From 1st June the new regulations will mean any finances left after those payments are made can now continue to be restrained if the person also still owes unpaid legal aid bills. In appropriate cases the court can

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CHANGE: Legal Aid Minister Shailesh Vara announced that the new law will enable the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) to order the recovery of up to £2 million legal aid a year

now allow the LAA to use these remaining assets to cover any outstanding legal aid costs or contributions.

The changes are the latest in a series of moves to make sure the wealthiest who can afford to pay for their own defence costs are not unfairly leaving the taxpayer to pick up the bill.

In January 2014 a financial eligibility threshold of £37,500 or more annual disposable household income was

introduced for Crown Court cases so that the richest defendants are no longer automatically provided with legal aid up-front at public expense.

This would typically be defendants who have at least £3,000 in disposable income, after they have paid key costs like tax, housing and childcare costs and other essential outgoings every month. This means the LAA no longer have to fight to get the money back after their trial.

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EXECUTION: Pakistani Christian relatives of Aftab Bahadur Masih mourn beside his body after his execution in Lahore on 10th June

HANGED: Aftab Bahadur, who was hanged despite protests concerning his age at the time of conviction

Aftab Bahadur Masih: Pakistan just hanged an innocent man

Record keeping is not a strong point of the Pakistani bureaucracy, but it seems probable that, when he was hanged at 4.30am local time last night, Aftab Bahadur became the 150th victim of the Pakistani hangman's noose since the moratorium was lifted roughly 150 days ago.

In some ways his plight was typical. For example, he was too poor to hire competent counsel.

He was too poor to avoid torture by the police. He did not have the £320 bribe that the police demanded to let him go.

Until we (Reprieve) and the Justice Project Pakistan recently jumped in to provide pro bono legal help, he had not had a lawyer at all for almost two decades. That is as it has ever been: capital punishment means those without the capital get the punishment.

He was too young and uneducated to defend himself.

Aged just 15 when he was arrested in September 1992, he did not even know that his age disqualified him from the gallows.

So he did not press his court appointed lawyer to raise the point and the courts would later say he had missed his chance. But the best estimate is that roughly 1,099 of the 8,261 prisoners on Pakistan's death row may be juveniles, so again he was an archetypal victim.

He would have had a difficult time defending himself anyway, as he was tried in the special courts – the precursor to the anti-terror courts (ATC) – where there are fewer protections against evidence elicited by torture, and where the appellate process is radically curtailed.

By Clive Stafford Smith info@asianexpress.co.uk

But then that is not so unique: our recent study shows that more than 85% of those tried in the ATC had nothing even plausibly to do with terrorism. It is just a pretext, founded on fear, to strip away the limited due process that might otherwise protect someone like Aftab. And it is not unique to Pakistan, as I can attest after 34 visits to Guantanamo Bay. It is, perhaps, ironic that he was tried in what is called the 'speedy trial courts', since Aftab spent more than half of his life (over 22 of his 38 years) on death row.

Again that is not so rare.

We already have clear data for 112 of the first 150 people who have been hanged. Of these, just six were executed within ten years, which would be roughly how long they might have served on a life sentence. The other 106 spent far longer with the Sword of Damocles hanging over them - up to 24 years - before Pakistan finally got around to killing them.

Finally, the fact that Aftab was hanged for a crime he did not commit – the tragic death of Sabiha Bari and her two sons on 5th September, 1992 – also hardly sets his case apart. After all, on one trip to Pakistan I had coffee with a judge who was presiding over a capital trial. I asked him how certain he had to be before condemning someone to the gallows. He said: “Maybe sixty percent sure.”

I pointed out that this meant he was aiming to be wrong four times in ten, and if he aimed low, he would surely miss. His reply: “The evidence in Pakistani courts is so

unreliable that if he held the prosecution to a higher standard he could never convict anyone.”

Ultimately, however, there could hardly be a less appropriate victim of the hangman's noose than Aftab. In the past week, the 'eyewitness' to the murder recanted, saying that he lied when he said Aftab did it. Indeed, he said he was not even there, so he did not see anything.

Meanwhile the other 'witness' co-accused Ghulam - said, to his credit, that he could not go to his own maker without clearing Aftab. He had, he said, been forced to implicate Aftab by the police, and he now wanted to make clear that it was a lie, and Aftab was innocent.

As the seconds ticked by to 4.30am, a relative of the victims appeared and, hurriedly and long past the Eleventh Hour, insisted he wanted to pardon one of the two men waiting to die: one, but not the other. So who would live, and who would have a reprieve?

Would it be Ghulam, the adult who insisted he had falsely implicated Aftab? Or would it be Aftab, then a 15 year old child, who had clearly had nothing to do with the crime?

And so it was that Ghulam was spared. Aftab made that last walk to the gallows at Lahore Central Jail, where he wept, and insisted that he was an innocent man.

Then the executioner placed the noose around his neck and pulled the lever, hurling him down to twist and dangle until he was dead.

Clive Stafford Smith is the Director of the legal action charity Reprieve, at www.reprieve.org.uk

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• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A driver contracted with U.S.based online taxi company Uber Technologies was arrested near New Delhi on Tuesday 2nd June, police said, after a woman passenger accused him of sexual harassment when she hailed his cab over the weekend.

Uber was banned in New Delhi in December 2014 after another woman passenger accused one of its drivers of rape. The company resumed its services in January after applying for a radio taxi licence, which it still awaits.

The latest accusation surfaced on social media when the woman's brother, Ankush Pathania, posted a picture of Uber's response to the complaint and urged the company to take swift action. A police complaint was registered late on Monday 1st June.

“The driver was arrested after the initial investigation,” said a police official in Gurgaon, a city near New Delhi. “He is in police custody and we are cross-questioning him.”

India: Uber driver accused of sexual harassment Pathania's sister, a 21-year-old professional dancer, has alleged that an Uber driver kissed her hand after dropping her in Gurgaon on Saturday night. She ran away when the driver tried to kiss her on the mouth.

“My sister will now share her part of the story with the police,” Pathania said. “We want the driver to be punished.”

Indian law generally prohibits the identification of victims of sex crimes. The law is intended to protect victims' privacy and keep them from the media glare in a country where the social stigma associated with such crimes can be devastating.

Authorities in New Delhi have maintained that Uber is banned in the capital and is operating without

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permission. However, the transport ministry said in April such companies should be better regulated but not banned.

Uber offers taxi services using its mobile application. In recent weeks, it has launched new safety features including stricter background screening of its drivers and an inapp SOS button that connects to the police.

Before the driver's arrest, police official Amit Kumar said both the woman and the driver would be questioned in the case. Uber said it was willing to share the necessary information with authorities.

“Uber has a zero-tolerance policy towards inappropriate behaviour,” Uber's general manager for Delhi, Gagan Bhatia, said in a statement.

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• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Pakistan rules out sharing nuclear weapons with Saudis Pakistan ruled out sharing its nuclear weapons with Saudi Arabia, insisting that the atomic arsenal would continue serving solely for Pakistan's national defense even as world powers and Iran near a possible nuclear agreement.

Closing a wide-ranging trip to Washington, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry angrily rejected speculation that his country could sell or transfer nuclear arms or advanced technology as ‘unfounded and baseless’.

Pakistan has long been among the world's greatest proliferation threats, having shared weapons technology with Iran, Libya and North Korea. And American and other intelligence services have been taking seriously the threat of Saudi Arabia or other Arab countries potentially seeking the Muslim country's help in matching Iran's nuclear capabilities, even if the U.S. says there is no evidence of such action right now.

"Pakistan is not talking to Saudi Arabia on nuclear issues, period," Chaudhry insisted. The arsenal, believed to be in excess of 100 weapons, is focused only on Pakistan's threat perception from ‘the East’, Chaudhry said, a clear reference to long-standing rival and fellow nuclear power India.

Chaudhry said his country has significantly cracked down in recent years on proliferation, improving its export controls and providing U.N. nuclear monitors with all necessary information.

Pakistan also won't allow any weapons to reach terrorists, he said.

Pakistan detonated its first nuclear weapons in 1998, shortly after India did.

At the same time, the father of Pakistan's nuclear program, A.Q. Khan, was shopping advanced technology to many of the world's most distrusted governments. He sold centrifuges for enriching bomb-making material to the Iranians, Libyans and North Koreans, and also shared designs for fitting warheads on ballistic missiles. He was forced into retirement in 2001.

Concerns now centre on how the Sunni Arab governments of the Middle East will respond if the U.S. and other governments clinch a nuclear deal with Shiite Iran by the end of the month. Such questions inevitably lead to Pakistan, the only Muslim country in the nuclear club and one with historically close ties to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi officials, for their part, have repeatedly refused to rule out any steps to protect their country, saying they will not negotiate their faith or their security.

Chaudhry was in the American capital for a U.S.-Pakistan strategic dialogue and meetings with several senior diplomatic and military officials.

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• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS INSPIRATIONAL: After being shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban in 2012, Malala Yousafzai has gone on to be an advocate for girl’s rights to education

Malala ‘attackers’ freed Eight men who had been charged with organising the shooting of education activist, Malala Yousafzai in 2012, have been freed due to what Pakistani officials labelled ‘a lack of evidence’.

Ten men were initially sentenced in April this year for 25 years each after being convicted in a trial held behind closed doors.

The news of eight of the men’s release on Friday 5th June, came as a shock to many and once again

Insufficient evidence to jail men who ‘admitted’ role in shooting brings the heavily criticised justice system in Pakistan into question.

Senior police official Salim Khan said they were freed due to a lack of evidence.

“The only reason for their release was lack of proof against them,” Khan said.

Prosecutor Naeem Khan said the men had confessed to the court that they had helped plan the attack yet denied that any of them was the actual gunmen.

“During the trial, all the 10 persons had admitted and confessed their role in Malala's attack before the judge of the anti-terrorism court. But only two of them, Izhar Khan and Israrullah Khan, were convicted

while the remaining eight were freed,” Khan said.

Pakistani Taliban militants claimed responsibility for attacking Malala in 2012 as she travelled home from school in Swat, northwest of the capital Islamabad. She was shot in the head and airlifted to Britain for treatment, where she now lives.

Two other schoolgirls were also wounded.

Malala became a global symbol of defiance after she campaigned for girls' education despite Taliban repression and she won the 2014 Nobel Peace prize.

Khan said he filed an appeal against the acquittal on 18th May but the men had already been freed on 30th April.

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Hypersonic Fancy popping over to New York for the day? Well, it may sound like a fanciful sci-fi idea, but flights between New York and London taking just an hour could be just eight years away!

The technology that the U.S Airforce are currently working on for the hypersonic air vehicle is based on the X-51 Waverider, which flew at a staggering Mach 5.1 (or 3,882 mph) 60,000 ft over the Pacific two years ago.

Chief scientist Mica Endsley said that it's more science fact than science fiction.

“X-51 was really a proof of concept test. It showed that you could get a scram jet engine, launch it off an aircraft and it could go hypersonic.

“It was able to go more than Mach 5 until it ran out of fuel. It was a very successful test of an airborne hypersonic weapons system.”

For those planning a day-trip shopping in Times Square, though, be warned that they're currently developing the technology for solely military means, and hope to be able to use their findings in missile testing by 2020.

Air vehicle being researched by American Airforce who say that it could fly from London to New York within an hour

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• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Child abuse costs East Asia and Pacific $209 billion a year Child abuse and neglect are costing countries in East Asia and the Pacific an estimated $209 billion a year, equivalent to two per cent of the region's GDP, researchers have said in the region's first study of the economic impact of abuse.

Child abuse affects victims' education, long-term physical and mental health and work performance, and increases the risk of adult aggression, violence and criminality, the researchers said.

Some maltreatment is preventable. Earlier studies in the United States and Europe, cited by the researchers, found that the right forms of prevention can reduce severe forms of maltreatment by up to 50 per cent.

"We all know that violence against children must stop because it is morally wrong. This research shows that inaction about violence results in serious economic costs to countries and communities," the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) regional director for East Asia and the Pacific, Daniel Toole, said in a statement.

"Governments need to take urgent action to address violence against children, both for the sake of the children themselves and for the wellbeing of future generations," he added.

UNICEF commissioned international experts to carry out the research. They aggregated data from 364 previous studies of neglect, physical, sexual and emotional

abuse, and the impact of witnessing domestic violence, and estimated the costs involved.

The most common form of abuse in the region is emotional, which affects 42 per cent of girls in highincome countries. In China alone it affects some two thirds of children aged three to six years old.

It also costs the most - $65.9 billion - followed by physical and sexual abuse (costing $39.9 billion a year each), neglect ($32.4 billion), and witnessing domestic violence ($31 billion).

East Asia has one of the world's highest levels of ill-health caused by child sexual abuse.

About one third of men and boys have experienced physical abuse in lower middle income countries throughout the Pacific and East Asian region, and 22 per cent of women and girls have experienced sexual abuse.

A separate study carried out in Cambodia recently found that over 50 percent of children experience at least one form of violence before the age of 18. About a quarter of Cambodian children had been emotionally abused and five percent sexually abused.

"All children have the right to live free from violence, which harms their physical and mental growth and inhibits the growth of their society and economies," Toole said.

"Violence against children often takes place behind closed doors but it is preventable when people come together and say loudly and clearly that this is not acceptable," he added.

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• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS A United States Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Muslim woman who sued for discrimination after being denied a sales job at age 17 at an Abercrombie & Fitch Co (ANF.N) clothing store in Oklahoma because she wore a head scarf for religious reasons.

In an 8-1 decision in the important religious rights case, the court backed Samantha Elauf, who had been rejected under Abercrombie's sales staff "look policy" after coming to her job interview wearing the head scarf, or hijab, used by many Muslim women.

The decision marked a victory for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that sued the company on Elauf's behalf after she was turned down in 2008 at an Abercrombie Kids store in Tulsa.

"Observance of my faith should not have prevented me from getting a job. I am glad that I stood up for my rights, and happy that the EEOC was there for me and took my complaint to the courts," Elauf said in a statement issued by the EEOC. Elauf, now 24, initially won a $20,000 judgment against Abercrombie before a federal district court. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver then threw that out, ruling in favor of Abercrombie, before the high court backed

Elauf.

"We welcome this historic ruling in defense of religious freedom at a time when the American Muslim community is facing increased levels of Islamophobia," said Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Christian-owned company that objected on religious grounds to providing health insurance coverage for birth control for women.

Abercrombie said that in April it replaced that policy with "a new dress code that allows associates to be more individualistic" while also

SUPPORT: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favour of Samantha Elauf who filed a lawsuit after she was denied a job at an Abercrombie & Fitch Co (pictured with her mother Majda Elauf )

Muslim woman wins head-scarf discrimination case against designer label The ruling was the second decision by the high court during its current term in favor of a Muslim alleging discrimination. In January, the justices found that an Arkansas policy prohibiting inmates from having beards violated the religious rights of a prisoner who had wanted to grow one in accordance with his Muslim beliefs.

The court has taken an expansive view of religious rights. Last year, it sided with a

changing hiring practices so "attractiveness" is no longer a factor.

Muslim groups said in court papers in support of Elauf that employment discrimination against Muslims is widespread in the United States. Often, the act of a woman wearing a head scarf triggers the discrimination, they said.

Groups representing Christians, Jews and Sikhs also filed court papers backing Elauf.

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Entertainment THE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT AND CELEBRITY NEWS FROM BOLLYWOOD & HOLLYWOOD

Parineeti Chopra

Stars rock Malaysia at Bollywood Oscars

IIFA 2015

It was a night of Bollywood glamour and energy at the International Indian Film Academy's (IIFA) annual awards ceremony with India's biggest stars descending on the Malaysian capital for the event.

Dubbed the Bollywood's Oscars bollywood celebrities dazzled the audience with the colourful musical dance numbers that India's cinema is

famous for on Sunday 7th June.

Almost 4,000 fans gathered at the Putra Indoor stadium, just south of Kuala Lumpur, to see screen idols like Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha and Tiger Shroff who won the best male debut award - perform on stage.

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Stars rock Malaysia at Bollywood Oscars

June 2015 - 2nd Edition

IIFA 2015 Stars rock Malaysia at Bollywood's Oscars

Hrithik Roshan performs during the International Indian Film Academy Gulshan Grover

Bipasha Basu

Anushka Sharma stole the show with her sizzling dance performance during the ceremony that saw films Haider, Queen and PK scoring big wins.

Kapoor and Kangana Ranaut snapped up the male and female awards for best performance in a leading role for Haider and Queen respectively, while Rajkumar Hirani won best director for PK and Vikas Bahl's film Queen was named best picture.

Deepika Padukone, meanwhile, was honoured with the Woman of the Year award, after a busy year with films Piku, Happy New Year and Finding Fanny.

The IIFA recognises both the artistic and technical excellence of professionals in Bollywood's Hindi cinema and always holds its awards ceremony outside of India to demonstrate Bollywood's international appeal.

"The way Indian movies are shot filled with glamour, beautiful dance and music - is making people from Europe, China and Japan attracted to it with great interest," Mumbai-based director Shyam Shroff said.

"Day by day all our traditional markets are growing by leaps and bounds. The next target of Indian movies should be the mainstream Americans," he added.

The starry fiesta began with the Bollywood celebrities sparkling on the green carpet as fans screamed and clapped with excitement.

Actress Padukone was in a maroon

Huma Qureshi and Jacqueline Fernandez

and gold embellished sari while Sharma was a red siren in a strapless gown.

Many of the actress opted for black, including Sinha in a backless dress and Parineeti Chopra whose strapless frock boasted an impressive train.

The awards were anchored by Bollywood's funny duo Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor.

The pair drew big laughs with their witty repartees especially when they forced Bollywood hunk Sonu Sood to remove his shirt revealing his toned physique.

The two talented actors captivated Bollywood fans by aiming their jokes at actors Anil Kapoor and Jacqueline Fernandez, as they also took a stab at censorship.

In February Indian police registered a case against the pair for singing a reworking of a song with the Hindi word for penis substituting some lyrics, in a case that sparked a furore over freedom of expression.

This year's event spanned three days and included film and music workshops, fashion shows, fans meet-and-greets, technical awards and media briefings of forthcoming movies.

With a viewership of almost 800 million, the IIFA Awards is India's biggest media event and also one of the world's most-watched annual entertainment shows.

Anil Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana and Neha Dhupia along with Mr. H E Naimun Ashakli Mohammad (High Commissioner of Malaysia to India), Mr. Tony Nagamaiah (General Manager, Malaysia Major Events), Mr. Raj Nayak (CEO Colors) and Mr. Anil Khera (CEO Videocon D2H)

Dressed in striped tuxedos and top hats, Gunday co-stars Ranveer and Arjun spared nobody and took no prisoners - from Aamir Khan to Anurag Kashyap, Karan Johar to Shahid Kapoor, there was a wisecrack for everyone

‌ and the winners are

Best debut-female: Kriti Sanon for Heropanti Best debut direction: Umang Kumar for Mary Kom Best debut direction: Sajid Nadiadwala for Kick Best music direction: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy for 2States Best male playback singer: Ankit Tiwari for Galliyaan (Ek Villian) Best female playback singer: Kanika Kapoor for Baby Doll (Ragini MMS2) Best perfornance in a comic role: Varun Dhavan for Main Tera Hero Best debut- male: Tiger Shroff for Heropanti Best performance in a negative role: Kay Kay Menon for Haider Best male performance in a supporting role: Riteish Deshmukh for Ek Villian Best female performance in a supporting role: Tabu for Haider Best regional film: Lai Bhari Best story: Vikas Bahl, Chaitally Parmar & Parvez Shaikh for Queen Best direction: Rajkumar Hirani for PK Best male performance in a leading role: Shahid Kapoor for Haider Best female performance in a leading role: Kangana Ranaut for Queen Best picture: Queen

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Stars of award-winning supernatural thriller ‘Unhallowed Ground’ celebrate

Ameet Chana & wife Shalu

‘WAITING’ not too long now!

A London-based singersongwriter, who spent most of her early years in India follows up her duet single with Maxi Priest with a brand new solo track called ‘Waiting’.

Indiraa writes her own lyrics as a way of coping with her troubles and life long battle with depression. She is known for her emotional lyrics, which talk about her experiences of her own life and of what she has seen while travelling around the world.

Indiraa stormed to prominence with her infectious electro pop hits, ‘I Get off’ and ‘Shrink’. Both tracks made it to the top 10 club charts in the UK . Her single 'Bipolar' became an instant dance hit.

Working with the likes of Soulshaker, producer Simon Ellis

and leading Bollywood music producers Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy, Indiraa has joined hands with producer and song writer Livingston Brown, renowned British soul producer.

The new single Waiting is set for release in the UK on 11th June, 2015 and will be available via usual platforms to download and also to stream.

This year will also see Indiraa embarking on her two new television shows. One is about her and the people in her community while the other programme will see Indiraa taking on the role as the first British Asian female to present a show which will talk about cultural taboo’s within the South Asian Communities in the UK.

Stars of the award-winning supernatural thriller ‘Unhallowed Ground’ gathered at Watermans Centre, Brentford for a gala evening to celebrate the film’s upcoming theatrical release.

The evening (Tuesday 2nd June) was hosted by popular BBC presenters, Sunny and Shay Grewal and was attended by some members of the cast including Rachel Petladwala, Paul Raschid and Ameet Chana. Other stars of stage and screen included Abigail Cruttenden, Rebecca Saire, Sarah Greene, Ronny Jhutti and Bhasker Patel.

‘Unhallowed Ground’ releases in selected screens nationwide on 12th June 2015.

A hit on the independent festival circuit, the film won ‘Best Horror Film’ at the prestigious London Independent Film Festival and its young and talented cast picked up two awards at the British Independent Film Festival, with Marcus Griffiths winning ‘Best Supporting Actor’ for his portrayal of feisty Aki Adebola, while his co-star Rachel Petladwala won ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for her role as sporty student Meena Shah.

Set in an historic British boarding school, the film follows six students from two prestigious single-sex private schools, who spend a night patrolling the eerie grounds of Dhoultham School as part of an initiative with the British Army to empower them with basic military training. As each hour passes and the teenagers complete their mundane tasks, they witness a series of increasingly disturbing occurrences: slamming doors, flickering lights and ghostly apparitions.

As they spend more and more time together, personal conflicts are magnified and the school’s gruesome history erupts with deadly consequences. Meanwhile, the ante is upped by two brazen burglars who have chosen this very night to carry out a heist on the school archive room - a vault of priceless historical documents and artefacts. As the supernatural encounters begin to take an increasingly malevolent turn, the students realise they must escape Dhoultham before the night's end.

The film stars: Roman Polanski’s daughter, Morgane Polanski (Vikings Season 3), Poppy Drayton (Downton Abbey), Thomas Law (The World’s End, Eastenders), Marcus Griffiths (Skins), Rachel Petladwala (MI High) and Paul Raschid (Ealing Comedy) as the

Sunny and Shay

students; Will Thorp (Casualty, Coronation Street; A.D. The Bible Continues), and Ameet Chana (Bend it Like Beckham, Eastenders) as the burglars and Andrew Lewis (Holby City) as the headmaster.

The production also showcases a talented creative team including: Paul Raschid who at just 22, makes his screenwriting debut as well as playing a key role in the film; his father Neville Raschid produces his fifth independent British film; experienced documentarian Russell England makes his feature

Paul Raschid and Rachel Petladwala

Neville Raschid and Paul Raschid

directorial debut; while awardwinning musician, composer and fellow in Screen and Media Music Composition at Cambridge University, Xiaotian Shi creates the score.

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FILM: Piku DIRECTED BY: Shoojit Sircar GENRE: Comedy/Drama STAR CAST: Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan

RELEASE DATE: 8/5/2015

The sparks fly as an estranged father and daughter are forced together on a long road trip.

Piku Banerjee (Deepika Padukone) is a Bengali architect who resides in Delhi, along with her 70-year-old father, Bhashkor (Amitabh Bachchan). Bhashkor has problems with constipation and traces every problem's root to his bowel movements. Piku (Deepika Padukone) and her father, Bashkor (Amitabh Bachchan) love each other dearly but aren't particularly close - which is partly down to their wildly differing personalities.

When they're forced together on a road trip to Kolkata, they have to then confront the demons of the past, work out how to get closer and finally become close again. Can they bury the ghosts of the past and plan their future together, or are they just two people that shouldn't spend time together? ' “As a character and a film, it's extremely relatable, not just to an Indian audience, but globally as well,” says star Deepika Padukone.

“Piku is a beautiful, quirky take on a fatherdaughter relationship and tells the tale of how we begin taking care of our parents as they get older.”

RELE

ASE DATE: FILM: Tanu Weds Manu Returns 2 2 /5 /2015 DIRECTED BY: Aanand Rai GENRE: Comedy STAR CAST: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Jimmy Shergill, Deepak Dobriyal The sequel to the hit 2011 comedy brings the main actors and director back together for another slice of comedy gold.

Four years after Manu met and wed Tanu in the hit original film (titled, unsurprisingly, Tanu Weds Manu), the lovable couple are back.

Not only are the original stars back, with Kangana Ranaut as Tanuja 'Tanu' Trivedi and Madhavan as Manoj 'Manu' Sharma, but the original film's director, Aanand Rai, is back too.

Although the pair are now settled in London, Manu is busy working hard and Tanu is bored.

Horribly homesick, Tanu decides to fly back to India, but is closely followed by her beloved husband.

The only problem is though, when Manu returns to India, it's Tanu's doppelganger - a Haryanvi athlete! - that he meets and falls in love with.

Kangana Ranaut and R Madhavan are reprising their quirkysweet roles in this romantic drama which, the actress says, will show the tricky grounds of a marriage.

“I hear so many love stories every year but no one wants to go to

the tricky grounds of a marriage. What we all see is happy ending and not what happens after marriage and what it takes to fall in love

June 2015 - 2nd Edition

FILM: Bombay Velvet DIRECTED BY: Anurag Kashyap GENRE: Crime Drama STAR CAST: Ranbir Kapoor, Kay Kay Menon, Manish Choudhary, Raveena Tandon, Anushka Sharma Ombay Velvet is a gritty Hindi crime drama inspired by the writings of American authors such as James Ellroy.

This tough drama is set in 1960s Bombay, and explores the lives of boxer Johnny Balraj (Ranbir Kapoor) RELEASE DATE: and aspiring jazz singer Rosie (Anushka 15/5/2015 Sharma). eventually ran away with the gold Although based on the he earned illegally. book 'Mumbai Fables' by historian Gyan The lead female protagonist, Rosie, Prakash, this crime epic also owes as much to comes from a middle class Goan family; she classic hardboiled American fiction from the was abused in childhood by a Jazz teacher. likes of James Ellroy.

Both Balraj and Rosie find their shaky Bollywood megastars Ranbir Kapoor and freedom in Bombay, where Rosie ends up Anushka Sharma make for dynamic leads being the jazz singer in the club run by Balraj. and there's support from the likes of Kay By now, Balraj is Johnny, renamed by a Kay Menon, Manish Choudhary and Parsi real estate baron called Khambatta, Raveena Tandon. who runs an influential newspaper.

The film's international release is edited by Khambatta is also gay, mentioned in a rival the esteemed Thelma Schoonmaker, longtime newspaper by the derogatory term collaborator with Martin Scorsese on the "fruitcake". likes of ‘Raging Bull’, ‘Goodfellas’ and ‘The Johnny becomes Khambatta's love-pawn Departed’. whom he misuses for his own ends. He tries The lead male character in Bombay Velvet to forget the scars of his past by receiving is Balraj, an orphan brought up by a woman new ones in the boxing ring. who was forced into prostitution, and who

again,” says Kangana.

“This film will convey that.

It’s an urban, relatable issue and a beautiful love story. It can easily be a real life story.”

RE

LEASE DATE: FILM: ABCD 2 1 9/6/2015 DIRECTED BY: Remo D Souza GENRE: Drama STAR CAST: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Allu Arjun, Prabhu Deva, Lauren Gottlieb, Raghav Juyal, Dharmesh Yelande, Remo D Souza ABCD 2 is a grand 3D Dance Film, which travels to the vibrant city of Las Vegas and is a bittersweet journey of love, friendship, betrayal, honour and redemption.

The story traces the journey of an Indian dance troupe, a motley assortment of boys and girls who come from the backstreets of a Mumbai suburb; their rise to fame, sudden downfall and then their heroic attempt to seek vindication by regaining their lost glory and pride.

The sequel to one of India's biggest dance movies of all time takes the troupe to the international stage. After the enormous success of India's first 3D dance film, ‘ABCD’ (Any Body Can Dance), Disney India and

world-renowned choreographer turned director Remo D'Souza are promising bigger thrills and spills for the sequel.

Reuniting the two lead stars (Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor) with their mentor Vishnu (Prabhu Deva), the story follows the Indian dance troupe to Las Vegas for an international dance competition.

But with the stakes higher and much tougher competition, can the boys and girls from the Mumbai suburbs go back to India as champions? Will they be able to achieve success at the biggest International platform?

Will they make their beloved Vishnu Sir proud, who is himself struggling with his not so perfect past?

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jSuEnPTe 2015

SPY STARRING: MELISSA MCCARTHY, JASON STATHAM, ROSE BYRNE, MIRANDA HART, BOBBY CANNAVALE DIRECTOR: PAUL FEIG GENRE: COMEDY UK RELEA Melissa McCarthy SE D goes undercover in 5/6/2015ATE: this hilarious espionage comedy.

Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is a middle-aged desk-bound CIA analyst, who is the agency's unsung hero behind their most dangerous missions.

However, when one of her colleagues, the James Bond-like Bradley Fine (Jude Law) is killed by lethal enemy agent Rayna Boyanov (Rose Byrne), she decides to go out into the field to avenge his death.

Sent out undercover, Cooper must infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent a global disaster.

ENTOURAGE

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STARRING: KEVIN CONNOLLY, ADRIAN GRENIER, KEVIN DILLON, JERRY FERRARA, PLUS CAMEOS DIRECTOR: DOUG ELLIN GENRE: DRAMA, COMEDY UK R

ELEASE D ATE:

8/6/2015 Four years on from the final episode of the award-winning HBO series, the boys are back with their own celebrity entourage in tow.

Movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) is about to direct his first film, with the help of agentturned-movie head, Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven).

Gold secures the $100 million budget from Texas billionaire Larsen McCredle (Billy Bob Thornton) and his son Travis (Haley Joel Osment). But Chase's film soon goes over-budget and Gold realises his studio is in trouble with only its first movie.

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22 years after the events of Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond.

This new park is owned

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Owen, a member of Jurassic World’s on-site staff, conducts behavioural research on the Velociraptors.

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MR HOLMES STARRING: IAN MCKELLEN, COLIN STARKEY, LAURA LINNEY, HATTIE MORAHAN, HIROYUKI SANADA DIRECTOR: BILL CONDON GENRE: DRAMA TBC

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Sir Ian McKellen takes UK RELEA on the role of the SE iconic Baker 19/6/20D1ATE: 5 Street detective in this acclaimed drama.

It's 1947 and the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, is long retired and living in relative anonymity in Sussex with only his housekeeper Mrs Munro (Laura Linney) and her young son Roger (Milo Parker) for company.

Angry due to his former partner Dr John Watson's misrepresentation of him in the series of bestselling novels, his mind turns to his final case, one that has remained frustratingly unsolved in the years since.

THE LONGEST RIDE STARRING: SCOTT EASTWOOD, BRITT ROBERTSON, ALAN ALDA, JACK HUSTON, MELISSA BENOIST DIRECTOR: GEORGE TILMAN JR GENRE: DRAMA

UK RELEA SE DATE:

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19/6/201 A former rodeo rider falls 5 in love with an artist in this passionate romantic drama.

Luke (Scott Eastwood) made his name as a championship rodeo rider but is now coasting on former glories.

While planning to make a comeback, he meets and falls in love with aspiring artist Sophia (Britt Robertson).

When their paths cross with elderly car crash victim Ira (Alan Alda), his memories of the past have a major emotional impact on Luke and Sophia's relationship.

Past and present collide in the latest romance from The Notebook author Nicholas Sparks, providing a passionate tale of two lovers from very different backgrounds.

STARRING: SANDRA BULLOCK, JOHN HAMM DIRECTOR: KYLE BALDA, PIERRE COFFIN GENRE: COMEDY, FAMILY Those lovable little yellow minions from 'Despicable Me' team up with a female villain voiced by Sandra Bullock.

Back in the 1960s, long before they met despicable Gru, the minions find themselves living in Antarctica without a master.

So two of the bravest henchmen venture forth to a villain convention, where they find Scarlett Overkill (Sandra Bullock) scheming to become the world's first female supervillain.

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GS F!!!

Dynamic European debut for new V8-powered Lexus

The latest Lexus to carry the marque’s F performance designation will give a first European demonstration of its speed and handling on Goodwood’s famous hillclimb course, with Toyota Gazoo Racing pilot Mike Conway at the wheel.

The V8-powered machine will be a poised performer, having been dynamically honed on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife during its development programme.

Although the confines of the Goodwood hill won’t permit a full-blooded drive, the car’s sound, turn of speed and sharp-edged styling promise to make a big impression.

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DEBUT: The new Lexus GS F will be driven in public for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (26th to 28th June)

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Motors

Forty years on from the unveiling of its first ever mid-rear-engined V8 model, the 308 GTB, the Prancing Horse opens a new chapter in its 8cylinder history.

The turbocharged Ferrari 488 GTB - successor to the much-loved 458 Italia, provides track-level performance that can be enjoyed to the full even by non-professional drivers in everyday use.

Giving us a generational shift, its new eight-cylinder, mid-engine sports-car standard-bearer is an insane-revving, naturally aspirated V-8 retired in favor of a turbocharged unit. This follows Ferrari’s recent promise that all of its future engines will be turbocharged or hybridized.

The new engine is smaller than its predecessor, and its displacement of 488 cubic centimeters per cylinder gives the car its name: 488GTB. Multiplied by eight, that works out to 3902 cc for the new 90-degree V-8, which is mated to, as was the 458’s V-8, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Despite the 0.6-liter reduction in displacement, the new engine makes more power: 661 horsepower at 8000 rpm, versus 597 horsepower at 9000 rpm for the 458 Speciale.

Torque, predictably, is greater as well, reaching 561 lb-ft at a low 3000 rpm, far eclipsing the 458 Speciale’s 398 lb-ft.

Like the screaming, naturally aspirated 458, the 488 uses an engine with a flat-plane crankshaft that should help it retain the “seductive soundtrack” that Ferrari promises.

Variable Torque Management helps get the power all the way to the rear wheels posthaste. Ferrari claims that the superquick sevenspeed transmission will enable the engine to hit the rev limiter in fourth gear just six seconds after the car leaves from a stop.

The extra oomph shaves only fractions of a second from the official Fiorano lap time compared with the latest and greatest iteration of the 458, the Speciale A (which just debuted last fall). The 488GTB gets around Fiorano in 1:23.0, a halfsecond quicker than the Speciale A. The two cars both claim a 3.0second zero-to-62-mph time. As speeds increase, however, the 488GTB shows its advantage, reaching 124 mph in 8.3 seconds, compared to its forebear’s 9.5.

Aside from the revolutionary change affecting the redheaded beauty under the plexiglass cover, the specs indicate that the 488GTB otherwise hews closely to the formula that has been so successful in the 458.

The shapely new body is 1.6 inches longer than the 458 Italia’s, 0.6 inch wider, and identical in height. Ferrari says the new car has less aerodynamic drag but creates 50 percent greater downforce (stated as 717 pounds at 155 mph).

Large, body-side air intakes are split into two sections and are supposed to reference the original mid-engine, eight-cylinder Ferrari, the 308.

Among the 488’s airflow-managing elements are an “Aero Pillar” on the front end, “vortex generators” underneath, and active flaps in the rear diffuser. A “blown spoiler”

June 2015 - 2nd Edition

Smoke ‘em Ferrari’s turbocharged 488GTB is a generational shift of much-loved 458 Italia

(trickle-down Formula 1 technology) funnels air in through a wide channel at the base of the rear window and out the back of the car, just above the license plate.

Ferrari’s quoted “dry weight” (at 3020 pounds) is 22 pounds lighter than it cites for the standard 458 Italia, with 53.5 percent pressing down on the rear wheels. (The forged 20-inch wheels themselves save 18 pounds.) For reference, the lightest 458 Italia we’ve weighed tipped our scales at 3325 pounds in road-ready trim.

Inside, there’s much that looks

familiar, with the photos showing aggressively bolstered, Daytonastyle seats, conventional knobs and switches (no touch screen here), and a complete absence of column stalks. The multifunction steering wheel includes buttons even for lights, wipers, and turn signals, in addition to the damper setting, engine start, and Ferrari’s manettino chassis-control switch. Viewed through the steering wheel is the large, central tachometer with digital gear indicator, and it’s flanked by configurable screens.

New seats and door panels are

designed to make the interior more humane. A fresh key design mimics the shape of the engine’s intake plenums and permits passive entry and starting. Optional carbon-fiber trim can cover various parts of the interior (and the exterior aero fillips); also optional are a telemetry system like that in the LaFerrari and a 12-speaker, 1280-watt stereo.

One of the more intriguing bits of technology is Ferrari’s Side Slip Angle Control. It debuted on the 458 Speciale but this time around is “more precise yet less invasive” which is how we generally like

things.

It harnesses the electronically controlled rear differential, the traction control system, and now the electronically controlled dampers to enable greater tail-out antics.

First, though, you’ve got to get your hands on one. There’s no word yet on pricing, but for reference, Ferrari currently asks around £160,000 for a 458, so figure something north of there. For those special customers deemed worthy, deliveries of the 488GTB start in Europe in July.

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Motors

Continued from age 95 The festival date follows the car’s world debut at the Detroit motor show earlier this year and first European appearance at the Geneva motor show in the spring.

In the best traditions of Lexus’s F models, such as the LFA and new RC F coupe, the GS F is designed and engineered for exceptional driver rewards. Although based on the GS saloon, it benefits from significant revisions to sharpen its performance and handling.

The body shell is reinforced, the suspension is sportstuned and Lexus’s Torque Vectoring Differential – first seen on the RC F coupe – is fitted as standard.

Under the hood will be a fire-breathing naturallyaspirated 5.0-litre V8 that produces a remarkable 477PS and peak torque in excess of 530Nm. The powerplant is mated to a lightning quick 8-speed automatic gearbox with manual-shifting capabilities

and four different modes: Normal, Eco, SPORT S and SPORT S+, the latter designed specifically for the racetrack.

With the GS F tipping the scales at a class-leading 1830 kg, the acceleration of the new rear-wheel-drive sedan will be similar to a sports coupe, while its top speed should give some racecars a run for their money. As powerful as the engine is, the DOHC 32-valve powerplant is also fuel efficient, incorporating the Atkinson cycle when the car is driven in a civil manner.

The GS F’s Goodwood bow is an early preface to its appearance on the road; details of a production version for the UK will be announced later in the year.

Lexus will further add to the festival’s programme of rare and exclusive machines with appearance from the LFA supercar and the RC F GT3 competition car that is being campaigned this season

by Frey Racing in the VLN endurance series in Germany.

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GS F!!!

Dynamic European debut for new V8-powered Lexus

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June 2015 - 2nd Edition

The Quaid-e-Azam Sunday Cricket League is the oldest and largest all Asian league in the country, boasting 30 teams across three leagues.

Set up in 1985, the setup is currently celebrating its 30th year anniversary and continues to draw in talent from across Bradford, Leeds, Kirklees, Calderdale and even Sheffield.

Keighley RZM are the current Premier Division champions and have retained the trophy for the

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Quaid-e-Azam Sunday cricket League past three years whilst upcoming talents continue to arise every season.

Keep up to date with all the latest

match reports and league tables with the Asian Express Newspaper who will be reviewing the best of the week’s action every issue.

Sport

... rest of the action Premier Section

Darulshafa 154 all out (Zafar Iqbal 4-28) v Keighley RZM 156-4

Kashmir Dews 171 all out v Raja 103 all out (F Alam 4-32)

OnQ 251-7 (S Raheem 67, W Hussain 46) v Bhalot 131 all out

Heaton Park 164 all out (M Adil 61, N Akhtar 4-42) v White Rose 116 (S Ali 6-20)

Shimla’s 276 all out (A Baig 98*, Z Khaliq 58, K Hussain 47) v Flix 263-8 (S Khan 81)

Section A Group 1

Karmand 212-5 (A Mahmood 79) v Bfd Moor 195-9 (W Shehzad 57, M Hussain 4-37)

Tabs Cricket Club

An action packed weekend of cricket showcased some incredible team and individual performances across the three Quaid-e-Azam leagues, with bowlers and batsmen on form.

In Section A Group 2, My Lahore (112-7) were spared their blushes thanks to an expert bowling display from Nadeem Hanif, whose personal figures of 7-25 guided his side to victory over Kings XI (111).

After a master show at the wicket, My Lahore eventually stuttered over the finish line, losing seven wickets but held on to claim their third win this term.

Meanwhile in the Premier Division, leaders Keighley RZM (156-4) made short work of Darulshafa (154), chasing the score down with another near perfect performance.

OnQ (251-7) remain their closest challengers for the league title after a comfortable victory over Bhalot (131) by 120 runs, S Raheem top scoring with 67 runs.

Shoukat Ali was on form with the ball for the new third placed side Heaton Park (164) as he took six wickets for just 20 runs in a dominant victory against White Rose (116).

At the other end of the table, Kashmir Dewsbury (171) won their first game this year against near rivals Raja (103) bowling their opponents out for just over 100 runs.

The highest scoring game of the division eventually finished in favour of Shimla’s (276) as they played out a memorable tie with Flix (263-8). A Baig (98*), Z Khaliq (58), K Hussain (47)

Kings bow down to Hanif super show Seven wicket haul lifts MyLahore to fourth and S Khan (81) all passing half centuries.

In Section A group 1, the local derby between Karmand (212-5) and Bradford Moor (195) was won by Karmand with the latter chasing the score well but unfortunately falling just 17 runs short of the target.

The win takes Karmand into 3rd place with a chance of promotion back into the Premier Section.

Elsewhere, Bradford Royals (147-4)

and Rising Stars (164) both remain unbeaten this campaign as the top two sides, after triumphing against Shaheen (143) and Chach (121) respectively.

There was also a win in the division for Central Leeds (168-3) against lowly Zulfi AK (167).

In Section A Group 2, Tabs (110) were the latest team to fall at the hands of leaders Kashmir Bradford (203), whilst Indus Ghari, My Lahore and AlMinarah also picked up victories.

Player of the week:

Nadeem Hanif took an amazing seven wickets for just 25 runs against Kings XI as My Lahore earned their third win this campaign.

Shaheen 143 all out (Tanvir Bashir 4-43) v Bfd Royals 147-4 (A Balsubramium 51*, Tokir Bashir 40)

Eastern Friends 193-9 (M Younis 46) v Friends 180 all out

Rising Stars 164 all out (M Raffaz 41) v Chach 121 all out

Zulfi AK 167 all out v Central Leeds 168-3 (Adnan Ahmed 86) Section A Group 2

Al-Minarah 208 all out (S Yousaf 100*, Z Mahmood 55) v Azad 93-3 (M Mir 50) - Match Abandoned

Kings XI 111 all out (N Hanif 7-25) v My Lahore 112-7

Kashmir Bfd 203 all out (M Jamil 67*) v Tabs 110 all out

Patriots 196 all out (M Kashif 4-28) v Indus Ghari 200-4 (M Atif 65, M Hassan 52)

Bfd Phoenix v Earl Marshall – AWAY WIN

101

102

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Sport

June 2015 - 2nd Edition

Soccer League UK - Leeds Soccer League UK Leeds was officially launched in August 2014 with the ambition of bringing together West Yorkshire’s leading sixa-side teams to crown an overall champion.

With representatives travelling from across Leeds and Bradford to

take part in the weekly competition, the matches are held at Thomas Danby College every Monday and Thursday evening.

The brainchild of Mushad Ahmed, Soccer League UK Leeds is the first of many franchise opportunities which will hopefully set up across the

country, offering teams the chance to play against their region’s top sides, at the lowest prices around.

Keep up to date with all the latest match reports and league tables with the Asian Express newspaper who will be reviewing the best of the week’s actions every issue.

LOST THE FIGHT BUT WON THE BATTLE – KEVIN MITCHELL v JORGE LINARES

By Khalil Alam info@asianexpress.co.uk

British talented lightweight boxer and title contender Kevin Mitchell was in action last weekend against the current WBC lightweight champion Jorge Linares.

Mitchell was given his third opportunity to capture the most prestigious and recognised world championship title and finally fulfils his lifelong dream.

Mitchell had failed in two previous attempts to capture a world title having suffered devastating knockout defeats against Michael Katsidis and Ricky Burns.

The Mitchell story is both intriguing and disappointing to say the least and he has had great boxing success but failed when it has matter the most.

Mitchell the boxer won the British superfeatherweight title in 2008 and then in 2009 as he outpointed “the Amir Khan Conqueror” Colombian Breidis Prescott, things were looking promising for the Dagenham fighter, but this was the start of his downfall as he started binge drinking and late night partying.

In 2010 Mitchell fought a seasoned Australian called Michael Katsidis for a version of the world title, but lost the bout within three rounds.

It was later revealed that Mitchell had spent more time involved in family feuds, late night partying and excess alcohol drinking than he had spent in the boxing gym preparing for the fight against Katsidis.

After the Katsidis bout Mitchell

Khalil Alam

said "I came close to jacking it in. I hated the sport. I hated the politics. I was fighting in arenas and football grounds and thought I should have been paid better. I did nine straight months on the booze, did all my money about £180,000 - and got myself depressed. The drink doesn't work for me.

In fact, it's never a good thing for anyone."

Mitchell’s boxing career and personal life continued with it’s up and downs and he did get back on track, beating the tough John Murray that surprised the sceptics who had already wrote him off and were convinced that he would have lost that bout convincingly.

Then the inevitable happened again and Mitchell lost in his second world title opportunity against Scotland’s WBO champion Ricky Burns.

However Mitchell continued with his prize fighting career, but now realised that it was time to “make or break” as he managed some convincing wins against respectable boxing opponents and fought his way back into world title contention.

During the boxing bout against Linares I was expecting Mitchell to finally win the world title he rightly deserved and everything seemed to be in his favour including the home crowd advantage and his punching power when compared against Linares.

Mitchell fought against Linares very impressively and even managed to floor Linares in the fifth round and get ahead on the score cards, but in the 10th round Linares managed to send Mitchell to the canvas. Mitchell at this stage of the bout was badly injured with a severely swollen eye and the referee had no choice but to stop the fight and declare Linares the winner.

Mitchell had lost the fight against Linares but won the battle and even though the fight ended in a disappointing loss, he fought like a brave gladiator and sure true grit and courage of a champion in the boxing ring.

TEAM OF WEEK: - Team NewBees

JackHammer Hammered Uddin leads from the front PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jubodhol’s captain, Shummel Uddin, guided his side to victory over JackHammer FC, bagging the opening goal and dictating play throughout

Jubodhol 2-0 JackHammer FC A meeting of the top two sides in SLUK’s Division One last week resulted in a two point gap opening up at the top of the table as Jubodhol overcame JackHammer FC by two goals to nil.

The table toppers were too strong for their opponents on the night and ensured the race for this season’s title remained firmly in their own hands.

Captain, Shummel Uddin, was in inspired form throughout the game and fired his side into a goal lead in the first half with an individual effort.

Showcasing some neat footwork, the clinical skipper slotted home to give Jubodhol the lead with just a couple of minutes on the clock.

JackHammer recovered quickly to create a couple of

openings but were unable to breach the best defence in the division – who have conceded just five goals in 15 games, before the half time whistle blew.

The second half brought only more frustrations for the previously second placed side, as Jubodhol’s top scorer, Hamid Ali, doubled the scoreline midway through the half.

His seventh of the season was enough to see off the opponents and earn the high flyers another valuable three

points.

Defeat for JackHammer sees them slip to third, with Al Aqs climbing to a surprise second spot following their 1-0 win over Super Six. Meanwhile, Old Bacca Boys missed out on the chance to close in on the leaders, suffering a surprise 1-0 loss at the hands of Team NewBees.

Other results on the night saw Borussia Teeth play out a goalless draw with NFA and Hyde Park pick up a 3-0 win over Tetley’s Tino.

... rest of the action Al-Aqsa 1-0 Super Six OBB 0-1 NewBees NFA 0-0 Borussia Teeth Hyde Park 3-0 Tetleys Tino

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June 2015 - 2nd Edition

Sport

Getting a ‘kick’ out of sport Trophies all around after biggest interclub tournament to date

FIGHT: Children as young as five-years-old took part in the Azar Farooq Kickboxing Tournament last month in Bradford

World Champion Local martial artist takes top prize at international tournament Back page story continued

“All the extra training paid off and I am delighted to have won gold.”

In build up to the tournament’s start date, Mohsin received extra tutoring from a Brzailian Ju Jitsu trainer, working on ground work – an area the local competitor had struggled in previously.

This year he says he felt

MEDAL: One year on from his third placed finish, Mohsin clinched Gold in the Ju Jitsu Internationals

more comfortable in his surroundings and was able utilizes his new found offensive to its full effect in the final.

“I had tough fights throughout the competition but I was confident that I had the advantage with my kicks,” he said. “The ground work training acted as a big confidence boost for me also.

“Before we travelled down to the competition, I learned two new techniques and thankfully I was able to use one of them in the final to win it.”

The one day tournament tested the endurance skills of each competitor with fights coming quickly in the knock out format.

Next up for Mohsin is the World Championships in Denmark in August, which, unlike the International Championships, takes place over four days.

With plenty of training to complete before heading off on a European tour, Mohsin is hoping to make it a double Gold finish in Scandinavia this summer.

Martial artists of the future donned their pads and headed to the mats at the end of last month as the fourth annual Azar Farooq Kickboxing Tournament was held in Bradford.

The interclub competition, which involves Kickboxing pupils aged between five and 17, saw up to 50 competitors head to the mat in hope of taking away a trophy from this year’s competition.

Sponsored by Auto Prestige, parents stayed to cheer on their children in what was the biggest tournament to date for the local club.

Azar Farooq said he was delighted with the success of the day and was proud of every competitor who entered this year.

“Every year this tournament is growing and every year I see students growing in confidence,” he said.

“You can see in the first few fights that they might be nervous stepping out onto the mats but when they look over and see

103

their parents and coaches they quickly settle down.

“It is a great thing to see and is even better for the parents who can see how much their children have improved.”

He added: “Special praise this year must go to young Zidaan Mahmood who was competing in his first tournament and came away with three trophies.”

Amongst the many winners on the day was brown belt, Esa Hussain.

The young kickboxer had to settle for a runners-up spot last year but was able to go one better this time around.

“I was very confident going into the fight as I knew my months of training would finally pay off,” he said.

“Now I want to succeed further by entering some national tournaments for experience and achieve my black belt next year.”

Azar Farooq Kickboxing is open to children of all abilities. If you would like to learn more about the club, contact Azar on 07855 144 403.

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Sport

SPORT

By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk

A Ju Jitsu ace from Bradford clinched Gold at the International Championships last week, completing a meteoric rise in the sport over the past four years.

25-year-old Mohsin Hussain, from Marshfields, was a late starter in the martial arts form yet has never looked back, taking on all challenges on a local, national and even international stage.

Last month, at the annual Wakarishin Kokoro Kai Championships in Southend, the local Onna Ju Jitsu Club competitor overcame opponents

from around the world to take home the prestigious Gold medal.

Defeating challengers from Belgium and Denmark, he improved on last year’s third place finish to take top spot.

Speaking to the Asian Express, he said it was one of his best days in the sport and was ‘delighted to have won gold’.

“I was competing in the under 70kg category and at 58kg myself I was at quite a disadvantage to quite a few opponents,” he said.

“To have gone on to win the tournament, and defeat Denmark in the final who I lost to last year, is a fantastic feeling.

June 2015 - 2nd Edition

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CHAMP: Mohsin Hussain is the new Ju Jitsu International Champion after clinching Gold in Southend last month

Continued on page 103

Local martial artist takes top prize at international tournament

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