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THE INCREDIBLE COST OF
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
AND HOW A GROUP IN LEEDS
IS TRYING TO OFFSET IT BY SHAWNA HEALEY School children across Britain are set to return to face-to-face teaching in the upcoming weeks, with some schools in places like Bradford and Leeds set to return before September, to make up for lost time in July, when some shut their doors early because of rising Covid-19 cases and mass selfisolation for kids that got ‘pinged’ by the NHS Test and Trace app. Every child in the UK has the right to a free education, with approximately 93% of pupils aged between 3 and 18 attending a state-funded school, with the remaining 7% of kids either being home schooled or attending feepaying private or independent schools. Within the education system, there are many ‘hidden’ costs, which researchers suggest are “failing families living in poverty” and has only been exacerbated through the Coronavirus pandemic. Meals and school trips are some examples, but one of the key issues that is hotly contested is school uniforms.
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£9.5M CITY SQUARE PLANS GO BEFORE THE PUBLIC in or visits Leeds to have their say on the future of City Square.
BY RICHARD BEECHAM Proposals to close City Square to general traffic and create a new public space are set to go before the public, as plans to revamp Leeds City Centre continue. The proposals will see City Square closed to general traffic, as well as changes to Boar Lane, King Street, Wellington Street, Aire Street, Quebec Street, and the wider road network. The project, set to start next year, proposes to divert traffic away from the city centre, freeing up more space for public transport, walking and cycling facilities. Leeds City Council claims it will help make the city centre a more pleasant place to live and spend time in. A council statement said: “With less traffic this also provides the council with an opportunity to convert the square into a welcoming area for people arriving into the city and create an event space suitable for outdoor seating and hosting
Image: Wikipedia
City Square Leeds events. A further consultation will be launched later in the year which will showcase how the square itself will look.”
“We want to make our city centre an even better place to visit and the works around City Square are part of that. Being able to walk out of the train station and be greeted by a new and improved public square, rather than the current road, is something that everyone can enjoy. It means better space for people, rather than cars.
It is hoped the scheme will help create a new public events space in City Square.
“Reallocating road space in favour of public transport, walking and cycling has been fantastic in other areas of the city, helping us to achieve the council’s vision of a greater connected city with more appealing and liveable public spaces.
Public consultation meetings will be held on Thursday, August 26, between 3pm-7pm; and on Saturday, September 11, from 10am-2pm in Mill Hill Chapel, City Square.
“This, alongside other schemes happening in the city, form part of our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030 as well as our preparation for the 2023 Year of Culture.”
Coun Helen Hayden, executive member for infrastructure and climate said: “I’m pleased to see the launch of this consultation and I would encourage everyone who lives
Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire added: “These proposals will transform City Square into a fantastic gateway to Leeds and make it easier for people to travel in more
sustainable ways, lower emissions and improve air quality, which will be key to tackling the climate emergency.” The plans, which could cost £9.5m overall, were first released earlier this summer. Early blueprints for the design, which Leeds-based firm Re-form dubbed ‘The Glade’, include woodland and water features, with the entire area between the Queens Hotel and Mill Hill Chapel closed to general traffic. A council report said the site would feature a “conceptual reincarnation” of the ancient Forest of Leodis on which the city is built, as well as “informal play” for children, with platforms and rock steps to climb and jump off, as well as a water feature. City Square was first built in 1897, alongside the old Post Office building. The entire scheme for the revamp is expected to have a total budget of £7m-£9.5m, and it is hoped that final designs and approval can be reached by May/June 2022. Article by Local Democracy Reporting Service
UK WILL WORK WITH TALIBAN 'IF NECESSARY', SAYS PM JOHNSON Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that his country will work with the Taliban "if necessary", as the group has regained control of Afghanistan. "What I want to assure people is that our political and diplomatic efforts to find a solution for Afghanistan, working with the Taliban, of course, if necessary, will go on," Johnson said on Friday 20 August. He said the situation at the Kabul airport, where thousands of Afghans gathered in hopes of boarding an evacuation flight,
was getting "slightly better" and he saw "stabilisation". The UK has been able to evacuate about 2,000 people, including British nationals and Afghans who worked with Britain, since Thursday, the Prime Minister said. Earlier, the Home Office introduced a "bespoke" resettlement plan, promising to take in up to 20,000 Afghans "in the long-term", with some 5,000 being in the first year. The plan was considered far from enough to deal with the Afghan crisis by British lawmakers who met for an
emergency Parliament session last week. Leaders of the G7 will meet online early next week to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, as the rift between Washington and its European allies seemed to have widened over the former's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan. On Tuesday, French daily Le Monde said "Europeans were trapped in hasty American withdrawal". The UK's Secretary of Defence Ben Wallace said last week that the US decision to pull its military forces out of Afghanistan was a "mistake".
SUPER SPORTS CAR MASERATI MC20 DAZZLES IN DEBUT AT MONTEREY CAR WEEK sleek lines of the mid-engine, two-seater sports car. The Pebble Beach Concept Lawn is considered one of the highlights of Monterey Car Week in California, and the MC20 was there to impress with eyes watching from all over the globe as the event returned for 2021.
Maserati’s MC20 made its Northern California debut this weekend during the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event, where the vehicle
appeared before crowds of fans on the Concept Lawn. The MC20, marking a new era for the Trident brand, was greeted with adulation by VIP spectators who took in the
Boasting a top speed of over 326 km/h, the MC20 is the first Maserati with a carbon fiber monocoque and, weighing less than 1500 kg, the super sports car also features the powerful new Maserati Nettuno engine. The Nettuno engine is a V6 that incorporates F1-derived technology to create an exceptional power-toweight ratio and delivering 0-100 km/h acceleration in 2.88 seconds. The new Maserati MC20 is a car with racing DNA and a worthy successor to the legendary MC12. In fact, the MC in
the name stands for “Maserati Corse,” the Italian word for “racing.” The 630 hp Nettuno engine ensures the racing heritage of Maserati is felt by the driver, and it is also a return to Maserati producing its own power units after a hiatus of more than 20 years. Built in Italy, the Maserati MC20 is 100% Made in Modena. More information can be found about this supercar at www.maserati.com
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BIG-HEARTED CITY’ SET TO WELCOME AFGHAN REFUGEES BY RICHARD BEECHAM Two of Leeds’s MPs have praised the city’s “big heart” and have assured parliament that the district stands ready to take Afghan refugees into temporary accommodation. It follows an announcement from the Home Office that the UK was prepared to welcome 10,000 Afghan refugees during this year, and a total of 20,000 “in the long term”. The announcement comes amid the Taliban’s takeover of the country, which followed the withdrawal of NATO troops in the area. Harrowing pictures had emerged this week from Kabul Airport, showing Afghan civilians desperately trying to flee the country.
Alex Sobel Speaking in Parliament, Leeds Northwest MP Alex Sobel (Lab) said: “Our council in Leeds has already said it is standing ready to take people in temporary accommodation from Afghanistan, but we need safe routes across the land borders. “There needs to be safe passages from those third countries to the UK.” Hilary Benn (Lab, Leeds Central) added: “I agree completely and
the people of Leeds, the city of Leeds, has always had a big heart, and we will play our part.”
sheltering 20,000 over the long term, while warning there were “significant obstacles”.
Parliament had been recalled, despite the summer recess, to discuss the unfolding situation in Afghanistan.
No further statement was made in response to this by Leeds City Council.
Leeds City Council put out a statement last week, stating: “We are already working alongside other councils across the region as part of the current Afghan relocation scheme, coordinated by Migration Yorkshire, and will consider any further proposals put forward by the government in due course.” Mr Benn said: “There is some immediate priorities to address. The first is to get people out – British citizens, and all of those who worked with us and supported us over 20 years to
Hilary Benn whom we owe a debt. “We have an obligation to them, and we have to help them resettle because they are in fear of their lives.” A statement released by the Home Office this week read claimed a new “bespoke” resettlement scheme had been created for Afghan refugees, and would see the UK commit to
Mr Benn said: “It’s not the promise, it’s the number who are able to make it to this country. We have a long and proud tradition of offering fear to those in crisis. “In the longer term, we need to reflect on how this happened and what lessons we can learn, but that is for tomorrow. Today’s task is to help those who are living in fear because of the return of the Taliban. “We all remember what they did the last time they were in control of Afghanistan.” Article by Local Democracy Reporting Service
RETAIL SALES FALL SHARPLY DESPITE EASING COVID CURBS Retail sales volumes fell by 2.5 per cent in July from June despite the easing of coronavirus restrictions, but still 5.8 per cent higher than the pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Food store sales volumes dropped monthly by 1.5 per cent in July, following an increase in the previous month when sales were boosted by the Euro 2020 football championship, while non-food stores sales volumes plunged by 4.4 per cent in July compared with June, according to the ONS.
Image: Wikipedia
Samuel Tombs
Meanwhile, automotive fuel sales volumes decreased by 2.9 per cent over the month, marking the first monthly fall since February 2021, the ONS data showed. "Disappointing 2.5 per cent m/m fall in UK retail sales in July is hard to explain," said British independent economist Julian Jessop, adding that "hopefully just reflects end of Euros, diversion of spending to hospitality etc. as Covid restrictions lifted, and bad weather. But perhaps also shortages of some goods due to global supply chain problems". Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, an economic research consultancy, said he wouldn't attribute July's fall to people returning to restaurants. "Non-food sales fell more than food. Disruption and fear caused by the Delta wave was the dominant driver." Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said the lifting of restrictions "did not bring the anticipated in-store boost, with the wet weather leaving consumers reluctant to visit shopping
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destinations". Since 19 July almost all of England’s remaining Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted. More than 87 per cent of people aged 16 and over in Britain have had their first dose of vaccine and more than 75 per cent have received both doses, the latest figures showed.
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85% OF SOUTH ASIAN ADULTS WANT TO INTRODUCE HEALTHY HABITS INTO THEIR LIFESTYLE of support options to help motivate people and help them maintain a healthy weight. It’s never too late to make changes to help improve your health. Visit the Better Health website for ideas and support that is right for you and you can seek support from your local weight management service.”
A recent England-wide survey by Public Health England (PHE) reveals that 85% of South Asian adults are motivated to introduce healthy habits into their lifestyle this summer. The new insights show the extent that lockdown has impacted the eating and physical activity habits of different communities with 43% of South Asian adults reporting that they have put on weight since lockdown. On average, those who said they had gained weight during this period reported they had gained over half a stone (5.8kg) and 72% believed this was due to eating unhealthily and eating too much. In response, PHE has launched its latest ‘Better Health’ campaign to encourage adults across the nation to lose excess weight, eat more healthily and get active this summer. The new campaign offers free evidence-based support and guidance to those working towards a healthier weight. There are a variety of NHS endorsed apps, including the newly updated NHS Weight Loss Plan app - which according to new research due to be published by PHE, suggests that those who used and followed the plan over 12 weeks, reported an average
Better Health is also working in partnership with a number of weight management and physical activity partners who are providing both free and exclusive discounted offers. PHE is also working with local authorities to provide weight management support to those who need it.
loss of almost a stone. The wide range of resources also includes new recipes that offer healthier versions of traditional south asian dishes such as chicken jalfrezi, macher jhol, and punjabi dhal to help people introduce small and simple changes this summer. These recipes, and more, will be available on the NHS Easy Meals App. As part of the campaign brothers Neil and Sean Mukherjee from Oxford, have shared their experience
of weight gain during the pandemic and how they have worked together to develop healthier eating habits over lockdown. For Neil and Sean, cooking is an opportunity to be experimental with traditional recipes and make healthy tweaks. The brothers learnt to cook from their mother from an early age. “She taught us that spices act as the foundation of all South Asian cooking,” says Neil. Later as adults, they spent some time in India and learnt how to cook more traditional Indian recipes. Neil Mukherjee said: “Our relationship with food is so important. We wanted to start eating better, but we wanted to continue eating the Indian dishes we know and love. We used the Better Health website to find tips on how to get started on our better health journey.” Now, instead of reaching for coconut oil, they opt for healthier oils such as sunflower or olive oil. The brothers have also reduced their rice and chapati portions and increased their vegetable intake after being inspired by
all the vegetable-based dishes they discovered whilst in India. Dr Linia Patel (PhD, RD, MBDA), Dietitian & Sports Nutritionist, said: “Maintaining healthy habits has been far from easy over the past year which for many of us has meant we have gained more weight than we might have expected. However, summer is a great opportunity to eat healthily, be more active, and start making more changes to lose some weight and improve our health. That is where the Better Health campaign comes in, it has a range of free tools and support if you want to eat healthier, get active and lose weight. The NHS Weight Loss Plan app for example helps people lose weight in an easy, healthy and safe manner.”
The upcoming launch of the new Office for Health Promotion in Autumn will lead national efforts to level up the health of the nation by continuing to support people living with obesity, supporting mental health and promoting physical activity. Search ‘Better Health’ or visit nhs.uk/betterhealth for free tools and support to start leading a healthier lifestyle today.
ABOUT THE BETTER HEALTH CAMPAIGN The Better Health webpage (nhs.uk/BetterHealth) provides tools to help people improve their health and lose weight:
Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist, Public Health England said: “The past sixteen months have caused many to change their habits so it is not a surprise to see so many people reporting weight gain.
Weight Loss: ● NHS Weight Loss Plan App ● BMI Calculator ● NHS Easy Meals App ● NHS Food Scanner App Get more active: ● NHS Couch to 5k ● NHS Active 10 App Reduce alcohol intake: ● NHS Drink Free Days App
“We know how hard it can be to lose weight and keep it off – so, we are providing a range
All the above apps are free and can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Play.
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THE INCREDIBLE COST OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND HOW A GROUP IN LEEDS IS TRYING TO OFFSET IT
KITTING OUT A CHILD’S YEARLY SCHOOL WARDROBE COSTS OVER £300 ON AVERAGE, WITH MORE SCHOOLS OPTING FOR LOGOONLY UNIFORM DESPITE NEW LEGISLATION Continued from cover There is no law that says children in Britain must wear a uniform, but since The Elementary Education Act 1870 which introduced free education for all children, uniform has been the norm, with over 90% of schools across Britain requiring it. Schools set their own uniforms, and the consequences for pupils breaking the rules set. Schools have the ability and often assert the power to temporarily suspend or even expel pupils for breaking the uniform guidelines, regardless of the circumstances or finances of the family. In 2018 and 2019, there were 7,894 permanent exclusions and 438,265 fixed-notice exclusions. Failure to adhere to uniform rules is not a registered reason for exclusion by the Office of National Statistics so the true number of exclusions because of uniform is unknown. The most common reason for both permeant and fixed-notice exclusions is for “persistent disruptive behaviour”.
Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021 was passed in Parliament, which will require schools to follow new statutory guidance on uniform costs, instructing them to keep prices down. The cross-party support for the Bill recognised the costs parents face for school uniform, particularly for branded items, and the statutory guidance will tell schools to consider high street alternatives.
families money and ensure the cost of a blazer or shirt is never a barrier to accessing the best possible education.” The Department will publish the statutory guidance in the autumn this year, which will focus on ensuring costs are reasonable for families of all backgrounds and giving parents the best value for money. It will also include measures on encouraging second-hand uniform, schools’ arrangements with suppliers, and ensuring parents have access to clear information about uniform policies. Children’s rights advocacy charity the Children’s Society found that parents and carers pay on average £315 for primary school children’s uniform and £337 for young people in secondary school, which works out about £326 on average.
School Standards Minister Nick Gibb
Despite recent legislation instructing schools to keep their uniform prices and logo requirement to a minimum, the price of uniform is continuing to increase, with more schools requiring logo-only items.
Talking about the Bill, School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “School uniforms are important in establishing the right ethos in a school. They also help to improve behaviour and a sense of belonging and identity. But we want to be sure they are affordable for parents.
On 29 April of this year, the
“This new law will help to save
In 2015, the average for a year’s worth of school uniform for secondary school kids costs approximately £212.88 and £196.59 for pupils in primary school. This is an increase of just over £124 for secondary pupils, and £119 for primary school kids. The costliest items of uniform include blazers that on average can reach up to £40 or more.
Coats, shoes, school bags, and jumpers and dresses are also some of the pricier items. Shockingly, gender divides start early, with parents of girls facing higher costs for the uniforms. For girls, the average cost of primary school uniforms from Year 1 to 6, totals £66.76 more than the cost for boys’ uniforms; £1,422.26 for girls and £1,355.50 for boys during the same period. Research from Deichmann, suggests that the reason for this is because “of the cost differences between blouses and shirts, skirts and trousers, and dresses and shorts”. The Children’s Society’s 2020 survey (of around 1,000 parents across the UK) found that many parents struggle to pay these high costs with nearly a quarter (23%) of parents in the survey said that the cost of school uniform had meant their child had worn ill-fitting, unclean, or incorrect uniform. Talking about the cost of uniforms for kids in Leeds, a father to three girls Daniel Stillings, said: “It is robbery is what it is. I can’t see why they don’t just do away with uniforms like American schools. I have three girls, one starting high school in September and its cost me over £150 for uniform just for
her and I’ve still got to get her some shoes.” Wearing the wrong uniform can lead to children being bullied, feeling left out or even being excluded from school. The charity estimates that nearly half a million children have been sent home from school because the costs meant they were wearing incorrect uniform. Lorraine, a parent and governor of a high school in Leeds said: “My son recently left secondary school but after being astounded about the prices of uniform, I did a bit of an investigation into school uniforms myself. “When my son was as around eight or nine, the official school uniform supplier, Rawcliffes Schoolwear Centre, was charging around £70 for a blazer which is outrageous. Luckily, the school’s parents’ association ran a second-hand uniform shop from its premises a few times a week and that is where I got most of my son’s uniform when he needed it, but the price for the uniform brand new is out of this world. “We found a different uniform shop, Whitakers Schoolwear, known as Uniformity at the time, that supplied the branded items for his secondary school, and they were selling blazers for
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around £25. It is still expensive for some families but not in the realm of the cost of the other uniform.
emissions and £50k in uniform costs.
“I was in touch with a single mum from South Leeds that was explaining that her daughter was getting in trouble, missing lessons, and sent home from school because her skirt didn’t have the little logo patch on, it was ridiculous. The school trousers didn’t require the patch and the patch wasn’t available then to buy on its own, so you could sew it on yourself as a more affordable option.” Lorraine found that after speaking to the owner Uniformity and found out that schools in the area are pressured to stick with the same, and sometimes only supplier because they received cashback for every logo item sold. She said: “I found out that some schools only have one official supplier because they get a percentage of the money back with every item sold, and that the owners of the uniform shops, say ‘well if you split the supply between two shops you will potentially only get half the cashback that you get now’. “The cashback is legitimate”, says Lorraine. “It goes into a pot for the school to help pay for children to go on school trips who can’t afford it and things like that, but most parents do not know that there is this cost
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Image: Ben Molyneux, Shutterstock
built-in to their children’s uniforms and it something that I think people really need to know.” Some councils offer help with school uniform costs, however Leeds does not. On their website, it states “we do not provide financial help with school uniforms but your child’s school or a uniform exchange may be able to help.” One way to offset the massive cost of school uniforms, is through donating, swapping, and exchanging good quality used uniform, instead of putting it into landfill or into fabric rag boxes. Since 2020, Zero Waste Leeds has facilitated a free city-
wide unform exchange, through Social Business Brokers CIC, a social enterprise that has been working for over ten years on creative, collaborative approaches to tackling social and environmental problems in Leeds. The Leeds School Uniform Exchange project is active across all parts of the city with 70% of Leeds schools covered. In the first ten weeks of the project’s interactive map being live on their website, a tool that can help parents find the closest uniform exchange or pop-up shops, over 3000 items of uniform were reused resulting in savings of 600kg in potential textile waste, 8.1m litres of water, 10,800kg CO2
Suzanne Nicholls, communications manager from Zero Waste Leeds said: “The uniform exchange is both about environmental and social issues. The cost of new uniforms is enormous, both to the parents and to the environment. There were some small-scale uniform exchange programmes happening across Leeds before we launched but with the funding we have now, we have made it so that 70% of the schools in Leeds is covered in one way or another. “The uniform exchange ranges from organisations, schools, and community groups running their own swap days, to local parents finding each other on the Facebook group and organising a swap. We have found that more people want to donate their kid’s uniform, that perhaps they didn’t wear because of the pandemic or grown out of, than people who use the service. We want everyone, to partake and use the clothes donated so that secondhand uniform is the new normal and is the first port of call before dishing out for new items.” To find out about how to get involved with the Leeds School Uniform Exchange, you can visit their website www. zerowasteleeds.org.uk
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MAHR – AMONGST MANY RIGHTS, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RIGHTS OF A WIFE BY SABEENA DIN With the restrictions of lockdown being lifted and wedding season in full swing, there cannot be a better time for us to talk about Mahr. What is this? Who does it belong to? How much should the husband pay? Is it a must? Award winning, Leeds based solicitor Sabeena Din is back to answer your questions. In Islam, marriage holds a high value and is a Sunnah (tradition/ practice) of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Marriage is the only legitimate or the halal way to live with someone, so to cohabit one must enter into a ‘Nikah’ (marriage according to Islamic law) as living together as a couple outside the ‘Nikah’ contract is not permissible under sharia law or haram. There are 3 elements that form the Nikah contract which are: (a) Consent of both parties (b) An offer (the groom offers) (c )An acceptance (by bride). It is absolutely vital that these three things are present to form the Nikah contract. What is a Mahr – It is one of the
Sabeena Din Milsons Legal
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important aspects of a nikah marriage or contract. It is a gift, or a promise of a gift, to the wife by the husband. It is usually agreed between the parents or elders of the bride and the groom verbally or in writing shortly before the couple’s marriage. It is recorded on the nikah contract. Technically it’s a clause in your nikah contract.
Mahr is an obligation, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom. While the mahr is often money, it can also be anything agreed upon by the bride such as jewellery, home goods, furniture, money, property or some land. Mahr is typically specified in the nikah contract signed upon marriage and agreed in advance. Mahr is said to be one of the many rights of the wife and it is something which must be given directly to her. There are two kinds of mahr, prompt or deferred. Deferred mahr is delayed at a later point. Some people fix the mahr to an agreed limited sum of cash. There is no fixed or even recommended amount in Islam. More recently in the news is the case of Nazma Quraysha Brishty who is suing her ex-husband and his family for full payment of her mahr, or bridal payment, after the mutually agreed, arranged marriage ended in divorce. If she wins, the case will change the dynamics of the recognition of the nikah all over UK. Thousands of women who for whatever reason have not registered their nikah in the UK may have a precedent case to support them. If Brishty wins this case, her case could help thousands of women in similar positions on their nikah marriages. Under sharia law, the wife has the right to ask for her full mahr at any time during her marriage or upon a divorce. Married south Asian women who have registered their marriage in the UK must apply to the family court to deal
with finances of the marriage, which typically is a part mahr payment (if at all) of the money as part of the overall financial settlement under section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. The UK courts have dealt only with cases involving written mahr,
England in January 2017. They separated later that year and were divorced in 2018. Brishty’s former in-laws paid her £5,005 – the mahr written in their nikah contract but refused to pay the remaining sum that Brishty says her former father-in-law promised verbally, in the presence of her father and another witness, before and at the wedding ceremony. Her ex-husband and his family deny there was an oral contract. At present there is no case law or parliamentary law dealing with women in her position. This case if won will be a huge victory for all those in similar position. This will then become a leading case in this area. It will mean more women will come forward and demand a full payment of their mahr either oral or written. The judgement in this case would be a firm stand for not only Muslim women but to women from all cultural backgrounds where the tradition of giving mahr is practised, regardless of their immigration status in the UK and whether the contract was in oral or written form. The fact is that the law does have a gap where women who only have had a nikkah contract in the UK are without any protection. The judgement if in favour of the
Image: Wikipedia
London County Court. in parties nikah contracts. The case of Brishty is the first case of its kind, involving an alleged oral contract to be heard in the UK courts. The facts of this particular case are that Brishty (wife) has taken her ex-husband, former motherin-law and former father-in-law, to the London County Court to demand the full payment of her mahr, which she says is worth approximately £55,000. The couple had a mutually agreed, arranged marriage in
wife will give these women a ray of hope. It will be interesting to see how the court rules in this case. Where can I get more information about this? To find out where your marriage stands under English law or if you’re planning on getting married and wish to obtain advice contact Sabeena Din at Milson Legal Solicitors for a free initial consultation on 0113 8730032.
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NEW PAINTED BOTTLE BINS INSTALLED IN LEEDS FOLLOWING SUCCESS OF GLASS RECYCLING CAMPAIGN Leeds has increased its recycling of glass by 37%, equating to an extra 57 bottles and jars per household over the last year. BY SHAWNA HEALEY Over the last year, Leeds has increased its recycling of glass by 37%, equating to an extra 57 bottles and jars per household. Building on this success Zero Waste Leeds with Leeds City Council are running a glass recycling campaign, to say thank you and inspire the people of Leeds to recycle even more glass. As part of this campaign, three newly decorated glass banks are being installed in Bramley, Crossgates and Seacroft. Sporting colourful designs, created by local youth groups, the glass banks are certain to catch the eye and spark conversations around glass recycling. The glass banks were transported to their new homes on 16 August. To celebrate the launch of the new banks and as part of the ongoing campaign, Zero Waste Leeds have been engaging the local communities around the importance of recycling their glass. Recycling glass helps reduce carbon emissions and is a vital
Zero Waste Leeds has been instrumental in increasing glass recycling across the city.
An extra 5,000 tonnes of glass was recycled last year. step in tackling the climate emergency. For every 10% of recycled glass added into a furnace, there is a 2.5% energy saving. With 17 furnaces running 24/7 across Yorkshire that is a significant energy reduction. Cllr Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for Environment and Housing, said: “I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone in Leeds who has recycled glass over the last year, it is a really important step in our mission to tackle the climate emergency so it is really pleasing to see an extra 5,000 tonnes recycled. “Being able to expand our offering of glass banks is also
a significant step in the right direction, especially when the banks are so eye-catching. I would like to thank all those involved in the delivery and design of the bottle banks and I am sure they will serve their communities well.” It’s really easy to recycle glass, it doesn’t need to colour sort it and you can even leave bottle tops and lids on and these will get recycled too. Glass collected in Leeds goes to a local facility, where they sort, process, and remelt 95% of the glass into new bottles, thereby reducing further transport requirements and reducing carbon emissions.
Rob Greenland, co-director, Zero Waste Leeds, said: “We were delighted to be able to work with young people in Cross Gates, Bramley and Seacroft to come up with designs for new glass banks as part of our glass recycling campaign. “Each group came up with very different and wonderful designs in workshops with local social enterprises We Belong Here and Seagulls Reuse. We hope the new banks will encourage even more people to want to recycle their glass. We’re very grateful to Friends of Glass, Allied Glass and Ardagh Glass for funding the campaign,
and to The Tribe Youth Group, BARCA-Leeds and Fall Into Place for their work. Working with communities in the city is at the heart of what we do at Zero Waste Leeds and we’re very proud of this collaboration.” Leeds has over 700 glass banks at almost 400 locations. Finding the nearest bank is easy by downloading the handy Leeds Bins app or checking out the interactive map on the Zero Waste Leeds website which also shows how much glass has been recycled at each bank in the last year – by weight and converted into the equivalent number of bottles and jars – and the amount of energy saved.
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ASIAN STANDARD / LEEDS
@ASIANSTANDARD
OPINION
Unfiltered with Aunty Razia Razia Bibi, aka Aunty Razia is our resident 80-year-old columnist. She wants to give a voice to a whole generation of women who feel their views are seldom heard. Like so many first generation South Asian women of her era, Aunty Razia has a very powerful life story of her own. So many of these stories go untold and, as time goes by, there are fewer people around to ensure this part of history is kept alive. Aunty Razia, who lives in Bradford, speaks Punjabi, Urdu, Swahili, Gujarati and English and in her own style, every week will share her views on life. Sometimes you may not like her straight talk, but who said life was a bed of roses and our Aunty Razia's life most certainly wasn't. Over to you Aunty Razia. A DISCOURSE ON DIVORCE
Maintaining the perfect, cereal packet family image was prioritised over the truth and by God did everybody suffer.
Divorce - a word as guarded and sworn into secrecy as my nani’s halwa recipes, the duosyllabic existence of it often dissolved into hushed whispers at glittering dawats and all this fuss led me to ponder one eve over a cup of chai; Why? Why do we not engage in conversations about divorce? Is that dirty of a word to be heard slipping out of a married individual’s lips? Especially in the present era where divorce has become analogous to purchasing a tin of coconut biscuits and returning them after a few days because suddenly your palate dislikes the dry, sandy flavour. This chatter prompts me to dip my finger into the crevasses of my mind and procure the memory of my street where a man shoved out his wife for no substantial reason apart from the fact that he disliked the way she kept her house. Logic seems
to sprout wings and fly out of the window on such instances. The magazines I used to peruse in my youth were chock full of sizzling, scandalous stories where wives were divorced for wearing too much makeup and where women had lusted towards adultery as their husbands did not allure them anymore. Whatever the problem maybe I deduce that people have resorted to seeing divorce as an easy escape instead of persevering to keep the flames of matrimony burning longer. But again, there are some bewakoofs that make it seem as if the devil had a free spin on the matchmaker however as prevalent as it is now divorce in my time was a vague concept as rare as hen’s teeth. I married in Kenya and birthed five beautiful children. With a farm as our solitary source of income, my husband and I put in lots of spadework and whether it was the physical exertion or the stress that, with the passage of time led my husband to develop mental health issues.
After a diagnosis, the hospital concluded that he must be sectioned however with the stigma around mental health and the lack of quality content educating the masses, this conclusion was swiftly dissolved under the word of my in-laws. My mother-in-law refused to allow his sectioning and was adamant that I must take better care of him because obviously ‘log kya kahengey?’ Maintaining the perfect, cereal packet family image was prioritised over the truth and by God did everybody suffer. With the elbow grease needed on the farm, bringing up five children, ensuring they get adequate love while providing my husband with the gentle care he needed fragmented my existence into pieces. Just as the songbirds pecked at the ripe orange and took with them sweet slices, I too carved off slivers of myself and hand-fed it to those I loved for even fathoming a separation from my husband was impossible. I strived and the past bears a testimony to a future where I would’ve strived more had it not been my in-laws who threw me and my children out on the streets. Every day was a war on the streets, it was only sheer commitment and my iron will that sealed my survival who kehte hain na jo dar gaya samjho mar gaya, I never let my fate scare me because after all, the lines delineating it were etched on my palms, the palms I would use to shape a better future and so I did. We camped at an area near a petrol station as that guaranteed 24-hour lighting and the metaphysical darkness in our lives would never turn into tangible shadows. I then scouted a job and worked
countless hours to make ends meet and honestly I never minded the physical aches as much as the emotional jabs stung. As Manto once said “The barbs of society are always reserved for the women” and accusatory fingers always pointed to me instead of my inlaws and ex-husband. All these shortcomings lay firmly on my shoulders however I rooted them deep somewhere in my subconscious and disallowed them to interfere with my life and soon I met my second husband. I was fortunate enough to have found a soul as gentle as his; he loved me and my five children as his own and brought me with him to the UK where I have rebuilt my life for the past three decades. He is no longer alive, and I never remarried but I am deeply grateful for the blessed life I live. Separation impacts couples devastatingly and more so if they have children that are forever lost wondering where they belong. The single parent is weighed down with dual duties that may have a significantly negative impact on the child’s development and despite everything I firmly believe divorce is never the answer. If there is even a sliver of love and compassion, you rekindle the spark that once ignited in your hearts, work on communication and solutions because frankly the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and divorce comes with its fair share of problems. However, if it is the last resort then proceed with caution and mutual satisfaction. It is easy to suggest these solutions as you munch on samosas but at the end of the day only the couple knows what is ideal for them and their fate rests in their very own hands.
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AKSHAY KUMAR: PRANKS ARE A PART AND PARCEL OF SHOOTING WITH ME.
KARTIK AARYAN WELCOMES ALAYA F ONBOARD FOR 'FREDDY'.
SALMAN KHAN'S 'TIGER 3' LOOK LEAKED, GOES VIRAL
TIGER SHROFF, KRITI SANON'S 'GANAPATH' TO RELEASE ON CHRISTMAS 2022
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FILM FASHION BEAUTY
ALI FAZAL: IT'S QUALITY OF WORK THAT MAKES US STAND OUT Actor Ali Fazal, who took the spotlight with his impactful performances in web-series and films, says it is the quality of work that will make talent stand out. However, there was a time, when he was just focussing on quantity that led to making many “sins”. Talking about what matters to him more -- quality or quantity of work, Ali in a chat with IANS said "It's a subjective question for all actors. We all look for quality. If quantity comes with quality then it's even better but at this stage... maybe if I was asked a year ago, I would have said quantity." The 34-year-old actor "I think somewhere some shift has happened and I really... It is all about quality. But I suppose I am at a stage where that quality comes with certain responsible parts so maybe I have the privilege to say quality." The actor made his Bollywood debut with a cameo appearance in the 2009 film "3 Idiots". He appeared next in "Always
Kabhi Kabhi". His tryst with success started with "Fukrey", "Victoria & Abdul" and series such as "Mirzapur". "There was a time when I was focusing on quantity. So, because of that I made many sins but anyway I will say quality," said Ali.
He added "These days I think quality is what will make us stand out because it is going to be a lot of work and cinema on all kinds of platforms so I am sure a lot of people can do it but it is the quality that makes the difference between good and really good."
'KGF CHAPTER 2' FINALISES RELEASE DATE: APRIL 14, 2022
Mark your calendars as the release date of the much-awaited action film 'KGF: Chapter 2' is out. After suffering a release delay, the movie is now set to come out in theatres on April 14, 2022. Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed the news on his Instagram handle in a post captioned as, "#KGF2 14 APRIL 2022 RELEASE... Team #KGFChapter2 finalises the release date 14 April 2022... Stars #Yash, #SanjayDutt, #SrinidhiShetty and #RaveenaTandon... Directed by #PrashanthNeel... Produced by #VijayKiragandur. #KGF2onApr14." The movie was earlier supposed to be released in July this year but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country. For the unversed, Sanjay Dutt will be seen essaying the role of the antagonist Adheera in 'KGF Chapter 2', which is a follow-up of the Kannada blockbuster 'KGF Chapter 1'. Starring South star Yash in the lead, the first part's narrative follows an underdog who later becomes a dangerous gangster. The upcomin g sequel is said to follow the power struggle between Rocky (Yash) and Adheera (Sanjay). Apart from Yash and Sanjay Dutt, the movie will also star Bollywoo d actor Raveena Tandon in the lead role. Helmed by Prashanth Neel, the film will also feature Srinidhi Shetty in a lead role. The first installment of the film was also directed by Neel.
KARTIK AARYAN WELCOMES ALAYA F ONBOARD FOR 'FREDDY'. Actor Alaya F recently confirmed that she has joined the cast of the upcoming Kartik Aaryanstarrer 'Freddy'. The 'Jawaani Jaaneman' actor took to her Instagram handle to share the news. She posted a picture of herself holding the movie's clapperboard with a caption that reads, "Ready for Freddy! Sooooo happy to be on board with the most wonderful team!" Lead actor Kartik Aaryan also welcomed his co-star on board for the movie. "Welcome @alayaf From Freddy )," Kartik wrote in the caption with a monochrome picture featuring Alaya cutting a cake on the film sets. 'Freddy' went on floors on August 1 in Mumbai. Kartik announced the news on his Instagram Story and shared a picture from the sets. The forthcoming film is being helmed
by Shashanka Ghosh and is produced by Ekta Kapoor (Balaji Telefilms) and Jay Shewakramani (Northern Lights Films). The romantic thriller is said to be packed with unpredictable twists and sharp turns. The characters in the movie are set to take the movie buffs on a dark and chilling rollercoaster ride, where the lines between love and obsession will blur. 'Freddy' marks Ekta and Shashanka's second film after the hit flick 'Veere Di Wedding', which had released in 2018. Apart from 'Freddy', Kartik has Ram Madhvani's 'Dhamaka', Anees Bazmee's 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', and Hansal Mehta's 'Captain India'. Kartik will also be seen in Sameer Vidwans' directorial venture, which was earlier titled 'Satyanarayan Ki Katha'.
On the other hand, Alaya, who made her Bollywood debut with the 2020 rom-com 'Jawaani Jaaneman' starring alongside Saif Ali Khan and Tabu, has Ekta Kapoor's upcoming Hindi remake of the 2018 blockbuster Kannada thriller 'U-Turn' in the pipeline.
FILM FASHION BEAUTY
SALMAN KHAN'S 'TIGER 3' LOOK LEAKED, GOES VIRAL Salman Khan is currently shooting in Russia for his upcoming film 'Tiger 3'. The superstar's look from the spy thriller has been leaked and has caused a tizzy on social media. A fanpage on Instagram which goes by the name 'salmanic_aryan' has shared a few stills from the film, featuring the 'Dabangg' star, who is unrecognisable in his get up. According to the fanpage, the pictures are from a car chase sequence that is being shot in the country. The 55-yearold superstar is seen sporting long reddish brown hair and
a beard. He is wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, a red jacket and a headband for the look. Another set of pictures showed Salman posing with some fans. The third instalment, which is directed by Maneesh Sharma, also stars Katrina Kaif. 'Tiger 3' was put on hold due to the global outbreak of Covid-19. 'Tiger 3' is the third part of the spy thriller franchise. The first instalment 'Ek Tha Tiger' directed by Kabir Khan released in 2012. The second 'Tiger Zinda Hai' released in 2017 and was directed by Ali Abbas Zafar.
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'DESTINY'S CHILD' REUNION NOT HAPPENING, CONFIRMS BEYONCE' S FATHER.
Beyonce's fans might feel disappointed as the much specula ted 'Destiny's Child' reunion is not happening. Beyonce's father Mathew Knowles who is DC's official manage r told TMZ that currently there are zero plans for the iconic group to reunite, make an album, tour or do anything like that. He also said that the recent social media updates on 'Destiny 's Child's official accounts that sparked the rumours, were just a "routine revampi ng" by the record label. On a related note, Beyonce's "new music's coming" statement in an interview added further fuel to the fire. However, while teasing the upcomin g project, she didn't specify if it would be solo, or with her 'Destiny's Child' teammates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Knowles also weighed on to the fan response to the 'Destiny 's Child' reunion buzz and said that she is impressed by the huge demand for the singers to make a comeback; adding it is something they will take into account for the future.
MANUSHI WASN'T TOLD RAKSHA BANDHAN WAS ABOUT WOMEN SEEKING PROTECTION. Bollywood debutante and former beauty queen Manushi Chhillar has revealed that her parents Neelam and Mitra Basu Chhillar never told her sister Dewangana and her that Raksha Bandhan was about women seeking protection from their brothers. She says this made the two young girls of the family forward thinking individuals as Raksha Bandhan, in their household, has always been celebrated as a day where all the siblings wished happiness for each other. Manushi said "Our parents never told Dewangana and me that Raksha Bandhan was about our brother taking care of us for life and protecting us. They told us that Raksha Bandhan was all about all of us vowing to be beside each other through ups
and downs." "It was never about gender and how the man has to protect the women. It was never about us thinking that women need protection and thus were weak," she added. Manushi, who will be debuting in Bollywood in the big screen with 'Prithviraj' opposite Akshay Kumar, thanks her parents for instilling such progressive values. "For us, Raksha Bandhan is a time when we all keep our calendars free to just hang and chill and spend time with our parents. It's a celebration of us as a family and I just look forward to it every year. I credit my parents for being progressive and teaching us the right values that have shaped us to be forward thinking individuals," she said.
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TIGER SHROFF, KRITI SANON'S 'GANAPATH' TO RELEASE ON CHRISTMAS 2022 Mark your calendars as the release date for actors Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanonstarrer 'Ganapath' is out. The film is set to release on December 23, 2022. The makers of the film announced the date with a video that gives a hint of Tiger's character in and as 'Ganapath'. "Apun ka do baap hai, God aur janta. Dono ne bola aane ko, toh apun aa rha hai," Tiger said in the video. Excited about the movie, Tiger said, "'Ganapath' has been one of my most ambitious and challenging projects. This one truly is going to challenge me to an extreme level in terms of action as well the idea is to take the bar a lot higher for myself and 'Ganapath' is just the right vehicle to express a new action for our audiences here." Vashu Bhagnani and Pooja Entertainment present 'Ganapath' in association with Good Co. The film is directed by Vikas Bahl. While talking about the scale of the film, producer Jackky Bhagnani said, "During
the pandemic, it was tough to conceive a film of this scale and to bring so many people on board but we did it thanks to Vikas! The film has great action, it has a strong emotional core that takes it to another level. Tiger's phenomenal energy, discipline, and commitment to the film have simply wowed us all. This is going to be a landmark film and the fact that it is releasing in my birthday month is just the perfect cherry on the cake!" Director Vikas said he is both nervous and excited. "If nervousness and excitement lead to a great final output then I want a bit more of both. There are a few hurdles given the pandemic situation worldwide but we have a great team and there is immense excitement. Tiger keeps setting the benchmarks for us and Jackky is the Adrenalin running in our system," he said. Touted to be an action-thriller, the film will see Tiger and Kriti sharing screen space again after their debut film 'Heropanti'.
GURU RANDHAWA TO TURN ACTOR, EXPLORE MULTIPLE GENRES.
Singer-composer Guru Randhawa, who is all set to try his luck as an actor in Bollywood, is eager to explore different genres and not just limit himself to any one particular genre. Talking about it, Guru Randhawa told IANS I'm personally a big fan of Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio movies. This is my first film and I want to give my 100% to it, I would try and like to explore different genre like romantic, thriller etc in movies and not to get stuck with one. Opening up on why he decided to try his luck in acting, the singer expressed: “Well, it was all very instinctive. I mean, there wasn't a fixed process and I think it is a series of events that leads to one particular big event. It all fell in place one thing after the other. We signed this film last month and since then I've been excited to see my journey and the road ahead.” His debut film is a Hindi musical drama which showcases the tumultuous journey of a young musician. If Guru Randhawa tastes success as an actor, would he like to continue both acting and singing? “I would like to do both, and I think for me they will go hand in hand”, he replied. However, the musician is not ready to give up if his initial projects as an actor do not make it big. “That's destiny but my hard work will be constant always”, he shared. Quizzed if he has taken any formal training in acting, the singer replied: “Over the years I have been playing different roles for my three-minute music videos but now only the
duration of the movie will increase. I've learnt so much from Mrunal, Nushrratt, Nora (actors who have featured in his music videos) as they act for big screen. It's always a pleasure to learn from such talented people. The hard work and effort will be constant and will always be. I think I'm ready for my Bollywood debut”, Guru concluded.
DANIEL CRAIG BEATS DWAYNE JOHNSON IN LIST OF 2021'S HIGHEST-PAID ACTORS Actor Daniel Craig has topped the list of highest-paid movie stars of 2021, beating actor Dwayne Johnson with whopping USD 100 million in earnings. Craig topped Variety's highest-paid movie stars of 2021 list. Craig made his money from Rian Johnson's forthcoming 'Knives Out 2' and 'Knives Out 3'. As for Johnson who lands in the second spot, he is walking off with $50 million from Amazon's holiday-themed action movie 'Red One'. Right behind Johnson are Will Smith and Denzel Washington, who both
earned $40 million for their movies 'King Richard' and 'The Little Things', respectively. Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg, meanwhile, scored $30 million each for Netflix films 'Don't Look Up' and 'Spenser Confidential'. On the sixth spot is actress Jennifer Lawrence, who pocketed $25 million from 'Don't Look Up'. Other actors and actresses who made it to the list's top 10 are Julia Roberts ($25 million from 'Leave the World Behind', Sandra Bullock ($20 million from 'The Lost City of D') as well as Ryan Gosling ($20 million from 'The Gray Man'). Chris Hemsworth and Brad
Pitt matched Ryan's $20 million for 'Thor Love and Thunder' and 'Bullet Train', respectively. Actor Michael B. Jordan, on the other hand, earned $15 million from 'Without Remorse' while Tom Cruise was paid just $13 million upfront to star in 'Top Gun Maverick'. The list also shows Keanu Reeves landing at the 15th spot as he earned $12-14 million from 'The Matrix 4'. Joining the A-listers above are Chris Pine, who reportedly earned $11.5 million from his film 'Dungeons & Dragons' and Robert Pattinson, who earned $3 million from 'The Batman'.
FILM FASHION BEAUTY
MOVIE REVIEW
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'Bell Bottom': A brilliant narrative; must watch in theatres 'Bell Bottom' features Akshay Kumar as a RAW agent, who pulls off the impossible mission of recapturing a hijacked plane and landing it safely on Indian soil with all the passengers alive, without any bloodshed. It is slick and stylish all along. Akshay Kumar’s character, Anshul, is driven not only by the call of duty, but also because of a personal loss. His mother, an asthma patient, played by Dolly Ahluwalia, had died when an Indian flight had been hijacked by terrorists. She had lost her life because she'd been denied lifesaving oxygen by the hijackers. Kumar's character therefore is focused, determined and goal-oriented. The film stars Vaani Kapoor as the leading
lady (Akshay Kumar's wife). Her character has an amazing twist to her, which is revealed much later in the story. Lara Dutta plays Mrs Indira Gandhi and Huma Qureshi, a special agent working for the Dubai government. Kumar has definitely nailed the look and nuances of a special agent, who lives a normal life but drops
everything when duty calls. He is in top form looking slick and Director: Ranjit M. suave in his retro Tewari; look and for the most part holds the movie with Cast: Akshay Kumar, his acting skills. Vaani Kapoor, Huma He does justice Qureshi and Lara Dutta to the character he plays. The bond between Released: 19 August the mother and son is sweet. Vaani Kapoor has a sweet but impactful role. She excels in playing a goodhumoured character and looks stunning. She brings a lot of freshness when on-screen.
Film: Bell Bottom
The editing in the first half could have been crisper, but the second half is so smooth and pacy that you wouldn't know when the film ends. The special effects (VFX) could have been better.
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For Lara Dutta, this could be a career-defining role. She looks so much like Mrs Gandhi and excels in her performance. Huma Qureshi, especially when her real identity is revealed, will definitely blow you away. The narrative is gripping, and every character comes with a back story or sudden twist,
so the audience doesn't lose interest. The massive scale of the movie is outstanding; the makers (Pooja Entertainment) have not shied away from spending to make it larger than life and for achieving this in the middle of the pandemic is commendable.
The movie was shot in Scotland, but never once do you feel any liberties were taken with the narrative's authenticity. The production designer who recreated the 1980s deserves special mention. The songs are few but well-placed. The ones that stood out were the gurudwara song 'Khair Mangdi' and the title track 'Dhoom Taraa', which just stays with you much after you leave the theatre. 'Bell Bottom' is a must-watch on the big screen.
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AKSHAY KUMAR:
Pranks are a part and parcel of shooting with me.
Akshay Kumar is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars today and he hasn’t achieved this status by playing it safe, quite the contrary. Moving from his Khiladi status Kumar has really come on to his own, playing characters that have not only been revolutionary, but also far from a stereotypical Bollywood hero. Whether that be Padman or Toilet Ek Prem Katha Akshay has enthralled us all with his choice of films and has excelled. Once again Akshay is ten steps ahead with his latest Bellbottom being the first film crew to shoot during the pandemic and now the first major Bollywood film to have released in theatres in India. He seems to be once again risking it all but with success. The risk taker is also a mega prankster when on sets, here’s our interview with the mega star, taken before the release of Bellbottom. Exciting that Bellbottom is the first Hindi film to release in cinemas in India. With the lockdown people got used to watching movies on OTT platforms, what is your personal preference, are you a cinema goer, or do you prefer binging in the comfort of your own home?
immerse yourself in the pictures, sounds and overall experience of being in front of the big screen. Given the circumstances, everyone is putting effort into making the theatre experience feel normal and safe again, whether that be staff or members of the public.
Both are different experiences which have their merits in their own individual ways. I think films are made to be showcased to the audience, one way or another. With Covid, circumstances have certainly changed over the past year, meaning OTT streaming was the only viable means of consuming content, but I believe beyond that cinema theatres and OTT platforms can and will coexist with great success. A film like Bellbottom is tailored to be showcased to an audience in a theatre where you are able to
Lara Dutta has taken on a very interesting role in Bellbottom and thanks to you we got to see the BTS of her character. Her very first film was with you – Andaz in 2003 and many more films thereafter, if you had to comment on her journey in films, what would you say about her? Lara is a phenomenal professional and a very talented actress. It’s true, her role in Bellbottom is very interesting and her transformation is synonymous
with her versatility as a performer and great credit must also be given to makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad and his team for making her role appear so authentic. I have worked with Lara for almost two decades as you say and her journey has been so successful, but not surprising. She really does dive headfirst into her work, and she is brilliant in Bellbottom as you will see. I felt Lara would always do this character justice.
It’s been a while since we have seen you in an espionage thriller, and our office was just reminiscing about your action and stunts in your earlier films. So, it’s so good to see you back in this genre. In terms of action and stunts what can audiences expect from Bellbottom.
FILM FASHION BEAUTY
Audiences can expect plenty of action, balanced with suspense. The beauty of Bellbottom is that there is a perfect mix between scenes of high-octane action, with scenes where the suspense and tension will drive you to the edge of your seat. But it’s true, Bellbottom certainly entails plenty of stunts and explosive moments. You would have caught glimpses of it in the trailer.
You filmed extensively in Scotland and London and made history as the first film
crew to shoot a film in an international location amidst the pandemic. What was it like being on the sets in such a scenario and how does it feel to have been part of this historic milestone?
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Being the world's first film to shoot at an international location after the nationwide lockdown, the safety of our team was of absolute priority. There were extensive and meticulous safety measures in place as laid out by the production house, Pooja Entertainment, to enable a smooth and safe shoot.
Besides medical-grade masks and face shields, the production house had also made it mandatory for the cast and crew to wear a wrist watch, that would constantly monitor their oxygen levels, body temperature, blood pressure, stress levels and pulse via a centralised
dashboard. Along with this, everyone was instructed to live within the premises in bubbles, to minimise interaction with the outside world. Chefs were also appointed for the team to avoid the need to order food from restaurants. There was an on-set doctor looking into the vitals of all of the crew members on a daily basis and every 15 days the entire
crew would take a mandatory Covid test. There was a sanitisation tunnel installed for the crew to use before starting the day’s work and at the end of the day, each day, the set got disinfected. The Scottish government and the authorities were a big help
in this, guiding and supporting us each step of the way, ensuring a smooth sailing of the schedule.
We’ve always asked you about your pranks on sets and you’ve always given us some hilarious stories….Are there any you can share for Bellbottom? I think it helps build a camaraderie between everyone and eases the work environment. I can recall one such prank alongside my cast
member Adil Hussain. In one of the scenes Adil had to wear a certain watch for the purpose of continuity, but just before we started filming I shook his hand and somehow managed to get hold of the watch without his knowledge. Just before we started filming the assistant director came over and started asking ‘Adil sir, where is your watch? We need it to continue this scene’… Adil had no idea at all that I had taken it. He couldn’t understand why it was no longer on his wrist! How I took it, now that’s a trick. But yes, such harmless pranks are a part and parcel of shooting with me.
Vaani referred to you as a very funny person to work with, so what I want to know is how do you be so jovial on sets and humorous, but then can go straight into a scene that is the complete opposite and intense. As an actor, how do you manage to switch and get back into character so easily? Not all actors can do so effortlessly. As I said, I like to keep spirits high in between filming. Being on set can be a long day for everybody and so much energy goes into making these films so I think it's so important to energize people with laughter and the odd prank or two – but once the cameras are rolling, there can be no other distraction. In fact, I feel it helps you concentrate on your scene better.
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WEST YORKSHIRE AND HARROGATE’S ROOT OUT RACISM CAMPAIGN, A GENUINE MOVEMENT, OR A STICKING PLASTER FOR INSTITUTIONAL RACISM? The movement aims to tackle racial health inequalities across West Yorkshire and Harrogate, but will it change anything? BY SHAWNA HEALEY A review of the health inequalities faced by black, Asian, and minority ethnic people across West Yorkshire and Harrogate in October 2020 produced a recommendation that an anti-racism campaign “recognising and appreciating that the black, Asian, and minority ethnic people are not one homogenous population” should be created. With the stipulation that “communication messages should be amplified at a local level to consider the impact of racism and digital exclusion.” The team at West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) have done exactly that and have created the campaign Root Out Racism to get organisations to recognise that racism, whether structural or overtly, exists, and that they are committed to becoming active allies instead of remaining passive or ignoring the issue completely. Evidence shows that people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities continue to face health inequalities, discrimination in the workplace and are more likely to develop and die because of a plethora of diseases, most recently Covid-19. Health inequalities that previously exist have been further exacerbated by recent events, namely the pandemic and economic recession. The movement that has been
Cllr James Lewis
Image: West Yorkshire and Harrogate Partnership
created by WY&H HCP has been rumbling for a few weeks already, with the official launch in Leeds and Bradford earlier this week.The launch saw a digital campaign across social media with organisations using #RootOutRacism to show their support and encourage other organisations and businesses to also take part. The campaign also features a pin-badge initiative – every person from organisations who pledge to root out racism will receive a pin badge to “wear with pride”. The campaign which has £80,000 worth of funding, with £20,00 coming from the Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has the backing of over 500 organisations, mainly healthcare settings such as GPs, pharmacies, sexual healthcare settings, as well as sports teams, charities, and religious groups. These organisations play vital roles in community, providing healthcare, shelter, and support to people, but why now? Structural inequality in wider society and in healthcare specifically coupled with institutional racism in West Yorkshire has been a known issue for decades. Arguably, this report and the recommendations that come with it have been produced because of the disproportionate impact that Covid-19 has had on people
from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities. It could also be considered a knee-jerk reaction to the murder of George Floyd, a Black American that was murdered by police officer Derek Chauvin and the Black Lives Matter Movement protests that exploded around the world following Mr Floyd’s death. Additionally, without additional funding or hard policy changes within healthcare settings and other institutions, this anti-racism campaign could be viewed as a sticking plaster, with glossy posters and hashtags on Twitter not doing much to eradicate hundreds of years’ worth of racism. However, the aim of the campaign is not to create an immediate change, the organisers of the movement recognises that this is unrealistic and instead the culture within these institutions needs to gradually adapt through changing attitudes and making informed decisions. Thea Stein, CEO of Leeds Community Healthcare Trust, defends the campaign by saying: “Unfortunately, you can never expect, with a movement like this, you will see immediate change, because you don’t see that. This is cultural change. Cultural change takes time. “I have been leading my organisation for six years and I know that, and I’ve had colleagues with me today, that people
from Black and ethnic minority communities feel safe within my organisation, they feel more positive, and they feel more included and listed too. That doesn’t happen overnight and as a society, and a wider community, that takes time. “So instant change? I think nobody is going to see instant change, but slow sustained change which means that it is absolutely clear that no organisation across West Yorkshire and Harrogate will tolerate racism of any sort, you will see that coming through.” The movement also has the backing of council leaders, including leader of Kirklees Council Councillor Shabir Pandor and leader of Leeds City Council James Lewis. The leaders collectively pledged to “Work together to root out racism in all its forms across our organisations and our city. Eradicating racism is everybody’s business, and we all have a role to play in challenging racism wherever we find it. “Leeds is richly diverse and a multicultural city, something that we all consider to be one of our key strengths. We are proud of our fantastic individuals, communities and organisations that work tirelessly to create a fairer city for everybody and will continue to support and work with them. “We are committed to building a city in which everyone feels safe, values and that they belong. At
the core of this commitment, is that we stand up to racism in all its forms. While we are proud of the progress we have made across Leeds, we recognise that racism and discrimination still exist and there is more work to be done. We are committed to having the challenging conversations about how we can do more to eradicate racism and discrimination and to support those who have experienced it.” Councillor Jonathan Pryor, deputy leader of council and executive member for Economy, Culture, and Education, said: “I welcome the widespread support across Leeds for such an important movement. We all have an important role to play to ensure racism has no place in our city or society. This message serves as an important reminder to us all of the hard work needed to ensure we create a fairer and more equal city for us all”. With good intentions from WY& HCP who aim to create an equal, anti-racist society across West Yorkshire, Harrogate and beyond, time will only tell whether this
Cllr Shabir Pandor movement will contribute to positive change or whether it was solely a superficial tick-box exercise in response to the highly politicised Black Lives Matter and Covid-19 aftermath.
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ASIAN SUNDAY TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY - THE JOURNEY SO FAR This past decade our company has seen and faced many challenges, but we are proud that today we have more than 150,000 people who read our newspapers every week and more than half a million readers online Fatima Patel
Inked into print in 2011 at a press in Bradford, consistently making headlines which went from reporting historical events to making history itself. Asian Sunday newspaper swiftly grounded itself as a benchmark publication and UK’s first, free Sunday newspaper solo-owned by a woman. The newspaper quickly became an essential print- the first Sunday title across the UK Asian media sector as it peeled back the layers of glossy print to fixate a limelight on UK-based South Asians and their oriental nuances. Asian Sunday newspaper began as an axiom in founder Fatima Patel’s brain and with the aid of her parents’ newsagents, where
London launch, Fatima Patel with Bradford's Dynamo
as a youngster she had helped with sorting and delivering newspapers. The abstraction of printing a free, Sunday paper delivered directly to homes, took shape and soon tangible form. The tabloid was a fanfare of colourful stories and became a breakfast table essential as families spent languid Sundays indulging in sweetened tea and crisp anecdotes that served to entertain, educate and link diverse communities in a single chain. Editorial content for Asian Sunday is a vast spread dichotomised between pages heavy with politics, news and current affairs along with the glittering fanfare of arts, culture and entertainment
Newspaper launch at Bradford City Hall
Fatima Patel interviewing Jeremy Corbyn Asian Sunday at the house of parliament within a mere two years of launching became a quantum leap for Fatima and the tycoon soared to astral heights unaware of the shadow of misfortune quietly trailing her. Following the newspaper launch, Fatima was tragically hospitalised and bed bound with numerous health complications consistent for a few years The mishap adversely impacted the newspaper and with deteriorating health, managing the Asian Sunday London title and the Asian Sunday Bradford title became impossible, consequently leading to a sudden and despairing wrap. The credits had been cued however avid readers of Asian Sunday craved the delicious warmth that suffused those who perused the newspaper and encouragement via heartfelt letters and texts began pouring in. The passionate words along, an iron will and the unconditional support from Mrs Rokaiya Patel; Fatima’s mother, the zest re-coloured her life and Fatima returned to full time word in 2015. The pinnacle seemed further than
that transcends stereotypes to encourage interaction and dialogue between various demographics. It is a fusion of cultures and diverse abstractions in one dialect that is crucial to bridge the verbal gaps between communities. Fuelled by Fatima’s moxie and the success of the Bradford edition in achieving recognition and fostering cross-community relations between the South Asian and local communities, in 2013 she decided to expand her venture and introduce her brainchild to the capital, launching initially in East London. This endeavour was largely supported by British Airways whose ethos of carving bridges to suture social and political gaps aligned with that of Asian Sunday. The newspaper’s prosperity was also positively influenced by members of Bradford Council, MPs at the time: Keith Vaz, Anas Sarwar, Yasmin Qureshi, David Ward with a tribute to fellow Bradfordians: Kimberley Walsh, Steven Frayne (aka Dynamo) and Bollywood’s darling Kareena Kapoor Khan. The glittering success of
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Interviewing Bollywood superstar's Shahrukh Khan and Kajol
before as challenges obscured her vision. Advertising revenues were flat-lining causing regional print newspapers to struggle financially while printing at a pace fast enough to match the digital tabloids was needless to say a herculean task yet Fatima had sown herself sure wings and with the faith of Icarus, flew to the sun.
Brainstorming ideas to reconceptualise the newspaper, Fatima teased the idea of a weekday title-Asian Standard and immediately gave it the green light for production. Asian Sunday was to be introduced as a multimedia platform producing interesting, visual content to not only satiate the demands of a
Asian Sunday the UK's first FREE Sunday paper swiftly, digitalised world but also cut down the extra cost of Sunday production.
Door to door delivery of Asian Sunday
The plan was spread out for ten years and with courage, determination and lots of elbow grease the Asian Sunday Kirklees was launched in 2018 with Fatima’s mother as the director under the company name RF publishing which are the combined initials of the dynamic duo. Both Asian Sunday Bradford and Asian Sunday Kirklees carved a niche for themselves in the publishing industry and were bourgeoning rapidly until March 2020 arrived
with the announcement of unprecedented lockdowns. This became a setback for the print as associates, sponsors and advertisers cancelled their contracts on the uncertain possibilities of the corona virus pandemic. However, with strict quarantining and isolation, the need for forming virtual communities became more prominent along with providing credible news to combat the prejudices that had become prevalent online regarding Asian communities. The newspaper was in high demand therefore the directors were swift to take the ten year plan from paper to print and Asian Sunday’s virtual existence became the cynosure. E-news, Interviews and the talk show- Let’s Talk soon landed us YouTube partner status that ensured Asian Sunday progressed as the supreme, multimedia platform it had morphed into. Finances became stable and as revenue was secured Asian Standard was released as a weekly print news title and today it has successfully proliferated into four regional print news titles; Asian Standard Bradford, Asian Standard Kirklees, Asian Standard North East and Asian Standard Leeds which work alongside Asian Sunday Onlinethe national brand. The timeline of the last two years spanning from making Asian Sunday completely digital and rebranding it as Asian Sunday Online has been marked by stellar growth and plans to sustain the
much-loved tabloid. The content has been consistently updated with quirky and original concepts to follow such as Simmering Sunday’s- a sumptuous food show, a make-over show, a panel-style guest show and multiple exciting endeavours along with expediting the print section as well where a further six Asian Standard regional titles are planned to launch by 2025.
but also engages wider communities, to bridge the gap of understanding respecting other people’s faiths, lifestyles, cultures by way of learning and if anything, to get the conversations started. “So, a special thank you to all who have helped make this possible.” Asian Sunday has truly become a news platform owned by the community and we are grateful
Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik with a copy of Asian Sunday Overwhelmed with a gentle love for the abundance of her virtual audience, Fatima said: “This past decade our company has seen and faced many challenges, but we are proud that today we have more than 150,000 people who read our newspapers every week and more than half a million readers online” The tycoon added with much vigour “But what makes me prouder is that we have achieved our mission of ensuring that our newspaper doesn’t just reach the South Asian communities
to everyone who has supported the brand. Having initially started with the abstract idea of creating a loving and inspirational community, we believe our success lies in the hearts of those that have come together through the pages of Asian Sunday. We pledge to continue enlivening your breakfast table discussions with delicious fables, news and entertainment and sincerely hope you stick around to keep reading and supporting the Asian Sunday Online and Asian Standard.
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FEELING TIRED? HERE’S HOW THE BRAIN’S INTERNAL ‘HOURGLASS’ CONTROLS OUR NEED FOR SLEEP – NEW RESEARCH BY PROFESSOR LUKAS B. KRONE Professor Lukas is a Doctoral researcher in neuroscience at the University of Oxford. In this feature for The Conversation he gives us an insight into our need for sleep No one can stay awake forever. While we’re awake, our need for sleep gradually increases. If we deprive ourselves of sleep, our brain functions – such as attention or judgement – are impaired, and sleep becomes irresistible. No matter whether we are on a couch or at work – if we ignore our need for sleep, we ultimately crash. Although sleep is absolutely vital, until now it hasn’t been known which structure of the brain tells us when we are tired. But our recent study has shown in laboratory mice that the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for the most complex brain functions – including perception, language, thought and episodic memory – helps us track our need for sleep. Clock and hourglass To ensure that we get enough sleep, our brain uses two tools: a clock and an hourglass. Our biological clock helps us to keep a 24-hour rhythm. It’s controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which is a small area deep in our brain. This coordinates the rhythms of various organs, and helps us to sleep at night and wake up in the morning. But our biological clock is only a guide – it’s not the main regulator of sleep. Instead, the brain uses an “hourglass” to keep track of the accumulated amount of sleep we’ve had. This hourglass slowly empties while we’re awake and refills while we’re asleep. This is why we’re able to stay awake longer when we need to, and make up this sleep deficit later by napping or sleeping longer the next night. While we have a good understanding of the location of the clock, the location of the hourglass is still debated. Around 100 years ago, Viennese
neurologist Constantin von Economo believed that the anterior hypothalamus and the junction of forebrain and brainstem – the region just in front of where our eye movements are initiated – were essential for the wake-sleep state. Since then, many centres that can switch the brain between wakefulness and sleep have been identified – but no timekeeping centre has been found. Some researchers have proposed that the brain does not measure the time we have spent awake – rather, it tracks how hard the brain works while we’re awake, and adjusts the amount of sleep we need accordingly. Research in support of this theory has found that individual areas of cortex can briefly switch off when overworked, even while the rest of the brain is still awake. This temporary shutdown of individual brain areas is termed “local sleep” and thought to be a mechanism that allows the brain’s cells to recover. While a person might not notice it, such a localised shutdown can profoundly affect someone’s performance – for example while
driving a car. But our brain would be very inefficient if individual parts of the cortex often went into local sleep whenever they felt they needed to. This is why it’s thought that the cortex may not only generate local sleep, but also activate the main sleep centres. The cortex To test whether the cortex was indeed responsible for tracking our need for sleep, we inactivated a group of cells in the cortex of mice. This prevented their cortex from signalling to other neurons. We observed that these mice stayed awake three hours longer each day than other mice, and did not properly catch up on sleep when kept awake beyond their usual bedtime. But while the hourglass seemed to run slower in these mice, the clock was unchanged. So even when our mice were placed in constant darkness for a few days, they kept their usual sleep-wake rhythm in the same way as mice with a normal cortex. But while we have shown the
cortex plays an important role in regulating sleep, we still do not know why this particular brain region regulates our need for sleep. The cortex is one of the most complex brain regions. It can permanently readjust its structural connections to store new memories and eradicate old ones, and consumes a large amount of energy for information processing. While in principle any neuron might have a mechanism that allows it to switch off before it’s damaged by excessive use, the cortex might be the region which needs sleep most and tells us first when we are tired and how much sleep we need. If cortex does play such a big role in making us tired, could we somehow manipulate the cortex and change our need for sleep? In recent years, several techniques have been developed to stimulate the brain from the outside with electrode pads placed on the head or through magnetic coils positioned above the skull. Both these methods generate electrical currents that modulate the electrical
signals that neurons use to communicate with each other. This can therefore allow researchers to modify brain activity in a specific area – such as the cortex. In fact, at least one of those techniques appears to temporarily make the brain more awake and can reduce the amount of sleep the following night by about 25 minutes. So it seems feasible that, in the near future, the cortex could become a target for similar methods of manipulating our need for sleep. Even if researchers can find ways of doing this, this does not necessarily mean you will be able to sleep less and do as much – or more – than you do now. Suppressing sleep might be dangerous, as sleep serves several essential, but still poorly understood, functions in our body and brain – such as memory processing, and making sure our immune system and metabolism function properly. But for many of us who struggle to feel tired and fall asleep, manipulating the cortex could become a way of triggering sleep when we’re struggling to nod off.
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RECIPE
CHICKEN TACOS
INGREDIENTS Chicken: 1 chicken breast, cut across so you have two fillets 1 tbsp oil 1 tsp Supreme Garlic Paste 1 tsp Supreme Onion Powder ¼ tsp Supreme Garlic Powder 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp Supreme Smoked Paprika ½ tsp Supreme Cayenne Pepper ½ tsp Supreme Cumin Powder Salt to taste 2 tbsp oil Other Ingredients: Corn tortillas Sour cream Coriander leaves Lime wedges Guacamole: 2 avocados, destoned and flesh removed Juice of a ½ lemon Juice of 1 lime Salt to taste ½ tsp Supreme Chilli Flakes ¼ tsp Supreme Coarse Black Pepper ½ cup red onion, chopped into small cubes ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, chopped into small cubes ½ cup chopped coriander Pico de Gallo: 1 vine tomato, de-seeded and chopped into small cubes. ½ cup finely chopped coriander 1 medium onion, chopped into small cubes Zest of 1 lime Juice of 2 limes 1 tsp Supreme Garlic Paste 1 ½ tbsp fresh jalapenos, finely chopped Salt to taste Salsa: 1 Supreme Plum Tomato Tin 1 medium red onion, roughly chopped 1 tsp Supreme Garlic Paste 1 fresh jalapeno pepper Juice of 2 limes Salt to taste Pinch of sugar
METHOD Chicken: In a bowl add oil, garlic paste, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin powder and salt, and mix well. Add chicken, coat well and marinate for 2 hours. Place a frying pan with oil over medium-high heat, add chicken and cook until fully cooked. Remove and place on a chopping board, rest for 5 minutes and chop into smaller pieces. Guacamole: Add all ingredients to bowl and mash together and serve. Pico de Gallo: Add all ingredients to a bowl, mix well and set aside for 1 hour before serving. Salsa: Add ingredients to a blender and blend until well combined. To assemble tacos, heat corn tortillas on a griddle pan. Top with chicken, desired amount of salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream and coriander leaves.
Recipe in partnership with Supreme ingredients. For more recipes visit www.supreme-ingredients.com
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WITH LIONEL MESSI IN TEAM, OPPONENTS WERE MORE SCARED OF BARCELONA, ADMITS RONALD KOEMAN FC Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman on Saturday admitted that the Blaugrana club is less feared without Lionel Messi Barcelona manager stated that the rivals were “more scared” when the Argentine was leading the attack for their side. This statement by Koeman came after his side struggled against Athletic Club and managed to just retrieve a point in their second La Liga match of the season. “I don’t like to always talk about the same thing, but we’re talking about the best in the world,” the Dutchman told in his post-match press conference, as per Goal. com. “Our opponents were more scared when Messi was here. For us as well, if you pass the ball to Leo, usually
Ronald Koeman he won’t lose it. You can tell [Messi] isn’t there. We know that and we can’t change it.” The six-times Ballon d’Or winner left the Catalan side as a free agent after the Spanish club announced that “financial and structural obstacles” meant the deal between them and Messi could not be completed. San Mames is never an easy place to win as Barca have
Image: Shutterstock
Lionel Messi
struggled there in recent seasons and the Saturday clash was no exception. Indeed, for much of the ninety minutes, they had their backs against the wall, and Athletic were good value
for their 1-0 lead. A flash of inspired brilliance was needed, and it came from the left foot of Memphis. The Dutchman was able to salvage a point from one of the most difficult road trips
in La Liga, and in doing so celebrate his first official goal in an FC Barcelona jersey. Next Sunday, Barca will be back at Camp Nou, where Getafe will be their visitors.
RAFAEL NADAL ENDS SEASON EARLY DUE TO FOOT INJURY, TO MISS US OPEN
Image: Wikipedia
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal declared on Friday that he will end his 2021 season early due to a foot injury. The move
forward to try to recover and recover well. It’s a year that I’ve missed things that matter a lot to me,
things that really motivate me and the things that I have done during all these years. I am convinced that
means that the Spaniard will not take part in the US Open starting August 30. “I wanted to inform you that unfortunately I have to end the 2021 season. Honestly, I have been suffering much more than I should with my foot for a year and I need to take some time,” tweeted Nadal. He further tweeted, “After having discussed it with the team and family, this decision has been made and I think it is the way
like Wimbledon, like the Olympics.” The troublesome foot injury had caused the 20-time Grand Slam winner to miss the Cincinnati Masters and Canadian Open last week. The foot issue flared up at this year’s French Open, where he fell to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals. “I am (determined) to do whatever it takes to regain the best possible shape, to continue competing for the
with the recovery of the foot and obviously a very important daily effort this can be achieved. I will work as hard as I can to make it happen,” concluded the 35-year-old. Nadal will be the third big absentee from the men’s singles event in the US Open. Defending champion Dominic Thiem has been ruled out due to wrist injury while Roger Federer ended his season prematurely for further knee surgery.
SPORTS FAKHAR ZAMAN, HARIS RAUF AMONG 26 PAKISTAN CRICKETERS TO TRAIN IN PRE-SEASON CAMP
Image: Twitter
Fakhar Zaman
A pre-season training camp for Pakistan men’s white-ball players has commenced at the National High-Performance Centre with practice matches to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium. According to Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB), the camp will be supervised by the NHPC coaching and support staff, led by the head of international player development Saqlain Mushtaq. Twenty-six players will take part in the camp and throughout the camp, the
prevalent COVID-19 SOPs will be observed. During the camp, the players will work on their fitness and cricketing skills with a special emphasis on their preparation for the hectic white-ball international cricket season which begins next month. “White-ball players returning from the West Indies will be asked to join the camp after a few days of rest,” PCB said in a statement. Pakistan white-ball players to participate in the camp Arshad Iqbal, Danish Aziz, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib
Maqsood. Additional players to help during net sessions and practice matches Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Bashir, Imran
Randhawa, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Imran, Muhammad Akhlaq, Raza Ali Dar, Rohail Nazir, Zeeshan Ashraf.
Image: Twitter
Haris Rauf
AFTER PULLING OUT OF IPL, BUTTLER MIGHT SKIP ASHES AND LAST TEST VS INDIA England wicketkeeperbatsman Jos Buttler might skip the Ashes tour scheduled for the end of the year over concerns about taking his family along due to Australia’s coronavirus restrictions. Buttler has already pulled out of the second leg of the 2021 IPL due to the birth of his second child and gave an indication about missing the final Test against India at Old Trafford too. With his second child’s due date coming on the first day of the final Test against India at Old Trafford, Buttler may skip the match in order to be with his wife Louise and two-year-old daughter Georgia. In 2019, Buttler had cut short his stint with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL to fly
Image: Twitter
Jos Buttler
back home for Georgia’s birth. “Obviously the most important thing is to be there for my wife. If that means missing cricket, I’ll miss cricket,” asserted Buttler in an interview to The Times on Sunday. He added, “With my wife expecting our second child and with the uncertainty
around the rest of the winter, it’s important for me to stay at home before the World Cup. I love the IPL, but without knowing what the rest of the winter looks like, it’s impossible to commit to that. “One of the challenges is working out where the line is
where you say I can’t do that. I’ve sacrificed a lot for cricket and my wife and family have sacrificed a lot. You have to be open to that (saying no). It would be incredibly disappointing if some players feel like they can’t do it, but we’re in a world at the moment where that is a possibility,” said the 30-yearold. With England scheduled to play in the men’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October and November before flying to Australia for Ashes, it means that the players who feature in both events will be away from their families for four months. “Covid is incredibly challenging for everyone, and Australia has a very
strict policy in how they’ve tried to deal with it. An added complication is that it’s been a long time now (living in bio-bubbles). If this was the first time, we were potentially going away in this manner you might find it more manageable but having spent a long time in Covid environments already, it makes it tough,” said Buttler. “We’ve been doing this for a lot longer than we all hoped. Even playing cricket in England it’s almost like being on tour. Families don’t come and go like they used to, and you could get home between games. Until we get more information about what it (the Australia tour) might look like, it’s impossible to know what decision you’re making,” concluded Buttler.
SPORTS
23 - 29 AUGUST 2021
WITH LIONEL MESSI IN TEAM, OPPONENTS WERE MORE SCARED OF BARCELONA, ADMITS RONALD KOEMAN Page 23
FAKHAR ZAMAN, HARIS RAUF AMONG 26 PAKISTAN CRICKETERS TO TRAIN IN PRESEASON CAMP Page 24
MANNY PACQUIAO BEATEN BY YORDENIS UGAS ON RETURN TO THE RING Everyone’s favourite 'Pacman' was defeated last weekend in WBA title fight It was the legendary boxers 72nd appearance of a phenomenal career Manny Pacquiao slipped to a unanimous decision defeat to Yordenis Ugas in their world welterweight championship fight in Las Vegas on Saturday 21 August The boxing legend was making his comeback at the age of 42 after two years out of the ring, and it was evident his weakness was showing as his trademark speed and power didn’t seem up to the usual oomph. Questions are already being raised on whether he has boxed for the final time, or whether he will continue to reign on with his 73rd fight. After all he is the only man to win world titles in eight divisions so anything is possible. Pacquiao was expected on Saturday night to fight IBF and WBC champion Errol Spence Jr, who withdrew injured, but eventually toiled behind WBA titleholder Ugas' jab. Ugas got to Pacquiao right from the early rounds, with, despite
Image: Twitter
Pacquaio’s attempts Ugas held is own over the Pacman’s trademark flurry.
crushing power that he has displayed so brilliantly over the past two decades.
Marking around Pacquiao's eye by the fourth round was evidence that the great man wasn't going to shine in this one.
Pacquaio tried desperately to keep afloat, but the punches kept coming from Ugas which stands at 62 wins, eight losses and two draws. left our champion with damage around both eyes.
Pacquiao just couldn't muster the blistering speed and
The judges scored it 115-113, 116-112, 116-112 for the Cuban. Pacquiao's official record now The sensational southpaw has had career-defining wins against Erik Morales, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. He shared four incredible fights with Juan Manuel Marquez. He lost the highest-grossing
fight of all time to Floyd Mayweather but became one of the biggest US-based attractions in the history of the sport himself. Despite his recent defeat Pacquaio will still remain a champion for many of us.