Asian Standard issue 20 by Asian Standard News

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By the publishers of Asian Sunday

Issue 20 | 04 - 09 April 2017

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MEET THE MAN WHO GAVE SO MUCH TO SO MANY PEOPLE Read more on pages 6 & 7

s6&7

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CONTACT US Asian Standard Newspaper 1st Floor, 18 East Parade, Bradford, BD1 5EE National Enquiries: 0333 577 0046 London : 0207 164 6047 Bradford : 01274 735 657 ADVERTISING & SALES sales@asiansunday.co.uk NEWS newsdesk@asiansunday.co.uk EDITOR Editor@asiansunday.co.uk ADMINISTRATOR Shazia Ashraf PUBLISHER RF Publishing Ltd DESIGN & ARTWORK Sunil Panchal REPORTERS Mo Bhana Ayesha Babar Itrat Bashir Raheema Khan CONTRIBUTORS Luke Patel Shabab Gulfraz PHOTOGRAPHY Riaz Ahmed SOCIAL - MEDIA Shazia Ashraf ACCOUNTS Barry Smith www.asian-standard.co.uk Join us on Facebook/AsianStandard Twitter @Asian_Standard Youtube @ AS TV

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Pee Wee Pumps: High heels for babies spark outrage A US footwear company has sparked outrage among consumers and campaign groups over a range of high heeled shoes for babies. Pee Wee Pumps, which makes soft shoes for infants, describes its products as "cool" and "diva defining". But pictures of the fashion range posted online have led to criticism on social media sites. The shoes, which have collapsible heels and pointed toes, are available for infants up to six months old. In the latest post on the company's Facebook page, an infant in heels sits astride a miniature motorbike with the caption: "This little #Diva, defining cool posing in her #PeeWeePumps." The image was criticised by a number the site's users, who suggested it was "wrong" and "disgusting" to portray infants in such a way. It comes amid growing concern at what is seen as the sexualisation of children. Other promotional images for Pee Wee Pumps products include babies wearing bead necklaces, sequin dresses and tutus. The range of shoes, which features styles made from red satin and leopardskin material, have repeatedly met mixed responses from Facebook users. Whilst some comments from users

described the pumps as 'horrid' and that people should avoid the brand. Another said that "promoting products for babies this way is just sick". However, some users left positive comments, such as remarking how the shoes made the infants

"look adorable". "Too cute," The Pee Wee Pumps website displays a range of designs, labelled "Swanky", "Wild Child" and "Diva". "She'll make a statement in this bold, red hue," reads the product description alongside a design labelled "Sassy".

Pee Wee Pumps is based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The founder, Michele Holbrook, wrote in a statement on the company website that her products "are not intended for walking, but rather to meet the current and ever-growing popular demand for 'high-fashion' in infant apparel".

Parliament Square to get its first ever female statue

A statue of a leading figure in the campaign to win women the vote is to be erected in Parliament Square in London.

Suffragist Millicent Fawcett, who led the campaign for women’s votes in 1866, will be the first woman to be honoured in this way. Her statue will stand alongside the likes of Sir Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela. The statue will form part of celebrations to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which was introduced thanks to Ms Fawcett’s campaigning and which first gave some women the right to

vote, the Government said.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: ‘The example Millicent Fawcett set during the struggle for equality continues to inspire the battle against the burning injustices of today. ‘It is right and proper that she is honoured in Parliament Square alongside former leaders who changed our country.

Sam Smethers said: ‘We are delighted that Millicent Fawcett, the woman who led the constitutional campaign for votes for women, will finally be honoured. ‘A statue of her in Parliament Square will be a fitting tribute. Her contribution was great but she has been overlooked and unrecognised until now.

‘By honouring her we also honour the wider suffrage movement.’ ‘Her statue will stand as a reminder In 1866 Ms Fawcett began leading a of how politics only has value if it mass campaign to get women the vote, works for everyone in society.’ using peaceful methods to achieve Fawcett Society chief executive women’s suffrage.

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NEWS

New pyramid discovered in Egypt which was built 3,700 years ago A new pyramid has been discovered in Egypt - dating from 3,700 years ago. The remains of the 13th dynasty pyramid were discovered today in Dahshur just north of the famous Bent Pyramid. The find was accompanied by a 15cm by 17cm alabaster block - engraved with 10 vertical hieroglyphic lines - as well as a granite lintel and a collection of stone blocks showing the interior design of the pyramid. The site, located south of Cairo, was being examined by an Egyptian archaeological mission when the pyramid was uncovered. Local media have discovered the remains found as "in very good condition". The pyramid would have been built about 1,700 BC. The most famous pyramids of Giza were built around 2,500 BC.

Christopher Holyoake died in 2015. The Leicester-man’s bedding was covered in flammable residue and when his lighter came into contact he stood little chance of escaping the fire.

Other products like Cetraben have been linked to fire deaths. John Hills, 84, died in a nursing home in Sussex after his pipe came into contact with clothes that had traces of the product in them. In London 28 deaths were linked to paraffin creams. John Smith, chief executive of the Proprietary Association of Great Britain told the BBC some manufacturers had already put a warning on all paraffin-based creams. He also insisted that the creams were ‘appropriately safe’. E45 said: ‘All our labelling is compliant with regulatory guidelines, approved by external Corridor of the new pyramid

Tablet with writing on

According to a study, like plastic bags there should be a fee for coffee cups

Charging coffee lovers for every disposable cup they use could cut the number thrown away in the UK by up to 300 million every year, new research suggests. Britain’s coffee addiction is creating an estimated 25,000 tons of waste with 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups used in the UK each year, according to a study by Cardiff University commissioned by the coffee roaster Bewley’s. The study, conducted from September to December 2016, tested how the use of re-usable coffee cups could be encouraged. A dozen universities and businesses, including Imperial College London, took part by tracking behaviour. Most importantly, it found that although a 25p charge on disposable cups increased the use of them, a discount on those same cups – which is a policy currently used by Starbucks and Costa – had no impact on their usage. Overall, a charge on disposable cups increased the use of re-usable coffee cups by 3.4 per cent, while environmental messaging in cafes increased the use of re-usable

coffee cups by 2.3 per cent. The availability of re-usable cups led to an increase of 2.5 per cent and the distribution of free re-usable cups led to a further increase of 4.3 per cent. “There is an important nuance when it comes to financial incentives,” Professor Wouter Poortinga, who authored the report, said. “People are far more sensitive to losses than to gains when making decisions – so if we really want to change a customer’s behaviour then a charge on a disposable cup is more likely to be effective,” he added. Chris Stemman, executive director of the

British Coffee Association, said: “Holisticand in-depth research, such as this newstudy, is vital so that as an industry we invest in the right technologies that will enable us to enhance the recyclability of coffee cups and better understand what will influence consumers to recycle more widely. “Our focus is to create long term sustainability and a circular economy within the coffee industry. We believe that developing new packaging materials and enhancing recycling processes and infrastructures will have a significantly greater and longer-term impact compared with other proposed measures such as charging or taxing disposable cups.”

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Dad found guilty of killing his baby son after attempting to blame the murder on another child by STAFF REPORTER

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A father who attempted to blame a young child for the death of his baby has been found guilty of the tot’s murder. Mohammed Miah, 37, was found guilty of killing his 13-week-old child after he was born with a deformity. The baby’s mother, Rebeka Nazmin, 32, was cleared of murder but found guilty of causing or allowing the death of her baby and causing him suffering. The court heard that baby Rifat’s mother called 999 after he was found lifeless on the floor of the family home in St Leonard’s Road, in East London on July 4 last year. Baby Rifat was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital but sadly died the following day from brain injuries. The court heard the toddler has been either severely shaken or hit against a hard surface. An examination of his body revealed 38 rib fractures, 8 fractures to his legs and a broken spine from being squeezed or pulled. The baby was also hit with the cord of a mobile phone charger and burned on a radiator, the trial heard. The court was told how both parents tried to blame Rifat’s death on another child. In an interview with police, the child said Nazmin had instructed him to shake Rifat and flick water on his face in an apparent attempt to throw suspicion away from her husband.

Guilty:Mohammed Miah Under cross-examination by video link, the primary-school age child, who cannot be identified, told jurors: “I see Rifat in the corner, red and hot, then doing something, then he just lies there doing nothing. He didn’t even wake up. “I felt his head if he had temperature. I told (Nazmin) about it and she said I should shake him or put water on him. If he wakes, he’s fine. If not, I will have to call the ambulance.” Following Rifat’s death, Nazmin also said her husband had a problem with their baby’s deformed hand and

ear, saying he might have abused him because of it. She was heard to say: “He killed my baby. Tell his dad he has died, that’s what he wants.” Giving evidence, Miah denied hurting his baby son, saying that children “mean the world to me”. Speaking after the verdict was delivered, Det Insp Ken Hughes said: “We may never know why a mother and father inflicted such terrible injuries on their own small baby. “Even if we had that knowledge, I am not

Rebeka Nazmin

sure we could ever understand. “This baby should have been protected and loved; instead he lived with hurt, indifference and brutality. I am glad that these two have been called to account for their actions and now face the consequences of their cruelty. "While nothing can mitigate the consequences of this dreadful crime, I would ask any parents struggling to manage to understand that seeking help is nothing to be ashamed of. Early intervention can help a family cope and organisations and charities, such as the NSPCC, will offer both advice and support."

Dad shopped by his own daughter for stealing knickers A disgraced dad was caught stealing a bag full of knickers from Debenhams - by his own daughter. His daughter, who worked at the store, spotted him and alerted security staff. Drug addict Neirmal Singh, 49, targeted a branch of the department store as part of a shoplifting spree which lasted more than six months. Bristol Crown Court heard his estranged daughter pointed him out and he was found with a backpack stuffed with stolen knickers. Prosecutor, Mark Worsley, said in June last year Singh went to Tesco Metro in Staple Hill and stole £43 worth of meat and dishwasher tablets without paying. The following month he went to Debenhams where he was shopped, by his own daughter after she saw him and alerted security staff who found him with a backpack full of stolen underwear. Singh returned to the same store in December last year and was detained after attempting to

steal £595 worth of jeans.

Singh also admitted attempting to burgle a home where his blood was found after attempting to gain entry into the house. Caighli Taylor, defending, said: ‘He clearly has a very long list. ‘It is typical of offending when he was trapped in a long-standing, deeply-rooted drug problem.’ Singh pleaded guilty to four thefts and attempted burglary and was jailed for 15 months at Bristol Crown Court. Sir John Royce, sitting as a judge of the High Court, told him: ‘You have a terrible record. ‘You were given chance after chance by the courts but you shunned those chances. ‘Your barrister urges me to impose a suspended sentence. ‘I’m afraid I cannot do so, bearing in mind the catalogue of offending in breach of a suspended sentence.’

Disgraced: Neirmal Singh

Coconut Barfi to sweeten the occasion

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COVER STORY

Meet the man who gave so much to so many people

Four generations. From L - R: Son Tahir, Father Haji Muhammad Siddique, new born great grandson and grandson Arif

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

Often when a famous person dies our front pages are overflowing with an outpouring of tributes not to mention the social media frenzy, but what of the common man, who may have worked just as hard and probably gave more than most famous people have in their lifetime? Meet Mr Muhammad Siddique, (1936 – Mar 2017). Mr Siddique was one of three siblings who came to post war Britain in 1961, with a float of thirty bob (around £1.50) in his pocket. He was one of many who came to fill the jobs shortage of semi-skilled labourers, that many rejected. On arrival at Heathrow airport from Pakistan at the tender age of twenty-five, he met with two men, who took him to Bradford to work in the textile mills. Despite having an Economics degree Mr Siddique, rather Haji M uhammad Siddique 'sialkoti' (the name he was more famously known as) took on whatever work came his way, so that he could make ends meet and

provide for his family. Undaunted by hard work, young Muhammad Siddique not only faced his own problems head on, but also helped with problems of others. The textile mill where Mr Siddique worked was occupied by many semiskilled labourers who were in a similar position to the adored grandfather. Most of South Asian descent had come to Britain to create a better life for their families and a better life they did create. Whilst the majority couldn’t speak English and some were unable to read or write, this is where Mr Siddique would be the person they turned to, for translating, to help with filling out forms and often to

help them understand their rights in the UK. Helping others was noticed by the then manager of the textile mill who told Mr Siddique he was too educated to work in the mills and made a recommendation for him to work on buses and as destiny had it the Economics degree holder soon left the mills and worked on the buses to fuel his ambition for a better future for him and his family. His eldest son Tahir Mahmood tells me, that Mr Siddique worked on the buses for three years, without any holiday or time off for sickness. Mr Mahmood said after a lot of hard work, his father earned enough money to put a

Through years of hard work and enterprise Haji Muhammad Siddique built a thriving, packaging, import, warehousing and transport empire, which is now managed by his two sons.

deposit down for a Corner Shop in 1968. The Corner Shop was called Quality Foods and his mum Fameeda, ran the shop whilst his father continued driving buses. It wasn’t until late 1968 that their first supermarket followed which meant Mr Siddique had to give up driving buses and joined his wife, Fameeda in running the family business full time. Through years of hard work and enterprise the grandfather of twenty-two children built a thriving, packaging, import, warehousing and transport empire, which is now managed by his two sons. However, success wasn’t always easy and there were many obstacles, but undeterred Mr Siddique continued focusing on his philanthropic work. Throughout his working life, Mr Siddique made it a habit of giving his hardearned wealth away to those in need. He believed the more you give the more you receive. Son Tahir recalls how his father in the mid 90’s along-side Bradford’s other philanthropists John Pennington and Ernest D Rowe

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COVER STORY Mr Siddique’s work saw no cast, creed or colour, he gave to whoever and wherever support and money was needed. Arif recalls, coming home from school for lunch, where he describes how the house would always be full of guests. “From bank managers to business suppliers, these people were not just people grandad worked with or did business with, but they would become his friends and he would make them part of his extended family.” Said Arif Ever since arriving in Britain Mr Siddique has not only worked hard and built a strong foundation for his family, he has also built bridges and through his philanthropic work changed and made lives. In fact, the more we learn about Mr Siddique’s work the more we realise that there isn’t enough space to detail the ocean of charitable giving, supporting and practical help he gave to hundreds within his reach. If it wasn’t giving people jobs, it was helping people with their mortgages, or offering support and advice to businesses and this is why Mr Siddique was so special

to the people of Bradford. It was no surprise then, when hundreds turned up to pay respect, to the highly respected,entrepreneur at his funeral, which was held at Madni Masjid in Bradford on Thursday 30 March, the same mosque whose two committee members were the same individuals who brought Mr Siddique to Bradford. Mr Siddique may not have been a famous person, but his journey from a Pakistani immigrant to a British man who built a business empire from scratch creating around 400 jobs, investing in the community and giving thousands to charity definitely leaves a lot to be inspired by. Mr Muhammed Siddique Asian Standard pays tribute to you, your achievements and hope we can inspire future generations to live by your words which are: “The more you give the more you will receive”

Entreprenuer and philanthropist Haji Muhammad Siddique 'Sialkoti' (estate agent) helped raise funds for Marie Curie Foundation. His father had also given donations to the local hospital children’s ward, as part of the Lord Mayor’s appeal. Mr Siddique’s work saw no cast, creed or colour, he gave to whoever and wherever support and money was needed. One of the many donations included an ambulance and 20 beds for thepaediatric ward to the Mohammed Miah Baksh Trust in Jhelum, which is somewhat far from his ancestral home and where he has no family ties, nevertheless, when the call came for help, he was first in line to give. Whatever, you’re background whether, Gujarati, Bangladeshi, Sikh or Christian, Mr Siddique was always available to offer a helping hand, for those in need. Since Mr Siddique’s funeral, so many have come forward claiming that the Quality Foods owner was solely responsible for helping them get on the property ladder, or for helping them with their business decisions and the success they enjoy today. The entrepreneur saw how critical it was for him to give, especially at a time when there is increasing inequality of wealth and income.

Haji Siddique with wife stood with one of their trucks

Grandson, Arif Mahmood tells us that this was because Mr Siddique truly believed in building friendships and not just business.

Young Mr Muhammad Siddique

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Muslim mum pleads to court NOT to send man to jail who ripped off her niqab. by STAFF REPORTER

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A Muslim mum who had her niqab veil (ripped) off in a hate-filled race attack is pleading for the thug responsible not to go to prison. The 39-year-old Muslim woman was waiting with her nine-year-old daughter when Peter Scotter approached her and pulled off her face veil while shouting “Here, take that…off, you are in our country now, you stupid… Muslim.” Scotter was also heard shouting “Our Britain, you live by our ******* rules”. He has admitted racially aggravated assault and has 66 previous convictions for 157 offences, including actual bodily harm, breaching a Football Banning Order and racially aggravated criminal damage. The unprovoked attack , which occurred last year, (10 days after the Brexit vote) almost threw her to the ground causing her injury to her neck. The woman has since said she feels scared to leave her home as she fears it will happen again. “I don’t feel safe anymore when I go out. Sometimes I ask my husband to walk ahead of me because I’m so worried that it will happen again and I feel I need him to protect me.” She said. But in a remarkable show of forgiveness towards her attacker, the mother of four said she wants him to be freed after hearing he was suffering from cancer. She said: “I did not realise that the man had cancer, I don’t want him to go to prison. “I would like the judge to bear that in mind when he does sentence him.” She also went on to say she is not seeking revenge and just wants Scotter to be free so he could live his life in peace and tolerance. She said: “He did a bad thing in anger, I don’t know why he chose to do what he did to me, it hurt and frightened me but I don’t seek any kind of revenge for that.” “I don’t want him to suffer, I would like him to be free to live the rest of his life in peace and tolerance, not in anger and bitterness."

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She also pleaded with post-Brexit Britain to "stop the hatred and chill," becoming a beacon of tolerance to the rest of the world. The mum was speaking ahead of a sentencing hearing for Scotter, which could have seen him sent to prison, however the case was adjourned at Newcastle Crown Court until the beginning of May due to his ill health. The mum, who came to Sunderland from Bangladesh 30 years ago, spoke about her face veil saying she says she wears it out of her own free choice: “It is my own choice, it is not something that was thrust onto me and it is not something I will push onto my daughters.” “I accept other people’s choices and I hoped others would accept mine.” The mother-of-four wants to make ‘a positive difference in the world’: “People need to look at themselves and think ‘I want to show love and not be hateful, I want to be the kind of person who makes a positive difference in this world.’”

He did a bad thing in anger, I don’t know why he chose to do what he did to me, it hurt and frightened me but I don’t seek any kind of revenge for that.

Peter Scotter

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FEATURE

Theresa May triggers Brexit: "This is a historic moment and there will not be any turning back" by MO BHANA mo@asian-standard.co.uk

Britain’s ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, made history when he delivered a six page letter the whole of Europe was waiting for on been waiting at lunchtime on Wednesday the 29th of March. More than nine months have gone by since Britain voted to leave the European Union, therefore was unavoidable that Barrow’s delivery would turn into a media circus. Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty ensures both the UK and the European Union have two years to reach agreement so, unless the UK and the twenty-seven remaining EU member states agree to extend the deadline for talks, the UK will leave on 29 March 2019, a Friday. Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, looked visibly upset when he was given the envelope, containing a letter from Prime Minister, Theresa May. Tusk emphasised that it was not a happy day for him on a political and personal level. “What can I add to this, we already miss you,” he said. However, the fact of the matter is that the consequences of Brexit will have an effect on the entire country and European for a number of years. In her letter to Mr Tusk triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the Prime Minister, said failure to reach a deal with the European Union will mean that the UK’s ability to cooperate with the alliance in relation to would significantly diminish – setting the two negotiating sides on collision course on day one of the two years of talks triggered by her letter. In a statement in the Commons, Mrs May said: “Today the government acts on the democratic will of the British people and it acts too on the

Theresa May triggers brexit clear and convincing position of this House.”

which there can be no turning back.”

She added: “The Article 50 process is now under way and in accordance with the wishes of the British people the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union.

She said Britain would now make its own decisions and its own laws and “take control of the things that matter most to us - we are going to take this opportunity to build a stronger, fairer Britain, a country that our children and grandchildren are

“This is an historic moment from

proud to call home”. She told MPs that this marks “the moment for the country to come together”. Mrs May said it was a “moment of celebration for some, disappointment for others” and promised to “represent every person in the whole

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FEATURE What can I add to this, we already miss you. Donald Tusk, the president of the European council. Today the government acts on the democratic will of the British people and it acts too on the clear and convincing position of this House. The Article 50 process is now under way and in accordance with the wishes of the British people the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union. This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back. Theresa May

nationals, whose status after Brexit has yet to be settled. But Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator, said he would not accept any attempt to “bargain” between trade and

security, adding: “I think the security of our citizens is far too important to start a trade off from one for the other.” A European parliament resolution, leaked to the Guardian, unambiguously states

negotiations on the future EUUK relationship “cannot involve any trade-off between internal and external security including defence cooperation, on the one hand, and the future economic relationship, on the other hand”.

Nicola Sturgeon accused the prime minster of taking massive gamble Those comments echoed a speech made by Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, last week in which he said he was not willing to “haggle with the security of our fellow citizens in trade discussions”. The basic principle is citizens first, he says, both in the UK and on the continent: “For us that is an absolute priority and the parliament thinks, in fact, it should be the first subject in the negotiations. They should not be bargaining chips.” The second point, he says, is that the parliament hopes for fair and constructive negotiations. Parliament will not accept that the UK starts trade negotiations “behind our back” with third countries, he says. He also insisted that the UK must meet its legal, financial and budgetary commitments. The uncertainty also plays a vital role in the how currencies are valued, and the UK’s decision to cut all links with the single market after a 40-year relationship draws an enormous question mark over the future of the UK economy, says David Johnson, director at Halo Financial. “The questions remain as yet unanswered over the nature of Britain’s future relationships with, not just the EU, but also countries external to the single market,” he explains. “The triggering of Article 50 won’t answer those questions, but it will tick off another piece of uncertainty.”

Donald Tusk was not too happy about Brexit

However, some experts believe that the British pound has been historically undervalued against most currencies, and therefore is was due for a correction.

Richard Falkenhäll, Senior FX Strategist at Nordic bank, SEB, says the firm's own research suggests that sterling has been valued around 20% lower than it should have been against the euro and more than 25% against the dollar. "As a prelude to two years of likely tough divorce negotiations with the EU, sterling faces renewed pressure from markets," said Falkenhall. “We expect that a harsh tone in upcoming divorce negotiations will weigh on the GBP near-term. Whether this will continue or not in Q2 2017 depends on where market focus will be. A shift to political risks elsewhere could offer some temporary relief, but this should be seen as an opportunity to sell the GBP [as an investment].” Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, also weigned into the debate, accusing Theresa May of taking a “reckless gamble” with Brexit. Responding to the triggering of article 50 she insisted the UK governments approach was too hardline. She said: “Fully nine months after the EU referendum, the UK government still cannot answer basic questions about what Brexit will mean for businesses, for the economy generally, and for the type of society we live in. “I wish the prime minister well in the negotiations which lie ahead, because a good Brexit deal for the UK is in Scotland’s interests. “But the UK government’s hardline approach to Brexit is a reckless gamble, and it is clear, even at these very early stages, that the final deal is almost certain to be worse economically than the existing arrangements – and potentially much worse.”

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NEWS

Villagers rescue a newborn baby girl who was buried alive in India

Hearttwrenching scenes of baby rescued after being buried alive

The government has tabled Villagers in India have rescued a newborn baby girl who was found buried alive. The girl, thought to be approximately four to six hours old, was left to die in a shallow sand pit in a field when a young child spotted her feet poking through the ground last week. Villagers dug her out and, finding she was still breathing, passed her over to a community health activist. The baby, found in Jajpur district in Odisha state, was rushed to hospital where she remains under observation, officials said. The area where she was discovered is one of many impoverished states where families hope for sons and go to any lengths possible to avoid having to raise a daughter.

body was still covered with vernix.” A witness who helped with the rescue, Alok Rout, said: “It was a little kid who first saw the feet of the child buried under a compost dump in a field. “Later we rushed to the spot and rescued the newborn girl.” He said a group helped rescue the girl who was found with her face covered with a piece of cloth. Hospital staff have named the girl Dharitri, a Sanskrit word meaning 'the earth'. The girl will be handed over to the state-run child welfare committee after she is discharged from the Dharmasala hospital. Police told AFP they suspect the newborn was either abandoned by her parents because of her gender or the mother had been an unmarried woman.

Chief medical officer Jajpur district Fanindra Kumar Panigrahi told AFP: 'She is doing fine and all her parameters are normal. She is a fullterm baby, weighing around 2.5 kg.

Local police officer Jyoti Prakash Panda said: 'We are trying to track the parents of the girl. Chances are it was a case of female feticide and it is clear that the accused wanted to kill her."

“Her umbilical cord was intact and

Police Inspector Amitabh

Mohapatra added:”A case has been lodged against the unidentified parents of the child and family

members. An investigation is on to find out where the child was born and under which circumstances it was buried.”

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HEALTH

The five most addictive substances on Earth – and what they do to your brain

by ERIC BOWMAN Lecturer in Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews

What are the most addictive drugs? This question seems simple, but the answer depends on whom you ask. From the points of view of different researchers, the potential for a drug to be addictive can be judged in terms of the harm it causes, the street value of the drug, the extent to which the drug activates the brain’s dopamine system, how pleasurable people report the drug to be, the degree to which the drug causes withdrawal symptoms, and how easily a person trying the drug will become hooked. There are other facets to measuring the addictive potential of a drug, too, and there are even researchers who argue that no drug is always addictive. Given the varied view of researchers, then, one way of ranking addictive drugs is to ask expert panels. In 2007, David Nutt and his colleagues asked addiction experts to do exactly that – with some interesting findings. 1. Heroin Nutt et al.’s experts ranked heroin as the most addictive drug, giving it a score of 3 out of a maximum score of 3. Heroin is

Crack cocaine has been ranked by experts as being the third most damaging drug and powdered cocaine, which causes a milder high, as the fifth most damaging.

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HEALTH In 2002 the WHO estimated there were more than 1 billion smokers and it has been estimated that tobacco will kill more than 8m people annually by 2030. an opiate that causes the level of dopamine in the brain’s reward system to increase by up to 200 per cent in experimental animals. In addition to being arguably the most addictive drug, heroin is dangerous, too, because the dose that can cause death is only five times greater than the dose required for a high. Heroin also has been rated as the second most harmful drug in terms of damage to both users and to society. The market for illegal opiates, including heroin, was estimated to be $68 billion worldwide in 2009. 2. Cocaine Cocaine directly interferes with the brain’s use of dopamine to convey messages from one neuron to another. In essence, cocaine prevents neurons from turning the dopamine signal off, resulting in an abnormal activation of the brain’s reward pathways. In experiments on animals, cocaine caused dopamine levels to rise more than three times the normal level. It is estimated that between 14-20m people worldwide use cocaine and that in 2009 the cocaine market was worth about $75 billion. Crack cocaine has been ranked by experts as being the third most damaging drug and powdered cocaine, which causes a milder high, as the fifth most damaging. About 21 per cent of people who try cocaine will become dependent on it at sometime in their life. Cocaine is similar to other addictive stimulants, such as methamphetamine – which is becoming more of a problem as it becomes more widely available – and amphetamine. 3. Nicotine Nicotine is the main addictive ingredient of tobacco. When somebody smokes a cigarette, nicotine is rapidly absorbed by the lungs and delivered to the brain. Nutt et al’s expert panels rated nicotine (tobacco) as the third most addictive substance. More than two-thirds of Americans who tried smoking reported becoming dependent during their life. In 2002 the WHO estimated there were more than

1 billion smokers and it has been estimated that tobacco will kill more than 8m people annually by 2030. Laboratory animals have the good sense not to smoke.

However, rats will press a button to receive nicotine directly into their bloodstream – and this causes dopamine levels in the brain’s reward system to rise by

about 25-40 per cent.

addictive substance.

4. Barbiturates (‘downers’)

5. Alcohol

Barbiturates – also known as blue bullets, gorillas, nembies, barbs and pink ladies – are a class of drugs that were initially used to treat anxiety and to induce sleep. They interfere with chemical signalling in the brain, the effect of which is to shut down various brain regions. At low doses, barbiturates cause euphoria, but at higher doses they can be lethal because they suppress breathing. Barbiturate dependence was common when the drugs were easily available by prescription, but this has declined dramatically as other drugs have replaced them. This highlights the role that the context plays in addiction: if an addictive drug is not widely available, it can do little harm. Nutt et al’s expert panels rated barbiturates as the fourth most

Although legal in the US and UK, alcohol was scored by Nutt et al.‘s experts 1.9 out of a maximum of 3. Alcohol has many effects on the brain, but in laboratory experiments on animals it increased dopamine levels in the brain’s reward system by 40-360 per cent – and the more the animals drank the more dopamine levels increased. Some 22 per cent of people who have taken a drink will develop dependence on alcohol at some point during their life. The WHO has estimated that 2 billion people used alcohol in 2002 and more than 3m people died in 2012 due to damage to the body caused by drinking. Alcohol has been ranked as the most damaging drug by other experts, too. This article originally appeared in The Conversation.

Issue 20

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WOMEN ACHIEVERS

Meet the UK's one of only seven Equality Assessor for Premier League Football clubs rejected the cultural view of what is deemed acceptable as a career choice for Indian females. Also, working newsdesk@asian-standard.co.uk with vulnerable groups in society, both in the UK and abroad, has given This edition’s female achiever most me so much experience, wisdom and definitely has had a remarkable knowledge that I feel it is only now journey. She is a social worker lecturer at the Bradford University, so you can imagine the assiduous, challenging, yet fulfilling career our achiever has. By STAFF REPORTER

right that I should pass it onto others. In a sense, I have come full circle and ended up where I started; in teaching!

You are also appointed as one of only seven national Equality Assessors for Premier League Football clubs.

That’s very exciting. Tell us more about what this role entails. The role involves visiting Premier League football clubs and assessing the work they do against a set of equality and diversity standards

Her drive, passion and ambition is evident as she has achieved what only seven others in the country have. She is appointed as one of only seven Equality Assessors for Premier League football clubs. Her role as an equality assessor means she is responsible for taking Manchester United, Manchester City and Newcastle United through the equality standards that are set by the Premier League. Influential don’t you agree? Let’s meet our women achiever Elaben MistryJackson You are a social worker lecturer at the Bradford University tell us a little more about your role? I am Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Social Work degree and really enjoy what I do. The role involves overseeing the delivery and daily running of a degree programme. My role involves teaching various modules on the programme, supporting students and staff and contributing to academic research. My area of interest is Equality and Diversity. The most rewarding aspect of my job is watching students; of all ages develop both academically and personally throughout their time at University. I experience a great sense of joy seeing students celebrate their graduation with their families and loved ones. It is actually a great honour to support people that achieve educational success. What made you choose to work in academia, rather than take on a more ‘traditional’ profession such as being a doctor or lawyer? I have never considered myself as ‘traditional’, which has probably influenced my choice of career and given me the confidence to follow my own interests. Throughout my upbringing, which has been influenced by living in Bradford within an Indian household, I cannot deny that there have been some cultural expectations around career choices, but I did actually have the freedom to choose for myself and follow my own interests. I did originally go to train as a Secondary school teacher at Newcastle University but decided this was not for me at the time. Looking back, I think I was always interested in challenging injustice, oppression and inequality which led me to retrain as a social worker and work with the most vulnerable and powerless in society. Being influenced by a desire for a sense of justice, I have also

Must do what you are passionate about as our working life is long and you can’t short change yourself by doing something you don’t care about or doesn’t make you happy.

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WOMEN ACHIEVERS We all have something to learn from everyone.

set by the League. Football is such a universally powerful forum and acts as a vehicle to influence attitudes and promote social change to help benefit people all over the world. To date, I have worked with Manchester City, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Leicester City with Everton and Sunderland on the horizon. It has been a privilege to be given access to the clubs behind the scene and the opportunity to work with staff at all levels; from Chief Executives, Board members, Heads of HR, marketing, safeguarding, player and supporter engagement, community engagement, operations and the academy.

A mentor once told me to get a mortgage and a pension in that order, ha!!! What advice would you offer anyone who wanted to work in your field? Follow your interests and don’t be afraid to aim high. If you are passionate about challenging injustice, working with the most powerless in society then consider choosing a profession such as social work to enable you to do this. There is nothing more satisfying than to know you are doing something worthwhile for another human being!

We’ve often seen celebrities talk about equality and diversity at awards functions such as the Oscars and how we are still very far behind in representation. How do you hope to ensure that representation is better within football? It may come as a surprise to many people, but football clubs are now genuinely trying to be very active in ensuring the club is inclusive at all levels of the club. I was very skeptical before I had access to the clubs but do see lots of initiatives and good practice that is happening and do see clubs trying to change the culture within clubs. Football is a very powerful language and tool of engagement, which can be seen with initiatives at a grassroots to a multinational level. The best examples I’ve seen include stadia accessibility improvements, clubs supporting LGBT supporters, promoting actions to increase supporters from various minority groups and hard to reach communities in society, improvements to recruitment practice to remove bias, conscious bias and language training to all staff and players, involvement of external agencies in the club to advice and guide, the recruitment of female and disabled engagement officers and improving catering facilities to provide a diverse

Finally, what’s the best advice you have received in your career that you wish to pass on to our readers. Get a mortgage and a pension!! Don’t take yourself too seriously!

Manchester United is one of the many football clubs, Ms Mistry-Jackson assess against equality and diversity selection of foods. Take Bradford City for example, they have the Bangla bantams and a LGBT supporters group, which is very encouraging. Events such as the recent British Equality and Diversity Sports Award and the Fans Diversity award at the Footballer Supporters Federation awards really help to promote equality and positive role models. However, there is still a lot of work to be done within football at all levels and the work I am involved in is a move in the right direction. What challenges do you face (if any) in carrying out your day to day role as an Equality Assessor for Premier League Football clubs?

One of the challenges that I face is accepting the level of money that is involved in modern day football. After all, how can we justify a footballer earning £200,000 per week when another person can be earning £400 per week and feel this is fair? This is the biggest inequality in football that is difficult to digest. What or who has been your greatest influence in your work and why? I could say Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, Muhammed Ali, Indira Gandhi, Mother Theresa, but as cliché as it may sound, it is my parents. They have overcome such adversity and austerity to be where they are today. They came from the Gujarat, India to the UK in 1961, to face such economic and social disadvantage. They could have returned back to Indian but preserved through the hardship, prejudice and loneliness to carve out a good life in the UK and gave their children the opportunity to pursue their dreams and ambitions. For this, I am very grateful. This has greatly influenced my approach to my work and the level of effort and commitment I make as I feel lucky to be able to do something I enjoy and gain a great sense of achievement from.

What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?

The key to being happy is to work out where your interests lie and don’t compromise on this when looking for a job. Find one that matches your interests, passion and curiosity in a field you enjoy. Your working life is long, so be kind to yourself and find a vocation you love!

I don’t really measure myself through my professional achievement, but more in terms of achieving a really happy work/life balance where I have a great family life and enjoyable satisfying work life. Generally, I think to be respected for what I do when I do it well is a great accomplishment. What one thing have you learned through your career that has served you well over the years? Have courage and self-insight! Leadership is about doing the right thing, management is about doing things right! Everyone is powerful and can change things for the better. Must do what you are passionate about as our working life is long and you can’t short change yourself by doing something you don’t care about or doesn’t make you happy. We are a long time dead! Aint what you do it’s the way that you do it.

To date, I have worked with Manchester City, Manchester City, Newcastle United, and Leicester City with Everton and Sunderland on the horizon. It has been a privilege to be given access to the clubs behind the scene and the opportunity to work with staff at all levels; from Chief Executives, Board members, Heads of HR, marketing, safeguarding, player and supporter engagement, community engagement, operations and the academy.

Issue 20

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NEWS

Ofsted exploring the possibility of 'snooping' on pupils' and parents' Facebook pages to monitor school performance by STAFF REPORTER

newsdesk@asianstandard.co.uk

Ofsted inspectors could start “snooping” on pupils and parents by monitoring their Facebook and Twitter pages to help determine which schools are in need of intervention. Publishing its new “innovations and regulations plan” report, the schools watchdog said it was working with the Department for Education in a “data science project” to explore the possibility of monitoring social media to help pinpoint problems with individual schools’ performance. The suggestion has raised cause for alarm among data protection campaigners, however, who argue there is already too much surveillance taking place within schools. Experts also suggest the data inspectors could viably take from social media is “unreliable” and contradicts the government’s usual practice of ensuring inspections outcomes are evidence-based. Ofsted has not yet provided any further details, but said it would only use information that was publicly available. The proposals have met with concerns from data protection groups such as Defend Digital Me whose campaign coodinator, Jen Persson, told The Independent the move could destroy public and profession trust in the Government body. “This idea is as daft as it is a dangerous overreach of their function scope and powers,” she said. Ms Persson said by allowing Ofsted to judge schools and individuals on their social media use, the Government would open up a host of potential data protection issues going forward. “Social media are personal data shared in private time, put into the public domain, but not intended for surveillance,” she said. “Parents share criticisms and comment in context that is lost to strangers. People post things thinking that it will be seen by their circles of friends or people engaged in their conversation. “If Ofsted starts tracking and interrogating parents and pupils' personal comments on social media, where would they stop? Will the police knock on doors of families posting holiday photos in term time? Will they start searching for teachers tweeting on sick

Social media is a place where people go to express their frustrations, not provide measured, constructive feedback.' Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers

days? Will whistleblowers and critics be silenced by the chilling effect of surveillance? “Technology can support teachers, pupils and parents but their data must be used with consent, with transparency and oversight, not State snooping in secret.”

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: 'Social media is a place where people go to express their frustrations, not provide measured, constructive feedback.' An Ofsted Spokesperson said: "Like any regulator, we are always looking at how we can improve our monitoring of

standards in schools and to identify where there may be concerns about children’s safety or the quality of education they are receiving. "It’s important to say that we do not currently collate information from social media channels. Any work that we may do in this area in the future would of course be confined to open forums and would be for the sole purpose of helping decide whether to bring forward an inspection in certain instances." Last year, a survey by the NASUWT teaching union found that half of teachers have had insulting or threatening comments posted about them on social media sites by pupils and parents. According to the survey, one teacher was threatened with rape while another was called a ‘little lesbian’ after telling a pupil off for swearing. had been banned from teaching

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Issue 20

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FEATURE

One Britain one Nation. Are you in?

A not for profit community organisation is calling for people of different backgrounds, ages, faiths, beliefs and political persuasions, to come together on 23 June, 2017 to demonstrate that despite potentially divisive tensions and forces within our country, we are a unified nation, which shares a belief in core principles, inclusion, British values and ways of life.

and supported by our local schools and colleges with such enthusiasm. The 'Call to Action' on the 23rd of June presents another opportunity for our City to further this excellent initiative”

One Britain One Nation (OBON) was founded by former award winning Inspector Kash Singh. Following a dynamic career with West Yorkshire police as a police inspector in the Manningham area of Bradford, where he helped unite communities and diffuse racial tensions, in 2005, he met former British Prime Minister David Cameron and explained his vision for OBON. Mr Cameron was overwhelmed and very passionately offered his full support by saying the words “Count Me In.” It was these words that inspired Kash Singh to take the cause of OBON to every corner of our nation, so that no one person is left out.

Key note speakers included, Sir James Hill, Sir Nick Weller, Chief Executive of Dixons Academies, Professor Lord Patel OBE, John Robins, Deputy Chief Constable, West Yorkshire Police, Andy Welsh, Chief Executive Bradford College, and Bradford West MP, Naz Shah.

In his own words, Kash Singh, founder and CEO of OBON says, "One Britain One Nation embodies so much of what the various communities wish to see happening locally and regionally. It is particularly encouraging to see the project pursued here in Bradford

OBON’s ‘Count Me In’ campaign was recently initiated by a ‘A Call to Action’ which hosted at Bradford City Hall, Bradford as a civic event.

The purpose of the ‘Call to Action’ is intended to reach out to the children and people within the educational establishments for them to celebrate Friday 23rd of June 2017. This day will give schools an opportunity to create a celebration as they see appropriate to demonstrate their patriotism and belief in Britain, express their sense of Britishness and gain a sense of belonging. Its focus will be to create a sense of national unity and pride by strengthening our national identity and forging a sense of togetherness, so that every child can be inspired to love their nation. Professor Lord Patel of Bradford

said: “It is a great honour for me to see OBON instigate a campaign that truly inspires all our children, the future of country, to love their nation by showcasing and forging a sense of togetherness based on respect and their love, pride, passion for our great country” Echoing Lord Patel’s words and offering his support Sir James Hill OBE said: "One Britain One Nation embodies

so much of what the various communities wish to see happening locally and regionally. It is particularly encouraging to see the project pursued here in Bradford and supported by our local schools and colleges with such enthusiasm. The 'Call to Action' on the 23rd of June presents another opportunity for our City to further this excellent initiative” More information about OBON can be obtained by visiting the website: www.onebritainonenation.com

WEEKENDER Issue twenty, Tuesday 04 – 09 April 2017

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‘My family is everything to me’

Jay Sean

TV E D I U G DE I urite INyoS vo ur fa els n All chan Asian

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Rang Barse Holi celebrations at The Indian Gymkhana club in London

traditional mohalla (neighbourhood) Holi celebrations in India. Food remained one of the highlights of the day which was supplied by the Gymkhana club kitchen who excelled in providing tasty refreshments and tea. Thandai, the Holi celebratory drink, was specially made at the venue by IIL volunteers who had a grand time churning the massive vats of milk!

The Dhol Beats UK Group set the party mood and kicked off the start of the main Holi colour play with their rhythmic pulsating beats. The party that followed could easily rival any Bollywood film Holi song sequence. The revellers danced to the tune of the dhols and the live DJ as they played Holi with nearly 250kg of dry colour powder on the lawns of the Gymkhana club. The highly popular Holi special colourful caps were imported all the way from the markets of old Delhi. The Indians in London group is an independent, not-for-profit platform to connect with the Indian diaspora in the UK, on social, cultural, educational, economic, political and charitable matters. The group, also popularly known by its acronym “IIL” or “IIL Orkut Group”, was established in 2004. From a small handful group of Indian expatriates and students in London, today, the Indians in London group consist of 12,000 plus members and is growing every day.

by STAFF REPORTER newdesk@asian-standard.co.uk

Indians in London Group (IIL) hosted their much anticipated annual ‘Rang Barse’ Holi event on 18 March 2017 at The Indian Gymkhana club in Osterley, London. This is the third year running that Indians in London Group has successfully organised this gala community celebration and the popularity of the programme can be gauged by the fact that the tickets sold out within one hour of the opening of the portal. The celebration was attended by 650 guests. The event was also graced by the presence of Mr Virendra Sharma MP Ealing, Southall, and Mr A S Rajan, Minister of Coordination, High Commission of India. The Rt. Hon. Priti Patel MP, the Secretary of State for International Development, sent her special message and best wishes to the members of Indians in London Group and those throughout world that celebrated Holi this year.

Holi is a Hindu spring festival also known as the "festival of colours" or the "festival of love". The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. It is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. The Holi festival has been widely celebrated in India and Nepal, but in recent years has become popular with non-Hindus and is also widely celebrated in Europe. The IIL Group certainly didn’t miss the opportunity to celebrate the occasion in London, as they celebrated with love, fun, frolic and lots of colours. Their day started off with a cultural programme showcasing the talents of the Indian diaspora who have lovingly preserved their shared heritage and continue to pass it on to the younger generation. Regional Indian classic dances blended seamlessly with the thumping beats of Bollywood numbers. Melodious singers, instrument players and even a ‘Kavi Sammelan’ (gathering of poets) all evoked nostalgic memory of

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

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Recipes from

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Paneer Picatta Ingredients

Method

Serves 6 • 8 ounces paneer cheese • Salt to taste • Freshly ground black pepper to taste • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 1/4 cup sherry or dry white wine • 1 small onion, minced • 1/4 cup drained capers • 1 tablespoon ginger, minced • 2 fresh green chilies, minced • Juice of 1 lemon • 2 tablespoons butter • ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped

Season the paneer lightly with salt and black pepper.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and quickly sear the paneer cheese pieces until golden, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer to a serving dish, cover and keep warm.

butter & cilantro then drizzle everything over the paneer pieces. Serve hot. Recipe By: Hari Nayak/Vikas Khanna

Add the wine or sherry to deglaze the pan, and scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Add the onions, capers, ginger and green chilies, and cook, stirring for about 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice,

Roasted eggplant and spinach salad with crumbled paneer Ingredients • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint Salt to taste • 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 1 large eggplant, diced • 1 pound baby spinach • 1 English cucumber, peeled seeded and diced • 1 tomato seeded and diced

• ½ red onion, diced • ½ red pepper, diced • 4 tablespoons crumbled paneer cheese Method Preheat the oven to 450°F. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil.

prepared baking sheet. Spray the eggplant with olive oil cooking spray. Roast for 10 minutes. Turn the cubes and roast until softened and lightly golden, 8-10 minutes more. Set aside and let cool completely.

In a large bowl, combine the spinach, cucumber, tomato, onion, pepper and cooled In a small bowl, whisk eggplant. Pour the vinaigrette together the vinegar, lemon over the salad. Toss gently juice, mint, salt and pepper. to mix well and coat evenly. While whisking slowly add the Divide the salad among olive oil in a thin stream until individual plates. Sprinkle emulsified. Set aside. with the paneer cheese. Serve immediately. Spread the eggplant cubes in a single layer on the Recipe by: Hari Nayak/Vikas Khanna

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Mint pilaf with potatoes and cumin

Ingredients

Serves 6 • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1 small onion, thinly sliced • 1 small potato, peeled and cut into ½ - inch dices • 1 ½ tablespoons ginger, minced • 2 tablespoons mint leaves,

Method

• •

minced 1 fresh green chili, minced 1¼ cups basmati rice, soaked, rinsed and drained 2 ¼ cups water Salt to taste 3 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted and crushed coarsely

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and sauté the onion until brown, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the potato, ginger, half the mint, and the green chili and cook, stir¬ring, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and sauté for 3 minutes. Add the water and the salt. Bring to a boil over

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high heat. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pan, and cook until the rice is done, 10 to 15 minutes. Do not stir the rice while it cooks. Remove from the heat and let the rice rest for about 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle the roasted cumin and the remaining mint leaves on top, and serve.

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Recipe By: Vikas Khanna

Born in Amritsar, Starting as a helper in his grandmother’s kitchen, he learnt most the secrets and correct use of spices from her. He worked as the Executive Chef of Salaam Bombay Restaurant in New York. He is a consultant to many restaurants in the US and has his own line of packaged foods, Gourmetgurus.

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Your Weekend tv Guide for all your favourite Asian TV channels Saturday 8th April 2017

B4U Movies

SONY MAX

Poster, motion poster of Half Girlfriend released

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The first motion poster and poster of Shraddha Kapoor's upcoming movie 'Half Girlfriend' has been released by its makers on Tuesday. Actor Arjun Kapoor tweeted: A journey well begun is half done !!! Sharing the first poster of #Halfgirlfriend a film very close to my heart cant wait for #19thMay.

06:00 Balak Dhruv 09:00 Love In Japan 06:00 Raj Tilak 09:30

Shastra

13:00

Mausam

16:30

Amit Sahni Ki List

20:00

Koyelaanchal

23:30

Pyaar Ka Punchnama

03:00 EMI: Liya Hai To Chukana Padega

12:00 Tashan 15:00 Kill Dil 18:00 Joru Ka Ghulam 21:00 Lage Raho Munna Bhai 00:00 Devdas 03:00 Rudraksh 05:30 Safar

Shraddha also shared the poster and tweeted: DOST se zyada, GIRLFRIEND se kam. Heres our 1st poster. #HalfGirlfriend #19thMay @mohit11481 @chetan_bhagat @ arjunk26. Half Girlfriend is an upcoming Indian romantic comedy film based on the novel of the same name written by Chetan Bhagat. The film is directed by Mohit Suri and

STAR PLUS

06:30 Mere Angne Mein 07:00 Meri Durga 07:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 08:00 Suhani Si Ek Ladki 08:30 Suhani Si Ek Ladki 09:00 Jana Na Dil Se Door 09:30 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein

Fawad actually rose to fame with his rock band Entity Paradigm (EP), which was discovered in a Pepsi Battle of the bands season. The venture will promote new faces in the music industry. The source added, "The show totally focuses on harnessing fresh talent. And not just new talent, the purpose of the show is to bring forward new Pakistani bands and their music."

10:00 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein 10:30 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 11:00 Nach Baliye This project is seen to be in competition with Coca Cola's 'Coke Studio'. On a related note, Fawad Khan was last seen in Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' last year.

15:00 Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon

16:30 Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil

06:00 Naamkarann

"We don't know in what capacity but Fawad is definitely involved in the show big time," the source said.

14:30 Ek Hazaroon mein Meri Behna Hai

16:00 Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil

Fawad Khan charmed everyone with his good looks and great acting skills, but now, it seems the actor is all set to give his fans another treat.

According to the sources, the show will be spearheaded by some of the most well-known faces of the entertainment industry and apparently even Fawad Khan is involved.

features Arjun Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead roles.

15:30 Baa Bahoo Aur Baby

Fawad Khan returns to music with mega Pepsi project

The 'Kapoor n Sons' star will soon be a part of Pepsi's mega music venture, which is going to be their biggest advent into music since Pepsi Smash and Battle of the Bands, reports The Express Tribune.

06:00 Naqshe Aqeedat

11:30 Nach Baliiye 12:30 Kya Qusoor Hai Amala Ka? 13:00 Tu Sooraj Mein Saanjh Piyaji 13:30 Ek Aastha Aisi Bhee 14:00 Dhhai Kilo Prem

from the movie Meri Pyaari Bindu.

She has made her singing debut recently and her voice promises to leave her fans mesmerised.

My first attempt at singing! What do you think? #MaanaKeHumYaarNahin OUT NOW @MeriPyaariBindu https://goo.gl/ dTbKEo , the actress tweeted sharing the link to the song.

She has released the first song of herself

The song is titled Maana Ke Hun Yaar Nahin.

07:00 Choti Se Zindagi 08:00 Kuch Na Kaho 09:00 Jago Pakistan Jago 10:30 Joru Ka Ghulam 11:00 Nazr-e-Bad 12:00 Dil Banjara

17:00 Suhaani Si Ek Ladki

13:00 Dil E Jaanam

17:30 Jana Na Dil Se Door

14:00 Sila

18:00 Mere Angne Mein

15:00 Sammi

18:30 Meri Durga

16:00 Pani Jesa Pyaar

19:00 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya

17:00 Natak

19:30 Yeh Hai Mohabbatein 20:00 Nach Baliye 21:00 Koi Laut Ke Aaya Hai 22:00 Tu Sooraj Mein Saanjh 23:00 Nach Baliye

18:00 Tonight with HSY 19:00 Fun Khana 19:30 Joru Ka Ghulam 20:00 Natak

00:00 Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil

21:00 Pani Jesa Pyaar

00:30 Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil

22:00 Tonight with HSY

01:00 Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil

23:00 Sila

01:30 Ishqbaaz

00:00 Natak

02:00 Ishqbaaz

01:00 Jago Pakistan Jago

02:30 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 03:00 Saath Nibhaana Saathiya 03:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 04:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 04:30 Suhani Si Ek Ladki 05:00 Suhani Si Ek Ladki 05:30 Suhani Si Ek Ladki

Parineeti Chopra makes singing debut Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra, who has acted in several movie, has now turned a singer.

06:30 Mr. Shamim

Meri Pyaari Bindu is an upcoming Indian 2017 Bollywood drama romance film written and directed by Akshay Roy. It features Ayushmann Khurrana and Parineeti Chopra in the lead roles. The film is scheduled to hit the silverscreen on May 12.

02:30 Joru Ka Ghulam 03:00 Pani Jesa Pyaar 04:00 Sang E Mar Mar 05:00 Sammi Disclaimer : Please note listings correct at the time of printing and can vary.

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Your Weekend tv Guide for all your favourite Asian TV channels Sunday 9th April 2017

Only the 'journey' matters for SRK in this latest picture

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Superstar Shah Rukh Khan is quite active on social media and his latest trend is to post selfies with inspirational quotes. The 51-year-old-actor just shared an early morning selfie with an inspiring message written alongside it.

09:00 Satte Pe Satta 06:00

Benaam

09:30

Deewana

13:00

Shorr In The City

16:30

Delhi Belly

12:00 Judwaa 15:00 Pati Patni Aur Woh 18:00 Luv Ka: The End 21:00 Dum Laga Ke Haisha

20:00 Bbuddah... Hoga Tera Baap

00:00 Joru Ka Ghulam

23:30

Listen... Amaya

03:00 Police Public

03:00

Familywala

05:30 Naram Garam

Working with you was inspiring: Ranbir Kapoor on collaborating with Gauri Khan

His caption read, "There are miles to travel, this way or that. And from where I am, it doesn't really matter. only the journey does." In the photo, the 'Raees' star can be seen looking curiously at something. Shah Rukh was last seen in 'Raees,' which did well at the Box-Office despite clashing with Hrithik Roshan's 'Kaabil'. He will be next seen in Imtiaz Ali's

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It has been almost three months since Ranbir Kapoor moved into his new house, but he still cannot stop thanking the interior designer to make it feel like 'home,' and she's none other than the Begum of B-Town Gauri Khan.

Earlier, father Rishi Kapoor also appreciated Gauri's interiors and said, "Vastu, Wonderful! Gauri Khan! You have made a

Naqshe Aqeedat