28 FEB 2016
Issue 17
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Model Behaviour – To be or not to be
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The tandoor shop round the corner’ How British Asian communities can redefine female empowerment and become a beacon for wider society
Egypt: Journey of no solitude
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influential Asian women
in Britain To mark International Women’s Day, on March 8 , we reveal our Top Ten most influential Asian Women in Britain. It was a difficult task and here they are …
Read more on pages 6 & 7
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Ofsted issues warning, as England’s schools deal with a recruitment crisis with thousands of teachers being lured abroad for lucrative pay packages. Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw says elite public schools have been opening up branches abroad, leading to a boom in international schools. Around 18,000 people left the UK to teach than the trained 17,000 on English post-graduate routes, warned Sir Wilshaw Ministers cited figures saying just a tiny fraction of teachers left the UK.
The Department for Education also said it was disingenuous to suggest its approach to teacher recruitment was not working. But Sir Michael’s claim comes after the government missed its teacher trainee recruitment targets for the past four years. This has led to shortages of teachers in most subject areas, and many schools are finding it hard to recruit staff.
Sir Michael said it was not surprising that the demand for UK-trained teachers was soaring as English was the most common language used in the estimated 8,000 international schools, many of which follow a British-style curriculum. He added that the demand for UK-trained teachers was only likely to increase as the number of international schools is projected to nearly double to
more than 15,000 by 2025. He quoted International School Consultancy figures which suggested 18,000 people had left the UK to teach abroad in 2015, although he acknowledged not all of these would have been fully qualified teachers. What do you think? Are we in danger of losing our teachers for international schools?
Colombia sisters reunited 30 years after avalanche Two sisters in Colombia have been reunited 30 years later after they were separated when they were children after an avalanche destroyed their town. Jaqueline and Lorena Sanchez were separated in 1985 when a volcano near their town of Armero, in Tolima Department, erupted. It triggered an avalanche which killed at least 20,000 people in the town. The two sisters were adopted by separate families and never knew each other’s fate. They spent years looking for each
other. “It was beautiful and sad because it’s been 30 years since the tragedy happened that I’ve come to find out what happened to my sister,” Lorena Sanchez told Reuters. “So I have to catch up with 30 years of her life and she has to do the same with me.” The two sisters found each other after DNA tests, a social media campaign and with help from the Armando Armero foundation set up to help victims of the disaster in Armero in the department of Tolima.
Jaqueline saw a video on social media of her sister Lorena making an appeal for information on surviving family members. The Tolima volcano, which erupted on 13 November 1985, is
the second most deadly volcanic disaster of the 20th century, surpassed only by the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelee in the Caribbean. It engulfed the town of Armero, killing more than 20,000 of its almost 29,000 inhabitants.
A rare Beatles record is likely to fetch more than £10,000 at An extremely rare and valuable Beatles record discovered in a loft is to be auctioned next month. Described as “a Holy Grail item”, the 1962 10-inch record of ‘Til There Was You and Hullo Little Girl lay forgotten in the home of Les Maguire for decades. Maguire, the keyboardist in fellow Liverpool act Gerry and the Pacemakers, said it could be seen as the record “that sparked The Beatles’ success”. The acetate bears the handwriting of the Fab Four’s
manager Brian Epstein. It is believed that the 78 RPM record - the first Beatles disc to be cut before the band broke through into the national charts in late 1962 - could fetch upwards of £10,000 when it is auctioned, although it is such a rare item it is difficult to predict what the sale price will be. The record of Til There was You - labelled as being the work of “Paul McCartney & The Beatles” - was made at the HMV store in Oxford Street, London, and presented to future Beatles producer George Martin at the EMI record label in a bid to
secure the band a recording contract. The sale is to take place at
Omega Auctions in Warrington on 22 March and will be broadcast live online for worldwide bidding.
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Afghan boy becomes online hit which bags him real Messi shirt. An Afghan boy had his dream come true, when he was gifted a real shirt from famous number 10 footballer Lionel Messi. Five year old Murtaza Ahmadi, who comes from the Jaghori District, in the eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan became an online hit after wearing a homemade shirt bearing Messi’s famous number 10. Following a campaign on BBC Trending, Messi’s management team were able to locate the child known as “Messi’s biggest fan” and sent him a signed Argentina shirt and football from the footballer
Women will be able to use it to pay for anything from one-to-one midwifery care to home births in pilots due to start later this year. The move is part of a shake-up in maternity care unveiled by NHS England to increase the choices women have.
who has been crowned the world’s best player five times.
If the “cessation of hostilities” holds it would be the first time a pause in Syria’s five-year civil war has been negotiated by world powers.
Eurovision 2016: Joe and Jake to represent the UK at the contest in Stockholm with You’re Not Alone
Well, Murtaza has definitely scored well there.
This has been set up with a view to improving safety in maternity services, especially following the aftermath of the inquiry published last year into the failures that led to the deaths of babies at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.
birth in England, but improvements still needed to be made to ensure care was “world class”.
It has been agreed to on the basis of recommendations from an independent review of services. The review - chaired by Conservative peer Baroness Julia Cumberlege said it had never been safer to give
In the run-up to the midnight (22:00 GMT) deadline, US President Barack Obama warned the Syrian government and Russia “the world will be watching”. Russian jets were reported to have intensified attacks on Syrian rebel positions on Friday. Meanwhile, the UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has announced that peace talks will resume on 7
Joe and Jake eurovision Duo Joe and Jake have been chosen to represent the UK at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest following the first national final to choose the nation’s entry since 2008. The pair – consisting of former Voice contestants Joe Woolford and Jake Shakeshaft – will perform
Syria conflict: Temporary landmark truce comes into effect A landmark temporary truce has come into effect in Syria.
NEWS
Murtaza with original signed shirt from Messi. Image courtesy Unicef Facebook
NHS to offer women their own £3,000 ‘birth budgets’ The NHS in England is to offer pregnant women their own “personal budgets”, worth at least £3,000, so they can pick and choose the care they receive.
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March if the truce “largely holds”. The cessation of fighting involves government and rebel forces - but not the so-called Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaedalinked Nusra Front. On Friday, Nusra Front urged its supporters to intensify attacks against President Bashar al-Assad and his allies. Almost 100 rebel factions have agreed to respect the truce, Syrian opposition umbrella group the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) said. More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed in Syria’s civil war and millions more have been forced from their homes.
the upbeat track You’re Not Alone at the contest in Stockholm on Saturday May 14. They were chosen by public vote from six acts who performed their tracks at the live final at the Forum in London’s Kentish Town.
George Osborne warns of more cuts… as MPs get a pay rise Osborne, said official growth figures announced on Thursday showed Britain’s economy was smaller than he had hoped for. and is therefore due to make an annual budget statement on March 16
output – also fell short of the OBR’s forecast and left Osborne with more work to do as he works towards his goal of a budget surplus by the end of the decade. It seems more tough times ahead.
He also said in an interview with BBC, that ‘storm clouds’ had gathered over the global economy and could hurt Britain further. The news comes after it was reported that MPs will be treated to a pay rise this year. Britain’s economy expanded by 1.9 per cent in 2015, according to official data, weaker than growth of 2.4 per cent which was pencilled into the forecasts of the Office for Budget Responsibility which underpin Osborne’s budget plans. The latest figures for nominal gross domestic product – a key metric for government debt when expressed as a percentage of economic
George osborne
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Palestinian journalist held by Israel ends hunger strike A detained Palestinian journalist announced he is ending a three-month hunger strike after reaching a deal with Israeli authorities, his lawyer said on Friday. Mohammad al-Qeeq, a Palestinian journalist from Ramallah, had been on a hunger strike for the past 93 days, since he was placed under administrative detention in November 2015, Xinhua news agency reported.
Security forces said he was suspected of involvement in Hamas-affiliated terrorist activities. Jawad Boulos, al-Qeeq’s lawyer, confirmed the deal according to which the journalist will be released on May 21, a month earlier than scheduled. Until that time he will continue to be hospitalised at the Emek medical centre in Afula, northern Israel. His family
members will be allowed to visit him in hospital. Last month, Israel’s Supreme Court suspended al-Qeeq’s detention as his health condition deteriorated. He rejected the court’s ruling and refused to be treated or fed. It is reported that as of early August 2015, Israel was holding 340 Palestinians in administrative detention, according to official figures. Mohamed-Al-Qeeq Palestinian journalist
#RegAfriend Campaign seeks to increase young voter registrations Electoral Commission and the National Union of Students are asking people to use social media to inspire their friends to register to vote ahead of the elections which are taking place on Thursday 5 May Utilising the power of social media, they are asking young people across the UK to encourage their friends to register to vote by sharing photos of their ‘voter cross’ and using the hashtag #RegAFriend. Commission research from 2014 found that UK wide, 76% of 18-19 year olds and 70% of 20-24 year olds were registered to vote compared to 95% of those aged 65 plus. Recent figures released by the
Commission also showed that students across the UK remain one of the groups less likely to be registered to vote. Ben Brook, Head of English Regions at the Electoral Commission said: ‘‘It’s not long now until there are important elections across the UK and we don’t want people to miss out on having their say just because they aren’t registered. This is a really easy and fun way for lots of people to quickly share the registration message on social media and get their friends and family involved. Registering to vote is easy and only takes a few minutes online at www.gov.uk/registerto-vote.”
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Issue 17
ASIAN SUNDAY
COVER STORY
Our Top 10 most influential Asian women in Britain To mark International Women’s Day on March 8, Asian Sunday is naming its Top 10 most influential Asian Women in the UK. Across all sectors of business, politics, achievement and contribution to society, we have picked our worthy winners in what was a difficult task. The list is in no particular order. But we think all the women mentioned are influential, inspiring and deserving of recognition. We have also included our long list, giving those who nearly made it, a well-deserved mention.
by Alison Bellamy
Bushra Nasir, 63, CBE, was the first Muslim female head teacher in the UK, working at Plashet School in London, before retiring in 2012. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, 44, a former Conservative MP and former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs until resigning in 2014. She is now seated in the House of Lords. The lawyer formerly co-chaired the Conservative Party. She was brought up in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in a working class family. She was the first female Muslim to attend Cabinet and at her first ever Downing Street meeting, wore a traditional South Asian shalwar kameez. She resigned from Government saying she was no longer able to support the ‘morally indefensible’ policy on the escalation of violence in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The award winning teacher came to England from Pakistan when she was eight. She turned around a failing school, which was later named in a report as one of ‘Ofsted’s 12 Outstanding Schools - excelling against the odds’. In 2009 she was named in the top 10 Muslim Power List, by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. She is a former president of the Muslim Teachers’ Association and was awarded a CBE for services to education in 2005 and was named Head teacher of the Year in 2012. She was a special advisor to former Prime Minister Tony Blair after the London 7/7 bombings. Nasir continues to work in education mentoring headteachers.
Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith was appointed chief executive of facilities management company Mitie Group in March 2007. During the decade she spent at Mitie, the firm saw a £1.5bn rise in turnover. She joined a small number of women holding the position of chief executive in the FTSE 250 and is the first Asian woman to be appointed in such a role. She was awarded a CBE in 2012 for services to business and promoting diversity. In 2015 Ruby was made a life peer after supporting David Cameron and George Osbourne’s public spending. She is also chair of the Women’s Business Council.
Priti Patel, 43, is a Conservative MP for Witham, Essex since 2010. Her parents are of Gujurati origin. As a minister of state for employment, she tackled education and youth unemployment. Patel named five inspirational teenagers in the 2016 Premiership Rugby’s inaugural HITZ awards, which helped increase young people’s resilience, self-reliance and confidence giving skills to get back into education, apprenticeship and employment. She also stands up for the gender pay gap saying: “It’s a step in the right direction to helping women, especially mums, achieve their ambitions”.
Bobbie Cheema-Grubb, 49, is a judge of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice and has made history as the first Asian woman to serve as a high court judge in the UK. She has presided over high profile cases. As a Sikh teenager in a Punjabi family growing up in Leeds, she wanted to be an astronaut while attending her local state school. She is described in Chambers Bar UK as a “well-respected” barrister who “relishes complex and demanding cases”. Grubb’s role has highlighted the lack of diversity and she is a role model for Asian women and minority ethnic candidates to join judiciary. Grubb says: “I loved arguing and trying to persuade someone else that they were wrong. I liked the fact that in law there are rules which have to be worked within but which give real opportunity for flair.”
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Malala Yousafzai is the youngest person to ever win a Nobel Peace Prize aged just 17 in 2014. The Pakistani-born schoolgirl was shot in the head when she was 15 by Taliban, but survived against the odds.
George’s Hospital, London. She is an advisor for national and international charities promoting women’s health, education and development. Prof Nargund has published lots of articles in the field of reproductive medicine. She is a pioneer in the field of Natural and Mild IVF and Advanced Ultrasound Technology and is an accredited trainer for Infertility and Gynaecological Ultrasound special skills. She also campaigns for fertility education in Schools.
Lilani was listed on the BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Power List of 100 most powerful women in the UK in 2013. She was awarded an OBE in the 2007 New Year Honours for services to charity and a CBE in the Birthday Honours 2015 for services to women in business.
Adeeba Malik MBE Pakistan born Malik is the deputy chief executive of Bradford based QED Foundation, which works with ethnic minorities to eradicate poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. The former teacher was awarded the CBE last year by the Queen for her
She was also awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to ethnic minority businesses. She has held many positions board level appointments including British Waterways, Yorkshire Forward and the Advisory Board on Naturalisation and Immigration. Malik says discrimination, poverty and various forms of inequalities are still major issues which need to be tackled: “We must create an opportunity for everyone”. In 2005 she was appointed Chair of the National Ethnic Minority Business Forum and became a commissioner for the Women and Work Commission. She was made an ambassador for the Hashoo Foundation, a Pakistan based charity. Let us know of someone special who has been an inspiration or influence in your life and why? Contact alison@asiansunday. co.uk
The Asian Sunday’s Most Influential Women long list
She was targeted while on a bus, for defending her rights to education and had earlier written a blog for the BBC titled ‘Diary of a Pakistani Schoolgirl’. She accepted her Nobel Peace Prize after the committee acknowledged her “heroic struggle” for girls’ rights to an education. Her memoir ‘I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World,’ is a best seller. Malala has continued to speak out despite increased Taliban threats. The Malala Fund invests in early stage girls’ education in poor countries. She addressed the United Nations on her 16th birthday and remains an inspiration to millions around the globe. She now lives in the UK. Professor Geeta Nargund is a pioneer if the field of fertility. She is the award-winning medical director of CREATE Fertility. She is also a senior consultant gynaecologist and lead consultant for reproductive medicine services at St
services as a British Muslim woman.
organises a number of awards recognising influential women and leaders and also founded the Inspirational Women’s Network. Lilani sits on the advisory boards of Global Diversity Practice and Sapphire Partners. She is a patron of Frank Water, a charity that partners grassroots organisations in India to provide safe water. She is a British Red Cross Tiffany Circle Ambassador, a powerful group of women leaders and philanthropists. In 2006 Lilani was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the CBI First Women Awards. In 2012, she was named as Woman Entrepreneur of the Year at the Indus Entrepreneurs UK Gala Awards.
Nusrat Pinky Lilani, CBE, is founder and CEO of Women of the Future and the Asian Women of Achievement Awards. Lilani is a food guru, author, motivational speaker and internationally acclaimed champion for women. She
Shivvy Jervis has been voted as one of the top 100 people ‘making digital Britain tick’. She is a presenter and head of digital media at Telefonica and an aspirational role model to young women and techies everywhere. The former TV reporter is creator and presenter of popular technology series Digital Futures. She curates a global innovation blog and writes for the Huffington Post. Soul icon James Brown called her one of the ‘greatest ideas’ of the broadcasting world. Jervis is a Britain’s Asian Women of Achievement award winner, Women of the Future & First Women awards’ finalist and been named to Innotribe’s fin-tech power list.
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Mishal Husain, 42, is a British-Pakistani news presenter and anchor for the BBC
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Naseem Malik is former commissioner of the Independent Police Complaints Commission working on high profile cases and is judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunals.
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Tasmin Ahmed-Sheikh SNP MP for Ochil and South Perthshire elected 2015, solicitor and former actress.
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Usha Kumari Prashar, Baroness Prashar, CBE is a Cross Bench member of the House of Lords and has served as a director or chairman of a variety of public and private sector organisations, which includes appointment as chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission in 2005
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Meena Patak OBE, Indian born married into the Patak food family and helped expand the business.
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Salma Yaqoob, 44, former leader of the Respect Party a is now the head of the Birmingham Stop the War Coalition and a spokeswoman for Birmingham Central Mosque
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Farida Gibbs award winning entrepreneur and role model, businesswoman, recruitment and IT specialist.
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Body found at manor in Edinburgh is identified as missing Saima Ahmed from Wembley A body found in Scotland last month has been formally identified as missing 36-year-old Saima Ahmed from Wembley. Saima Ahmed, of Oakington Manor Drive, was last seen on August 30 last year and reported as missing by her family the following day. Her remains were found in the Gogar area of Edinburgh on January 9 and was identified using specialist forensic techniques, including DNA analysis. Investigating officers are treating her death as unexplained and have launched an appeal for information about her movements leading up to her disappearance. On August 30 she was captured on CCTV entering Wembley Central
station on her own before boarding a London Overground service to Watford Junction. Her exact movements afterwards are not definite but officers believe she travelled to Hemel Hempstead, Birmingham and then onto Edinburgh. Detective Chief Inspector Martin MacLean, from Edinburgh CID who is leading the investigation, said: “Today (Friday) I am appealing to anyone who saw Saima on, or around, August 30 to please contact police immediately. “I have met personally with Saima Ahmed’s family and have passed my condolences to them at this tragic and extremely difficult time. “I have given them a commitment
that we are doing everything we can to establish why Saima travelled to Edinburgh and the exact circumstances that led to her death. “Clearly there are a number of matters and facts we have yet to establish and it remains a mystery to Saima’s family why she travelled to Edinburgh. “I urge any regular rail users who may have been on these services to please think carefully and to get in touch with Police Scotland on 101 if you remember or spoke with Saima. “I also want to hear from anyone who saw her in Edinburgh, or who can help explain how she made her way to the Gogarstone Road area, whether by tram, train, taxi, private
hire car or any other means.” In a statement issued through Police Scotland Miss Ahmed’s family said: “We, Saima’s family are extremely saddened and shocked by the death of Saima. “She was a very loving and caring person who was part of a very close family. “We are hoping someone can provide some information as to Saima’s journey and help us to understand what happened to her.” Miss Ahmed travelled to Scotland on the penultimate day of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten was at the top of the charts. It was also around this time that “We Are Your Friends” opened
London woman, Saima Ahmed body found in Scotland in UK cinemas and X Factor had returned to our screens the day before. Anyone with information should contact Edinburgh CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Ringleader of Rotherham child sexual abuse gang jailed for 35 years The ringleader of a gang of six people who groomed, raped and abused teenage girls in Rotherham has been jailed for 35 years.
23 serious child sexual exploitation crimes from 1987 to 2003 that caused “unimaginable harm” to vulnerable young girls.
Arshid Hussain, 40 along with his two brothers at the head of the Rotherham grooming ring have been sentenced respectively to 35 years, 25 years and 19 years in prison for
Qurban Ali, the Hussains’ 53-yearold uncle, was also sentenced to 10 years in jail and Karen MacGregor, 59, who lured girls to her home and then pimped them out, got 13 years.
Rotherham ring leader
Shelley Davies, 40, who stayed at MacGregor’s house, becoming one of her associates, was given an 18-month suspended sentence after her barrister successfully argued that
she too had been a victim, having been trafficked as a 15-year-old. Victims sat in dignified silence during the three-hour hearing, occasionally wiping tears from their eyes as the judge addressed each of the defendants explaining how they had “stolen the childhoods” of their victims. During the sentencing, Judge Sarah Wright told the gang: “The harm you have caused is of unimaginable proportions.” She also paid tribute to the “immense courage” of the women who came forward to give evidence. The judge told the gang: “Your victims were targeted, sexualised and in some cases subjected to acts of a degrading and violent nature. “Each of your victims was vulnerable
in some way, either because they had unsettled home lives, had previously suffered ill treatment and abuse, were in local authority care or were naive young girls who despite being from loving and caring families were reaching adolescence and were susceptible to the attention that was given to them.”
physically assault her because she was involved sexually with an Asian man.” Many of the victims sat in the public gallery overlooking the packed courtroom as the sentencing hearing began.
Earlier today the court heard that one of the gang’s victims was attacked by her own family after she suffered abuse at the hands of one of the brothers.
Twelve women - now mostly aged in their 30s - had told the jury they were sexually, physically and emotionally abused in the South Yorkshire town when they were teenagers.
Prosecutor Michelle Colborne QC said Bannaras met one victim when she was 12 or 13 and she performed sex acts on him.
The court heard that the Hussain brothers “ruled Rotherham” with their drugs and guns operation and abused the girls with impunity.
“He was indifferent to whether she consented or not,” she said.
On Wednesday, victims of the gang welcomed the convictions after so many years in which they were disbelieved and ignored by the authorities.
“When her brothers found out, they were furious with her and would
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Race Against Time To Find a Donor For Vithiya. Can you help? first lectures of the new term and I had to come home as I felt so sick again and had a pain in my leg. “That night, I had a dream that I was in a wheelchair. I’m generally a very well person and hardly ever go to the GP, but I felt very weird after this dream, like I knew deep down something was wrong with my health. So I went to see the GP on Wednesday, I was given a blood test the next day, and by that evening, I’d been called back in and told I had Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.
A Sri Lankan student from Walthamstow has just two months to find a stem cell donor to save her life. In late September, Vithiya Alphons was a happy, healthy optometry student who had just started back at Cardiff University, after a busy summer volunteering in Japan and Maldova. She had even secured a graduate job at Specsavers and was feeling positive about the future. But just days into her final year, the 24-year-old Londoner was given the shattering news that she had an aggressive form of leukaemia. “I’d just finished unpacking in my new room at Cardiff University, and was about to go out shopping in town, when I came down with a fever and severe sickness,” said Vithiya. “On Monday, I went to my
“From the first symptom to being diagnosed, it was only five days. I’d been absolutely fine before that. My whole life changed in under a week.” Vithiya was put onto oral chemotherapy the very same day and her parents and brother Clime, 22, rushed to Cardiff to be by her side. Clime quit his new job as a network engineer immediately to be with his sister. “I’m blessed to love what I do, so I was desperate to get back to my studies. I asked if I could go back to uni, and I remember the doctors looking at me and saying no way. They explained, ‘If you’d left it a few more days, your parents would have been organising your funeral this week.’ It was a shock. I just thought, ‘thank god I’m still alive.” Over the next four weeks, Vithiya had a difficult time with
complications from chemotherapy. “I was in so much pain, vomiting six or seven times every day, and had every side effect possible, but I tried to stay positive.” When she was well enough to travel, she was transferred back to London for treatment at University College Hospital. After her third course of chemotherapy, things were looking good. “I felt normal again, I’d been home for three weeks and my hair was growing back. I felt so positive. My nurses, consultant, everyone, thought we’d beaten it. “But unfortunately, further tests showed the leukaemia was still there in my blood and I’d definitely relapse in under a year unless I had a stem cell transplant. It was so upsetting and unexpected.” Doctors told Vithiya her best option was now a stem cell transplant, which was needed in the next two months. First, they needed to find a donor, and sadly her brother Clime was only a 50% match. Her best chance of survival is a closer match from an unrelated donor. Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan is now searching the world’s donor registers for a donor whose tissue type matches Vithiya’s. But the search is more complex due to her Sri Lankan background. “I knew it was going to be difficult
because there aren’t many people from South Asian backgrounds who are signed up as donors. It’s frustrating but I don’t think it’s about Asian people not wanting to sign up. They just don’t know what it is - they think it’s taking something from your bone. We have to raise awareness.” Vithiya’s friends and family have now launched social media appeals to raise awareness and recruit stem cell donors. “I’ve been blown away by the support. I’ve had thousands of messages from people I don’t even know, saying they’ve signed up and are spreading the word. Some of my friends are hoping to arrange donor drives at their universities. It’s been incredible. “My family have been amazing too. My auntie and cousins have made home-cooked food for me every day and Clime has been my personal delivery man, bringing it into the hospital for me. “I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason. Maybe it will make sense one day. In the mean time I’m determined to raise awareness in my community. Even if it doesn’t help me, it could help someone else.” Ann O’Leary, Head of Register Development at Anthony Nolan, said:
“Vithiya is a bright and inspirational young woman and somewhere out there, there’s a potential lifesaver who could give her a lifeline by donating their stem cells. “We are so grateful to Vithiya for raising awareness of the need for more Asian and ethnic minority donors, and for busting the myth that donating stem cells is painful. “Joining the Anthony Nolan register just involves filling in a form and providing a saliva sample. If you’re one of the privileged few who goes onto donate, 90% of the time this will now take place via an outpatient appointment which is similar to donating blood.”
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Thousands of Mars chocolates are being recalled by supermarkets. One of the biggest chocolate manufactures in the world issued a major product recall on Tuesday affecting 55 countries after a customer found a piece of red plastic in Mars’ chocolate. Now supermarkets here in Britain have issued their own recalls of various Mars products, with four big chains issuing information to customers. Asda, Tesco, Lidl and Waitrose have now all issued separate notices relating to packets of Celebrations and Mars, Milky Way and Family Funsize.
Trading Standards published information relating to the recall on their website. More information can
be obtained by visiting http://www. tradingstandards.uk/advice/advicerecall-list.cfm
Mumbai bans selfies after 19 people die What people will do for that perfect selfie! Mumbai has ordered a ban on taking selfies after a rise in people accidentally killing themselves while taking pictures. The Indian city, formerly known as Bombay, has declared 16 no-selfie zones in a bid to stop people putting themselves in danger. They have also issued a warning against people taking unnecessary risks to get the perfect picture. India is home to the highest number of people who have died while taking photos of themselves, with 19 of the world’s 49 recorded selfie-linked deaths since 2014, according to
Priceonomics. Even Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has embraced the craze, posting pictures he has snapped with various world leaders online. The statistic may in part be due to India’s sheer size, with 1.25 billion citizens and one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone markets. Mumbai police have declared selfies off-limits in areas perceived as risky – particularly along the coastline in spots with no railings or barriers. Anyone venturing into off-limits areas, even if they take no photos, risks being slapped with a fine of 1,200
NEWS
Three in court over murder of music shop owner Three people have appeared in court over the murder of a music shop owner who was found in the boot of his car. Tanveer Iqbal was found dead in the car boot of his Renault Clio car in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 2 February, after he went missing on January 31. A 16-year-old boy from Birmingham and Gul Nawaz, 43, from Oldbury, who are both charged with murder, were remanded in custody by city magistrates.
rupees, about £13. Despite clearly marked signs demarking the selfie-free zones, people can still be seen clicking away and often going to the edges or standing on ledges to get the most thrilling shots.
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Tanveer Iqbal Hi-Tech music
A 17-year-old girl, accused of perverting the course of justice, was remanded into local authority care. The teenagers cannot be named for legal reasons. The trio were due to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday. Nawaz’s wife Zatoon Bibi, 36, also of Roway Lane, Oldbury has already been charged with the murder of Mr Iqbal and is due to appear in court on April 22
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Issue 17
ASIAN SUNDAY
Opinion
Model Behaviour – To be or not to be by Ayesha Babar We live in a world today where we are constantly surrounded by images. Whether it is Kim Kardashian’s 59 million followers on the socialnetworking site Instagram, or magazines and newspapers bombarding us with visuals, it truly is the age of pictures speaking more than a thousand words! It is little surprise then that we look towards the constant stream of images coming from the worlds of fashion and entertainment to seek inspiration and validation of our own self-worth. These images also play a pivotal part in creating and nurturing our perceptions of what is beautiful and what is not, and this is where the problem lies. Following last weekend’s London Fashion Week, the biannual
highlight of the fashion calendar in the Capital, it has become apparent that the industry continues with its strong sense of ‘skinny is beautiful’. A legion of young girls and women have looked at photos from the ramps and the after-parties of supermodels dressed up in the top names in fashion, showing off their ‘size-zero’ figures.
What message do ultra thin actresses send to young girls?’
For over a decade now, this expectation of and acceptance that these anorexic-like bodies are normal and achievable for all women has been perpetrated year after year, fashion week after fashion week. While some of these models are naturally born with this body type, far more have to starve themselves or be on unhealthy diets and drugs to achieve the ‘flat’ body. This month’s London Fashion week was no different. Modelling agencies and industry insiders
alike openly talked about designers wanting models on whom the clothes just flow, and that the focus on being waiflike and twiggy is part of the business of fashion. In times like these, it is critical that we come up with more normal role-models for young girls to aspire to, as this psychological pressure to remain thin has been pointed out as one of the leading causes of the increasing incidence of disorders like Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia within this impressionable age group. Sooner or later, top design houses (where this push for the perfect body mainly comes from) will have to realise what they are doing, and hopefully will encourage the use of models of different physiques. The unrealistic stick-thin body
is not only unachievable for most female consumers but is typically unhealthy and might lead to serious health issues in later life. Campaign groups who support this move towards a more positive body-image argue that the clothes are being designed for and eventually sold to women with all kinds of body types. Why is it then that the producers do not want to show what the outfits will actually look like when worn by their end consumers? It is not only fashion that is guilty of this though. Everywhere you look on television and films, the same stereotype is propagated. Gone are the days of curvaceous actresses like Madhuri, Sridevi and Kajol being celebrated for their girl-next-door image. Now it is all about having the best body and being as lean
as possible. While Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma, girls with naturally gifted athletic bodies, look great on the screen, they are setting an example for millions of others looking up to them. The responsibility then lies with them as well to have an open conversation about being healthy. It is equally imperative for other actresses like Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt who have struggled with weight issues in the past to not talk about body image and weight gain like it is a disorder but for what it is – a normal part of every individual’s life. A world where people are happy with their bodies is still many years or possibly decades away but the conversation needs to start now. Each one of us has to start loving our own selves and be comfortable in our own skin. Here’s to a healthier us!
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Issue 17
ASIAN SUNDAY
HEALTH
The potential ‘killer’ virus which can lie undiagnosed for years by Alison Bellamy It is often described as ‘the silent epidemic’ as symptoms rarely surface at the time of infection.
transmitted through infected blood that predominantly infects the cells of the liver – and will in time have a detrimental effect on the function of the liver and the body as a whole.
people in Britain today. It can lead to liver cirrhosis and cancer – and in the worst cases if left untreated - even death. It is estimated that another 250,000 may be living without knowing it.
People can live with painful symptoms for many years without ever knowing that they have hepatitis C, which is highly prevalent amongst people of South Asian origin.
Many people are thought to have contracted it via infected blood or poor infection control, for example through medical treatment, or even sharing razor blades or toothbrushes.
Warning signs can include flu-like symptoms, being tired all the time, loss of appetite, feeling and being sick, stomach pain, aches and general pain.
The blood-borne virus is
Hepatitis C affects at least 250,000
Campaigners claim there has been a huge step forward in the fight
against hepatitis C. From this week, eligible hepatitis C patients - including those with genotype 3, a severe form of the virus highly prevalent within the South Asian community - should be able to access a range of new medicines on the NHS via their GP. These treatments can cure the virus in a shorter amount of time and with fewer side effects than historical treatments.
categorised into two stages. The first stage is acute infection. The second stage is chronic infection. The acute stage refers to the first six months of infection and does not necessarily result in any noticeable symptoms. Approximately 20% of those infected with hepatitis C will naturally clear the virus from their body within the first six months. For the remaining 80% a chronic (long-term) infection will develop.
A hepatitis C infection can be
Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and your pocket
A 20 a day cigarette habit is £50 a week, or £200 a month.
Smoking is one area that doctors wish to highlight. In England, one in every five deaths in adults over 35 is caused by smoking.
Smoking rates are higher among Bangladeshi men (40 %) and Pakistani men (29%) than in the general population (21%). Indian men and south Asian women are less likely to smoke.
Tobacco is one of the most addictive substances on the planet. Stopping smoking or other forms or tobacco intake, such as chewing betel quid, paan or gutkha, or shisha smoking by water pipe, is one of the best things you can do for your health – and your pocket.
Smoking increases your risk of cancer, heart disease and respiratory (breathing) disease. This is true whether you smoke bidi (thin cigarettes of tobacco wrapped in brown tendu leaf), cigarettes or shisha.
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HEALTH Geoffrey Dusheiko, Professor of Medicine at the UCL Institute of Liver and Digestive Health, at the Royal Free Hospital, London said: “Hepatitis C is a major concern in the UK and treating patients should be considered an important and valuable healthcare priority. The good news is that we now have clear guidance from the National institute for Health and Care
Excellence (NICE). “The guidelines now allow the NHS to utilise a range of oral antiviral regimens, which are very effective at curing the majority of treated patients. The NICE guidelines are an indisputable landmark, and signal
that these medicines are integral to our fight to control the disease over coming decades. Our focus now must be to ensure that equitable care is offered to individuals with hepatitis C, without undue delay.”
Professor Geoffrey Dusheiko
“I had the virus for around 15 years before I was diagnosed…”
I had the virus for around 15 years before I was diagnosed…
Shabana Begum, 50, from Huddersfield, said: “I was generally unwell for many years, with a lot of flu like symptoms, headaches, body aches and pains, depression, exhausted and I went to the GP all the time looking for answers. “I just couldn’t pin point it, but just felt like every hair on my body hurt. I had so many tests, blood tests and almost exhausted everything until the GP said the only things left to test for were HIV and hepatitis C, but he did not think that I could possibly have them as I was a respectable Asian lady. He was saying there was no point. “Eventually I was diagnosed hepatitis C. It transpired that I had had it for around 15 or 20 years.
Shabana Begum Hep C
“I was born in Yorkshire but when I was around 13 went back to live
in Pakistan with my sister, to be introduced to the cultural ways of life and for some schooling in Faisalabad. We also lived in Karachi. “It took me some time to acclimatise to the change and I was ill and got a fever. I had medical treatment and recall going to a clinic where they used the old style metal needles and syringes. On one occasion, I remember looking in the tin they were kept in and it was full of syringes all stored together. “But it was not until many years later in 2005 that I was diagnosed. I can only think it was around then back in Pakistan, that I was infected. “I want to tell people that hepatitis C is not only a sexually transmitted virus. There is still a lot of shame when people speak of the virus, but there should not be. We are all at risk of developing it.” Since then Mrs Begum has travelled
back to Pakistan and India to help educate people about the risks, as well as raising awareness in the UK. She is now an active member of the Hepatitis C Trust and works tirelessly to educate others: “I recall my own mother saying that it was not something to talk about. It turns out that my aunt died from hepatitis C and a few cousins plus had also died, plus other cousins who were suffering with it and have recovered. There can be a lot of shame attached to it.” She welcomed the news that the NHS can now give out the new oral medication, which can help eliminate it. “It is a silent epidemic, or the silent killer in the worst cases. Do not take risks with your health and be aware of the importance of sterile medical equipment is the main message.”
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ASIAN SUNDAY
Issue 17
GHAP SHAP with Malala Yousafzai
What was it like having director Davis Guggenheim enter your life to make this film? In the first meeting we were very confused about how it was going to work, what he would ask, whether he would find some actors to play our roles, and how was he going to tell our past story? Then, to begin with, he had an interview with us and he brought no camera. He just brought a microphone and we talked and talked. We developed good communication and a way of understanding each other and I realised that I was saying things that I hadn’t said before. Davis has this talent to help you discover your inner self and to help you discover what is in your heart. He did that very well from the very first interview and
that’s really what motivated my father and me to continue this journey and to let Davis into this journey of our life, which is to fight for education and for girls’ rights to go to school. He has filmed that over the last two years — my whole journey, my life at home and my life on the trips where I try to build awareness for girls’ rights in Jordan, Nigeria and Kenya. The movie has become the voice of my life journey over the past two years. Can you convey the emotions you felt when you saw the film for the first time? What was really great about the film when I saw it for the first time was the animation part, with such artistic creativity combining
He Named Me Malala is released on DVD on 29 February
in my story. I found it very exciting and I enjoyed looking back into my past, at the life of my father when he was growing up, the life of my mother and how she faced difficulties and how she stopped going to school. Then, to look at my own life and how I was growing up and how close I was to school; school was my home. Then to see the whole family talking and delivering our story was exciting. What was not so good was hearing my brothers talk against me [laughs]! Davis had the right to choose what he wanted to put in the film but if it were up to me I’d have cut those things out [laughs]! The movie was wonderful and I really enjoyed it. I wish that we will have another movie, He Named Me Malala 2, and then I will talk against my brothers [laughs]!
Overall, I am very grateful to everyone who has worked on this film, helping to support the idea that every child deserves education. This movie is very important to my family. Have you always been so fearless and calm, or were you worried at certain points when you were living in Pakistan? I think it is part of human nature to be scared and to feel fear. When I was in Swat Valley there were times when I was scared. I was scared to go to school because of the fear that someone could throw acid on my face or that the terrorists could flog me for going against what they wanted. There were those times. But what kept me going was
ASIAN SUNDAY Issue 17
courage, courage that came to me because of the way my father inspired me, speaking out for women’s rights and girls’ education. Seeing in my community in the Swat Valley that the terrorists were bombing schools, I knew that there would be no peace and that things wouldn’t change if I remained silent. I felt a responsibility to speak out and to say something and that gave me courage. That’s why I have continued with it. Right now, I am very optimistic. I do ask questions before making any decisions but I am optimistic about the future. I think things will change. How important is this film for the Muslim world? Being a Muslim family standing up for education and fighting for peace and women’s rights, this movie clearly shows that Islam is a religion of peace and brotherhood. After seeing the film, people will see how this Muslim family stood up for peace and for education. And, hopefully, it’ll be able to reach every house, in the East and the West, and it will be able to bring the changes that we want to see, not only in bringing education but also showing the importance of peace and tolerance. Do you hope to return to Swat Valley one day? I am hoping that we will be able to go Pakistan very soon and I am very excited about that. I miss my country, having been away for more than three years. It is very difficult. We came to the UK not by our own choice but through circumstances that forced us to come here. It is hard to live in a situation that is not your own choice. But I hope that after I finish my studies I will work in Pakistan. That has been my dream for years, to help my country and to see every child in my country get a good education. This is where the campaign started. I saw terrorism and I saw girls being denied the right to education. The journey started in Pakistan. With terrorism, I think world leaders need to come together and take the threat very seriously because people are suffering. Millions of people have become refugees. I saw that on my trip to the Lebanon and Jordan on my 18th birthday. I saw innocent children living in camps, being away from their homes, and it is so hard for them. Some of them have been away for three or four years. It is not easy to live in this situation when you have no hope for home or for school. If world leaders don’t focus on this war, then more and more children will become refugees. How do you cope with all the attention you receive? It’s a very good question. Right now, it feels like I have two very different lives. One as a girl at home, fighting with my brothers, going to school and living like a normal girl. I have to do homework and exams. I recently did my GCSE exams. And then also I am another girl who speaks out for education. It feels like two different lives but the reality is that it is just one person doing this. I am trying my best every day to connect these two people together as part of my life. What impact has winning the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize had upon your life?
Winning the Prize is such a precious award and I was not expecting it at all. It was such a surprise to win that at the age of 17, when I was still a child. I felt very honoured as a child receiving the award for standing up for children’s rights and education, receiving the award along with Kailash Satyarthi, who has done so much for children’s rights. It gave me strength and more courage to continue the fight. More than 66 million girls in this world cannot go to school and the Nobel Peace Prize gave me the opportunity to spread this message further across the world and to ask world leaders to focus more on this problem. Whether I won the award or not, I would have continued to focus on this message. It is part of my life. It’s my life mission. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? Hopefully, I will have finished my school and university education and I will be doing great work in Pakistan, helping children to go to school. I have a strong commitment to my country and I have promised myself that I will help Pakistan to become a better country, that the people will get peace and good quality education. It is a shame to know that there are children who get no schooling and that there are people with no facilities. I believe my country deserves the opportunity to see progress and development. Do you feel as though the attack you suffered was part of a larger
plan, part of your destiny even? I started the campaign when I was only about 10 and it was due to the circumstances that I faced. If there were no terrorists in Swat Valley and I could go to school, then I wouldn’t have had to speak out because there would have been no need. I stood up because there was a need. Someone needed to stand up, to bring change, to talk about education. With the incident, I was targeted because I spoke out very openly. Some people were hesitating about saying the word Taliban, but I did not hesitate. I said that if they’re doing these things then why not say they are doing these things. Even if the incident had not happened I would have continued this campaign and my mission. It just happened. I had no idea if the attack was the end of my journey or whether it was a new beginning. It turned out to be a new beginning. I had to choose. I had been targeted and therefore I could stop. Or I could continue. I had seen the worst moment in my life and I chose to continue because any fear I had of being killed was gone. I feel as though no one can stop me. I am very thankful to everyone for their support. That gives me more courage every day. HE NAMED ME MALALA, the intimate portrait of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, will be released on Digital HD and DVD on 29th February from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. £1 from every HE NAMED ME MALALA DVD sold will be donated to
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The Malala Fund, whose goal is to enable girls to complete 12 years of safe, quality education so that they can achieve their potential and be positive change-makers in their families and communities.
I hope that after I finish my studies I will work in Pakistan. That has been my dream for years, to help my country and to see every child in my country get a good education.
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OPINION
So here I am again with another article in this thought-provoking health series for Asian Sunday. My columns are designed to explore topics, start a conversation and touch on real life issues that affect every community. The series is not designed to take the place of medical advice and if you do have any concerns of that nature then you should, as always seek advice from your doctor. When you have visited your family doctor, have you ever been advised that many of your problems could be improved and even avoided if you were to eat well and enjoy a healthy lifestyle? Well what does all this mean? We live in a world where fast-food is more available than ever, where convenience meals are exactly that – convenient and where we live in the fast lane. Work, eat, sleep, repeat – life can often be that repetitive for many of us. So how can we eat well and enjoy a healthy lifestyle? I recently visited the States, and every time I cross the Atlantic I go through a whole host of emotions when eating out, ranging from happiness all the way through to guilt. Why? Because I know what is good for me and what is not, but whether I act on it or not is another thing altogether! It is a gross generalisation I know, but for purposes of discussion: the portions are massive and the ingredients are unhealthy, however the taste is often exquisite! What that calls for is self- restraint and a common-sense approach to a difficult situation. Should it be this difficult though? Something else that America has introduced me to is French Vanilla
creamed coffee – yes, you read correctly, creamer instead of milk. This is full of fat, sugar and all the bad things our doctor tells us to avoid in inappropriate proportions. So all of this sent me on my own internal journey where I analysed my personal habits and ‘lifestyle’. I found that temptation by way of a tasty fast-food was sometimes too much to resist, the ease of buying a $1 coffee that tasted so good was far too tempting. But you do not need to travel so far to pick up bad eating habits where in the United Kingdom we are facing obesity on an epidemic scale. In order to eat well, we need to know what we eat and from that what is good and bad. This is of course a simplistic assertion, as for example one person’s recommended salt intake may not necessarily be the same as the next. What does eating well mean to you? Could you benefit from keeping a meal plan? I know that if I were to keep a meal record of what I ate over the past week and I were to post-mortem the ingredients of those meals, there would be much room for improvement. But how far should we take eating healthily? Coming from an Asian background myself, I know firsthand that food from the Indian subcontinent can be saturated in fat, salt and carbohydrates. Too much of these – very bad! With a wealth of information at our fingertips, we can see what is in our food, how many calories we are eating and how balanced our diet is. Are we eating the correct amounts of protein, carbs, fats etc? Are we balanced? It is a question that we should ask ourselves and a topic that should enjoy greater emphasis in schools. Whilst eating well may be one hurdle, another is enjoying a generally healthy lifestyle. What on earth does that mean? Well it could be as simple as exercising as best as you can in your own individual circumstances. One size does not fit all and one can’t say that every single person should for example swim one-hundred metres three times a day four days a week. What
if you can’t swim? I am just being facetious of course, but my point is simple: are you exercising? And are you doing as much as you should be doing? Not your brother, sister, neighbour, cousin – but you? Enjoying a healthy lifestyle incorporates a whole host of things not only limited to exercise. Stressful lifestyles are linked to all sorts of medical conditions such as tension headaches, high blood pressure, anxiety disorders and so on. Lifestyle quite simply incorporates everything you do into one word – and therefore enjoying a healthy lifestyle potentially means improving in all different aspects of your life. Eating unhealthy and not enjoying a healthy lifestyle can of course adversely affect your health. Simply put, overindulgence of bad foods will equal raised body mass index, increased risk of heart conditions, stroke, high blood pressure and so on. So there are a million reasons why we should all step back and look at what we eat, and analyse our lifestyle. It doesn’t take a lot, but could allow us to enjoy health rather than suffer illness later in life. So before reaching for the French Vanilla creamed coffee next time I am in the States, perhaps I will exercise self-restraint based on my current analysis. As always, I emphasise one point, one person’s medicine is another’s poison. This also holds true for health and wellness where one size does not fit all. If you are uncertain about how you could work on improving your health, talk to your doctor. I hope that leaves you with some questions, and some of which only you may have the answers. Self-analysis is a vital tool in our armamentarium. You can follow my Twitter feed on @Faraaz_Bhatti and let’s talk about important health issues. If you would like me to discuss any specific issue or get a conversation going then feel free to let me know.
We live in a world where fast-food is more available than ever, where convenience meals are exactly that – convenient and where we live in the fast lane. Work, eat, sleep, repeat – life can often be that repetitive for many of us. So how can we eat well and enjoy a healthy lifestyle?
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EVENTS
UK’s top contemporary Islamic artists come together for a unique Faith in Art exhibition.
A brand new exhibition came to life at Craven Museum and Gallery in Skipton recently, where the work of perhaps the UK’s top ten contemporary Islamic artists is being showcased. The exhibition which is open to all and runs until 28 March, showcases calligraphy, geometry, arabesque, illumination, miniature painting, wood crafting, paper-cutting, embroidery, fabric printing and three dimensional works.
The opening night itself saw hundreds of people from across the country descend into the modern Gallery in Skipton to take admire the vibrant, colourful, contemporary and hugely popular range of Islamic art produced in Britain today.
Art oozes diversity and a feeling of oneness.” He told Asian Sunday
Curator Mobeen Butt, who is also founder of the Muslim Museum Initiative, told us the project has been fifteen months in the making.
“There is a huge variety on display here. Our exhibition has three main principle features, woodwork, glass and laser cutting and I am really proud of the response so far and that we’ve been able to bring together ten amazing artists to showcase such a variety of Islamic art” Mr Butt said.
“What I wanted to show was the vibrancy of Islamic Art. Islamic
On asking him how he felt his opening night of the exhibition went,
Mr Butt said: “It was great to see such diversity in the gallery; a range of ages, ethnicities and faiths were represented and that is just brilliant! “Art has the power to transcend, it can bring worlds together, evoke emotions, pierce through politics, tell stories, and take people to distant times and far off places. The Faith in Art Exhibition aims to do all the above and more.
“This is a rare opportunity to see such a spectacular array of contemporary Islamic art exhibited outside of London, Dubai, Qatar or Malaysia. “Muslims in Britain are producing exceptional art; art with real soul, depth and meaning; art that mesmerises; and art that is increasingly being collected around the world.” One of the ten artists displaying her work was Manchester born artist
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ASIAN SUNDAY
Guests enjoying the Faith in Art exhibition
Artist Rizwan Ul Haq says ‘There is a spiritual essence in Islamic art that unifies things together and harmonises your soul’ Ranaa Shahid. Ms Shahid discovered a strong and deep connection with art at a young age. The talented artist who studied Art & Design at college honed her talent by further studying Fashion & Textiles and various mixed art forms. She described how her fascination with art grew from reading passages of the Quran. “I used to be mesmerised with the characters and the colours whilst reading the Arabic text in the Quran. I used to just stare at them” she said “Then school introduced me to calligraphy and that’s how I got started”
Unique Islamic Art showcased at Craven Gallery
Raanaz’s art is inspired by the world around her. She combines calligraphy and geometry with batik, applique, stenciling, painting and beadwork on glass, acrylic and fabrics. Another talented artist who caught
our attention was Razwan Ul Haq. The Burnley born artist was initially taught traditional Arabic calligraphy by his father. After travelling the Middle East, he has pioneered a calligraphic form that draws from the minimalist tradition in Islamic art, contemporary artists and Far and Near Eastern calligraphy. He tells us why Islamic art is much more important today than it was a few years ago. “There is a void in people’s lives. People are more spiritual, people are more open and want to understand meaning, purposed. For example, perhaps a decade or so ago, people just read ‘Aleef’ (first letter of the Arabic alphabet) but now people read it and want to know what it means too. “There is a spiritual essence in Islamic art that unifies things together. It harmonises your soul and I think many
people who come to see this exhibition will take something away that will be soul enriching. “Wasn’t it Picasso who said, ‘if he had known Islamic Calligraphy he would have done that’ Well, Mr Ul Haq and the remaining artists surely did impress the packed out opening night of the exhibition. If you are a lover of great craftsmanship, creativity, and more importantly in touch with your spiritual side the Faith in Art exhibition is a must see. The exhibition is running at Craven Museum until 28 March. Craven Museum & Gallery is part of Skipton Town Hall, and is open every day except Tuesdays and Sundays 10am - 4pm; admission is free. For more information visit cravenmuseum.org or contact the museum on 01756 706407.
It’s the way forward Yaar
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Opinion
‘The tandoor shop round the corner’
- How British Asian communities can redefine female empowerment and become a beacon for wider society by Aisha Iqbal Khan I think I became a feminist aged 12 or so, when I refused to learn to make ‘rotis’ unless my mum also taught my four brothers how to make them. They never did, and mine still aren’t as round as I’d like them to be. But they don’t need to be do they? Not when the tandoor shop round the corner sells them four for £1! Through the years, I would notice small injustices, always justified by cultural traditions, that meant ‘our girls don’t do this, they don’t wear that, what will people think, girls are a family’s ‘izzat’, you have to be prepared for when you go to your in-laws’, etc. I would always ask ‘why?’ and - to this day - I don’t think I have ever got a satisfactory answer. I think that’s a huge part of the
reason why I became a writer and a journalist. I wanted to find those elusive answers and keep asking those same questions. We have clearly come a long way from those days when even wearing a pair of jeans was considered an affront to a good Asian girl’s modesty, but there is a long way to go. As we approach International Women’s Day, I can’t help but wonder how far we have really come, both as a community and as a wider, global society. Across the world, women living under brutal chauvinistic regimes can only dream of some of the freedoms we enjoy in the UK. But even at home, a look at sexual assault and domestic violence figures - and various studies on huge numbers of unreported crimes - suggests there is much to be done. All this while we simultaneously feed into and gorge on a hypocritical, blatantly
And yet, in a world where women have travelled in space, cured diseases, performed magnificent feats of engineering and personal bravery, fought in wars and led great nations, we are still reduced to the sum of our bodily parts and how we choose to present them to the world.
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Opinion misogynistic celebrity-obsessed popular culture where pictures of Kim Kardashian balancing a champagne glass on her naked behind on a magazine cover are sold to us as an act of female liberation, where 30 women fighting to impress one man on a TV show is considered the height of Saturday night entertainment and where lunatics can organise pro-rape events. Have we lost the plot and in fact started to regress into a patriarchal parody of ourselves? Emmeline Pankhurst would probably be turning in her grave. American feminist icon Margaret Sanger said once that “no woman can call herself free who does not own and control her body”. And yet, in a world where women have travelled in space, cured
Why is it that it is men who give women ‘honour’, I asked, and men who take it away, but women who bear the scars – in every sense? diseases, performed magnificent feats of engineering and personal bravery, fought in wars and led great nations, we are still reduced to the sum of our bodily parts and how we choose to present them to the world. The confused mess is summed up by debates around page 3 girls and Muslim burqa wearers, both of which seem to pop up again from time to time. I am no fan of enforced cover-ups, but the dominant narrative would have
us believe that a woman having the freedom to take her clothes off in a newspaper is somehow a feminist statement, while the same woman choosing to cover herself is a symbol of religious and cultural oppression. Then there is the parallel narrative gathering momentum, that actually it’s the freedom to cover up (whether by burqa or hijab or other ‘modest’ dress) that is the true statement of feminism. Both choices can be interpreted as neo-feminist acts. But I despair increasingly that the feminist narrative has been hijacked by a regressive, resurgent, insidious form of patriarchy. It cannot be denied that there is deep hypocrisy in some of our own communities too about the true meaning of ‘modesty’ and ‘izzat’, something that goes hand in hand with any discussion on female empowerment. ‘Izzat’ and honour are massively strong emblems and themes in South Asian communities, but by redefining those concepts in a way that empowers rather than punishes our women, we can actually reclaim the best of feminism’s core principles from within our communities and be a beacon for a wider society that is losing its way. I recall an argument with a male friend a long time ago after he foolishly described a mutual friend’s slightly frivolous, light-hearted behaviour as ‘dishonourable’. That conversation has stuck with me for many years. I told him that to talk about izzat and honour in the way he had was the lowest of the low form of misogyny. Because when weak men have no other weapon to use against a woman, that’s the one they pull out. Why is it that it is men who give women ‘honour’, I asked, and men who take it away, but women who bear the scars – in every sense?
By allowing women to define their own sense of honour and izzat we empower them. Honour comes through hard work, bravery, compassion and all those core principles and values that we should and do share, and not through being scared of change or modernity or a slight move away from tradition for tradition’s sake. It is almost 100 years since the Parliament of Great Britain first granted the vote to women in 1918. In December 2015, 97 years after that act, women were finally granted the right to vote in Saudi Arabia. Pakistani women won the vote in 1947 on the country’s creation, while Indian women were granted the right in 1921, although it was initially limited to the educated and wealthier classes. When I think of female empowerment in all of its many forms and waves, I think of personalities like (in no particular order) Rosa Parks; Boudica; Beyonce; Emmeline Pankhurst; Alice Walker; the Bronte sisters; Benazir Bhutto; Margaret Thatcher; Shami Chakrobarty; Indira Ghandi; Amelia Earheart and Florence Nightingale. The list goes on and on. Feminism, for me, is not a political movement but an ideal that embodies the best of womanhood: grace, eloquence, perseverance, idealism, passion, sisterhood and motherhood in its most complete, universal sense. The fight for gender equality does not have to be about men VERSUS women, it should be about women working alongside men for a better, fairer society. What is often lost in the myriad debates is that some of the earliest champions of feminism have been men. As far back as 1748, the English classical liberal philosopher Jeremy Bentham spoke for complete equality between the sexes including the rights to vote and to participate in government. Even further back, the Prophet Muhammad married a businesswoman 15 years his senior and together they built the foundations of the one of the world’s most influential religious and political movements. And yet, in the 21st century, we seem to be going ever backwards - and RE-mancipating ourselves. Our South Asian communities can play an important part in forwarding productive debate. We are already doing it by educating ourselves, by increasingly welcoming genuine discourse, by letting our women have a real voice (although certain politicians
seem to think otherwise) and by reclaiming our personal physical space and identity both from those who want to undress it and us, and those who want to ‘protect’ it and cover it (and us) up. It’s not really about swapping the tawa for the tandoor-shop round the corner. It’s about genuine enlightened thinking, and having faith in ourselves and each other.
The eternal battle of the sexes is not about to reach a ceasefire any time soon, it’s in our genetic make-up. But I dream of the day when we no longer have to mark International Women’s Day or have women’s power lists or even publish a special women-centric edition of this paper. That is when we will have true equality.
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Women an In line with our women special, we’re celebrating women in politics. It comes as no surprise to many of us that 100 years ago there were no female politicians in the Houses of Parliament at all.
Thankfully, today nearly a quarter of MPs in the House of Commons are women and female members of the House of Lords make up about a fifth of the total membership.
In 1919, Nancy Astor became the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons. (The first woman in the House of Lords was appointed in 1958.) Even after the Equal Franchise Act was passed in
1928, giving women equal voting rights to men, the 1929 general election resulted in just 16 female MPs being elected to Parliament. Compare that with the 2010 general election, where 143 of the 650 MPs
elected to the Commons were women (22 per cent) Although growth in the number of female female MPs and members of the House of Lords in Parliament
List of female Members of Parliament in House of Commons
Rushanara Ali
Labour – MP for Bethnal Green and Bow – Elected 2010
Seema Kennedy
Labour – MP for South Ribble – Elected 2015
Rupa Huq
Labour – MP for Ealing Central and Acton – Elected 2015
Nusrat Ghani
Conservative –MP for Wealden – Elected 2015
Yasmin Qureshi
Labour – MP for Bolton South East – Elected 2010
Tulip Siddiq
Labour – MP for Hampstead and Kilburn – Elected 2015
Naz Shah
Labour – MP for Bradford West – Elected 2015
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh SNP – MP for Ochil and South Perthshire – Elected 2015
Thangam Debbonaire
Labour – MP for Bristol West – Elected 2015
Shabana Mahmood Labour –MP for Ladywood, Birmingham – Elected 2010
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nd politics has been gradual it wasn’t until the 1997 general election, which really made headlines for women in politics. In 1997 the number of female MPs doubled overnight from 60 to 120. Some contend that an
important factor was the system of choosing party candidates through all-women shortlists, used by the Labour Party, which continued to be a key strategy used by Labour in the recent elections.
It is good to see that the number of female MP’s rose from 22 per cent in 2010 to 29 per cent in 2015, which is approximately a third increase and the largest since 1997.
In the recent elections, Labour had the highest percentage of female MP’s at 43 percent, followed by SNP and then the Conservatives. All major parties except the Lib
Dem and Green Party saw a rise in female MPs after the 2015 elections, with the SNP showing the highest increase from 1 to 20 female MPs
List of females in House of Lords
Usha Kumari Prashar
Baroness Prashar – Cross Bench – Since 1999
Kishwer Falkner Baroness Falkner – Lib Dem – Since 2004
Sandip Verma
Baroness Verna Conservative – Since 2006
Sayeeda Warsi
Baroness Warsi Conservative – Since 2007
Key milestones for women in politics
Shreela Flather
Baroness Flather Cross Bench – Since 2008
Pola Uddin
Baroness Uddin Cross Bench – Since 2010
Zahida Manzoor
Baroness Manzoor – Lib Dem – Since 2013
Nosheena Mobarik Baroness Mobarik Conservative – Since 2014
• 1919 - First female MP to sit in Parliament, Nancy Astor • 1979 - First female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher • 1982 - First female leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Janet mary Young
Ruby McGregorSmith
Baroness McGregor-Smith – Conservative – Since 2015
Shas Sheehan
Baroness Sheehan – Lib Dem – Since 2015
• 1992 - First female Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd • 2006 - The first Lord Speaker, Baroness Hayman.
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Buisness
RBS shares falls as it announces losses of £1.98bn by STAFF REPORTER
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has reported a loss of £1.98bn for its last trading year, which means this is now eighth year of annual losses. This has meant a continued fall in RBS shares which now stand at way below the price the government
paid for to save the bank in 2008, at the height of the financial crisis. The bank is still setting aside billions to cover past mistakes and fines, which means even after costs, profits will still be in the decline.
The annual loss is partly due to a £3.6bn charge to cover conduct and litigation costs, many of them in
A Canadianled group has reportedly bought London City Airport for £2bn
the US.
RBS also set aside another £2.9bn for restructuring, as it withdraws from 25 of the 38 countries it still operates in. Well with the government’s 73 per cent ownership in the bank, things are not looking good for the troubled bank.
by STAFF REPORTER It has been reported by the BBC that London City Airport, has been bought for an undisclosed sum. It is believed the sum is close to the £2bn price as that is what the airport has been valued at.
RBS Bank
City Airport, which recorded 4.3 million passengers last year and is near Canary Wharf in London’s Docklands, which is popular with bankers and City professionals because of its proximity and its small size has been in a deal involving Alberta
Investment Management Corporation, and investment funds the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Wren House, part of the Kuwait Investment Authority. They already own a string of airports, including Belfast International Airport, Birmingham Airport, Bristol Airport, Brussels Airport and Copenhagen Airport. London City was last bought in 2006 by Global Infrastructure Partners, when it carried two million passengers a year.
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Issue 17
Finance Small firms speak out on EU referendum vote by STAFF REPORTER In the first business survey conducted since the EU referendum date was announced, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has today (Friday) revealed the results of a snap poll from over 4,000 small business owners. FSB research found that 42 per cent of the small business vote on the UK’s membership of the EU on 23 June could still be swayed. The research also revealed how informed small business owners feel on the issue and what the main areas of interest are that would influence their vote. The FSB advises both the ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ campaigns to focus upon these issues in their campaigns. As part of the survey, FSB members were also asked how informed they feel about the EU referendum. Just over half (52%) of members surveyed said they do not feel informed about the EU referendum, which suggests a growing number are ready to demand answers from both ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ campaigns once they are appointed. When asked what members needed more information on: almost half (48%) said the economic impact on the UK, 38 per cent noted they needed more detail on the administrative burden of complying with regulation and 33 per cent asked for more detail on the cost of EU membership. Mike Cherry, Policy Director for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “This high response from FSB members shows first and foremost the issues that will impact how smaller businesses will vote in the EU referendum. Three out of four (75%) FSB members raised EU governance–i.e. how decisions are made within the EU - as the area that would have
the highest influence on how they plan to vote. Other areas that scored highly included the free movement of people (70%), the cost of EU membership (69%), the administrative burden of regulation (68%) and the economic impact on the UK (64%).” Top areas small businesses say will influence how they will vote in the EU referendum 1. EU governance (e.g. EU decision making)-75% 2. Free movement of people (e.g. of EU labour, travel, tourism)–70% 3. Cost of EU membership-69% 4. Administrative burden on businesses as a result of complying with regulation-68% 5. Economic impact on the UK-64% 6. Trade with EU Countries-53% 7. Access to the Single Market-49% 8. Trade with non-EU Countries-48% 9. EU funding-42% 10. Competition-35% Mike Cherry, concluded: “Today’s wide ranging research sends a very clear message on what information small businesses want from both official campaigns once they are appointed by the Electoral Commission. Now the date is confirmed, it is clearly ‘game on’ for both sides on this debate. It is crucial that once appointed, both the ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ campaign groups tackle this information deficit. Smaller businesses want to know the practical impact that remaining within or leaving the EU would have on their firms. FSB will be at the forefront of this effort on behalf of our members, to get the information they need before they cast their vote.”
Brexit support from London Mayor triggers a seven year low for the Pound against the Dollar by ITRAT BASHIR The pound fell hard in the past week, hitting a seven-year low against the dollar, which was triggered by London Mayor Boris Johnson’s announcement of supporting Brexit. Uncertainty over the UK membership of the European Union has put pressure on the pound. On Monday last, at one stage the pound was down by 2.4 percent, trading at US $1.4058. Later in the day the sterling recovered to US $1.4135, but was still down by 1.4 percent from the previous close. A few days after, the pound fell to a new seven-year low, hitting US $1.3926 against the US dollar, as market fears about Brexit continued. Experts are of the view that the pound would remain under pressure until the outcome of the June referendum on the UK’s membership in EU. Speaking about the dramatic fall in the pound, Mihir Kapadia, CEO at Sun Global Investments, said that the GBP continues its downward spiral recording a 7 year-low of below $1.40 amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit. “However, the recent economic fluctuations we have seen after Boris Johnson’s decision to back the ‘no’ campaign, the pound could see a further fall to around the $1.35 level,” he added.
The next four months will prove decisive as the UK decides on whether it wants to opt in or out of the EU, and this will no doubt be reflected with expected fluctuations to the currency. The final result may be close depending on how the debate progresses. At any rate, we are in for some interesting times.” Rajesh Agrawal, founder and CEO of RationalFX, said that the decline in the value of the pound is further evidence of the dangerous uncertainty factor surrounding this referendum for the British economy. “This is just a small taste of what we should expect if Britain actually votes to leave,” he added. According to him, even the strongest advocates for Brexit admit that
leaving the EU is risky in the short to medium term, and at best a gamble in the long run. Voters will need to weigh this up as they make their choice. Leaving the EU would bring considerable risk and uncertainty for British business and would put London’s position as the world’s top-ranking financial centre at risk. “The free movement of goods and services across the EU and the unbridled access to 500 million potential customers it brings is crucial to the growth of businesses large and small. Outside the EU, British firms would face years of turmoil while market access and existing trade deals are renegotiated. This will mean slower growth, less investment and fewer jobs,” he added. He also said that the suggestion that British businesses will not suffer if Britain follows the path to exit, is a fantastical delusion worthy of only our most eccentric politicians.
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BUSINESS
The Positives and Negatives of a Brexit “Our destiny is in Europe”, however “that is not to say that our future lies only in Europe.” These are the cautionary words of Margaret Thatcher in one of her most famous speeches. Is our destiny really solely Europe, or is it time to listen to the late lady and consider if our future no longer lies in remaining a member of the EU? Come 6 months time, 23rd of June we will all be voting on whether the UK should remain in or leave EU. D you know which way you are voting, or are you unsure just like many other people out there? Perhaps the greatest uncertainty is that no nation has ever left before. Greece came very close, but in the end remained within the EU. So, what are the advantages of the EU? Well the ‘stay’ campaigners highlight our EU trade agreements, which they say outweighs the billions the UK pays for EU membership. The consensus is that by staying within the EU, the UK will have further investment opportunities, and London will remain the world’s biggest financial hub. Also an important point highlighted by these campaigners is the position of the EU as our saviour for UK jobs, with quoted figures suggesting that the EU supports circa 3 million jobs in the UK. The Pro-EU tram also believes that the UK will be prone to terrorism and isolated without the EU. In contrast, those favouring a ‘Brexit’ believe if the UK leaves the EU, then we can make our own, new trade agreements with countries around the world. We will also save on
membership fees, and overall investment will remain as it is. Barclays has recently said that an exit would hit the EU more than the UK, as an exit by one of its most powerful economies would hit finances hard, and boost anti-EU movements in other countries.
Our columnist Mr Money Bags, who has decades of experience in finance, an MBA, an advanced diploma in financial planning and not to mention his super business skills each edition will give you, our lovely readers some valuable tips and advice on money and business matters. He is forthright and can sometimes be stern when it comes to your cash, but when it comes to finance he really is the expert. Read on for your business and finance advice.
Mr Money Bags
In terms of jobs, by restricting free movement of people, would leaving the EU stop British people working in the EU or EU citizens working in the UK? I do not think so, as many people currently work in non EU countries; all that may be additionally required is a visa. I agree that by leaving we might have more control on our borders, but I disagree that by leaving we may have fewer issues linked to terrorism. I am not sure about you, but I would rather we have a table discussion of the pros and cons of each decision, and then make an informed decision. The banter that we hear in the press surely makes it more confusing for voters, and I dislike the scare mongering that is going on from supporters on both sides. Surely, the best way for voters to make a decision is by actually having sensible TV debates. I say sensible – but more to the point, I hope that we can make an informed decision as voters, and vote with a thorough understanding of what would happen if we stay and what would happen if we leave. No doubt over the next few months the Brexit is going to be a major issue, which we as citizens of Britain need to understand, take seriously and vote based on our individual understanding.
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TRAVEL
Egypt
- journey of no solitude
Birqash Camel Market
by Riaz Ahmed Everyone goes abroad for different reasons - many go abroad for a holiday, some to visit family and some for a business trip. My trip was that of exploration. Egypt was a holiday with friends, but as a keen photographer, I couldn’t resist making my journey to the ancient land one of exploration. As someone who prefers talking through pictures rather
than words, exclusively for Asian Sunday readers here are a few memories of my trip to one of the biggest cities in the Middle East. Camel Market You have probably seen this on TV or heard about the camel market in Egypt. I visited the one which is situated near Birqash. Here, you will see merchants buying and selling camels for farming or consumption, and be able to observe the traders negotiating
and making deals. It’s a very dusty environment and not for the faint hearted. The camels are treated badly in order to keep them tame. Each day, camels come from as far away as Sudan and Somalia, as well as elsewhere in Egypt, and are either sold for cash or traded for livestock. I hope you can get a sense of the market from the way the traders look relaxed but at the same time some can be very
Garbage City
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TRAVEL ruthless. Garbage City Manshiyat Naser known as Carbage City is a ward of Cairo. As you will see, the people who live here are amazingly beautiful, very dignified people that go about their normal lives in
one of the most unhygenic and harsh surroundings I have ever seen. The residents were so humble, but lived in a city where its economy revolves around the collection and recycling of the city’s garbage. You can imagine the smell and uncomfortable surroundings.
One thing I noticed is that despite surroundings they looked healthy and seemed to live a normal life like any other City. What was particularly fascinating was how many households breed and show off their pigeons.
I was fascinated with the graffiti work in Tahrir Square. Some amazingly powerful messages depicted in art form about the matyrs and massacres of the 2011.
Tahrir Square revolution grafitti
The City of the Dead, is an Islamic necropolis and cemetery below the Mokattam
City Of The Dead
Hills in south eastern Cairo, Egypt. It is a 4 miles (6.4 km) long (north-south) dense grid of tomb and mausoleum structures, where some people live and work amongst the dead. A very haunting and a strange place to travel, as you see many stray dogs and cats and a tense feeling in the atmosphere. Animal Market If you are an animal lover, this is not the place to visit. This is a very unusual animal market called Souq al-Goma’a (Friday Market) in Cairo. Here you will see animals of every breed from frogs. monkeys, snakes, dogs to birds etc. I only manged to take a few images as the police stopped me from taking images. The Egyptians would rather you don’t take images of this aspect of Cairo. The place was busy, bustling with activity and was pretty much a very hostile trading place of animals. Above all for me Egypt was a very interesting place, if you enjoy history, culture and are open to exploring different culture and attitudes, then you will enjoy the rough and the beauty this beautiful place has to offer.
Tahrir Square revolution grafitti
City Of The Dead
Animal Market
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MOTORING UK exports first production specification Detroit Electric sports car to China The first production-specification Detroit Electric sports car has rolled off the UK assembly line and has been exported to China, as the electric vehicle company’s expansion in Asia continues. The first SP:01 pure electric vehicle was handed over to Detroit Electric’s new importer for China, Jowett Motors (Asia) Ltd, in a ceremony at the company’s main assembly plant in Leamington Spa, UK. The white SP:01 was presented to Dr Richard Lee, Chairman of Jowett Motors, by Detroit Electric Head of Engineering, Ben Boycott. It will be used as a demonstrator vehicle to fulfil a stream of enquiries from prospective customers that followed the appointment of Jowett Motors last April and the appearance of the SP:01 at Auto Shanghai 2015.
Commenting on the latest developments in Asia, Albert Lam, Chairman and CEO of Detroit Electric, said: “We are extremely proud to team up with Jowett Motors, a company that has an exceptional track record in the establishment and selling of exclusive, high performance sports cars in the Chinese market. “Jowett Motors’ desire to join us as we prepare for full-scale production and sales of our upcoming range of pure electric vehicles is a huge endorsement of our products and brand, and a demonstration of their confidence in the progress we are making in Asia and around the world,” he added. The Detroit Electric SP:01, the world’s lightest and fastest two-seat pure-electric sports car, goes on sale
in Asia and Europe over the coming months. It promises blistering acceleration, reaching 60mph from standstill in just 3.7 seconds (0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds) and a sprint to an impressive top speed of 155mph (249km/h). Featuring a 285HP / 210kW electric motor and carbon fibre body panels, the car is fitted with a single speed automatic transmission as standard, with the option of both twin-speed automatic and six-speed manual transmissions. The SP:01 is supplied with both hard and soft tops as standard. The battery in the SP:01 has been integrated into the chassis as a stressed member, adding stiffness to enhance handling and safety. The military grade, lightweight high density lithium battery is the most
energy-dense automotive battery pack in the world, offering over
140Wh/kg, benefitting range while keeping overall vehicle weight low.
NEW ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA UNVEILED The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta has been unveiled simultaneously in five locations across Europe, with the main event taking place in the Alfa Romeo Museum, Arese. Further enhancing the range, following its extensive revision in 2014, the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta features revised front-end styling that includes a striking new honeycomb grille, piano black bumper inserts (with red highlights on sporty models) and revised headlamp and fog lamp surrounds. The new look emphasises the Giulietta’s close genetic links with the new Alfa Romeo Giulia sports saloon and is complemented by new badge designs (both the “Alfa Romeo” and “Giulietta” logos), new alloy wheel designs, revised tail pipes, new colours (Alfa White and Lipari Grey) and a new engine and transmission combination which
should prove a popular addition to the range for UK customers. For the UK motorists the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s model range features five trim levels: Giulietta, Giulietta Super, Giulietta Tecnica, Giulietta Speciale and Giulietta Veloce. The entry-level Giulietta now benefits from burnished headlamp surrounds, satin-finish door handles and new oblique tailpipes, while inside there are new grey and black fabric seats with Alfa Romeo logo on the head restraints, new matte black dashboard insert and luxury floor mats. The refreshed style elements are accompanied by a comprehensive standard equipment list which includes a leather steering wheel with audio remote controls, air conditioning, five-inch Uconnect LIVE with Bluetooth connectivity, the Alfa
DNA selector, six airbags, 16-inch ‘Turbine’ alloy wheels, one-touch electric windows all round and steering-wheel paddle shifters on TCT-equipped models. The engines available in this trim level are the 120hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol and 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT, 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol and 150hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel.
and the 6.5-inch Uconnect LIVE system with voiceoperated satellite navigation and 3D mapping.
The Giulietta Super trim level adds dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, a front armrest, new 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights and upgraded seat upholstery and the engine range comprises the 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT, 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol, 150hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 170hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol TCT and 175hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT.
Giulietta Tecnica replaces the Business Edition and includes the 6.5-inch Uconnect infotainment system with navigation, automatic lights and wipers, electro-chromatic rear view mirror, front and rear parking sensors, new 16-inch wheels, side skirts and rear privacy glass. The available engine range includes the 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 120hp 1.6-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT, 150hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel and 175hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT.
A new Lusso pack can be added to the Super model to enhance the elegant look of the car and includes leather upholstery, front and rear armrests (with third rear headrest), aluminium kick plates
The Giulietta Speciale offers customers the option of combining the sporty look and feel of the high performance Veloce version with a broad selection of engines. Standard equipment includes a sports suspension, sports bumpers with red Alfa profile, classic five-hole 18-inch alloy wheels, Brembo brakes with red four-piston callipers, tinted windows, new carbon-look headlamp surrounds, an anthracite finish on the mirror caps, door handles, grille and fog light surrounds and the 6.5-inch Uconnect LIVE system with navigation.
Leather and Alcantara seats, aluminium pedals, a flat-bottom sports steering wheel with red stitching and the carbon-look dashboard surrounds and door panels complete the comprehensive Speciale package and engine choices include the 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol, 150hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel, 170hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol TCT and 175hp 2.0-litre JTDM-2 turbo diesel TCT. Finally, the new Giulietta Veloce tops the revised line-up and in terms of equipment is similar to the Speciale but with stylish new 18-inch alloy rims, specific sports suspension tuning, oversized tailpipes and, of course, the most powerful engine in the Giulietta range – the 240hp 1750 turbo petrol engine combined with a specially calibrated TCT transmission. The new Alfa Romeo Giulietta goes on sale on April 1 with prices starting from just £18,450 OTR. Full pricing details will be announced closer to the car’s UK launch.
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MOTORING McLAREN EXTENDS THE APPEAL OF THE SPORTS SERIES IN GENEVA WITH THE 570GT McLaren Automotive will showcase the largest selection of models to date at this year’s Geneva Motor Show with the full three tier model range on display, including the latest in the recently-launched Sports Series – the McLaren 570GT. Practical enough for everyday use, the two-seat, midengined sportscar 570GT is the most refined and road-biased McLaren yet, designed with a focus on day-to-day usability and long distance comfort. It offers increased levels of practicality and comfort, while remaining a true McLaren. The McLaren 570GT joins the 570S Coupé and 540C Coupé as the third model in the recently announced Sports Series family. The clean lines of the revised glasshouse give the 570GT a sleek and refined silhouette, and mark out the second of three bodystyles which will eventually complete the Sports Series. A standard fixed glass Panoramic Roof provides a bright, open cabin running through to the large rear glass hatch creating the most luxurious and relaxing McLaren driving environment. As seen on the other models in the Sports Series, levels of craftsmanship throughout the interior of the 570GT are of the highest level, upholstered and specified with quality materials and the latest technologies throughout. EVERYDAY USABILITY The 570GT is the most practical model ever launched by McLaren Automotive, targeted towards longer journeys and weekends away. As with all Sports Series models, ingress and egress are optimised through a lower and narrower sill, while the signature dihedral doors open with a more upward arc. Within the spacious and ergonomically-optimised cabin, a pair of eight-way electrically adjustable sports seats are upholstered in leather as standard. The control interfaces for the air conditioning, telephony, navigation and audio systems are managed through the centrallymounted touchscreen, while vehicle setup is configurable via the TFT LCD digital instrument cluster. The standard fixed glass Panoramic Roof provides a bright, open cabin with a dramatic glasshouse design running through to the large rear glass hatch. The roof glass is treated
with 18 percent transmission tint – the same as the glass roof of the McLaren P1™ – and also features SSF (Sound & Solar Film) to absorb solar radiation while providing additional noise insulation. With the increased glass area of the 570GT, cabin temperatures are regulated and maintained by an enhanced dual-zone air conditioning system. The system allows fully automatic and independent settings for passenger and driver. A two-stage Automatic function – ‘Auto’ and ‘Auto Lo’ – allows a desired temperature to be obtained, with the latter setting limiting the speed of the fans to minimise fan noise within the cabin. The front luggage area remains unchanged from the Coupé, providing 150 litres of stowage, while a further 220 litres of space is available behind the seats on the leather-lined Touring Deck. This additional space is accessed via the side opening Glass Hatch bringing the total storage space for the 570GT to 370 litres. The Glass Hatch opens on the kerbside whether left- or right-hand drive and is framed by carbon fibre providing significant torsional rigidity. Refinement and day-to-day usability are further enhanced through the latest tyre technology from McLaren Automotive technical partner, Pirelli. The 570GT features specially developed Pirelli P Zero™ tyres which reduce in-cabin road noise by up to three decibels. The unique characteristic of the tyre is the innovative Pirelli Noise Cancelling System (PNCS): a new technology patented by Pirelli that reduces road noise from the grooves within the tyre, designed to absorb vibrations and reduce transmission into the cabin. CRAFTSMANSHIP As with all models in the Sports Series, the 570GT is extensively equipped throughout with the latest technologies and the highest quality materials. As standard, the new model features extended leather upholstery, electrically adjustable heated seats with memory function, front and rear parking sensors, an electric steering column with easy entry / exit function, soft close doors and a quieter exhaust system compared to the 570S Coupé. Lightweight noise absorbing and damping materials are used to line the Touring Deck
and bulkhead, further enhancing the level of refinement within the cabin. Available from launch are a range of ‘By McLaren’ designer interior specifications, designed to demonstrate the breadth of personalisation available. As with the 570S Coupé, these are available in a choice of Luxury or Sport configurations, and are designed to showcase the interior design of the 570GT, and compliment the exterior colour choices. The eight speaker McLaren Audio Plus system is fitted as standard. This system – optional on the 570S Coupé – includes two 100mm mid / bass drive units adding to the clarity and depth of the sound, and two 25mm tweeters in the rear of the cabin which balance the sound to ensure the occupants have a greater sense of immersion. A 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system is also available re-tuned to the different interior acoustics of the 570GT. The system comprises five 25mm aluminium Nautilus tweeters, five 100mm Kevlar® mid-range drive units and two 200mm carbon fibre & Rohacell bass subwoofers. All speakers are driven by a fully digital 14-channel 1280W Class D amplifier.
hydraulic steering system is retained from the Coupé models but with a reduced ratio – by two percent – and has been specifically designed to smooth out driver inputs at high cruising speed. The 570GT is fitted with the McLarendeveloped 3.8-litre twin turbo V8 M838TE engine which debuted in the 570S Coupé. Power and torque remain at 570PS (562bhp) and 600 Nm (443lb ft) and power is delivered to the rear wheels via a seven-speed seamless-shift transmission with adjustment through Normal, Sport and Track settings to produce one of the most rewarding and engaging driving experiences in the sports car class. The settings include bespoke gearchange calibrations with comfort (Normal), Cylinder Cut (Sport) and Inertia Push (Track) technologies all available. As with all models in the McLaren Automotive range, the McLaren 570GT is factory-filled with Mobil 1 New Life™ 0W-40.
radiators. First introduced on the iconic McLaren F1, and now signature to each of the models in the McLaren Automotive range, the 570GT features distinctive dihedral doors, which open upwards and outwards to aid ingress and egress from the cabin. The design includes a ‘floating tendon’, designed to channel air into the side air intake. Bodycoloured door inserts, unique to the 570GT, create a more understated side profile and further differentiate the 570GT from the Coupé models. LIGHTWEIGHT
DESIGN AND AERODYNAMICS
THE DRIVE
Under the skin, the 570GT has been developed with a unique dynamic setup to reflect its positioning, while retaining the supercar levels of engagement experienced on the 570S Coupé. Pure McLaren design and engineering combine to produce a car with breathtaking performance yet increased levels of luxury and refinement. Sharing the newly developed suspension system with the other models in the Sports Series, the 570GT emphasises long distance comfort through further fine tuning to the system which includes a reduction in spring rate stiffness of 15 percent at the front and 10 percent at the rear. Independent adaptive dampers can be dynamically adjusted through Normal, Sport and Track settings, and are coupled to front and rear antiroll bars. The overall set up of the 570GT has been calibrated to enhance road and motorway driving, and aid ride quality over poor road surfaces. The electro-
The revised design of the 570GT sees the glasshouse with clean and sleek lines leading to the rear of the car. With the side-opening Glass Hatch and increased luggage area, the 570GT features a unique aerodynamic package, including an extended fixed rear spoiler – 10mm taller than that fitted to the Coupé models – designed to offer the same levels of aerodynamic performance as the distinctive flying buttresses of the 570S Coupé.
As with all McLaren models since the introduction of the MP4-1 Formula 1™ car in 1981, the 570GT uses a carbon fibre chassis. The MonoCell II debuted in the 570S Coupé, and is shared across the Sports Series models. Weighing just 75kg, the lightweight yet extremely stiff chassis contributes to a dry weight of 1,350kg (2,976lb). This equates to 422PS per tonne, providing breathtaking performance more commonly seen in the supercar segment: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds, 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph) in 9.8 seconds, with a top speed of 328 km/h (204 mph). Despite supercar performance figures, there have been no sacrifices to the everyday drivability and practicality of the 570GT which returns 26.6 mpg (10.7 l/100 km) on the EU combined cycle and emissions of 249 g/km. The latest model in the Sports Series is fitted with a lightweight composite braking system. Set up with a greater focus on road driving, the system includes iron discs (front 370mm x 32mm / rear 350mm x 30mm) with four-piston callipers front and rear. In front of these sit a set of unique 15-spoke GT Design cast alloy wheels – 19-inch front, 20 inch rear. The newly-designed wheels are fitted exclusively with Pirelli tyres. As standard, road-focused P Zero™ tyres are fitted, while a more performancefocused P Zero™ Corsa option is also available.
The front end design of the 570GT is shared with that of the 570S Coupé, with the front bumper featuring a pronounced point which generates the centre of pressure, piercing the air to reduce drag and forming four quadrants. This aerodynamic feature is designed to separate the airflow above and below the bodywork, and along each flank. As seen on the other models in the Sports Series, the bonnet features strong crease lines which optimise airflow over the front fenders and into the side air intakes. The 570GT is priced from £154,000 Aero Blades below the front bumper in the UK, with first deliveries due to are angled to produce an area of high pressure ahead of the low temperature commence late in 2016.
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ASIAN SUNDAY
Issue17
JOBS
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join the organisation and help make decisions which lead to equality for women locally, nationally and internationally.
Inspirational Women Foundation is looking for like minded individuals who have a passion for community and want to assist in building networks to help support and inspire women locally, nationally and internationally.
4 year appointment, approximately 12 days per year.
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ASIAN SUNDAY 37
Issue 17
MATRIMONIALs
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Issue 17
ASIAN SUNDAY
Sports
Pakistani Football: The Myth Shattered by Ayyaz Malik There was once a time where if one was to use Pakistan and football in the same sentence, you would think that wouldn’t make sense. The days of Pakistan sport being famed just for hockey and cricket teams is a thing of the past, it’s fair to say. The reason for the lack of competitiveness for a Pakistan football team in previous years could have been down to the fact that the number of Pakistani
players playing professionally wasn’t as high as it is now. As an avid football follower over the years, the only notable player of my knowledge who player for Pakistan was Adnan Ahmed in previous years. This is not the case anymore. Players such as Pakistan captain Kaleemullah Khan who plays in America for the Tulsa Roughnicks and is the first player of Pakistani origin to do so, Adil Iqbal Muhammed who plays in Uzbekistan for Bishkek Krygystan
and Etzaaz Hussain who plays for Norwegian giants Molde, are definite examples showing that Pakistani football is no laughing matter as it might have been in the past . When I was kid growing up I never thought I would grow up being able to say that, but how times do change. Keep reading Asian Sunday where our sports desk will update you with the progress of these three players, along with all the other rising stars of Pakistani football.
The Asia Cup, The Perfect ‘Cuppa’ For Cricket Lovers by Ayyaz Malik Cricket lovers rejoice! The 2016 Asia Cup is here! The Asia Cup Tournament, which this year will be a warm up for the World T20, will be held from 24th February to 5th March. India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and U.A.E will fight it out over a nearly two-week period to establish who ‘the cricketing king
of Asia’ is. Naturally such a tournament is going to have its fair share of ‘controversy’ with teams like India and Pakistan playing against one another. In 1993 the tournament was cancelled due to strained political relations between India and Pakistan, with relations remaining strained to this day as we well know. Hopefully, the recent Hockey Asian
Cup set a good precedent, showing that two nations that have political differences can be united through sports. After the downsizing of Asian Cricket Council in 2015, it was announced by the ICC that Asia Cup events from 2016 will be played on a rotation basis between One Day International and T20 format, based on the format of upcoming world events.
As a result, the 2016 event will be the first event to be played in T20 format and will feature as preparation tournament ahead of 2016 ICC World T20.
known in the cricketing world. As good as both India and Sri Lanka are, cricket matches are not won on paper, they’re won on the cricket field.
In the one-day format of the game India and Sri Lanka have won the tournament the most times (five), making it difficult to see past these two sides in the T20 format of the Asia cup. It was India and Sri Lanka who contested the last T20 World cup final. Sri Lanka came out on top that day to become World T20 champions, which is a potentially ominous sign for the other three sides.
With talent comes expectation and no doubt the expectation on India will be huge, but can they handle it? I think so, with this India team having all of the makings of world champions, but I am sure Pakistan, U.A.E, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will have something to say about that.
In the other three teams (Bangladesh, Pakistan and U.A.E) there is an element of unpredictability. In our opinion though, India and Sri Lanka are undoubtedly the favourites in this T20 tournament. India possesses the world class talent of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina to name just a few star batsmen. Sri Lanka may not possess batsmen of that calibre, but can call upon Lasith Malinga who will be captaining their side.
Rohit Sharma batting for India V UAE in 2015
The threat that the Mumbai Indian’s player poses in T20 cricket is well
Pakistan shouldn’t be underestimated; after all they can call upon the potentially very lethal Mohammed Amir. It’s also worth mentioning that Bangladesh beat India in a T20 series last year and do possess world class players such as Shakib-Al-Hassan, so they won’t be easily pushed over either. UAE may not possess any household names, but they did put up a brave showing in the last world cup and that deserves to be admired. The U.A.E could be a very dangerous opponent as many will be expecting them to just ‘make up the numbers’. The tournament promises to be a good one, and I for one am looking forward to it!
Issue 17
ASIAN SUNDAY
39
Sports
Has WWE Wrestlemania Turned Into Wrestle Failure? by Ayyaz Malik In life one shouldn’t feel forced to do or like anything, a view which the WWE creative team appear to disagree with. For those of you who are WWE fans, you will know that Roman Reigns appears to receive much more exposure than most other wrestlers. That would be all fair and well, but what seems to be apparent as far as fan reaction goes, nobody seems to really want Reigns at the forefront. All that I loved about wrestling, all of the excitement and unpredictability, at this current moment has gone. Sadly with WWE’s grand event Wrestlemania coming up, things still don’t really look that encouraging still, however hopefully that will change – there is still time! Wrestlemania is the pinnacle of the wrestling year, the Oscars of the WWE world, if you will. Although Wrestlemania is still some time away, I am not holding my breath for a good event. That said, general opinion last year was much the same and last year’s mania was unbelievable! The last event before Mania (Fast Lane) last year however, was also a disappointment, which I think may be reflected again this time around. The main event for this year’s Fast Lane was a triple threat match between Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose and Brock Lesnar. Every WWE fan knew that Reigns was going to win, as he did, but did WWE do that to throw us off the scent? WWE creative did the same thing last year. If you cast your mind back,
it seemed like Roman was going to win the World Heavyweight title after winning the Royal Rumble, much to the annoyance of the general WWE universe. Last year’s Fast Lane main event was Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns which was an example of WWE listening to the fans too much. Just like this year, I didn’t have high hopes, but the match between Brock and Roman at Wrestlemania last year was classic! To top that match off, the Money in the Bank cash-in by Seth Rollins made last years Wrestlemania, which nobody saw coming. The creative team keep pushing Roman Reigns, but the crowd just don’t seem to want that. Reigns keeps getting booed, just like last year, in fact, it’s his old pal Dean Ambrose that gets a better crowd reception.
going to say is watch this space. WWE could really strike gold with a storyline between Reigns and Ambrose. In another confirmed match, the much debated opponent for ‘The Phenom Undertaker’ will be none other than the boss’s son, Shane McMahon. McMahon Junior, who left the company in the ‘attitude era’, surprised us all with a comeback appearance on Raw. McMahon senior decided to bring his son back onto Raw to make the huge announcement. I am not sure how to react to this match, but with wrestlers like Randy
That’s also the same as last year (the crowd reaction to Reigns), but what WWE did brilliantly last year and hopefully will look to do this year as well is make a brilliant Wrestlemania main event. After that epic main event last year, the crowd reaction to Reigns improved, despite ‘The Powerhouse’s’ defeat to Lesnar. This year’s main event of Wrestlemania in HHH features one of the best performers there ever will be in sports entertainment and the way that Roman Reigns’ character is going, it’s just the opponent ‘The Big Dowg’ needs. Personally, I think something is brewing between Ambrose and Reigns - bad blood, perhaps? The creative team looked like they were Roman Reigns planting the seeds, and all I am
Orton and John Cena currently still injured, maybe making Shane The Undertakers next opponent isn’t the worst idea after all. Let’s put it this way, Shane
McMahon will be a better ring worker than Braun Strowman, who was talked up as ‘The Phenom’s’ opponent. Yes, he is a strong wrestler, but with Shane Omac we see a wrestler who could be a bit more nimble around the ring. The stipulation of the match between Undertaker and Shane McMahon is interesting as well. If Shane wins the match he gets control of the company. Interesting, interesting indeed. Wrestling’s biggest event (Wrestlemania) will take place on 3rd April, and I for one can’t wait! From now till April, things in WWE are looking up.
40 ASIAN SUNDAY
Issue 17
Sports
FA Cup Sixth Round Preview: Could It Be Chelsea’s Year? IPL T20 Chennai vs Kolkata
by Ayyaz Malik The oldest football club competition is in full swing as the FA Cup reaches the quarter final stage. In what has been another fascinating competition, there have been some shocks along the way. In fact the most shocking part of this year’s FA cup is the teams who are actually left in the competition. As far as cup competitions would go, naturally we would expect the bigger sides (with all due respect) such as Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool to still be
in the competition – but they’re not. All of these teams were beaten in the fifth round. Manchester City were beaten by Chelsea (5-1), Tottenham were beaten by Crystal Palace (0-1) and by Liverpool were beaten by West Ham over extra time, with all of these games arguably won on merit. With Chelsea gained an emphatic win over fierce rivals Manchester City, due to the fact that the Citizens fielded a severely weakened side. To protest over the fact that their match with the Blues was on Sunday instead of a Saturday, City
boss Manuel Pelegrini decided on fielding their reserve side. Such a decision by the Man City manager ruined what could have been a great contest between two English heavyweights.
last round, face Tottenham’s conquerors Crystal Palace. The final tie of the quarter final stage will see holders Arsenal or Hull face Watford, who have impressed in the top flight this year.
Chelsea’s next opponents will be 2009 FA cup finalists Everton, who they beat in the 2009 final. Other games in the draw include Manchester United who comfortably swept aside Shrewsbury, and West Ham who defeated Liverpool over extra time.
As the FA cup hots up, the stakes are increasing. Sides such as Hull and Reading have done really well to get this far, but the fact they they’re closer to a date at Wembley makes upcoming potential defeat all the more painful.
Last year’s semi finalists Reading, who beat West Brom 3-1 in the
In terms of how the tournament will pan out now, I can see a potential upset in the Reading
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game and Man United’s game. Other than that though however, I think all the other games will go to script. Chelsea are likely to beat Everton, with Arsenal beating Hull then Watford. The beauty of this tournament though is that you just can’t predict what is going to happen. This year’s tournament has been a shining example of that. If I was to put my neck out on the line though however, I would say that Chelsea will win the FA cup this year. Such a prediction could definitely come back to haunt me, so please, do watch this space.