Asian Standard Issue 1

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: In pictures winners of the 6th English Curry Awards

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with the legendary Shabana Azmi on her forthcoming play ‘Kaifi Aur Main’

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Banning the burkini reinforces a single story about Muslim women:

they need saving

read more on pages 6 & 7

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Hurricane Gaston expected in the UK by the end of the week

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Weather experts say the storm brewing on the east coast of the United States could well be with us by the end of the week.

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It is presently off the coast of Bermuda and has been building up in strength since Sunday

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Wind speeds are currently registering at 105mph.

The hurricane was believed to be petering out on Saturday and was downgraded to a tropical storm, but has been regaining power.

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While it’s unlikely to keep its hurricane status if it arrives in the UK, we could see winds of 70mph.

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A MeteoGroup forecaster said:’Hurricane Gaston is the latest hurricane to develop in the Atlantic and has reached its peak with gusts up to 85-90mph.

‘However, this system is expected to slowly weaken and track northwestwards.

‘It will eventually head north then northeastwards towards to the UK as a low pressure system, potentially disrupting our weather next week, although confidence is very low on its exact track.’

Over the weekend, huge hail stones struck Oxfordshire, smashing greenhouses, while hail storms were also reported in the Midlands, Suffolk, Yorkshire and the Humber.

Britain’s worst burglar, takes a nap in the house he ransacked.

A 22-year old man from Smallthorne in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, pleaded guilty to burglary and was jailed for two years and three months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Cour after being caught taking nap in the house he had just ransacked.

The 22-year-old was woken by police, who then arrested him at 3.20am on February 20.

inference I draw is you intended to take his car.

Judge Paul Glenn told media: ‘The victim returned to find his home had been entered and ransacked.

Rather than making a quick exit after the burglary his stunned victim was surprised to find Mohammed Khan curled up on the sofa taking a nap.

Khan had even covered himself with a blanket, with a wrench resting on his lap.

‘Nothing very much had been taken because there was nothing very much of high value inside the house but a good deal of gratuitous damage had been caused.

‘It must have been incredibly frightening to find someone in his home, a man with a history of violence, drunk, under the influence of drugs and with a weapon in his hand.’

‘He then heard snoring coming from the front room and he saw you covered up in a blanket.

Prosecutor Edward Soulsby said: ‘(The victim) could see the house had been ransacked and vandalised.

‘You were arrested. In your pocket was his car key. In your hand was a wrench which he believed was his own. The

‘He heard snoring and discovered Khan asleep downstairs with a wrench

The sleepy burglar was discovered when the victim, a taxi driver, returned home from work and heard snoring.

on his lap. He went outside to call the police. The officers woke him up and arrested him. The victim’s car key fob was found on his person.’

The victim no longer feels safe in his home, the court heard.

Anis Ali, defending, conceded the burglary has had serious psychological consequences on the victim.

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Star of Willy Wonka, Gene Wilder dies aged 83

American actor Gene Wilder, most remembered for his namesake role in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, has died at the age of 83.

actor died on Sunday in Stamford, Connecticut, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

of his most beloved characters, Willy Wonka, in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

The comic actor also starred in classic films such as The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.

The star first made waves on Broadway before transitioning to the silver screen for a brief role as a kidnapped undertaker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967).

Mr Wilder’s nephew confirmed the

In 1971, he took on the role of one

Mr Wilder’s other well-known roles included the Waco Kid in the 1974 cult classic Blazing Saddles and Doctor Ross in Woody Allen’s 1972 film, Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex* But Were Afraid to Ask.

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Baroness Warsi appeals for justice after murder of British barrister by known Islamabad criminal gang in Pakistan.

Fahad Malik was a well-known and respected member of the UK Pakistani community and was tragically assassinated in the vicinity of a Police Station in Islamabad on Monday 15 August after mediating a dispute between two parties.

This further murder of a British national is sadly indicative of the plague of killings and gang warfare which inflict casualties across Pakistan on a regular basis. This attack in the heart of the country’s capital, Islamabad, a city in which I have lived and I know well, is even more alarming.

I welcome the commitment that both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan have given to this matter and urge them to continue to ensure that investigations are fully conducted to bring Fahad’s killers to justice.

Baroness Warsi has appealed to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to continue committed efforts to bring British National Fahad Malik’s killers to justice.

Fahad Malik, a British-Pakistani barrister was shot dead on Monday 15 August in Islamabad close to the Prime

Minister’s residence in front of many witnesses, despite Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s ‘Safe Cities’ campaign launched in June this year.

Lady Warsi released the following statement; I am deeply saddened by the senseless murder of British National Fahad Malik

Pakistan must show that the rule of law is not just written but is operational and is implemented for British Pakistani’s who regularly travel to Pakistan for both work and pleasure.

It is important that confidence in the police, army, security services and judiciary is maintained and the investigation, prosecution and

conviction of Fahad Malik’s murderers will go some way to restoring that confidence.

My sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathy is with Fahad Malik’s family especially his widow and two young children. They are in our thoughts and prayers.

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COVER STORY Valérie Boyer, a member of the National Assembly of France, who was among those who welcomed the ban, proclaimed the burkini a “gender prison”

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Banning the burkini reinforces a single story about Muslim women: they need saving.

by PINA SADAR PhD candidate in Anthropology, Durham University

Who would have thought the burkini (a modest swimsuit) would be the centre of att ention and be the most discussed headline across the globe in the past few weeks. Well if we look at the prehistoric era, where man and woman covered up their bare essentials and then the modern era, we thought it respectable to be fully clothed to now demanding a woman to remove her clothing. What’s going on? Is it really about protecting national security and women’s lives? Or does it reinforce tired stereotypes about Muslim women?

Mayor of Cannes David Linsard was the fi rst to introduce restrictions on the burkini, a full body garment worn predominantly by Muslim beach-goers who wish to preserve their modesty.

Women wearing the swimwear in the popular Riviera city had started to receive fines of €38 (£28). Then a seaside resort on the French island of Corsica became yet another to ban the burkini. The town’s mayor Ange-Pierre Vivon commented on the ban, claiming that “Islamist fundamentalists have no business” on the Mediterranean island.

The announcement in Corsica followed a brawl – reportedly sparked by people taking pictures of women wearing burkinis.

All this comes five years after the total niqab ban was introduced across France, and more than a decade after conspicuous religious symbols, including Islamic headscarves, were banned from French public schools.

Rehashing well-rehearsed arguments from the previous anti-veiling campaigns, supporters of the burkini ban have backed the decision by calling the garment a symbol of threatening fundamentalist sentiment. As such, they denounced the burkini as harmful to the French idea oflaïcité (secularism), national security and gender equality.

A Muslim woman being told to remove her top on a French beach

POLITICALLY CONVENIENT DEMONISATION OF ISLAM “I simply forbid a uniform that is the symbol of Islamic extremism,” said Lisnard. But comparing burkini-wearers to the adherents of menacing political organisations has little basis in reality.

Worn voluntarily and sold by popular high street and haute couture brands alike, burkinis have become a widespread sartorial choice for many practicing Muslim women in France and beyond. Being praised for blocking sun-rays and the male gaze, the attire is often also embraced by non-Muslim women, most notably also by TV chef

Nigella Lawson.

By incorrectly labelling the burkini as a terrorist attire, Lisnard and the supporters of the ban have resorted to a tiresome single story about Islam and its followers. Their comments cling to partial and often dangerously warped fragments of Islam-inspired atrocities.

They generalise them and attribute them to the entire Muslim population, and cast all Muslims as a potentially dangerous “other”, with no place in Western society.

This is politically convenient. It creates an image of national enemies and justifies moral crusades against

Muslims at home and abroad. From inserting a false notion of protecting public order, to rationalising the bombing of distant nations, the demonisation of Muslims can provide an instant gain of much-needed votes in times of political crisis.

The myth of saving Muslim women The advocates of the burkini ban not only allege that all wearers are adherents of radical Islamist ideas. They also suppose that burkini-clad women are necessarily the victims of these political systems, which force them into complying with their patriarchal laws.

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COVER STORY Valérie Boyer, a member of the National Assembly of France, who was among those who welcomed the ban, proclaimed the burkini a “gender prison”. The socialist government’s

minister for women’s rights, Laurence Rossignol, echoed these sentiments by claiming that the burkini “is the beach version of the burqa and it has the same logic: hide women’s bodies in order to

better control them”.

Credit Shutterstock

Both politicians enunciate a highly patronising notion: the concept of Muslim women needing to be saved.

Stemming from colonial legacies, the idea of liberating veiled women by removing their veils has been deployed numerous times. From the French colonisation of Algeria to the NATO invasion of Afghanistan, racially charged images of veiled women have constituted a vital component of Western war propaganda.

OPPRESSIVE LANGUAGE

While for some it might be about exposing their bodies and not being ashamed about it, for others freedom comes in the form of protecting modesty.

Amid the burkini controversies, the media in France and across Europe has published images from the liberated Syrian town of Manjib. The photographs depict women celebrating the departure of Islamic State (IS) by burning their burqas in public. Many media outlets were quick to make comparisons between burned veils and the burkini ban.

Whether talking about mandatory faceveils in war-torn Syria, or voluntary burkinis in French resorts, the media’s language about Muslim women appears strikingly similar. Muslim women are portrayed as universally oppressed and in need of intervention from Western saviours.

This type of rhetoric gives little space for acknowledging that women not only choose to wear certain types of attire, but might also have a different definition of freedom. While for some it might be about exposing their bodies and not being ashamed about it, for others freedom comes in the form of protecting modesty.

A eurocentric view of the veil as a universal symbol of oppression misses the opportunity to acknowledge the diversity of female and feminist agency that comes in various shapes and forms.

Burkinis can be part of that.

This article originally appeared in The Conversation.

About the author: Pina Sadar is pursuing a PhD in socio-cultural anthropology at Durham University with her research focusing on British Muslim women and veiling. She is active in various media and civil society initiatives and has been involved in projects with a number of international institutions, such as the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

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Businesswoman jailed after telling police her ‘sister in Pakistan’ had been driving to avoid speeding fine Nosheen Sadaf, was caught by police driving her BMW at 38mph in a 30mph zone on the A56 in September 2014.

When she received a letter informing her that she was to be prosecuted she denied that she was driving the car at the time and told police that her sister, who now lives in Pakistan, had taken the car without her knowledge.

According to Manchester Evening News she passed on details of her sister to police so they could seek to prosecute her but she was never tracked down and the ticket was eventually cancelled.

A businesswoman was rumbled speeding by Police after fraudulently claiming her sister had been driving her car on two occasions.

Then in March last year Sadaf was once again caught exceeding the speed limit in Manchester while driving a Volvo.

She again claimed that her sister was driving the vehicle and sent letters to police claiming they were written by

her sister to prove she was not behind the vehicle.

Police became suspicious and called in handwriting experts to help prove that it was in fact Sadaf who had written the letters on both occasions pretending to be her sister.

Sadaf, who was previously banned from driving for four months, pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury at a previous hearing and was jailed for six months.

The single mother was jailed for six months at Manchester Crown Court after her deceit was caught by police.

Sadaf’s defense had asked for the court to show leniency towards her because she is a single mother to a 12-year-old but Judge Manley said it was ‘disingenuous’ to ask for leniency because of her child’s welfare.

Judge Hilary Manley said: “These

were repeated, calculated and deliberate actions by you designed to obfuscate and mislead to avoid the consequences of your bad driving.

the police engaged experts.”

“What is particularly aggravating in this case is that you did this repeatedly, not only preparing to lie again but worryingly you were still driving at excess speeds “You didn’t appear to have learned from the first time and you were only caught out after

Sikh temple receive apology following ‘hate crime’ report.

A woman has apologised to a Sikh temple in Bradford following a police investigation into reports of a hate incident.

Earlier this month police were called to investigate an alleged hate crime, where it was reported that the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib Ji, was thrown over the locked gates of the Guru Gobind Singh Gudwara in a deliberate attempt to ‘offend’ the community.

With hate crime reports being at an all-time high post Brexit, the incident had caused huge concern within the Sikh community making headlines.

Following an investigation by the police a woman has since come forward and apologised to the temple.

According to the Telegraph and Argus it is reported that the woman had obtained the sacred sculpture, which was carefully wrapped in a cloth, from a house clearance of a deceased Sikh relative.

She said she threw it over the locked gates because the premises were closed and she wanted to leave it in a secure place.

The woman said she has

apologised for her actions and said she did not mean to cause offence.

Police say the Sikh community has been informed of this and that no further action will be taken in this matter.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Hooks, of Bradford District Police, said: “Hate incidents can have a negative effect on communities, so we are pleased that this has been resolved to the satisfaction of everyone involved.

“West Yorkshire Police takes all reports of hate crimes and hate incidents seriously and each is investigated thoroughly to determine the circumstances.”

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Hooks, of Bradford District Police, said: “Hate incidents can have a negative effect on communities, so we are pleased that this has been resolved to the satisfaction of everyone involved.

“West Yorkshire Police takes all reports of hate crimes and hate incidents seriously and each is investigated thoroughly to determine the circumstances.”

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FEATURE

Is Pakistan witnessing the fall of Altaf Hussain, the long-distance king of Karachi?

by NICHOLA KHAN Principal Lecturer, School of Applied Social Science, University of Brighton

Even by Karachi’s standards, it is an extraordinary time in the politics of this complex and violent Pakistani metropolis. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the party which has

dominated the city’s politics for nearly three decades, is facing a mounting backlash from the Pakistani authorities and an internal power shift.

MQM’s leader, Altaf Hussain, has been exiled in London since the early 1990s, its deputy leader is trying to sideline him by blaming mental strain, and the party’s newly elected mayor of

Karachi is in prison, facing charges of aiding militants and criminals.

Meanwhile, for the past two years the Pakistani military has been conducting operations against MQM in Karachi while other political parties are demanding that the party should be banned as terrorists.

The population of Karachi’s urban conglomeration is over 23m, and the city itself is expected to become the world’s seventh largest by 2030, according to the UN. It has also been called the world’s most dangerous city.

Since the 1980s, MQM has been able to hold the city to ransom through a nexus of violence and crime as it steadily gained more political power.

The party was formed by Hussain in 1978 as a student organisation to represent the Urdu-speaking “Mohajirs”, or migrants from India to the new nation Pakistan during Partition in 1947. Since its inception Hussain has remained unilaterally powerful, his hold on Karachi attributed to his famed, lethal, “remote control politics”. In hours Hussain, who has been based in London since 1992 when he was granted asylum during army operations against the MQM in Karachi, could command MQM workers to effect a total strike, and through terror, shut down Pakistan’s largest commercial city.

In 2007, dozens of people were killed

during the “Black Saturday” riots in the city. The MQM has been implicated in the violence, but so far there has been little justice in the Pakistani courts.

In September 2010, one of MQM’s founders Imran Farooq was murdered in London amid speculation about an intended leadership bid. British police are investigating the MQM on charges of money laundering and with involvement in Imran Farooq’s murder – but it has been slow going.

A TORRID WEEK A sequence of events that begun in late August, has sparked a renewed clampdown on the party, whose leaders have been accused of treason in Pakistan. It began on August 22 when Hussain, speaking by telephone from London to a crowd of supporters and hunger strikers protesting outside Karachi Press Club against the disappearances and killings of party workers, railed: ‘Pakistan is cancer for entire world … who says long live Pakistan? … it’s down with Pakistan.’

He then openly encouraged party workers to attack two Karachi media offices. Although press intimidation and censorship by terror is common in Karachi and across Pakistan, after the ensuing fatal violence, a small number of senior MQM leaders were detained the following day. Leaders of other political parties demanded

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on Pakistan’s permanently buzzing satellite news channels that MQM be banned as traitors to Pakistan.

Incredibly, the former mayor of Karachi and MQM deputy Farooq Sattar swiftly announced that Hussain’s incendiary statements suggested a leader suffering from prolonged mental stress, and that the MQM would now operate from Pakistan alone. Sattar’s move was tactical, but sidelining its UK leader was an unprecedented and dangerous move.

Then, on August 24, MQM’s candidate Waseem Akhtar was returned as mayor of Karachi, with just one hitch: Akhtar is in prison on terrorism-related charges. The new mayor requested an office within the prison, to run the city’s affairs.

Meanwhile back in London, citing health reasons, Hussain agreed to give power to the Karachi leadership committee of which Sattar, as the MQM’s deputy convenor, is a member.

Posters of Hussain have started to be taken down across Karachi, and MQM offices sealed.

INCREASING VIOLENCE The MQM’s control of the city of Karachi since 2005 has ushered in a period of unchecked expansion of real estate development driven by questionable large-scale land-use conversions and powerful political patrons. Since then, the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) has rapidly grown and encroached into Karachi’s Pashtun neighbourhoods, through violence and bombings, including in MQM strongholds. While the MQM’s support base is overwhelmingly from the Urduspeaking ethnic Mohajirs, the Taliban’s base is predominantly Pashtun, from South Waziristan, Swat, and other areas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and the tribal agencies. Since summer 2012 most of Karachi’s Pashtunpopulated areas have fallen under the influence of the TTP. Violence in Karachi intensified when the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was running the national government

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between 2008 and 2013. The PPP’s armed wing – the Peoples’ Aman Committee (PAC) – the MQM, and Taliban groups clashed around lucrative profits from organised crime – extortions, kidnappings for ransom, and drugs. Throughout this, the MQM has retained die-hard support from its ethnic vote-bank of Mohajirs which has given it an unbreakable political hold on Karachi. Its “success” lies in its ability to collapse many divisions between politics and crime and to encroach deep into Karachi’s formal and informal economies.

Meanwhile, back in London, the situation has been hotting up for Hussain in recent years. In the deadly run-up to Pakistan’s 2013 general elections – won by the Pakistan Muslim League of the current prime minister Nawaz Sharif – a senior member of the former cricketer Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaaf (PTI) party, Zahra Shahid, was killed. Khan accused the London-based Hussain of ordering her murder, and the UK government of harbouring him.

The MQM London offices were searched, the BBC commissioned a film to investigate the London-Karachi connection, showing chilling footage of Hussain regaling a crowd with threats to encase his enemies in “body bags”. So far charges against MQM in the UK, including money laundering, have stalled, while speculation about collaborations with Indian forces to destabilise Karachi have spread.

also influences national politics at the centre.

THE SEEDS OF DEMISE?

So, regardless of the current clampdown, the MQM will likely prevail in Karachi. Athough the MQM is registered with the Pakistan Election Commission in Farooq Sattar’s name, its party workers pledge an oath of allegiance to Hussain. This means its MPs in provincial and national assemblies are effectively answerable to the local party workers who control Karachi’s Mohajir neighbourhoods through terror – on Hussain’s command. On his election as mayor, Waseem Akhtar stated that his leader – referring to Altaf Hussain – had advised him he was mayor of Karachi, not of MQM.

Despite Hussain’s public tears, agonising, and death-threats, the MQM has consistently won all elections it has contested in Karachi since 1988.

As Pakistan’s third-largest party, it

Sattar must now tread a tightrope between the army, Hussain loyalists, and Hussain’s unpredictable, precarious mental health. Despite Sattar’s

Yet Hussain’s erstwhile usefulness to UK interests – vocally railing against “fundamentalists” and keeping the Taliban subdued in Karachi – now seems exhausted. This was reflected in statements by some British politicians who said Hussain should not be allowed to use the UK as a base for inciting violence.

disavowals, violence remains endemic and lucrative, and any desire by Karachiites for a communal vision of pluralistic politics and political culture

remains a hostage to political madness.

This article originally appeared in The Conversation

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HEALTH

Five myths about lower back pain

by CHRIS MCCARTHY Fellow, Manchester Metropolitan University Lower back pain is the greatest source of global disability, ahead of nearly 300 other conditions, leading to huge levels of healthcare costs and suffering. And the effects go far beyond pain, weakness and stiffness – they also have a huge impact the social and family lives of sufferers.

Many people with lower back pain don’t manage it well because of wrong advice – and a lot of unhelpful myths about what back pain is and what you should do about it. Healthcare professionals all over the world speak to patients who think, for example, that back pain can damage their backs. This is not always the case. The weight of evidence shows that many assumptions made about lower back pain are wrong and, what’s

more, could be harmful. Below are some of the most common misconceptions.

1. Moving will make my back pain worse Do not fear twisting and bending. It is essential to keep moving. Muscles that are in spasm, due to pain, relax when gently moved and stretched. Gradually increase how much you are doing, and stay on the move.

2. Avoid exercise (especially weight training) Back pain should not stop you enjoying exercise or regular activities. In fact, studies have found that continuing with these can help you get better sooner –

Low back pain is estimated to affect at least 60% to 80% of the population at some time in their lives

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HEALTH

There is less than 1% chance of finding a feature on a spine scan that is strongly related to pain or a serious threat to health

including weight training. All exercise is safe provided you gradually build up intensity and do not immediately return to previous levels of exercise after an acute episode of pain.

3. A scan will show exactly what is wrong There is a poor correlation between findings on a scan and sources of pain. Most adults without back pain will have changes in the anatomy of their spine that are visible agerelated adaptations that don’t cause any problems (they are the spinal equivalent of skin wrinkles, visible but not a source of pain). Finding a feature on a spine scan that is strongly related to pain or a serious threat to health is exceptionally rare (less than 1%).

4. Pain equals damage This was an established view, but more recent research has changed our thinking. Level of pain has very little relationship to damage to the spine and more to do with your unconscious and conscious interpretation of the level of threat the pain represents to the sufferer. Cultural influences, work, stress, past experience and duration of symptoms have a stronger relationship with pain than the number of normal age-related changes you have on your scan.

5. Heavy school bags cause back pain Heavy school bags are safe. There is no established link between heavy school bags and back pain, but interestingly there is a link with the development of back pain and the

child or parent perceiving that the bag will cause problems.

Having episodes of back pain is so common that it is abnormal not to have some back pain at some time in your life. Because it is so common, a lot of everyday things, including slouching, twisting, carrying heavy things and exercise, are wrongly blamed for causing or worsening the problem.

Having an episode of spinal pain is a normal event in life and while most episodes are brief it is useful to see a healthcare professional for guidance on aiding recovery on occasion.

And it is much better to heed good advice, rather than myths, for a speedier recovery.

This article was originally published on The Conversation

Don’t stop exercising - continuing these can help you get better sooner

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Shabana Azmi: ‘Kaifi saab was a rare poet who practised what he preached.’

Shabana Azmi After sell-out shows across USA, Canada, India and UAE, UK now plays host to the critically acclaimed theatrical presentation, Kaifi Aur Main, presented by ZEE TV and Spectrum Events, taking place on Saturday 3 September at Symphony Hall,

Birmingham; and Sunday 4 September at Indigo at The 02, London.

The stage production pays tribute to renowned Urdu poet, Kaifi Azmi, recounting the beautiful, real-life love story shared by Kaifi and his wife,

Shaukat Azmi, seamlessly juxtaposing romance, humour and tragedy through a theatrical experience that combines live music and stage drama.

The sweeping, romantic saga recounts the journey and struggles of Kaifi’s

life set against the socio-political backdrop of pre-independent India, simultaneously exploring his celebrated works and love story that has inspired generations. The production is brought to life by luminaries of Indian cinema, veteran actress, Shabana

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Azmi, and renowned poet, lyricist and screenwriter, Javed Akhtar, interwoven with ghazals and evergreen Bollywood film songs rendered by ghazal maestro, Jaswinder Singh, complimented by a live orchestra.

Widely regarded as one of India’s finest actresses, Shabana Azmi has championed multiple genres across both mainstream and independent cinema, as well as the mediums of theatre and television. Garnering an impressive list of awards along her career journey, she is the recipient of a record five, National Film Awards for Best Actress and the coveted Padma Bhushan from the Indian government among other accolades.

Poet, lyricist and screenwriter, Javed Akhtar, is one of India’s most lauded artistic talents, with some of his most successful works attribut ed to the period 1971 – 1982, as one half of screenwriting duo, Salim-Javed.

Together, they penned some of the most seminal films in the history of Indian cinema. Among his accomplished list of honours is the Padma Bhushan award, the Padma Shri award and 18 Filmfare awards.

Having previously performed over 300 live concerts globally, Jaswinder Singh renders the ghazals of popular poets such as Mirza Ghalib, Daag, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Kaifi Azmi, having previously trained under the tutelage of Dr Sushila Pohankar, Pt. Ajay Pohankar and the world-renowned Jagjit Singh.

We caught up with the legendary actress ahead of the successful stage production discuss theatre and family.

You’re playing the role of Kaifi saab’s wife and naturally your mother in the play Kaifi Aur Main. You’ve played many many roles, with finesse and now you get the chance to play your mother.

Was it is easier to portray a character you know and have lived with or is it much tougher?

It’s much more difficult. Much more difficult because sometimes when you are very close to a person then the connectivity that is required to play that you lack that. And you must remember that my mother is a very celebrated theatre actress. I remember clearly many years ago I used to do an adaptation of the ‘joke circle’ I was playing the lead in that and my mother would come for a very short scene in that and my husband Javed used to always say she comes on the stage and completely fills it and she would awe you completely. So that’s a tall order to fill. I learnt acting at my mother’s feet.

As a child I was just 4 months old when she used to stand me on her back and take me for her rehearsal. Even when she used to travel on tour, she used to take me with her and Prithviraj Kapoor had made the costumes for me and so in group sequences I would be taken up on stage. So I obviously developed a love for acting to that atmosphere.

Over the years I have watched how she has taken into the world of her character. How she starts dressing into

the clothes of the character way before the play opens. She changes her clothes, her make up etc. So this is what I learnt from her.

So for me this play ‘Kaifi aur Main’ is an offering a gift that I want to share with the audience, because these are two extraordinary people in extraordinary times.

It’s a very very inspiring story, apart from the fact that it’s a romantic saga, it’s got romance, it’s got drama, it has a lot of humour, it has beautiful music and live singing, which at the end of it, you are left very very moved and very very inspired.

Extraordinary for sure. Your father was way ahead of the times, I read somewhere that he bought you a black doll, during an era where being white was more trendy (in fact we still are dealing with those issues, but that’s for another debate). For your father ‘black was beautiful too’. How much have his thoughts influencedyou today?

This was a time when I was studying in a convent school and everybody in my school had a blonde doll with blue eyes and he got me this black doll, and explained that black is beautiful too. I thought he was a bit of a weirdo.

So he was always different.

So ahead of his times Well ahead of his times. This was when I

was seven years old. So can you imagine?

Your father has obviously impacted on your life hugely, what other things can you share aside from the black doll incident?

His whole life has impacted on me. Both my parents have always agreed that art should be used as an instrument of social change and Kaifisaabwas a rare poet who practiced what he preached. He was struck by a stroke, which incapacitated him for life, he was paralysed and in this state he left the comfort of his home and went back to the time where he was born to a village called Mijwaan. He had struggled a lot.

Once when I asked him, don’t you get frustrated when change doesn’t happen at the pace you want it to and he said something which has really become my mantra in life.

'When you are working for change you should build into that expectation the possibility that change might not occur within your life time but has the consequence if you carry on working with sincerity and dedication then change will happen.'

is it that you are going to be playing her in a stage play. What does that feel like?

Like I told you before for me, it can never just be a play. It’s much more than that. What has happened with the play is really special, because in an instant I can tell it to the world, where the daughter and son in law are playing the father and mother. Where Javed is playing my husband, the role of my father.

Javed is not a professional actor, but no professional actor could have done as well as Javed has done because he comes from the same ethos, he comes from the same culture, he comes from the same humour so he understands KaifiinawaythatIdon’tthinkany professional actor could possibly do.

So all these coming together make it special. Me playing my mother and Javed playing Abba So how can we encourage the current generation to watch such plays?

They will come because it has drama and music, but ultimately they will go away all very inspired.

Yes, you will get to see the part where he gets his stroke. Yes

Some people have said that they have started reading poetry because of the play and learning Urdu because of the play, so that’s very heartening. So that’s a bonus

Naturally, your mother was very well known for her stage plays and how apt

You and Javed saab have your own love story, would you ever want to

Are these the kind of anecdotes that we will get to see in the play?

share that on stage?

People keep saying that we should, but our story is not as dramatic, our life doesn’t have so many ups and downs, but maybe sometime in the future.

One of the reasons why I enjoy this production is because it gives Javed and me a chance to travel together, otherwise we are so busy Thank you and we would like to wish you all the best with the play Kaifi Aur Main is in theatres at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Saturday 3 September and Sunday 4 September at Indigo o2 London For tickets visit www.chillitickets.com

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OPINION

Let’s Talk with

Dr Faraaz Doctor’s experience fatherhood too. drfaraaz@asian-standard.co.uk Welcome to my new column for the Asian Standard. I hope that you will find it interesting and learn a getting to know Faraaz, as well as Dr Faraaz.

Whilst many were celebrating Pakistan’s Independence on August 14, my family, my wife Anum and I were celebrating too - but ours was a different celebration.

During the very early hours of the morning that day our little boy, Rehan was born. He was a perfect 7.8lbs crying and doing all the things that newborn babies do. But boy, what an experience it was.

For my day-to-day job I work in the Emergency Department (ED) as a Registrar, so you can imagine the challenges I prepare myself with, but even that couldn’t prepare me for the rollercoaster ride of childbirth. Of course I am not taking the experience away from the mother, for who it can be more traumatic, but as a Dr I want to tell you that even for us who are in the medical profession, seeing your child born is just as exciting as well as being a timorous situation. So let me share with you in this column my experience of my first born.

41 weeks – that is the time it took for Rehan to enter the world, and the wait was well worth it. He is our pride and joy already, and we are blessed to have him. During those weeks there were lots of preparation, lots of happiness, laughter, smiles and even tears. Did we have everything we needed to be good parents? Did we remember to get enough nappies? The language barrier didn’t always help, with my wife being from across the Atlantic: “we can never have too many diapers!”

Many midwife appointments later, it was time. The baby was coming whether we were ready or not. My wife would argue that I had the easier end of the bargain although I also endured the sleepless nights, shared the pain and anxiety before Rehan came. In fact, it was even more difficult for me as I now had two

hats; one as a prospective parent, another as a doctor. My wife was in pain, and there was nothing I could do to help.

In the ED I would have thrown pain relief (not literally) at the patient if they were in pain – but labour ward was not my world. All I could do was hold my wife’s hand, mutter incomprehensible words of reassurance and wipe both her brow and mine.

Although childbirth is an interesting time for both parents, where so many things happen biologically to the mother, and psychosocially with the family – none of that matters, when the baby is born. We declared his name on the day he was born, and true to our predictions he really did look like a Rehan.

The next step was to say the call to prayer (Azaan) into Rehan’s ear, which I did. Following that the cuddles, kisses, and happiness was endless. He cried, and we smiled – not because he was crying, but because we had waited for that sound for so many months.

During that time in labour ward, I was not a doctor, I was a husband and an expecting father. Medical school is not parenting school, so from here onwards my wife and I would be starting our journey as a proper family together with Rehan.

Family is important, and when you look at your child whether they are infants, or teenagers – I am sure once upon a time you experienced what I did. Family matters and don’t forget the miracle that brings a child into the world, and how important it is that we look after and safeguard them.

I hope to share the next stage of my journey in my next column where as a Doctor will share his experience of being a father and more importantly the responsibilities of being a Muslim father. My journey will continue in my next column as I look at some of my responsibilities not only as a father, but as a Muslim father. Let the journey begin….

Even working in the Emergency Department couldn’t prepare me for the rollercoaster ride of child birth.

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NEWS

Thousands Attend The London Halal Food Festival Shelina Permalloo (MasterChef winner) Last Weekend Over 12’000 people attended the first London Halal Food Festival and enjoyed two days of food from all sectors of the Halal industry.

Tobacco Dock hosted the only show of its kind in the UK which brought a diverse variety of cultural foods to London’s East End. Up to 30 different cusines from 8 different countries could be explored at the festival including food from Japan, Argentina, Egypt and traditional Asian street food. A true global celebration of the Halal food industry, over 90 vendors kept the taste buds going throughout the two days andalong with an enormous Shisha lounge with live performances from the world of Sufi Music.

Food fans watched Shelina Permalloo (MasterChef winner) live in action at the cookery theatre, along with Ali Imdad from the Great British Bake Off, plus of course the hilarious Halal Eat Off competitions which included eating as many Hot Dogs and Burgers as possible. Kid’s were also able to play and be kept occupied in the dedicated kids zone at the festival.

Halal Food stall meat

The festival not only gave Londoners and their familes of all backgrounds the opportunity to experience the wonderful tastes of Halal food from around the globe, but also gave an opportunity for many businesses and companies to engage and access the fast growing Halal Economy here in the UK. The London Halal Food Festival’s founder and MD, Waleed Jahangir commented: “I hope this will become a regular event in London’s festival calendar, it is seen as not only a food show but as a event that people of all backgrounds can attend with their familes. I hope to be able to give people the chance to embark on a tantalizing Halal food journey from around the globe, provide a place where you can experience the world’s most delicious Halal Dishes, discover tasty sweet treats and refresh with mouth-watering mocktails, but most of all, something that every person can enjoy, no matter what your background is. We are all one big family and we all love food!”

Halal hotdogs

WEEKENDER FREE Issue one, Wednesdaday 31st August 2016

4- page TV GUIDE INSIDE

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IT'S PANEERILICIOUS! Our best paneer recipes

EXCLUSIVE with

TIGER SHROFF On'A Flying Jatt' his idol Hrithik Roshan & more

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Annual English Curry Awards recognises crème de la crème of the curry industry.

Manchester was host to the sixth annual English Curry Awards on 22 August.

The glittering event welcomed a gathering of over 350 attendees from across England in a celebration to reward the best in the curry industry.

Sixteen awards were presented on the night, with regional and overall winners.

Mr Aziz Ahmed, of Aziz Catering won the regional and overall winner for the catering category. This was the THE WINNERS OF THE NIGHT WERE:

first time the catering business in 30 years of trading has been recognised for its achievements by winning the prestigious award.

“We were not expecting it at all - it is such a surprise. This is the first time we have won anything.” Mr Ahmed told Asian Standard.

Curry is widely hailed as the U.K.’s national dish. Curry houses first began cropping up in the 1800s and gained popularity after World War II. There are now 12,000 of them across the THESE AWARDS WERE SPLIT INTO THREE REGIONS, WITH REGIONAL WINNERS AND ONE OVERALL WINNER Caterer of the Year, North went to Aziz Catering (Bradford).

Caterer of the Year, Midlands went to The Five Rivers Group (Birmingham).

Best Marketing Campaign went to James Dahl Indian (Birmingham).

Caterer of the Year, South went to Greenleaf Catering and Events Management (Southall).

Best Restaurant Design went to Prana Indian Restaurant (Cambridge).

Caterer of the Year, overall winner is Aziz Catering (Bradford).

General Manager of the Year went to Mohammed Jamil (Gurkha One, Nottingham).

Chef of the Year, North went to Tariq Mahmood (Kiplings Restaurant, Halifax).

Healthy Curry Provider went to Delhi6 Restaurant (Sutton Coldfield).

Curry Product of the Year went to Shemins (Ascot).

Celebrity Chef of the Year went to Anjula Devi (Hampton).

Best of Manchester went to Forts of India.

Best of Birmingham went to Tipu Sultan.

Curry King 2016 went to Jahangir Saddiq (Tipu Sultan Restaurant).

Outstanding Restaurant of the Year went to Kiplings Restaurant (Sowerby Bridge).

Chef of the Year, Midlands went to Dr. Ijlal Haider (Old Hall Restaurant, Dorrington).

Chef of the Year, South went to Ansar Ali (Spice Lounge, Mildenhall Suffolk).

Chef of the Year, overall winner is Dr. Ijlal Haider (Old Hall Restaurant, Dorrington).

U.K., employing more than 100,000 people, according to Cobra Beer Ltd, so competition was certainly stiff.

An ecstatic Mr Ahmed said: “The competition was tough, but being from Bradford, a city that has been winning the Curry Capital title consecutively for the past 5 years, the bar is already set high, so it makes it that much harder to go above that. So I am delighted and proud that this has been recognised and our 30-years contribution to the curry industry has been acknowledged with this award.”

The English Curry awards definitely recognise and reward the hard work and commitment of those who work tirelessly to provide the nation the much loved dish – curry.

Yasmin Mahmood, Operations Director of event organisers Oceanic Consulting said: “With a vast amount of restaurants and takeaways in England the competition is always fierce. To be amongst such passionate people who love what they do, is truly inspiring.

THESE AWARDS WERE SPLIT INTO NINE REGIONS, WITH REGIONAL WINNERS AND ONE OVERALL WINNER Best Home Delivery Service, North East went to Spice Island Tandoori & Pizzeria (Sunderland).

Team/Service of the Year, East Midlands went to The Cinnamon Lounge (Market Harborough).

Takeaway of the Year, South East went to Bombay Express (Basildon).

Best Home Delivery Service, North West went to Tuk Tuk Indian Takeaway (Preston).

Team/Service of the Year, West Midlands went to The Lloyds Indian Restaurant (Solihull).

Takeaway of the Year, South West went to Papa Raj (Plymouth).

Best Home Delivery Service, Yorkshire went to Tandoori Express (Leeds).

Team/Service of the Year, East went to Spice Lounge Restaurant (Mildenhall Suffolk).

Best Home Delivery Service, East Midlands went to Spicy Flames (Leicester).

Team/Service of the Year, South East went to Jai Ho (Horley).

Best Home Delivery Service, West Midlands went to Sonali Balti (Coventry).

Best Home Delivery Service, East went to Malabar (Coventry).

Team/Service of the Year, South West went to Joy Raj (Bristol).

Team/Service of the Year, London went to Raunka Punjab Diyan (Southall).

Best Home Delivery Service, South East went to Spice Box (Oxford).

Team/Service of the Year, overall winner is Jaipur Exclusive Indian Takeaway (Newcastle Upon Tyne).

Best Home Delivery Service, South West went to Chutney Corner (Bournemouth).

Takeaway of the Year, North East went to Jaipur Exclusive Indian Takeaway (Newcastle Upon Tyne)

Best Home Delivery Service, Takeaway of the Year, North West London went to Holy Cow (London). went to Spice Island (Bolton).

Best Home Delivery Service, overall winner is Tuk Tuk Indian Takeaway (Preston).

Takeaway of the Year, Yorkshire went to Little India Takeaway (Barnsley).

Team/Service of the Year, North Takeaway of the Year, East East went to Jaipur Exclusive Midlands went to Chutney’s Indian Takeaway (Newcastle Upon (Leicester).

Tyne) Takeaway of the Year, West Team/Service of the Year, North Midlands went to Chutney Express West went to Sultan of Lancaster Takeaway (Birmingham).

(Lancaster).

Takeaway of the Year, East went to Team/Service of the Year, Yorkshire Raja Indian Cuisine (Cambridge). went to Culters Spice (Sheffield).

Takeaway of the Year, London went to 2 Sisters Tandoori (Southwark).

Takeaway of the Year, overall winner is Spice Island (Bolton).

Restaurant of the Year, North East went to Zeera Indian Cuisine (South Shields).

Restaurant of the Year, North West went to Shimla Spice (Burnley).

Restaurant of the Year, Yorkshire went to Bombay Spice (York).

Restaurant of the Year, East Midlands went to Lime Indian Restaurant (Nottingham).

Restaurant of the Year, West Midlands went to Delhi 6 Restaurant (Sutton Coldfield).

Restaurant of the Year, East went to Prana Indian Restaurant (Cambridge).

Restaurant of the Year, South East went to Jai Ho (Horley).

Restaurant of the Year, South West went to The Eastern Eye (Bath).

Restaurant of the Year, London went to Khanage Indian Tandoori (London).

Restaurant of the Year, overall winner is Bombay Spice (York).

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Host Mani Liaqat

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Tantilising Recipes from Pleasant and Palatable Paneer This edition we look at an old Indian favourite – paneer. Paneer is a type of fresh cheese common in South Asian cuisine. In eastern parts of the Indian Subcontinent, it is generally called chhena. It can be easily made at home with milk and is completely vegetarian. Since it is made with milk, it is naturally loaded with calcium.

With it’s delicate milky flavour, paneer can be

used in curries or served grilled as a side.

In Bengal fresh paneer or chhena is used to make some of the much-loved desserts like rasgulla, rasmalai, chenna murki and many more.

Here are just some of our favourite paneer recipes to get those taste buds tickled.

Paneer Pakoras

Paneer Pakora is a delicacy! Marinated paneer dipped in a batter and fry makes a crispy, mouthwatering appetizer. Crispy outside and soft inside, these pakoras are addictive. A perfect snack with afternoon tea.

Ingredients 4 oz paneer thinly slice in about 1” squares this will make about 14-16 slices (available in Indian grocery stores) 2 tablespoons yogurt (curd, dahi) 4 tablespoon corn starch or arrowroot 1 teaspoon ginger paste 1 green chili minced 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon cilantro finely chopped (hara dhania)

For the batter: 1/2 cup besan, gram flour (available in Indian grocery stores) 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera) 1/2 teaspoon salt adjust to taste 1/8 teaspoon baking soda Approx. 1/4 cup water Method 1. Marinate the paneer: In a

mixing bowl combine the yogurt, corn starch, salt, ginger, green chili, and cilantro. Mix well, to the consistency of a soft paste. Add the paneer pieces and gently coat them with the yogurt mixture. Set aside one hour or more.

2. For batter: mix the besan, cumin seeds, salt and baking soda. Add water slowly to make a thick, pasty batter.

3. Heat about one inch of oil in a frying pan over medium high heat. To test, put one drop of batter in the oil. The batter should form a small ball on the surface of the pan, but not change color.

4. Dip the marinated paneer slices in the batter one at a time. Drop slowly into the frying pan. Fry the pakoras in small batches. The pakoras will take about four to five minutes to cook. Turn them occasionally, until both sides are golden brown.

5. Repeat for the remaining batches.

6. The crispy, delicious paneer pakoras are ready to serve, with a dip of your choice. I like to serve them with Cilantro Hari Chutney or sweet and sour Tamarind Chutney.

Dum Paneer Kali Mirch A fragrant curry brightened with black pepper. Exclude the cream if you want to make it low fat.

Ingredients 1 tsp oil 4 cloves 4 green cardamoms 1 inch piece cinnamon 1 onion fried till brown and blended with little water to make paste Paste of 1 tsp ginger and 1 tsp garlic with 4 green chillies 3 Tbsp dahi / yogurt 1 tsp dhaniya /coriander powder 1 tsp pepper powder 3/4 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp salt 2 Tbsp cream 1/4 tsp rang mirch /paprika 1/4 tsp haldi / turmeric 1/4 tsp garam masala 250 gm paneer Coriander, to garnish Fresh mint leaves, to garnish Method 1. Heat oil and add the cloves, cardamoms and cinnamon till it’s nice and fragrant.

2. Now add onion paste and cook well.

3. Add ginger, garlic and green chilli paste. Saute.

4. Add yogurt / dahi.

5. Cook and add coriander powder, cumin powder, pepper powder, haldi and rang mirch / red chilli.

6. Add salt. Cook and add cottage cheese cubes and cream as well as 1/2 cup water.

7. Seal the pan with foil and put a lid on top.

8. Reduce flame to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes.

9. Now open it and cook further if you like to dry it up.

10. Check for salt adding more if needed serve garnished with coriander and mint leaves.

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Makhni Paneer Biryani Ingredients 250 gm paneer cubes 3 Tbsp ghee/ clarified butter 2 Tbsp whole spices 1 large onion,chopped coarsely 3 Tbsp butter 2 cups fresh tomato puree 2 to 3 green chillies 3-4 cloves garlic 1 Tbsp ginger, peeled and chopped 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp cumin-coriander powder 1 tsp tandoori masala 1/2 tsp cardamom powder 1 tsp sugar 1/4 cup cashew paste 1/2 cup cream Salt to taste 6 cups cooked Basmati rice 1 cup fried onions 1/2 cup almond slivers 1/2 cup chopped mint and coriander Method 1. Sear the paneer cubes in ghee. Then season it to taste and set aside.

2. In the same pan, add the

Fried paneer cubes doused in a creamy gravy, layered with rice and cooked ‘dum’ style.

whole spices such as cinnamon, cloves, black cardamon, green cardamon, black peppercorns, mace.

3. As the spices crackle, add the chopped onions, green chillies, ginger garlic and fry for 2 minutes.

4. Add the powdered masalas followed by the tomato puree. Simmer for 10 minutes or so.

5. Then add the cashew paste and cream. Season to taste.

6. Add the paneer into the gravy and bring to a gentle simmer for 6 to 8 minutes.

7. Using a greased baking dish or handi, layer the paneer and rice alternatively.

Garnish with fried onions, nuts, fresh mint and coriander. Cover with aluminium foil or heat gently for 25 minutes.

Serve hot.

Hot Paneer Sandesh Pudding Ingredients 250 gm home-made paneer (cottage cheese) 2 tbsp full fat cream 2 tsp stevia (a natural sugar substitute derived from a plant, adjust to your taste) For the fruit stew: 1 green apple-thinly sliced & seeds removed 8-10 strawberries, chopped Juice of one orange or about 1 cup 3-4 cloves 3-4 cardamom 2 cinnamon sticks 3-4 whole black pepper 1/4 Tbsp butter Almond slivers for garnish Method 1. In a saucepan melt the butter and add the orange juice to it.

2. Add the cloves, cardamom,

cinnamon and black pepper. (they have to be fished out later)

according to the size of the baking dish you are going to use.

3. Once the juice is hot, add the apple slices. Let it stew covered for about 5-7minutes.

Uncover it after a while and let it simmer till half of the orange juice evaporates.

8. Preferable you should use a 15 cm square baking dish.

4. Once done, turn off the heat and remove all the whole spices from the liquid.

5. Now add 3/4 of the strawberries. Reserving some for garnishing. This is the fruit stew.

6. Mash the paneer well with a fork and add whipped cream to it. Blend in the stevia.

Mix well.

7. Flatten out this mix on a plastic sheet or foil paper

9. Pour in the stewed fruits in the baking dish.

10. Flip the paneer layer (that you had flattened earlier on a plastic sheet) over to fit on top of the stewed fruit in the baking dish.

11. Dress it up with leftover strawberries and some almond slivers.

12. Place it in a hot oven preheated at 220 degrees C and bake for about 15-20 minutes, till the paneer’s edges look a bit brown.

13. Serve hot.

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Sony TV is all set to launch it's new dance reality TV show called Super Dancer.

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The show will be hosted by Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Anurag Basu, and talented choreographer Geeta Kapoor.

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20:00 Dance+ 2 (Game Show) 21:00 Diya Aur Bati Hum (Drama) 21:30 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary)

09:05 Woh Saat Din (Film) 11:35

Akhri Raasta (Film)

14:30

Raja Hindustani (Film)

17:30

Welcome (Film)

20:20

Welcome Back (Film)

23:15

Tridev(Film)

02:15

Aakhri Raasta (Film)

05:10

Pure Bollywood (Film)

ZEE TV

23:00 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (Drama)

14:00 Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani (Drama) 14:30 Kumkum Bhagya (Drama)

15:30 Kumkum Bhagya (Drama) 16:00 Kumkum Bhagya (Drama) 16:30 Kumkum Bhagya (Drama) 17:00 The Art Room (Entertainment) 17:30 3 Course with Pankaj (Cookery) 18:00 Out and About (Entertainment) 18:30 Zee News (News) 19:00 Big Story, Big Debate (Chat Show)

23:30 Dance+ 2 (Game Show) 06:00 Jana Na Dil Se Door (Drama)

(Documentary)

15:00 Kumkum Bhagya (Drama)

22:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (Drama) 22:30 Dance+ 2 - Get Set Go (Game Show)

(Drama)

00:30 Dance+ 2 - Get Set Go (Game Show)

20:00 The Golden Years with Javed Aktar

06:30

Mere Angne Mein (Drama)

01:00 Diya Aur Bati Hum (Drama)

07:00

Saathiya (Drama)

01:30 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary)

07:30

Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (Drama)

02:00 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary)

06:30 Shrimad Bhagwat Katha (Entertainment)

02:30 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary)

07:00 Zee News (News)

03:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (Drama)

07:30 Yoga for You (Entertainment)

03:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (Drama)

08:00 Nirankari Baba Mission (Entertainment)

04:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (Drama)

08:30 Narayan Seva Sansthan (Documentary)

04:30 Suhaani Si Ek Ladki (Drama)

09:00 Money Guru (Business and Finance)

13:00 Dil-e-Beqarar(Rpt)

09:30 The Art Room (Entertainment)

15:00 UDAARI

08:00 Hum Ko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai... (Drama) 08:30

Siya Ke Ram (Drama)

09:00 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary) 09:30

Diya Aur Bati Hum (Drama)

10:00

Dance+ 2 (Game Show)

11:00

Saathiya (Drama)

11:30

Jana Na Dil Se Door (Drama)

12:00 Mere Angne Mein (Drama) 12:30 Hum Ko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai... (Drama)

05:00 Suhaani Si Ek Ladki (Drama) 05:30 Suhaani Si Ek Ladki (Drama)

ZEE CINEMA

13:30 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary) 14:00 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary) 14:30 Singham Returns (Film) 17:30 Jana Na Dil Se Door (Drama)

03:50 Laadla (Film) 06:40

Humshakal (Film)

22:00 Brahmarakshas... Jaag Utha Shaitaan (Drama) 23:00 Neeli Chatri Waale (Documentary) 00:00 Brahmarakshas... Jaag Utha Shaitaan (Drama) 01:00 Dr. Subhash Chandra Show (Drama) 02:00 Bollywood Business (Magazine Programme) 02:30 Big Story, Big Debate (Chat Show) 03:30 The Art Room (Entertainment) 04:30 Fear Files (Documentary) 05:30 Yogic Healing by Swami Ramdev (Entertainment)

05:30 Yogic Healing by Swami Ramdev (Entertainment)

HUM TV EUROPE 09:00 Jago Pakistan Jago 10:30 Joru Ka Ghulam(Rpt) 11:00 Deewana 12:00 Jhoot

14:00 Dharkan

10:00 Food Ka Mood (Cookery)

16:00 Akbari Asghari

10:30 Bacha Party (Cookery)

17:00 Laaj

11:00 Bollywood Cut (Entertainment)

13:00 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary)

21:00 Amma (Drama)

18:00 Pakeeza 19:00 Namak Party

12:00 Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani (Drama)

19:30 Mr Shamin

12:30 Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani (Drama)

21:00 Akbari Asghari

13:00 Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani (Drama)

20:00 LAAAJ

22:00 Saturday Night Special

13:30 Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani

HUM Awards to air on Hum TV on Eid Fans of the Hum Awards, will be pleased to know that the popular Pakistani awards will now be aired on HUM TV for during Eid.

The Hum Awards celebrates,recognises and awards the best in Pakistani Television and films released in that year. The awards were

held in Karachi in May 2016. Hum Awards 2016 will air Eid Day 2 (around 11 September) at 22:00 on Hum TV UK/ Europe.

Disclaimer: Please note listings correct at time of printing and can vary.

8

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03:00 CID (Drama) 04:00 Crime Patrol (Drama) 05:00 The Kapil Sharma Show (Comedy)

23:00 Rana Saheb Key life ke funday(Drama) 00:30 Bulbulay (Comedy) 01:00 Sahulat Bazaar (Consumer) 02:00 Dillagi (Documentary) 03:00 Khoat (Drama)

05:00 The Kapil Sharma Show (Comedy)

ARY DIGITAL

04:00 Ghayal (Drama) 04:45 Azan-E-Fajr (Religious)

06:30 Jeevan Prabhat (Religious)

04:54 Ghayal (Drama)

07:00 Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanuman (Drama)

05:00 Tadabbur-E-Qur’an (Religious)

07:30 Bhakti Sagar (Religious) 08:00 Sadguru Enlightens (Religious) 08:30 Ek Rishta Sajhedari Ka (Drama)

B4U MOVIES

07:00 Arey Meri Shaadi (Religious)

09:00 Good Morning Pakistan (Chat Show)

10:00 Ek Rishta Sajhedari Ka (Drama)

10:30 Game(Film)

13:00 Suryaputra Karn (Documentary) 13:30 Suryaputra Karn (Documentary) 14:00 Bachna Aaye Haseeno (Film) 17:00 Bade Bhaiyaa Ki Dulhaniya (Drama) 17:30 The Kapil Sharma Show (Comedy)

Programme)

12:30 Khushhaal Susral (Drama) 13:00 Dillagi (Documentary) 13:04 Azan-E-Zuhr (Religious) 13:11 Dillagi (Documentary)

17:30 Comedy Nights Bachao (Comedy) 19:00 Ishq Ka Rang Safed (Drama)

15:00 Aap Kay Liye (Drama)

Programme)

23:30 DON 2 (Film)

16:39 Azan-E-Asr (Religious)

03:00 Blackmail (Film)

18:30 Bulbulay (Comedy)

(Documentary) 01:05 Crime Patrol 4 (Documentary) 02:05 Crime Patrol 4 (Documentary)

(Documentary)

22:30 Kavach Kaali Shaktiyon Se (Drama)

04:05 Crime Patrol 4

03:00 Shakti Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki (Drama)

(Documentary) 05:00 Tere Naal Love hogaya (Film)

SONY MAX

04:30 Ishq Ka Rang Safed (Drama)

16:46 Teri Chah Mein (Drama) 17:00 Rana Saheb ke Funday

23:30 Crime Patrol 4

21:30 24 (Drama)

02:00 Kavach Kaali Shaktiyon Se (Drama)

16:00 Teri Chah Mein (Drama)

(Film)

03:00 Crime Patrol 4

09:30 Chal Bhaag(Film)

20:00 Satyagarha (Film)

19:30 Veerzaara

20:00 Jhalak Dikhla Ja (Entertainment)

01:00 Code Red (Documentary)

16:30 Mausam(Film)

14:00 Anabia (Drama)

13:15 Salaam Namaste(Film)

(Film)

11:30 Jhalak Dikhla Ja (Entertainment) 13:00 24 (Drama) 14:00 Fashion (Film)

(Reality Show)

10:00 Munna Bhai MBBS (film)

10:00 Comedy Nights Bachao (Comedy)

06:00 Aakhree Raasta (Film)

13:00 Judaai (Film)

Khidki

16:30 Parineeta

23:30 Jhalak Dikhla Ja (Entertainment)

12:00 Raja Inder (Drama)

09:30

08:30 Bigg Boss (Entertainment)

19:30 Desi Beat (Magazine

06:30 Begunah (Drama)

09:30 Ek Rishta Sajhedari Ka (Drama)

11:29 The Kapil Sharma Show (Comedy)

08:00 Desi Beat (Magazine

06:00 Khushhaal Susral (Drama)

08:10 Sahulat Bazaar (Consumer)

11:00 Ek Rishta Sajhedari Ka (Drama)

(Drama)

05:30 Hamd O Naat (Music)

09:00 Ek Rishta Sajhedari Ka (Drama)

10:30 Ek Rishta Sajhedari Ka (Drama)

@Asian_Standard

YOUR WEEKEND TV GUIDE FROM ALL YOUR FAVOURITE ASIAN TV CHANNELS

Sunday 4 September 2016

SONY TV

/AsianStandard or Twitter

COLORS TV

SAB TV 06:00 Shiva Ka Insaaf (Film)

19:00 Khushhaal Susral (Drama)

08:30 Ramji Londonwale

19:00 Asian Variety Show (Entertainment)

19:30 Begunah (Drama)

20:00 Adaalat (Drama)

19:42 Azan-E-Maghrib (Religious)

12:00 Kranti- Power of Unity

21:00 The Kapil Sharma Show (Comedy)

20:20 Jeeto Pakistan (Game

(Film)

22:30 CID (Drama 23:30 Crime Patrol (Drama) 00:30 The Kapil Sharma Show (Comedy) 02:00 Adaalat (Drama)

(Film)

Show) 20:54

Azan-E-Isha (Religious)

21:01 Jeeto Pakistan (Game

06:00 Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat (Documentary)

Show)

07:00 Vatsalya Tech (Magazine Programme)

22:00 Khoat (Drama)

07:30 Ishq Ka Rang Safed

04:55 Deh Ishqiya (Film)

15:00 Bewakoofiyan (Film) 18:00 Hamari Adhuri Kahani

07:30 Khidki (Reality Show)

(Film) 21:00 Queen (Film)

08:00 Gupp Chupp (Drama) 08:30 Baalveer (childrens)

ZEE TV to launch new drama A new fiction show will be launching on ZEE TV from September. The show is called 'Sanyukt' and will replace 'Meri Saasu Maa'

The drama is produced by Saregama Productions, stars Shubhangi Latkar, Kiran Kumar, Harsh Vashisht and Namrata Thapa.

The new fiction drama will be about an extended family and the trials and tribulations between each family member.

‘Sanyukt’ airs in the 19:30 slot from Wednesday 7 September at 19:00 in the UK

00:00 Chal Mere Bhai (Film) 03:00 Gautam Govinda (Film)

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STAR GOLD

AS WEEKENDER 9

@Asian_Standard

11:00 22nd Annual Star Screen Awards... (Entertainment)

ZEE CINEMA

13:00 The Big Idea (Entertainment)

14:30 Housefull (Film)

13:30 The Great Chefs of India (Cookery)

17:30 Jana Na Dil Se Door (Drama)

14:00 Jamai Raja (Drama)

18:00 Mere Angne Mein (Drama) 06:00 Front row with Anupama Chopra (Entertainment) 06:25 Koffee with Karan (Chat show) 07:20

Maa Beti (Film)

10:20 Kabhi Alvida Na kehna (Film) 14:05 Bang Bang (Film) 17:05 Bol Bachchan (Film) 20:00 Dabang (Film) 22:30 Dabangg 2 (Film) 00:50 Krishna (Entertainment) 03:15 Watan Ke Rakwale (Film)

STAR PLUS

18:30 Suhaani Si Ek Ladki (Drama) 19:00 Saathiya (Drama) 19:30 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (Drama) 20:00 Dance+ 2 (Game Show)

12:00 Neeli Chatri Waale (Documentary)

14:30 Jamai Raja (Drama) 05:10 Pure Bollywood(Film)

15:00 Jamai Raja (Drama)

06:10 Raja Hindustani (Film)

15:30 Jamai Raja (Drama)

09:10 Barsaat (Film)

16:00 Jamai Raja (Drama)

12:00 Phir Hera Pheri (Film)

16:30 Bollywood Cut (Entertainment)

14:00 Hum Saath Saath

21:00 Amma (Drama) 22:00 Brahmarakshas... Jaag Utha Shaitaan (Drama) 23:00 The Golden Years with Javed Aktar (Documentary) 00:00 Brahmarakshas... Jaag Utha Shaitaan (Drama) 01:00 Bollywood Cut (Entertainment) 02:00 Kaala Teeka (Drama) 02:30 Tashn-E-Ishq (Drama) 03:00 Meri Sasu Maa (Drama)

21:00 Diya Aur Bati Hum (Drama)

Hain(Film)

17:30 3 Course with Pankaj (Cookery)

18:25 Holiday (Film)

18:00 The Big Idea (Entertainment)

04:00 Ek Tha Raja Ek Thi Rani (Drama)

21:30 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary)

20:35 Main Tera Hero (Film)

18:30 Zee News (News)

04:30 Jamai Raja (Drama)

22:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai (Drama)

23:00 Darna Zaroori Hain (Film)

19:00 Dr. Subhash Chandra Show (Drama)

05:00 Kaala Teeka (Drama)

22:30 Jana Na Dil Se Door (Drama) 23:00 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (Drama)

01:00 Phir Hera Pheri (Film

20:00 Neeli Chatri Waale (Documentary)

03:30 Kumkum Bhagya (Drama)

05:30 Yogic Healing by Swami Ramdev (Entertainment)

ZEE TV HUM TV EUROPE

23:30 Dance+ 2 (Game Show) 00:30 Saathiya (Drama) 01:00 Diya Aur Bati Hum (Drama) 01:30 Siya Ke Ram (Drama)

06:00 Hum Ko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai... (Drama) 06:30 Hum Ko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai... (Drama) 07:00 Hum Ko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai... (Drama) 07:30 Mere Angne Mein (Drama) 08:00 Mere Angne Mein (Drama) 08:30 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (Drama) 09:00 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (Drama)

02:00 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (Drama) 02:30 Ishqbaaaz (Documentary) 03:00 Saathiya (Drama) 03:30 Hum Ko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai... (Drama)

05:30 Yogic Healing by Swami Ramdev (Entertainment)

12:00 - 13:00

LAAAJ

07:00 Zee News (News)

13:00 - 14:00

UDAARI

07:30 Yoga for You (Entertainment)

14:00 - 15:00

Deewana

15:00 - 16:00

Deewana

16:00 - 17:00

Akbari Asghari

17:00 - 19:00

SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL

19:00 - 19:30

Mr Shamin

19:30 - 20:00

Joru Ka Ghulam

20:00 - 21:00

Udaari

21:00 - 22:00

Akbari Asghari

22:00 - 23:00

KATPUTLI

08:00 Bhakti Bhav (Entertainment)

09:00 Money Guru (Business and Finance)

05:00 Siya Ke Ram (Drama)

09:30 The Art Room (Entertainment)

10:30 Dance+ 2 - Get Set Go (Game Show)

Namak Party (Rpt) Dil-e-Beqarar(Rpt)

04:30 Diya Aur Bati Hum (Drama)

09:30 Dance+ 2 (Game Show)

10:30 - 11:00 11:00 - 12:00

08:30 Narayan Seva Sansthan (Documentary)

(Drama)

Jago Pakistan Jago

06:30 Shrimad Bhagwat Katha (Entertainment)

04:00 Suhaani Si Ek Ladki (Drama)

05:30 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein

09:00 - 10:30

10:00 Out and About (Entertainment) 10:30 Bollywood Business (Magazine Programme) 11:00 Big Story, Big Debate (Chat Show)

‘Housefull 3’ to premiere on Star Plus in September Star Plus UK is to premier the Bollywood Bollywood blockbuster ‘Housefull 3’ on UK television The huge comedy hit is about a father, who doesn’t want his three daughters to get married. Now, it’s up to three men to try to

and convince the father that they’re a good fit for his daughters.

‘Housefull 3’ stars Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Nargis Fakhri and Jacqueline Fernandez.

The film did very well at the box office and is part of the successful Housefull franchise.

‘Housefull 3’ will premiere on Star Plus UK on Sunday 11 September at 21:00.

Please note listings correct at time of printing and can vary.

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INTERVIEW

‘I have been inspired by Krissh’ – Tiger Shroff on 'A Flying Jatt', his idol Hrithik Roshan and more

by AYESHA BABAR ayesha@asian-standard.co.uk

Tiger Shroff landed on our screens as a bona fide action star. From his debut film, Heropanti, to his last release, Baaghi, we have seen him as an angry young man, packing punches in action sequence after action sequence. Tiger is now back with his third offering:, A Flying Jatt .

He is experimenting with comedy and if what we have seen so far is anything to go by, he has nailed this too. We decided to ask him about the experience of working on his latest and much more.

Congratulations on the massive success of your last release, Baaghi!

Your performance was widely appreciated by critics and the film made it to the 100 crore club!

Thank you. The response Shradda and I received for Baaghi was definitely beyond our expectations. I am so grateful to the fans for making it a hit!

We are now nearing the release of your next – The Flying Jatt – with Jacqueline Fernandez. How do the expectations change after you have already delivered a hit this year? Is there a lot of pressure on you?

Oh definitely! Baaghi has set the bar for me in terms of what business expectations are and to be honest, I personally want to do

Film still from the song 'Bhangda Pa Group' better and better with each new release, both for box office and in terms of my own performance. I think that A Flying Jatt also has the potential to fulfi l those expectations.

From the trailer and the songs of ‘A Flying Jatt ’ it comes across as a comic superhero fi lm. It is a genre that has not been att empted before in Bollywood – what made you do this fi lm?

Yes, this genre has been quite

popular in the west, but it hasn’t really been experimented with in Bollywood.

I have always wanted to be a superhero growing up; just like any other boy who believes that he is a superhero inside his own house. So there was that attraction of the concept. When Remo D’Souza approached me with the script, I was instantly drawn towards the script. Remo sir had seen me even before my first film was released

and we had been speaking about wanting to work together. So this then seemed like the perfect opportunity – I could realise my childhood dream of being a superhero, even if it is just on the screen (laughs) and I got to work with Remo sir. What more could I ask for?

A Flying Jatt takes the ‘caped’ superhero concept forward after the very successful ‘Krissh’.

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INTERVIEW It is widely known that you have a very close bond with Hrithik Roshan, who plays the role of Krissh, and that you are even the brand ambassador of his clothing brand, HRX. You have openly said many times that you have looked up to him for a very long time. Was the character of Flying Jatt inspired by Krissh in any way?

I have defi nitely been inspired by Krissh! I have tried to learn more about the body language, the way the costume is worn, how to look authentic when doing the fl ying sequences. I think Hrithik sir looks very natural in his superhero avatar and I wanted to make it look natural too so for that I studied his body language quite a bit.

What was his reaction when he saw the trailer and the rushes?

He did really like the trailer. In fact, he appreciated the fact that we have kept things as natural as possible without making them look too over the top!

You are fit as ever in A Flying Jatt and doing lots of action sequences which showcase your martial arts training and acrobatic skills.

You have started this new trend amongst many young fans of keeping fit through such alternate training rather than the traditional gym/ bodybuilding craze.

I am happy that I have started the trend of people going towards these other fun ways of keeping fit. I find these to be more interesting than just going to the gym! And trust me, it is not as difficult as it looks.

You make it looks easy though!

Haha, it is all about practice. We all have two arms and two legs so if you keep persevering, you will get there

A Flying Jatt

eventually!

During the course of the shooting, we have seen lots of fun behind the scenes photos and interviews of you and Jacqueline and you two seem to be having a blast on the sets.

How was the experience of working with her?

the whole experience of being on set that much more enjoyable. There was such a chilled out vibe while working. Even in the middle of a serious sequence, she would pull pranks and make everyone laugh! It doesn’t mean that she doesn’t work hard but just that she has fun while working and makes sure those working with her do too!

Jacqueline is such a vivacious and happy girl and she makes

If there is one thing that you would like to say to our readers on why

Jacqueline is such a vivacious and happy girl and she makes the whole experience of being on set that much more enjoyable. There was such a chilled out vibe while working. they should go to the cinemas to watch A Flying Jatt , what would it be?

Tiger and Jacqueline

If you are a fan of the superhero genre, you absolutely have to watch this film. Even if you are not a fan of the genre, there is a lot more in the film to keep you engaged! It is a funny and interesting take on this Jatt ’s superhero skills and how he overcomes his fears, like he is afraid of heights, to fight a super villain, being played by Nathan Jones. Not so much fun for me, but fun for you guys!

Ah! The action sequences in the

trailer and the promos do look very slick and it is always good to see such high production standards coming out of Bollywood. When are we seeing you on the screen next after A Flying Jatt?

I am looking at a few exciting ideas but haven’t signed anything yet so you will have to watch this space for an announcement soon!

All the best, - may the Flying Jatt fl y high at the Box Offi ce!

Haha, thanks very much. It was a pleasure reaching out to your readers.

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TECHNOLOGY

Sony introduces XAV-AX100 in-car audio system at $499

by RAHUL RAUT rahul@asian-standard.co.uk

Sony Electronics introduced a new car receiver that brings lots of smartphone connectivity to your car. XAV-AX100 supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it Sony’s first smart car audio system to come with both support. The biggest selling point of this new in-dash receiver is its price tag of $499 (£380 British Pound) which is much cheaper and comfortable for all compared to its big rivals.

which lets the driver adjust the audio system without taking his eyes off the road. It has four straightforward physical buttons: one is the Home button, a knob for volume control and two other smaller buttons for skip forward and back.

Apple CarPlay functionally allows you to use your smartphone in a safe and smart way letting you access apps like Apple Music and Maps. You can also make phone calls, and send messages via touchscreen on the audio system or vocally using Siri. Android Auto, on

the other hand, lets you always stay in control of music, maps and more all through the touchscreen.

As far as sound is concerned, AX100 delivers powerful sound, thanks to its four 55-watt Dynamic Reality Amp 2, Extra BASS technology and a 10-band graphic equalizer which produce clear sound at any volume level overcoming engine noise. The device also comes with Bluetooth technology and an input for a rearview camera. It also has a 3 pre-out connectivity ports that can be connected to external amplifiers and other accessories.

For its downsiders, AX100 doesn’t come with AUX input, video output or NFC pairing unlike its competitors. Also it has only one USB located at the back of the unit, which could make charging your phone difficult if you don’t have other means.

XAV-AX100 appears to be a double DIN system and comes with a 6.4-inch clear and responsive touchscreen with a resolution of 800*480. Though the screen resolution of the screen panel is not up to par with the quality new Android smartphones and iPhones are providing, it’s still considered decent for an in-car display. It’s display is resistive and has physical buttons

XAV-AX100 will be available across North America from later part of November 2016.

Twitter rolls out Quality Filter to all users to reduce harassment

by RAHUL RAUT

rahul@asian-standard.co.uk

The micro-blogging website, Twitter is taking another step forward to make it more welcoming place for discussion and interaction. The company has announced to roll out “Quality Filter” - which lets filter low quality notifications from bots and spammers - to all users to reduce online harassment. This feature is a new move to reduce molestation and it filters out “lower quality content” such as duplicate tweets or contents that appear to be automated.

“Quality Filter” is helpful for blocking targeted harassment. It automatically screens out tweets from suspicious accounts and minimize abuse from taking place on the platform. This feature restricts what kinds of tweets appear in a user’s notification tab.

“When turned on, the filter can improve the quality of Tweets you see by using a variety of signals, such as account origin and behavior. Turning it on filters lower-quality content, like duplicate Tweets or content that

appears to be automated, from your notifications and other parts of your Twitter experience,” the company said announcing the feature in its blog post.

However, this feature does not work in the case of the people you follow.

“It does not filter content from people you follow or accounts you’ve recently interacted with – and depending on

your preferences, you can turn it on or off in your notifications settings.”

“Quality Filter” isn’t exactly a new feature though. It was first rolled out last year but was available to only verified accounts. Up until now, only accounts with blue checkmark had the option of filtering out tweets.

Twitter has also made notification settings widely available and easier to find across both mobile and the web. Everyone will have the ability to limit notifications to only people they follow.

Filtering feature is Twitter’s another attempt to stem the allegation of its lack of concern toward harassment, which has grown into a major problem for the company. Last month Twitter made applications for verification open for all users and recently it announced that it has suspended 360,000 accounts for promoting terrorism. In all way, Twitter is ensuring that its service is a safe place to be.

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TECHNOLOGY

by RAHUL RAUT rahul@asian-standard.co.uk

Samsung has made smartphones exciting once again with the launch of Galaxy Note 7 - its new smartphone in Note series. The New Note 7 is the best all around phone the company has released to date. It is an ultimate phone that manages to deceive just about every other box in your list.

It has gorgeous, symmetrical and water-resistant design and gets you more storage power, excellent battery life, speed and features. Everything is better in this new Note 7 if we compare it with other Note phones.

It is a great upgrade for any note older than a year and the best android phone you can find right now in the market. Just one demerit: it’s too expensive. However, if we look at its camera, its gorgeous, carved display, its sleek, its stylish looks and its bonus security features, it might be worth its hectic price tag.

Design Note 7 is a beautiful piece of gadgetry.

It is the combination of metal and glass, symmetrical sides and rounded corners that makes it the nicest looking phone. The symmetrical curved edges make the Note 7 really nice to hold. Its functional design gives the Note 7 a normal phone feel, even though it has a massive display.

Its dimensions, which is actually smaller than any other phone in this class (it’s shorter and narrower than iPhone 6S Plus, Nexus 6P and Note 5), makes it easier to handle, nicer to use and easier to slip into a pocket than any other big screen phone.

Note 7 has made a real improvement over last year’s Note 5. It comes with 64 GB of internal storage instead of the S7’s 32 GB, which leaves you plenty of spaces for photos, videos and games. There’s also a spot for microSD card in the SIM tray that supports cards up to 256 GB. Display Note 7 has a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, running at the resolution of 2560×1440 pixels. Viewing and angles are superb. Though the screen is small

for fine arts, compared to a 10-inch tablets, it handles notes and drawing very well. With Note 7, you can sketch some really cool things.

Software Galaxy Note 7 runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow but will upgrade to Android Noughat down the line, according to the company. It has 4GB RAM and 2.15 GHz, 1.6 GHz, Quad-core processor. Power-saving modes have been updated. Samsung’s browser is also more powerful thanks to its

support for a QR-code reader and an ‘Amazon Assistant’. There aren’t a ton of preloaded apps now. The four desperate apps that Samsung used to package on the Note have been combined into a single Note app for all your writing.

Iris Scanner The most important new headline feature on the Note 7 is Iris Scanner which is used for hand-free unlocking.

It uses a special front facing IR camera array to scan your eyes and unlock your phone. This feature is handy, fast and accurate. Iris Scanner opens the device too easily on many occasion, but if you wear glasses, it may take much longer. You can also use a password, PIN, pattern or fingerprint in the place of Iris scanner to unlock the phone. Iris scanner can also be used to protect sensitive files or documents in a dedicated “Secure Folder”.

S Pen The updated S Pen separates the Note 7 from Samsung’s other devices and every other big phone. The improved S Pen is slightly slimmer and lighter than the last one. S Pen has a typical ballpoint pen size (0.7 mm) nib for more fluid writing and sketching. The new S Pen which can be used to jot down notes, draw pics or navigate the phone’s interface, is more comfortable compared to the previous one. You can actually write things on Note 7’s screen even under 5 feet of water for 30 minutes. With S Pen, one is able to magnify anything on the screen up to 300 percent.

S Pen can also be used to translate texts on screen from one language

to another using Google’s translate services. The translation aren’t much elegant though. Rather than sentences or paragraphs, this feature lets you translate only one word at a time.

GIFs are yet another S Pen feature.

The ‘Smart Select’ feature has been updated to let you create GIFs from any video in just a few taps. You can create GIFs from YouTube videos, add notes or stickers to it and then save it and share it right from your phone in just a matter of seconds.

Camera Note 7 has the same cameras (12 megapixel on the back and 5 megapixel up front) as the S7 and S7 Edge. It takes clear, bright, crisp photos in even the dark thanks to the size of pixels on its sensor. The Dual pixels camera setup makes it damned fast at focusing. Front camera is generally good too, but that’s way less interesting. In short, the Note 7 is very impressing and probably one of the best shooter we have used.

Battery Life Note 7 has 3500 mAh battery. It may not have the biggest in Samsung’s lineup but it’s still one of the best and lasts through a whole day of use.

Note 7’s battery is 17% larger than the battery in last year’s Note 5. It has a USB-C charger port that also charges up your other devices.

On the whole, Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is compelling, beautiful and functional smartphone that’s lets you do more in more places with bigger screens, more storage and better cameras.

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TRAVEL

SOUTH AFRICA: ‘A Rainbow Nation’

by FATIMA PATEL fatima@asian-standard.co.uk

Sadly, for most travelers, September marks the end of travel season. It’s back-to-school, back-to-work, backto-reality. But if you can buck the trend, you’ll find that September is when those with the savvy and the means pack their bags and embark on adventure.

So if you’re looking for that

Your journey into South Africa is perhaps one of the best experiences you will ever have. From history, culture, arts, dramatic landscapes, to activities, adventure and wildlife this beautiful land will most certainly

take your breath away.

Known for its wildlife adventures there are several national parks to visit, with the Kruger national park being one of the world’s greatest national parks. The diversity, density and sheer numbers of animals is almost unparalleled, and all of Africa’s iconic safari species – elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe, hippo and zebra – live out their dramatic days here, along with a supporting cast

of 137 other mammals and over 500 varieties of bird.

The landscape is on a grand scale, stretching over 19,485sq km, and although less in your face than the wildlife, it certainly has the power to charm. Beautiful granite kopjes (hills) pepper the bushveld in the south, the Lebombo Mountains rise from the savannah in the east, and the tropical forests cut across the far north.

Credit: Wikipedia

Kruger National Park

adventure then you can’t get more adventurous than South Africa. It’s spring time now in South Africa, where it’s cool and dry, perfect for hiking, birdwatching, animalspotting and so much more. So let’s explore…

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But what makes Kruger truly special is the access and opportunities it provides to you, the visitor. A vast network of roads are there to explore on your own (incredibly), guided wildlife activities are everywhere and accommodation is both plentiful and great value.

For the foodies amongst you have to visit a little Township in Cape Town called Andulela to try the Cape Malay cooking safari. It really is an amazing experience.

Then it’s time to follow our noses towards the scents of ginger, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, and chilli which drift tantalisingly from the storefronts and cafés, as we shop for ingredients to make a typical Cape Malay dish.

It’s “hands-on” during the informal cooking workshop which follows in a Bo-Kaap family home. Here we learn how to mix Masala, fold Samosas, and how to balance the delicate flavours of a Cape Malay curry.

Over a mug of faloodah (a traditional, lightly rose-scented

Then the best bit to sit back, relax, and appreciate your handwork as you dig in to a full course traditional Malay Meal.

If you’re like most people where just as you are about to end your travel and need to quickly grab some gifts for friends and family at home, you will enjoy visiting the Neighbourgoods market.

Claimed to be one of the best of the artisan goods markets in the area.

What’s great about the place is how like a supermarket each produce has its own area. Food and drinks are gathered in the main area where you can pick up groceries and gourmet goodies or just graze, while the separate Designer goods area hosts a must-buy selection of local fashions and accessories. Our advice though, would be to come early, so you don’t get caught up in with the bustling crowds later.

Kruger National Park Safari Lodges

With all holidays, we always advise travelers to try and book transportation in advance with reputable companies and wherever you can always try and use reputable tour guides. You get that right and South Africa will become and addicted destination.

It’s true what Archbishop Desmond Tutu says, Africa is truly a ‘Rainbow Nation’

Cape Malay cooking Safari

Credit: Neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za

Neighbour goods market

milk drink) our hostess and cooking instructor will tell you more about the ways in which food, history and religion are interwoven in the BoKaap culture.

Credit: SouthAfrica.net

The adventure begins at the Bo-Kaap Museum, where an intimate group of no more than ten people will meet to enjoy the photo exhibition, and get a feel for the history and tradition of the area. Your guide will lead you on a leisurely stroll through some of the more historic streets, giving you a chance to appreciate the extraordinary collection of pre-1840 architecture that resulted in this area being declared a national monument.

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NEWS

Halifax men convicted for money laundering of £1.25 million on eBay After a five-week trial at Bradford Crown Court, the defendants were both convicted for nine years each.

Ali pleaded guilty on one count of conspiracy to handle stolen goods, one count of entering or becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement and two counts of unauthorised use of a trade mark.

Halifax men jailed

Two Asian men from Halifax have been convicted of money laundering on eBay and sentenced to a total of eighteen years.

Amer Ali, aged 32 and Naveed Zaman, aged 30, both from Halifax, were sentenced to prison for money laundering of £1.25 million on the popular auction and selling site eBay. The conspiracy involved the sale of at least £460,00 worth of stolen items.

The money was laundered through PayPal accounts.

Ali, who orchestrated the plan was caught red-handed at his office based in Bradford. He was unloading computer monitors from a lorry into his office.

Zaman who was arrested in March 2012, was caught carrying £10,000 in his car. Detectives also found £65,000 in a holdall bag at his home.

The pair had also recruited other

people to aid them in their money scandal. These people used their eBay, PayPal and bank accounts to trade items that were stolen from curtain side trucks, nationwide.

Following Ali’s arrest in February 2015, the police found an “Aladdin’s Cave” of counterfeit goods from the office.

Zaman was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to handle stolen goods, five counts of entering or becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement and two counts of possessing criminal property.

The people that the pair had recruited, also pleaded guilty on similar counts.

Judge Roger Thomas QC made a fiveyear Serious Crime Prevention Order

against the pair to protect the public.

He said: “Judge Roger Thomas QC added, that despite the pair’s previous sentences, Ali was still masterminding a new conspiracy whilst serving his jail sentence.”

After the case concluded, Detective Constable Chapman commented: “Zaman and Ali were the masterminds behind this professional and sophisticated scheme, recruiting others who could be trusted in order to keep their own identity anonymous.

“This lengthy and complex investigation has attacked the criminality marshalled by Zaman and Ali and the respective sentences reflect the seriousness of their offending.”

More than 300 Nintendo DS games consoles and 500 Sony PlayStation Dual Shock controllers were seized.

The stolen property included several of bottles of perfume and garden furniture.

Detective Constable Tony Chapman and Detective Constable Ashley Nuttall of the Calderdale Police Proceeds of Crime Team conducted the lengthy four-year investigation. They found many stolen electronic items which were being sold on eBay, including televisions and computer monitors.

Office based in Bradford, where stolen goods were stashed.

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POLITICS

Review of immigration policy needed

by ITRAT BASHIR itrat@asian-standard.co.uk

British people have lost trust in the government’s competence on immigration and many feel that it will not meet the net migration

target, revealed a report released by think tank British Future.

The report, ‘What next after Brexit?

Immigration and integration in postreferendum Britain’, reveals that the public does not believe that the UK will meet its net migration target, even after leaving the EU. Only

around a third of people (37 percent) think we are likely to meet the net migration target in the next five years, even after Brexit, according to ICM polling. More think we are not likely (44 percent).

Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future said, said that when the net migration figures and the target remain so far apart, it’s no surprise the public has lost confidence in the Government’s competence on immigration.

“Prime Minister Theresa May will want to get away from the quarterly embarrassment of the net migration statistics now that she’s Prime Minister. The Brexit decision does offer her a ‘reset moment’ on immigration, as major policy changes are inevitable.

Theresa May

“We should start work on a Comprehensive Immigration Review by consulting the public on the choices they think we should make. That would be a first step towards an immigration policy that

is effective, fair and trusted by the public.”

The report calls for a Comprehensive Immigration Review, undertaken at the highest level of politics, to examine how migration can help provide the economy with the skills that it needs, as well as hearing the case for reductions in other areas. It also needs to consider family migration and public support for increasing the number of international students.

It also recommends increased investment in a system that works. It recommends improved funding for the Home Office to handle borders and immigration while coping with a higher workload as a result of Brexit.

It also calls for the government to honour a Conservative manifesto commitment for a fund to manage the local impacts of migration, particularly in areas of rapid population increase, focusing on housing, school places and pressures on NHS services.

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POLITICS

May preferred over Corbyn

by Labour parliamentarians: a survey

by ITRAT BASHIR itrat@asian-standard.co.uk

Jeremy Corbyn, who is in a pursuit of regaining his party leadership, is losing support of his MPs while Prime Minister Theresa May is seen as an impressive leader by many Labour parliamentarians, this is suggested by an annual Ipsos MORI survey.

According to the survey, Theresa May (25 percent) and David Cameron (26 percent) have been voted the most impressive parliamentarians by their fellow MPs. The Prime Minister and her predecessor top the leader board in an annual Ipsos MORI

survey which asks MPs to name the parliamentarian they find the most impressive.

This follows a general trend seen over the course of the survey of MPs naming their current party leader as the most impressive parliamentarian.

However, in contrast, mentions of the Labour party leader by Labour MPs have been in decline in recent years, and Jeremy Corbyn receives a record low number of mentions this year, with just one mention from a Conservative MP. A number of other Labour MPs came ahead of Mr Corbyn, including leadership

contender Owen Smith and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.

Interestingly, the MP seen as most impressive amongst Labour MPs is in fact Theresa May, receiving 35 percent of mentions.

The survey observed that reflecting his difficult relations with the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), Corbyn’s low number of mentions is in contrast to those of previous leaders Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband. Brown is the party leader who received the highest proportion of mentions amongst his own MPs over the course of the survey, receiving 60 percent of

Sadiq Khan condemns France’s ‘burkini ban’

by ITRAT BASHIR itrat@asian-standard.co.uk

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan had been very vocal in the past week by taking up two hot issues in which he made his position very clear: condemning the France’s ‘burkini ban’ and criticised Jeremy Corbyn for losing the trust of the British people.

Ahead of his Paris visit, the London Mayor told Evening Standard that “I’m quite firm on this. I don’t think anyone should tell women what they can and cannot wear.

Full stop. It’s as simple as that.”

He added that “I don’t think it is right. I’m not saying we’re perfect yet, but one of the joys of London is that we don’t simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it, and we celebrate it”.

“I do not think it is right. I am not saying we are perfect yet, but one of the joys of London is that we do not simply tolerate difference, we respect it, we embrace it, and we celebrate it,” he added.

Meanwhile, earlier in the week he urged the Labour members to ditch Corbyn and elect Owen Smith as their new party leader.

In his opinion, he lost trust and respect of both Labour MPs and people. Thus, he felt, the party cannot continue under prevailing circumstances.

mentions in summer 2007 (39 percent among all MPs).

Ben Page, Chief Executive, Ipsos MORI, said, “The latest results from our annual survey of MPs are frankly unprecedented. Never before has a party leader received such low ratings from fellow MPs, but it is not surprising given the difficulties Jeremy Corbyn has had with the PLP.”

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BUSINESS

UK economy grew 0.6% in second quarter

by ITRAT BASHIR itrat@asian-standard.co.uk

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics the economy grew over the second quarter aided by higher industrial production.

The UK economy grew 0.6% during a second quarter that concluded with the 23 June vote to leave the European Union, aided by the biggest uptick in industrial production since 1999, according to ONS. Reconfirming the preliminary data released on 27 July, ONS said on Friday (26 August), that second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) rose from 0.4% in the first three months of the year.

GDP was also up 2.2% on an annualised basis, in line with a Reuters’ analyst poll. Much of the growth was driven the country’s dominant services sector that grew 0.5% and the manufacturing sector which grew 1.8%, boosted by automobile and pharmaceuticals sector.

Households also did not hold back, as consumer spending rose by 0.9% in the three months to June compared with the prior three months; the highest increase since the third quarter of 2014.

On an annualised basis the rise equated to 3.0%, the highest since the first quarter of 2007.

Contrary to market expectations investment by businesses actually rose 0.5% in the three months to June, compared with the previous three months.

Joe Grice, ONS’ chief economist, said: “Today’s figures reinforce the picture that the economy grew strongly in April, and then remained relatively flat in May and June.

“Business Investment grew in the second quarter, partly thanks to companies spending on transport equipment such as cars and planes.

However, levels of investment remained lower than at the same period last year.”

Grice also said ONS survey returns, which include the period leading up to and immediately following the referendum, show no sign so far of uncertainty having “significantly affected investment or GDP.”

British investors adopt cautious approach after Brexit

by ITRAT BASHIR itrat@asian-standard.co.uk

After the historic referendum, the British investors took a cautious approach with their money and preferred to invest in fixed-income portfolios.

New monthly statistics of UK investor behaviour released by the Investment Association suggest that the investors withdrew £1 billion from investment funds in July and reinvested in to fixed income funds. In comparison there was an injection of £3.7 billion in investment funds in July last year.

Guy Sears, Interim Chief Executive of the Investment Association, said that “net retail sales were negative again in July with an outflow of £1 billion (0.11

percent of total assets). However, this was markedly lower than the outflow experienced in June. UK retail investors remained cautious as they sold out of equity and property funds, favouring fixed income, mixed-asset and absolute return strategies.”

“Although global equity markets initially fell following the EU referendum announcement, they recovered through July to produce positive returns. Bonds rallied and yields fell to record lows as investors sought safe assets and the market expected a rate cut from the Bank of England,” he added.

On the overall situation on investment funds, he gave a positive picture. “Funds under management of UK authorised funds increased by £40 billion in July to reach a record high of £989 billion, a 4 percent month-on-month increase.”

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BUSINESS

Metro Bank offers complimentary safe deposit boxes to Olympic medallists Metro Bank has today announced that it will be offering complimentary safe deposit boxes for all of Britain’s 2016 Olympic medallists.

According to a bank’s spokesperson, the high street bank is showing support for some of Britain’s leading sportsmen and women, by giving the winning athletes safe deposit boxes to store their medals securely, free of charge.

Commenting on the offer, Iain Kirkpatrick, Managing Director of Retail Banking at Metro Bank, said, “We are extremely proud of our incredible Team GB who have done us all proud at Rio this year, and I’d like to congratulate each of the participants.

“It’s a hard-earned dream come true to compete at the Olympics, and to show our support we are offering complimentary safe deposit boxes to all medallists. We hope that the gift will serve as a reminder to all the winners just how proud Britain is of Team GB.” Metro Bank will be contacting each medallist individually on their return to the UK to offer the free safe deposit box.

Monsoon Accessorize jobs could be at risk following decision to restructure High street retailer is planning to close over 100 stores as leases expire over the next five years as part of its restructuring plans.

The move could lead to hundreds of redundancies by the British high street retailer.

Reports indicate that the Londonbased company could close about 141 shops that have both the Monsoon and Accessorize brands under the same roof.

According to the Guardian the retailer is said to try to offset these closures by opening separate Monsoon and Accessorize stores with possible job losses.

The restructuring is said to be a reversal of the strategy introduced by the company’s former CEO John Browett.

He had believed in a crossover between Monsoon and Accessorize customers and expanded the number of stores that had both the brands under the same roof. Allen – who took over the lead role after Browett stepped down in 2015 –

now believes this strategy was wrong.

Monsoon Accessorize has about 5,500 employees in the UK across its 300 plus

stores. It is owned by Peter Simon, who started Monsoon in the 1970s. Today, he and his family are said to be worth more than £500m ($657.12m).

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BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Coconut Experts Crack the Dragons Den moment arrived in 2004 when he was sat on Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro sipping coconut water straight from the nut. He realised he could bottle the water and market it and went on from there to become the first in 2005, to start selling coconut water in the UK. After the first batch was sold he produced another 2,000 units and took them to a taste festival in Regents Park. He then let the public sample his coconut water and so began the process of finding the best tasting species of coconut for the UK palate. Cocofina won the coveted Excellence in Food and Drink Award in 2005 and has never looked back since.

An impressive back story, matched with an impressive pitch most certainly caught the attention of the dragons in the den.

Cocofina founder Jacob Thundill, with Operations Manager Manisha and Dragons Sarah and Nick

One of the most significant skills in business is knowing how to sell yourself or your ideas effectively. Your ‘pitch’ has to be perfect and executed professionally, to ensure you have given yourself the best possible chance of succeeding in your objectives. One such entrepreneur, who knows just how to pitch an idea, is Jacob Thundil, Chief Nut, resident coconut expert and Founder of multi awardwinning organic food brand Cocofina.

Standing up and pitching in front of any potential investor is daunting, but if you find yourself facing five of the most successful, formidable and potentially intimidating business people in the country then you’ve got a tough challenge to overcome. If you are also not used to standing up in front of the TV cameras, then this can certainly throw more tension into the mix, however for Jacob and Operations Director Manisha Solanki it was a winning situation where they received offers from ALL five dragons.

The pre-filming environment was challenging but Jacob remembers thinking to himself ‘but we sell coconuts right? So we need to stay chilled’ and with that they strode into the lift that led them into the den.

Watching back the TV footage, Jacob told Asian Standard that the footage made him look nervous but he wasn’t. He remembers being stood in front of the lift for eight minutes, before walking in. As an asthma sufferer those eight minutes were a long time and as a result made

Peter said to me the branding wasn’t up to scratch. But to me it was a ploy from him to negotiate. him look tense “I wasn’t nervous at all, as the questions are easy” Jacob said “When you do something from scratch and it’s your business you should be able to answer the questions, as you’re just telling it as it is.”

He explained Jacob Thundil, was raised in Kerala situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India and famous for its beautiful backwaters. Kerala has been called one of the ’10 paradises in the world’ and in Sanskrit it translates as ‘land of coconuts’ which is where Jacob began his journey of Cocofina.

Unsurprisingly Kerala is surrounded by coconuts and it was as a young boy that he would watch a farmer come to his parents home and harvest the coconuts from the palms. Any nuts surplus to requirements could be easily sold for a handsome sum. He quickly discovered them to be a highly sustainable crop as he grew to realise that every part of the coconut could be used in one form or another. The seed had been sown where it would lay dormant whilst he travelled outside of his homeland and continued his studies.

Outside of Kerala and wherever he travelled he just could not find any good quality coconut products. The lightbulb

All five dragons were interested to invest in return for 20 per cent equity which created some competition amongst them.

Jacob states ‘we wouldn’t have given away anything more than 10 per cent and I was adamant about that figure not rising.’ Ultimately the duo opted to say yes to the joint offer put forward by Sarah Willingham and Nick Jenkins. In exchange for an investment of £75K, a 20 per cent stake split down the middle was offered to the two dragons with an agreed option for Jacob to buy back 10 per cent after 12 months.

On asked why he didn’t accept Peter Jones’ offer, Jacob said “‘Peter said to me the branding wasn’t up to scratch. But to me it was a ploy from him to negotiate.

“I am happy with our branding, it represents natural product and is of high quality.” He continued “I find Sarah to be very pleasant and she is seriously into food and uses our product so she was perfect. Nick is someone who is very intelligent. We use amino in our products and he is a user of amino so he has advanced knowledge of the range so I know both Sarah and Nick will give the business the passion as well as investment it needs. Whereas, Peter does have a lot of contacts and so many other businesses, so I could just be a number in that chain” He related.

Cocofina now has a range of 30 products and is sold in 28 countries. The products are stocked at Harrods, Fenwick, Lakeland, Darts Farm, Newlyns, Bents, Cobbs, Blue Diamond Garden Centres, Flowerland, Daylesford Organic, Revital, As Nature Intended, Holland & Barrett, Planet Organic, via their online store at www.cocofina.com and in thousands of Independent and Speciality Health Stores.

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Money Talks

27

BUSINESS

with our finance expert

Shabab Gulfraz

Are final salary pensions always the best option for everyone?

One of the key benefits of a final salary pension is the guaranteed income it provides in retirement. This guaranteed amount will also increase in line with the specific scheme rules, which can differ from one arrangement to another, but it is usual for index linking and spouse benefits to be included. The schemes will also be protected by the Pension Protection Fund, in the event that the scheme provider is unable to meet its liabilities.

This protection is usually capped at a certain level, and is dependent on certain factors - is the scheme member retired, still contributing to the scheme or a deferred member?

As an adviser my starting point is that one should not move away from a defined benefit pension, unless there is a valid and justifiable reason that overrides the positive reasons for remaining within the scheme.

There have been press articles suggesting that some scheme providers have been encouraging members to transfer out of defined benefit schemes, into money purchase arrangements.

This is perhaps understandable as the scheme providers are trying to reduce their liabilities, and I have seen examples of individuals with a guaranteed annual pension of £35,000

at retirement being offered over £1m to come out of the scheme.

This is potentially a life changing sum that would be placed into a private pension arrangement, but is it the most appropriate course of action in your circumstances? In some cases the answer could be yes, but remember that once the guarantees are removed, the pension fund returns are subject to the vagaries of stock markets and interest rates – risks that you may find unacceptable. In addition, it is vitally important to consider how the scheme’s terms and conditions impact upon you and your family.

These terms and conditions could be very generous. For example if you are married, and in the event of your death the scheme guarantees to pay 75% of your pension to your spouse; then there is a strong argument to stay in the scheme. However, if your spouse has pre-deceased you, and you have no dependants (according to the scheme’s definition of a dependant) then the entire value of the pension might be lost on your death. If however you had transferred out of the defined benefit arrangement into a money purchase arrangement, then under current rules, on your death, this could pass to your

nominated beneficiaries, such as nondependent children.

The government has set some safeguards in place and if your defined benefit scheme has a transfer value beyond £30,000 then you must seek advice from a financial adviser who has specialist qualifications in pensions and is independent from your scheme.

A defined benefit might be the biggest asset you hold; therefore it is worthwhile taking advice from a specialist to discuss your individual circumstances further.

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LEGAL TALK

TAHIRA RAHMAN

Tahira Rahman is a practicing solicitor in the field of family law with a particular interest in the division of matrimonial assets and children matters. In her 11 years as a solicitor there is not much she hasn’t seen or steered her clients through

This is one of the most common questions I get asked in social settings or over dinner, usually after I’ve disclosed what I do for a living.

My answer is often as clear as mud, as there are so many variables to consider and each case is judged on its own merits. In addition to that, many cases never make it to court and those that do often settle at the doors of the court with a little wind and competent legal representation behind them. Very few cases actually end with court imposed judgements.

Basic facts about marriages and financial remedy cases Before you can file for a divorce you have to be married for a year and a day (believe me I have had clients seek advice after a month of married life – sad but true). The court will only consider an application for financial remedy after one or other party has filed for a divorce or judicial separation. Financial remedy applications are not standalone applications.

Divorce or judicial separation petitions are usually, but not always, filed by the party who seeks a financial remedy and no order can be made until a Decree Nisi has been pronounced, except where an application for interim maintenance is being considered.

Bearing the above in mind the straight answer to the above question is ‘no, you won’t lose half your assets the moment you get married, it will take a year at least for things to get interesting’.

Sadly, life is rarely that straight forward.

Reality of divorces and financial remedy cases which flow from them Usually the parties will have been married or have lived together, before getting married, for a while and often have a dependent child or children.

The courts in these circumstances have a difficult task ahead of them particularly where the finances of the family are limited. Let’s face it, it’s easier to maintain one household than two with competing needs on the same level of income. It is often said that the job of the courts, in these circumstances, is to equalise the misery of divorce or juridical separation.

The courts have set down a number of principles along which applications for financial remedy are decided. These are as follows: 1). Needs Cases The vast majority of cases fall in this category. These are by far the most difficult cases to resolve both for the courts and the legal representatives.

Effectively the courts are being asked to divide one household in two. Invariably this has the effect of reducing the living standards of both parties and/ or any child or children. Often it is the party who retains the primary care of the child or children who retains the family home and the other party (not the primary carer) who draws the short straw.

It is often said that the job of the courts is to equalise the misery of divorce or juridical separation The law relating to the division of matrimonial assets is largely discretionary and turns on the circumstances of each case and most crucially the needs of any dependent child or children.

Often, but not always, it is the woman who is the primary carer and consequently the family home is given to her and the children to occupy for a defined period, if the transfer of ownership cannot be achieved. This leads to the commonly held belief that the courts are biased in favour of women. The law is actually gender neutral.

2). Sharing Cases Marriage is a partnership of equals (generally speaking) and it’s fair to say that the law has evolved, since

1973 when the Matrimonial Causes Act came into force, and tries to achieve fairness where possible. This begs the question, “when is it possible to achieve fairness?” Well, it is possible to achieve fairness in cases where the needs of the parties and crucially any dependent child or children can be met with the resources available and there are still assets available for distribution.

In these circumstances, the principle of the ‘yardstick of equality’ will be employed by the courts.

In these types of cases the courts will more readily apply their discretion when confronted with the argument of ‘non-matrimonial assets’ for example, gifts, inheritance, lottery wins or premarital assets. These arguments can also hold some sway in cases involving short marriages (I would say under 5 years, although some would argue that this is long enough!).

3). Compensation Cases These cases are few and far between but these cases do make the national press and involve many millions of pounds. Awards in such cases are punitive in nature against the party they are made and are intended to compensate one party for giving up say, as in the case this question was posed, Miller v Miller, a high flying career to become a homemaker.

In that case the appeal court was asked to consider whether the wife’s maintenance should be increased to cover not only her reasonable needs but to also include an element of compensation for the disadvantage she had suffered as a result of giving up her career to become a homemaker. The court decided that, in that particular case, the wife should be compensated.

I must stress this was an exceptional case and the courts have placed limits on this principle since.

It’s the way forward Yaar

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OPINION

by ALISON BELLAMY alison@asian-standard.co.uk

He looked up to the ceiling and said ‘Almighty will provide’ My mum and I went to the cheapest discount store in our small northern town, to buy some cleaning stuff.

It is independently owned, always a plus point in my book, and boasts a swarming mass of high shelves packed full of brightly coloured plastic bowls, candles, ornaments, and an abundance of mops and cloths.

Plus they sell lots of cheap stuff, which most of us probably don’t even need; all just sitting there, begging to be bought.

already.

looking up said 'Almighty will provide,'

My mum suddenly turns all Jeremy Paxman and asked him if he knew anything about the cannabis factory upstairs and if not, how come he didn't know who was responsible for it.

My mum said: 'What you mean the cannabis?'

‘Did he know anything at all about it and while she was at it, did the staff not smell it?’

‘No’ he exclaimed. ‘I mean God’ Poor lad. Probably had already been endlessly quizzed about it by the police. I made my excuses and shuffled off to buy a purple mop.

It is in fierce competition with a nearby pound store, so the customer is always guaranteed a bargain.

It is in the building underneath where a hidden cannabis factory was discovered, which was in separate premises and not connected to the shop at all.

We go just a week after the dramatic police raid which was shared on social media.

We start talking to a handsome young man working there, he's about 18. He asks if we need help in choosing anything, as we were harping on about how cheap things are.

He comes from Afghanistan and he likes our surprised reaction. I’ve only really heard about the country on the news and from my friend at the BBC who once worked there at the peak of the troubles, and underwent a course, incase he was kidnapped.

The boy says he has a bullet hole in his thigh, which he will show us if we desire. He seems proud of the fact.

It is not everyday in our part of the first world that you meet someone with a bullet hole in their thigh, so we start talking. I want to know his story.

He is full of interesting chat, with a truly, lovely smile. I ask him about his childhood and if living in a small northern town in England is very different from his Afghani roots? Of course it is; but I know that

Goodness me, my usually mild mannered, laid back mother seems to have had some secret interrogation training from the Under Cover Drugs squad with some new style 'your in trouble with your mum' techniques thrown in.

He told us how they were all shocked and surprised about the discovery, but took it well. Nothing could phase this lad, and I kept wondering what he had been through in his homeland.

My mum then said that she was amazed they managed to make any profit, as everything was so darn cheap in the shop.

The lad pointed to the ceiling and

He was still smiling at us, shaking his head in amusement at the two women carrying mops, bowls and cloths we certainly didn’t need.

We never did get to see his bullet wound, but in a way did not need to. Our meeting has stayed with me and I am humbled and inspired by his happy outlook and contagious smile.

‘Be grateful’ is a saying I sometimes quote if feeling a bit down, and on this occasion was reminded that everyone has their own battle to cope with, but it all depends on how you deal with it.

‘Be grateful’ is a

saying I sometimes quote if feeling a bit down, and on this occasion was reminded that everyone has their own battle to cope with, but it all depends on how you deal with it.

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MOTORING

ASTON MARTIN ANNOUNCES VANQUISH ZAGATO VOLANTE AT PEBBLE BEACH

To accompany the North American debut of the Vanquish Zagato Coupe at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Aston Martin is proud to announce a striking partner for this very special car; the Vanquish Zagato Volante.

Driven by overwhelming customer interest for the previously revealed Coupe, the Vanquish Zagato Volante will be strictly built to a limited production run of 99 cars at Aston Martin’s headquarters in Gaydon, England.

Vanquish Zagato Volante is the latest creation from a collaboration that reaches back over nearly six decades, beginning with the beautifully muscular DB4 GT Zagato race car of 1960 and includes the DB7 Vantage Zagato of 2002, 2011’s V12 Vantage Zagato and the most recent Vanquish Zagato Coupe announced earlier this year.

Previous Aston Martin Zagato convertibles have included the striking V8 Vantage Volante, first shown in Geneva in 1987 and the DB AR1 in 2003.

Developed as an open-topped Zagatobodied DB7 and also limited to 99 units, DB AR1 was similarly designed for the North American market and is considered today an established collectible by automotive connoisseurs worldwide.

The Vanquish Zagato Volante will be a powerful addition to the Aston Martin and Zagato lineage, embodying Aston Martin’s inherent refinement and capabilities, as well as Zagato’s characteristic design details. Both cars share an enhanced version of Aston Martin’s iconic V12 powertrain, increasing its output to 592bhp with a projected 0-60mph time of 3.7 seconds.

The Vanquish Zagato Volante shares its proportions with the Coupe, a quintessential Aston Martin form with a classic Zagato twist, evoked

by round tail light reflectors that use the same ‘bladed’ LED technology as the Aston Martin Vulcan supercar.

The twin cowls on the rear deck blend into the leading edge of the luggage compartment, concealing a bespoke folding hood derived from the mechanism used in the Vanquish Volante. Carbon fibre sills around the lower body create a pronounced horizontal emphasis that runs from front to rear.

“Just like the Coupe, we have emphasised the way surfaces change and intersect to create a muscular form. We’ve endeavoured to create an elegant, flowing shape that really works to emphasise the car’s sculpted rear haunches,” says Aston Martin’s EVP and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman.

Inside, the Vanquish Zagato Volante continues the fine tradition of Aston Martin craftsmanship. Aston Martin’s specialist ‘Q’ division can add further

personalisation and enhancement to a cabin finished with rich and highly luxurious materials, including herringbone carbon-fibre, anodized bronze detailing and the finest Bridge of Weir leather. The Volante features the unique signature ‘Z’ quilt pattern stitch on both seat and door sections, as well as the celebrated trademark Zagato ‘Z’ embossed on the headrests and stitched into the centre console.

“The Vanquish Zagato Volante illustrates the ways in which Aston Martin design can evolve in collaboration with such a trusted and long-standing partner,” says Reichman. “Vanquish Zagato Volante continues Aston Martin’s new century of innovation and creativity, strengthening the association between these great automotive marques in the process.”

Customer deliveries are set to begin in 2017.

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MOTORS UK PRICING AND SPECIFICATION ANNOUNCED FOR NEW CITROËN C4 PICASSO & NEW GRAND C4 PICASSO Touch Edition, Feel and Flair, New C4 Picasso and Grand C4 Picasso both feature restyled exterior faces, a host of new interior trims, award winning engines, the latest generation connectivity and driver assistance technology.

S&S 6-speed manual offering better fuel economy, and CO2 emissions plus a

uniquely pleasurable driving experience

Priced from £19,635 OTR for New C4 Picasso and £21,935 OTR for New Grand C4 Picasso

New C4 Picasso range boasts a distinctively Citroën front end, new lighting surrounds and 3D effect rear lights The class-leading interior space offers greater personalisation possibilities, with four interior ambiances and three new trim levels: Touch Edition, Feel and Flair New C4 Picasso and New Grand C4 Picasso will be on sale in the UK from 1 September, with prices starting from £19,635 ORT and £21,935 OTR respectively.

With 19,700 C4 Picassos and 25,700 Grand C4 Picassos

registered in the UK since 2013, the latest generation 5-seat Citroën C4 Picasso and the larger 7-seat Grand C4 Picasso look to build on the success associated with this class leading MPV model.

Available in three trim levels;

Latest generation connectivity with upgraded touch screen Citroën Connect Nav and new intuitive technologies including a Hands-Free Tailgate Two new petrol engines: PureTech 130 S&S EAT6 automatic and a PureTech 110

KIA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST PLUG-IN HYBRID, THE OPTIMA PHEV Kia’s mission to lower the average CO2 emissions of its range by 25 per cent before the end of the decade is given a boost with the launch of the company’s first plug-in hybrid model, the Optima PHEV. It is priced at £31,495 after taking into account the Government’s £2,500 plug-in car grant.

With a range of up to 33 miles in all-electric mode, the Optima PHEV is able to complete many regular urban commuter runs with no tailpipe emissions, while its CO2 figure of just 37g/km means company car users pay just 7 per cent benefit-in-kind taxation in 2016-17.

The Optima PHEV combines a 154bhp 2.0-litre direct injection petrol engine with a 50kW (67bhp) electric motor powered by a 9.8kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack. The electric

motor replaces the torque converter in the smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. When working together, the combustion engine and motor generate 202bhp and 375Nm of torque.

A package of aerodynamic, styling and technology features contributes towards the Optima PHEV’s low CO2emissions and potential fuel economy of up to 176.6mpg while ensuring it is instantly recognisable as the high-efficiency model in the Optima range. The most significant aerodynamic change is an active air flap grille which lowers the car’s drag co-efficient (Cd) to 0.25 when closed.

The neat integration of the batteries behind the rear seat and in the spare wheel well, along with a 15-litre reduction in the car’s petrol tank, means the Optima PHEV is still able to

Technical Details Model

Power bhp (total)

Torque Nm (total)

0 - 60 secs

Max speed mph

Average mpg

C02 g/km

2.0 plug-in hybrid

202

372

9.1

119

176.6

37

Pricing Model

Price

2.0 plug-in hybrid

£31,495*

*After Government £2,500 plug-in car grant

offer a generous 307 litres of luggage space.

The Optima PHEV is a unique, extensively equipped stand-alone model in the Optima range. Naturally, such a technologically advanced member of the Optima family comes with a comprehensive range of standard connectivity and advanced driver assistance features, including an 8.0inch touch-screen navigation system with European mapping, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (available later in the production run), Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom®, a wireless mobile phone charger, a 270o around-view monitor and a 10-speaker harman/kardon Premium Sound audio system with Clari-Fi technology to restore the sound lost when digital music files are heavily compressed.

Active safety provisions include

Electronic Stability Control, Vehicle Stability Management and Hill-start Assist Control.

The Optima PHEV also features 17-inch alloy wheels shod with 215/55 R17 tyres, LED daytime running lights and headlights – the latter with automatic levelling – welcome and follow-mehome lighting, black cloth and faux leather seats with four-way powered lumbar adjustment on the driver’s side, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera integrated into the navigation screen, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, a leather-trimmed

steering wheel and gearshifter, steering wheel mounted controls, all-round electric windows, cruise control with a speed limiter, remote central locking and an electronic parking brake.

Uniquely in the Optima range, it has bespoke low-drag front and rear bumpers, the active air-flap grille, a blue tint to the headlights, blue chrome trim on the lower front air intake, upper grille and side sills and the exclusive navigation screen with a series of menus which help the driver to achieve the highest possible range in EV mode.

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PUZZLES & CROSSWORD

Crossword

Wordsearch Cookery Terms

Answers

Spot the Difference Can you spot the 10 differences?

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JOBS

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Are you a self-starter, ambitious, self-motivator, have the hunger to achieve and increase earning potential?

Hours of Work: Negotiable Salary: Basic+Commission+ Expenses+Pension

Then our Managers at Asian Standard want to hear from you A position has become available for Business Development Manager to help sell our services to Business clients.

You must have a minimum of one year’s experience selling to B2B customers. You must possess excellent communication skills and be educated to a minimum of 5 GCSE’s at grade C or above and have a can do attitude. You will be required to travel nationally and will be required to meet targets.

For the right candidate full training will be given.

To apply or for more information email a covering letter with your CV to jobs@asian-standard.co.uk with BDM in the subject field or post to: RF Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor,18 East Parade, Bradford, BD1 5EE T. 0333 577 0046

REPORTERS/JOURNALISTS

Hours: 30 hours per week Pay: As per NUJ guidelines and experience. Pension scheme plus other perks

Asian Standard is a new weekly newspaper from the same publishers of Asian Sunday and Asian Style.

Due to our expansion we are looking for journalists/reporters to join our energetic team in Bradford.

You will have all your preliminary qualifications, including 100 wpm shorthand. The ideal candidates will have knowledge of Asian Communities living in the UK along with business and lifestyle.

according to NUJ guidelines and based on experience.

We have a cracking news patch here and we want enthusiastic reporters who will get out and about bringing in exclusive stories and getting into the heart of our communities.

We are an equal opportunities employer and therefore accept applications from all backgrounds.

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To apply send your CV with a covering letter to editor@asian-standard. co.uk or post to:

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DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA ASSISTANT

Hours: 30 hours per week Pay: Based on experience Pension plus other perks Media is a very fast paced industry, and with more and more people preferring to read news online, a role for a digital and social media

assistant has become available.

media posts

We are looking for someone who has experience in creating content for social media and our websites as well as experience in social media strategy and campaign delivery.

• Coordination of social media campaigns

The Digital & Social Media Assistant will be responsible for: • Creating and commissioning content across the business for social media and web platforms • Daily strategic planning of social

• Experience managing social media platforms • Photography & video experience

• Filming and photography work, including video/imagery editing

• Knowledge of HTML and CMS (Drupal)

• Assist in social media training for internal staff members

• Self-starter attitude

The successful Digital & Social Media Assistant will possess: • Journalism skills, ability to create & edit content for digital purposes

To apply simply send in your CV plus samples of work to editor@ asian-standard.co.uk or post to RF Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor, 18 East Parade, Bradford, BD1 5EE

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latest FREE weekly newspaper to our portfolio.

Pay: Voluntary first year. Thereafter £150 per day plus expenses Number of positions: 6 RF Publishing Ltd, is the publisher of Asian Sunday, Asian Style magazine and a new weekly title Asian Standard. Asian Sunday was launched in 2011 as Britain’s leading and first FREE Sunday newspaper, with a particular focus on British Asian news, for British born South Asians, with a view to reaching out to the wider community. We then relaunched the successful Asian Style Magazine in January 2016 and then added Asian Standard as the

After five successful years, we want to ensure we continue leading as Britain’s to go to Asian media when it comes to British Asian news.

As leading ethnic media publishers, we want to ensure our media teams are always reporting responsibly and accurately as well as being at the forefront of breaking news. Therefore, we are now looking to recruit a non-executive team to help steer our media team in the right direction.

We are looking for individuals who have a passion for community and want to help make a difference by guiding and steering our media relations and media reporting in the right direction.

We are looking for individuals who have a passion for news and are committed to developing responsible relationships with our partners, key

stakeholders, as well as Directors and to help us build trust with our readership with factual, responsible and independent reporting

analytical ability; and the capacity and temperament to work in an open, inclusive and collaborative environment.

The appointed candidate(s) will be expected to contribute to the strategic development and direction of our publications, oversee the development and review of key performance targets, ensure the publication complies with its statutory requirements and ensure that a high standard of corporate governance is observed at all times.

Candidates who are able to offer advice to senior management on a range of general management issues, such as HR matters and management best practice would be advantageous.

Previous experience as a NonExecutive Director is not essential but an aptitude for strategic thinking, the ability to work as part of a team and a commitment to our publications objectives are.

We are looking for candidates with a background in business, HR, finance, law, training above all with the ability to perform at Board level.

Candidates must also be able to demonstrate: integrity and a commitment to transparency of decision-making; effective communication, influencing and inter-personal skills; high level of

Applications are welcome from individuals of any background, gender and disabled people who are able to make a real contribution to this organisation.

Members are expected to attend quarterly board meeting and to participate in additional meetings, conference calls and sit on ad hoc committees from time to time. Most meetings take place in the evening.

Interested candidates should submit a CV to board@asian-standard.co.uk with a covering letter explaining why you believe you are suitable for the role.

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JOBS

NON-EXECUTIVE MEMBERS

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SPORTS

County Championship Review:

Middlesex Looking to Take the Championship ‘Home’

Credit: Middlesexcc.com

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Middlesex near ‘untouchable’ over the past two seasons

by AYYAZ MALIK ayyaz@asian-standard.co.uk

After a very difficult week for Yorkshire’s cricketers where they were knocked out of two domestic semifinals, their attentions will now have to turn to the four-day game as they look to win a third successive County Championship crown.

Andrew Gayle’s men have been near to ‘untouchable’ over the past two seasons in the four-day game and will look to try and salvage something of

a season that has led to two heartbreaking moments within a week.

The Tykes first lost out to Durham Dynamos in the Natwest T20 Blast semi-final and then only Saturday 28th August they were beaten by Surrey in the semi-final of the Royal London One-Day Cup in a match that they should have and could have won.

In this season’s County Championship, the Yorkshire-men haven’t had things their own way, the Championship table is currently being led by Middlesex, Yorkshire are only five points behind their London rivals

however, so the men from the North have every chance of bridging this gap.

Both sides arguably have ‘easy’ run-ins as both sides face teams that are below them in the County Championship table, but at this stage of the season when there’s a title at stake arguably there’s no such thing as an ‘easy’ game.

If beggars could be choosers then arguably you would want to be in the Middlesex camp at this stage of the season as they do have the five point lead. With the last game of the

season seeing Yorkshire going to Lords (Middlesex) on 20th September then it’s fair to say it’s anyone’s game, the match between the top two could end up being a winner takes all match.

Yorkshire have been in this situation (the title run-in) many times before of course as they are two time defending champions so maybe that could give them an edge coming into this game but as we have seen on so many occasions in this particular sporting year, reputations have counted for very little. Maybe that very point could give Middlesex the hope they need to be County Champions.

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SPORTS

Taking The Nici Nico Rosberg breathed some life into his title bid after overcoming a very spirited fightback from his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Englishman Hamilton coming into the race was rocked by the news that he would be receiving a 55point penalty for a mixture of reasons such as unlawful changes to his Mercedes engine.

To put things into a clearer perspective, Hamilton who before the summer break had put his title ambitions back on track by leading the championship after initially failing to win the first three races, had to start right at the back of the grid in

twenty-first place.

The 31-year-old has been the man to beat over the past two seasons, after all, the former McLaren driver is a two-time defending champion. The race in Belgium, however, seemed to be over for Lewis Hamilton before it had even started, due to the Brits penalty he incurred before the race had even began.

Other drivers might have ‘given up’ in Lewis Hamilton’s situation, but to his credit Hamilton admirably fought back from 21st position on the grid to eventually finish 3rd. Although that

result might not have been the result he wanted, at least he is still leading the championship, all be it by nine points.

Nico Rosberg is was then who won in Belgium with Daniel Ricciardo finishing in second and of course Lewis Hamilton in third. After these round of results, it only emphasises the point that the race for this year’s world championship is far from over.

Nico Rosberg

The next race will be at Italy’s Monza circuit with testing starting on 2 September, the race itself will be on 4 September.

Cheema Looking to Walk The Walk Against O’Neil After an impressive win for Lancashire fighter Shoaib Yusuf at the recent IMMAF championships in Las Vegas, British Mixed Martial Arts is getting itself well and truly on the map. The amount of British Asian participants in MMA is also starting to increase.

Here at Asian Standard we have kept you up to date with Asian talents Shoaib Yusuf, Faisal Ali and Junaid Cheema to name some, but here we take a look at another fighter from the Cheema family, Furqan Cheema.

Furqan who is one of the younger of the Cheema brothers will be in action in September where he will be competing against Gareth O’Neil for the AMMY Welterweight title. Cheema is undefeated in his career to date and no doubt this fight in September will be a step up in class to what he has faced in his career to date.

To emphasise the challenge ahead for Huddersfield fighter Cheema, O’Neil will

The amount of British Asian participants in MMA is starting to increase be representing IFS Belfast, IFS MMA is one of the best teams in Ireland and have seen 23 champions to date. Furqan Cheema though however is unbeaten himself in his first six fights and trains at the KBW gym which is seen by many within MMA as one of the best in UK sport. The fight between these two men (Gareth O’Neil and Furqan Cheema), which promises to be a good one will be on the Solid Impact show on Saturday 24 September at Victoria Hall in Keighley, Yorkshire.

Asian Standard will be keeping you up to date with all the on-goings of British Asians within the MMA scene.

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SPORTS

Transfer Window Review: Is Arsene Gunner Spend?

by AYYAZ MALIK ayyaz@asian-standard.co.uk

The world of women’s tennis is in shock after news emerged that the women’s doubles pairing of Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza have decided to go their separate ways. The 29-year old Indian Mirza and the 36-year old Swiss Hingis, have pretty much won all the grand slam tournaments on the ATP tour.

This season, however, the Indi-Swiss team haven’t been able to maintain the kind of form that they did last season. Sania Mirza after splitting from Martina Hingis will pair up with Barbora Strycova of the United States of America and Hingis will pair up with Coco Vandeweghe of the Czech Republic. The pair (Mirza and Hingis) had been together for the best of part of two years.

Sania and Martina had enjoyed two years of unparalleled success, in fact for Martina Hingis she has also enjoyed success with Sania Mirza’s compatriot Leander Paes in the mixed doubles as well. Hingis’ success with both of India’s top tennis players, is no doubt a sign of how much the Indian game is improving.

Mirza will partner Rohan Bopanna in the mixed doubles at Rio 2016, with their first match to be played on Wednesday 9th August. Their opponents have yet to be confirmed at this stage.

As sad as it maybe for the Indian sporting world, the news of the breakup of Indian player and Mirza and Swiss play Hingis partnership, only reiterates one thing, all good things must come to an end.

Rehan The Man for Burton

by AYYAZ MALIK

ayyaz@asian-standard.co.uk

by AYYAZ After producing one MALIK of the best Premier League seasons in years, ayyaz@asian-standard.co.uk this current season is well and truly underway. After East Midlands club It’s been something that the Asian Leicester City shocked the footballing community been plagued with world to winhas their maiden Premier for far too long, lack of ‘big Asian’s League title, football’s boys’ participating in football, the UK in decided that they have toinopen up the any capacity.toThere have been some chequebook try and wrestle back quality Asian players thehave British their dominance that in they on circuit overdomestic the years, with players England’s league for over a such as Zeeshan Rehman and Adnan decade.

Ahmed to name just a couple.

As shocking as The Foxes title win was Ever since what both of these players have last term, was arguably more retired in was Rehman’s case or taken shocking the players that theya different career in their Ahmed’s had recruited tochoice achieve title case, there hasn’tlike been another player success.

Players Riyadh Mahrez, or players to take Asian football Jamie Vardy and of course N’Golo forward.

Kante were recruited for less than £10 million.

Hopefully, there are signs that’s about to change.

Lancashire based coach Mahrez and Vardy have of course Majid Shafiq is one coach who, after been at Leicester for several seasons working Karachi in now, butwith in the case ofElectric Frenchman Pakistan doing something help Kante, heiswas plucked out ofto relative increase of Asian obscuritythe in participation the French league. footballers.

Claudio Ranieri’s men have put the As good as the work, that Shafiq is doing, more is needed. With news

rest of the Premier League on notice since.

signings of Diego Nolito, Leroy Sane and John Stones.

transfer dealings at Stamford Bridge before the window shuts.

One of the sides who reacted the Nottingham Rehan Mirza is quickest andbased most decisive to Leicester going coach Championship side City’s to shock title win was Manchester Burton Hove Albion 15’s United. and United ended up Under sacking team this isLouis hopefully another Dutchman Van Gaal andsign of encouragement.

Surely will help replacing him with Josethis Mourinho encourage more Asian youngsters as well as signing a whole host of to haveclass moretalent, confidence in their world breaking the world potentially ‘hidden talent’. transfer record in the process.

Just like rivals United, City also boast aofUEFA Licence coaching badge. a 100Aper cent record in the Premier League. Although Pep’s side wasn’t Rehan has surgery also worked abroad in needMirza of major like Man after spending in Pakistan United’s is, the time Catalan coach’s mere with the aim to help improve the presence seems to have rejuvenated football standard in the Country. As The Citizens this season. encouraging as this is for Asian’s, one would hope that there be more Not wanting to feel leftwould behind, Asian’s at a higher level. If Premiercoaching League winners of two that wasn’t has also seasons agoenough ChelseaRehan also decided conducted coaching sessions atFirst St to make some reinforcements.

George’s in Burton.

The BluesPark decided to appoint former Juventus boss Antonio Conte as boss.

If you look atofthe example of Batashuyi Thierry The signing striker Michi Henry who glittered playing followed ashad wellaas the signing of one career, even the having of the players ofFrenchman last season,isN’Golo to workfrom his way up the coaching Knate Premier League winners ranks.

The former Juventus, Arsenal Leicester. and Barcelona striker was to be the assistant manager of the Gunners’ Just like the two Manchester clubs under 18 also side,have but will now to they too a 100 perlook cent forge a coaching elsewhere record.

Unlike thecareer Manchester clubs, after Arsenal bossChelsea Arsene are Wenger however, Conte’s in need personally rebuffed the suggestion. of a few signings, mainly in central defence. A bid for Napoli defender Here is an examplehas that in the world Kalidou Koulibaly been turned of coaching, or any forof down and with just profession two days left that matter, you don’tbefore get to itthe top, the transfer window shuts, without from thesee bottom. don’t be working surprised if you some

Other sides that have been active in the transfer window have been Tottenham who have added a striker in Vincent Janssen and a defensive midfielder in Victor Wanyama. Both players were needed as both are arguably areas that Spurs needed to improve in if they are to improve on their third place finish of last season.

The Red Devils in their quest for an unprecedented 21st domestic league title signed Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Makathariyan, Eric Bailly and of course Paul Pogba for a world record fee. Early signs have been good from Jose’s men as they are one of only three teams with a 100 per cent record in the Premier League.

As good as those signings have been for The Reds, ensuring he can keep all of his stars happy is going to be a real challenge.

Cross-city rivals Crystal Palace have managed to secure the high-profile capture of Christian Benteke from Liverpool to try and boost their fortunes for this season. Talking of Liverpool, The Reds have captured two high-profile signings in the form of Sadio Mane and Georginho Wijnaldum, but arguably look short communities.

Speaking to Asian in defence after a difficult start to the Standard season. he said:

“One thing I do left findback is that we be A good quality would need mentors the game needed beforewithin the window shuts, who are qualified coaching otherwise, it couldinbe a long season qualifications.

Withmen. proper guidance, Not wanting to get left behind, crossfor Jurgen Klopp’s we can generate more youngsters 48-year oldManchester Mirza who is a very city rivals City secured to understand better and experienced has worked the services coach of much sought after Another team the thatgame is in desperate develop, whilst inisthe hands So of some tirelessly improve the standard managerto Pep Guardiola and also need of signings Arsenal. many of these coaches.

I do feel that the of footballsecured in his local of le of managed the area high-profi times over the years, manager Arsene notion about football within our Nottingham and can also boast of Asian community is somewhat tilted Rehan is keen to develop and coach being well on his way to qualifying for Published by RF Publishing Ltd, 1talent Edmund Street, Bradford, BD5 1HAtowards Company Reg work, No. 9615401 youth when it should football from ethnic minority Published by RF Publishing Ltd, 1 Edmund Street, Bradford, BD5 1HA Company Reg No. 9615401

Wenger has failed to identify the weaknesses of his Arsenal side, but with the news that two new signings are imminent maybe there’s room for optimism at the Emirates.

German centre-back Mustafa from Valencia and striker Lucas Perez are both imminent arrivals in a £52 million deal. Too little too late maybe for Arsenal? Only time will tell. One thing is for certain, this transfer window has seen even more money change hands than the following year.

What makes a refreshing change is that it’s not just the ‘big boys’ spending the cash. Leicester have strengthened with the signings of Ahmed Musa and Nampalys Mendy and teams like Bournemouth have strengthened with the signing Jordan be Ibe.geared towards looking at it as a professional industry. The fault here is that game understanding Will this vast spending make a becomes nothingof is the differencelimited to the and destination delivered from antitle elite orthis advanced Premier League for year? perspective. from Nottingham, It appears toBeing be seen, but one thing Ithat haveisseen this problem up for certain is thatcome the Premier many times.

Youth centres, League is becoming more ofMosques an even and community take first playing field andgroups that’s what makes it lead on football programmes and arguably the best league in the world. title programmes as that of drug awareness, social interaction, crime prevention when it SHOULD be more about football development”.