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Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to all our Readers By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
4-year-old with same IQ as Einstein
Sherwyn Sarabi is not like other children – he is a genius. At the age of just four-yearsold, the Rastrick Independent school pupil has the same IQ as some of the greatest minds in history. Scoring a perfect 160 on his latest IQ test ranks him amongst the elite, and reaffirms his right to a position in MENSA, which he joined at the age of three. Sherwyn, from Royston, Barnsley, has always been an extremely fast developer and could read and count to 200 on his second birthday. Moreover, he could name countries from their flags, planets in the solar system, and parts of the body and internal organs. Beginning school two years early, the pupil is already studying work for eight and nine-year-olds,
whilst children of his age are still waiting to begin their education. Last month the young mastermind’s IQ was tested by consultant educational psychologist Dr Peter Congdon, who was astounded by the results of the youngster. In his report, he said: “Sherwyn has a very superior level of intelligence, he is incredibly gifted and his vocabulary is out of this world. “His intellect reaches the highest possible levels of reason and when he talks to you he has the social skills of a much older child. “His mental age is measured at 8 years and 9 months, more than twice his actual age. It is very unusual for a child to have this type of intelligence; he came out at the very top on the tests. “I specialize in specially gifted children but when I tested Sherwyn I knew I had come across something very special.”
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Sherwyn’s ‘superior’ score of 160 is identical to that of Stephen Hawking and Bill Gates, as well as being the same as what Albert Einstein’s is believed to have been. His parents, Davoud and Amanda Sarabi, are ‘extremely proud’ of their son and say he is their ‘Special Boy’. “Every parent thinks their child is special so for the first few months I didn’t even mention it to anyone,” Mrs Sarabi said. “It was after about 18 months that we knew he was really special and he was developing so much faster than other children his age.” “He questions everything and I do my best to answer his questions to the best of my knowledge.” Mr Sarabi added: “I am so happy of Sherwyn and we are a very happy family. Obviously with a child like Sherwyn he requires a lot of attention and we have had to put a lot of effort into seeing that his full potential is met.”
Child Genius
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The world pays its final respects to Nelson Mandela
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EULOGY: US President Barack Obama spoke warmly about Mandela, and said the former South African president makes him want to be a ‘better man’
By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
Tens of thousands of South Africans stood alongside more than one hundred world leaders last week, as the world paid their respects to the one they called ‘Madiba’. Nelson Mandela, a global icon and South Africa’s first black president was publicly honoured at the First National Bank Stadium on the 5th December before his funeral, the following Sunday. Mr Mandela had died the week prior at the age of 95, and his life has been celebrated by all around the world. A leader in the fight against South Africa’s apartheid, Mr Mandela spent 27 years in prison for his political activities before finally being released in 1990. His struggles and efforts to rid the country of the white-minority ruling, was symbolic of that of the whole nation, whilst his work saw him not only receive the Nobel peace Prize in 1992, but also become an icon world-over. World leaders stood side by side at the memorial event, held at the country’s national stadium last week with members of Mr Mandela’s family also in attendance. Leading the way with the eulogies was US President Barack Obama, whose heartfelt sentiments were perhaps the most powerful of all the esteemed guest speakers. Addressing the mass crowd, stood in the rain, Mr Obama said: “To the people of South Africa -people of every race and walk of life -- the world thanks you for sharing Nelson Mandela with us.
Obama leads the way with tributes to an icon
His struggle was your struggle. His triumph was your triumph. Your dignity and hope found expression in his life, and your freedom, your democracy is his cherished legacy. “While I will always fall short of Madiba's example, he makes me want to be a better man. He speaks to what is best inside us. "There is a word in South Africa -- Ubuntu -- that describes [Mandela's] greatest gift: his recognition that we are all bound together in ways that can be
RESPECT: Fellow anti-apartheid demonstrator Desmond Tutu spoke to the crowd about the loss of his close friend
invisible to the eye; that there is a oneness to humanity; that we achieve ourselves by sharing ourselves with others, and caring for those around us." He continued:“Given the sweep of his life, and the adoration that he so rightly earned, it is tempting then to remember Nelson Mandela as an icon, smiling and serene, detached from the tawdry affairs of lesser men. “But Madiba himself strongly resisted such a lifeless portrait. Instead, he insisted on sharing with us his doubts and fears; his
miscalculations along with his victories. ‘I'm not a saint,’ he said, ‘unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying’. “It was precisely because he could admit to imperfection, because he could be so full of good humour, even mischief, despite the heavy burdens he carried, that we loved him so. He was not a bust made of marble; he was a man of flesh and blood -- a son and husband, a father and a friend.” On a day of unity, President Obama also performed a handshake with Raul Castro, president of Cuba and Fidel Castro's brother, despite the country’s problems in the past. The occasion was bigger than both individuals and it was respected perfectly in that manner. Desmond Tutu, the man who accompanied Nelson Mandela on his long walk to freedom also paid his respects to his friend. He said: “What a fantastic gift is Mandela, a global icon of forgiveness, of generosity of spirit, a person who invited his prosecutor, George Bizos to lunch at the Presidency. “The same man who visited the Afrikaner enclave of Oranje to enjoy tea and koeksisters with the widow of the architect of apartheid, Betsy Verwoerd. “The chemistry of this country began to be affected as a result of Madiba’s actions.”
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Hrithik Roshan and wife Sussanne Khan announce split By Anush Ansari anush@asianexpress.co.uk
Well, it’s officially been confirmed, Hrithik and Sussanne are separated. The news sent shockwaves throughout tinsel town, as many deemed Hrithik and Suzanne’s marriage, as a happy and stable one. Earlier this year, there had been many reports alleging that Hrithik Roshan was having an affair with actress and model Barbara Mori. This sparked rumours that the actor and his wife were to divorce. Apparently the ‘Krrish’ star is still in regular contact with Barbara. Hrithik has now left for a vacation in the U.S. without his wife. There has also been news that the couple have been living
separately for a few weeks now. Talking on the announcement of the spilt, actress Preity Zinta and filmmaker Karan Johar have urged the media to respect the privacy of their friends, Hrithik and Sussanne. Hrithik and Sussanne's relationship has lasted 17 years. They had dated for four years prior to their marriage in 2000. The couple has two sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan Karan, who shares a friendly bond with Hrithik and has worked with him in films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Agneepath, refrained from saying too much: “It is too personal to them and, therefore, personal to us. So, I feel very uncomfortable talking about, especially anything too personal to close friends on a national platform.” However, actor Anil Kapoor is hopeful about the couple's re-union in future.
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Call for more Asian officers
With only four Asian officers throughout the whole of Northern Ireland’s Police Service, a leading body that represents officials from minority backgrounds is calling for more to be done to address the issue. The National Black Police Association (NBPA) says it wants positive action to be taken in order to boost numbers throughout the force. In 2011, a Freedom of Information act revealed that just four of the 7,782 officers in the country were from an Asian background, despite approximately 12,000 Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshi residents in the country, out of a total population of two million. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) released figures showing 0.54% of their officers are from some sort of BME background yet insist no record is kept in regard to ethnicity. NBPA vice-president, Nick Glynn, said special measures needed to be taken to recruit more. "It can be access to training before joining, courses that explain how the service works and the good things and bad things about it. It is just preparation to get them through to the interview stage," he said.
Bringing art to life
The National Army Museum (NAM) has secured £71,292 for its Indian Army Collection in the latest round of grants from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund (EFCF). The NAM was one of the six organisations to be awarded funding from EFCF for projects to develop their collections-based work. The grant will enable the Museum to research and digitise items from its Indian Army Collection as part of the Museum’s extensive First World War commemorations programme and better tell the story of the two-million strong volunteer army India raised to fight alongside the allies at the same time that it was seeking independence from Britain. The new discoveries will complement the Museum’s £23.25 million redevelopment project, Building for the Future, for which NAM is working with community partners to increase accessibility to its unique and multicultural Collection.
Free school in ‘Chaos’
A dysfunctional Muslim free school is ‘in chaos’ according to education inspectors just weeks after it was placed in special measures for failing its pupils. The Al-Madinah School in Derby hit the headlines earlier this year after a whistleblower claimed schoolgirls were made to sit at the back of classrooms and nonMuslim female teachers were pressured to wear head-scarves. In October, Ofsted inspectors produced a hard-hitting report branding the school ‘dysfunctional’ and placing it into special measures. Now in a strongly-worded and highly critical follow-up report, inspectors have said there are ‘no signs of improvement in the school’, describing the relationships between senior leaders as ‘destructive and deteriorating’. Regarding the quality of leadership and management, it concluded ‘this school remains in chaos’.
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Divorcee woman jailed for fatal house blaze By Anush Ansari anush@asianexpress.co.uk
A resentful divorcee from Birmingham who set fire to her exhusbands house, killing a sleeping woman, has been jailed for 14 years. Nussrat Khatoon, aged 39 from Cheshunt Place in Kings Heath, was sentenced after admitted to manslaughter and reckless arson. Her accomplice was her friend Tina Andrews, 30, from Camelot Way, Small Heath, was sentenced to 10 years on the same charges. The deceased, Nusrat Begum, 36, had died from smoke inhalation and burns after the arson attack in November 2012.Police said Khatoon, in a grudge against her exhusband, had also damaged cars and thrown paint at the house in the weeks following her divorce in September. Khatoon married in August 2012 divorcing just four weeks later. She then set about a catalogue of events where she damaged cars and threw paint at the house in Speedwell Road
as well as making offensive phone calls. On one occasion, Khatoon had also followed the pair and assaulted her ex-husband. On 5 November, Khatoon decided with her best friend and codefendant Tina Andrews, to drive to a nearby road where the house could be seen, driving deliberately without their lights on so they wouldn’t draw attention to themselves.They walked across a park area and approached the house where they set fire to a plant pot outside the front door whilst there were four occupants in the house. Three of the people could not get downstairs but managed to jump from the first floor into the garden causing serious injuries and broken bones. Nusrat Begum, aged 36, was asleep in one of the front bedrooms but was found in the rear bedroom by fire fighters. She had tried to escape but was trapped inside the property; she died as a result of smoke inhalation and burns. Nusrat had only been in the country for four months after travelling from Pakistan where her
Ex-wife, Nussrat Khatoon (top), 39, was sentenced to 14 years after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter and reckless arson. Tina Andrews (bottom) was found guilty of the same charges and has now been jailed for 10 years
the fuel can showed that it had petrol in it. Detective Chief Inspector Sarbjit Johal, from the homicide investigation team, said: "Today’s sentences will hopefully provide some sense of closure for Nusrat’s family. "Sadly Nusrat was caught up in circumstances totally unconnected to her and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. "The fire, set by Khatoon and Andrews who knew people would have been trapped upstairs, turned into an impenetrable inferno. "Khatoon was very resentful and angry and as a result of her and marriage had failed. Following a Andrews’ actions, a completely disagreement with her family she innocent woman died." had gone to stay with her friend at Speedwell Road. Khatoon and Andrews, from Camelot Way, Small Heath, made no attempt to call emergency services and watched as the fire took hold of the house. The two women watched from down the road for a minute and a half before they left in Khatoon’s black BMW Coupe, which had been parked some way from the property. A passing cyclist called the fire service and took a photo of the blaze on his phone, which enabled detectives to piece together the exact timings of when the fire was started and where the two women were. Further investigation into the BMW showed the vehicle had made a short journey around the time the Nusrat’s brother Gulfraz Ahmed fire was set. said: "We had only recently been Khatoon was arrested later the reunited with Nusrat as she had been same day and subsequently charged estranged from us living in Pakistan. with manslaughter and reckless Only recently had we started to arson. Following her arrest, officers rebuild our relationship with her. "The reason the fire was started found key items in her car - paper rolls with cotton on it like a taper had nothing to do with my sister so it (thin candle), a fuel can and a lighter. is terrible that she has to pay the The BMW ran on diesel but tests on ultimate price."
Indian developers buy landmark London building for £324M By Tanya Shah tanya@asianexpress.co.uk
The Mumbai-based company, Lodha Developers, have announced the acquisition of the landmark Macdonald House in central London, which houses the Canadian High Commission, for a whopping $530 million (£324.2 million). The acquisition marks the first foray of Lodha Group Canadian High Commission in London
into the UK real estate market and is the third major asset purchase by the privately held firm in over the last 12 months. The company has also recently bought 17 acres of land in Mumbai from India’s largest realty firm DLF. It also acquired Washington House property from the US government on Altamount Road in Mumbai. Canada’s High Commissioner to the UK,
Gordon Campbell has confirmed that legal contracts have been exchanged for the sale of 1 Grosvenor Square. “We thank Lodha Group for their keen interest and welcome this new phase in the project,” Campbell said. “The acquisition of this marquee asset overlooking London’s most renowned garden square, in the heart of Mayfair, and in close proximity to Bond Street and Mount Street is a great opportunity for our company,” Lodha Group Managing Director Abhishek Lodha said. Commenting on the closure of the deal, Lodha Group Deputy Managing Director, Abhinandan Lodha, said the company plans to focus on Mumbai and London as the two main markets. Established in 1980, the Lodha Group is Mumbai’s premier real estate developer. The Group is currently developing in excess of 35 million sq.ft. of prime real estate, with over
30 projects in and around Mumbai, from Napean Sea Road to Dombivali. The Group has further extended its promise of luxury living with successful projects in Hyderabad and Pune. The Lodha Group has several landmark developments to its credit, including World One - the world’s tallest residential tower, Lodha Bellissimo the only Indian residential development to feature amongst the top 1000 landscapes in the world, and Palava – India’s most livable city, spread over 4000 acres and located close to the upcoming Navi Mumbai international airport. The Group has also made history by recording the biggest land deal in India to date, buying a plot in Wadala for ‘4,053 crore, from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The Group currently employs over 3,100
ASSET: Abhinandan Lodha, Lodha Group Deputy Managing Director
associates and provides sitebased employment to over 25,000 workers. And going beyond its role as a premier real estate developer, the Lodha Group has been a socially responsible corporation, focusing on education as the best medium to enrich society.
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Belfast Bombings
Northern Ireland's leaders condemned Saturday the detonation of a small bomb in central Belfast that police said could have killed or injured people. The device, left in a holdall bag, exploded at about 7pm local time Friday in Belfast's busy Cathedral Quarter, near St. Anne's Cathedral, and no one was hurt, police said. First Minister Peter Robinson described the attack as ‘despicable’, while Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said it showed a ‘complete disregard for life’. IRA dissidents are widely suspected of being behind the attack. A warning was telephoned through to a Belfast newspaper, but the wrong location was given for the device, police said. It was left on a sidewalk by a busy restaurant and the explosion occurred as police were still clearing buildings in the area, which included a hotel, a bar and an arts centre.
Appeal for missing children
Police are appealing for information to trace a missing six-year-old girl and her teenage aunt. Zeenat Abdala, 16, and her niece Lutfiya Salum were last seen at around noon on Saturday as they left their home in South Norwood, in Croydon, south London, to go to the library. Police were alerted when the pair did not return home. It is understood they did not arrive at the library in Lawrence Road. The youngsters came to the UK from Somalia earlier this year as unaccompanied minors and live in foster care, Scotland Yard said. It is believed the girls may be travelling to meet family who recently arrived in the UK.
Bomb hoax
A man has admitted making a bomb threat on an aircraft which had to be diverted to Stansted Airport. The Sri Lankan Airlines plane flying from Colombo to Heathrow was forced to make an emergency landing at the Essex airport on 20th September. Alan Patey, 49, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to communicating false information during a flight. Judge Charles Gratwicke adjourned the case for sentencing on 22nd January, whilst Patey was remanded in custody until that date. The Sri Lankan Airlines A330 Airbus, which was carrying 267 passengers and crew, was due to land at Heathrow Airport but was diverted to Stansted in Essex just after 7.30pm.
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Lucky to be alive
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Football mates perform CPR after man suffers hear t attack
By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
A family man, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a friendly kickabout with friends last week, may not be alive today if it weren’t for the quick thinking of his teammates. 42-year-old Tair Bashir collapsed whilst playing football in Sheffield despite never having any heart issues prior to the incident. His ‘on-the-ball’ team mates, three of whom were local General Practitioners, immediately began CPR on the field of play whilst an ambulance was called to Sheffield’s Lucozade Power League premises. For more than 20 agonizing minutes doctors Amir Afzal, of Duke Street Medical Centre, and Mehrban Ghani, of White Rose Medical Practice, heroically performed CPR non-stop on their friend whilst fellow GP, Ashrif Akram, held the head of Mr Bashir. When paramedics finally arrived, the doctors continued to assist with the wellbeing of Mr Bashir, and finally, after IV drugs and a couple of shocks with the defibrillator, Mr Bashir’s heart began beating once more. He was then taken to Northern General Hospital A&E where it was diagnosed that he had suffered a heart attack and subsequently underwent an emergency coronary angiogram and a stent was inserted. Now, the Rotherham man, is sat recovering in the Chesterman Ward of the hospital. Mr Bashir has paid tribute to his friends who ‘did not give up’ on him, and recalled the moment he woke up in hospital. He said: “I just remember it being Friday evening playing football with my friends as usual. I was running around and then started feeling unwell so went for a sit down and to get a sip of water, and that is really my last recollection. “The next thing I remember was waking up here and seeing my wife, mother and father, I thought this is serious, something is definitely not right. “In our religion we believe everything that happens is from God and that everything is meant to be, but from a personal perspective I owe these people here my life. “If these guys hadn’t exerted the efforts that they did, if they had decided to quit five minutes sooner, I don’t know what would have happened and I may not be here now.” The three doctors began CPR on their friend within 30 seconds of him collapsing, whilst a fellow medical professional from the adjoining pitch (named Kia) arrived to offer his help as well. It was a team effort which ultimately saved Mr Bashir’s life and a ‘never give up’ attitude according to the teammates. “We are obviously trained for situations which
LIFE-SAVERS: (l-r) Tair Bashir, with Dr Amir Afzal and Dr Mehrban Ghani, who performed CPR for more than 20 minutes on the pitch
BLESSED: Tair Bashir was playing football with his friends when he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. It was the quick thinking and actions of his teammates which ultimately saved his life
involve CPR so we were quite fortunate to have basically four doctors on the scene as soon as Tair’s head dropped,” Dr Afzal said. “Mehrban and I took it in turns to perform CPR as it is quite exhausting to be honest. “It involves 60 strong presses a minute, and we knew we were doing it right because we managed to crack a couple of ribs which shows they were effective compressions. It seemed like an age before the paramedics arrived but we just never stopped. “Everybody deserves credit for playing their crucial part. Samir (Afzal) guided the ambulance in and sprinted with the medical bag which saved a vital 30 seconds whilst the fact that nobody
crowded over us helped tremendously.” Dr Ghani and Dr Afzal now want to ensure incidents like this do not happen again by ensuring people are up to date with medical practices and visit their GPs, and crucially follow their advice, on a regular basis. “CPR classes are so readily available now that everybody has access to learn these skills,” Dr Mehbran said. “If you find yourself in a situation doing CPR, please remember, when you are doing the compressions just don’t give up. No matter how long it takes for the ambulance to arrive or a defibrillator, just keep going because it could save a life.”
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Care for your city
Leading figures from Leeds health and social care met with government ministers and service integration experts at an event in Westminster to inaugurate the Health Pioneer status the city has been awarded. Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Chair of Leeds Health and Wellbeing board, and Dr Andy Harris, Chair of the Citywide Transformation programme, were part of a delegation from the city who met with other pioneer city teams and health minister Norman Lamb MP. The city has been recognised for the pioneering work already being done to make sure health and care services in the city work together to deliver a seamless service. It is one of only fourteen chosen from over 100 around the country chosen to become ‘pioneers’, demonstrating the use of ambitious and innovative approaches to delivering integrated care.
A free trip back to school
Wakefield Council is launching a competition to give residents the opportunity to win a free adult education course for them and a friend. The lucky winner will have a variety of courses to choose from, based at venues across the district. The course may improve their job prospects, enable a change in career or develop into a new hobby or interest. Cllr Pat Garbutt, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for Adults and Health, said: “We have a wide range of courses for adults, based at venues across the district, so this is a great opportunity to try your hand at a new skill.” Competition entry forms can be downloaded from www.wakefield.gov.uk/adulteducation or by emailing dhayes@wakefield.gov.uk
Easing winter’s pressure
160,000 patients across Greater Huddersfield are set to benefit from Saturday surgery opening as GPs step in to help ease the predicted winter pressure on NHS out of hours services and hospital A&E departments. Starting on the 7th December, more than half of the 41 GP surgeries, which are members of NHS Greater Huddersfield Clinical Commissioning Group, will have a doctor available to support patients needing urgent medical advice or urgent repeat prescriptions. The surgery phone lines will be open between 9am and 12.30pm on Saturdays. The scheme is intended only for urgent cases only and patients will not be able to book routine check-ups etc.
Lawrence of Arabia star passes away
Stage and screen star Peter O'Toole, the lanky actor of regal bearing and piercing blue eyes who shot to fame in the title role of the epic film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, has died at age 81 after a long illness, his agent said on Sunday. The eight-time Oscar nominee, who survived a bout with stomach cancer in the 1970s but whose health had been damaged by years of heavy drinking and chain-smoking, died in a London hospital on Saturday, Steve Kenis, his agent, told Reuters. “Peter O'Toole's family announced today that very sadly Peter died yesterday, peacefully in hospital. He had been ill for some time,” Kenis said in a statement. Appearing in dozens of films during a career spanning six decades, O'Toole is best remembered for his breakout role in David Lean's 1962 blockbuster "Lawrence of Arabia" starring as T.E. Lawrence, the eccentric British army officer who fought with Arab irregular troops against Ottoman Turkish rule in World War One.
The East End Charitable Trust Event
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December 2013 - 1st Edition
Following the East End Charitable Trust Event held on 21st September 2013 organised by Jasbir Wouhra Shiri Upashak Ji and Indi Wouhra at the Prestige Suite, Smethwick. The venue was given free of charge by the owner Mr Ram Lubhaya who served an excellent three course meal which was very different from a normal event. The event was managed by Sangeeta Pawar Who was the Event Manageress, the event was attended by over 650 people, the main artists were Jas Wouhra a well known Bollywood Singer, Kiran Sachdeva finalist of SA RE GA MA, live music was given by Echo international which is run by Ramesh jilka from West Midlands. Mss Nikki Walia of Astitva, a drama series run by Zee TV made her guest appearance, which added charm to the event. The programme was extremely successful event and all the guests participated by donating generously. We are pleased to announce that we have donated a computer to an organisation from Birmingham who support women suffering from Domestic violence, donation accepted by Ms Naureen Yawar and her colleague, Sikhaid £1500.00, donation was accepted by Inderjit
Bhogal, the money will go to help philippines storm distaster, Rotary Club £1500.00, donation accepted by Parvinder singh which is to be used for eye operations for poor people. The Healthy Hearts as donated £1500.00, which was accepted by paul deep Wouhra on behalf of Tony Deep Wouhra, founder of Healthy Heart. Further £500.00 donation was given to the West Bromwich Mayor's charity. We would be doing further such events in future to help disadvantaged people around the world.
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Gateway to Terror: Anjem Choudary and the al-Muhajiourn network
New website now live, please visit: www.asianexpress.co.uk Qantas is ‘junk’
Qantas, the Australian airline, has had its credit rating downgraded to "junk" - below-investment - level, by the ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P). The downgrade could increase the airline's borrowing costs and sends a warning to investors. The move by S&P comes after the airline issued a surprise profit warning and announced 1,000 job cuts on Thursday. The carrier expects to make losses of up to £165m in the July-to-December period. S&P said the rating cut reflected its view “that intense competition in the airline industry has weakened Qantas' business risk profile to fair from satisfactory, and financial risk profile to significant from intermediate.”
Anjem Choudary is perhaps the best-known Islamist extremist in Britain. His outlandish quotes and controversial demonstrations receive national and often international coverage.
Al-Muhajiroun front group Muslims Against Crusades
Calls for sailor release
India will be approaching the court in Togo to secure on ‘compassionate ground’ the release of a jailed Indian sailor whose family eagerly awaits his return for performing the last rites of his 11-month son who died earlier this week. Captain Sunil James is under arrest in West African country Togo since July on the charge of aiding pirates who had attacked and looted his Marshall Islandsflagged MT Ocean Centurion on July 16. The spokesperson also said the mission and India's Honorary Consul in Lome have been in touch with Togo authorities including the Minister of Justice since August 2, when the matter came to their attention.
Wind batters Leeds
Roads were closed, trees were uprooted and tiles came off homes across Yorkshire last week as strong winds arrived in the city. Despite the potential chaos, Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council, believes the day was handled well. He said: “Staff from across Leeds City Council along with our partners were hard at work throughout the day in an effort to minimise the disruption the high winds caused to residents. “Some travel restrictions and road closures had to remain in place for most of the day, which may have made the journey home longer than usual for many, but we are confident that it will be back to business as usual [from now on]. “Inevitably the wind has meant it has been a challenging day for everyone, but fortunately by taking swift action and the proper precautions, we have weathered the storm well. I’d like to thank everyone involved in helping to keep the city safe.”
Save the date
In the same week that India's highest court declared homosexuality illegal, Britain in a landmark decision has announced that the country's first same sex wedding will take place from March 29, 2014. Britain's women and equalities minister Maria Miller has announced that the first same sex weddings in England and Wales will be able to take place from March 29. Following the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 successfully completing its journey through parliament in July 2013, the UK government has been working to ensure that all the arrangements are in place to enable same sex couples to marry as soon as possible. Miller said the first same sex weddings can now happen several months earlier than anticipated, subject to parliament's approval of various statutory instruments, to be laid in the New Year.
By Nick Lowles & Joe Mulhall info@asianexpress.co.uk
A report launched recently, into the Muslim extremist Anjem Choudary and his al-Muhajiroun network is arguably the most detailed investigation into this Islamist extremist organisation, its structures and its terrorist connections. Published by ‘HOPE not hate’, who campaign to counter racism and fascism, reveal in their report titled ‘Gateway to Terror’, that at least 70 people who have been convicted of terrorism or terror-related offences, or who have actually participated in suicide attacks, have been linked to the al-Muhajiroun group. It’s revealed that the man who narrated a recent 58-minute alShabaab video, threatening a number of moderate British Muslims, is from Tower Hamlets and has also been linked to the group (al-Shabaab is the militant Islamist group fighting for control of Somalia). Also exposed, are the growing connections between Choudary and the northern Iraqi Ansar al-Islam group, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, and name its British leader. It shows that Choudary has a growing network of contacts across Europe. While Choudary may not have been directly involved in terror plots, it has been investigated that he helped shape the mindset of many of those behind them. He indoctrinated them and through his networks linked them up to terror groups and supporters across the world. Many of those convicted of terrorism were active supporters of his group at the time of their arrest. Habib Ahmed, who was convicted of being a member of al-Qaeda, was their Manchester branch organiser. Mohammed Chowdhury, the
ringleader of the 2010 Christmas bomb plot, was filmed helping set up a Skype interview between Anjem Choudary and Omar Bakri (al-Muhajiroun’s founder, originally a member of radical sect Hiz ut-Tahrir) only three weeks before his arrest. Being one of the most well-known Islamist extremist in Britain, Anjem Choudary is infamous for his outlandish quotes and controversial demonstrations, which often receive national and often international coverage. Choudary will, on other occasions, say that people have left the group some time before their arrests so he cannot be blamed for their actions – but this conveniently ignores the fact that he and his network have played a crucial role in their radicalisation. Al-Mujahiroun is a hate group, pure and simple, and as such deserves our attention. Constantly feted by media yet treated as ‘clowns’ by many, it is by ignoring their threat that we let down the vast majority of Muslims who want nothing to do with Choudary. The truth is the actions of this tiny minority of extremists leads to the stigmatisation of the entire Muslim community and the shameful idea of collective responsibility. The primary victim of al-Muhajiroun’s extremism is actually the wider Muslim community. It is also important to mention, that it was the actions of these people that
led to the formation of the English Defence League (EDL) in Luton in 2009. This was following al-Muhajiroun’s demonstrations against British soldiers returning from Afghanistan, but have continued to bolster its membership and helped the organisation off life support numerous times due to either violent or offensive acts. The two biggest spikes of support for the EDL occurred when Anjem Choudary’s supporters burnt poppies on the 2010 Remembrance Day and in the immediate aftermath of the killing of off-duty soldier, Lee Rigby, in May this year. A more fundamental reason for opposing al-Muhajiroun is that we abhor their politics of hate. AlMuhajiroun have a worldview that we do not share. They want to impose a system that is totally at odds with one that respects human rights, diversity and equality. In addition, their sexist views call for the subjugation of and discrimination against women. Choudary has called for Muslim women to be forced to wear the veil and stated that women who commit adultery should be stoned to death. Fundamentally, they seek to impose a system that is intolerant of difference, does not accept anyone or anything
“The truth is the actions of this tiny minority of extremists leads to the stigmatisation of the entire Muslim community”
that fails to conform and that is totally opposed to democracy and free will. All of this is on top of the fact that members of this group, influenced by these hateful ideas, have been involved in the 7/7 bombings and dozens of foiled terrorist plots aimed at killing and maiming innocent people. Furthermore, al-Muhijaroun seeks to undermine and hammer a wedge between Muslims and the society in which they live by denouncing the idea of multiculturalism, as well as promoting and preaching the dogma of separatism and exclusion. To borrow a phrase from a recent al-Muhajiroun network pamphlet, they force people to choose between whether they are “British or Muslim”, when the two are by no means mutually exclusive. Yet sadly, there are people on the right of the political spectrum plus those within the “Counter-Jihadist” movement, such as Islamophobes Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer in the USA, who use al-Muhajiroun to justify their own anti-Muslim hatred. By not speaking out against extremism across the board we are not only inconsistent in our actions but we leave the ground open to our opponents. Anjem Choudary might only have a few hundred supporters but their ability to cause terror and fear on our streets, bring a racist backlash down on mainstream Muslims and – ultimately – to divide communities is huge. No matter under what banner the politics of hatred and intolerance raises its ugly head we must be prepared to greet it with organised and determined opposition. The face of hatred is the face of hatred and the mask it wears is irrelevant.
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Serial bride in £35,000 fake wedding scam follow us on twitter:
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Huddersfield woman posed as an available bride on Asian marriage website and pleaded guilty to conning seven different men
A Huddersfield mother-of-two and her exhusband pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court, of swindling would-be husbands out of around £35,000 in wedding gifts as part of an arranged marriage scam. Sidra Fatima, 33, had posed as an available and willing bride on an Asian marriage website and admitted to a series of fraud charges involving seven different men. Her former husband Raja Haider Ali, 45, also admitted being involved in six of the wedding cons, which were committed between May 2009 and January 2011. After their arrests Fatima claimed that she had been forced to take part in the offending by her husband while Ali suggested he was being blackmailed by his wife and had pretended to be her brother-in-law during some of the wedding scams. A jury at Bradford Crown Court heard last week that the scams were part of a variety of fraud offences committed by the couple to fund their dishonest lifestyle. In addition to the wedding deceptions
Fatima also admitted giving false details about her employment and income in relation a £171,000 mortgage fraud involving former home in Coppice Drive, Netherton, back in 2007. The pair also pleaded guilty on the third day of their trial to charges involving insurance claims for three ''staged burglaries'' at the same address and Ali admitted fraud charges in relation to money he obtained from a man who thought he would be able to buy their house. The jury heard that Fatima had not worked since the couple settled in the Huddersfield area in 1999 while Ali had earned a modest declared income as a taxi driver between 1999 and 2009. Fatima, who now lives in Dewsbury, had described herself on the internet wedding site as being ''simple and sincere'' and claimed to be looking for someone who could ''touch my soul''. But after the would-be suitors had spent around £5000 each on wedding gifts and
HONEYTRAP: 33-year-old Sidra Fatima swindled men during pre-nuptials in fake marriage scam
dowries Before Fatima entered her guilty pleas she ended Judge Burn indicated that the maximum t h e prison sentence she would face would be 13 relationships months and today he warned After the both defendants that the defendants offences would almost entered their guilty inevitably result in pleas to the various fraud charges Judge Colin c u s t o d i a l Burn agreed to adjourn their sentence hearing sentences. until January 10th. Fatima and Ali, now of Springbank Road, CON: Sidra Fatima’s Bradley Mills, were granted bail, but the judge ex-husband Raja said they must live and sleep at their home Haider Ali posed as a addresses and they must also surrender the cousin or brother in their passports. law
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Idiots not terrorists
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follow us on twitter: Ohuruogu’s Occasion
Christine Ohuruogo was named Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year last week during an awards ceremony in London. The 400m runner beat off ciompetition from a strong shortlist of competitors to clinch the award and joins the likes of Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Victoria Pendleton, and Jessica Ennis-Hill on the winners list. “It’s such a hard category, which is really great, it means we have women who are excelling and doing so much better than people expect us to do,” she said. “I am shocked but I am really happy now.” Ohuruogu was awarded an MBE in the wake of her gold medal success at the 2008 Olympics and became the first British woman to claim a second world title when she won the 400m final in Moscow this August.
Remembering the fallen
Unknown stories of Indian soldiers' bravery and selfless sacrifice, highlighted through archival photographs and letters, will be exhibited at Sussex's Brighton Museum and Art Gallery next year to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War. Officials said Royal Pavilion at the exhibition would provide a fascinating account of how the royal palace was transformed into a military hospital for wounded Indian soldiers serving on the western front. Heroics of Indian soldiers will be a highlighted as part of Brighton and Hove's WW1 centenary plans. Exhibition titled 'War Stories: Voices from the First World War' will commence on July 12, 2014 and end on March 1 the following year. It would revolve around experiences of 12 people, whose personal stories reveal the impact of the war.
Named and shamed
Britain has called for stern action against Syrian president Bashar alAssad for the appalling human rights violations that have been carried out, with his consent. The United Nations for the first time on Monday directly named Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in being involved in serious war crimes, during the ongoing conflict in his country. UN human rights head Navi Pillay said that evidence had implicated the highest levels of the Syrian government in war crimes and crimes against humanity. Foreign Secretary William Hague reacted to the comments on Tuesday and said he endorses UN High Commissioner's comments on Assad's responsibility for regime's appalling human rights record.
Bollywood Auction
A cricket bat signed by 32 Indian film legends including present day Bollywood heart throbs Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra has sold for £7,500 in London. The bat was donated by BBC Asian Network presenter Tommy Sandhu and all proceeds from the sale of the lot was donated to the charity, Children in Need. It was part of the first major auction of vintage Bollywood memorabilia in the UK which ended in a massive success. Over 80% of lots sold off achieving more than £100,000 in proceeds, with collectors from Australia, UK, Holland, India, Spain and the UAE watching 172 lots go under the hammer at Conferro Auctions inaugural sale in the iconic Mayfair hotel.
December 2013 - 1st Edition
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“Due to the misinformation supplied to the UK authorities by members of the crew of flight PK709, the UK was put to considerable expense.”
NOT TERRORISTS: Mohammed Safdar (left) and Tayyab Subhani (right) have been cleared
Two men cleared of threatening to blow up a plane Two men - dubbed "idiots not terrorists" - have been cleared of threatening to blow up a plane. Tayyab Subhani, 30, and Mohammed Safdar, 42, were arrested on May 24 after a Boeing 777 heading from Lahore, Pakistan, to Manchester, was forced to make an emergency landing at Stansted Airport in Essex. It had been claimed Mr Safdar, supported by Mr Subhani, had made threats to kill crew and passengers after an argument broke out with air stewards at 30,000 feet. But jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court were instructed to find the men, from Nelson in Lancashire, not guilty of endangering an aircraft. Judge Charles Gratwicke described the case as "tenuous and peppered with inconsistencies". He added: "Under the circumstances no jury can properly convict these men." Prosecutor Brian O'Neill said: "In light of the state of the evidence, it has been decided it is no longer appropriate to seek convictions in this case."
The Boeing 777 was forced to make an emergency landing at Stansted Airport A series of witnesses told the court that although the men had acted like idiots, they had not heard a bomb threat. In statements read outside court, both men said they were relieved that their ordeal was over, and they had cleared their names after wrongly being branded terrorists. Solicitor Raza Sakhi said: "This is a victory for Mr Safdar, his loved ones and those that knew he was innocent of the allegations he was facing." The court heard that Pakistan International Airlines had released its own internal inquiry, which contradicted evidence given by its staff to police and in court, only when ordered to by the court. Barristers for both men said they did not blame the police or Crown Prosecution Service for the case being brought to court. Speaking for Mr Safdar, Mr Sakhi added: "Due to the misinformation supplied to the UK authorities by
EMERGENCY:The Boeing 777 was forced to make a landing at Stansted Airport
members of the crew of flight PK709, the UK was put to considerable expense. "Mr Safdar was wrongly vilified as a terrorist based on the same information. "Mr Safdar was separated from his family and remanded in custody for 73 days as a result of this misinformation." Biant Bansai, speaking on behalf of Mr Subhani, said: "This case has
collapsed after it became clear that witnesses against him had not told the truth. "This brings an end to six months of stress and anxiety for Mr Subhani and the cost to him and his family has been very high. "He's delighted that his name has now been cleared and we will press for a full inquiry as to the conduct of Pakistan International Airlines in this case."
Remembering Arthur Withers Upon the passing of Mr Arthur Withers earlier this week, the whole team at the Asian Express would like to offer their deepest condolences to the family. The newspaper worked closely with Southern Fried Chicken team during an Undercover Bosses episode on Channel 4 in 2011. Covering the shocking revelations, as well as post-
programme events, such as the cleanup of the stores and rebuilding of the proud image, the Withers family were a pleasure to work alongside and are a credit to the fast food industry. Mr Withers initially founded Southern Fried Chicken in the 1970s after initially experiencing the delectable flavour during a trip to the US. His passion for bringing
the previously unknown tastes to British shores saw him spend hours upon hours in his family garage skilfully mastering the recognisable taste which so many people worldwide have enjoyed. With more than 700 eateries operating across more than 70 countries, the franchise, currently headed by Mr Andrew Withers, has become a truly global
brand. It was the vision of just one man, who grew up in a single-bedroom home in East-London alongside four siblings, which eventually saw Southern Fried Chicken blossom into the company it is today. Asian Express Managing Director, Nadim Hanif, and all staff at the newspaper offer their deepest sympathies.
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Scar Tissue NEWS
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Child trafficking is a tragic epidemic, which has spread around the world but is particularly prevalent throughout Asia, where less value can be put on a life, than the value of money that life may be worth to another. In India alone the numbers involved are enormous. The target is more often from the poorest part of the community and where young girls are involved they are more likely to be forced into prostitution by criminal gangs. These gangs operate, seemingly with impunity, at times with the collusion of those who are paid by the state to protect its citizens, and of course are ultimately funded by the ‘citizens’ themselves who use the services of such gangs to pander
to their needs. These girls are not seen as human beings but rather as commodities to be traded. Factor in corruption among the authorities, and it is easy to see how difficult it can be to prevent girls from being taken in the first place, but also how near impossible it is for those who are abducted into this form of life to be found, rescued and rehabilitated. In ‘Scar Tissue’ the author, David Skivington uses the story he has created to transport the reader through a narrative that portrays a harrowing account. The narrative is of one girl who is abducted, and the struggle that her British father faces as he pursues the criminal gang behind her kidnapping. But could he be an accomplice of those who took the
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child? That is what his English wife Rachel is led to believe when, in a single phone call, her entire life unravels in a terrifying way, totally beyond her imagination. Transported to a dingy basement in Kolkata to identify the body of her murdered husband, she has no explanation for his presence in India. As she searches for answers about who the man she married really was, she finds his death surrounded by allegations of drug smuggling, child trafficking and murder. Unsure of what is true and who she can trust, Rachel has no idea of the danger in which her husband’s hidden life has placed her.
About the author AUTHOR: David Skivington
David completed an MA in Development Studies in which he explored the cause of many social issues. His studies focused particularly on the caste system in India. After this he trained as a teacher and taught RE in the UK for three years.
David and his wife, Bee, are now working as a volunteers, teaching English to children in a rural orphanage school in Andhra Pradesh, South East India. David loves being immersed in different cultures and has used his experiences in India to craft his debut crime thriller novel,
which is set in Kolkata. His novel looks at the prejudice faced by the Dalit caste and also the cruelty of human trafficking.
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Filthiest takeaway ever?
New website now live, please visit: www.asianexpress.co.uk Sharia lawmakers jailed
Three members of a self-styled ‘Muslim Patrol’ vigilante group, who threatened members of the public on the streets of east London, by claiming to enforce Sharia law, have been jailed. Jordan Horner, 19, was sentenced to 17 months in prison after pleading guilty to two charges of assault and two charges of using threatening words and behaviour. Ricardo MacFarlane, 26, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to affray, while another 23year-old member of the group received a six-month sentence after pleading guilty to affray. The court was told how the trio had terrorised east London neighbourhoods. They bullied a couple for holding hands, told a woman that she would be punished in "hellfire" because of the way she was dressed and attacked a group of men for drinking alcohol on various occasions.
Indian Soldiers in the First World War
Unknown stories of Indian soldiers’ bravery and selfless sacrifice, highlighted through archival photographs and letters, will be exhibited at Sussex's Brighton Museum and Art Gallery next year to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War. Officials said Royal Pavilion at the exhibition would provide a fascinating account of how the royal palace was transformed into a military hospital for wounded Indian soldiers serving on the western front. Heroics of Indian soldiers will be a highlighted as part of Brighton and Hove's WW1 centenary plans. Exhibition titled 'War Stories: Voices from the First World War' will commence on July 12, 2014 and end on March 1 the following year. It would revolve around experiences of 12 people, whose personal stories reveal the impact of the war.
Racism rife in hospitals
Racial abuse against hospital workers has risen by 65% in just four years, figures suggest. There were 694 racist incidents reported against NHS staff across the UK during 2012/13, according to data obtained by BBC Radio 5 Live. This compares to 420 physical or verbal assaults on staff in 2008/09. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported the highest number of racist incidents, with 76 in 2012/13, according to the Victoria Derbyshire programme, which collated data from 133 NHS hospital trusts. Dean Royles, chief executive of the NHS Employers organisation, said: "The NHS can be a high-pressure environment and staff and their managers often work in stressful situations. “In some places we have job vacancies and a rising demand for services, and the pressure to deliver care can be extraordinary. The fact that staff get racially abused should appal every rightminded person. With rising levels of violence against staff in the NHS, it's shocking that staff can also be subject to racial abuse.”
new website, now live please visit: www.asianexpress.co.uk
Inspectors close a mouse-infested fried chicken shop on the spot A takeaway was closed down on the spot by shocked inspectors visited it to check food hygiene practices. Pictures released by Waltham Forest health inspectors, show the stomach-turning conditions inside QFC - a fried chicken shop branded 'the filthiest ever seen'. Inspectors visited the fried chicken takeaway in East London and found left over chips strewn on the floor, hundreds of mouse droppings in cupboards and grease everywhere. After spotting a mouse infestation, the council said QFC was 'one of the filthiest inspectors had ever seen'. Councillor Clyde Loakes said: “It begs the question, what does the Q in QFC stand for? “’Queasy’? ‘Questionable’? Certainly not ‘Quality’, that’s for
sure! In all seriousness, the photos I have seen connected with this inspection tell a pretty disgusting tale. “It is truly shocking to find businesses like this that have an utter disregard for the health and well being of their customers.” Cupboards in the foul takeaway were also littered with mouse droppings. (Waltham Forest Council) Inspectors closed down the vile fried chicken shop as soon as they visited. (Waltham Forest Council) The shop was closed on Novemebr 18th and a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order was then secured from Stratford Magistrates' Court within two days. QFC cannot reopen until it proves it is not a threat to public health.
No Gender Segregation
STOMACH-CHURNING: Discarded chips are strewn all over the unhygienic takeaway. (Waltham Forest Council)
FILTHY: Cupboards in the foul takeaway were also littered with mouse droppings. (Waltham Forest Council)
VILE: Hygiene standards in the shop saw it closed down by Waltham Forest health inspectors, who released images of its interior as a warning to other takeaways
Michael Gove labels UK guidance as ‘pandering to extremism’ Education Secretary Michael Gove has insisted that university leaders must withdraw guidance which endorses the segregation of men and women in debates and lectures featuring Islamic speakers. Mr Gove said the guidance issued by Universities UK (UUK) was ‘pandering to extremism’ and insisted that speakers who demand separate seating for men and women in their audience should not be indulged by the authorities. UUK chief executive Nicola Dandridge defended the policy yesterday, insisting that gender segregation was not ‘alien to our culture’. Ms Dandridge insisted that institutions would not enforce segregation but if participants were happy to sit in separate groups that would be permitted as long as there was no disadvantage. But Mr Gove told the Daily Mail:
“We should not pander to extremism. Speakers who insist on segregating audiences should not be indulged by educators. “This guidance is wrong and harmful. Universities UK should withdraw it immediately.” The row over segregation has sparked protests from students, and shadow business Secretary Chuka Umunna said he was ‘horrified’ by Universities UK's position. Last month a UUK report stated that university officials must consider both freedom of speech obligations and discrimination and equality laws when considering a request from a speaker for segregated audiences. It said that if officials decide to proceed with an event with segregation, they must consider whether a seating plan would be discriminatory to one gender. But it went on to say that if side-byside seating was enforced without
offering an alternative non-segregated seating area, it could be deemed as discriminatory against men or women who hold feminist beliefs. Ms Dandridge said: “We are not talking about universities enforcing segregation... In practice, if the people coming to this event said 'We do not want to segregate and separate out men and women', it is inconceivable that the university would impose it on them. “What we are talking about in practice is voluntary segregation and that’s what happens in practice if people participating choose.” Rejecting comparisons to racial segregation, she said:“It is possible for women to choose to be educated in an all-women environment. It's not something which is so alien to our culture that it has to be regarded like race segregation, which is totally different and it's unlawful, and there's no doubt about that whatsoever.”
WRONG: Education Secretary Michael Gove believes segregating University lectures on Islamic teachings based on gender is harmful
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Purged for ‘Treachery’
follow us on twitter: Defence case over
One of the two men accused of murdering British soldier Lee Rigby on a London street in May will not be testifying in his defence, a court heard on Friday. Michael Adebowale, 22, and codefendant Michael Adebolajo, 29, are accused of running over Afghan war veteran Rigby in Woolwich, southeast London, before attacking his unconscious body with knives and a meat cleaver. They both deny murder. Adebolajo said in evidence earlier this week that he was a soldier of Allah engaged in a war between Muslims and Western nations. But Adebowale's lawyer Abbas Lakha told the Old Bailey on Friday he would not be calling his client or any witnesses, thereby ending the defence case. “That means that the evidence is now over,” Judge Nigel Sweeney told the jury, whilst the trial is expected to last another week.
Blockbusted
British film and computer games rental chain Blockbuster is to close down completely after administrators said they had failed to secure a buyer for the firm. Private equity firm Gordon Brothers Europe, which purchased Blockbuster for an undisclosed sum in March, put it into administration on November 11 when it was trading from 264 stores, employing 2,000. Administrator Moorfields Corporate Recovery has been closing stores and laying off staff since and said on Thursday the remaining 91 stores would now close by December 16, with the loss of 808 jobs. “Unfortunately, we were unable to secure a buyer for the group as a going concern and as a result had to take the regrettable action to close the remaining stores,” joint administrators Simon Thomas and Nick O'Reilly said.
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Kim Jong-Un’s once powerful uncle executed By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
Kim Jong-Un’s ruling of North Korea has long been questioned in regard to a handful of extreme incidents and the killing of his Uncle last week, raises more concerns about the state of the Asian country. The once powerful General Jang Song-Thaek was hanged on Thursday 12th December after being branded a ‘traitor’ by the state’s news agency, KCNA. General Jang was executed shortly after a military trial on the grounds of committing ‘hideous crime as attempting to overthrow the state by all sorts of intrigues and despicable methods with a wild ambition to grab the supreme power of our party and state’. According to the KCNA, the man who was once considered the second most powerful official in the North was ‘worse than a dog’. The full statement read: “Despicable human scum Jang, who was worse than a dog, perpetrated thrice-cursed acts of treachery in betrayal of such profound trust and warmest paternal love shown by the party and the leader for him.”
South Korean media said they believed he was killed by machine gun; a relatively common form of execution in the North. The announcement came days after Pyongyang said that Gen Jang had been removed from all his posts because of allegations of corruption, drug use, gambling, womanising, generally leading a ‘dissolute and depraved life’ and ‘dreaming different dreams’. Gen Jang had been believed to be helping North Korea’s current leader, Kim Jong-Ul settle into his position as Supreme Leader following the death of his father two years prior. Gen Jang had earlier been stripped of all posts and titles, after the regime had accused him of corruption. State TV this week showed photos of Gen Jang being dragged out of his seat at a meeting by two officers, in an extremely rare public humiliation of a figure who was then demonised as a drug-taking womaniser. Gen Jang was the latest and most significant in a series of personnel reshuffles that Mr Kim conducted in an apparent effort to bolster his power.
SENTENCED: North Korea Supreme leader Kim Jong-Ul (right) ordered the execution of his Uncle, General Jang Song-Thaek, after he was branded as ‘despicable human scum’
British Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said: “If this is confirmed, it is another example of the extreme brutality of the North Korean regime.” Whilst a Foreign Office spokesman added: “We are
concerned at reports of the execution of Jang Song-Thaek and oppose the use of the death penalty in any and all cases worldwide. We are monitoring the situation in North Korea closely in consultation with allies.”
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Yasmin Patel
Drug Smugglers Sentenced
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Almost 20 years handed out for Lancashire traffickers
Ishmail Ahmed
Two East Lancashire men, have been sentenced to more than ten years in prison for their involvement in trafficking large amounts of heroin into their local area. Ismail Ahmed, 28, of Granville Street, Burnley and Yamin Patel, 26, of Bold Street, Blackburn conspired to supply heroin between October 2012 and March 2013 and were found in possession of £500,000 worth of drugs. They were also convicted of offences of possession with intent to supply heroin on the 7th March this year, whilst a third man, Jayesh Patel, 32, of Park Street, Bolton, was also
sentenced for the same crime. The three were sentenced last week at Preston Crown Court, when Ahmed was given five years, four months in prison. Yamin Patel was sentenced to four years 10 months behind bars and Jayesh Patel was ordered to serve eight years. DI Mark Winstanley who led the investigation said: “I am glad to see this trio are now behind bars for their part in the supply of drugs in Lancashire. “This investigation saw the recovery of just under 10kgs of heroin, with a street value of approximately £500,000, and a quantity of cocaine with a street value of just under £1,000, which
were destined to cause misery on our streets. “Organised criminal groups such as these unscrupulously exploit vulnerable individuals to fund lavish lifestyles if left unchecked. “These three individuals have sought to gain financially at the expense of the most vulnerable people in our society. “I am satisfied that we have disrupted this criminal group and taken a large amount of drugs off the streets. “We are determined to stamp out large-scale drug trafficking and I hope that these convictions send a strong message to the criminal fraternity.”
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War on terror
Two Britons facing trial in the United States for charges of supporting militant groups including al Qaeda by operating websites promoting jihad plan to change their pleas to guilty next week, court papers filed on Thursday showed. The men, Babar Ahmad and Syed Talha Ahsan, faced trial on charges including providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to injure the property of a foreign government for running a website that U.S. prosecutors contended raised funds for Muslim militants in Afghanistan and Chechnya. The two were extradited to the United States from Britain last year for trial and had entered not guilty pleas to all charges in U.S. District Court in Connecticut. They are due in court in New Haven on Wednesday for a change of plea hearing.
Accused had ‘jihad’ scripts
The two men accused of murdering British soldier Lee Rigby on a London street owned texts covering jihad and martyrdom, with one of the pair also owning a magazine published by Al Qaeda, the Old Bailey heard on Thursday. Michael Adebolajo, 28, and Michael Adebowale, 22, are accused of running over Rigby, 25, as he crossed a street in Woolwich, southeast London, in May before attacking his unconscious body with a meat cleaver and knives. At the home of Adebolajo's father, police retrieved books and two laptops belonging to the suspect containing articles and lectures with titles including "Extreme Islam", "The book of Jihad" and a magazine published by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula entitled "Inspire," prosecutor Oliver Glasgow told the court. One passage from Extreme Islam, that had been highlighted, read: "Islam is always in need of martyrs. The revival of courage and zeal is essential for the revival of a nation."
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Scientology marriage
A woman who wants to get married in a chapel of the Church of Scientology in London won her case on Wednesday at Britain's Supreme Court, which ruled that Scientology was a religion and the chapel was a place where marriages could be solemnised. Louisa Hodkin, 25, had launched legal action after officials refused to record the chapel as a place that could be used to celebrate marriages, citing a court ruling from 1970 that said Scientology did not involve religious worship. “My fiance and I have always believed in the fairness of the British legal process. It's been a long and demanding journey, but the Supreme Court's decision today has made it all worthwhile,” Hodkin said in a statement. “We are really excited that we can now get married.”
Is your
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Protestor can stay
A protester who jumped into the River Thames to disrupt last year's Oxbridge Boat Race has won his appeal against deportation after arguing that his British-Indian wife would face racism if the family had to move back to his native Australia. Trenton Oldfield, 37, was jailed after he swam into the path of rowing crews during the 158th Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, in a protest against what he sees as the deepening inequality of British society. He has lived in Britain since 2001 with his wife, a British citizen of Indian descent. The couple have a five-monthold daughter. Last year a survey by Australia's Monash University found that Indians were particularly singled out for racist abuse following a spate of attacks on foreign students.
‘Mission Accomplished’
British Prime Minister David Cameron has told soldiers in Afghanistan that it is ‘Mission accomplished’ in the Asian country, ahead of pulling out the troops next year. Speaking during his visit, Mr Cameron said troops could leave Afghanistan with their ‘heads held high’. He said: “To me the absolute driving part of the mission is the basic level of security so that it doesn't become a haven for terror. “That is the mission, that was the mission and I think we will have accomplished that mission and so our troops can be very proud of what they have done.” Adding: “I said, back in 2010, that after the end of 2014 there would not be British troops in a combat role and we will stick to that.”
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in it ?
Following the campaign to get more people from the Black and Asian community to donate their organs, the ageold dispute as to whether Muslim’s can donate has been brought sharply back into focus. With more than four out of every ten people waiting for an organ transplant in Bradford Being from the black and Asian community, it’s a very real issue. People from these communities are three times more likely to need an organ transplant than the rest of the population however, less than two per cent have formally recorded t h e i r wishes b y
Better pay not immigration
Domino's Pizza, the country's biggest pizza delivery firm, should pay better wages if it is struggling to fill job vacancies rather than seeking a relaxation of immigration rules, said a British government minister. The chief executive of Domino's British franchise, Lance Batchelor, told the London Evening Standard newspaper this week that his firm was struggling to find workers after a tightening of immigration rules. Batchelor had appealed to the government to allow his firm to bring in unskilled workers from outside the EU, saying Domino's could hire 1,000 workers immediately. The group reported pre-tax profit of £46.7million in 2012, up 10.8 per cent from the previous year.
heart
December 2013 - 1st Edition
The Asian Express probes the mindset that it is anti-Islamic to donate body organs
joining the organ donor register. Organ transplantation is an effective therapy for the treatment of irreversible organ damage. The first successful transplant took place in the 1950s, and it has since advanced to become an effective and safe cure for many illnesses. However, due to the number of organs available and has thus been the subject of many national campaigns to increase the number of donors. One Muslim, Abrar Hussain, 54, had a quarter of his liver removed after developing a cancerous tumour. Two years later the cancer returned and Abrar was told he would need a transplant. In August 2010, after spending three months on the transplant waiting list, the Bradford man received a call from St James’s Hospital in Leeds to say they had found a donor. He said: “I was one of the lucky ones to receive a liver transplant so soon after being on the waiting list was an absolute miracle. “Apart from a few minor health complications, it has transformed my life. “Raising awareness of the need for more people to sign up is vital, as black and Asian people are three times more likely to need a transplant and there is a serious shortage of people from these communities on the register.”
What Sharia Law says
In 1995, Muslim Law Shariah Council UK issued a fatwa (religious opinion) on organ donation. It stated: “The council supports organ transplantation as a means of alleviating pain or saving life on the basis of the rules of the Shariah and that Muslims may carry donor cards.” They also said that the next of kin of a dead person, in the absence of a card or an expressed wish to donate their organs, may give permission to obtain organs from the body to save other peopleʼs lives. The fatwa is based on the Islamic principle of al-darurat tubih almahzurat (necessities overrule prohibition). A spokesman for the Muslim Law Shariah Council UK said: “Normally, violating the human body, whether living or dead, is forbidden in Islam, but the Shariah believes this can be overruled when saving another personʼs life. “However there are also a significant number of Muslim scholars who believe that organ donation is not permissible and hold the view that this does not fall under the criteria of the Islamic principle of al-darurat tubih al mahzurat (necessities overrule prohibition) due to other overriding Islamic principles and both viewpoints take their evidence from the Quran.”
Normally, violating the human body, whether living or dead, is forbidden in Islam, but the Shariah believes this can be overruled when saving another person’s life
First book printed in America sells for record $14.2 million
In West Yorkshire a total of 361 people received an organ transplant during 2011/2012
The Bay Psalm Book, one of eleven surviving copies of the first book printed in America, sold for $14.2 million on Tuesday evening at Sotheby's in New York, setting a new world auction record for any printed book. Although it had been estimated to fetch up to $30 million, it easily surpassed the previous mark of $11.5 million, paid in December 2010 for John James Audubon's "Birds of America." American businessman and philanthropist David Rubenstein
purchased the book. He is the cofounder and co-chief executive officer of the U.S. private equity firm Carlyle Group LP. Sotheby's said Rubenstein plans to loan it to libraries across the United States, before it will be put on long-term loan to one of them. "We are thrilled that this book, which is so important to our history and culture, is destined to be widely seen by Americans who can appreciate its singular significance," said David Redden,
chairman of Sotheby's books department. "We are of course also thrilled to have achieved a new world auction record price for any printed book, which affirms that books remain a vital part of our culture," he added in a statement. Printed in 1640 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Bay Psalm is one of the rarest books in the world and among the finest surviving copies of original 1,700 that were printed. It is also the first copy to be
A copy of "The Bay Psalm Book" is pictured at Sotheby's Auction House in New York
sold since 1947 when it set an auction record for a book at $151,000. Boston's Old South Church sold the Bay Psalm Book from its collection to cover the cost of building repairs and to fund its ministry. It is one of two owned by the church. Harvard and Yale universities and other institutions own the other existing copies.
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‘Right or wrong’ training for MPs
Britain's new MPs will be given compulsory "honesty" training to teach them how to behave in a public office after a series of scandals have left the public "jaundiced" and disillusioned with politics. The standards watchdog is to devise courses in ethics for the MPs to ensure they can spot the difference between right and wrong. Lord Bew who is the chairman of the standards watchdog committee on standards in public life, said the courses which will start after the next general election - would increase "the awareness of practical ethical issues among MPs". The seminars will increase "the ethical sensitivity of the members of parliament" and coach them on how to behave in a number of scenarios - such as accepting gifts from outside bodies and dealing with lobbyists, Bew was quoted as saying in a The Sunday Times report. The courses are designed to address public unease after a series of scandals that have left the public "jaundiced" and disillusioned with politics.
Immigration Test
Migrants will be able to claim benefits if they pass a series of tough new tests, including a check on their fluency in English, the government announced on Friday. The moves, which will come into force a fortnight ahead of the removal of transitional controls on Romanian and Bulgarian workers, are designed to send a strong deterrent message to potential "benefit tourists". From next Wednesday foreign-born benefit claimants will face more questions in lengthier interviews. The rules apply to all overseas nationals, regardless of whether or not they are from the European Union, and to Britons returning after living abroad. For the first time claimants will be challenged to demonstrate their proficiency in English and to prove they were genuinely looking for work before they came to this country. JobCentre Plus staff, who will conduct the interviews, will have a secret list of 100 questions which they can be tailored to individual interviewees by an ‘intelligent IT system’.
Leave the nibbles alone
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth was so incensed with royal police officers eating nuts from bowls left out in the corridors of Buckingham Palace that she drew lines on the sides in a bid to catch them out, a London court heard on Thursday. In emails submitted to the phone hacking trial of journalists at Rupert Murdoch's now defunct News of the World tabloid, its royal reporter said he had learnt that a memo had been issued to all officers telling them to ‘keep their sticky fingers out’. To laughter in the court, Judge John Saunders told the jury that these were ‘unfounded allegations’. “Queen furious about police stealing bowls of nuts and nibbles left out for her in the BP (Buckingham Palace) Queen's corridors,” an email from royal reporter Clive Goodman to the then editor Andy Coulson said. It said staff had put out a selection of nuts including cashews, almonds and Bombay mix around the palace for the 87year-old Queen.
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Plain packaging for cigarettes?
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December 2013 - 1st Edition
U-TURN: Prime Minister David Cameron announces new independent review of cigarette packaging amid calls for action to discourage young smokers
The government is set to press ahead with a review of cigarette packaging, forcing tobacco firms to sell them in plain packs in an effort to deter youngsters from smoking. The Prime Minister David Cameron in July delayed plans to ban company branding on cigarette packets, a move that was strongly criticised by health campaigners. At the time he said that he wanted to first see the impact of a similar decision in Australia. Branded packaging has been accused of encouraging children to smoke and moves are afoot in Europe to crack down on tobacco marketing. Now, it is expected that Mr Cameron will announce the idea in the next few days. The World Health Organization (WHO) said in July that plain packaging
would increase the impact of health warnings, stop consumers from thinking some products were less harmful, and make tobacco products less attractive for adults and children. Shadow public health minister Luciana Berger said the Government should simply bring in a law now: “We need immediate legislation for standard cigarette packaging, not another review. The Government needs to stand up to the tobacco industry’s vested interests,” she said. “The evidence to support standardised packaging is clear. The consensus is overwhelming. We don’t need any further delay while 570 children are lighting up for the first time every day.” A study in Australia of 500 smokers showed that they found cigarettes in plain packs less appealing,
and had become 80 per cent more likely to think about quitting at least once a day since the packs, which are a drab olive green and carry large health warnings, were brought in. Australian health minister Tanya Pilbersek said in July that smokers also seemed to enjoy cigarettes less. “While tobacco companies haven't changed the formula of their products,” she said. “We've had feedback from smokers saying their cigarettes taste worse since the government's required packaging to be plain.” Six million people die every year from smoking and the toll is projected to rise to eight million by 2030, according to the WHO.
UK families flee to Asia South Asian country, third most popular in child abduction cases
By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
British parents, fleeing the country after abducting their children, are more likely to seek refuge in Asian countries, according to statistics released last week. Statistics produced by the UK’s foreign and commonwealth office (FCO) reveal that Pakistan, with 35 such cases, tops the list of 10 countries children have been abducted to where returns aren't available under international law. Thailand, with 17 cases, and India with 16, come in second and third for Brit parents who are taking their children abroad. The total number of cases for 2012-2013 stands at 580, the second highest ever recorded and a staggering increase of 113 per cent over the last decade. Contrary to popular belief, it is actually mothers who are found to be responsible for the majority of the abduction cases, with approximately 70 per cent revolving around the mother’s role. Reunite is a charity that provides
advice and support to parents involved in parental child abduction cases and has dealt with 447 new cases which involved 616 children. After reporting a particular spike in cases after Christmas 2012, the FCO is now worried that Christmas 2013 could see a similar trend in child abductions across UK. The FCO has now launched a hard-hitting film ‘Caught in the middle’, to highlight the issues and encourage parents to think of the consequences before doing something that could do lasting damage to the children and families involved. Mark Simmonds, Minister for Consular Affairs, said: “I was very concerned to see an increase in child abduction cases. Parental child abduction has a devastating emotional impact on the child as well as the taking parent and the parent left behind. It can do lasting damage to a child's relationship with both parents and their happiness. “These are often distressing cases for everyone involved and there are no easy fixes, but our staff
AWARENESS: Mark Simmonds, Minister for Consular Affairs, has warned parents to be aware of abduction cases during the Christmas period
around the world work hard to assist those parents left behind. “We are launching this awareness campaign in the lead up to Christmas to try to prevent parents from doing something that would cause significant distress to themselves, their family and most importantly to the child.
“We also encourage parents to look for warning signs that their partner may be considering this. Once children are taken overseas it can be extremely difficult to secure their return to the UK. Many parents are not aware that by abducting their child, they may be committing a crime.”
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Powerful Commons Committee to investigate fraud at Kings Science Academy
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The powerful House of Commons Public Accounts Committee will be investigating the lack of oversight by the Department of Education that created the conditions for fraud at the Kings Science Academy (KSA) in Bradford. An internal audit at the free school highlighted large sums of missing money and allegations of mismanagement, and possible fraud, including fabricated invoices in order to claim thousands of pounds of public money. Kings Science Academy was one of the first free schools approved by the Department for Education (DfE), and opened in September 2011, as a sciencefocused secondary school for up to 800 pupils between ages 11 and 16. It moved to a new £10m building in
the Lidget Green area last year. Bradford MP, David Ward met with Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, Chair of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, earlier this week to discuss the recent revelations that fraud occurred at the Kings Science Academy. David also raised the possibility of whether the Public Accounts Committee would undertake an investigation into the wider concerns that the DfE lacked fundamental oversight over the free school programme. At the meeting, Margaret Hodge MP confirmed that the National Audit Office are aware of the background of events at Kings Science Academy and will be publishing a report into the establishment of the Free School
programme in December. The report will also consider the current DfE’s arrangements for overseeing the financial and academic performance of open Free Schools. The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee will then be holding an oral session in January next year. This session will also discuss this report which will also be used as an opportunity for the committee to further scrutinise Civil Servants at the DfE over their lacklustre oversight of Kings Science Academy. Commenting David Ward MP said: “I welcome the news that Margaret Hodge MP and the Public Accounts Committee are showing leadership and undertaking an investigation into
UNDER INVESIGATION: Head teacher Sajid Raza at Kings Science Academy in Bradford
an ideological pet project that has neither shown value for money nor proof that it raises educational attainment. “What happened at Kings Science Academy raises some very worrying questions about the whole Free Schools programme
not only about how efficiently public money is used but how millionaires making a profit is sanctioned and how those running a school can defraud, free of the knowledge that no action will be taken.”
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‘Close the camps’
North Korea is showing no signs of scaling back its fearsome labour camp system, with torture, starvation, rape and death a fact of life for tens of thousands of inmates, according to human rights group Amnesty International. The rights group released satellite images, purportedly showing evidence of expansion, including the construction of new housing blocks and production facilities, at two of the isolated regime's largest camps or ‘kwanliso’ - 15 and 16 used to hold political prisoners. “The gruesome reality of North Korea's continued investment in this vast network of repression has been exposed,” said Rajiv Narayan, Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher. “We urge the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those prisoners of conscience held in political prison camps and close the camps immediately.”
W hy c an’t S p id erman co n ver t t o I sl a m ?
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The appearance of a female Muslim character in a comic book is being celebrated, but she is not going to end Islamophobia
Bruce Lee jumpsuit sells for thousands
A yellow jumpsuit, worn by martial arts legend Bruce Lee in one of his final fight scenes, fetched $100,500 at auction on Thursday. The famous outfit was one of 14 items in a collection of the actor's personal belongings and props that went under the hammer in Hong Kong. The sale fetched a total of more than $258,000, double the auction house's estimate. The costume, which features black stripes, was sold to an anonymous online bidder who purchased a total of six pieces. It's one of only two jumpsuits worn by Lee during filming of the movie, "Game of Death," and has inspired tributes in popular culture ranging from Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill" to the ninth video game in the "Grand Theft Auto" series.
‘Poet of the People’ passes
Ahmed Fouad Negm, Egypt's ‘poet of the people’ whose biting political verses inspired rebellion and taunted successive regimes for decades, died Tuesday in Cairo at age 84. Negm's colloquial prose made poetry an act of defiance directly accessible to millions of poor and illiterate labourers often marginalized by the palace-based Cairo government. “Who are we and who are they? They are the princes and sultans and we are the poor convicts. Solve this riddle and use your brain: See which of us rules over the other? Which of us serves the other?” reads one of Negm's most popular poems. Born to an impoverished family of ‘fellahin’, or peasants, Negm published countless love poems for his maiden, the nation of Egypt, and once said: “The love for a woman exists in the body. It is temporary and passes. But the love for a cause lives in your mind and in your blood forever.”
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By Leon Moosavi info@asianexpress.co.uk
There's a strong current of Islamophobia gushing through our era. In various places, Muslims are still perceived as causing problems with their alleged insistence on being different. From Canada, to the UK, to Burma, and beyond, there are intense debates today that construct Muslims as a troublesome "race" who need to be contained. So when I heard about a new superhero that is going to eradicate this globalised Islamophobia, I was excited. Commentators have celebrated Marvel's new Muslim superhero, Kamala Khan (aka Ms Marvel), as a refreshing example of a strong Muslim woman who will normalise Muslim identity. Some even went as far as saying that Khan is "a much needed counter to Islamophobia in show business" and that "Marvel's work is a watershed moment in breaking down fear and ignorance." I wish these commentators were right, but sadly, I think they are overlooking some finer points of Kamala's character that may suggest she is part of the problem rather than the solution. A Muslim shapeshifter From the limited information we have about Kamala, we know that she is a 16-year-old "shapeshifter", who comes from a conservative and restrictive family. She apparently struggles with an identity crisis between her Muslim and American identities. This loose characterisation does not sound like a refreshing portrayal of a Muslim character to me, but in fact, is consistent with typical outdated stereotypes of Muslims. In particular, the idea that Muslim women are trapped by family, tradition and
Muslim men is an old orientalist trope that is still projected onto Muslim communities today. It is the same logic that has been used to justify the criminalisation of Muslim clothing and the invasion of Muslim countries. Her ability to "shapeshift" brings to mind the common Islamophobic accusation that Muslims routinely practice taqqiya where they deliberately conceal their true beliefs for the sake of sinister plots. Malala and Kamala sound similar? In this respect, it may not be a coincidence that Kamala rhymes with Malala, as both of their stories may give the impression that Muslim women need saving from Muslim men. The question that has been asked about Malala, may fairly be asked about Kamala as well:‘Is she really an empowered Muslim woman or is she an appropriated tool whose narrative coalesces with the portrayal of Muslim men's ruthless domination needing to be curbed?’ It will be interesting to see what role Kamala's white male friend "Bruno" plays in respect to this. It would be tragic if he is the one who Kamala feels safe to confide in, or who helps liberate her, or who gains an intimate relationship with her, because all of these correspond with racist imaginings of how the hierarchical relationship between white men and brown women should be. Identity crisis Kamala's identity crisis bothers me as well. Jews, Blacks and Muslims have all been told that surely they cannot reconcile a "Western" identity with their ethnicity, race or religion. Surely, the clash of civilisations manifests in their personalities and they
are troubled, if not schizophrenic. For me, this identity crisis is over-theorised by academics, politicians and journalists, because in the real world, minorities find it quite easy to adapt, integrate and just get on with their lives. At most, they face just as many tricky questions about their identity as anyone else does. Emphasising Kamala's
identity crisis, her struggle between her heritage and her environment, and her desire to find stability suggests that being an American Muslim is always a difficult undertaking. It needn't be, and we needn't insist that American Muslims must always be overwhelmed with internal tension. Manipulative? I may be reading too much into this but I also find Kamala's superpower significant. Her ability to "shapeshift" brings to mind the common Islamophobic accusation that Muslims routinely practice taqqiya where they deliberately conceal their true beliefs for the sake of sinister plots. Shapeshifting is cunning
and manipulative, just as orientalists imagined Arabs to be and just as far-right Islamophobes like to imagine all Muslims are today. As Jews were once represented in the past as selfishly infiltrating society, Muslims today are also likely to be considered as stealthily introducing Sharia into society. And what better way to justify this than by claiming Muslims, as s h a p e s h i f t e r s, alternate their persona to dupe unsuspecting liberals. Fighting Isamophobia with comics? Islamophobia is not about to disappear, and suggesting it will because of the appearance of a Muslim character in a comic book, does a disservice to those who confront it in all its seriousness in their everyday lives. I am not suggesting that Marvel intends to p r o m o t e Islamophobia. In fact, Marvel expresses an unequivocal desire to be anti-racist on their website, and at the same place also provide a surprisingly honest dissection of some of the prejudicial mistakes they've made in the past. Now even though two Muslims have created Kamala, I wonder if such mistakes are being made, because being a Muslim does not mean you are immune to internalising dominant views of your group, even if they are Islamophobic. If a cartoon character was to do anything about challenging Islamophobia, it would be one whose Muslim identity is there but is insignificant - just a taken-for-granted part of their life. Or it would be one who comfortably practises Islam without it being a burden.
In this regard, I would be more excited about Kamala if she was a superhero who just happened to be a Muslim, or if she wore a headscarf without it being an issue. There's still hope for Kamala as her story is yet to be written, and it would be wonderful if Kamala did undermine Islamophobia, but I expect she will be no different than the many other Muslim comic book characters that have existed in the past, who come and go, usually unwittingly reinforcing simplistic stereotypes about Muslims. I, therefore, won't be making bold claims that "Marvel is taking powerful steps… to help end Islamophobia" until Spiderman converts to Islam! Of course, that will never happen because it would be devastating for business. Let's be clear Marvel's new character is more realistically about identifying a niche in an ever-growing Muslim market rather than the beginning of an equality campaign. Yet even if it was a deliberate attempt to tackle Islamophobia, comics will never be able to end Islamophobia because too few people read them. They are also competing with many other voices that still strongly stigmatise Muslims in a context of well-entrenched Islamophobia that has existed for centuries. I hate to be so pessimistic but Islamophobia is not about to disappear, and suggesting it will because of the appearance of a Muslim character in a comic book, does a disservice to those who confront it in all its seriousness in their everyday lives. The appearance of Muslim characters in film, TV, music or cartoons can be a good thing, but only if they are portrayed in ways that do not reinforce stereotypes about Muslims as uniquely problematic. I'm not sure that Kamala Khan does this, as many hope she will.
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No defence
The jury in the trial of two men accused of murdering British soldier Lee Rigby heard on Tuesday that the evidence by one of them that Muslims are engaged in a war against Western nations was not a defence to the charge of murder in law. Michael Adebolajo, 29, and codefendant Michael Adebowale, 22, are accused of running over Rigby in Woolwich, southeast London, on May 22 before attacking his unconscious body with knives and a meat cleaver. They both deny murder. Last week, Adebolajo sat in the witness box just metres away from Rigby's family and said he was waging a war for Allah in response to Western wars in nations such as Iraq and Afghanistan. But Judge Nigel Sweeney told the Old Bailey jury that did not amount to a defence in law. He said: "I have ruled that nothing said by the first defendant (Adebolajo), and in particular his evidence in short that he was a soldier of Allah and was justified in doing what he did, amounts in law to a defence to this count (of murder)."
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Muslims act on climate change The British charity MADE in Europe launched its eco-award scheme for mosques earlier this month, the first initiative of its kind, with an event featuring some of the country’s most influential Muslims. More than 150 people gathered at the Ecology Pavilion, Mile End, to hear a host of esteemed speakers discuss the importance of environmentalism in Islam, and what British Muslims can do to reduce their carbon footprint. The event, titled ‘Signs For Those Who Reflect; The Forgotten Sunnah’, is the latest step in the Green up My Community! campaign which MADE in Europe is running with FEMYSO across Europe. The campaign is aimed specifically at educating and
Sell the Selfie
David Cameron has issued a personal plea to his Danish counterpart, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, not to delete last week's controversial Nelson Mandela memorial service selfie. The Prime Minister has laughed off criticism surrounding the light-hearted moment following US President Barack Obama's eulogy, despite some critics saying it was in poor taste. Thorning-Schmidt downplayed the selfie as ‘a bit of fun’, and said she would not be releasing the image because it ‘was not very good’. Yet upon hearing that she was ready to delete the photograph, Cameron has intervened, saying that it should instead be sold to raise money for charity.
December 2013 - 1st Edition
JOURNALIST: Myriam FrancoisCerrah spoke about how protecting the environment should be a priority in all people’s minds (Images courtesy of Rufal Ali)
More than 100 gather as Mosque eco-award scheme launched
galvanising Muslims to become more eco-friendly in their choices of food, transport, and clothing. Given the risk of extreme weather conditions in homelands including flooding, droughts and typhoons, British Muslims of Asian and African descent have a close connection with climate change and the current environmental crisis. MADE in Europe’s eco award scheme, developed with the support of the City Bridge Trust, provides a framework for mosques in the UK to work towards becoming more environmentally sustainable. Several mosques have already started taking action including East London Mosque, Palmers Green Mosque and Al Manar Mosque. At the launch event, journalist Myriam Francois-Cerrah said: “We do get overly focused on minor issues and have not been concerned with the greater priority of protecting the environment. We see in the Qu’ran how elevated the natural world is, compared to our traditional cost-profit conceptions of it, and this awareness of the divine nature of creation implies that we should protect it.” Shaykh Shams, an expert in Islamic Law, and one of the founders of Ebrahim College,
PARTICIPATION: Audience members were encouraged to share their views on how to better the Mosque’s eco intiatives
offered a theological point of view on the importance of mosques taking action on the environment. “Islamic principles teach us to shun the idea of living a life defined by materialism, in favour of one where we are less interested in the trappings of wealth, and more interested in moderation in every aspect of our lives,” he said. Each of the attendees received a free copy of the “Green Up My Community!” Campaign Toolkit an in-depth booklet that expands on the event’s key issues of local environmentalism, and contains the eco award scheme - and many
were vocal in their support for the ideas raised by the panel. Others discussed methods of raising further awareness in their own communities, and expressing their wholehearted support of the eco-award scheme for mosques. Other highlights of the event included a short animation detailing the direct environmental and ethical impact of consumerist lifestyle choices – such as eating factory-farmed meat or buying from retailers tied to sweatshop labour - as well as spoken word poetry from MADE in Europe’s Shehroze Khan.
December 2013 - 1st Edition
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Murder mystery solved after 5 years NEWS
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MURDERED: 14-year-old Arushi Talwar’s parents, Rajesh and Nupur Talwa, found guilty of her murder
By Anush Ansari
anush@asianexpress.co.uk
An Indian couple have been convicted of murdering their 14-yearold daughter Aarushi Talwar and their Nepalese servant, finally providing a verdict to the murder mystery which lasted over five and a half years. Dentists Rajesh and Nupur Talwar wept in court as they were convicted of murder, destroying evidence and misleading investigators. In 2008 their only daughter, Aarushi, who was 14-years-old, was found with her throat surgically slit and having suffered a fatal head wound in the family home in the affluent town of Noida, near Delhi. Suspicion initially fell on the family’s housekeeper Hemraj, until his bludgeoned body was found on the Talwars' roof just a day later. At an early stage in the investigation, police alleged that father Rajesh had murdered his daughter after finding the pair in what was described as a ‘compromising situation’. Both parents were later charged, but they always maintained that they
were not guilty and that the sensational media coverage of the case in India had demonised them and damaged their defence. Now, after five and a half years of dramatic twists and turns, India’s most famous whodunit mystery had a verdict delivered. The court in Ghaziabad kept journalists out with tight security, and information trickled out via lawyers. Camera crews were perched on the tops of trees and the courtroom boundary wall to get the best shot. The couple burst into tears when judge Shyam Lal read out the verdict in a crowded court room in the city of Ghaziabad. They issued a statement expressing their anguish at the verdict. Sentencing is to take place later this week and the couple could face a life sentence or even the death penalty. Their lawyers say they will appeal. In a written statement, the Talwars said: "We are deeply disappointed, hurt and anguished for being convicted for a crime that we have not committed. We refuse to feel defeated and will continue to fight for justice."
Dentist couple found guilty of killing their 14-year-old daughter and their housekeeper after finding them in a ‘compromising situation’
T hi s ha s be en o n e o f I nd i a' s m os t n ot o r i o us ‘ w h od un ni t ’ m u r de r t r i al s Timeline
MURDERED: Arushi Talwar
16 May 2008: Schoolgirl Aarushi Talwar's body found at home with throat slit and a fatal head wound 17 May 2008: Body of domestic help Hemraj found on the roof of the house 23 May 2008: Father Dr Rajesh Talwar arrested 29 May 2008: Case handed over to federal detective agency CBI 11 July 2008: Dr Rajesh Talwar bailed 29 December 2010: CBI wants to close the case due to a "lack of evidence" 25 January 2011: Dr Rajesh Talwar attacked by a man with meat cleaver April 2011: CBI says "only parents could have killed Aarushi" 8 June 2012: Trial begins
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On Trial
A California couple accused in Qatar of deliberately starving their 8-year-old adopted daughter to death appeared in court Tuesday. The hearing was the first for Matthew and Grace Huang since they were released from custody last month on bail. They have been ordered to remain in Doha. The couple deny charges of murdering Gloria, one of three children they adopted from Africa. She died in January. Both the defence and the prosecution presented written and oral arguments to the court Tuesday. In his statement, the prosecutor painted a picture of Grace and Matthew Huang as inhumane people who had been "cheaply sold" their adopted child, and called for both to receive the death penalty.
‘He was poisoned’
Yasser Arafat's widow on Tuesday questioned the findings of French scientists that the Palestinian leader did not die from radioactive polonium poisoning but rather from natural causes. The conclusion, leaked to multiple French media agencies and Reuters, contradicts the findings of Swiss forensic scientists who concluded last month that samples taken from Arafat's exhumed body were consistent with polonium-210 exposure but did not definitely prove that he was poisoned. “I'm convinced there is something wrong, and he did not die from a natural death,” Suha Arafat said at a news conference in Paris. She said she is requesting that the Swiss findings be made available to French authorities investigating her husband's death. She said the medical experts in Switzerland and France came from different medical fields. “I don't doubt them. But they are different skills. They are different types of medicines,” she said.
Sexist comments retracted
At a time when India is debating safety of women at workplace, Union minister Farooq Abdullah on Friday triggered a fresh row by saying that the situation is so bad that he is afraid of speaking to women these days. Referring to the recent indictment of former SC judge Justice AK Ganguly by the SC panel, Abdullah said: “These days, I am afraid of talking to women. In fact I don't even want to keep a woman secretary, God forbid, if there's a complaint against me and I end up in jail.” On being asked if he is blaming women for the sudden spurt in crime against them, Abdullah said, “I am not blaming women, but the society.” “Such is the state of affairs today. I agree that incidents of rape have increased...but this has to stop somewhere,” he added. Abdullah was forced to retract his controversial statement within hours. “If I said something that hurt sentiments then I am sorry,” Abdullah said. “My comments were misconstrued.”
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Perfect Asian Weddings Awards 2013
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
A glittering gala dinner event with a sensational catwalk honoured the outstanding services of some of the UK’s finest wedding service providers. The Perfect Asian Wedding Awards in its debut year, hosted by Christa Ackroyd, gave national recognition to the winners, who had been voted for by the public and those who have used services of the shortlisted companies. The Aagrah Midpoint Suite, in Pudsey, saw guests dazzled by glitz and sophisticated glamour of a spectacular catwalk show BEST MAKEUP ARTIST AWARD: Beautology Clinic by Bombay Stores showing their own stunning bridal couture collection and their international bridal exclusive designer pieces. The breathtaking outfits were equally matched by a catwalk full of beautiful glamorous models adorning a stunning and imposing stage set. Guest of Honour, Squadron Leader Deputy Lieutenant David Dinmore presented the awards to the lucky recipients. BEST JEWELLER AWARD: Swavo Collection
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD: Abdul and Maryam Kader founders of Bombay Stores
BEST HAIR STUDIO AWARD: Rosa Massimo
BEST CAKES AWARD: Kashmir Crown Bakeries
BEST BRIDAL WEAR AND BEST BOUTIQUE AWARD: Bombay Stores
BEST UNIQUE WEDDING VENUE AND BEST CATERER AWARD: Aagrah
BEST CAR HIRE AWARD: Oasis Limousines
BEST WEDDING DECOR/ LIGHTING AWARD: Yas Illuminations
BEST WEDDING VENUE AWARD: Best Western Cedar Court Hotel Bradford
BEST VIDEOGRAPHER AWARD: Film Art Pictures Cinematography
BEST ENTERTAINMENT AWARD: Evallance
BEST STAGE DECOR AWARD: Abdalis
BEST MARQUEES AWARD: Amplitude
A Special Recognition Award was presented to Maryam and Abdul Kader, founders of Bombay Stores for their services to Asian Fashion, setting up their business 47 years ago. Bombay Stores is now an International Brand in the world of Asian fashion. A sumptuous banquet dinner to match the occasion, was provided by Aagrah. Special Recognition Award for Services to Asian Fashion: Maryam and Abdul Kader (Founders of Bombay Stores) Best Videographer: Film Art Pictures Best Photographer: Eternal Wedding Film Photography Best Caterer: Aagrah Event Catering Best Wedding Marquees: Amplitude Marquees Best Florist: Jayesh Florist Best Event Lighting: YAS IllumiNation Best Stage Décor: Abdalis Best Hair & Beauty: Rosa Massimo Best Makeup Artist: Beautology Best Car Hire: Oasis Limousines Best Jeweller (Non Gold): Swavo Collection Best Entertainment: Evallance DJ Best Cakes: Cakes R UZ (KCB) Best Wedding Venue: Cedar Court Hotel Bradford Best Unique Wedding Venue: The Aagrah Midpoint Suite Best Bridal Wear: Bombay Stores Best Boutique: Bombay Stores
December 2013 - 1st Edition
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NEWS
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Entertainment THE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT AND CELEBRITY NEWS FROM BOLLYWOOD & HOLLYWOOD
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READY FOR THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
Asian Express gives you a sneak peak
DCS
a force to be reckoned with… DCS has been shaking the Bhangra industry and the world's Asian population ever since they formed in 1983. For many years DCS have scooped the award for "Best Live Band" at all the major award presentations, and Shin has been recognised numerous times for his vocal ability and prowess as the most versatile Punjabi singer. They have a remarkable, innovative ability to adapt to changing trends. They also play a major part in creating trends and being a role model for up and coming bands. They were the first band to utilise the modern creative sounds of the synthesizers in the production of the late 80's Bhangra. This influenced all the Bhangra bands in the competitive market to change their style of music. The entrepreneurial strategies of DCS have become the main trend to
follow, and hence why they have earned an extensive list of awards. In the 80's, DCS followed the demands of public research and began adding the traditional Bhangra patterns, those commonly found in the music of renowned artists such as Kuldip Manak, Gurdas Mann, K. Deep and Jagmohan Kaur. In this age of copy, mix and match, DCS has managed to endeavour originality. Because of this, DCS have earned their respect in the Bhangra industry and have attracted a global following that has been reflected in the outcome of tours worldwide. DCS is certainly a powerhouse of production, creativity, innovation and talent. Shin will be performing live at the Year End Bash – don’t miss it!
Bouncing to the tunes of
Bonafide Maz and Ziggy, the two best friends who have grown up together, are a household name, known as ‘Bonafide’. The pair who sing, compose and produce their own tracks have had smash hits over the last few years, hence creating a bit of a frenzy across the UK, but particularly up here in the North. The Lancashire-based duo shared the same passion for music when they lived on the same street whilst growing up and before you knew it, the two friends were ‘chilling’ on the streets singing accapella to the latest RnB tracks or beatboxing and rapping to the freshest hip hop tunes they could find. As their skills increased so did their enjoyment of this noble art. They loved writing lyrics and putting songs together. Bonafide have been performing at highly publicised gigs and concerts up and down the country and have shared
The King n of Fusion
British singer and composer Taz, of Stereo Nation, to perform at Asian Express ‘Year End Bash’ on 27th December He’s charming, he’s captivating and he’s certainly entertaining… British singer, Taz of Stereo Nation needs little introduction. Formerly known as Johnny Zee, he is credited and described as the ‘Pioneer of Pop Fusion’ and ‘King of Fusion’. As a lyricist, composer and producer, Taz quickly became the embodiment of cross-cultural music in the 90s, having won numerous international accolades over the years. His music is best described as a hybrid of traditional Asian fused with Western pop sensibility, infectious melodies and dynamic dance grooves. Some of Taz’s influences are George Michael, Prince, Jam & Lewis, Babyface, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, R D Burman, Gurdas Maan, Kuldip Manak and Zapp, just to name a few. Having made his break into Bollywood well over a decade ago, Taz is very much the global phenomenon, having performed to
Nabz
diverse audiences all over the world. He first hit the charts in 1989 with the album "Hit the Deck" which spent over 36 weeks on the UK Asian pop charts at number one. He went on to produce many albums in the 1990s and early 2000s, which were hugely successful and to date, all but two of his albums have received gold platinum and multiplatinum discs. His most successful album to date is ‘Slave II Fusion’, released in 2000, which includes many of his most well-known hit songs including ‘Pyar Ho Gaya’, ‘Nachange Saari Raat’, and ‘Gallan Goriyan’. Don’t miss Taz’s live performance at the Asian Express Year End Bash on 27th December at Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford. To book Tickets call 07800 778 089.
the smooth yet edgy artist stages with the likes of Raghav, Steve Sutherland, Stereo Nation, Juggy D, Veronica, Zeus and many more. Not only are Maz and Ziggy vocalists and songwriters, they also showcase their fluency in Hindi and Punjabi in their music. Maz raps fluently in Punjabi as well as English whilst Ziggy has the ability to sing in Hindi and Punjabi as well as English. They’ve just released their latest track ‘Mahi Ve’ which has had over 90,000 hits on YouTube in two weeks.
As time moves ahead, new tastes develop – the artist meets another opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone and to cater for a new generation, entering a fresh playing ground that evolves them to the next stage of their delivery. ‘Sunn Dilruba’ recently released by Nabz, captures the journey of his career from being an aspiring artist, to a thriving band member, to a solo artist ready to launch. Smooth yet edgy, gentle
yet urban, romantic yet hard-hitting – all of these elements effortlessly blend together to encapsulate the essence of Nabz. Nabz is warming up well as a solo artist, after formerly being a member of British Asian pop band NRG produced by their longstanding collaborator Kami K. He said: “After being part of a successful band for over a decade, going solo is a big shift, both in terms of mindset and responsibility. “I have learnt a lot from the transition and I’m looking forward to this next stage of my career. I am working harder than ever because I have a lot more to prove – let’s just hope the audiences stay with me on this one!”
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PARTY OF THE SEASON? December 2013 - 1st Edition
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ENTERTAINMENT
into an EPIC night of entertainment Angelic Avina’s voice set to entertain at Asian Express ‘Year End Bash’
“DON'T MISS OU T ON THE ASIAN EXPRESS YEAR END BASH 2013 SEE PAGE 5 FOR FULL DETAILS”
British-born Hindi singer Avina Shah from London, has been making headlines in the UK Asian Music scene since her debut with ‘Tere Bina’, which supported the fight against domestic violence and touched many hearts. Having taken intense voice culture and classical vocal training in India, Avina carries the charm of captivating the crowds with her infectious stage presence and angelic voice. Her speciality is delivering bollywood hits and has performed in various locations within the US, Canada, Europe, Africa and Middle East. Asian Express catches up with Avina as she prepares to dazzle audiences at the Asian Express ‘Year End Bash’ on 27th December, Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford. Q. Tell us about what you've been doing over the last year. A. 2013 has certainly been a very hectic year. I released my latest single ‘Aao Na’ in August and earlier in the year shot the video for it in a stunning beach called El Matador in Malibu (LA), where many music videos have been shot by some of my favourite artists like Beyonce, Mariah Carey, etc. The live performances have been very busy this year – across the UK, Europe, Thailand and the US. This year I have continued my charity work supporting women’s empowerment and also recently got involved with Sewa Day, which involved spending quality time at a Midlands based care home. Q. What genre of music do you enjoy listening to the most? A. I’ve been exposed to so many different genres of music throughout my life. As a child, I used to listen to all the old classic songs by Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mohammad Rafi – they were always my favourite. Apart from that, I’ve grown up listening to Pop, RnB, Bollywood, Classical music and I’d like to take an element of all these different styles into the music that I release. Q. When did you begin your singing career? A. I actually started out as a dancer before I decided to pursue singing… my first stage performance was when I was only three-years-old! I've been singing professionally since I was 16 and have been able to get lots of experience performing all over the world. Q. Biggest opportunity to date with your singing career? A. I was invited to perform at Manish Malhotra’s first fashion launch in London earlier this year and other events in the presence of high profile personalities such as Shahrukh Khan, Arjun
Rampal, Jaya Bachchan, Laxmi Mittal and other dignitaries. The Royal Family of Oman also invited me to sing in a huge open-air concert in Muscat, which was such a memorable and exciting moment. Now my most recent performance at a Global Afghan Awards Ceremony in the world’s entertainment capital Las Vegas has certainly made a mark on my singing career! Q. Favourite drink and favourite food? A. I certainly am a lover of food and everyone around me tells me I’m a big ‘foody’! Although I love all cuisines across the world, nothing beats a good paneer with naan meal… Indian food will always be my favourite! Favourite drink is a five-aday fresh juice – it feels good if I know I’m drinking something healthy! Q. Your favourite bollywood hero of all time and also one currently on the scene? A. It’s got to be Aamir Khan – his fame is more understated and I respect him thoroughly for the beautiful films he’s created that have an underlying message behind them – such as ‘Tare Zameen Par’ and ‘3 Idiots’. That’s what makes him a true ‘hero’ in my opinion. Q. Your favourite bollywood heroine of all time and also one currently on the scene? A. No-one beats Madhuri! She has always been my childhood heroine and I can watch her movies over & over again… her beauty and charisma is simply evergreen. Q. Best and worst chat up lines that you've had? A. Being an artist, I admit you do hear a large collection of strange pickup lines – some are hilarious! A recent funny one was amidst a conversation where he pointed to the clothes he was wearing ‘Feel my shirt… that’s boyfriend material!’ (it is certainly cheesy but it made me laugh!).
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RDB ’s new groove.
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ENTERTAINMENT
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
Urban music artists give a new twist to ‘Bullet Raja’s’ ‘Tamanche Pe Disco song’ International urban music artists RDB are set to raise the adrenaline level with their latest track in a highrolling, high-stakes must-see action entertainer, ‘Bullett Raja’. The track titled ‘Tamanche Pe Disco’ features the lead vocals of songstress Nindy Kaur and the lyrical knowledge of Raftaar to give it its trademark ‘UP gangster’ feel.
‘Tamanche Pe Disco’ is the first time that RDB has collaborated with Fox Star Studios and Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan. The song also signifies a move away from their trademark Bhangra/Punjabi repertoire. Bullett Raja will be released in cinemas from 29th November 2013.
BONAFIDE:
‘Mahi Ve’ After the phenomenal success of their previous two singles, 'Feel It Sohniye' and 'Only One', produced by Rishi Rich, Manchester based international superstars Maz and Ziggy better known as Bonafide are back with the highly anticipated 'Mahi Ve'. The past year has been hugely exciting for Bonafide. The boys have been busy jetting across the globe headlining tours from America to France to the Netherlands among other
places. Produced by Vee and the lyrics written by Maz and Ziggy, ‘Mahi Ve’ contains one of the most contagious hooks of the year. Maz says: “I can't wait to share the track with all our fans worldwide. We performed it for the very first time in Long Island, New York and the reaction was crazy. Judging by the response, it’s gonna be another Bonafide anthem.” Ziggy says: “It’s been fun to record this track, I have
wanted to get this single out for a while, I hope above all that our fans like the tune as that’s the main reason I keep on going in music!” The video is very classy and compliments the song. It will hit the Asian tv screens across the world with a bang. In the video you will see a young lady who features as the model, Dania Kabbani she works as a retail assistant and was discovered by Maz while out shopping for socks at the famous Trafford Centre,
Manchester. Maz spotted the young lady and simply asked her to be in the video, to his amazement she agreed and now features alongside the duo. ‘Mahi Ve’ releases worldwide on 28 November 2013 via Naughty Sound Records. These talented, charming guys with sharp abilities and a load of new material releasing soon are definitely ones to watch out for.
We catch up with Surj from RDB about working with Saif and Sonakshi and more… How did you get on board with Tamanche Pe Disco? It all started with a call from Sameer Gogate, who put us in touch with one of the producers of Bullett Raja, Nitin Ahuja. He had requested a track from our music bank given the short deadline. As we do, we showcased them a couple of different numbers but a pre-made version of Tamanche Pe Disco was selected. How was it working with Saif and Sonakshi? These superstars are very grounded. Saif was extremely focused on how he wanted the music and had a real flare for hearing a hit! After seeing our takes at the shoot, he insisted we did one scene with him for the song and it was a pleasure working with him. Sonakshi, as well as being stunning in person, was very humble and great to interact with. The song has a very rustic yet a very contemporary beat, what was the concept behind it? We tried a slightly different approach for this song and used the lyrical knowledge of Raftaar to give it more of a UP flavour. The music still has the signature RDB sound. What was your inspiration for the track? The theme of the movie had some part to play with the composition of the track as well as the trademark UP gangster lifestyle. How did Raftaar and Nindy come onboard? The song required female vocals and who better to suit than Nindy Kaur. Raftaar not only added to the theme of the song with his lyrics but uplifted the track further by adding his rap performance to parts of the track. Nindy and Raftaar are a killer combination. Fun moments on the set while shooting the song? Every shoot is a great and unique experience, but I think this one was the fastest arranged shoot ever. The track was made within three days after which the whole shoot was arranged in two. Within a week the track was composed, paid for, excepted and shot... only in India! (Laughs) How does the track compare to what you have done earlier? Tamanche Pe Disco represents the first time RDB has collaborated with Saif. The track also moves away from our trademark Bhangra / Punjabi beat as we experiment with a UP flavour so our fans are in for a real treat! Who are the key musical influencers in your life? We would definitely say our father, our late brother Kuly and each other in the team. What are the future projects in Bollywood that you are working on? We have five upcoming projects, two of which are with new up and coming casts and the other three are with A-list stars. Our main highlight is that we are now officially releasing our collaboration track with T-Pain on the 21st of November with Universal in India and Three Records i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y. Our Album is also set to release in December.
Nafees
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
ENTERTAINMENT
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‘Sazaa’ video gets 85,000 hits on YouTube within 48 hours!
nails it yet again The artist Nafees continues to prove that he’s capable of stretching the imagination whilst remaining true to his unique style. His latest video ‘Sazaa’ unleashed at 8pm on and has a gripping theme. The video features his lady-love on the brink of death and the turmoil he faces as a lover. The video, which has drawn its fans in the thousands also features Mumzy Stranger and his creamy smooth vocals, not to mention, your very own, Asian Express newspaper being read in the hospital waiting room! I must admit that when I first heard of Nafees and his sounds, I was eager to see if he could maintain the stance he’d taken with his first track ‘Mehmaan’. You see, being the Editor of the paper, I recieve all sorts of ‘weird and wonderful’ material on a daily basis, so one gets accustomed to seeing artists ‘doing it big’ and then, unfortunately, trailing off.
This guy however, has the knack of delivering bigger, better and hotter material than ever before. It’s the very fortunate combination of Nafees’ inner talent and the gameplan of his management, which is highly admirable though. Head of Nafees’ management, speaking exclusively to Asian Express, said: “We are driven to think out of the box. “With ‘Sazaa’, the track was leaked a few weeks ago, before we got to officially launch it, and it just went viral. “We’ve kept the video under lock and key prior to its releases because ultimately, our mission is to knock the socks off the fans. We love doing that. “With Nafees’ latest track, we hope that both his fanbase and new listeners alike, can appreciate the potential of this artist and his dedicated passion of being honest to his music-lovers.” Nafees, however remains ever-
humble and says: “I’m just a normal guy who had the good fortune of turning his passion into his profession.” Despite being a self-proclaimed ‘normal guy’, he certainly has the knack of a storyteller, and says that quite often he’s telling his very own stories through his music. His defining moment came by chance some six years ago. His passion is one that resonates with many people in some way, and that is his burning desire to prove his worth to his family, to prove that he could achieve and make them proud. Individuals find their own success and contentment with the things they do. For many being a great mum could be it, for some it could be putting a roof over the heads of their family, for others it could be doing charity work. And for some it could be evoking strong emotions with a message of finding inner strength through music. Nafees’s
‘Love Yoou Siniye’
‘Sazaa’ has spurred an Asian Express campaign. The campaign entails getting the message across that you, the reader and fan of music artists, join in expressively advocating the importance legal downloading of music, in order to support your music artists. Most of us wouldn’t think twice about paying for a single cup of ‘designer’ coffee, at around
£3, yet we would hesitate to legally download a track for 79p and instead may go to great lengths to find another way of getting the tracks. The fact is that with illegal downloading, it’s the artist who suffers in the end. If they don’t get the support of the fans, it makes it difficult for them to give you the music that you’d enjoy over and over and over again.
Dynamic duo Rishi Rich and Juggy D collaborate for title track of hit Punjabi filma British Asian music pioneers Rishi Rich and Juggy D have a hitmaking chemistry found very rarely in the music business. The duo have created some of the biggest British Asian and bhangra tracks of the last decade and have teamed up once again on their latest track. 'Love Yoou Soniye' is taken from the Punjabi film of the same name which released on 6th December in cinemas nationwide. The title song sees Rishi Rich and Juggy D recreate their magic, fusing their
trademark styles with the sounds of Bollywood composer Harry Anand. Commenting on the new track, Rishi Rich says: "Love Yoou Soniye' is a really fun track. “Juggy and I have made so many songs together but we never get tired of it and on this occasion it was no different. “Teaming up with Harry Anand to create an international Punjabi sound for this great soundtrack, we are really pleased to share the title song and the film with all of our music fans and film lovers around the UK and
internationally." Juggy D adds: "Love Yoou Soniye' is a catchy up tempo number which was a lot of fun to make. I was also asked to be a part of the video, which stars the cast of the movie. “All in all it was a fantastic opportunity and reminded me of the great fun we created on the now infamous 'Hum Tum' soundtrack almost ten years ago. 'Love Yoou Soniye' is going to be a big film release internationally and I hope you all enjoy it." 'Love Yoou Soniye' is out to buy now on iTunes:
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ENTERTAINMENT
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
FILM: Madha Gaja Raja DIRECTED BY: Sundar C GENRE: Comedy, Thriller STAR CAST: Vishal, Anjali, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Prakash Raj
RELEASE DATE: 07-01-2014
Tamil film-making legend Sundar C. returns with a crowd-pleasing masala comedy. Having taken a brief break from directing, the multi-talented Tamil returns with a bang with last year's hit 'Kalakalappu'. Now he delivers another of his trademark crowd-pleasing family comedies. Versatile Vishal is the
male lead, while accomplished actress and model Anjali takes the leading female role. They're joined by Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, who builds upon her award-winning debut in Podaa Podi. The antagonist is Sonu Sood, who's fast becoming the go-to bad boy of Tamil cinema after 'Osthe'. He plays a scheming industrialist
who attempts a move into politics both to further his business interests and also to get his hands on the reins of power.
FILM: Kochadaiiyaan DIRECTED BY: Soundarya Rajnikanth Ashwin GENRE: Action, Drama STAR CAST: Rajinikanth, Deepika Padukone, R. Sarathkumar, Jackie Shroff Rajinikanth showcases a stunning new avatar as a fierce warrior bent on revenge in India's first performance capture movie. Rana (Rajinikanth) is a mighty, ruthless warrior who returns to his homeland on a very personal mission. He intends to avenge the death of his father Kochadaiiyaan, who was unjustly executed on the orders of the king of Kotaipattinam. But fulfilling his destiny will take Rana down a treacherous path of love and war, filled with conflicting emotions. First-time director Soundarya Rajnikanth Ashwin directs her own father Rajinikanth in this epic historical spectacle. It's the first Indian film to
TBC
RELEASE DATE: 24-01-2014
TBC
ALSO IN 3D
RELEASE DATE: 10-01-2014
make use of the photorealistic performance capture technology that James Cameron deployed so effectively on 'Avatar'.
FILM: Dedh Ishqiya DIRECTED BY: Abhishek Chaubey GENRE: Romance, Thriller STAR CAST: Arshad Warsi, Naseeruddin Shah, Madhuri Dixit
Khalujaan (Naseeruddin Shah)and Babban (Arshad Warsi), the two romantic thieves are back in Dedh Ishqiya, sequel to the acclaimed and successful Ishqiya with their romantic adventures. And this time love will take them through the SEVEN STAGES OF LOVE... with the beautiful and dangerous Madhuri Dixit as Begum Para and Huma Qureshi as Munniya.
TBC
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
ENTERTAINMENT
SDEEPCT 2013
SAVING MR BANKS
OUT NOW
RELEASE DATE: 26-12-2013
FILM: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty DIRECTED BY: Ben Stiller GENRE: Comedy, Drama STAR CAST: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn, Shirley MacLaine
Ben Stiller directs and stars in a inspirational fable about a daydreaming everyman who goes on an incredible adventure. Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) works in the photographic department of the legendary 'Life' magazine,
whose iconic covers feed his rich fantasy life. This lonely singleton is attracted to recently separated co-worker Cheryl (Kristen Wiig), but too withdrawn to express his feelings. Now both their jobs are
FILM: 47 Ronin DIRECTED BY: Carl Rinsch GENRE: Action, Drama STAR CAST: Keanu Reeves, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi Keanu Reeves stars in an epic fantasy reworking of the incredible true story of 47 brave samurai who face impossible odds. When evil Lord Kira (Tadanobu Asano) slaughters their master and banishes them, 47 samurai warriors are dispersed across the land. In order to exact revenge and restore honour, their leader Oishi (Hiroyuki Sanada)
FILM: American Hustle DIRECTED BY: David O. Russel GENRE: Thriller STAR CAST: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro
C
TBC
RELEASE DATE:
TBC
threatened as the magazine prepares to cease publication and become a digital product. When Walter loses an image from star photographer Sean O'Connell (Sean Penn) that was to grace the cover of the last
PG issue, he is finally forced to act. Embarking on a breathtaking journey to track down the elusive snapper, Walter learns to live the dream as he travels as far afield as Volcanic Iceland and the Himalayas.
RELEASE DATE: 26-12-2013
recognises that they will need the help of exiled and enslaved outcast halfbreed Kai (Keanu Reeves). But even with Kai's inspirational heroics, this determined band of rebels are massively outnumbered. As they battle their way across a hostile world, they also face many supernatural foes.
TBC
RELEASE DATE: Drama 'American Hustle' is a fast-paced 31-12-2013 thrill ride through the 1970s FBI sting operation known as Abscam, following a conman forced to assist the feds in snaring corrupt public officials. In this fictionalised account of the famous scandal, Bradley Cooper stars as FBI agent Richie DiMaso, who enlists con artist Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) to help him uncover a tangled web of crime and track down the mobsters and corrupt politicians behind it.
FILM: The Railway Man 01-01-2014 DIRECTED BY: Jonathan Teplitzky GENRE: Drama STAR CAST: Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman, Stellan Skarsgard, Jeremy Irvine Adapted from the bestselling autobiography by Eric Lomax, 'The Railway Man' tells the story of a British soldier haunted by his experience as a prisoner of war during WWII. Colin Firth takes the lead as Lt. Eric Lomax, a former prisoner of war scarred by his memories of working on the Thai-Burma Railway (a.k.a. the Death Railway). Many years after the end of the conflict, Lomax is still tortured by these traumatic events and - under the guidance of his wife - he decides to face up to his Japanese tormentor. 'The Railway Man' also stars Nicole Kidman and Stellan Skarsgard.
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RELEASE DATE: 03-01-2014
FILM: Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom DIRECTED BY: Justin Chadwick GENRE: Drama, Documentary STAR CAST: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Tony Kgoroge, Riaad Moosa
12A This epic motion picture spans Mandela's extraordinary life, from his childhood in a rural village through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected President of South Africa. MANDELA is the thrilling story of an ordinary man who rose to the challenge of his times and triumphed - an intimate portrait of the making of a modern icon.
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ENTERTAINMENT
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
BUSINESS
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
Asian
47
Standing ovation Express
Your National and Local Business Round-up
Business news
Over 2000 guests rise to their feet as Prime Minister honours Aagrah’s Mohammed Aslam MBE with award
By Anush Ansari anush@asianexpress.co.uk
Prime Minister David Cameron honoured Mohammed Aslam MBE with a ‘Special Recognition’ accolade at the glittering British Curry Awards 2013, on Monday 25th November. The venue, Battersea Evolution in London, dazzled even more brightly than ever before. This was the ninth annual awards
ceremony staged under the leadership of Enam Ali MBE, and was hosted by TV personality Chris Tarrant. Attendees included hundreds of leading restaurateurs, business owners, politicians and celebrities. The 2000 strong audience gave a rapturous standing ovation to Mr Aslam in appreciation of his commitment and dedication. The prestigious award acknowledges his significant contributions to services to industry.
This year’s British Curry Awards, the biggest yet with the Prime Minister, David Cameron, extolling the virtues of a culinary industry that contributes £3.6bn to the economy annually and employs more than 80,000 people. Mr Cameron said: “It is often said that curry is Britain national dish – and it’s easy to see why. “It’s not just the flavours served up in the thousands of curry restaurants across the country, it is the welcome too. “Those who work in the curry
industry enliven Britain’s high streets, boost local economies and contribute to local communities.” Finalists were whittled down from 263,000 public nominations. Winners were judged on a number of points, including menu choice, wine list, the exterior and interior decor and food presentation. With more than 2.5 million Brits eating curry every week, the industry is making a substantial contribution to the British economy. Aagrah Restaurants are widely
acclaimed as pioneers of ‘Kashmiri Cuisine’ and Mohammed Aslam MBE has made it his life’s mission to promote this to be recognised as a cuisine in it’s own right. Mr Aslam has worked hard over the years with schools, colleges and other organisations like The Prince’s Trust and Mosaic. He has helped inspire young people into a career of their choice and in particular in hospitality, producing training manuals and recipe books.
AAGRAH FACT FILE
HONOURED: Aagrah’s Managing Director, Mohammed Aslam MBE receives award from Prime Minister (left), David Cameron and Enam Ali (centre), founder of British Curry Awards 2013
• Itʼs a family owned business set up 36 years ago, employing just under 500 staff • The business has grown to 16 branches throughout Yorkshire • A purpose built banqueting suite opened four years ago for corporate and social events, seating 450 people • Aagrah also have an Outdoor Catering Division, providing a complete outdoor catering service UK wide • Among Aagrahʼs portfolio is a small 19 bedroom boutique hotel • To cater for home dining, three years ago Aagrah successfully launched a range of Tarka Cooking sauces, these are available in Asda and Tesco • Chutneys and marinades are available to purchase in their restaurant branches.
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BUSINESS
AsianExpress.co.uk
On The Ball
“The Asian build is not that of a footballer... it may well be Asian ingredients in food, or the nutrition they intake, [but it is] not ideal for building up a physical frame” (the then Sheffield United manager Dave Basset, BBC TV 1995). The quote above sparked a report published in 1996 by Jas Bains and Raj Patel titled ‘Asians Can’t Play Football’ which was seen as an important breakthrough in reflecting both the frustrations and the aspirations of a section of the British community that seemed to be largely alienated by a sport they were so passionate about. In 2001 the Census put the percentage of Asians (Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi) at 4% of the total population and in 2011 that figure rose to 5.5%. If we roll back to 1996 it was estimated the figure of young Asian players connected to English professional clubs to be a tiny 0.2%, but by late 2004 it had barely improved, rising only to 0.8% in Academies at Premier League Clubs. When it comes to British Asians playing with any degree of regularity there is one in the Premier League (Swansea City defender Neil Taylor), one in the Championship (Blackpool forward Michael Chopra) and one in the lower divisions (Wolves defender Danny Batth). There are another five players on professional contracts, only one of whom,
Walsall’s Malvind Benning, has made a first-team appearance, and three more on scholar terms. That is a mere 11 in total. It is clear to see that there is a huge disparity between the total number of Asians who are resident in the UK and the number that are breaking through the football ranks. As far back as 1991 a Manchester University survey found that young Asian males had amongst the highest rates of participation in football of any ethnic grouping. 60% of Bangladeshi, 43.1% of Pakistanis and 36.5% of Indians boys played football. The same survey found that 47% of young ‘white caucasian’ boys played regularly. So what are the obstacles in the way for the British Asians to break into the ranks of the football leagues? We have all heard the reasons why Asians don’t make it; Asian parents want their kids to be doctors; Asian kids are too weak; Asians prefer cricket; the Asian diet is unsuitable for a professional sportsman. If we look back over history we can see that times can change. The cultural landscape of British football
has changed dramatically for Black players in the game. Forty years ago there were hardly any Black players in the game, now many Premiership squads could field a starting XI of Black players. So what needs to change for Asian players to break through the ranks and establish themselves as Premiership players? Zesh Rehman, who made 21 Premier League appearances for Fulham between 2004 and 2006, believes that British Asians need to come out of their comfort zone and play in competitive leagues with players from other backgrounds; “It can be said though that Asians don't help themselves by playing in Asian-only leagues. I can understand the reasons as to why they were set up but the Football Association should promote mixed leagues rather than communities setting up their own teams for their own people.” We at Blacks have a specialist Sports Law Department dealing with all aspects of advising sports professionals and organisations.
Luke Patel Tel: 0113 2279316 - LPatel@LawBlacks.com
December 2013 - 1st Edition
Islamic Bank of Britain launches two new ‘Buy to Let’ fixed rental rate deals
The Islamic Bank of Britain plc has widened its range of Sharia-compliant ‘Buy to Let Purchase Plans’ (BTLPP) by launching two new fixed rental rate deals. Other product features include a no early settlement charge for clearing the finance in full early, even during a fixed rental rate period. Commenting on the new deals, Imran Pasha, Head of Sales and Service, Islamic Bank of Britain said: “IBB’s fixed rental rate BTLPPs are ideal for landlords looking to fix their outgoings over the next two years. “The deals have been launched in response to growing demand for Sharia
compliant finance as the Buy to Let market continues to enjoy a resurgence.” As a Sharia compliant product, IBB’s BTLPP differs from a mortgage where the customer borrows money from a lender, which is then repaid with interest. A BTLPP uses the Islamic finance principles of coownership (Diminishing Musharaka) with leasing (Ijara), where IBB and the customer buy the property as partners and the customer pays rent on IBB’s share in the property. At the end of the term, when all acquisition payments have been made and the finance has been settled, ownership of the
property transfers fully to the customer. The main difference between a BTLPP and a conventional mortgage is that the lending/borrowing relationship does not exist. Instead, BTLPPs are based on co-ownership and lease agreements arranged using two separate principles of Islamic finance termed as the rental and acquisition elements. As an Islamic bank IBB does not use any interest-bearing products to finance customer’s homes. Instead it uses its own funds, or the savings deposits from its customers, all managed entirely in accordance with ethical and Sharia principles.
Landlords of all faiths can now access Sharia compliant and ethical rental property finance with deposits of 25% and 35% 1. 25% deposit (75% finance to value) a) Fixed rental* rate BTLPP at 5.09%**, fixed until 31 December 2015 b) Payment consists of both acquisition and rent payments* 2. 35% deposit (65% finance to value) c) Fixed rental* rate BTLPP at 4.69%**, fixed until 31 December 2015 d) Payment can either be rent-only or acquisition and rent* *The terms ‘rental rate’, ‘rent only’ and ‘acquisition and rent’ for the IBB BTLPP range do not refer to the rental agreement between the customer and the tenants occupying the property. Instead they refer to the payment arrangement between the customer and the Bank, which usually consists of two elements, i.e. an acquisition and a rent payment. See the explanation entitled ‘How does a BTLPP work?’ in the notes below for more details). **At the end of the fixed period, rental rates will revert to the IBB Buy to Let Finance Rental Rate, which is currently 5.49% (Bank of England Base Rate (BBR) + 4.99%). This is the Bank’s revert rental rate. The IBB Buy to Let Finance Rental Rate is subject to quarterly rental reviews when the Bank will consider changes to its rental rate as well as changes to the Bank’s margin (currently 4.99%), though margin increases are capped at 2.00% above the margin that applied at the outset.
Rental Element This is the amount that the customer is paying to the Bank as rent on the Bank’s share of the property. This is in accordance with a lease (Ijara) agreement.
Acquisition element This is the amount that the customer is paying to purchase a part of the Bank’s share in the property. This is in accordance with a coownership (Diminishing Musharaka) agreement. With every payment the customer’s equity in the property increases and the rental element decreases, reducing the Bank’s share in the property on a
diminishing basis. However, with a rent only BTLPP the customer’s payments only cover the rent paid to IBB and does not increase the customer’s share in the property. To acquire IBB’s share in the property the customer will need to make a lump sum payment at the end of the finance term. The customer can buy the Bank’s share or sell the property at any time without incurring any penalty charge, subject to clearing the IBB finance amount in full. The Bank does not claim any share in any appreciation of the property.
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
John Lewis’ 2014 graduate scheme
John Lewis is urging final year students and graduates not to miss the deadline for its 2014 graduate scheme. The scheme, which closes to applications on 1st December 2013, is part of the retailer’s commitment to investing in talent for the future. The graduate scheme offers jobs in one of five diverse specialities; Retail Management, Buying, Merchandising, Corporate Finance and a brand new Technology Scheme. The graduate programmes will set graduates on a fasttrack career development programme to give them the skills required to progress to John Lewis’ most senior roles.
Successful applicants will be constantly challenged by working in a variety of positions and given significant responsibility early on. Carole Donaldson, Manager, Resourcing, John Lewis said: “Every year, we take on a variety of different graduates with diverse degrees and backgrounds, which strengthens us as an organisation in the longterm, and this year will be no exception. “This year, we are delighted to offer a brand new technology scheme to develop a new generation of IT leaders and to help drive forward our ambition to become a leading omni-
Hamzah Malik successfully applied for the John Lewis 2013 Technology Graduate Scheme and is currently an IT Analyst in Partnership Services Hamzah Malik said: “My time at John Lewis so far has been amazing. “It’s fast-paced and I’m developing new skills and learning new things about the business every day. “I was attracted to John Lewis because of the training and support it gives graduates, and being able to do this in such a fun and varied
environment has been fantastic. “I’ve really enjoyed my time as a graduate so far. My goal is to move into an IT management position within John Lewis, but I would also like to try out a few different roles to broaden my experience as much as possible.”
channel retailer.” Donaldson continued: “Over the years, we have seen many John Lewis graduates quickly move up to senior management roles within the company, which is testament to the quality of our training and development schemes.” On top of the training they will get, graduates will be able to take advantage of the many benefits offered to Partners. To apply for the 2014 John Lewis Partnership graduate scheme, please visit www.jlpjobs.com/graduates. The scheme is now open for applications and will close on 1st December 2013.
BUSINESS
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UK: Nine million in severe debt
A report identifies the UK's five most over-indebted areas as Hull, Nottingham, Manchester, Knowsley and Liverpool ewer than 20% of the nine million people trapped in a severe debt spiral are getting any help to break free, according to a shocking study by a Government-backed body. Research by the Money Advice Service (MAS) found 8.8 million people are "over-indebted", meaning they have fallen at least three months behind with their bills in the last six months or they feel their debts are a heavy burden. But just 17% of this group said they were getting advice to help them deal with their debt, while around 40% said they did not feel able to talk to their creditors and 44% did not know where to turn for help. The research, from more than 5,000 people, found 21% of those classed as overindebted, equating to 1.8 million people across the UK, did not recognise that
F
they had a problem. A further 11% were not concerned about being in debt, the Indebted Lives study concluded. Just 12% of over-indebted people said they were thinking about trying to get help soon and Citizen's Advice said too many people were in denial on debt - or too ashamed to deal with it. Around two-fifths of adults in these areas were struggling with debt, according to the research. At the other end of the scale, Richmond upon Thames in southwest London had just 1.2% of its population struggling with debt. The study said 75% of those with severe debt problems were under 45 years old and nearly two-thirds of them were women, while 48% had to forego basic necessities. The MAS, which is an independent body set up by Government and funded by
the financial services industry, offers free money advice and has statutory responsibility for coordinating debt advice in the UK. MAS Chief executive Caroline Rookes said: "Millions of people could escape their spiral of debt by accessing free advice. "However, this study presents us with a fundamental challenge: the majority of people with debt difficulties do not seek advice. "This is the first time we've had such a detailed understanding of the complexity of their lives. So now, armed with greater insights, we will work with advice agencies, creditors and public bodies to help as many people as possible access free, high-quality, debt advice."
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BUSINESS
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
The most fashionable month of the year, it's official!
BUSINESS • BUSINESS • BUSINESS • BUSINESS • BUSINESS
Janan luxury outlet in Bradford is hosting their Winter season sale on Wednesday 25th December 2013 and doors will open from 10 am to 8 pm, where you will be able to buy this season’s must have designer pieces, with up to 70% off! Janan invites you to this seasons exclusive sale event where designer brands such as Junaid Jamshed, Almirah, Five Star, Needlez, Gul Ahmed, Hina Mirza, Maria B and many more will be available on offer! Embellish any outfit with an aura of elegance with American Diamond jewellery and accessories also up for grabs in the sale! Modern glamour steps out of the shadows as the evening will be packed with fantastic offers which you wouldn't want to miss!
Janan also has a range of fantastic gift ideas ranging from Islamic pendants through to this season’s RED HOT Hina Mirza kurtis all available in the sale. Make sure to visit the fashion house’s luxury shoe room which will have up to 70% off on all Winter heels and flats. The men's footwear will also be in the sale, so that the gentlemen can add some traditional drama to their wardrobes! If you haven't already done so make sure you register yourself for Janan's loyalty customer card to enjoy extra perks and offers that will be available on the sale day. More reasons to come and join Janan in their Winter season sale on the 25th December 2013!
The Janan Team looks forward to seeing you there! #Love fashion #shopJanan Follow Janan on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for sale and the latest fashion trend updates.
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
MOTORS
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PURE LUST… eneno V i in h rg o b m a L r e w o p 740 horse debut d rl o w s it s e k a m r te s Road
TWERKING IT: A tushie that will make others green with envy
By Andleeb Hanif editor@asianexpress.co.uk
This car seems totally crazy, but the new Lamborghini Veneno Roadster made its bizarre public unveiling in Abu Dhabi on the deck of 240m Italian military aircraft carrier. The €3.3 million (£2.8 million) Veneno Roadster is a roofless version of the Veneno coupe, which was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and is based on the Aventador. With its sharp, angular styling, the Veneno Roadster really looked
at home parked among jet fighters. Thrust is provided by Lamborghini's standard midmounted 6.5-litre V-12 engine twinned with an ISR transmission, which produces 740 horsepower, a significant increase over the Aventador's 691 hp. The extra power, delivered to all four wheels, makes the Veneno Lamborghini's most powerful production model to date. Lambo says both the coupe and roadster will do 0 to 62 mph in 2.9 seconds, and reach a top speed of 220.5 mph. Despite all that, the Roadster weighs a relatively petite 3,285,
SEXY: The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster reaches 0-62 mph in just 2.9 seconds
largely thanks to extensive use of carbon fibre. Lamborghini's new forged carbon production method cuts production time significantly. Only nine will be made. “The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster is one of the world’s most exclusive cars with the most
extraordinary performance,” said Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Lamborghini, commenting on the event. “We are honoured that Lamborghini was chosen to represent the Italian car industry in the UAE, as a perfect example of
iconic Italian super sports cars, and that we have the opportunity to show the Veneno Roadster for the first time in Abu Dhabi.” Lamborghini also has plans to open a new showroom in Abu Dhabi, which they hope will boost sales.
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MOTORS
AsianExpress.co.uk
‘Tiger’
December 2013 - 1st Edition
New
After a trial run, Volvo unleashes on the road The Porsche Macan its hot saloon welcomes LA Motor Show debut and estate on the world.
Expect the school run to get extra busy in April next year, with a new compact 4x4 poised to set new standards in the SUV segment. The new Porsche Macan, made its debut at the LA Motor Show this week, and is ready to step up to the likes of the BMW X3 and Range Rover Evoque. With a name that comes from the Indonesian word for tiger, the Macan has lapped the Nurburgring in the low eightminute bracket, which is in par with the BMW M3. Priced from £43,000, this 4x4 combines the typical handling characteristics that Porsche has represented right from the outset: maximum acceleration and braking values, vast engine power, extreme agility and optimum steering precision. What’s more, all of these features are teamed with a high level of comfort and everyday suitability. The sporty DNA of the Macan, as with all Porsche vehicles, is also immediately recognisable in the design. The Sports Utility Vehicle is unrivalled in its flat and broad profile on the road. The wraparound bonnet and gently
sloping roof-line accentuate the overall impression of sporty elegance and powerful dynamics. The latest stage of evolution of the all-wheel drive – known as Porsche Traction Management (PTM) – has produced one of the world’s most powerful drive systems. In launching the Macan, Porsche now offers sporty allwheeldrive vehicles across an unprecedented range. Three models comprise the Macan product range at market launch. As the top model in the Macan model line, the Macan Turbo1 is set to be the most powerful vehicle in the compact SUV segment. The 3.6-litre V6 bi-turbo engine achieves an unrivalled 400 bhp (294 kW) and catapults the vehicle from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The Macan S2 is equipped with a 3.0-litre V6 biturbo engine delivering 340 bhp (250 kW) and also features an active all-wheel drive. This all-wheel drive is fitted on all Macan models. The Macan S Diesel3 with its 258 bhp (190 kW) engine is the economical long-distance runner of the three Macan models.
But something’s changed…
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
Last year, the Volvo 501bhp S60 Polestar prototype was unveiled. It seemed like a sensible Volvo saloon with 501bhp, but at the time, Volvo said only ten S60 Polestars would ever be built - each costing a sixfigure sum - and that was that. Well, this week Volvo has announced it will put the S60 and V60 Polestar into wider production across the world, including the UK. The not-quite-so-limited-edition S60 and V60 won’t have 501bhp, but instead 345bhp from the same turbocharged 3.0-litre V6. The car is based on the latest generation Volvo S/V60 and marks the start of an extended Polestar production model range. Development of the car has been ongoing over the past years, picking up from the C30 and S60 Concept
The not-quite-so-limited-edition S60 and V60 won't have 501bhp, but instead 345bhp from the same turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 cars and the Australian S60 Polestar. Thousands of development kilometres have been driven on twisty mountain roads, on the Autobahn and test tracks from the south of Europe to the frozen north
of Sweden. Running a recalibrated version of Volvo’s Haldex four-wheel drive system and a six-speed paddle-shift auto, the S60 and V60 will get from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds, past
124mph less than 13 seconds later and hit the limiter at 155mph. 371mm front discs and six-piston Brembo calipers tucked beneath those 20-inch wheels take care of stopping duties, while a neat new
Multi million pound grant for Lotus British car manufacturer Lotus has secured a £10 million government grant, which will see the firm create more than 300 new jobs. The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) has awarded the automotive firm £10.44 million, which will be used for research and development of products, along with staff training. In addition Lotus is expected to create 313 new full time jobs to support production over the coming years. Business Secretary,Vince Cable MP visited Lotus’ Norfolk headquarters on 25th November 2013, where he toured the engineering and factory facilities and formally announced the grant to Lotus management. The grant is a further boost for Lotus, following a £100 million investment by its owners DRB-HICOM, which has allowed the company to enhance its engineering, productivity, efficiency and quality. Lotus is also recruiting for more than 130 new jobs,
previously announced in July 2013. The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a flexible and competitive £3.2 billion fund operating across England from 2011 to 2017. It supports projects that are using private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment. Aslam Farikullah, Chief Operating Officer at Lotus, said: “This grant is part of a wider strategy for Lotus created to ensure we thrive and grow. We are responding to increased global demand for our cars and engineering consultancy services and this grant will help to position Lotus at the forefront of global automotive innovation. “We have very exciting plans for our sports cars and it’s a very positive move for Lotus that we’re in a position to create new jobs and to significantly contribute to Britain’s automotive industry. “The team here at Lotus have worked very hard to secure this grant and every employee is playing their part
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front splitter and subtle rear wing add a hint of downforce. Polestar - the company that once ran Volvo’s Swedish touring car team but has now moved on board as the firm’s official ‘M Division’, as it were - has also fettled the S60’s cabin, though sadly it won’t be quite so Alcantara-heavy as the cockpit of the deranged 400bhp C30 Polestar Jeremy drove a couple of years ago. No word on prices yet, but don’t worry: the production S60 and V60 shall be a lot cheaper than the 501bhp version. We’d expect somewhere between £40,000£45,000 for the S60 saloon, with a premium of a grand or so for the estate. Polestar will begin delivery of the new S60 and V60 Polestar in June 2014 to local markets.
in the stability, growth and future success of our company.” Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Lotus is an iconic British car maker, with some of the most innovative engineers in the business. The car industry is one of Britain’s great success stories, employing over 130,000 people and helping to build a stronger economy by contributing £11 billion a year. The Government’s industrial strategy is working and giving business the confidence to invest, creating more high skilled, long term jobs in the UK. “I am pleased to announce that our flagship economic plan to create jobs outside of London - the regional growth fund - is awarding Lotus a £10 million grant which will help them develop their next generation of cars and create over 300 new jobs in East Anglia. “The Government has already supported over 400 projects with £2.6 billion from the Regional Growth Fund, promoting growth in regions across England. The latest round is still open for another two weeks and I’d urge all businesses with a plan to support jobs in their local areas to apply.”
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AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
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£8,500 ONO NO WITHHELD No TEL. 07768 686 842
£15,000 (B YUSUF) TEL. 07985 455 057
£8,500 (E BLACK) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£1,500 TEL: 01274 414141 MON - FRI: 9-5.30
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£5,000 TEL: 01274 414141 MON - FRI: 9-5.30
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£14,000 (H KINGS) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£1,500 ONO (MAIDA) TEL. 07946 162 099
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£3,995 TEL. 07867 861 193
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£1,500 TEL: 01274 414141 MON - FRI: 9-5.30
£5,000 TEL. 07900 895 552
£15,000 (SHIPER) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£9,500 (MS HALE) TEL. 07985 455 057
£4,500 TEL. 07867 861 193
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£4,900 TEL. 07867 861 193
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£1,000 TEL. 07983 480 777
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£1500 (MAHMUD) TEL. 07867 886 786
£9,500 (MS HAYS) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£15,000 TEL. 07733 244 444
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£2,500 TEL: 01274 414141 MON - FRI: 9-5.30
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£5,725 TEL. 07802 183 450
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£8,000 TEL. 07921 576 971
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£7,500 (M SUSAN) TEL. 07985 455 057
£15,000 (N SHAUN) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£25,000 TEL. 07867 861 193
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£1,000 TEL: 01274 414141 MON - FRI: 9-5.30
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£15,000 (H YUSUF) TEL. 07985 455 057
£13,000 TEL. 07921 576 971
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£15,000 (P WILSON) TEL. 07985 455 057
£999 ONO TEL. 07773 339 595
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£7,500 (G SUSAN) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£9,500 (ASHOK G) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£15,000 (GUIDES) TEL. 07985 455 057
£1500 ONO TEL. 07774 246 877
£10,000 (K VIJAY) TEL. 07985 455 057
£2,500 (MOHAMMAD) TEL. 07867 886 786
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£1,395 ONO TEL. 07588 326 444
£15,000 (ROHAN P) TEL. 07985 455 057
£6,995 TEL. 07867 861 193
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£10,000 (J AHMAD) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£15,400 (G YUSAF) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£8,895 TEL. 07779 324 610
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£995 ONO TEL. 07886 606 431
£2,000 TEL: 01274 414141 MON - FRI: 9-5.30
£9,500 (ASHOK N) TEL. 07985 455 057
£15,000 (B AHMED) TEL. 07985 455 057
£15,000 (DR IANS) TEL. 07985 455 057
£10,000 (E VIJAY) TEL. 07985 455 057
£1,950 ONO (HUSSAIN) TEL. 07956 214 163
£5,500 TEL. 07867 861 193
£7,000 (L DILEEP) TEL. 07985 455 057
£3,000 TEL: 01274 414141 MON - FRI: 9-5.30
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£15,500 ( L JUDGE) TEL. 07985 455 057
£1,900 ONO (MR D ALLY) TEL. 07774 246 877
£600 ONO TEL. 07836 221 302
£7,000 (O DILEEP) TEL. 07985 455 057
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£OFFERS TEL. 07983 104 538
£OFFERS TEL. 07863 289 625
£1,500 TEL: 01274 414141 MON - FRI: 9-5.30
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£3,000 TEL. 07740 784 983
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£15,400 (E YUSAF) TEL. 07985 455 057
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New year brings new spec to Toyota Yaris and its hybrid The new 2014 Toyota Yaris and Yaris Hybrid went on sale this week, with new grade lineups that prioritise the features today’s customers value most. There is an added incentive for the 1.4 D-4D diesel Yaris, which now dips below the 100g/km CO2threshold to qualify for a zero annual road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty) bill. Yaris adopts a new fourgrade structure for 2014: Active, Icon, Icon Plus and Trend. Active and Icon replace the previous T2 and TR designations, while Icon Plus offers a high-value specification and extra styling elements. Trend gains additional equipment features and becomes the new top-ofthe-range model. Icon Plus distinguishes itself with its dedicated Selena 10spoke, 15-inch alloy wheels, LED rear light clusters and front fog lights. Customers who choose the new Glacier Pearl paint finish also gain a
Hottest hatchback? bright chrome tailgate trim. High quality equipment features for safer, easier and more comfortable driving
include automatic headlights where a manual transmission is and windscreen wipers, power fitted, a higher-set centre windows front and rear, console design. automatic climate control and,
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Could this new Volkswagen Golf Design Vision GTI be the ultimate expression of the Golf? Built to wow, even VW’s diehard fans may be left speechless as the souped-up ‘Design Vision’ is positively futuristic with
dramatically styled bodywork giving it jawdropping looks. This hot hatch would put some supercars to shame with its packing 503 horsepower, more than double what you get in a normal GTI, courtesy of two more cylinders and one more
turbo. 3.0 litre V6 and two turbos will yank the car and its terrified occupants from 0-62 mph in a heart-stopping 3.9 seconds - that’s faster than a standard Porsche 911 C4S – and can reach a top speed of 186mph.
Rather than starting from scratch, the Design Vision borrows details from iconic GTIs both past and present, but each element has then been wildly exaggerated for maximum visual impact. The concept has
shorter rear overhangs and stomping 20-inch wheels that are pushed 56mm further apart at the front and 64mm at the back for a much stronger stance, making it shorter, lower and, wider than a normal GTI. Intricate side vents and strakes along the front bumper combine with a rear spoiler and diffuser that add downforce, but by far the biggest change from the normal GTI is lurking under the bonnet. A twinturbocharged 3.0-litre VR6 with a thumping 496bhp is sent to each of the four wheels via a six-speed DSG automatic gearbox and means this particular hot hatch rockets from 0-62mph in a flash. Will it ever go into production? Well, probably not, though there may be, just may be, a chance that VW will consider it as a limited edition in the future.
56
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December 2013 - 1st Edition
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December 2013 - 1st Edition
SPORT
57
SPORT Checkered flag waved on 2013 season
THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS WITH THE BIGGEST NAMES
Vettel crowned king whilst Force India slump to a blank
By Ashley Grint
ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
Eight months and 19 races after the 2013 Formula One season was launched, the whole show came to an end last weekend, with the now common sight of Sebastian Vettel being crowned victorious. The German has had a stellar season, winning all of the final nine races, 13 in total, and breaking record after record for the Red Bull team. Last weekend’s Grand Prix in picturesque Brazil was the icing on the cake for the 26-year-old who walked away with his fourth consecutive world title. Teammate Mark Webber also clinched his eighth podium finish of the year, coming in third, and will now leave the sport after 12 years to focus on a career elsewhere in racing. Force India’s pairing of Adrian Sutil and Paul Di Resta have had a rollercoaster season to reflect on after a flying start petered out into seven blank results in the final 11 races.
“We look forward to the challenge of 2014 and will come back determined to pick up where we left off.” Both drivers finished the latest race empty handed which proved to be a cruel blow to the British racer, Di Resta, who slipped down two positions in the final overall standings to 12th; Adrian Sutil was 19 points behind in 13th. Speaking after the race, Di Resta said: “Although I missed out on a top ten position in the championship, it’s been a successful season, an incredible journey and I want to say a massive thanks to the team for the job they’ve done this year. “I think we can go away from here quite satisfied with what we achieved today and with the year as a whole.” Robert Fernley, Deputy Team Principal, reiterated his racers’ comments adding: “In the end we achieved our target of a top six finish quite comfortably, which is a real credit to everybody at Sahara Force India. It means we’ve finished in the top six twice in the last three seasons, consolidating our reputation as being the best non-manufacturer team. “Looking back on the season as a whole I think we can be proud of our performance.The start of the year was exceptional and we recaptured our form in the final few races. We look forward to the challenge of 2014 and will come back determined to pick up where we left off.” Formula One will return next year for the 2014 campaign with the first race in Australia in March. Until then, teams have four months to ready themselves for the next installment with constructors and drivers alike having to try to find a way of stopping the Vettel dominance.
GOODBYE: Mark Webber will leave the sport after 12 years, to focus on other racing
PODIUM: (l-r) Mark Webber (Third); Sebastian Vettel (First); Fernando Alonso (Second) celebrate their finish at the final grand prix of the season
BLANK: Paul Di Resta was disappointed to finish the season outside of the top ten but was proud of the team’s efforts this year
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A fighting example SPORT
December 2013 - 1st Edition
GOT A SPORTS STORY PROFESSIONAL OR AMATEUR? contact our sports newsdesk:sport@asianexpress.co.uk VICTORY: Zeeshan Zafar and members of the West Yorkshire club at the Scottish Championships
‘Respect, courtesy, integrity - that's what it's all about’
Back page story continued Upon acceptance, the Second Dan black belt has helped transform the club into a thriving community organisation with recent successes in World, British and Regional Championships. “When I took over I looked at the standards and they weren’t where they should have been,” Zeeshan said. “I knew things needed to improve so I began working towards raising the standards and this has clearly happened. “The ability and standard of our members has become more recognised in Huddersfield which is a great credit to everybody who is involved with the club.” The T.A.G.B is Europe’s largest single martial arts organisation, with over 25,000 members training in over 600 clubs throughout the UK. Zeeshan has been training in the sport for more than 18 years and recent successes have only helped fuel his desire to see his students succeed much like he has. Since August the club has clinched a number of titles with the most recent tournament, the British Open Championship, being held earlier this month in Cheltenham. With more than 800 competitors fighting it out for the top spot in both genders, Zeeshan registered a second place finish, whilst his sister, Natasha Pakistan held on for a thrilling onerun victory over South Africa at St George’s Park earlier this week, as they registered the narrowest ever win in a One Day International. After picking up a score of 262 in the rain shortened 45 over game, the visitors gave themselves a good chance of a second successive win in the current ODI series, as 22-yearold Ahmed Shehzad starred with the bat, clinching his third international ton (102). Sohaib Maqsool (42) and Umar Akmal (42) provided the majority of the remaining runs as Pakistan looked to build on their one-nil series lead. South Africa bowler, Dale Steyn, is enjoying the best form of his career at the moment and did his utmost to disrupt the flow of the visitor’s game, taking career-best figures of 6-39. However, despite such credible numbers, the hosts were unable to take the three-game series into a deciding Test, failing by the narrowest of margins.
Zafar, proved that success runs in the family, claiming Bronze in the ladies sparring event. “To see the class succeed is what this job is all about,” he said. “The best thing for me isn’t the World Championships but the simpler things; seeing my students improve week on week, and seeing a new found confidence in people.” The father of two added that his vast experience in the field has helped him get the best out of the club’s members and explained what mentality you must have when ‘fight night’ arrives. “It’s the ‘fight or flight’ thing,” he said. “You either get so nervous you can’t fight properly or you harness that energy so you can do anything. And I know how to control fear. “You have to watch people throughout the competition – the fight before and the fight after. That’s how you learn. You get to the stage when you know what your opponent’s going to do, and then you can put them in the position you want them to be in. I make them do what I want them to do.” Huddersfield’s T.A.G.B classes train on Mondays and Wednesdays, between 6.30pm and7.30pm at the Highfields community center, Cemetery Road. Anybody interested in taking up Tae kwon Do should contact Mr Zeeshan Zafar on 07803 172 895. A century partnership between Hashim Amla (98) and AB de Villiers (74) had sent South Africa to the brink of victory, yet with the last ball of the penultimate over, Amla’s wicket was taken by Saeed Ajmal. A cruel blow to the hosts who had looked dangerous throughout the game, with de Villiers leading by a captain’s example, providing a standout performance which included eight fours and two sixes. It was up to Junaid Khan then to see out the final over for the visitors, and after taking the wicket of JP Duminy, it ensured Pakistan claimed victory. The paceman had Duminy caught off the second ball of the last over, and with South Africa failing to make the crucial two runs that would have guaranteed victory; it meant it was Pakistan who stamped their name in the ODI history books.
Fine margins Pakistan edge victory in South Africa clash
BIG-HITTER: 22-year-old Ahmed Shehzad guided Pakistan to victory with his third international century
AsianExpress.co.uk
December 2013 - 1st Edition
Leeds set for 2015 World Cup
GOT A SPORTS STORY PROFESSIONAL OR AMATEUR? contact our sports newsdesk:sport@asianexpress.co.uk VENUE: Elland Road will play host to two internationals at the next Rugby World Cup
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Fans will be able to plan their Rugby World Cup 2015 tournament in Leeds now as ticket prices and match times have been confirmed by England Rugby 2015 for all games. As one of the host cities, Leeds is hosting two pool games as part of the tournament and prices for these games have been confirmed as starting as low as £15 for children’s tickets and £20 for adult tickets. All tickets will be available through five phases next year. Travelling fan packages will go on sale in January 2014, then hospitality
Three-tier is the way forward After watching the standards of Indian Hockey slip further and further down, year on year, the legendary Balbir Singh Sr has now drawn up a ‘roadmap’ to help the country regain lost glory. The iconic centre-forward, who won gold medals at the 1948 (London), 1952 (Helsinki) and 1956 (Melbourne) Olympics, said it was of the utmost importance that India put a revival plan in place as soon as possible to raise the standard of hockey which is ‘very bad and disappointing’ at the moment. Balbir was speaking in front of journalists where he stated that factional tension, a lack of trained coaches at the grassroot level and the absence of systematic national league were the three primary concerns for Indian hockey at the moment. “I have prepared a scheme of
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a national hockey league. We should hold it once a year and finish it within a month,” he said. Elaborating on his wellstructured plan, he said it was a three-tier league like most of the top soccer leagues across various countries, with cash incentives to restore the competitive nature. He added: “Instead of conducting national championship, we can have a national league with at least 30 teams dividing them into three divisions as per their merit. It will be like rankings 1-10 in the top division followed by 11-20 and then 21-30. “There should be promotion and relegation. It's not like Punjab playing Mizoram but well-matched teams pitted against each other.”
packages on sale in February 2014, May and June will see tickets distributed through rugby clubs and then in September the tickets will go on sale to the general public through ballot form. Any remaining tickets will be sold off on a first come first serve basis in November and December 2014. In Leeds, kick-off times for both the Italy against Canada game, on Saturday 26th September 2015, and Scotland against the USA game, on Sunday 27th September, at Elland Road have been confirmed as 2:30pm. On the lead up to the tournament there will be a number of events happening across the city to get people involved in anything and everything to do with rugby, whether it is fan zones or cultural events.
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INSTRUCTOR: Zeeshan Zafar took up the role at Huddersfield’s T.A.G.B club in October 2011 and has overseen a successful restoration, with attendances and awards all on the up
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By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
After bringing a new lease of life to a Huddersfield Tae Kwon-Do club, Zeeshan Zafar has recently enjoyed the form of his own life, picking up six titles in just three months. For the past two years, the 28-year-old instructor has helped boost attendance, standards and victories for students who train at his Tae Kwon-Do Association of Great Britain (T.A.G.B) club located at the Highfields community centre. With the establishment almost dissolving in 2011, following the resignation of the previous instructor, Zeeshan was approached to take over the position and help restore the club to its former glory.
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