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19 JUNE 2016
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ISSUE 25
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24 Queen’s Birthday Honours 2016
JO COX WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE HER!’ She was undoubtedly a breath of fresh air and a force to be reckoned with in a political world which can often be petty, egotistical and cruel. Even for those of us who have or want nothing to do with politics, Jo Cox made her mark. And whatever your beliefs, she fought relentlessly for what she believed was right and just, particularly when it came to sticking up for those who were suffering injustice.
Air Pollution: Is there a hidden, silent killer outside your front door?
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WAS MY MP. By ALISON BELLAMY
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One comment I saw made by a young Syrian man was that ‘she brightened up your day’. How very appropriate.
Read more on pages 6 & 7
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Issue 25
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News
Saudi Arabian flight crew deliver baby at 30,000 feet A flight crew made delivering a baby at 30,000 feet look easy.
New York’s JFK airport.
Ireland, according to the Daily Post.
But judging by the picture, They even posed for a photo which was posted on with the newborn on the Facebook by Arabian Saudi Arabian Airlines airlines, everything was plane, which was travelling under control. to New York when the The crew and baby were woman went into labour joined by another child, Thursday morning. who looked mesmerised by The Boeing 777 was forced the newborn. to land at Heathrow The plane had set off from airport at around 11am Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and after the pilot declared an was due to touch down at emergency over Northern
Both mum and child are
doing well, according to reports.
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‘It was like a blessing’: Man finds Allah written in a watermelon A man from Leicester believes he has found ‘Allah’ written in Arabic script after cutting open a watermelon. Asif Iqbal, 31, was stunned by the finding and has been inundated with friends, family and neighbours coming round to see the watermelon.
the wording last Thursday. ‘I have spoken to a scholar and he said this is just one of those things that reminds the world that Allah does exist,’ Asif, a father of four, said.
The revelation comes in the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from ‘People have been dawn to sunset coming round to see to mark the time the name – and we’ve Allah revealed the given pieces of it away Quran to the prophet too,’ he told reporters. Mohammed in Arabic. ‘I’d love to tell you ‘I was shocked how many people when we found the have been here but I name, it was like honestly lost count, a blessing – and to it’s been non-stop.’ have something like He bought the fruit that come during for just £2 in Tesco Ramadan, too, that and was ready to eat makes it even more it when he spotted special.’
Pakistan bans transmission for inciting sectarianism Pakistani authorities on Friday imposed a ban on the Ramadan transmission of two private TV channels over “promoting controversial and sectarian views”.
directed both TV channels to immediately stop airing the programmes. It all began with actor and social activist Hamza Ali Abbasi questioning the oppression of Ahmadis -- a Shia sub-sect in one of his programmes on Aaj TV.
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) said the ban was imposed over the violation of “The community is being the media regulator’s code of suppressed but if you talk conduct. about it, people say ‘You’re “An immediate ban has from that community, that’s been imposed on TV One’s why you’re saying this,’” said programme Isq-e-Ramazan Hamza. “I am not an Ahmadi, (hosted by Shabbir Abu I am a Sunni Muslim.” Talib) and Aaj News This triggered a harsh programme Ramazan response from a religious Hamara Iman (hosted cleric who allegedly by Hamza Ali Abbasi),” a threatened Hamza with “dire statement said. consequences” in another TV The media regulator show on TV One.
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ASIAN SUNDAY
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NEWS INDIAN STUDENT CREATES INNOVATIVE EMOJI HANDBAGS Indian fashion design student of the Birmingham City University has created an LED emoji-inspired handbag which she hopes will get people talking. Emoji are ideograms and smileys used in electronic messages and web pages. Hailing from Nashik, Maharashtra, Madhura Kulkarni said she wanted to “create something original and unimagined”. “The concept behind the bag is to initiate a verbal conversation between two people with the help of LED emojis that you can choose to display on the bag,” Kulkarni, who
studies fashion design at the university’s School of Fashion and Textiles, said in a statement. “For example, if two people are showing the same emoji on their bag, it might start a conversation between them”, she added. She also blamed social media for the growing lack of real face-to-face human interaction. “In the 21st century where people are extremely tech savvy, some people are so engrossed in social media that they rarely talk to others verbally. I feel that my concept could revolutionise the
world,” Kulkarni said. Her work forms part of Birmingham City University’s Inspired Festival, a two-week celebration of creative talent and graduating students about to launch their careers. Kulkarni’s design has already caught international attention, as she was recently named as a finalist in the 2016 New York Independent Handbag Designer Awards.
NOMINATIONS CALL NOW OPEN FOR THE 16TH ASIAN ACHIEVERS AWARDS The call for nominations is officially open for the 16th Asian Achievers Awards, which celebrates the remarkable accomplishments of individuals from across the South Asian community. Members of the public are invited to nominate individuals of South Asian origin, who they believe have inspired communities and achieved outstanding accomplishments in their respective fields. Mr. CB Patel, Publisher / Editor, ABPL Group says, “Each year, the Asian Achievers Awards celebrates remarkable people and now, in our 16th year, we will be paying particular attention to individuals who are making a significant impact in their chosen professions. It could be anything from law, accountancy, media or IT; if they
are making a difference, then we want to know about it. “With the nomination call now open, we are hoping to once again hear about extraordinary people throughout the UK and look forward to celebrating them at our awards night in September.” Hosted by Asian Business Publications, Ltd (ABPL), the Asian Achievers Awards will be held on September 16 2016 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel and once again highlight individuals who are making a difference and excelling in their respective professions. Nominations can be registered with Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar newspapers or online at www. asianachieversawards.com. The deadline for nominations is July 31 2016.
CLIFF RICHARD WON’T FACE SEX ABUSE CHARGES Sir Cliff Richard will not face criminal charges over alleged historical sex crimes after a South Yorkshire Police investigation found there was insufficient evidence. Martin Goldman, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Yorkshire and Humberside, said that Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) carefully reviewed evidence relating to claims of nonrecent sexual offences dating between 1958 and 1983 made by four men before deciding to drop the case, reports News.com au. Though Richard has never been arrested, he twice voluntarily met
officers from South Yorkshire Police ever since the enquiry was launched. Meanwhile, the ‘Summer Holiday’ hit-maker took to Facebook to express how “thrilled” he is and wrote, “”I have always maintained my innocence, co-operated fully with the investigation, and cannot understand why it has taken so long to get to this point.”
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ASIAN SUNDAY
NEWS
Bradford friends sell chocolate cake to help the blind Chocolate cakes are helping a poor charity for the blind benefit from vital resources.
So every Ramadan the Bradford businessmen want to raise funds for needy charities.
no deductions and therefore, they are 100 per cent benefitting the cause.
Two friends, Amjad Akram and Abdul Satar from Bradford are delivering chocolate fudge cakes, with a view to raising money for a school for blind children in Pakistan.
This year they chose, the AKAB school for the Blind because it is a very small charity, that is under-resourced.
“Also due to the fact that they aren’t known and don’t spend on marketing their funds are very minimal. So we decided to help them out this year by selling cakes.” Said Abdul
The duo raised £9,000 last year for the Kashmir Orphan Relief and this year they want to reach £15,000 in funds for AKAB school for the Blind, which is a specialist boarding school for the visually impaired, based in Khaliqabad, Pakistan. For the two long term friends, Ramadan is not just about abstaining from food and drink, but is also about giving and doing charity.
“The school is doing a fabulous job, offering specialist facilities for 150 visually impaired male and female students ranging from pre-school through to high school age.” Said Amjad “In addition to education, the school provides free accommodation, food and transportation for children, the majority of whom originate from poverty stricken families.” Added Abdul “What attracted us to this charity was the fact that it’s a charity that’s paying no wages, making
The pair are using their own transport and volunteering their time to deliver cakes to people all over Yorkshire. Cakes cost £10, with £5 going to the charity and a further £5 per cake sold to be matched by catering giant Mr Ghafoor, of Pakistan Catering, Bradford To order your chocolate fudge cake, contact Abdul Satar on 0788 8693 196 or Amjad Akram on 07956 566 666
MD of Aagrah restaurant appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Yorkshire based Aagrah Restaurant Group Managing Director, Mohammed Aslam, MBE, DL, has been appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of West Yorkshire. He will assist the Lord Lieutenant, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, who represents HM The Queen in the execution of her duties in the County. Mr Aslam has been at the helm of the successful family business for nearly four decades. There will be a number of events where the Lord Lieutenant is unavailable and he will attend in her place “I will do whatever is required of me,” he said. “I’m very honoured to be offered this opportunity
to further help the community.” “From a business point of view, we like to support the communities in which we work and this is an opportunity for me to do something further for the people around West Yorkshire.” Aagrah Restaurant Group was setup by Group Chairman, Mohammed Sabir,MBE, Dbs, in 1977. It is an independent family business with 14 sites throughout Yorkshire. The company is UK and Europe’s largest Kashmiri Restaurant chain. Mr Aslam has worked with both community and industry initiatives such as schools and colleges to inspire and promote the industry and region. He also developed the national
South Asian Chef Competition to recognise and reward talent from the hospitality sector. His passion for food has led to both national and international recognition over the years, boasting not one, but two, International UK Chefs of the Year awards. Mohammed Aslam was also awarded with a Special Recognition accolade at the British Curry Awards 2013 by Prime Minster David Cameron. The prestigious award acknowledges his significant contributions to services to industry. The 2000 strong audience gave a rapturous standing ovation to Mohammed Aslam in appreciation of his commitment and dedication.
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
TRIBUTE:
COVER STORY
’Proud and pleased, Jo Cox was my MP. We were lucky to have her!’
by ALISON BELLAMY She was undoubtedly a breath of fresh air and a force to be reckoned with in a political world which can often be petty, egotistical and cruel. Even for those of us who have or want nothing to do with politics, Jo Cox made her mark. And whatever your beliefs, she fought relentlessly for what she believed was right and just, particularly when it came to sticking up for those who were suffering injustice. One comment I saw made by a young Syrian man was that ‘she brightened up your day’. How very appropriate. In recent months she had visited the primary school my own young children attend as part of her local constituency work in Batley and Spen Valley. My little girls were talking non-stop about Jo Cox and what an MP did and how lovely she was. You
can imagine how entranced the kids would have been as she simply and clearly explained herself. As my local MP, Jo Cox was immediately likeable. Not all MPs are. The overwhelming tributes which have flooded in from around the world pay justice to that. Canadian politician Nathan Cullen said in tears: “She used her voice for those who had none, dedicated her passion to those who needed it most.” I last saw her in Scope charity shop in Batley, happily chatting to people while perusing the clothes for sale and looking at brightly coloured blouses and I was struck by how extraordinary it was to see an MP in a charity shop buying her clothes. The same clothes she would probably wear in parliament to fight for people and debate life changing decisions. She may have been small in stature but her passion and heart were massive.
I imagined the things she had seen as part of her humanitarian work abroad in Africa and Syria and felt proud and pleased she was choosing to buy recycled clothes. She fought tirelessly against injustice, child poverty and spoke up for Syria. After many years of being an aid worker she ended up being the head of humanitarian campaigning for Oxfam worldwide and had also worked for Save the Children and the NSPCC. She met her husband Brendan when working abroad and together they were known for their humanitarian beliefs, as they made their home when in London on a converted barge on the River Thames, where they raised their two young children aged three and five. She had recently told colleagues about putting calamine lotion on her child’s chicken pox. As a mum of two myself, I can barely
think about what is left behind. And the heart-numbing and beautiful words written by husband Brendan in the hours after her death must have been the hardest thing he has ever had to do. Yet they say it all: “Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love. I and Jo’s friends and family are going to work every moment of our lives to love and nurture our kids and to fight against the hate that killed Jo. “Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy, and a zest for life that would exhaust most people. She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now, one that our precious children are bathed in love and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn’t have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous.
“Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full.” She had always worked hard, was the first from her family to go to university after attending Heckmondwike Grammar School and then Cambridge University, where she studied social and political science at Pembroke College, graduating in 1995. At the age of 40 she won the dream role of being MP in the area where she grew up, replacing retiring MP Mike Wood. Her mum Jean was a school secretary and her dad Gordon worked in a toothpaste factory in Leeds, where she also had summer jobs while studying. Her sister Kim works at Bradford College. She had called repeatedly for Britain to do more to help the victims of Syria’s civil war and had spoken out in favour of taking action against Syria,
Issue 25
to stop the brutal way its people were and are suffering. She had set up a parliamentary group on Syria and staged Commons debates on the plight of the refugees. She argued forcefully that the UK Government should be doing more both to help the victims and use its influence abroad to bring an end to the Syrian conflict. Ms Cox, was the national chair of Labour’s women’s network and a senior advisor to the antislavery charity the Freedom Fund. One of her most significant interventions was over the decision to intervene in Syria, when she disagreed with her leader Mr Corbyn, who does not support military action in the region. She said at the time: “Syria is our generation’s test, our responsibility. A conflict so horrific that more than half of its people have been forced to flee their homes. Yet the international community’s response through the UN has been woefully inadequate. “ She was loved by all who knew her, especially those in her beloved West Yorkshire constituency. In her maiden speech in 2015 she told how proud she was to represent her local area: “Our communities have been deeply enhanced by immigration, be it of Irish Catholics across the constituency or of Muslims from Gujarat in India or from Pakistan, principally from Kashmir. While we celebrate our diversity, what surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency
ASIAN SUNDAY
‘All my love, thoughts and deepest sympathies to friends & family of Jo Cox. Such a horrific crime and massive loss. There are no words.’ Author Ismail Patel, Chairman of the Friends of Al Aqsa, tweeted: ‘Greatly saddened to hear the murder of Jo Cox MP She was a great person champion of Justice Human Rights and worked tirelessly for the needy.’ Mohamed Mulla, chair of the Indian Muslim Welfare Society, said: “She always fought for her constituents irrespective of race or faith. There is no place in our society for any form of extremism or violence instigated through radical thoughts.
COVER STORY
Tributes to Jo Cox
“It is a huge loss to all locally. And an even greater one to those close to her especially her husband and two young children. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family.” Ml Muhammad Mota, chairman of Rabetah al-Ulama al-Islamiyyah, the Institute of Islamic Scholars in Batley, said: “Jo was passionate about serving humanity, evident in her unrelenting support for the plight of the victims and particularly the children in Palestine and Syria. “Rabetah had the opportunity to work with Jo. She understood her community and actively sought to bridge divides. “Alongside her humanitarian work, Jo made it a priority to combat hate and Islamophobia. Sadly, we are once again reminded of the consequences of violence and hatred, and the poison of those
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The death of Jo Cox is a tragedy. She was a committed and caring MP. My thoughts are with her husband Brendan and her two young children.”
Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood Andrea Jenkyns said: “I am absolutely devastated to hear of Jo Cox’s death. Every MP stands united in sending our thoughts and prayers to her family.”
Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation, said: “The brutal murder of Jo Cox MP is a sickening attack which we condemn in the strongest terms. This attack against an MP is an attack against democracy and all of us in the United Kingdom.”
Labour MP for Bradford West Naz Shah tweeted: ‘Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Jo Cox MP, thoughts and prayers with her family at this very difficult time. RIP my Labour Sister. Today we have lost one of brightest stars in Democracy & a great campaigner. A huge loss.’
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “The whole of the Labour family, and indeed the whole country, is in shock and grief at the horrific murder of Jo Cox.”
And in her local constituency the devastation was apparent.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “Our memories will be for ever scarred by this moment. Our hearts will always be hurt at our country’s loss.
is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.”
who demonstrate a flagrant disregard for human life.”
Tributes came in from around the world and all the political greats with Jeremy Corbyn describing her as a ”much-loved colleague“ and David Cameron and Hilary Clinton among others praising her work and legacy.
“Jo was always prepared to listen. She will be deeply missed by the whole community and Batley and beyond. Our deepest thoughts and condolences are with Brendan and the children in the difficult days ahead.”
But it is perhaps the words from her own people, those she represented, that best sum up her dedication.
What rings out to me is the significance of the message in her maiden speech about us all having far more common with each other than things that divide us and she certainly worked passionately to prove that, irrespective of the hate that killed her; from mosques, to churches to diverse communities, people of all races, religions and beliefs have come together irrespective of background to unite against hate and celebrate the great life of Jo Cox.
Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees council, tweeted: “I knew Jo well, she was a fantastic MP in Kirklees, who only wanted to help people in Batley & Birstall” Her friend Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff, who is MP in the neighbouring town to Batley, tweeted:
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“Jo Cox was the most vivacious, personable, dynamic and committed friend you could ever have. Whenever you talked to her, the compassion in her eyes and the commitment in her soul shone through. Years of public service advancing the causes she cared passionately about should have been ahead of her.” Bradford East Labour MP Imran Hussain tweeted: ‘Devastated that Jo Cox has passed away. She was a great MP & great person, & I can’t begin to imagine the heartbreak of her loved ones. RIP’ Stella Creasey, MP for Walthamstow, said: “Jo Cox was just the best. The very best. Bright, passionate and determined, she was a champion of social justice as well as her beloved Batley and Spen. The world has lost someone who was a real and brave agent of change.” Bishop of Leeds Nick Baines tweeted: ‘Jo Cox RIP. Shocking. Prayers for her family and friends. Terrible loss for the country, too.’
Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees council, tweeted: “I knew Jo well, she was a fantastic MP in Kirklees, who only wanted to help people in Batley & Birstall” Dewsbury MP Paula Sherriff, who is MP in the neighbouring town to Batley, tweeted: ‘All my love, thoughts and deepest sympathies to friends & family of Jo Cox. Such a horrific crime and massive loss. There are no words.’ Author Ismail Patel, Chairman of the Friends of Al Aqsa, tweeted: ‘Greatly saddened to hear the murder of Jo Cox MP She was a great person champion of Justice Human Rights and worked tirelessly for the needy.’ Mohamed Mulla, chair of the Indian Muslim Welfare Society said: “She always fought for her constituents irrespective of race or faith. There is no place in our society for any form of extremism or violence instigated through radical thoughts. “It is a huge loss to all locally. And an even greater one to those close to her especially her husband and two young children. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family.”
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ASIAN SUNDAY
NEWS
Child abusers jailed for a total of 169 years over a four-year long investigation by West Yorkshire Police
Thirteen men have been sentenced to more than 150 years in prison for non-recent child sex offences. Four more men were sentenced Friday at Leeds Crown Court for five offences, along with a further defendant convicted in an earlier trial. The offending mainly took place in Halifax and Bradford between 2009 and 2011. One victim was sexually assaulted. The other victim was systematically abused by many men.
Aftab Hussain, aged 37 of Halifax. He pleaded guilty to two offences of sexual activity with a child in September last year and was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.
Haaris Ahmed, aged 32 of Halifax He was found guilty of two counts sexual activity with a child and with the supply of class B drugs and was sentenced to 12 and a half years imprisonment.
Taukeer Butt, aged 31 of Halifax. He was found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child -sentenced to ten year’s imprisonment.
The conclusion of the trial is the culmination of a four year long investigation by West Yorkshire Police which resulted in 25 defendants being charged in December 2014 with offences including rape, trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, sexual activity with a child, sexual assault, voyeurism, sexual grooming, conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child under 16, causing a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity without consent and supply of a controlled drug of class B.
Azeem Subhani, aged 25 of Halifax. He was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child and was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.
Tahir Mahmood, aged 43 of Halifax was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child and sexual assault and was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.
Mohammed Ali Ahmed, aged 43 of Halifax, was found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child and was sentenced to six and a half years imprisonment.
Peter Mann, Head of the Complex Casework Unit, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside said:
“These men are responsible for a range of crimes involving child sexual exploitation and abuse. One victim was sexually assaulted in a car. The second victim was groomed, and systematically exploited by the older men she associated with. Some of her abusers acted together as a group, grooming her and plying her with drink and drugs. Others took advantage of her individually.
“We have worked closely with our colleagues at West Yorkshire Police since the start of this complex and lengthy operation.
“Both these young women have shown immense courage and bravery in reporting these matters to the police and in providing evidence to
Three separate trials have taken place between February and June 2016. The Judge imposed reporting restrictions. The 13 defendants sentenced to date have amassed 169 years imprisonment between them, with sentencing ranging from five to 25 years.
Talib Saddiq, aged 31 of Halifax, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child - sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.
Amaar Ali Ditta, aged 27 of Halifax, was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child and sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.
Sikander Malik, aged 31 of Halifax was found guilty of sexual activity with a child and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment.
Mohammed Ramzan, aged 35 of Bradford, was found guilty of rape and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
Haider Ali, aged 41 of Halifax, was found guilty of sexual activity with a child and causing a person to engage in sexual activity - sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
Khalid Zaman, aged 38 of Bradford, was found guilty of two counts of rape and supplying class B drugs and sentenced to 17 and a half years imprisonment.
enable us to bring a strong prosecution case to put before a jury. “This case sends out a very clear message to all those who may be hesitating about coming forward to report matters such as these. Make no mistake - we will not tolerate this type abuse on our streets or in our communities. We will not hesitate to bring dangerous criminals who carry out acts of sexual violence to justice.” Those sentenced for abusing the victims are:
Hedar Ali, aged 36 of Bradford, was found guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of trafficking for sexual exploitation and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.
Mansoor Akhtar, aged 25 of Huddersfield, was found guilty of one charge of sexual activity with a child and pleaded guilty to supply Class B drugs and was jailed for six years.
Sikander Ishaq, aged 31 of Halifax, was found guilty for one offence of sexual activity with a child and was jailed for six years.
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
NEWS
Will Britain be restored
to old glory after Brexit? Stay
Leave
by ITRAT BASHIR The vote on Brexit is just around the corner; on June 23 the Brits will vote either to stay in the European Union or make an exit. Going by the latest poll, the ‘leave’ camp has an edge over the ‘remain’ camp; if we do decide to leave the European Union then it will be months before we will see its impact. The referendum is one of the most crucial events in British parliament’s history and Europe in general. The stakes are high for Prime Minister David Cameron who is making strenuous efforts to convince people to stay in Europe. The Brits decision to leave the Union will in itself reflect a defeat for the Prime Minister’ ‘remain’ campaign, and hence he will have no justification to lead the country. So, the outcome on June 23 will decide the faith of his premiership. Exit from the mainland can also trigger another referendum on
the independence of Scotland. The ‘remain’ camp sees Brexit as a catalyst to hold the second referendum on Scottish independence. While talking to Reuters, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that “Britain’s referendum on European Union membership is on a knife edge and if England backs an exit that drags Scots out of the bloc against their will, Scotland may call a new vote on independence”. Some experts in the ‘remain’ camp believe that the UK exit will be the first step towards the disintegration of the EU itself, which has guaranteed peace in the region since World War II. Apart from the threat of disintegration, the Prime Minister’s camp sees the economic downfall as an immediate threat to the UK after leaving the EU. The Bank of England has recently warned that
Brexit could undermine growth of the British economy, possible leading to ‘recession’, and it will not be able to immediately offset the impact. Backing up his prime minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has also warned of dire economic consequences if we forgo the European membership. He said that ‘after Brexit, the UK economy could be around 6 percent smaller by 2030, and that would mean a loss of income equivalent to about £4,300 a year for every British household’. In the event of Brexit, investors’ confidence could be dented by changes in new set of rules and post-exit rearrangements with the European Union, and hence the investors might momentarily shy away from business activities. No one for sure can say how the long the period of uncertainty will last in
the post-exit UK. On the individual level, a Brit could lose out from competitive prices of everyday goods. Well, that’s what the data from London School of Economics suggest. It says that the shoppers in the UK save £350 a year due to lower prices come from being part of the European Union. The biggest losers of Brexit, in my opinion, will be students and expats who have settled in the mainland. Free movement of people is one of the major attractions of the EU membership. This has allowed the Brits to settledown in sunny places of Europe without any impediments with full cover of health and other public services. Moreover, the British students will lose out from studying in the European universities that are in many of the cases free or charge
nominal fees; which otherwise these students cannot afford to pay ridiculously high tuition fees charged by the British universities. Many are wondering what the United Kingdom will look like if it decides to forgo the EU membership. No one knows for certain, as the UK, or for that matter any of the EU member countries, have never gone through this experience. Hence, all being said in the favour of Brexit is purely based on hypothetical grounds. One thing for sure, as many pro-Brexit argue, we will regain our sovereignty that we had surrendered to Brussels. All those benefits cited by the leave camp might be very appealing, but it is at the cost of losing our identity and sovereignty. This is what the Brexit camp say in favour of their leave campaign.
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ASIAN SUNDAY
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NEWS government, completely dismiss the economic arguments put forth by the ‘remainers’. In fact, they believe that the economy will become more robust after leaving the EU.
They strongly feel that on many issues the British parliament has surrendered its sovereignty to the Brussels bureaucrats, especially on the matter of agriculture, EU membership and immigration. The Eurosceptics, prominently led by former Mayor of London Boris Johnson and a few senior cabinet members of the Conservative
One thing they are right about is that after coming out of the EU trade obligations, the UK would be in a position to negotiate their own trade terms with countries outside the EU. At present, we have to follow the trade terms set by the EU and hence the UK cannot individually negotiate its own terms with a non-EU country. The leavers strongly believe that this liberty will bring economic benefits to the country.
However, the pro-Brexit camp’s main purpose of leaving the EU is to control immigration from the mainland and thus regain the control of our borders. This issue has been boiling for the last few years and many Brits have shown grave concern over the large influx of people coming to the UK from other European countries. The Eurosceptics strongly feel that
The exit, in their opinion, will save billions of pounds to the national exchequer that we pay to the EU as a contribution to EU budget, and that money could be reinvested in to our public services, especially NHS.
new arrivals from Europe will put more pressure on our overstretched public services and if this is not controlled then public services will collapse. This is what was precisely said by a strong advocate of the leave camp, Justice Secretary Michael Gove in one of his columns: “Because we cannot control our borders, public services, such as NHS, will face an unquantifiable strain, as millions or more become EU citizens and have the right to move to the UK.” Having said all that in my opinion there is more to it than meets the eye. Brexit is not just about economic benefits and migrants; it is about preserving British identity and values. Yes, over the last many years there has been a large influx of migrants to the UK and with them they have brought diverse cultures, work ethic and tolerance. This has changed
complexity of our society and one could say redefined our British identity and values. Brexit, in my opinion, is a movement to salvage the British identity. Will it succeed on June 23 it remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure even if we opt out of Europe, Britain will never be the same and our new multicultural identity cannot be undone.
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
FEATURE
A guide to Ramadan for non-Muslims do not have to fast. In Islam one of the guidelines is to also look after yourself and not put your body through unnecessary hardships, so there are guidelines which tell Muslims not to fast if they are unable to. However, any missed fasts in Ramadan can be made up by fasting in the winter months, when daylight is much smaller and fasts are therefore smaller. If you are still unable to fast, then you have to give money to charity.
I fast because I enjoy the fasts, although some days can be tough, but I am fairly safe and best of all is the feeling when that first morsel of food enters your mouth during Iftar (breaking of fast) time Can I join you for your Iftar, even if I haven’t fasted?
by FATIMA PATEL Around 22 per cent (1.6 billion) of the world population is Muslim and the vast majority of them have just begun one of the holiest month of the Muslim calendar – Ramadan, where they will begin a fast that’ll last from sunrise to sunset, 29 or 30 days, dependent on the sighting of the Eid moon (new moon). The UK has just over 3 million Muslims and the vast majority will be participating in the longest fasts the UK has seen in 30 years. This year’s fast will reach close to 19 hours with no food and water. As a Muslim, I too have been observing the fasts by avoiding food and drink from dawn till dusk, but for me and many observing Muslims there’s more to Ramadan than just fasting. In Ramadan it is of particular importance not to lie, cheat, or slander someone. You can’t lust after things, and you should avoid bad language and avoid getting into fights. In Islam these things shouldn’t be
done anyway, but to do them in Ramadan is seen as being particularly bad. The idea is to try and encourage self-discipline so that you get in to routine and keep practising the rest of the year. Many see Ramadan as a spiritual detox month to better themselves and to be more appreciative of what they have. As we are almost half way through this holy month, many of my NonMuslims friends still feel they don’t know why someone like me (I am a little poorly from time to time) will go through almost 19 hours of no food and drink. You’re ‘silly’, one of my good friends said to me, (in the nicest way, out of concern for my welfare) and this got me thinking. Even though I had known her for some time, she didn’t really understand why Ramadan was so important for me and for Muslims across the globe. Why (she thought) would I put myself through difficulty and keep without food and drink for nearly 19 hours?
So for those who want to know more, here is my non-Muslim guide to help you understand your Muslim friend, neighbour or work colleague during the month of Ramadan. Eating in front of us Whilst the fasts this year in the UK are close to 19 hours they are difficult, but for many of us who are fasting, it’s business as usual. Most of us won’t mind you eating in front of us. So long as you don’t make it a massive feast. No water at all? Yes, we are not able to have even a drop of water until the fast opens. But don’t worry this doesn’t kill us, it just makes us appreciate that first sip of water when the fast opens so much more. You’re silly for fasting when you’re not well Well yes, even Islam forbids you to not fast if you’re not well. People, who are sick, pregnant or weak and cannot survive the long fasts,
Of course you don’t have to fast. Iftar (the breaking of your fast) is a beautiful moment and many of us like to make it into a communal meal. You will find many Muslim households will have open invites for friends and neighbours to come round for Iftar. In fact, in my neighbourhood, if people don’t go round for Iftar, they send food across. My advice is to definitely experience an Iftar even if it’s once in your lifetime. The moment when you have your first glass of water or food after going hungry for nearly 19 hours, is an amazing feeling. Confusion about when Ramadan begins The Islamic calendar is lunar and therefore, the dates for Ramadan will changed based on the new moon. How we determine when Ramadan begins is a traditional method where you have to physically see the moon (even though there are apps for that). That’s why, if your one friend says they started
their first fast yesterday, whilst one started today, just respect their viewpoints, and if you’re their boss try and be flexible with time off.
“Ramadan Mubarak” greeting Just like Muslims will greet during Christmas and wish those celebrating Happy Christmas, there’s nothing wrong in saying Happy Ramadan, although the preferred greeting is Ramadan Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem, which means have a blessed or generous Ramadan So Ramadan is mainly about not eating or drinking, right? Although that’s a big part of Ramadan it isn’t just about abstaining from eating and drinking. It’s related to spiritual renewal. Most Muslims tend to be more spiritual during Ramadan, not to say some aren’t during other months. However, in Ramadan most Muslims express their dedication to their faith through abstinence, and relate to those suffering from famine around the world. The hunger allows you to be more grateful and therefore, where you would normally get distracted in the over-indulgence of normal life, whilst in state of hunger and thirst you are constantly aware of
Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
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FEATURE why you are fasting and therefore, feel closer to your creator and thus are more involved in prayer, visiting the mosque and being charitable.
then followed by morning prayer called Fajar. Why do you open your fast with dates?
Sleepy eyes and tiredness
Traditionally, dates are known as the food prophet Muhammad ate when he broke from his fast.
Naturally when you are going without food and water tiredness will kick in, but you will find most Muslims are tired due to lack of sleep. And no, that’s not because they are up all night chatting on social media (although some might), it’s due to the taraweeh prayers and being awake for Sehri. In Ramadan Muslims enter into a period of discipline and worship, so whilst they are fasting during the day, they will also perform their daily 5 prayers. In addition, and only in Ramadan, special evening prayers are conducted where long portions of the Qur’an are recited. These special prayers are known as taraweeh. The word taraweeh comes from an Arabic word which means to rest and relax. The prayer can be very long (well over an hour), during which one stands upright
During the period of Ramadan, when fasting lasts from sunrise to sunset, the body can develop mild health problems such as headaches, low blood sugar, and lethargy.
to read from the Qur’an and performs many cycles of movement (standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting). After each four cycles, one sits for a brief period of rest before continuing, this is where the name taraweeh (“rest prayer”) comes from. Most Muslims will go to the
mosque to perform taraweeh prayer. After the taraweeh prayer is finished, Muslims will then prepare for Sehri, before catching a nap and then up for work. So if you’re their boss or friend or colleague, do try to be understand as they may be very tired, but can also be a little cranky.
What is Sehri? Sehri is also referred to as Suhoor, and is the Islamic term referring to the meal consumed early in the morning by Muslims before fasting. Most people will have their predawn meal at around 1.30am and then abstain from food by closing their fast at around 2.00am. This is
To avoid such problems, one should carefully monitor their eating habits once fasting for the day has ended. Dates are an excellent source of fibre, sugar, magnesium, potassium, and have carbohydrates which will aid the body in maintaining health. The carbohydrates found in dates also make the fruit a slower digesting food, much better than fried or fatty foods which digest fast and leave one hungry for more! Hence why, with all these benefits, most Muslims choose to open their fast with dates.
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
HEALTH
How to spot the signs of eating disorders
According to British charity Anorexia and Bulimia Care there are over 1.6 million people in the UK estimated to be directly affected by eating disorders. The charity claims that this is likely to be an underestimate as they believe there is a huge level of unmet need in the community. These warning signs can help you spot a problem. Whilst some eating disorder signs are obvious: dramatic weight loss, a refusal to eat, retreating to the
bathroom for long periods after meals other disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are a little more difficult to discover. Worried your loved one may be at risk for anorexia or bulimia? How can you tell if a friend or family member is at risk? There’s no surefire way, since people with eating disorders display a wide range of symptoms, not to mention personal characteristics: eating disorders, once associated almost exclusively with adolescent
girls, are now recognised more frequently in younger children and adults. That said, these easyto-overlook signs may help you spot an eating disorder—or disorder in the making—sooner. Excessive exercise Over-the-top workout habits— sometimes referred to as “exercise anorexia”—can go hand in hand with disordered eating and appear to be on the rise according to experts.
Defin ing “excessive” exercise can be tricky, however, especially when dealing with athletes or highly active young people (A recent study of high school students found a higher rate of eating disorders among female athletes than non-athletes, 14 per cent versus 3 per cent.). Here are two red flags: Does the person panic if they miss a day of exercise? And does he or she work out even when injured or sick? “These are pretty good indices that
things have gone too far,” Bulik says. Fear of eating in public Feeling shy or self-conscious about eating in public can be related to body image issues—a person may feel that others are watching and judging, for instance. But it can also be an indication that eating, period, has become nervewracking. Experts say eating can be enormously anxiety-provoking for someone with an eating disorder. Doing it in public just compounds
Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
the enormity of the task.
Dry skin
Although not wanting to eat around other people is a hallmark of anorexia, it can occur with all eating disorders. Even people with binge eating disorder will eat very small amounts when in public, then binge when alone.
Dry and blotchy skin, stemming from dehydration, sometimes signals ongoing anorexia or bulimia.
Cooking elaborate meals for others Although people with anorexia may refuse food themselves, they are often eager to see others eat, sometimes going so far as to prepare elaborate meals for friends and family. This may be a form of vicarious pleasure, or eating “through” others. Similar behaviour was observed in the famous American Minnesota Starving Experiment, conducted in the mid-1940s. Volunteers who were semi-starved and lost more than 25 per cent of their body weight became obsessed with food and eating. Several of the men became collectors of cookbooks and recipes, a behaviour that has been noted in people with anorexia as well.
Dry skin isn’t the only mark of dehydration in people with eating disorders. Dry mouth, sunken cheeks and eyes, and severe electrolyte imbalances also can occur. Another skin change that’s a telltale sign of bulimia, specifically, is the appearance of calluses on the knuckles. Known as Russell’s sign (after the psychiatrist who first described it), these lesions are caused by repeatedly scraping the back of the hand against one’s teeth while inducing vomiting. Feeling cold A result of malnutrition and low body fat, feeling cold is a symptom more often associated with anorexia than with bulimia or binge eating disorder. Frequently complaining about being cold or wearing sweaters and other heavy clothing even in mild weather are
common tip-offs in people with eating disorders. Body fat stores energy and helps the body withstand cold. People with too little body fat can therefore have difficulty maintaining their body temperature, and in some cases may even develop hypothermia. Swollen cheeks Swelling along the jawline is primarily associated with bulimia but can occur with any eating disorder in which purging is present, experts say. (Some people with anorexia purge to stay thin. Unlike people with anorexia, people with bulimia are often of normal weight, or even abovenormal weight.) The puffy cheeks are a result of swollen salivary glands (parotid glands). The swelling can happen at any stage of the illness and depends on the person and how often they purge. Fixating on ‘safe’ foods
with foods deemed to be “safe” or “healthy” is the hallmark of a condition that has come to be known as orthorexia. Although not an official diagnosis, orthorexia can sometimes be a stepping-stone to full-blown anorexia nervosa. Although people with orthorexia tend to focus on the quality of food and people with anorexia tend to focus on quantity, the two conditions sometimes overlap. Some people with anorexia, for instance, have a very limited diet and prefer to eat the same foods over and over. Eating rituals Compulsive behaviours similar to those seen in obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD) can also appear with eating disorders. These so-called rituals can take the form of cutting food into tiny morsels, or arranging food in certain patterns. They are mainly associated with anorexia (which often occurs alongside OCD), but they are sometimes an early sign of binge eating disorder as well.
HEALTH Rituals are “both a tactic not to eat and also a piece of the obsessionality associated with anorexia nervosa,” It is often cited that when eating disorders are starting, people will try to make it look like they are eating by cutting things up and shifting food around on the plate so as not to draw attention to how little they are eating. Strange food combinations Binge eaters are known to prepare dishes using an odd mixture of ingredients, such as mashed potatoes and Oreo cookies, or crisps with lemon, chicken Italian dressing, and salt. A recent study found that people who create their own food concoctions are more likely to binge than people who simply overeat. Often, though, this behaviour takes place in private and becomes yet another thing for the person with the disorder to feel ashamed about. According to psychiatrists that shame and disgust can aggravate the disorder.
Experts say a preoccupation
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Excessive exercise often goes hand in hand with disordered eating
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ASIAN SUNDAY Issue 25
Recipes from Desi Italia In the middle of summer it can be all too tempting to veer towards cooling salads and smaller, lighter meals, as spending long periods in a hot kitchen becomes increasingly unappealing in the warming weather. Sometimes though, it’s natural to crave something hearty and filling without the heaviness or unhealthy associations that come with some traditionally ‘stodgy’ meals. Making use of slow
Spiced Sirloin Steak Ingredients 3 tbsp vegetable oil 500g sirloin steak 5cm piece of ginger, peeled and chopped 4 cloves of garlic, chopped 2 green chillies, halved 12 curry leaves 3 red onions, sliced thinly 1 tsp salt 3 tbsp coconut milk 1 tbsp coriander, chopped 1/2 lime, juiced For the spice mix 2 dried red chillies 1 tbsp coriander seeds
1/2 tsp ground turmeric 1 tbsp fennel seeds 1 tsp cumin seeds 1/2 tsp black peppercorn 5cm piece of cinnamon stick, whole 3 cloves 2 green cardamom pods Method 1. Dry roast all of the spice mix ingredients in a pan, then crush coarsely using a heavy pestle and mortar. Sprinkle a generous pinch of the mix onto the steak, making sure to cover both sides, and set aside for around five
cookers, pressure cookers and BBQs is often a good way to get around this, taking the heat out of cooking even the hottest of dishes. So if you’re looking for something to fill up a few hungry bellies and satisfy food cravings all day, without putting in hours in a steaming kitchen to get there, look no further. We’ve gathered together some fantastic recipes that will hit the spot in no time!
minutes. 2. Heat 1bsp vegetable oil in a pan and heat to smoking point. Alternatively, if using a BBQ heat the grill up to very hot
and brush the oil directly onto the steaks instead.
Perfect BBQ Ribs Ingredients 2 stock cubes (chicken or beef) 2 bay leaves 1.5kg of meaty ribs, either pork or beef 1 bottle of good quality BBQ sauce 1 tsp coriander seeds 1 tsp mustard sees 1 tsp black peppercorn
Cook the steak over a high heat for several minutes without moving it, then turn over an cook for around 3-4 minutes to finish. Feel free to cook for longer if more wellcooked meat is desired. Set aside to rest for 4 minutes. 3. While the meat is resting, heat the remaining oil in a pan and stir fry the gin-
ger, garlic, green chillies, curry leaves and onions until the onions soften and turn translucent. Sprinkle in the remaining spice mix and salt, then reduce heat to medium and stir in the coconut milk. Continue cooking until the liquid evaporates. 4. Slice the steak into strips and serve tossed with the spiced vegetable mixture. Sprinkle over the coriander leaves and a squeeze of lime juice, and eat with steamed rice.
Method 1. Add all of the ingredients to a slow cooker, and top with around 4 tbsp of BBQ sauce and enough water to cover completely. Cook on a low heat for around 8-9 hours until very tender, but not falling off of the bone entirely. 2. If using an oven, heat to 220C/200C fan/gas mark 7, or if using a BBQ,
heat until nice and hot. Remove the ribs from the slow cooker carefully, as the meat is tender and may start to fall off. Baste liberally with the remaining BBQ sauce and either cook on a foil-lined oven tray or directly on the BBQ until beginning to crisp. 3. Serve with sweet potato fries and sweet corn – and plenty of napkins!
Coming Summer 2016 The Desi Kitchen
@thedesikitchen
The Desi Kitchen
ASIAN SUNDAY Issue 25
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an Fusion Grilled Paneer Parcels Ingredients 1/2 red onion, chopped finely 25g butter 1 tsp chaat masala 2 x 225g blocks of paneer For the grilling paste 25g mint leaves 85g coriander leaves, with stalks left on 1 clove of garlic 3cm piece of ginger, peeled 1 small green chilli 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp garam masala 2 tbsp double cream
3 tbsp greek yogurt 1/2 tbsp carom Method 1. To make the grilling paste, tip your herbs into a food processor or blender along with the garlic, ginger, chilli, lemon juice, oil, garam masala and 1 tsp salt. Process until fine and smooth, then stir in the yogurt, carom and double cream. Adjust any of the seasonings to taste as needed. 2. Cut each block of paneer into 3-4 pieces, then piece with a fine skewer.
Coat the cheese in the grilling paste then leave to marinate in the fridge for as long as possible,
preferably around 1 hour. 3. Heat the grill or griddle pan and prepare two sheets of foil. Place
four pieces of paneer on each, then top with the chopped red onion and a knob of butter. Bring the foil together to create a parcel. 4. Place the parcels straight onto your grill or griddle pan and cook for 8-10 minutes, until the paneer is hot and slightly charred on the bottom. Serve immediately in the hot parcels, with the chaat masala sprinkled on top.
Healthy Summer Vegetable Curry Ingredients 2 onions, chopped roughly 1 aubergine, diced 75g red lentils 2 red or yellow bell peppers, cut into wedges 100g baby spinach, chopped roughly 500ml vegetable stock 1-2 tbsp red thai curry paste Method 1. Heat the curry paste in a large saucepan with a small splash of vegetable stock. Fry the onions until beginning to soften,
then add in the diced aubergine and cook for a further five minutes. Add a little more stock as needed. 2. Add in the lentils, coconut milk and the remainder of the stock, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Add in the peppers and cook for 5-10 minutes or more. Stir through the spinach and peas and cook until the spinach has wilted. 3. Serve hot with boiled rice and mango chutney.
Coming Summer 2016 The Desi Kitchen
@thedesikitchen
The Desi Kitchen
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ASIAN SUNDAY
OPINION
in organ failure. It is when organs fail that people require a transplant.
Let’s talk about organ donation: it is a personal choice. Transplants save lives, but they heavily rely on donors offering to donate them. If you have any concerns or medical queries after reading what I am about to tell you then you should, as always speak to your doc! Organ donation helps people when their organs aren’t working as they should and are failing or have failed. A person can donate a whole host of organs including kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas etc. This may be when one has brain stem death, in other words the brain stem is not working due to irreversible brain injury, circulatory death following a cardiac arrest when a patient can’t or shouldn’t be resuscitated, or a living donation where an organ is donated from one alive person to another. Did you know that organ donation from ethnic minority communities is quite low? If there aren’t enough organs to go around then that means that it is even more difficult for the tissue or blood types of the organs to match with their potential recipients. It may surprise you to know that some HLA (or Human Leukocyte Antigen) types are more common in ethnic minorities, as are some blood types. There are also some ethnic groups that are more at risk of certain diseases than others, who may end up with the need for an organ transplant. With diabetes and high blood pressure incredibly common in the Asian community, a need for a transplant is more likely. Diabetes and high blood pressure can cause vascular disease resulting
A statistic that I have pulled from the NHS even surprised me: “on average, patients from the Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities will wait a year longer for a kidney transplant than a white patient, due to the lack of suitable organs.” Isn’t that shocking? This means people are dying because there are not enough matches. One of the key aspects or organ and tissue donation is that they cannot be taken without the patient’s consent. This consent is either via close friends or relatives who were made aware of the patient’s wishes prior to death, or the patient joining the NHS Organ Donation Register in life. If it is unclear as to whether the patient did or did not want their organs donated, then the question may fall to those closest to them. There are a few other points to note, that people with CJD (CreutzfeldtJacob Disease) or cancer which spread in the past 12 months cannot donate. Neither can people with HIV in most cases. Others may not wish to donate, or be uncertain about whether their spiritual or religious needs have been met before committing to a decision. So without going into an in-depth debate about what religion says about organ donation, I will briefly touch on Islam, Christianity and Judaism. Unfortunately it is beyond the scope of my message to talk about this in more detail, or touch on the other religions. I am not a theologian or religious scholar, however whilst I may prescribe only medication, I can talk about my simplistic understanding and brief research on the topic from a religious angle. There are two views in Islam, one that “necessities permit the prohibited” which supports donation, and the other that “the saving of life is not absolute” where
“organ donation compromises the special honour accorded to man.” Ultimately, it is a personal choice and donation can be a difficult one to make.
On average, patients from the Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities will wait a year longer for a kidney transplant than a white patient, due to the lack of suitable organs One cannot only seek medical assistance but also religious advice from an appropriate scholar. A quote from the Qur’an says: “Whosoever saves a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.”
sums it up: “Giving organs is the most generous act of selfgiving imaginable.” However it is important to know as in many religions there are different schools of thought, and one should speak to a relevant religious advisor.
In Christianity, a quote from the Archbishop of Wales (2011)
Organ transplantation is accepted in Judaism, largely if the organs are
harvested after death and a similar sentiment from Pirke D’Rav Eliezer is that “one who saves a single life – it is as if he has saved an entire world.” However once again, there may be varying views and it would be well advised that one should speak to a scholar. One size does not fit all and if you are uncertain about anything you have read, speak to your practice nurse, doctor, a religious scholar or spiritual adviser. If you would like to commit to organ donation, look up the topic on the NHS website and you can join the Organ Donation Register. I hope this article leaves you with some searching questions, some of which only you have the answers to. Reflect and enjoy the journey! 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.
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
OPINION
by ALISON BELLAMY I recently caught a taxi from Dewsbury train station. I enjoy talking to taxi drivers where possible as they have their ears to the ground and know what is going on in the community, so are often a good source of news, which I am always looking out for.
West Yorkshire town, which is about 12 miles from Leeds, are Asian, I am told.
Most of the taxi drivers in the small
The area is often the butt of derivative jokes, or labelled in some of
The small market town, once a thriving shopping attraction, is now over run with bookies, charity shops and discount stores.
Now, 25 years later, people cannot be abused for their race or religious belief. Of course, it still goes on, sadly. But people are thankfully brought to justice wherever possible
the national media as the run-down town where young terrorists are groomed or where kidnap victim Shannon Matthews comes from. I sometimes feel defensive as I think home is where the heart is and there are good and bad people everywhere, whatever their race, religion or beliefs. The chatty, young private hire driver with a Geordie accent was keen to talk. He was probably around 19. ‘I can’t believe I’m back to sharing a bunk bed at my age,’ he exclaimed. ‘It was bad enough at home when I was younger with four of us in one room.’ I love hearing people’s back stories and glimpses into their lives. Turns out he was fairly new to the town, staying at his uncle’s house in Ravensthorpe, while studying at Leeds University to be an optician. ‘I moved down from Newcastle last year, but I can’t believe the tension here. You can feel it.’ ‘What do you mean?’ I asked. ‘Well I went out with friends and we ended up in a nightclub last week as we could not find a decent shisha place. I asked a pretty girl to dance and had a laugh with her, nothing
serious, and then was almost beaten up for no reason. The bouncers had to stop him. ‘Some bloke didn’t like the fact I was Asian and dancing with a white lassie. He didn’t know her or me but decided he didn’t like it. ‘At home in the north east no one bats an eyelid, but here, it’s a problem. There is tension.’ Immediately, I knew what he meant. There is a tension.
I recall chapattis being thrown across the restaurant like frisbees and awful names being shouted out. It was terribly upsetting and remains a traumatic memory for me. The polite young waiters barely retaliated at first, but as the years went on something happened. They fought back and stood up for themselves.
It’s not necessarily the terror links in recent years. It is something which has slowly crept up.
In hindsight, crimes were being committed that night but laws have thankfully changed for the better since then, and it simply would not be tolerated today.
I remember 20 plus years ago going out as a youngster for a curry, when it was a novelty to eat poppadum and hot, spicy Asian food. There were only a handful of restaurants around.
Now, 25 years later, people cannot be abused for their race or religious belief. Of course, it still goes on, sadly. But people are thankfully brought to justice wherever possible.
I recall one occasion when we saw young waiters being horribly abused as they suffered racist insults, mainly from drunken men.
I reassured the taxi driver that there were good people in Dewsbury and he should always remember that. He would not accept a tip and said that our conversation was worth more than any tip he could ever receive.
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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE
A.A.DHAND “Asians on the screen that we see are often clichéd or caricatured” by NATALIE COOPER With the outstanding popularity of shows such as ‘Luther’ and ‘Happy Valley’, passion for British crime and thriller stories is higher than ever in the UK, a sentiment which author AA Rand can definitely attest to. His debut novel ‘Streets of Darkness’ was picked up by FilmWave for development into a television series before the book even went on sale to the general public, such was the positive response it generated. The story is a dark and intriguing one - Detective Hardeep ‘Harry’ Virdee begins the novel suspended from the police force in Bradford, and tied up in a case full of murder, deceit and unexpected twists and turns. With heavy themes of race, religion, power and corruption running throughout the brutal thriller, this is a book which sets out to challenge preconceptions in a major way. The author, born and raised in Bradford himself, is keen to write characters which tear down stereotypes and share a whole new kind of story with a new audience. We caught up with A. A. Rand to find out more about his characters, his
captivating choice of northern setting, and what lies in store for ‘Streets of Darkness’ next. You decided to set ‘Streets of Darkness’ in Bradford, which isn’t the most typical of settings for a story which has already drawn comparisons to things such as Luther, The Wire, and even Batman’s Gotham City! What made you choose to set your debut book here? I mean firstly it’s the city that I live in! You do tend to write about what you know. But Bradford also has a long history that I think not a lot of people realise. You know up until just a couple of years ago Bradford was a real powerhouse, and then it had this economic collapse when the wool industry declined, which has left a lot of atmospheric buildings around the city which are now abandoned, and there’s a lot of opportunity to create atmosphere there. When you write a crime thriller you tend to pick the edgiest parts of a city, the centre where you have all these relics of mills and you know, areas like Manningham which haven’t had a lot of money spent on them and have a history of sort of falling into decline.
If I’d set the novel in Bronte county where the grass is green and the skies are blue, it wouldn’t have the edginess that it has. So that was my reason for setting it in Bradford. There’s a lot of opportunity to have a really good thriller set in Bradford, and use the city’s history and use some of those amazing buildings to create the right energy. It’s definitely been lacking, and I’m trying to get people engaged again. In particular the Asian community in reading crime thrillers, I think historically it’s not an area in which they’ve been written about or read about, so I’d love to be able to say that we’re trying to engage a new readership. In the opening chapter, the protagonist Detective Harry Virdee describes the city of Bradford as ‘a relic, its glory days past, suffocated by mass unemployment caused by the collapse of the textile industries’. Do you think this is a pretty typical view of Bradford? I think it is a typical view of Bradford but it’s also backed by facts. I mean industries; the wool industry did collapse and cause mass unemployment, and a lot of the Asian
ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE
community worked in those mills. In the book a lot of those then go and open convenience stores, or drive taxis, or try to find employment in other industries. The heartbeat of Bradford was in the wool industry, and when you remove the heartbeat from somebody, you’re looking at decay. So I think it’s a reasonable picture of the history of Bradford. And again, because it’s an edgy crime thriller, you tend to pick the areas which have maximum impact, which is in the city centre. If you look at the statistics in Bradford the centre, and just around the centre, are the areas of highest crime. In terms of a relic, it has that relic feel, from an industrial point of view – you have the most amazing woollen mills which have fallen into abandonment over fifty years, but they’re still there. Where did the character of Detective Hardeep ‘Harry’ Virdee come from – is he based on anybody? He’s not based on anybody specifically, but I was trying to create a character that we haven’t seen before. Asians on the screen that we see are often clichéd or caricatured, you know how many times have we watched the typical Asian shop-keeper? And even now, looking at media on TV, the way Asians are portrayed is not particularly original. You know if we can have a white James Bond and a Black Luther, it’s about time that we had an Asian Detective Harry Virdee. The thing that’s different about Harry is he never puts culture and tradition ahead of patriotism and loyalty to his city. He’s basically subverting every cliché that we’ve ever seen, and subverting every caricature to create a really thrilling, edge of your seat character. We’re merging the Jack Bauer of ‘24’ with more edginess and charisma, and I think we’ve never seen anything like it before. The book features a strong marriage at its centre, between a secular Sikh man and a practising Muslim woman. What made you choose to portray the couple in this manner, and how much does race and religion play a role in the story overall? At the heart of the novel is really the emotionally engaging love story between Harry and Saima, and again, we read in literature about inter-faith marriages and non-fiction stories which are really heartfelt, and often leave us kind of depressed afterwards. I wanted to take a familiar scenario and portray it in an extremely unfamiliar way. Harry is a
secular Sikh while Saima is a practising Muslim, and they use the dishonour they’ve experienced to drive them to be successful, which is a different portrayal to the other stories I’ve seen or read about. And it was important to put them at the heart of the story, because Bradford does have a large Asian population and these stories are quite common, but they never really get much media time. You know, I want to read about Harry and Saima and root for them, these characters who take the good things about being Asian and the great things about being British – they have democracy, and tolerance, and patriotism, and towards each other importantly. They’re not self-deprecating characters – they make their love story more compelling and stronger. It’s about trying to create a new story, new voices, new characters, because what I want to do is engage people to say ‘I’ve never read a book like this before.’ I want people to look at Harry as the hero, but also I want them to see Saima as a hero as well.
about, and how involved are you in its development? My agent sent it out to the TV companies and basically we had a situation where it was really competitive and three or four companies were all vying for the rights. This meant that I was able to sit down with them and FilmWave just felt like the best fit. They came up to Bradford, and they were just really passionate about it. I said that I’d like to have a go at writing the screenplay, so whilst I’m not the main writer for the show, I’m having a go which is nice of them to give me the opportunity to do that. If we do get it further into development, which I’m fairly confident about, I’ll hopefully be in an executive producer role on the show, once we get to that stage. But we are in very early stages at the moment! I’m thrilled to be involved in it. ‘Streets of Darkness’ is available to buy now.
What do you attribute to the amazingly positive response that the book has enjoyed so far, ahead of its general release? I think it’s probably down to three things. Firstly, it’s a story which hasn’t been done before, you know in terms of crime thrillers there a lot of crime thrillers, but this is a completely new kind of storyline. I’m taking them into a world they don’t know about, and doing it in a new way. Secondly it’s pace – it’s a very ‘pacy’ story, there are three storylines running simultaneously, which all descend at the end to tie everything up, so you never really know what’s going on, it’s the ultimate guessing game. And thirdly it’s got a hell of a twist at the end! Which is just satisfying when you read it; I think it’s quite rare to have a twist where nobody really guesses it. Overall it’s an unusual story delivered at the right pace, which ticks a lot of boxes I guess. Harry Virdee is a character who the public have taken to and the media have taken to because we’ve just not seen anything like him before, and it is about time that we had him. Congratulations on having ‘Streets of Darkness’ picked up to be turned into a TV show – how did that come
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If we can have a white James Bond and a Black Luther, it’s about time that we had an Asian Detective Harry Virdee.
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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE
Glamour Soft and Rosy
Does your home feel like it needs that little extra touch of feminine feeling? In some areas of the home, hard and edgy designs just aren’t as desirable, and we can crave a soft and comforting environment. If that’s true for you, you’ll adore our design tips this week – full of grown-up, girly glam, without a garish flower or glittered surface in sight. For this week’s lifestyle special, we have once again welcomed the expert help of interior expert and owner of the much admired store Artz-I, Mohammed Rasul. Artz-i is a stylish new lifestyle and gift store which designs, manufactures and retails modern and traditional high quality gifts, artworks and other fine products, including hand crafted items. Their merchandise includes tiles, calligraphy, ornaments, appliqué art, paintings, photography and wood carvings as well as gift cards, contemporary and classical household furnishings. Read on for a veritable wealth of ideas on how to utilise this girly design to add comfort and high quality glamour to your space, with beautiful golds, pinks and faux furs.
For the ultimate in dressing room glam, drench your space in gold-edged cream and light pink furniture, combined with plenty of mirrors and gorgeous chandelier type lighting. This would look stunning in any bedroom or dressing space, or even in a glamorous reception room – perfect for afternoon tea!
For a regal touch, pair neutral tones with mirrored surfaces and elegant seating – not forgetting somewhere to hang up your faux fur coats! This is a grownup look, so if your home runs the risk of sticky fingers leaving marks all over surfaces, perhaps keep the mirrors on the walls and off cabinets and drawers.
Great shopping & amazing live entertainment
Tuesday 5 July Simes Street, City Centre, Bradford, BD1 3RB. Tel: 01274 728451
ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE
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Stripes and bold patterns don’t always work too well with this look, but wide vertical stripes look classy and polished whilst still adding pattern and colour to any room. Mix up circular and straight shapes to make sure it’s all interesting to look at, as well as mixing textures. Try this on a feature wall in a dining room or hallway to make the room look larger! For a more masculine take on this trend which still oozes soft and comfortable hospitality, choose a darker colour for walls and pair with plush studded armchairs to encourage comfortable seating. Lots of lamps and decorative light fixtures will lift a dark coloured wall to avoid too much darkness.
Fresh or artificial flowers in colours which match the tones of the room will bring this look together entirely. Try and choose roses or other smaller flowers to avoid overwhelming the design of the space, and consider using artwork to bring a similar feel to the overall room. This works especially well in a living or dining area for a light touch of feminine glamour.
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Stric Male be al
Eid Shopping Festival Open daily from 21
June until Eid day
10am to 8pm CITY CENTRE
If you enjoyed the retro industrial pieces here and want to see more amazing designs, check out www.artz-i.com
Simes Street, City Centre, Bradford, BD1 3RB. Tel: 01274 728451
Sime Brad Tel: 0
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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE
njab’
a Pu B-town gives thumbs up to ‘Udt the The Performance of each actor. much-awaited film ‘Udta Punjab really needs this film. hts Punjab,’ which highlig Trust me I know cuz I’m seen the impact and menace of it first hand with #UNAIDS & , iety soc the drug abuse on the needle exchange program. n wo particularly in Punjab, has #drugsdimaadi #Alia #kareena the hearts of the members of #shahid #diljit #Awesome the film fraternity. #hardhitting #truth #abhishekh #ekta #phantom Ting.” The celebrities took to their respective social media Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt on ise pra r we sho handles to tweeted, “Abhishek Chaubey’s ay. tod the film, released UDTA PUNJAB is an outstanding film. Shahid & Alia Applauding the film, Preity the bravest actors in tinsel Zinta tweeted, “Just watched are n.” #udtapunjab & am stunned by tow
it!” He continued, “Our lives begin “#UdtaPunjab FABULOUS! to end the day we begin to Period! Every single frame! remain silent about things Ps- reality is even more that matter - UDTA PUNJAB at ks brutal... Anyone censoring matters because it loo reality? #DrugsDiMaadi @ truth in the eye.” FuhSePhantom,” said Aditi Rao “HIGH on #UdtaPunjab Hydari. Got me angry,made me Others who praised the film laugh & made me weep! An were actor Karan Singh Grover, empowering story of broken Arshad Warsi and Dia Mirza. people touching & healing d ete other broken lives!” twe Abhishek Chaubey’s directorial, Pooja Bhatt. which stars Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Film critic Taran Adarsh is jab Pun Khan and Diljit Dosanjh in lead tweeted, “#Udta h wit t roles, has been passed with A bold, brave and brillian certificate. bravura performances. Watch
Don’t worry, will make Ajay Devgn dance: Remo D’souza National award-winning choreographer Remo D’Souza feels fortunate to have work with good dancers for every Bollywood song he has ever choreographed.
choreographer, who is at present prepping up for his next film ‘A Flying Jatt’, has casted Ajay and Sooraj Pancholi for his next untitled film.
After making big names like Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Ranbir Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit Nene dance, the ace choreographer will be trying his hands on Ajay Devgan.
On being asked if he would he try his hands on Ajay, the ‘ABCD 2’ maker said, “Well, I will stick to what I’ve said before, I have been lucky to have good dancers to choreograph. I think Ajay dances really well, so don’t worry, I will make him dance.”
The ‘Pinga’
which Sooraj was the perfect choice, and for the other character, I wanted someone who could pull off action. And who other better than Ajay?” Remo said in an exclusive conversation with ANI. Remo will start working on this untitled project from September this year, after which, he revealed, he will work on the third part of his ‘ABCD’ series. For now, Remo would be seen as a super judge of the second season of the dance reality show, ‘Dance Plus’.
Chand Raat Great shopping & amazing live entertainment
Tuesday 5 July
• Latest Mehndi Designs by 20 of the best Mehndi Designers • Family Entertainment • Free Face Painting and lots more.. Strict family only Chand Raat, Males without family will not be allowed admission
Eid Shopping Festival
“The genre of the film is dance-action Apart from this, the and the story director-choreographer revolves around is working on ‘A Flying two brothers. Open daily from 21 June until Eid Tiger day Jatt’ starring I was looking Shroff and Jacqueline 10am to for8pm somebody Fernandes, which is who has got CENTRE slated to CITY release on good looks for Simes Street, City Centre, Bradford,August BD1 3RB25. . Tel: 01274 728451
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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE
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Tupac biopic trailer released on rapper’s birth anniversary
What made Kareena sign ‘Veere Di Wedding’ film?
The intense first teaser trailer for the Tupac Shakur biopic “All Eyez on Me” has been released on what would have been the late rapper’s 45th birthday. The minute-long video includes footage of actor Demetrius Shipp, who essays Shakur, performing on stage before being arrested by the police and the FBI, reports variety.com. A voiceover by his mother Afeni Shakur (played by Danai Gurira) tells him in the clip: “Like all black men, you have a bullseye on your back. They are going to give you the tools you need to destroy yourself.” Shipp appears near the end of the teaser trailer, saying, “If they kill me, I want the people to know the real story”. The cast of the Morgan Creek movie, filmed earlier this year in Atlanta, includes Lauren Cohan, Kat Graham, and Jamie Hector. “All Eyez on Me” chronicles the life and legacy of Shakur, including his rise to superstardom as a hip-hop artiste and actor, his imprisonment, and his time at Death Row Records. “All Eyez on Me” is directed by Benny Boom. The film’s title is taken from Shakur’s fourth studio album, which was released in early 1996. The film is produced by James G. Robinson and David C. Robinson of Morgan Creek Productions, along with L.T. Hutton. It will be distributed by Open Road Films.
Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, who will be next seen in Shashanka Ghosh’s directorial ‘Veere Di Wedding’ alongside Sonam Kapoor, has recently opened up about “India’s first chic-flick.” Talking about the project, which will be co-produced by Rhea Kapoor and Balaji head Ekta Kapoor, the 35-year-old actress said that she fell in love with the script, which she read four years ago, reports PinkVilla. When asked what made her sign the film, Bebo said that there has never been
an Indian chic-flick. It has always been about the hero and the heroine and never only about the women. She signed the film because of its unique script. “There’s never been a complete girl power script that talks about the lives of the girls and four friends. So it is a story of four school friends and how their life pans out at their friend’s wedding” she said. Adding on to this, the ‘Ki & Ka’ actress said that she will begin shooting for the movie on August 1.
Heat on ‘Meri Pyaari Bindu’ sets too much for Parineeti Seems like the sets of ‘Meri Pyaari Bindu’ are too hot for the female lead Parineeti Chopra. The 27-year-old actress recently took to her Twitter handle to share a picture of her looking all exhausted on the sets and captioned it as “sooooo hot on set I want ice-creammmmmm.” Exuding high-confidence after shedding off that extra fat, the ‘Ishaqzaade’ star has managed to look stunning in the summery attire, despite the soaring temperature and hectic schedule. The movie, which will bring Parineeti to screen after a break of almost two years, is a romance drama and will hit the big screens next year.
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
BUSINESS I guess the referendum should not be linked to business in isolation, but the government has actually made it so; therefore, I will share some things that have come up in the media in the last two days. At the moment, I am abroad, and the hot topic for UK travelers is what’s going to happen next week. I have been keeping an eye on the papers, and I have also been undertaking my own research. I guess I am being a geek, but it’s part of my job as a Chartered adviser to be able to answer client enquires and not look dumb struck. One of the first things I want to focus on is that nobody knows what is going to happen. I want to compare the referendum as the UK going into business in a new territory. Let’s think of it this way: if you are new to business you are more likely to fail, but if you have an existing business and you change strategy the chances of failure are far less, and even if there is failure the impact is far less. If you talk to business people, and especially change management consultants, they will tell you that change is constant, and sometimes it is needed. However, in the case of the referendum this will be a big change regardless of whether we remain or leave. The U.K is an established country, the fifth largest economy by some reports and as far as I can see we are independent; hence even if we do leave I do not foresee major issues because
The referendum debates heat up
I read that the in campaign is saying
the UK, but instead is most likely sat in
£100 billion has left the stock market.
cash.
Well yes, it would have done so. This is because investors hedge the market. This means they take a risk on some of the money, and speculate just like I am doing so. This does not mean the money has left
In the press there is talk of tax rises, quoting our chancellor: “Far from freeing up money to spend on public services as the leave campaign would like you to believe, quitting the EU would mean less money,” Osborne says. “Billions less. It’s a lose-lose situation for British families and we shouldn’t risk it.”
Osbourne said he would have to: Implement £15bn of tax rises, a 2p rise in the basic rate of income tax to 22%, a 3p rise in the higher rate to 43% plus a 5% rise in the inheritance tax rate to 45p Increase in alcohol and petrol duties by 5% Cause Spending cuts worth £15bn, including a 2% reduction for health, defense and education, equivalent
to £2.5bn, £1.2bn, £1.15bn a year respectively Make Larger cuts of 5% from policing, transport and local government budgets. The above might happen, and it’s a big might. I say this because who knows what will happen, and because I personally do not believe such drastic action would be needed if we left the EU. This is because trade will still continue, we will all still be working, and still paying taxes. My personal view is things will stay as they are in the short term, and yes we might have to make changes, but these changes could take upwards of ten years before they are implemented. When the UK joined the EU it took time to implement changes anyhow, and I guess we took a risk. Also even if we leave, a fair amount of our laws are embedded from EU legislation; therefore, we still will use the same laws. The other thing I wanted to say was the UK did not join the euro. Was this a good decision or a bad decision? Looking back whatever your thoughts are I think this was a bold move by the UK and one I do not think is regrettable. Overall, I think Britain for once is finally on the map, and the whole of Europe is looking at us. I would encourage you all to read forums, look at the Internet and look at both arguments to stay in Europe and arguments to leave.
we are embedded within The EU, and
If we do vote to stay are things going to
changes will take many years to take us
stay the same, or is Europe not going to
completely out of the EU. The second thing I want to focus on is scaremongering by the government, throwing umpteen statistics at us the general public. I am taking a punt on the EU referendum, and by this I mean that I have cashed in all my pension and investment funds. This is because I personally believe no
take us seriously, and the annual farce of Mr Cameron trying to get a better deal, which in my view never happens, will this get us better rights, etc? If we leave will this force the EU to collapse, as we are one of the biggest countries within the EU? If the UK does leave, will it lead to other countries following us out?
matter if we vote in or out, the markets
Whichever way you vote I would
are going to fall for a short time. I
encourage you all to take the vote
therefore sold my stocks, when the price
seriously by undertaking your own
was at its highest in April and have been
research.
sitting on cash funds till the markets dip as low as I think they will go and then buy low.
I leave you all with some words of thought from Margaret Thatcher relating to Europe, “It is frequently said
The reason why I did the above is
to be unthinkable that Britain should
because when you buy low, you get more
leave the European Union. But the
units for your money, and when the
avoidance of thought about this is a poor
markets grow, guess what: I have made
substitute for judgement,” I guess this
a return. I am guessing I will return
comment sums it up. We have to think,
circa 10% or more on my money.
and make a sound informed decision about which way we are going to vote.
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
Business EU referendum campaigns
UK Small Businesses fight to win small business vote face growing threat of cyber crime by ITRAT BASHIR have worked hard to uncover the facts, check the truth behind the arguments, and give their members the best tools available to make up their own minds. Whatever happens next week, small firms will need sustained support to deliver the growth and stability both campaigns have promised will come after voting date.
With small businesses identified as a key swing vote in the coming EU referendum, both campaigns had on June 13 gone head-to-head to make their pitch directly to small firms during a debate hosted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Leaders in both campaigns were grilled by an audience of FSB members, facing questions from small business owners from right across the UK, all wanting to know the impact on their business of staying in, or leaving the EU. An FSB poll found two fifths (42 percent) of small business owners could still be swayed on how to vote on June 23. With over half (52 percent) saying they didn’t feel they had the information they needed, the debate was wide open for the panellists to tell small businesses what they needed to hear. Commenting following the discussion, Mike Cherry, FSB National Chairman, said that what’s clear from the debate is that there will be no status quo, whatever the result, they can expect to see changes to our relationship with the EU. “Small firms want to know more about what these will be and how they will impact their business, yet many questions throughout the campaign has proven either unanswerable or heavily disputed,” he added. According to the chairman, throughout the campaign the FSB
Meanwhile, during the debate, John Longworth, Chairman of the Vote Leave Business Council, said that if the UK leave the EU its economy will be better off. “If we can shave off just a fraction of the cost of EU red tape we can deliver a huge boost to the economy, even if we are left with no access to the single market at all. The single market is a mirage, not a nirvana, but of course we well get a deal,” he added. Longworth also commented on the fact government ministers have to go to the EU with a begging bowl just to change the VAT on tampons. He believes that if we leave the EU we will be able to take control of our own tax and trade; setting our own rules to support UK businesses. In contrast, Richard Reed, Deputy Chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe, said that the idea that leaving the EU will help our exports is total fiction. “Right now we can trade freely with the largest trading block in the world. Leaving would only result in more barriers to trade, not fewer,” he added. He also said that having unfettered access to the largest trading block on the planet is unquestionably good for businesses; inward investment is already being affected by this debate. “We only need to look at what’s happening to the markets right now to see what will happen if we leave,” he added. Conservative MP and Brexit supporter
Kwasi Kwarteng pointed out that everyone agrees the EU has massive problems and we’ve been talking about reforming it for over twenty years, but nothing ever happens. “The only way we are ever going to get real change is a vote to leave,” he added.
According to Kwarteng, the EU is the slowest growing economy in the world, and the idea that this is the best place for the UK and economic growth is simply not true. He commented that the biggest risk to leaving is a short term market shock, but the biggest risks to remaining are fundamentally long term and come from being tied to the troubled economies of the EU with no room for independent action.
by ITRAT BASHIR
Small businesses in the United Kingdom are at risk from cyber crime by not putting adequate protection measures in place, a new research from Barclaycard has found. The study revealed that half of small businesses hit by cyber crime in the last year, with 10 percent suffering repeated attacks. Moreover, over half are concerned that they are at risk of an attack in future, but just one in five see tackling cyber security as a priority. Also, the study showed that just one in six are confident that they have adequate measures in place to prevent cybercrime.
Chuka Umunna, a Lablour MP and campaigner of ‘Britain Stronger in Europe’, said: “The biggest regulatory issues facing businesses in recent years have been the national living wage and auto-enrolment, both nothing to do with the EU. The EU has become the dumping ground for blame for barriers to business, which are almost always issues originating with the UK government.” He also said that there is not one respected, well known economic forecaster who thinks leaving the EU is going to be good for the UK economy. “Stay or leave, the main global challenges facing the UK, terrorism, climate change or migration, will still remain. I believe that the UK will be better placed to face these challenges with a seat at the table in the EU, not left out in the cold,” he added.
According to a spokesperson of Barclaycard, the survey of 250 small businesses reveals that just one in five (20 percent) see cyber security as a top business priority, whilst one in ten (10 percent) have never invested in improving the security of their website. This is despite the impact of a cyber attack costing UK small businesses on average between £75,000 and £311,000 in lost sales, business disruption, recovery of assets, fines and compensation. The study suggests that as a result of not taking measures to protect themselves, businesses is leaving themselves open to potential threats. Almost half (48 percent) have been hit by at least one cyber attack in the past year, with one in ten (10 percent) experiencing more than four attacks. Almost one in five (16 percent) admit that they were only prompted to review their cyber security when they were hit
by an attack.
The research found the majority (54 percent) of SMEs are concerned that could be at risk from an attack, but many lack the knowledge and expertise to know how to better protect their business online. Only one in eight (13 percent) claim to be confident that they understand enough about cyber crime to protect their business, and just one in six (15 percent) are very confident that they have adequate measures in place. Despite their lack of expertise in how to mitigate against cyber crime, more than four in 10 (44 percent) of SMEs acknowledge that the responsibility for protecting their company online lies in their own hands. However, support from third parties is also a key. A quarter (23 percent) admit they lean on their website host and see it as their responsibility to provide support and more than one in 10 (12 percent) think it is the responsibility of their payment provider to protect businesses from an attack. Commenting on the new study, Paul Clarke, Product Director at Barclaycard, said that businesses of all sizes face a constant and growing threat from cyber crime. “As our research shows, many small businesses are failing take the necessary precautions, either because they don’t know how to protect themselves or, more worryingly, because they don’t think they need to,” he added. According to him, cyber security is not a one-off investment that can then be forgotten about, especially as criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in the way they target businesses. For 50 years they have been working in partnership with customers to ensure they are not only putting the right measures in place from the outset, but are also continuously reviewing their policies to keep up with the latest industry developments.
Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY 2 3
Finance
UK small businesses lose £12k a day without a mobile phone by ITRAT BASHIR
The loss in potential revenue to a UK small business of not having access to their mobile phones for even one day could be as much as £12,000, new research for Vodafone UK has revealed. The research was commissioned to highlight the benefits of Vodafone Rapid, a new service which promises to get replacement phones into the hands of small businesses across the UK within four hours of an approved insurance claim being made, disclosed a spokesperson of Vodafone. According to him, in a poll conducted by YouGov surveying more than 1,000 small businesses with up to nine employees, their senior decision-makers estimate on average they would miss out on almost four new business opportunities in a working day when their work mobile
is out of action. With the average opportunity valued at more than £3,000, this means each business faces a potential loss of around £12,000 worth of new work each day they are phoneless. Losing potential revenues on this scale would have a significant impact on the bottom line of the UK’s millions of small businesses as well as delivering a blow to the UK economy. To help get businesses back up and running as quickly as possible when their mobile is lost, stolen or damaged, Vodafone UK is launching Vodafone Rapid, a new service to get replacement phones into the hands of small businesses within four hours of an approved claim, being made on an existing insurance policy. Furthermore, for every hour beyond the four hours Vodafone will give a small business £10 (up to a maximum of £40). In what will be a first for the UK, the new service will see mobiles
delivered by dedicated scooters in London and by courier to addresses
their mobile phone is vital to the running of their organisation, losing
damaged rendering it unusable for business and yet, despite the importance businesses place on their work phone, more than half (55 per cent) don’t have business phone insurance. Phil Mottram, Enterprise Director at Vodafone UK, said that when the potential loss of new business opportunities equates to billions of pounds for small businesses countrywide, and more importantly could mean that a small business misses out on that vital call, it’s business critical to get replacement phones into the hands of business owners as quickly as possible when they find their mobile is lost, stolen or damaged.
across the rest of the country. With a whopping two-thirds (67 percent) of small business owners and employees surveyed claiming
a work mobile or finding it damaged or out of action could lead to major opportunity loss for UK businesses. One in five (20 percent) respondents has had their phone lost, stolen or
“This is where Vodafone Rapid comes in, getting the country’s small business population back up and running with a replacement phone within just four hours,” he added.
Malaysia’s Islamic airline Rayani Air barred from flying Malaysia’s first Islamic-compliant airline, Rayani Air, has been barred from flying for breaching regulations. The Department of Civil Aviation has revoked Rayani Air’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC), or right to fly, bringing an end to the world’s first Shariah compliant airline. The DCA said the decision came after a full investigation of the administration and a safety audit of the airline’s state of operations.
The DCA said it found Rayani Air in breach of conditions of its licence and that it lacked the financial and management capacity to operate a commercial airline. It follows a three month suspension after the airline failed to follow flight regulations. A safety audit was later conducted to assess its operations.
Rayani Air launched last December offering only halal food, no alcohol and crew wearing modest clothing.
Malaysia’s aviation commission said in a statement that the airline “had breached the conditions of its Air Service Licence (ASL) and lacks the financial and management capacity to continue operating as a commercial airline”.
It has two Boeing 737-400 planes in its fleet, each able to carry about 180 passengers, eight pilots and 50 crew.
The DCA said it had conducted a “thorough deliberation” on the airline’s response to the safety audit.
In the lead up to its suspension, the airline had faced criticism including complaints about cancelled flights as pilots went on strike. Based on the island of Langkawi, Rayani Air had been flying to the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and the northern city of Kota Bahru. It had plans to fly to more Malaysian cities and eventually schedule flights to Mecca for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, reports said. The DCA has said Rayani Air is still liable to refund ticket holders whom have not flown with the airline due to this action. In the event consumers are not able to obtain their refunds, they can file a civil suit for those refunds.
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
NEWS
Queen’s Birthday Honours 2016: Most diverse list since the Order of the British Empire began by ITRAT BASHIR AND NATALIE COOPER Whilst the Queen celebrated her 90th birthday this year, 1,149 others also had reason to celebrate, as they were recognised with gongs for services to the country. This year also saw the greatest number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) recipients in an honours list, since the Order of the British Empire was founded in 1917. A total of 8.2 per cent of the successful candidates (90 people) come from a BAME background. With recognition of the achievements from people in politics, sports, entertainment, culture, science, and the private sector celebrities and public and private figures it was a humbling
acknowledgment for the many that are on the 2016 list. In recognition of his service to the community, Hanif Malik, founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hamara Healthy Living Centre in Leeds, was awarded the OBE in the Queens Honours birthday list for 2016.
society a better and more cohesive place and highlight that the Muslim community can make a positive contribution to wider causes. Sewa Singh Mandla, is also on the list of honours for an OBE. He was appointed an OBE in recognition of his 50 years of legal, human rights and selfl ess community voluntary service in West Midlands.
He has been an active participant in public life for over 30 years, undertaking a range of voluntary roles during this period. Through his inspirational leadership he has transformed the Hamara organisation from employing two part-time staff with an income of £25,000 to one which now employs over 30 staff. During his tenure he has secured over £5 million of investment and grants, including a successful campaign to raise £1.2million to develop the centre that is now a thriving community hub offering a programme of varied activities.
humbled and feels privileged to be receiving this honour from Her Majesty the Queen. “I thank Almighty God for this blessing and my spiritual master, Bhai Sahib Ji whose guidance has never failed me,” he added.
education and the community in Sheffield. She has been honoured for being an exemplary role model to young Asian girls in Sheffield, who often hail from deprived backgrounds.
“I pray that I live up to the expectations of all those who placed their faith, trust and confidence in me. I have accepted this appointment on behalf of the Sikh and wider communities that I am privileged to serve here in Birmingham and West Midlands. This award is recognition of the importance that community work and faith is playing in the secular world,” he said. Mandla has successfully fused his professional work in law with spirituality to make a difference to Sikh and wider communities in the UK. His perseverance to take the issue of turbans worn by Sikh pupils in schools is a testament of his dedication to fight for a just cause.
l
Talking to Asian Sunday, Hanif said he is very humbled and honoured to have been awarded an OBE in the Queens Honours birthday list for 2016. “Although it is always a privilege to be recognised for your work, the real motivation for our effor ts comes from supporting those who are less fortunate than us and in attempting to make a differ ence to our communities,” he added.
He is a high profile lawyer and a community and inter-faith leader in Birmingham. As a long serving volunteer at the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) and a trustee at the Nishkam Civic Association Handsworth, Birmingham, Mandla has been recognised for his significant contribution to community and inter-faith development work in the city and the region.
He hoped that in some small way it will encourage others to continue striving to make
On being awarded the OBE in the Queen’s 90th birthday Honours list, Mandla said that he is greatly
Women and arts weren’t behind in the list of honours this year. Artistic Director of Kala Sangam, a Yorkshire based arts charity, Dr. Geetha Upadhyaya, who was appointed Officer of the British Empire (OBE) award in Queen’s Birthday Honours List, for her dedication to South Asian Arts in the UK said “I’m humbled. It’s great recognition for South Asian Arts and for Bradford” Dr. Geetha co-founded Kala Sangam along with her husband, Dr. Shri Upadhyaya back in 1993 and it became a registered charity in 1996. She has dedicated her life to deliver outstanding South Asian and intercultural Arts in contemporary Britain and beyond. Teacher Iffat Hameed was appointed an MBE for services to
Through her guidance and support as a teacher, many of these young women have gone into higher education, achieving rewarding careers such as teaching, medicine, law and dentistry. Iffat, of Millhouses, became Sheffield’s first female Muslim magistrate in 1998 and has also worked voluntarily for BBC Radio Sheffield Asian Network service and is often heard talking about education, self-respect and the need to progress in the community. Iffat, who is known for her charitable work and has two grandchildren, told Sheffield’s The Star newspaper: “I am truly humbled that my life’s work has been recognised. It was a big shock when I found out, but I am so happy.”
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OBE Hanif Malik. Chief executive, Hamara. For services to Sport and the community particularly in Yorkshire. Ms Bhanu Ramaswamy. Independent Physiotherapy consultant. For services to Physiotherapy. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire) Dr Nima Poovaya Smith. Founder and director, Alchemy Anew. For services to Arts and Museums in Yorkshire. (Leeds, West Yorkshire) Dr Geetha Upadhyaya. Co-Founder and lately chief executive and Artistic director, Kala Sangam. For services to South Asian Arts in the UK. (Guiseley, West Yorkshire)
CBE
Honorary Alderman Allah Yar Mushtaq Lasharie. For political service and charitable services in Pakistan through the Jhok Aid Project. (London) Bharat Maganlal MEHTA. For services to Finance in the Charitable and Voluntary Sectors. (London)
MBE
Taiyabur Rahman Chowdhury. Formerly Adoption Social Worker, Bradford City Council. For services to Children and Families. (West Yorkshire) Mrs Iffat Hameed, JP. Teacher, King Edward VII School, Sheffield. For services to Education and the community in Sheffield. (Sheffield, South Yorkshire) Canon Yaqub Masih. For services to Community Cohesion and Inter-faith Relations in West Yorkshire. (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire) Mohammed Akhlak Rauf. Manager, Meri Yaadain (My Memories) Dementia Team, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. For services to People with Dementia and their Carers. (Bradford, West Yorkshire) Mohammed Ali. Street artist. For services to Art and Aerosol Arabic Community Cohesion. (Birmingham) Mohammed Amin. Founder Member and Co-Chair, Muslim Jewish Forum of Greater Manchester. For services to Community Cohesion and Inter-faith Relations in Greater Manchester. (Whalley Range, Greater Manchester) Hitesh Chandarana. Assistant Officer, Personal Tax Operations, HM Revenue and Customs. For services to Tax Compliance. (Thurmaston, Leicester) Rajeeb Dey. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Internships. For services to Entrepreneurship. (London) Romy Gill. Founder, Romy’s Kitchen. For services to the Hospitality Industry. (Thornbury, Bristol) Issam Abbas Horshi. Managing Director, The White Horse Hotel. For services to the Tourism Industry in Northern Ireland. (Waterside, Londonderry)
NEWS Mrs Shahista Gohir, Trustee and Chair of Muslim Women’s Network for the UK. For services to Gender Equality and Women’s Rights. (Birmingham) Ms Julia Lalla-Maharajh, Founder of the Orchid Project. For services to Supporting an End to Female Genital Cutting. (London) Sewa Singh Mandla. For services to the Interfaith and Community Cohesion particularly in the Sikh community. (West Bromwich, West Midlands) Adil Ray. Actor, Radio and Television Presenter. For services to Broadcasting. (London) Dhanonday Shrivastav. Musician, Instrumentalist and Founder, Inner Vision Orchestra. For services to Music. (London)
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Professor Sabera Nazneen Rahman. Head of Genetics and Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer Research and Head of Cancer Genetics, The Royal Marsden. For services to Medical Science. (London) Professor Usha Chakravarthy. For services to Ophthalmology in Northern Ireland and voluntary service to Managing Eye Conditions (Belfast, NI)
Mrs Jess Jaspreet Jeetly. Founder and Managing Director, Jeetly. For services to Entrepreneurship Mrs Santosh Kaur Jhangiani. Executive Officer, Home Office. For services to Staff Welfare in the Home Office. (Surrey) Ms Ren Kapur. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Mrs Renu Raksha Wing Ltd, X-Forces. For services to Entrepreneurship. (Reading, Berkshire) Anwar Kassim. Director, Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture. For services to Inter-faith Relations and the community in Milton Keynes. (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire) Mrs Gurmit Kaur. Community Cohesion Inspector, Nottinghamshire Police. For services to Policing. (Mickleover, Derbyshire) Bhupendra Harji Magudia. Senior Executive Officer, Ministry of Defence. For services in Support of Military Training. (Nailsea, Somerset) Canon Yaqub Masih. For services to Community Cohesion and Interfaith Relations in West Yorkshire. (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire) Jewel Miah. For voluntary services to BritishBengali Football. (Oldham, Lancashire) Usman Munshi. JP for services to Community Cohesion and Engagement in Lancashire. (Lancashire) Rashiklal Parmar. Lead Cloud Adviser – Europe and Distinguished Engineer, IBM and Board Member, Leeds City Region LEP. For services to Innovation and Business. (Leeds, West Yorkshire) Mohammed Akhlak Rauf. Manager Meri Yaadain (My Memories) Dementia Team, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. For services to People with Dementia and their Carers. (Bradford, West Yorkshire)
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NEWS
Is there a hidden, silent killer outside your front door? ‘We can all make small changes to improve the quality of the air we breathe’ by ALISON BELLAMY
If you live near a main road, the chances are you will be breathing in noxious fumes from traffic. And if you walk to school or work along that road, or drive along it in congested traffic, you will be also be taking in air pollution, which probably exceeds recommended levels. We all worry about problems with health, finance and the usual trials of life, but perhaps it is the unseen things we should really be concerned about, warn experts.
north Manchester, Leeds, York and parts of Bradford, have been named as being at a higher risk, due to increasingly high volumes of traffic.
schools, prescriptions, GPs and other personal details to give a clearer picture of how air pollution affects us.
Dr James State, lecturer at the Institute for Transport Studies, at the University of Leeds, told Asian Sunday that air pollution was indeed a problem for the average family in the UK. He said: “We are massively exceeding air quality levels in the UK. London is currently at double an acceptable level and in Yorkshire; cities like Leeds, York and parts of Bradford are 10 to 20 per cent over acceptable levels.
“We are linking up with a data collection project called Born In Bradford, as some parts of Bradford have high levels of air pollution. We hope it will unlock new understanding as to how big an impact air pollution is having on our health and lives. We hope to see some interesting information emerge.”
Air pollution is reaching dangerously high levels, both inside and outside the home and is affecting the health and lives of thousands of people in the UK. But there are small steps we can take to improve the quality of the air we breathe. The latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has named 40 towns and cities for breaching safety levels for air pollution. It said poor air quality is a major cause of disease and death - increasing the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. Six out of ten of the most polluted cities in the world are in India but the WHO’s latest data shows that 11 urban areas across the UK breached the safe limit set for one type known as PM10. The top 10 included Glasgow, Scunthorpe, Leeds, Eastbourne, Salford, London, Southampton and Birmingham. Greenpeace says that air pollution is responsible for cutting short 40,000 lives every year in the UK and it has also been found that there is a link to poor brain development in children. And for those living on or near a busy main road, particularly on a hill, the risk is perhaps higher. Cities such as London, and in the
“In cities and larger towns, where there is a high volume of traffic, levels are of course worse. If you live near a main road, and particularly a hill, with buildings or houses at each side, then a barrier or a tunnel effect without the roof is created, where the particles do not disperse as well, and pollution levels are higher for longer.” Dr Tate said as cities expand the background levels on side streets are almost as bad as the busy roads, as emissions accumulate. He said thanks to technology, the collection of useful data had much improved: “Data is now being analysed by people who are able to use digital mapping and can link information such as postcodes,
It was another recent report assessing the impact of air pollution on public health in the UK which has prompted more concerns. The report, published by the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, (RCPCH) presents recommendations to the public, businesses and governments to make changes and reduce air pollution. The report concludes exposure to pollutants both inside and outside the home may be contributing to thousands more deaths than previously estimated. In 2008 it was estimated that long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution caused 29,000 deaths across the UK each year, but the latest review says the figure is now around 40,000. Air pollution has been linked to cancer, asthma, stroke and heart disease, diabetes, obesity, dementia and problems with brain development and cognition (thinking ability). Dr Tate advises that small changes can make a huge difference to people who live on a busy road. He said if families walk to school down that road, to try and alter the walking route to a side street or quieter path. “We can make small changes to improve the quality of air we breathe. Even a few metres away from the main road, pollution levels drop massively, a cleaner area is not
too far away. It does not have to necessarily be the countryside, just a few metres away from a busy road can be ten times less air pollution,” said Dr Tate. The programme leader for MSc transport, planning and environment studies, added: “Ironically, driving in a car in rush hour or slow congested traffic is much worse. You are sitting in a line behind another vehicle and breathing in the exhaust emissions. Driving at quieter times is better, driving in congested traffic is simply not good for you,” he added. Dr Tate welcomed the use of electric vehicles, particularly buses, saying he hoped that cities would be using them within the next decade. When asked if he could see people wearing face masks to protect them against harmful emissions Dr Tate said masks were necessary in places like Beijing, due to industrial pollutants but that it would not necessarily help prevent air pollution here in the UK, adding: “Face masks can only strip out particles in the air, not the noxious gases we breathe in.” Professor Jonathan Grigg, from the RCPCH, called on the government to monitor exposure to air pollution
more effectively. “We also ask the public to consider ways of reducing their own contribution to air pollution by taking simple measures such as using public transport, walking and cycling, and not choosing to drive high-polluting vehicles,” he said. The report on air pollution urges that real change will only occur when everyone accepts this responsibility, and makes a concerted effort. The Royal College of Physicians recommends six steps you can take to tackle the problem of air pollution: Be aware of the air quality where you live Replace old gas appliances in your home Ensure you have an energyefficient home Alter how you travel. Take the active travel option: bus, train, walking and cycling Talk to your MP Harness technology to stay informed and monitor air pollution effectively.
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Greenpeace calls for clean air action plan Environmental charity Greenpeace has a petition calling for a ‘clean air action plan’. The petition states: “Air pollution in the UK is responsible for cutting short 40,000 lives every year. It’s now a public health crisis, where children, the elderly and the most vulnerable people in our society are most affected by dangerous and toxic air. “There isn’t a technological barrier stopping us from breathing cleaner air, we have the science and the tech know-how
to put a stop to this crisis, what’s stopping us is lack of action from our politicians.” A spokesman for Greenpeace said: “We desperately need a clean air action plan to save thousands of lives every year. “We all need to get from A to B, to go to work, to take our children to school. But we shouldn’t have to breathe toxic air in order to do so.” More at www.greenpeace.org.uk
NEWS
Six of most polluted cities in word are in India A World Health Organisation report published in May, suggests that six of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are in India The report, which contains data from 795 cities in 67 countries between 2008 and 2013, shows Indian cities have some of the highest concentrations of particulate pollution, which can cause fatal damage to the heart and lungs.
England fans accused of making boy drink beer in exchange for money Two English football fans in France have been accused of getting a begging child to drink beer in exchange for money.
The majority of British fans however, have been well behaved but others have prompted scathing criticism.
Michael Stothard, a journalist for the Financial Times, claims he saw the young boy drinking the beer and posted a photograph of him on Twitter.
It was quite clear that they had put him up to drinking it in the first place. The same fan then gave the boy – who was stumbling around a bit – a newly lit cigarette. The boy took it but immediately threw it on the floor and stamped on it.
He said the boy finished the beer in five gulps and was rewarded with some change, before being offered a cigarette.
Supporters have also been accused of mocking begging children by making them chase after coins.
At the same time a video of English tourists throwing coins on the ground for begging children to chase has gone viral on social media. The latest controversial incident involving supporters during Euro 2016 happened in Lille ahead of the match between England and Wales in nearby Lens.
He said the two fans involved ‘gave him a handful of coins, perhaps a few euros’ for drinking the bottle.
Speaking to BuzzFeed News, Mr Stothard said he came across the scene outside a bar in Lille on Wednesday.
Footage shows them tossing change onto the floor and appearing to cheer as the children run after them, fighting each other to pick them up.
According to the WHO, air pollution is currently the greatest environmental risk to public health and causes about 3 million premature deaths globally every year. Six Indian cities – Gwalior, Allahabad, Patna, Raipur, Ludhiana, and Delhi – rank among the most polluted cities in the world.
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TRAVEL
Madrid
A city full of life and colour influential member of Madrid
The artistic and regal feel of the
society at that time, the hotel
hotel keeps you in spirit with the
consists of three buildings
rest of your tour within Madrid.
surrounded by a magnificent
Few cities boast an artistic
garden that makes it an oasis in
pedigree quite as pure as Madrid’s.
the heart of Madrid. Located in
For centuries, Spanish royals
the exclusive area of Chamberi,
showered praise and riches upon
surrounded by palaces of time, the
the finest artists of the day, from
Hotel is located next to the main
home-grown talents such as Goya
shopping area of the city, the
and Velázquez to Flemish and
financial area and major tourist
Italian greats. Masterpieces by
attractions. It has been demanded
these and other Spanish painters
as destination for business
such as Picasso, Dalí and Miró now
and leisure travelers for over 3
adorn the walls of the city’s world-
decades.The Santo Mauro hotel
class galleries. For you art lovers
has 49 unique rooms, customized
out the there are many great
to the smallest detail that will
galleries to visit, our top three
make the experience of staying
must visit places though are the
in a palace accompanied by a
Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte
personalized service tailored to
Reina Sofía and Museo Thyssen-
each client.The former ballrooms
Bornemisza
are now part of the lobby in which each room has its unique style as the Red Room Decorating Frenchified, the Chinese Room Here is a place where the passions
beautiful city and it’s no wonder
Roberts and Madonna having
of Europe’s most passionate
it was the destination city for this
stayed there.
country are the fabric of daily life,
year’s Bollywood Oscars.
a city with music in its soul and an unshakeable spring in its step. But Madrid is also one of the most open cities on earth and it doesn’t matter where you’re from for the oft-heard phrase to ring true: ‘If you’re in Madrid, you’re from Madrid’. Although Madrid may not have monumental buildings such as the Eiffel Tower or our very own Big Ben, it’s most certainly not short of historical architectural magnificence. Right from medieval mansions and royal palaces to the unimagined angles of Spanish contemporary architecture. Madrid is surely one
As with everything depending on what time of the year you go, there are many options for accommodation, that are fairly reasonable. But if you want to really live like a King and or Queen then Marriot’s boutique hotel AC Santo Mauro is a must stay. As you enter the hotel, the stunning and decorative elements and art objects greet you. If like me you love architecture and décor, then the classical style of this preserved building will definitely be pleasing to the eye and the soul. Not only that, the hotel boasts of stars such as David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Julia
Housed in the former residence of the Duke of Santo Mauro, an
with a collection of oriental pieces and Chivas art deco bar to enjoy a variety of gin and tonics or cocktails.
As well as art Madrid also delivers for the palette too. Madrid surely has evolved into one of the richest culinary capitals of Europe. The city has wholeheartedly embraced all the creativity and innovation of Spain’s gastronomic revolution. Whilst new dishes
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TRAVEL
and new eateries have adopted contemporary styles of serving some of the most delicious meals I have had, Madrid hasn’t lost it’s traditional Spanish cuisine either. As well as the traditional tapas Madrid boasts of an infinite and well showcased eating experience of a variety of food from every Spanish region. Eating in Madrid is a genuine pleasure. Bollywood stars will no doubt have bundles of fun during their IIFA tour, as the city locals are a jolly bunch and night life is most certainly alive. If you’re a night owl you will love stepping out at night as the locals sure are a happy crowd who will keep you up dancing the night away.
This year’s Bollywood Oscars (IIFA) dances it’s way to Madrid
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review
Udta Punjab This is what cinema should be! by Ayesha Babar Before I go on to the film itself, a small note: Udta Punjab has had more than its share of controversy. First, the censor board refused to pass it without substantial cuts and even a name change (they insisted on ‘Punjab’ being dropped from the title – the producers, thankfully, held their ground). Eventually the Mumbai High Court ruled in favour of the film’s release with only minor changes. Just as the makers breathed a sigh of relief, and resumed promotions in full swing, it emerged that the full movie had been leaked online. While it remains to be seen who was behind the leak, the pirated downloads will definitely affect the film’s business – both in India and abroad. I would urge readers to see the film in theatres – you will not be disappointed! Udta Punjab is not your typical Bollywood family entertainer. That, however, doesn’t mean that Abhishek Chaubey’s film isn’t a great piece of cinema. Abhishek takes the audience on an emotional journey, which offers
Alia Bhatt
scenes of stark realism. There is no sugar-coating and no fluff – just good, dark raw cinema. The story revolves around the separate yet entwined lived of a Punjabi rockstar, Tommy Singh (Shahid Kapoor), a migrant worker, Kumari (Alia Bhatt), a doctor, Preet (Kareena Kapoor) and a police officer played by Diljit Dosanjh. The four characters live seemingly separate, imperfect lives that are impacted in one way or another by drugs. Udta Punjab shows you another side of the state of Indian Punjab, a place that is best known for its rich food and strong sense of joie de vivre. The drug menace is eating away at the heart of the land which was once the agrarian centre of India, brimming with optimism. What makes the film such a success is that director, Abhishek Chaubey, doesn’t shy away from the hardhitting reality and sheds light and makes great effort to elaborate on the nexus between the different forces at play without preaching. While the director paces the
Shahid, Udta Punjab movie well overall, there are a few sequences in the second half that could be edited shorter. Even these do not take away from the bigger picture that makes Udta Punjab some of the most heart-felt cinema I have seen in a while. Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh makes his Hindi movie debut playing a Sikh cop. Kareena Kapoor is her usual A-list self as a doctor who looks after addicts and is working on a report to lend awareness to the cause. The two standout performances
Kareen & Diljit for me, however, belong to Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Shahid, has emerged as an acting powerhouse, glimpses of which we have seen in a slew of films that the actor has done. If you thought his phenomenal portrayal in Haider set a benchmark then Udta Punjab will leave you floored. There is not one flawed frame where Shahid’s acting is concerned. Alia Bhatt might not be the first name that comes to mind when one says ‘Bihari migrant worker’ but the actress takes the character and makes it her own. Alia might be one of the youngest in her generation of Bollywood
actresses but is fast cementing her place as the finest. Abhishek Chaubey once again extracts a performance to remember from Alia. Many scenes, Alia reminded me of a young Kareena in ‘Chameli’ with her earnestness and honesty playing the role of Kumari. By the end of the film, I was shaken and stirred. Somewhere in my mind, I am still thinking about the characters whose journey I felt I was a part of. And of the countless others who have become mired with the menace of drugs. For me, this is what cinema should be.
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MOTORING
RENAULT UNVEILS NEW CLIO, THE LATEST VERSION OF ITS POPULAR BEST-SELLER Twenty five years on from launch in the UK, Renault has unveiled the New Clio bringing a host of styling, equipment, powertrain and quality improvements to the fourth generation of its bestselling supermini. The New Clio will go on sale in the UK from October.
The fourth-generation Clio was the first Renault model to feature the brand’s new styling identity in 2012. Thanks to a full-LED lighting signature, including C-shaped daytime running lights in certain versions, the New Clio continues to refresh Renault’s design identity.
At the front, the grille which houses the Renault diamond has been redesigned, as has the lower part of the grille which is wider to add an even more modern feel to the front end. At the rear, the skirt has been redesigned for additional robustness. Four new body colours have been added (Mars Red, Titanium Grey, Arctic White and Iron Blue), with a selection of new wheel and wheel trim designs, plus a more extensive personalisation programme. The New Clio benefits from the use of finishing materials previously reserved for Renault’s higherend models.
All the upholsteries are new and special attention has been paid to the tactile and visual quality of the plastics’ grain-effect finish. The chrome trim features a more subdued, matt finish and the colours are more refined. In short, the new Clio forms a higher end package which strikes a desirable balance between seductive exterior styling and a high-quality interior finish.
multimedia systems, namely Media Nav Evolution, Renault R-Link Evolution and the new, smart R&GO system which is available on entry trim levels. The New Clio is the first B-segment Renault to be available with BOSE quality sound for a memorable audio experience, while a suite of driving aids makes the new car even more versatile and nimble.
The powerful, fuel-efficient 1.5 dCi 110 diesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox is a new addition to the New Clio’s powertrain line-up, as is the availability of six-speed manual transmission for the TCe 120 petrol engine.
In addition to its reverse parking sensor, and depending on the version, the New Clio offers a front parking sensor and a reverse parking camera.
As a result, New Clio boasts one of the market’s most extensive powertrain ranges thanks to a choice of eleven engine/ transmission combinations (depending on market). To provide customers with a range of options, the New Clio comes with three different connected
Available for higher-end versions, Handsfree Parking allows the driver to fully delegate the completion of parking manoeuvres. Full details on the UK line-up with pricing and specification will be available later in the summer. Vehicle ordering is due open in October with deliveries commencing later that month.
ALL-NEW MAZDA MX-5 ICON SPECIAL EDITION TO DEBUT AT THE 2016 GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED The all-new Mazda MX-5 Icon special edition will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Joining Mazda’s awardwinning sports car line up from the 1st August, the Icon is based on the 131ps SE-L Nav and is the first special edition fourth-generation MX-5 with the 1.5-litre SKYACTIV-G engine. With a choice of free-of-charge Meteor Grey Mica or Crystal White Pearlescent paint, the £20,995 on-the-road Icon is marked out by its contrasting design cues and enhanced standard equipment. Visually the Icon makes a bold
statement with its Soul Red Metallic wing mirrors, rear spoiler, side stripe decals (not pictured) and front skirt. The unique look is further boosted by 16-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels, while the increased equipment tally also includes black leather seats, rear parking sensors, dusk-sensing lights and rain-sensing wipers. On display at Goodwood within Mazda’s unique ‘Raise the Roof’ live music area, the Icon joins a host of other MX-5 highlights at this year’s Festival of Speed. These include the European debut of the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF, plus the first appearance outside of North
America for the MX-5 Speedster and Spyder concept cars. While marking the amazing popularity of the world’s best-selling twoseater sports car, the one-millionth production MX-5 will also be on display. The fourth car to wear the Icon badge - previous MX-5 Icon special editions were sold in the UK in 2000, 2005 and 2007 (see below) – the latest Icon is a striking sports car with an achievable price, and limited to just 600 cars it’s available to order now.
Mazda MX-5 Icon Special Editions 2000 MX-5 Icon Number built: 750 Engine: 1.8iS Colour: Art Vin Red Mica
2005 MX-5 Icon Number built: 1,563 Engine: 1.6i and 1.8i Colours: Chilli Orange, Black Mica, Sunlight Silver and Titanium Grey
2007 MX-5 Icon Number built: 1,250 Engines: 1.8i and 2.0i Colours: Copper Red, Stormy Blue and Marbie White
Pre-order is also open on the allnew Mazda MX-5 RF ahead of its arrival in dealerships next year, and with limited supply in the opening months, fans of the latest incarnation of MX-5 should register their interest now to be one of the lucky few to take delivery of early versions of the Retractable Fastback,
a car that represents the next chapter in the MX-5 success story. With the Moving Motor Show on the 23 June, the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from the 24 to the 26 June.
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MOTORING MASERATI’S FIRST EVER SUV TO MAKE UK DYNAMIC DEBUT AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED Maserati has chosen this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and Moving Motor Show weekend to showcase the dynamic debut of its first ever SUV, the Levante. The Levante, launched last month at a star-studded event in London, is Maserati’s first luxury SUV and encompasses the design, performance and exclusivity that has been central to all the brand’s models since its inception in 1914. The Moving Motor Show, part of Goodwood’s Press & Preview day, has opened the legendary Festival of Speed since 2010 and is a unique opportunity for visitors to get a
sneak preview of all Festival content, as well as a chance to get behind the wheel of some of the newest metal to arrive in the UK. The Levante will be on display in the Moving Motor Show pavilion, and will make its first dynamic runs up Goodwood’s famous 1.16mile hillclimb in the ‘First Glance’ Class during the Festival of Speed on Friday-Sunday. Meanwhile, Maserati’s flagship Quattroporte will also be on display at the Moving Motor Show while the popular Ghibli will be available to experience first-hand in passenger rides on Thursday.
FUNCTIONALITY AT ITS MOST ATTRACTIVE: THE NEW ŠKODA KODIAQ The ŠKODA Kodiaq, which will celebrate its world premiere in September, makes a strong statement with an impressive combination of powerful design and generous space. The exterior is clear-cut, the lines are distinctly three-dimensional – giving the new ŠKODA SUV an unmistakeable presence on the road. The interior is also characterised by clear lines and impresses with generous space alongside its elegant appearance.
Jozef Kabaň, ŠKODA’s Head of Design, and his team have opted for a striking design language for the ŠKODA Kodiaq, which transfers the brand’s new design style into the SUV segment. Rationality and aesthetics work together unmistakeably here. As the design sketch already shows, all lines are clear, precise and sharp; the highly recessed shoulder line highlights the large ŠKODA SUV’s robust character. Flat, raked headlights are positioned on both sides of the wide ŠKODA grille. Their crystalline structure pays homage to Czech crystal glass
art, which is steeped in tradition. The extensively sculptured rear section also accentuates the ŠKODA Kodiaq’s sporty, robust SUV character. The LED rear lights are designed in the brand’s typical C-shape, continuing the ŠKODA SUV design lines in great detail. The side view is equally as strong. The long wheelbase and short overhangs point to the spacious interior. The SUV is available with two extra seats in the third row as an optional extra. With its clear design, the interior continues the striking design of the exterior. Even here, form and functionality stand together in unison: the interior comes across as protective and robust, but also impresses with an elegant character. The atmosphere is timeless and functional. All the features exude clarity and tranquillity. Strong vertical elements, like the four large air vents, are characteristic of the interior. The large display splits the instrument panel into two equal sections for the driver and passenger. The front of the instrument panel is threedimensional and divided into two areas. The door trims carry on this design approach. Finely cut, crystalline features add a special touch.
Goodwood’s Moving Motor Show is now the event of choice for manufacturers to unveil their newest cars to the UK market. The event, held on the Thursday of the Festival of Speed weekend, is expected to attract some 35,000 visitors this year, with more than 200,000 expected over the weekend as a whole. The Levante, which completes a model line-up that allows Maserati to cover every element of the global luxury market, will be one of many brand new cars that will make their debut at this year’s Goodwood event, making it a must-see for enthusiasts and prospective buyers alike.
The main Festival of Speed weekend is a must in every petrolhead’s diary, gathering together the world’s most exciting cars – from supercars for the road to Formula 1 – as well as a
vast array of off-track entertainment, all housed in the grounds of Lord March’s Goodwood Estate.
JEEP ANNOUNCES NEW TOPOF-THE-RANGE CHEROKEE OVERLAND VERSION Plans to expand the popular Jeep Cherokee range of 4x4 vehicles are announced today with details of a luxury new ‘Overland’ version. The new top-of-the-range model, which made its International debut at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, is a 16MY model, and provides sophisticated style, elegant interiors, premium equipment with, of course, the Jeep brand’s legendary off-road prowess.
The car comes in a range of colours: Deep Cherry Red, Bright White, Brilliant Black and Billet Silver. Refined looks are complemented by a long list of premium enhancements, including powered Nappa leather ventilated and heated driver and front passenger seats with four-way lumbar adjustment, memory driver’s seat and mirrors, a new steering wheel with wood
Entertainment comes courtesy of a powerful Alpine Premium sound system, while there’s also a Uconnect radio with 8.4-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth and GPS navigation. The equipment level on the Cherokee Overland continues with, as standard, a stylish panoramic sunroof, power tailgate and ParkSense front and rear reverse
Packed with a host of standard equipment, the new Jeep Cherokee Overland comes equipped with a 2.2-litre MultiJet II 200 horsepower turbo diesel engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission in either Active Drive I or Active Drive II 4WD. The potent engine gives the car a 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 127mph. The Euro 6 unit has a 149g/km CO2 figure, due to an improved final drive ratio when compared with the MY15 Cherokee, and a fuel economy of 50.4 mpg. The stylish new addition features a polished bright front grille, new body-coloured door cladding, front and rear bumpers and wheel arches, new 18-inch polished bright aluminium wheels, standard HID bi-xenon headlamps, and is finished with an Overland badge on the tailgate.
insert, anodized silver bezels and vent surrounds, and Berber floor mats. The interior is available in Morocco Black Nappa Leather, or in a brand new Pearl coloured Nappa Leather finish. Both interiors have no additional cost and both carry the signature Overland logo in premium stitching on the front seats.
assist system. Pricing for the new Jeep Cherokee Overland is as follows: 2.2 MultiJet II 200hp Overland Active Drive I 4WD 9 speed automatic £38,745 2.2 MultiJet II 200hp Overland Active Drive II 4WD 9 speed automatic £39,950
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
PUZZLES & CROSSWORD
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JOBS
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MATRIMONIALs
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
SPORTS
Can You Lend Andy A Hand Please, Ivan? by AYYAZ MALIK
Former grand slam winner and tennis legend Ivan Lendl will be rejoining British tennis player Andy Murray’s coaching team. The Czech-born American coach in his first stint with the 29-year old Scot helped him win the US open, Wimbledon and famously Olympic gold in the London 2012 Olympics. After this successful period where Murray looked to have removed the ‘choker’ tag, shortly after in 2014 Ivan Lendl opted to split with Andy Murray. The reason at the time for the split was believed to be that the eight time grand slam winner wanted to go back on the pro tour as player. Reacting to the news that he will be working with Ivan Lendl again, Murray said of the coach: “Ivan is a leader [...] He’s very, very experienced”. The Scot also mentioned that he
was looking for Ivan to help him end his record of being beaten eight times in grand slam finals. The Czech-born coach lost 11 grand slam finals when he was a player, compared to his eight wins.
One thing that is fair to say is that with Lendl by his side, Andy Murray was able to get through the mental block and win grand slam finals. Let’s hope that the Ivan Lendl and Andy Murray partnership can win Wimbledon again at the end of this month. With the news that old nemesis Rafael Nadal will be not playing in this year’s tournament, British fans are likely to be hoping that this will make the road to victory a little easier. One can’t, however, forget about Novak Djokovic, who is after all the defending champion. Roger Federer also deserves a mention, as a seven times champion of the tournament; although arguably the Swiss player
is approaching the ‘twilight’ of his career, the 34-year old’s championship and winning pedigree can’t be underestimated.
Other players such as Stan Wawrinka and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga are dangerous due to the fact both can ‘go under the radar’. British fans will be hoping the news that Ivan Lendl has joined Andy Murray’s coaching team will give them the edge going into one of the biggest events on the tennis calendar. Wimbledon will begin on 27th June and conclude on 10th July.
Hamilton storms ahead in Canadian Grand Prix triumph by AYYAZ MALIK
This win in Canada means that Hamilton has won two successive races, after initially not winning any. It could have all been so different for the Mercedes driver, as it was in fact Ferrari driver Vettel who got out of the blocks quicker. The young German was initially third on the grid but managed to jump into the lead. Sadly for Sebastien Vettel tactics such as doing a two-stop strategy to
Hamilton’s one cost him dearly, as well as pitting during a caution period which caused further delays. As much as those factors might have had an effect on the race, the sign of a true champion is to ensure you are professional enough to still get the desired result regardless of the circumstances - and Lewis Hamilton did just that. This win for Lewis has breathed some life into what was looking like a faltering title defence. The lead between Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton now stands at just nine points. With the next race to be held in Azerbaijan, there are still plenty of twists and turns to go in this year’s Formula One World Championships. The sports desk at Asian Sunday will continue bring you all the high-speed action.
Things aren’t looking too rosy for Rosberg anymore, as Lewis Hamilton continues to close the gap in the race for world title
Image credit: PH-Stop
Two-time world champion Lewis Hamilton revived his world title charge this week, with a thrilling win in the Canadian Grand Prix. The 31-year old Englishman, who has had a nightmare defence to his F1 campaign this term after suffering several engine failures, came out ahead in a thrilling battle with Ferrari’s Sebastien Vettel.
ASIAN SUNDAY 39
Issue 25
SPORTS
Image credit: Steve Taylor
England one foot in the knock out stages?
by PRAVEEN R. PARAMASIVANthe Three Lions already have Having vanquished Wales in the dying minutes of their second European Championship fixture, England already have one foot in the knockout stages, and in the best case scenario, they could finish atop the group. The win against Chris Coleman’s side takes the pressure off England’s shoulders as qualification was under threat after the opener against Russia ended in a stalemate. What are the possibilities? Coach Roy Hodgson will hope to defeat third-placed Slovakia to smash any minor chance of a second consecutive early exit from major tournaments, with World Cup 2014 being the first. However, it is close to unlikely as
three points more than what they had managed in the group stages in Brazil. In addition, the coach also has a full-strength squad at his disposal, and none will be surprised if Hodgson’s men proceed to head into the roundof-16 at the back of registering two wins and a draw in the group stages. England can still finish third if Slovakia pulls off an upset tomorrow whilst Wales makes Euro ’16 a winless campaign for the Russian. In the unlikely event of finishing third, England will face the winners of either Group C or D and will likely face either Germany or Spain. However, as the leaders of Group D are pencilled in to face the thirdplaced team — should be an easier fixture when compared tofacing runners-up of Group F —
from Group A, C or D, topping the group should be at the top of the agenda. Who drops to the bench? By the looks of things, England will likely have a good view from the top of the group at the end of matchday 3 considering that Hodgson’s men have discovered their best structure before it is too late. England were lambasted for playing prosaic football against Russia although the desire and passion of the personnel was undisputed. Hodgson’s preferred eleven, as predicted, floundered in the first half against a Gareth Bale-inspired Wales, going into the break with a one-goal deficit. Raheem Sterling produced yet another abysmal performance at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, and Harry Kane again seemed isolated with limited supply from the
midfield. A not-so-Hodgsonesque double substitution brought them back to life, and fittingly, the substitutes in Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge equalized and scored the decider, respectively. Accordingly, England now have an array of top-notch players to pick from, without any dip in quality. The England manager has hardly been a fan of making wholesale changes to the lineup, the question remains as to whether he would drop Kane in favour of starting the 2015/16 Barclays Player of the Season. Since Kane is a more all-around performer than the one-dimensional Vardy, Hodgson may retain the Tottenham Hotspur man. However, having carried Tottenham Hotspur’s scoring responsibility for the entirety of the last season, fatigue has set in, and he has been producing uninspiring performances since the commencement of the tournament. Should Hodgson replace Sterling with Sturridge, who would share the goalscoring responsibility with Kane, the England number nine may instantly up his performance. Whilst dropping Sterling is the need of the hour, benching Kane has its negatives as well as positives; however, having all but progressed to the next stages, Hodgson should rest Kane to help him regain full fitness. Will the English lads collapse under pressure? Even if Hodgson chooses to displace Kane from the starting line-up, England will still have
four Tottenham players in the starting line-up, and as Spurs’ crumbling towards the tail end of the season suggests, the youngsters could not handle the pressure. However, with veterans Wayne Rooney and Gary Cahill marshaling the midfield and defence, the England national team can be expected to have the composure that is essential, especially during this stage of the tournament when it might seem they are already in the knockout stages but still collapse gloriously. Who is the player to watch? Record England goalscorer Rooney has been under less scrutiny than what one would have expected when the provisional squad was announced, but the Manchester United man has been playing the role of a skipper to perfection. He adds the much-needed experience to the squad that otherwise comprises many volatile youngsters like Dele Alli. Playing from the deep, he forms the base for the England attack, with Alli enjoying the liberty to roam and create chances for his side. His contributions are not recognized as much as Kyle Walker’s sprint down the right flank and Sturridge’s trickery are, but not many would dispute the fact that England may not be at ease, especially during the transitional phase without the 30-year-old midfielder-cum-striker. What do we predict? At Geoffroy-Guichard, England will likely produce a result the nation can be proud of, but the England back four should be wary of the threat Marek Hamsik may impose.
by AYYAZ MALIK The cricket community is in mourning this week after the news that young fast bowler Hamza Ali passed away in a swimming accident. Ali’s club Hampshire and MCC confirmed the tragic news. 20-year old Ali played a first-class game for his County at the start of this season. Hamza since then went on to play several games for MCC Young
Cricketers. The Bristol-born seamer also had a stint in Grade-A cricket with the Rawalpindi Rams in Pakistan. The cricket world has been robbed of an innocent life due to a very unfortunate accident in the River Avon. Ali was airlifted from the popular swimming spot which has sadly become notorious; the River Avon
was sadly the spot where teen Aaron Burgess also died in 2012. 20-year old Ali, just like Burgess, couldn’t be saved and passed away shortly afterwards. “We would like to extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to Hamza’s family at this very sad time,” MCC head coach Steve Kirby said of the tragic incident.
Image credit: Hampshire CCC
Young Bowler Passes Away In Tragic Accident
Bristol-born Hamza Ali, 20, played for MCC Young Cricketers
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Issue 25
ASIAN SUNDAY
SPORTS
Saved By The Rain
Sri Lanka managed to get to 45-1 before the captains shook hands on the draw in their recent match against England
by AYYAZ MALIK England’s cricketers weren’t able to clinch a whitewash series win last week, as a mixture of bad weather and Sri Lanka holding firm helped the tourists claim an encouraging draw in the third and final test match between the two sides. In a series that has been largely one sided as England have dominated, this test match was a bit more evenly poised in some stages. In a match that was effectively a dead rubber, the home side won the toss and decided to bat first. Such a decision seemed like a bad choice for England as not for the first time in this series, the hosts lost several wickets before the score reached 100. Just like it has been in other innings, Jonny Bairstow and on this occasion captain Alistair Cook rescued England to a degree. The wicket-keeper and skipper combined to put on 80 for the fifth wicket, but they were not quite out of the woods just yet. When Cook was given out LBW off
the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep for 85, England were still in trouble at 164-5. In came Moeen Ali – combined, Ali and Bairstow put on 63 for the sixth wicket. After the loss of Moeen Ali, England were looking in a slightly better position at 227-6, but still not great. It was left to a partnership between Chris Woakes and Jonny Bairstow, who put on 154 for the seventh wicket. Woakes during this partnership scored his maiden test fifty. After this partnership was broken the score read 371-7, which was a much better-looking scorecard considering this was seen as a batting pitch by home captain Alistair Cook. England would go on to finish their innings on 416 all out, which was a much better first innings lead to defend. All too often in this series, sadly Sri Lanka’s batsmen have lacked fight, but in the case of the opening partnership, this wasn’t the case. Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal
Silva impressively managed to put on 108 for the first wicket.
a horrific start in their second innings.
When Karunaratne was dismissed off the bowling of Steven Finn, sadly as it has happened all too often this series another Sri Lankan batting collapse occurred. After being in a position of control after scoring 100 without the loss of any wickets, Sri Lanka collapsed miserably to 288 all out.
After a solid if not spectacular start, England lost three wickets close to each other and after being 44-0, they slipped up to 50-3. Yet again it looked like this was as mission left for wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow to tidy up.
Despite scores of 42 by Causal Perrera and 31 from Rangana Herath, it was the failings of the Sri Lankan middle order that cost them badly. The rain which had forced the players to come off on a couple of occasions during the match had an effect on the way the pitch was playing, but even still, such a collapse is disappointing. England against all odds had managed to regain control of this match and started their second innings in the ascendancy with a significant 128 run lead. Yet again though however, the hosts had
On several other occasions, Bairstow has managed to rescue England, however on this occasion he wasn’t entirely able to. England’s wicketkeeper was bowled and Steven Finn departed straight after, and what was keeping England from a complete meltdown was in fact opener Alex Hales. Hales was batting beautifully, and looked to be edging closer to that maiden hundred. He and his captain Cook put on 82 for the sixth wicket. Sadly for Alex Hales however, he would be next out, six short of what would have been a welldeserved hundred. At this stage though the home side managed to amass a 300 run lead.
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England set the tourists Sri Lanka a very daunting total of 352 to win, but considering that a significant amount of the match had been lost due to rain. Even the run chase itself was disrupted by rain. Sri Lanka managed to get to 45-1 before the captains shook hands on the draw. Next for these two are five one-day internationals. The tourists will be hoping for better look in that format. In one day internationals England are a different kettle of fish, they are of course under different leadership. Eoin Morgan takes the captaincy away from Alistair Cook, and Sri Lanka will have a different test to the one of the test series. Hopefully this will be a change of scenery for the Sri Lankans, and help them to be more competitive. The one-day series between the two sides will be held on 21st June, where the first game will be played at Trent Bridge.