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HAS BRITAIN GOT A RACISM PROBLEM? Salman Khan t makes him tick!

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Bollywood-inspired fashion brand Diva’ni headed to Pakistan Diva’ni, India’s first cinemainspired fashion brand, will soon open its doors in Pakistan. The brand will launch its first international couture flagship store in Lahore next month.

Diva’ni was introduced to India in 2013 by Yash Raj Films and KBSH Private Limited, one of the largest heritage fashion houses based out of New Delhi.

Now, the fashion house is taking Bollywood fashion across the border. The

launch date is yet to be revealed.

The launch in Pakistan is being seen as a manifest of Pakistan and India’s common heritage across culture, cuisine, values, music, films, fashion, and sport, a statement said.

“We are exceptionally excited to be launching in Pakistan as our region shares an appreciation for traditional art and craft, which is the heritage

Taiwan’s navy mistakenly launched a supersonic anti-ship missile from a naval base, killing one person and injuring three, officials say.

A patrol boat was undergoing a drill inspection in Kaohsiung when the Hsiung Feng III missile was set off, Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported.

The incident comes as China celebrates the 95th anniversary of the formation of the Chinese Communist Party.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.

It was fired in the direction of mainland China, and hit a fishing boat off It has hundreds the Penghu islands, it of missile pointed added. towards the island at The boat’s captain, all times. who is Taiwanese, Taiwanese President has been killed, Tsai Ing-wen, who defence officials say. is also head of the The missile has military, is currently a range of about overseas.

300km (200 miles).

that Diva’ni embraces,” said Sanya Dhir, Creative Director at the fashion house.

In a joint statement, Dhir and Shakil Zindani - CEO at Flitz Fashion (the partner brand in Pakistan) -- said “there is more than one reason why Diva’ni will be very much at home in Pakistan”.

that Pakistan is where the luxury, design, and the genes of Diva’ni would fit in ever so effortlessly. The applause, we are sure, we will be 192 million strong as well.”

They said: “We sincerely hope that the audiences recognise that truth

‘First Indian couple to climb Everest’ being investigated over fake photos they presented to prove their climb.

Earlier this month an Indian – and given the extreme couple claimed they were the weather conditions it’s fairly first to scale Mount Everest. unlikely for climbers to have Dinesh and Tarkeshwari an outfit change half way to Rathod claim they climbed the peak.

Everest on 23 May during a Satyarup Siddhanta, from press conference on 5 June.

Bangalore in India, alleges But their story has since the couple stole his images. been challenged.

‘They took my pics and Some have alleged that the Photoshopped their image Rathods, both police officers of the summit. And got from Pune might not have certificates too. made it to the top.

‘Where is mountaineering An investigation by going?

BuzzFeed India alleges one of ‘For your reference, I am the photographs that Dinesh uploading the pics that they uploaded to his Facebook stole and the report. Have a is actually just a cropped look. version of an image from a ‘Shame on you officers from mountaineering website.

Pune.’

And since the article was The Rathods have since published, another climber deleted images from their has come forward to accuse climb and the couple have the couple of stealing not responded to requests pictures from his Everest for comment. climb.

Other images provided to media by the couple, they are wearing red climbing gear (as above).

But other images show them wearing completely different outfits

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ASIAN SUNDAY

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NEWS SYRIAN REFUGEE HANDS IN €50,000 HE FOUND IN WARDROBE IN GERMANY A refugee from Syria handed in a stash of money he found in a secondhand wardrobe, saying his ‘religion forbid’ him from keeping it.

Muhannad M. found €50,000 shortly after he moved into his new flat in Minden in North RhineWestphalia, Germany, police said.

He had furnished the flat with money donated through charities, and in a secondhand wardrobe found the money.

‘They were all new €500 notes.

I thought it was fake money,’ he told Bild.

‘I am a Muslim. I’m not allowed to keep this money. My religion forbids it.’

Muhannad told the migration

authorities, who then told the police.

‘This young man has acted in an exemplary way and deserves great respect,’ said a police spokesperson.

Muhannad arrived in Germany in October 2015.

The rest of his family are still in Syria.

APPLE COULD SOON STOP PEOPLE TAKING VIDEOS ON IPHONES AT GIGS Apple has now found a way to prevent disruptive people from taking pictures or filming at the cinema and live venues.

A patent for this new invention has been granted by the tech giant in a bid to crack down on piracy and leaking information at private functions, reports Trusted Reviews.

Don’t worry, the signal won’t prevent you from making phone calls or sending texts, and a push notification will be sent to your phone to inform you that the camera feature has been temporarily disabled.

But these clever infrared signals

won’t be limited to blocking your attempts at recording, it could also be used for a whole host of things.

For instance, if you’re at a museum, the signal could tell you information about an artifact you’re looking at.

This is still only a patent, however, so the technology may not be rolled out for a while, if ever.

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

NEWS

Young people encouraged to adopt a grandparent by Hindu Katha festival organisers Organisers of the Hindu Katha festival are encouraging young people to get involved by adopting a grandparent.

The aim of the Katha is to “spread the message of love, peace and harmony in a time of uncertainty” through the teachings of the Holi Hindu scriptures.

The eight-day Katha festival which begins on July 26 will be welcoming his Holiness Shri Rameshbhai Oza, known as Bhaishri, a living saint and scholar, after fourteen years.

He will read from the Shrimad Bhagvatam – a religious Hindu text – as part of the festival being held at Rushey Mead Recreation Grounds, in Melton Road, Leicester

The saint returns to Leicester after a gap of 14 years and is expected to draw in crowds of up to 12,000 people.

One of the organisers Priti Raichura, told Asian Sunday, “we are very excited about him (his Holiness) coming as he has missed a whole generation and this now presents a great opportunity for us to bridge the gap between young and elderly people.”

“I have been inspired by him from a very young age and so I know what it feels like to be in his presence.” She continued.

Along with his Holiness, the Katha will include many other speakers and musical performances and is open to people of all faiths and no faith.

“Many young people today are in care and abandoned so we thought why not ask them to adopt a grandparent, as there are many elderly people who are also in care and often feel lonely with no one to bring them out to such events.

“Young people often say they feel bored at these events, because they don’t know the language, well now they have an opportunity to engage by adopting a grandparent and bringing them to the festival and looking after them, which

we hope will also continue long after the event” “The response from media and supporters from all over the country has been brilliant so far” She said.

“The whole world is one family.

We may have different faiths our practices may be different but we are all one” concluded Priti If you are interested in attending the Katha festival, it will take place from July 26 until August 2 on Melton Road, in Leicester.

For more details, see www.krishnaspeaks.co.uk

British Gas to offer free electricity at weekends British Gas is to offer free electricity for eight hours at weekends to two million customers who have smart meters installed.

Customers will be able to choose to use the free power either on Saturday or Sunday, between 9am and 5pm.

British Gas said consumers should see savings of about £60 a year.

The move comes after British Gas announced in April that it had lost 224,000 customers in the first three months of 2016.

However, most of British Gas’s

11 million customers will not be eligible immediately, as only 2.4 million of these currently have smart meters.

Other suppliers are expected to follow suit which may lead to more people getting smart readers installed.

For the first time, smart meters enable energy firms to work out the time of day when people are using power.

Large energy suppliers have now installed 2.75 million residential smart meters across the UK, less than 6 per cent of all meters, according to the latest government figures.

British Gas said the new FreeTime tariff will be the cheapest dual fuel deal on offer from the company.

But experts have said it will not necessarily be the cheapest deal on the market, and advised people to shop around with other suppliers.

In total, 53 million smart meters are due to be installed by 2020.

British Gas said it would install a smart meter for anyone who wanted to go on the new tariff, as long as they were eligible.

WISHES EVERYONE EID MUBARAK

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

COVER STORY

Has Britain got a racism problem?

by Fatima Patel Britain has always reveled in the fact that it is one of the world’s most tolerant, open, multicultural and welcoming country, but it is clear especially since the referendum results that Britain is not the tolerant country it claims to be.

I am a very proud born and bred British citizen and refer to Britain, more specifically Bradford, my home. I grew up in the 80’s and like most people of my background from my generation faced some sort of racism growing up.

However, as we passed the millennium year, experiencing racial abuse became almost nonexistent.

That wasn’t because it didn’t exist, for me it was more because as an adult I surrounded myself with people who were accepting of me, my roots and more importantly my skin colour.

So when recent figures showed that hate crimes reported to the police has shot up by 57 per cent, when videos are going viral on social media of racist abuse on public transport and when there have been

frightful tales of migrants (or anyone that didn’t fit the description of White British) being told to ‘go home’ I am not surprised.

Although my experiences of racism had stopped, I hadn’t stopped reading about it in the media, in reports and from friends and family.

In fact, I still very clearly remember just less than ten years from now the highly publicised race row between Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty and reality TV star Jade Goody on Big Brother.

Jade Goody had been questioned on the show by

Big Brother about calling the Bollywood star “Shilpa Poppadom”. She denied it was a racist comment and later apologised for any offence. Even before this outburst, remarks such as “you don’t know where those hands have been” and Shetty being told in foul language to “go

home” were enough for some people to make up their minds that this was a row fuelled by Shetty’s ethnicity.

This lead to a huge debate about whether it was Jade Goody’s ignorance or whether she was in fact racist. In my view Jade and

Issue 26

her mates weren’t the only ones in the wrong it was those who didn’t correct her or stand up for Shilpa.

It was clear that following the backlash from the show, Goody made efforts to correct herself and apologise and was open to learn about Indian culture by agreeing to go on the Indian version of Big Brother. Did education work here?

Nevertheless, while Goody was encouraged by her housemates Jack Tweedy, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O’Meara in the Big Brother house in 2007 to pursue her 'racist' comments on Shetty, fast forward to present day and we are faced with the same scenario. Only this time it’s some of our politicians encouraging the same hate and racism.

For months leading up to the referendum result politicians such as Nigel Farage pushed their propaganda on immigration and scaremongering with views that by allowing Syrian refugees into the UK would put British women at

risk of sexual assault. This I

ASIAN SUNDAY

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COVER STORY

believe has encouraged those with existing racist and xenophobic views to be more open about their views, which perhaps explains the rise in hate crime post Brexit.

It is very important to highlight here though that not all those who voted Brexit are racist.

Remember some of those voting to Leave were from the BAME community.

Yes, arguably some did vote Leave because of too much migration into the UK – (and that is for another debate) but many who I know personally voted because they wanted to see a different Britain. It was about the NHS, school places and jobs for them. I doubt though that they were expecting the Britain we are seeing now, where a small number are having a field day pushing out their vitriol.

The racism, xenophobia and bigotry is not as worrying as the silence to challenge these views is. We need more people challenging these views.

A campaign has been set up encouraging members

of the public to wear a safety pin on their clothes as a symbol of solidarity with migrants and people of colour. However, much more needs to be done to tackle this hatred.

On the whole, the Britain that I know and the people I am surrounded by are tolerant, open-minded and are supportive of multiculturalism; certainly the majority of us do not experience racial discrimination. But is near enough good enough?

Human rights do not belong only to the majority and we cannot be satisfied just because the majority is protected. Human rights belong to each and

every one of us, and the government must ensure those rights for each and every one of us.

They say the first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well, let’s say it like it is. Racism exists in

Britain. We hear it, some of us practise it and many of us tacitly condone it.

The time has come, in our individual and collective actions and attitudes, including those of our leaders, to acknowledge and denounce it, so that we can move forward.

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

NEWS

Sultan Wrestling Tournament comes exclusively to Bradford

Games in Delhi, the 2011 FILA Wrestling World Championships in Istanbul and the 2012 London Olympics Sultan’s tale is all set to unfold in cinemas on Wednesday 6 July 2016.

Join the conversation on:

#BeingSultan UK audiences are in for a treat as they are invited to witness a wrestling showdown NOT to be missed.

Yash Raj Films in association with LDN Wrestling – one of Europe’s biggest touring wrestling companies – presents the Sultan Wrestling Tournament.

To celebrate this year’s Eid blockbuster release starring

Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma, the Sultan Wrestling Tournament will take place at Cineworld Bradford, The Leisure Exchange, Vicar Lane, Bradford BD1 5LD on Saturday 9 July from 12pm till 4pm. The fun-packed event is free to attend for all the family and promises lots of surprises on the day.

Audiences will be in for a fun day out as they watch Europe’s

pro wrestling champions go head to head to win the coveted Sultan trophy.

Sultan is produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yashraj films banner and centres around Sultan Ali Khan (Salman Khan), a wrestler who has problems in his professional and personal life. From a small town wrestler in Haryana, Sultan achieves global fame winning bouts at the 2010 Commonwealth

/SultanTheMovie /yrf @SultanTheMovie @yrf /+yrf @yrf

www.yashrajfilms.com

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

EID: FEATURE

by AYESHA BABAR The smell of henna infuses the air as the clinking of glass bangles rings all around. The moon has been sighted, and it’s one sight Muslims all over the world wait for with baited breaths. Women and girls run to desi areas for their Eid fix, and the men lay out their finest clothes for the festivities of the

next day.

After thirty long days of fasting from the break of dawn till dusk, come three days of festivities for Muslims the world over. The festival, called Eid-ul-Fitr (or the ‘Festival of the Breaking of the Fast’), is characterised by different traditions and customs in different parts of the worlds where it is celebrated but there is one

a time of joy for all!!

thread that runs through all these customs – that of thanksgiving to God for a month of blessings and a feeling of togetherness, all while mastering the art of self-control and selflessness.

Eid has long been celebrated in Britain, as there are Muslims from all over the world who have made Britain their home. However, Eid in the United Kingdom does not only

unite the Muslim community but it brings together people from all faiths and backgrounds together as friends and families of the Muslim members of the community join in with the festivities. Just like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Hannukah, among many others, Eid has also become a universal festival; one for everyone to celebrate with joy and love.

The celebrations actually start with the sighting of the moon the evening before, which is very aptly known as Chaand Raat (the Night of the Moon) in South Asia. For those who are not familiar with the Muslim calendar, the beginning of the next month is decided on the twenty-ninth day of the lunar month. If the new moon is sighted, the next month is declared to have begun. Similarly, on the twentyninth of Ramadan, people look out for the new moon. Once the moon is sighted, Eid is declared to be the following morning.

The morning after the Chaand Raat, is one where everyone rises early by choice, making their way to the community mosques to offer their Eid prayers. Families get together over breakfast, lunch, and dinner where the ladies of the house have prepared traditional foods. And believe me when I say this, if you’re

not really a food person, you will become one after seeing the laid out tables at Eid, with enough food to last the rest of the week.

World over, there are certain delicacies that are symbolic of Eid. Dishes like Dolma in Bosnia, Ketaput and Brongkos in Indonesia, and of course Biryani in the subcontinent, scream Eid out loud. And if it is as sweet an occasion as Eid-ul-Fitr, who can leave desserts out? Vermicelli kheer, sheer khorma, shahi tukrey¸ are synonymous with the festival and are loved by every generation in the house. Anyone celebrating Eid at home will be familiar with these treats, and if don’t usually celebrate Eid, I would strongly suggest knocking on the neighbour’s door who is celebrating and sharing the joy of the occasion and the yummy goodies – trust me, you will not be disappointed! However, chances are, some will arrive at your doorstep without you asking, because togetherness and sharing is the true essence of Eid. With clothes, henna, food, and music out of the way, comes the time every young member of the house looks forward to the most: the Eidi. Eidi is predominantly given in the form of cash, however much it is, as a token of love and

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ASIAN SUNDAY

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FEATURE appreciation for the children.

Naturally, children who have kept fasts get a little bonus Eidi, too.

There was a time where British Muslims, with their extended families elsewhere, used to feel severely homesick at the time of Eid, but now they are able to feel right at home, with the tightly-knit, growing community. Areas in East London, Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester, and Leicester among others are known for numbers of Muslims coexisting with other faiths and nationalities.

All in all, Eid is a festival of love, of giving, of sharing what you have with others, and of spreading joy, so make sure you don’t miss out on any of these. Regardless of where you are from, regardless of religion, or nationality, if you know a Muslim, you will surely get three giant hugs, when you bump into them on Eid. So grab your family and friends, eat your hearts out, and don’t forget to share!

Eid Mubarak!

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

NEWS

Saudi Government Introduces E-bracelets for the Safety of Hajj Pilgrims

Saudi Arabia said it is to issue electronic identification bracelets for pilgrims travelling to Mecca for Hajj, this year. Hajj is the world’s largest gathering of Muslims. It is an annual pilgrimage attended by more than 2 million Muslims from across the globe.

The introduction of e-bracelets comes amid security concerns and is aimed at tackling untoward incidents during the pilgrimage.

The bracelets will contain personal information such as passport numbers and addresses as well as medical information of individual Hajj pilgrims that will help authorities identify them and provide care, according to Saudi Press Agency.

The e-bracelets are water-resistant and are also connected to GPS, which will not only help authorities keep track of pilgrims’ movements, but will also instruct pilgrims about the timings of prayers and other rituals at Mecca. Through the tracking device, the pilgrims will also be connected

to a multi-lingual help desk that will guide non-Arabic speaking pilgrims about the various rituals scheduled at the holy Islamic event.

Saudi media reported that around 1,000 new CCTV cameras have also been installed at Mecca’s Grand Mosque as part of security measures. The cameras, linked to control rooms, will be overseen by special forces who will keep a close watch on pilgrims’ movements.

Around 769 pilgrims died in a stampede in 2015 when thousands of them rushed towards a walkway intersection in the Mecca district of Mina. Around 400 Iranian nationals were killed in the stampede. The tragedy was the deadliest for the pilgrimage in 25 years.

Iran questioned Saudi’s level of preparedness and said that it will not send pilgrims to this year’s gathering. However, Saudi’s King Salman vowed to improve arrangements at the annual event.

Wishing ALL our customers

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

HEALTH

How to spot the signs:

“I think my child has autism”

by FATIMA PATEL My first insight into autism occurred when I had gone over to help my distraught neighbour who was having difficulty getting her eight-year-old child to attend school. She was in a difficult situation as not only was there pressure of trying to get her child to attend school but also there was added pressure from the school as to why her child had behavioural problems during class. With her two other children having no issues or concerns, she was really at her wits end trying to figure out why her third son was different. This wasn’t until the question of autism came up.

My neighbour is a very good parent and has always been keen to ensure her children get the best education and study hard to secure a decent career. Being a full time house wife she wanted to ensure she could provide her children with the opportunities that she didn’t have when she was younger. Her elder son and daughter are average

students at school and like most average children obtain standard school reports with minimal complaints from their teachers.

However, her youngest son, aged eight has been at constant loggerheads with his school for the past year.

His teachers described his behaviour during class as aggressive and anti-social. The eight-year old findsithar d to attend school for more than a couple of hours and has to be forced to go to school in the first place. This coupled with his poor attendance and behaviour led the local council education officer, along with teachers from the school to call for a meeting at my neighbours home, to discuss her troubled child’s future. “Your son has special educational needs (SEN) and therefore we may need to move him to another school that can help with those needs”, The local council education officer said in the meeting.

My neighbour, although speaks perfectly well English had called

me in to support her during the meeting. She was very concerned about her son’s future, and the complaints from his teachers. She was also under a lot of pressure as she simply didn’t understand why her son was behaving the way he was. He was finea t home and she never had any problems with his siblings.

It was during this conversation that one of the teachers present suggested her son be checked by a medical professional for autism.

At this point there were a million things going through my neighbours head; what is autism?

What are the signs for autism? Why didn’t I spot the signs?

So what is autism?

According to the Offic e of National Statistics around 1 in 100 children in the UK are living with an autism spectrum disorder. In 5 – 16 year olds, it is estimated that around 1 per cent have autism spectrum disorders

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

Autism includes a spectrum of conditions, which means that while all people share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience overor under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

Statistics also show that over 11 per cent of children with special educational needs in state funded schools have a diagnosis of autism, however around 60 per cent of teachers in England feel they do not have adequate training to teach children with autism.

More recently the Department

of Education’s Permanent and Fixed Term Exclusions report, confirmed that the number of exclusions in English schools, which since 2006 had been falling, show a year-on-year rise for the fi rst time in a decade. The majority are for persistent disruption, including violence. There were suggestions that much of this could relate to the possibility of the fact that children with spectrum disorders, dyspraxic sensory processing and general learning difficulties can easily become overwhelmed in a school environment and hence perhaps vent their frustration in acts of aggression.

I spoke to Mandy Williams, CEO of the charity Child Autism UK who explained that the spectrum is very wide, it’s not that specific .

“You can have a child who can’t speak, go to the toilet or has other behavioural issues. Where another can have issues mixing and playing with other children, or play the way they would normally play, but are very bright.” She told me.

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ASIAN SUNDAY

15

HEALTH “So symptoms can vary as spectrum is very wide”, she continued.

is a lack of culturally appropriate services or services which value diversity.

The Berkshire based charity provides information and support for parents of children with autism.

One of the main services that Child Autism UK offers is a helpline for parents. Many parents find it difficult to get answers to their questions when their children have problems; they do not know where to turn. Child Autism UK provides information packs and importantly puts parents in contact with other parents who have been through the same processes and now have a positive outlook. When parents first get a diagnosis or feel their child has difficulties they often feel bereft, mourning the child they thought they had. Child Autism UK shows them that significant progress can be made, and helps them move forward.

BAME (which includes my neighbour) families rate whole school understanding of autism as 21 per cent lower than their White British counterparts.

The service is particularly helpful as it is now widely accepted that with autism, the earlier the intervention the better.

So I was intrigued to find out

It seems that despite the plethora of research on the prevelance of autism, there has been very little research carried out into the experiences of non-White families and there are almost no specific support services targeting these groups.

from Mandy if her charity had experienced any specific differences when dealing with children of BAME background.

“We don’t find the Asian or the BAME community is any slower at recognising autism than any other community” The charity boss told me.

According to research it is believed that there are an estimated 11,000

children with autism from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds in England and Wales.

Although BAME parents might be on par with their White British counter parts at recognising autism parents from BAME communities feel less satisfied with their child’s academic and social progress compared to their White British counterparts and believe there

Examples of Autism Spectrum Behaviours

In the case of my neighbour, it has been six months since we had the meeting with the local authority in question and she is yet to have her son tested for autism and offered appropriate support. She told me that she feels intimidated by the authorities and no one seems to understand or help advise her on how to deal with the situation.

The 2012 Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer, ‘Our children deserve Better: Prevention

Pays’ said: There is a need for better research evidence on the prevelance of child mental health problems in minority ethnic groups as well as looking at service utilisation and whether particular groups experience barriers to receiving a service, in addition to understanding why some groups and communities may be more resilient” According to the Autism, Education and Ethnicity: The reality of families today’ one Asian parent who has a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, told them that “Sometimes I feel doubly discriminated firstly, because of the disability and then because of our skin colour”.

This is where charities such as Child Autism UK can help. If you have concerns about your child and want some support or advice you can contact them by visiting www.childautism.org.uk In the meantime here are a few tips from the charity to help you spot signs of autism:

Other Characteristics of Autism People with autism may or may not have the following:

Communication

Repetitive behaviours

• Echoing words/phrases without context

• Hand flapping

• Exceptional attention to detail

•Taking an adult to the biscuit tin rather than asking or pointing

• Toe walking

• Sensory differences, this is most noticeable when children are over-sensitive to stimuli e.g. distress at loud noises

• Taking language too literally

• Spinning wheels • Lining up cars

Social Interactions

Restrictive behaviour

• Preference to play alone

• Eating only yellow food

• Difficulty relating to other people

• Insisting on walking the same route

• Not understanding other’s thoughts and emotions

• Only watching Thomas the Tank Engine

• Trouble with co-ordination • Unusual eating behaviour such as only eating certain foods • Additional learning disabilities • A very small percentage have unusual abilities for example with music or memory

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ASIAN SUNDAY Issue 26

Recipes from Desi Italia As the end of the holy month of Ramadan approaches for Muslims all over the world, so does the end of fasting; this is celebrated by the entire community coming together for special prayers, celebration and of course, lots of delicious food! Whether you’re celebrating Eid or not, why not treat your family and friends to something a little special?

Nalli Nihari Ingredients 1 cup mutton (on the bone) 1 tsp mace 1 bay leaf 2 pods green cardamom 1 tsp cloves 1 pod black cardamom 2 tsp fresh garlic 1 tsp fresh ginger 1 tsp garam masala 1 Tbsp coriander powder 1 tsp yellow chilli powder 1 tsp turmeric powder 1 tsp cumin powder 1 Tbsp fried onions

1/2 cup curd Salt to taste 1 Tbsp ghee or vegetable oil 1 cup lamb stock 1 tsp gram Flour (besan) Kewda water 1 tsp screw pine essence Method 1. In a heavy bottomed pot, boil mutton until beginning to soften.

Remove and trim any unwanted parts, then set aside.

Celebration dishes vary widely across the world, but anything cooked with a little more care and love than usual will certainly get your family into the festival spirit.

We’ve got some fantastic dishes here for you this week with delectable flavours, all with easy step-by-step recipes to guide you through even the most ambitious of dishes, and all perfect for sharing around a dinner table with your nearest and dearest.

2. In a hot pan, add some ghee or oil, whole garam masala and ginger garlic paste; stir till the paste is fragrant and cooked. Add the fried onions and stir, before adding turmeric powder, cumin powder, yellow chilli powder and coriander powder.

3. Add in the partially cooked mutton to the paste mixture, then add in the lamb stock and let it cook for until the meat is tender and falling off

the bone.

4. Stir in the whisked curd and add diluted gram flour to sauce to finish.

Season with salt and serve with fluffy boiled rice and a sprinkle of coriander.

paste and cook for a few moments, then add all spices. Cook until spices are fragrant and onions are fully cooked.

2. Add in the tomatoes and the chicken mince (feel free to substitute turkey mince if easier to obtain) and leave to cook while preparing the eggplant.

3. Dice the eggplant into cubes of around 1-2

inches, and fry in a separate hot pan with a little ghee or oil to char slightly before adding into the curry. Add in the tamarind paste and mixed pickle, and leave to cook tender and the liquid has reduced.

4. Garnish with chopped coriander, julienne ginger and green chillies and a sprinkle of mint leaves.

Serve with jeera rice and naan.

Chicken and Eggplant Curry Ingredients 2 onions, sliced 1 cup ghee or vegetable oil 1 Tbsp ginger paste 1 Tbsp garlic paste 1 Tbsp red chilli, crushed 2 tsp cumin seeds 2 tsp coriander seeds 1 tsp fennel seeds 1 tsp carom seeds 1/and a half tsp turmeric powder 1 1/2 Tbsp salt, or to taste 6 tomatoes, chopped

500 g chicken thigh mince 6-8 eggplants (kashmiri baingan) 2 Tbsp mixed vegetable pickle 1 Tbsp tamarind paste For garnishing Handful of green coriander, chopped 1 Tbsp ginger, julienne 6 green chillies Handful of mint leaves, roughly chopped

Method 1. Saute sliced onion in ghee or oil until beginning to soften. Add in the ginger paste and garlic

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The Desi Kitchen

ASIAN SUNDAY Issue 26

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an Fusion Meethi Sewai Ingredients 1/2 cup pistachios 1/2 cup almonds 1/2 cup rasins 1 packet rice vermicelli 1 cup melted Ghee or butter 1 cup milk 1 cup sugar syrup Pinch of cardamom powder Pinch of saffron Small piece of hard khoya (optional) Method 1. Blanch the almonds and pistachios in boiling water for no more than 45 seconds – this makes

it easier to peel off their skins. If yours are prepeeled, feel free to skip this step. Once the skins begin to wrinkle, drain them and peel. Slice the almonds and pistachios into thin slices.

2. Cook the vermicelli in the melted ghee or butter until it begins to take on a light brown colour.

Once this is achieved, remove from the heat and drain to remove excess oil.

3. To another pan, add your milk and bring to the boil, then add in sugar syrup and reduce heat

slightly.

4. Once the milk comes to a boil add the sugar syrup to it. Add in your cooked vermicelli and stir

gently, being careful not to break any of it. The vermicelli should begin to soften and cook in the milk and sugar mixture.

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

the size of golf balls.

2. To create your filling, put the dates in a microwave-proof bowl, add 1 tablespoon water, and cook on high in the microwave for 2 minutes.

Mash with a fork and add the spices.

3. Take a wooden Maamool shaper (if using, if not simply shape the cookies in your hands) and flatten a piece of dough into it to create a hollow for your filling.

Fill with the date mixture and bring

5. Once softened and the milk has begun to absorb, add in the saffron, cardamom powder, raisins and sliced almonds and pistachios.

If using, grate the khoya into the mixture and stir everything well.

6. Cook the mixture for a few minutes to ensure the milk is well absorbed, but be careful of burning.

Add a little extra milk if the pan begins to stick or burn. Serve hot with extra sliced almonds and raisins sprinkled on top.

Mamool Ingredients 1 kg rough semolina flour 1/2 kg ground semolina flour 600 grams of shortening / butter 1/2 cup sugar 2 tsp dried active yeast 1/4 cup Orange Blossom Water 1 1/4 cup rose water For the filling 25g mint leaves 85g coriander leaves, with stalks left on 1 clove of garlic 3cm piece of ginger, peeled

Method 1. Mix the rough and ground semolina with the shortening and leave overnight at room temperature. Then mix in the remaining ingredients for the dough and knead until the dough is soft and flexible. Divide the dough into small balls, around

together edges to seal the cookie, then gently knock out onto a hard surface to release from the shaper. Complete until all of the dough is used up – this recipe should make around 30 cookies.

4. Bake on a baking-paper covered oven sheet for around 8 minutes until lightly golden on top.

Remove and cool. Before serving, sift over some icing sugar to create a thick dusting of powder on top.

Coming Summer 2016 The Desi Kitchen

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The Desi Kitchen

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ASIAN SUNDAY

OPINION

Our bodies are made up of over 70% water, and the body cannot store it as such– so this is where the kidneys

Let’s talk about Ramadan and Eid: a wonderful time of the year. First and foremost wishing you all an Eid Mubarak!

Eid al-Fitr is a celebration at the end of the ninth Islamic month, Ramadan. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and Ramadan is when Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset every single day. Being one of the Five Pillars means that it is mandatory, and one of the key foundations for a Muslim. The others are faith (Shahada), prayer (Salah), charity (Zakat) and pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). Sawm, or fasting – means no food or water must be consumed until iftaari at sunset and cannot be consumed after sehri (or sahur) at sunrise. Fasts can be long, such as this year where they were over 18 hours in the UK. I often get asked whether Ramadan is healthy or not and I felt I would take this opportunity to explain my thoughts. Please note that I am not a religious scholar and my opinion is purely medical with some basic background knowledge; however, everyone is different – so if you are exempt from fasting then there is a good reason why! If you are unsure or have any questions relating to this then please see your doctor.

So when you are fasting, what does your body do? In essence you are not taking in food or water, and therefore the body starts to find food from within. It starts using carbohydrate stores in the liver and muscles, and fat to provide much-needed energy.

kick in – and keep as much fluid as they can within the body.

In another words, you pee less. Having said that, the acts of breathing, sweating, going to the toilet all will see some water disappear from our bodies.

This is also related to the environment, and understandably if it is hot, you will lose more water!

So mild dehydration is a possibility. One may experience headaches, lethargy etc. if they are fluid-deplete. This said, there are studies, and reports that suggest that this does not harm health. So going back to what I am often asked, given this – I would say that no, fasting is not usually harmful as far as dehydration is concerned. Please note, there are always exceptions to the rule! It is a given that if dehydration is occurring and one is unwell with it then they should drink water, ideally with some sugar and salts.

Many people drink chai (tea) throughout the course of the day in months leading to Ramadan. So during fasting, this sudden caffeine withdrawal can cause lethargy and headaches for example. However, the body is very good at adjusting and this tends to happen. And the fast is of course not endless, iftaari comes around when the body is rehydrated, and re-fed. The meal should ideally consist of a good quantity of fluids, fruits and veg!

Salty foods will only increase thirst as they tend to do!

Another question I get asked is whether Ramadan is good for losing weight or gaining weight.

Well both! If you eat lots of unhealthy foods like pakoras and samosas, and other deep-fried delights then obviously the kilos are going to rise! A balanced diet

should happen no matter the month, and that does include Ramadan. However, it’s a a great time for families to get together and enjoy meals, so it’s understandable if

In essence you are not

taking in food or water, and therefore the body starts to find food from within. . It starts using carbohydrate stores in the liver and muscles, and fat to provide muchneeded energy. you reach for that extra samosa.

For diabetics, it is a difficult one.

Some diabetes that are tabletcontrolled do fast, under guidance from their doctor – however insulin-dependent diabetics cannot. All these special circumstances should be discussed with your GP and it is beyond my scope to highlight

individual health needs. And to highlight this, interestingly I came across this religious text offering guidance for those who are exempt from fasting on religious grounds: “sick people when their health is likely to be badly affected by fasting,” “someone undertaking a journey of more than 77km and does not intend staying more than 14 days at his destination” and “if

it is feared that hunger or thirst will lead to death, it is permitted to break one’s fast.”

As the month of Ramadan draws to a close, we must not forget the message of why we should fast.

Again venturing slightly off my medical remit fasting does teach us empathy for those who are starving in the world. Another quote: “the pangs of hunger, the ever present companion of the poor, are experienced by the rich,” which “kindles a spirit of kindness to the poor and distressed.”

One size does not fit all and if you are uncertain about anything you have read, speak to your practice nurse, doctor or a religious scholar. I hope that you had a nice, safe and enjoyable Ramadan – and wish you and your family Eid Mubarak!

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 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

NEWS

“Are you considering solar panels?

Make sure you’re not being scammed out of savings” Warns Yorkshire based Green energy advisor

by NATALIE COOPER A Yorkshire business man is warning customers from being scammed out of savings when taking up solar panels.

Solar panels are a great piece of technology – not only creating clean, green energy using the power of the sun on even the dreariest of days, but also cutting down on your electricity bills and allowing you to get paid to generate energy through government Feed In Tariffs (FIT).

These combined savings see most users benefit from hundreds or even thousands of pounds worth of savings every year, dependent on their energy usage and other factors.

However, despite the many benefits, Liaqat Ali of Green Deal Energy Advice, says when he is out visiting homes he is hearing from many dissatisfied property owners, with the main reasons being that they are not seeing the savings they were promised

He told the Asian Sunday: “Many people in the UK have found themselves victims of poorly

a roof for around 20-25 years, in exchange for installing and maintaining solar panels on it.

In a rent-a-roof scheme, the owner of the roof can benefit from reduced bills thanks to the use of free solar energy; however all or a majority of the FIT payments are made directly to the company.

According to consumer group ‘Which?’, for a customer who had solar panels fitted in 2011 this represents lost FIT payments of around £23,000 over a 20 year period.

structured deals promising 100 per cent free solar panels, which often leave them saddled with all of the negatives of solar panels, and none of the benefits.”

‘Free’ solar panel deals, also known as ‘rent-a-roof’ deals, are aimed at customers who cannot afford or do not wish to purchase solar panels upfront, or do not have adequate credit to get a loan. Companies offering these deals offer to lease

Rashid Malik of Huddersfield is one such customer. He commented: “25 years is a long time [for my lease], and I honestly don’t know what I’m getting for my deal at the moment.

My bills have not changed much, and I think the company I’m with now is benefitting more than me.”

He went on to add: “Solar panels are a good thing, but it’s not always good to go with free deals as they can be misleading.

“My advice is that if you want to

go with solar panels, it’s better to get them with a small lease or with cash. After several years you can make your money back in this way.”

In 2011, Which? conducted a survey of solar panel sellers and found that around 17 per cent of providers were breaking consumer codes and using banned pressuring sales techniques such as withholding information, exaggerating savings estimates, and staying on the customer’s premises for excessive amounts of time in order to pressure them into signing a contract.

Mr Ali added: “It’s very clear to me that these companies targeted communities by promoting entirely free solar panels, stinging people into up to 20 years of giving their roof away for free, as well as handing over the majority of the FIT government scheme money straight to these companies, rather than enjoying it themselves.”

If withholding savings and profiting rather than passing on money to customers wasn’t enough, companies also maintain 20-25 year contracts. This means that if a customer wanted to remove the panels or sell their home in this period, they would have to either pay the company a large amount of money to compensate for ‘future FIT payments’, or find a buyer who is happy to take on the lease for the remainder of the contract.

One victim of this type of scheme, who wished to remain anonymous, commented: “I tried to have my free solar system removed and the company who installed them said that they could, but I had to pay them £50,000 before they could remove them.” When she asked why, the company’s reply was: “Because that’s how much money we will be making from your roof.”

Liaqat Ali commented: “Overall, these companies do have the right to make a profit, but clients also have the right to the full benefits of their systems. We all know that nothing is free in life.”

Green Deal Energy Advice aims to help customers who are concerned about falling victim to these types of schemes, by taking a straightforward and honest approach to educate and assist clients interested in solar power.

The company has no contracts or ties with any one provider, and therefore does not pressure acceptance of certain types of deal or products. Based in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, Liaqat and the team are passionate about making sure that customers avoid falling into unprofitable traps such as ‘rent-aroof’ schemes, and make the best possible use of their investment into clean energy.

If you are interested in making use of solar power in your home or business, you can contact Green Deal Energy Advice on 0333 121 7365, or email info@greendealenergyadvise. co.uk, to book a free initial assessment of your premises with no obligation to purchase.

Solar panels are a good thing, but it’s not always good to go with free deals as they can be misleading - Rashid Malik, home owner from Huddersfield

FREE Magazine for Asian Sunday Newspaper

JULY 2016

IIFA HIGHLIGHTS FROM MADRID

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FRIEDA PINTO

look

& MORE INSIDE..

Salman Khan What makes him tick!

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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

IIFA Awards rock Madrid the highlights!

by Ayesha Babar The IIFA Awards have traditionally been the last award show of the season for the Indian Film industry, but also and more importantly, a chance for the film fraternity to take some time out and mingle with each other in a glamorous foreign location. The IIFA’s have also served to

help Indian artists and filmmakers to take their craft abroad for their overseas fans.

This year the IIFA’s took place close to home for us Brits, in the gorgeous Spanish city of Madrid. As Bollywood royalty descended on the city, there was much to celebrate. From the

weather to the audience and the show itself, the IIFA weekend turned out to be the perfect ‘working holiday’ for most!

We’re here to share with you some of the best highlights from the star-studded evening.

The hosts for the main show Shahid Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar had the audience in splits throughout the evening. The two made a grand entrance on the green carpet, riding… wait for it…donkeys! Yes, the two gave onlookers new transport goals.

During the course of the show, Shahid and Farhan had the audiences fully engaged, and even had Hrithik Roshan singing on stage. With so many shows being borderline boring because of the lacklustre hosting, roping in Shahid and Farhan was a great idea!

Bipasha Basu recently tied the knot with Karan Singh Grover. The newly married couple seemed besotted with each other, giving us more than a few ‘aww!’ moments. Karan sang for Bipasha as she blushed, and she couldn’t help telling all how she feels like she is the luckiest girl in the world. With arm candy like Karan Singh Grover who is clearly head over heels in love with his wife, we don’t doubt that you are just that, dear Bips!

ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Priyanka Chopra is on an all-out conquering spree! After taking over US TV screens with her ABC show Quantico, the former Miss World is now working as the antagonist in Baywatch while also trying to lock in her next projects. IIFA acknowledged the global appeal of Priyanka Chopra and recognised her services in taking the Bollywood flag higher, with a special ‘Woman of the Year’ Award. Priyanka also bagged the best supporting actress role, making the night all the more memorable for her.

Pakistani heartthrob, Fawad Khan, who started his entertainment journey many years ago with an alternative rock band in Pakistan, surprised audiences with a semi-acoustic singing performance at the award show. While he didn’t exactly sing one of his rock

songs, the rockstar did sing the iconic ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’. It was nostalgic seeing him with a guitar and singing again. For Fawad, this was just one of the highlights of a very busy IIFA weekend, where he also hosted the IIFA Rocks event the night before.

Bollywood’s most loved (and in love) couple, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, once again made us all mushy. Winning the Best Actor and Best Actress awards (and thus, completing a sweep of all the main awards this year) the young couple won us over once again with their acceptance speeches. Deepika took the opportunity to champion the importance of introducing sport to children and young adults, saying that the life lessons she has learned in sports have helped her to deal with the challenges that she has faced, including depression. Ranveer couldn’t help gushing about his Bajirao Mastani team, particularly Deepika: ‘ Leela to my Ram…Mastani to my Bajirao…Best Actress to my Best Actor – Koi Shaq?’ How adorable are these two!?

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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Natural Wooden Warmth

Some home design materials never go out of fashion: crisp stainless steel, stunning marbles, and of course, good-quality wood. Whether you prefer oak, pine, mahogany, bamboo or any other variety, solid wood furniture and accents can last you a lifetime if taken care of correctly, and will always fit in with the other changing elements of your home no matter how you switch things up.

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 warm and solid design choice in your home, for a timeless classic look that’ll never be ‘last year’s style’.

Pair wooden surfaces such as coffee tables and side-dressers with neutral wall and furniture colours such as grey, cream, silver and white. This will add to an overall calm and light ambience of any room, such as this tranquil living room with bleached wooden furniture and luxurious studded sofas.

Use dark colours such as black and brown with natural wood surfaces sparingly, as it’s easy to create a too-dark space. Make sure to incorporate plenty of lamps and mirrors to give the illusion of extra light and space. Keep the au naturale theme going, with dark iron and steel home accessories.

ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Don’t be afraid to pair items of different shades or types of wood together for variety, or keep it all uniform if you prefer a more ‘together’ style. This matching set of light wood table, chairs and accessories add a touch of class and homely feeling to this dining room.

White flowers and marble-effect accents bring this look into the 21st century, while retaining a traditional feeling.

Lighting, as ever, is key.

This style is one which aims to welcome you into a room with a warm and friendly feeling, so choose lighting accordingly. Something like these understated chandeliers, encased within a decorative wooden frame, are perfect for making a statement while not being too ‘out there’.

Some may say that wooden cabinets have fallen out of favour in recent years, with many homeowners preferring to hide their storage out of sight. However for displaying antique books and decorative trinkets, a naturally aged wooden cabinet such as this is really the classic and perfect choice. You could even go one step further and install feature lighting inside, to highlight your precious items!

If you enjoyed the retro industrial pieces here and want to see more amazing designs, check out www.artz-i.com

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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Salman Khan What makes him tick!

by Ayesha Babar Very few people have polarised public opinion as widely as Salman Khan has in the last decade and a half. The superstar Khan finds himself in the news pages often - sometimes being showered with adulation for his large-hearted cinema and sometimes for an apparent insensitivity and carelessness with words in the media. Over the years, Salman has become controversy’s favourite child. Just as the dust was settling down on his court case for manslaughter

charges from last year, Salman has landed himself in a fresh controversy. While promoting his latest, Sultan, he equated the gruelling training he underwent with feeling like a rape victim! There was much furore but as is mostly the case with Salman Khan, his fans have stood by him just as they have since he first emerged in Bollywood.

Salman Khan first entered the film screens and our hearts with his boyish good looks and effortless charm in 1988-1989 when he made his debut as a lead actor in Sooraj Barjatiya’s ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’. Essaying the role of Prem, in a coming of age romance opposite Bhagyshree, Salman cemented his place as an actor to look out for. His next major success came in 1994, with the iconic ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun…!’ – a film which made every Indian family wish that Prem and Nisha (the characters played by Salman and Madhuri

Dixit) were part of their own family!

Over the next two decades, Salman has aced a myriad of roles. While he made some cult classics in the 1990’s and 2000’s -Andaz Apna Apna, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Partner, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam – it wasn’t until the 2009 blockbuster ‘Wanted’ that Salman started rewriting box office history. Salman was the first actor to establish the 200 crore club, delivering one box office record-breaker after another. That successful run continues as literally whatever project the actor touches, turns to gold.

As Salman gears up for his next, ‘Sultan’, that releases this Eid, business pundits are all ready for another record breaker that will be raking in the moolah at the box office. The film that stars Salman as a Haryanavi wrestler also features Anushka Sharma and is inspired by real life events.

ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

What makes Salman tick? What is the reason behind his success? We decided to deconstruct the man behind the superstar!

Family: If you have followed Salman Khan through the years, you would have noticed that there is one thing that he holds dearest above all else – his family! From launching brothers Arbaaz and Sohail as directors and producers to working for sister Alvira Agnihotri’s film, Salman has stood by his family time and time again. His most special relationships within the family seem to be the bonds that he shares with mother, Salma Khan and younger sister, Arpita Khan. For the former he is the ‘farmabardar’ (obedient) son who can do no wrong and for the latter, he is the elder brother, always looking out for his baby sister and making him the envy of sisters around the country! Through his court cases and legal troubles, it was his family that proved to be his rock solid support with family members, particularly, his sister Alvira, liaising with and managing Salman’s legal team.

Industry loyalty: Salman Khan is not called ‘Bhai’ for nothing!

He is known to be a ‘yaron ka yar’ (the most loyal friend) in most industry circles. Whether it is launching new talent or working with friends on their projects, Salman has earned the loyalty and love of his colleagues from the film industry. It was this urge to help friends out that actually landed him the much-loved cameo in Karan Johar’s directorial debut ‘Kuch Hota Hai’. As the story goes, Karan was quite depressed after having been refused by all his choices to play the role of Aman Mehra. From Saif Ali Khan to Ajay Devgn, no one wanted

to play second fiddle to Shah Rukh Khan in an SRK-Kajol starrer immediately after the thunderous success of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. Karan narrates the story of how Salman walked up to Karan at a party and told him that he wanted to do the role to salvage the project. With the love the character received it was a great decision in hindsight but at the time, Salman risked his own image to save the film.

Being Human: Over the last decade, Salman has successfully built up the Being Human charity that works towards access to education and healthcare for India’s poor. Salman has regularly held fundraisers for the charity and since the launch of his eponymous production house, he has

announced that a part of the film profits will be given to the charity for philanthropic work. As Salman has said, the long term plan is to grow the charity and to spread the network to far-flung cities and villages.

The Salman Khan Magic: Salman Khan won hearts the world over with his portrayal of the titular role in Bajrangi Bhaijan - last year’s biggest commercial success. In the film, he plays a young man who due to a myriad of circumstances finds himself as the custodian of a deaf and mute Pakistani girl who wants to be reunited with her family across the border. The sensitivity and political balance with which the subject was approached and executed made Salman Khan not only a favourite on both sides of the border but also showed how good cinema can be an important tool in resolving conflicts through people’s perceptions!

The ‘Salman shirtless effect’: Who can forget Salman in the ‘Oh Jaane Jaana’ song from Pyaar Kiya Tau Darna Kya? Salman Khan was the first one out of the A-listers to work on his physique as

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he believed that in order to convincingly play a hero you need to look like one. Many actors who have come since have openly acknowledged the role that Salman Khan has played in their fitness. Hrithik Roshan was one of the first to credit Salman Khan with helping him transform himself from a lanky guy to the chiselled physique that he debuted with in Kaho Naa Pyar Hai. More recently Arjun Kapoor has also revealed that it was Salman Khan who personally motivated him to lose weight and become an actor!

Promoting Young talent: Which brings us to one of Salman’s most endearing qualities – he is a massive believer in promoting young talent through his own films as well as his industry contacts.

Whether it is helping young actors prepare for their roles or to help them choose the right scripts, Dabangg Khan, is always there to help. Salman is thought to have played a pivotal role in getting Katrina Kaif some important roles that helped her transform her acting career. Sonakshi Sinha has also often thanked Salman for his guidance and mentorship. Looks like Salman is totally secure about his own character for only then can he effortlessly promote the younger talent.

Since the early days of Prem from Maine Pyaar Kiya, to playing Prem again in Sooraj Barjatiya’s Prem Ratan Dhan Pato’ the one thing that has remained constant is Salman Khan’s enthusiasm for life and his love for his family and friends. No wonder then that Salman Khan has been box office gold and if the promos and songs from Sultan are anything to go by, it seems that ‘Sultan’ too will be following the same trend!

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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

#Instah t

by AYESHA BABAR

We bring you the roundup of the trending Instagram posts from the fortnight. Definitely #InstaHOT, we say!

There were all sorts of fireworks and sparks on the IIFA Madrid 2016 green carpet when the high on life Ranveer Singh met the very handsome Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan.

Ranveer did a rather hilarious ‘how girls behave when they meet Fawad Khan’ reaction and the media watching couldn’t stop laughing. Director Karan Johar took the opportunity to capture the two in one frame.

That’s too much hotness to handle, if you ask us!

Sidharth Malhotra is undeniably one of the best looking actors of his generation but unlike some of the others is known to be quite shy. Jacqueline on the other hand is always vivacious and bubbly. Was it a case of oppositea attract then when the two got together for an upcoming project in Miami? Guess, we’ll have to wait and watch the video to find out what’s their onscreen chemistry is like!

An Aamir Khan movie release is always an event in itself.

The extremely selective Mr. Perfectionist, who only works in one film a year, usually makes rather interesting script choices.

His latest, Dangal, seems to follow the same trend.

With just over 6 months to go for the release, there is already a massive buzz around the tough physical preparation that Aamir has had to do to play the role of a wrestler. The actor might not have a naturally buff physique but he has spent months gaining muscles to achieve a now formidable bod. His photographer friend shared this BTS shot of Aamir and we cannot help thinking how intense and fabulous Mr. Khan looks!

Ever since Alia Bhatt debuted in Karan Johar’s directorial Student of the Year in a character similar to Kareena Kapoor’s Poo from K3G, comparisons have been drawn between the two. Alia herself has always termed Kareena as one of her biggest inspirations and when the two bonded during the Udta Punjab promotions there were many awe moments ! Alia shared this uber cute photo of Kareena Kapoor and herself and we couldn’t help but go aww!!!

It seems like it is not just us commoners who are obsessed with Snapchat’s selfie filters. Shradda Kapoor who is usually quite media shy looks fresh as a daisy in this selfie on her snapchat!

The actress has had a tremendous success rate in Bollywood so far and is now certainly one of the top actresses of her generation.

Nargis Fakhri, who had mysteriously dissappeared right in the middle of the promotions for her films Azhar and Housefull 3, is back with the bang! While we doubt that we will find our the real reason for the disappearing act ( rumours range from health concerns to heartbreak post her split from Uday Chopra) it seems safe to assume that Nargis is fit and fine at the IIFA 2016 in Madrid. The actress put her tourist shoes on as she explored the city during the IIFA weekend!

Akshay Kumar undoubtedly has one of the best fitness mantras in the industry.

Ltitle wonder then that the Kumar family is one of the fittest. To commemorate World Yoga Day 2016, Akshay shared this photo of himself and Twinkle chilling as they do yoga while on holiday in Italy. Stop making this all look so easy, Akshay!

ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Get the

Frieda

Pinto Look

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There are very few actresses who shoot to fame nearly as fast as Freida Pinto. Ms Pinto became an overnight sensation following her appearance in the blockbuster film - Slumdog Millionaire. In the years since, she has become an international beauty and style icon, including becoming a much-coveted beauty ambassador for L’oreal Paris. What strikes me most about Freida always is the fact that when it comes to make-up, she celebrates her own skin colour and I have hardly ever seen her in mismatched foundation. Read on for a stepby-step for a look that works around your own features and skin tone.

by Ayesha Babar Make sure your skin is hydrated by using a day cream.

Remember, if you have dry skin, you don’t need to use an oil-free moisutriser.

Our skins do need some essential oils and creams designed for dry skin types actually help to restore this balance.

Use a primer to let the makeup sit on your skin better and to minimise the appearance of pores.

A tinted moisturiser can be your best friend in the summer months as these provide coverage and hydration without weighing down on your skin.

Using a warm brown eyshadow, go over the entire lid. Build up the colour closer to the lash line. Take a colour 2 shades lighter than this colour and work it into your crease to provide a visual contour. Next take a black eyeshadow and work it close to your upper lash line.

Line your waterline with with a black eyepencil and then treat your eyelashes with 2 coats of mascara.

Finish your look with a rose-hued red. You can keep the lips matter like Freida has or add a dot of clear lip gloss on top.

Take a touch of an orange toned blush and apply to the apples of your cheeks. Shake off any excess product as orange can be a strong colour on fairer skintones.

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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Ask Ayesha Ever wondered about how to carry off the latest beauty trend of the season? Or what products to use to make those dark circles disappear? Well, help is finally here. Send in your queries to our resident hair and makeup specialist Ayesha Babar to ayeshababarmakeup@gmail.com, and we will get you your answers!

Dear Ayesha, My lips have been quite dark ever since I can remember.

What could have caused this, and is there a way to make them less purple-ish and more pink?

(Rehma, Birmingham)

A Ayesha Says: Dear Rehma, One can have dark lips due to various reasons including diet, dryness, stress, hormonal imbalance and most commonly, due to genes.

There are a few things you can do to treat your lips and over time lighten your lips.

The first step is always to get rid of any dead skin.

As the lips are a very sensitive area of the skin, I would recommend to always use a natural scrub. Sugar scrubs, made easily with ingredients in the kitchen, used and applied with a toothbrush with soft bristles will usually do the trick. Take 1 teaspoon of coarse sugar and add a few drops of rose water. You many also use honey for this treatment. Apply this mixture onto your lips and massage gently with either the toothbrush or even

simply a finger. Rinse with warm water.

Once the lips have been scrubbed, they need to be protected with a balm. In my own experience, I have found drugstore balms, such as Vaseline to be the most effective.

Make this process a part of your daily beauty routine before going to bed and you will start noticing a marked difference within the first few weeks.

Q

ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Q

Dear Ayesha,

My skin burns very easily in the sun and even though I love being in the sun (when we do get it in this country!) I have to avoid it to protect my skin. Are there any suggestions to protect myself from getting burnt and if I do, to help the burns?

Dear Ayesha,

(Annushka, Leeds)

(Kajal, London)

A

I went to the salon this past weekend and much to my dismay, I feel like the lady doing my eyebrows has over-plucked them. What can I do to get back to thicker brows again?

Ayesha Says: Dear Annushka,

As soon as the summer starts, sun burn is one of the topics I get asked about the most. Sun burns are essentially caused by the harmful rays of the sun that may cause swelling, soreness, redness and itching. The severity of the burns and how quickly your skin burns depends on different factors including your skin type and the kind of sun protection you use.

I would recommend that you apply a sunblock with a high SPF (up to 50+) level to protect yourself against the sun’s harmful rays. Make sure that your apply the sunblock at least 30 minutes before you expose your skin to the sun and then keep reapplying every few hours, especially if you are going into water.

If you still get sun burns, you can do a few things to help calm and cool your skin down. Using cold compresses and aloe based moisturisers have both shown to be effective.

As with anything to do with skin, you have to take an inside-out approach. Drink lots of liquids (nothing quite like water!) and consume water-based fruits such as watermelon to hydrate the dried out skin.

Ayesha Says: Dear Kajal,

A

Brows frame not just your eyes but your entire face, and that is why sometimes the smallest change in our brows can be quite prominent.

First and foremost, get rid of those tweezers. From now until your next brow appointment, don’t pluck any hair from your brows, rather let it grow out. If you absolutely must, only pull out stray hair form above and below the brow line and not from the brow itself.

Massage your brows with either olive oil or a mixture of milk and raw onion juice (if you can bear the smell) to stimulate hair growth that results in thicker brows.

In the meantime, till your brow goes back to its original thickness, use a brow pencil to fi ll in your eyebrows with light short strokes

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Show

ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Shah Rukh, Salman enjoy bike ride together

gh SRK and Salman’s bond hit a rou but e, tim of nt poi patch at one all seems well now. They have shared the frame in films like n “Karan Arjun”, “Hum Tumhare Hai ”.

Hai a Hot h Kuc ch “Ku Sanam” and ma The much-anticipated sports dra The image not only shares a 6 July on t the film “Sultan” will release glimpse of the strong bond tha but on the occasion of Eid. two Khans of Bollywood share, d Produced by Aditya Chopra and also has a subtle message attache written-directed by Ali Abbas to it. and Zafar, “Sultan” features Salman ng It seems that the actors are tryi rs. stle wre as rma Anushka Sha b to promote use of bicycles to cur pollution level.

ts seen wearing a white shirt, pan who an, and a waistcoat, while Salm ”, ltan is awaiting release of “Su n opted for casual wear. He is see and s jean wearing a black shirt and also flaunts his new hairdo.

Superstars Salman Khan and n Shah Rukh Kha ndship goals frie ous are giving seri world. The the ss acro to their fans on bicycles ed pos e two actors hav sage of mes a out ng together givi on. luti pol to how to say no

Shah the re sha to Rukh took to Twitter ment mo ai’ ‘bh ir photograph of the rs. owe with his fans and foll “Bhai bhai on bike. No pollution ,” bhai says ‘Michael Lal Cycle Lal’ SRK captioned it.

In the photograph, Shah Rukh is

John Abraham to re-shoot post injury in Mumbai John Abraham while shooting for an action sequence injured his knee as he had not used any body doubles and wanted to film the scene by himself.

The incident took place in Budapest while shooting for his upcoming film Force 2 which is a sequel of Force.

This accident could have been avoided as the scene shot was fantastic the first time but John insisted on doing the stunt again and ended up hurting his knee.

John fractured his knee and was rushed to a hospital

nearby. The actor admitted that he had not realised the extent of his injuries and had returned to the shoot with swelled up knees.

John shared: “I was rushed to a local hospital in Budapest where a huge injection was administered to my knee and the blood aspirated.”

After going through a corrective surgery, John and team has now taken precautionary measure to ensure that there are no accidents.

When contacted producer Vipul Shah, said: “The onetake sequence requires

John to dash past a door and take on half-adozen men at once. We suggested using a body double this time but John wanted to do it himself, again. However, we are ensuring that nothing goes wrong this time.”

Vipul Shah also added that John has been rehearsing for the sequence for a week now which has been choreographed by action director Kaecha.

“We are not going back to Hungary for the re-shoot but have created a set in Mumbai similar to the one in Budapest. The sequence itself is a lot more bigger and better this time. I am sure John has consulted his doctor and he will carry it through as he does every time” he said Post the filming of the action sequence, John and his co-star Sonakshi Sinha will be shooting for a romantic song, some time in August which will be shot in Mumbai itself.

wbiz

ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

13

Here’s how Sonam will live her Kareena fan-moment on ‘Veer Di Wedding’

Actress Sonam Kapoor, who will next be seen in Shashanka Ghosh’s directorial Veere Di Wedding’ alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan, recently said she is the latter’s biggest fan and is very excited to share silver space with her.

In a recent interview given to the leading daily Mumbai Mirror, Sonam said, “I am working with Kareena Kapoor Khan, I can’t believe it! I’ve known her all my life and am her biggest fan. She plays my best friend.”

Talking about other female leads in the film, the 31-year-old actress said, “Then, there’s dear behen Swara

Bhaskar and debutant Shikha Talsania.

After Khoobsurat’s Milli, we’re bringing a never -seen-before story about young, modern Indian girls to life. I can’t wait for the journey to begin.”

The movie is being co-produced by Rhea Kapoor and Balaji head Ekta Kapoor and is likely to go on floors this month.

Fawad Khan to be daddy again!

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is all set to embrace fatherhood for second time.

According to a report in Bollywood.Life, Khan’s wife Sadaf Khan is in her second trimester and the couple will welcome their second child in October. They

already have a son Ayaan Reportedly, after attending the IIFA awards in Madrid, the ‘Khoobsurat’ actor jetted to his hometown Lahore to spend some quality time with his pregnant wife.

Fawad and Sadaf got hitched on November 12, 2005 and welcome their first child in 2010.

On the professional front, the actor has wrapped up shooting for Karan Johar’s upcoming movie ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and is also rumored to be part of Salman Khan’s next home production project titled ‘Jugalbandi’.

Priyanka Chopra mum on Kalpana Chawla film Actress Priyanka Chopra says she can’t take up shooting of another Hindi film till the shoot of the second season of “Quantico” gets over in March 2017. She also kept the suspense alive on whether she is doing the biopic on astronaut Kalpana Chawla.

two. So, I feel it’s not fair. I’m taking my time to figure out which film, because I can’t start shooting before March (2017).

So I’ll decide in the next few months,” Priyanka said at the Maxim magazine’s Hot 100 2016 event.

“I can’t do a Hindi film till season two finishes for ‘Quantico’, so I have the luxury of time... That is why I spent so much time in Mumbai because I have been meeting a lot of filmmakers.

The problem is that I have only a certain chunk of time for next year.

Priyanka, who was last seen on the big screen in the Hindi film “Jai Gangaajal”, recently completed the shooting of her Hollywood debut “Baywatch”.

“I’m at that point where I’m being greedy as there are some incredible films that are being made in Hindi films right now.”

Priyanka, who juggles life between India and abroad for her assignments, said she has been meeting “amazing filmmakers” and if she had it her way, she would say yes to all of them.

“I have the habit of doing at least four films a year, so suddenly I have been reduced to one or

There have been reports since late last year that Priyanka’s next Hindi film is likely to be on astronaut Kalpana Chawla.

When asked if she was doing the film, Priyanka didn’t deny it, and said: “I told you, I am deciding between a lot of very very interesting subjects and I have to pick one or two. I am listening to a lot of interesting films here and in the US. “I’m just trying to see which ones I’ll be able to accommodate because I have very specific timelines.”

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ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

Madhuri Dixit breaks down on TV set Madhuri Dixit breaks down on TV set Bollywood’s dancing diva Madhuri Dixit Nene got emotional and broke down after seeing a performance revolving around Parkinson’s disease on the sets of TV show “So You Think You Can Dance ‘Ab India ki Baari’” here.

Contestants Shampa and Ryan moved everyone with their phenomenal act. The concept of the act was a love story of a girl who has Parkinson’s disease and a boy. They showcased their journey beautifully, leaving everyone emotional.

“Shampa is really talented and the way she showed the effects of Parkinson held our attention. I feel in our society there are so many people who need support from their family who face Parkinson’s. It was a very touching and an emotional performance,” Madhuri said in a statement.

Madhuri, often called the ‘Dhak Dhak Girl’ of Bollywood, is a judge on the TV show, which is

aired on &TV. Choreographers Terence Lewis and Bosco Martis are her fellow judges.

Aamir Khan’s ‘Dangal’ will hit silver-screen with songs If sources are to be believed, Aamir Khan’s much-awaited sports drama ‘Dangal’ will reportedly have songs in it.

Earlier, rumours were doing rounds that the Nitesh Tiwari directorial will have no songs. Instead the movie would have just one promotional song, featuring Aamir and his onscreen daughters played by Fatima Sana Sheikh and Sanya Malhotra.

The DNA newspaper, however, quoted a source, as saying, that music director Pritam Chakraborty has recorded a few songs for the film.

The insider added, “Once the talkie portions get over, they will start shooting the songs. There are situational, background songs in the film. It was quite a challenge for the music director to compose the songs as the film is different from what he has done before.”

Produced by Disney Studio India, the movie, which will see Aamir essaying the role of wrestler Mahavir Phogat, will hit theatres on December 23.

Parineeti ‘s sizzling moves in ‘Dishoom’s item song Parineeti Chopra has been roped in for a sizzling item number in Varun Dhawan’s upcoming action film ‘Dishoom’.

In a statement, producer Sajid Nadiadwala said, “The song will showcase the sizzling chemistry between Varun and Parineeti in a lavish set up. It is going to be an out-and-out dance number.”

He said Parineeti has kicked

off shooting for the song, and added that the entire team is delighted to have her on board.

Reportedly, the ‘Ishaqzaade’ actress, would be styled by Manish Malhotra for the song.

Directed by Rohit Dhawan, the movie, which also stars John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez and popular TV actor Ram Kapoor, is slated to hit theatres on July 29, 2016.

Parineeti Chopra in Homi Adajania’s next?

Actress Parineeti Ch opra is set to feature in director Homi Adajania ’s next, Takadum.

The film will see Parin eeti star opposite her Shuddh Desi Roma nce co-star Sushant Singh Rajput. An excit ed Parineeti tweeted the announcement ea rlier this evening saying: ‘So excited ab out this one!!! My next film TAKADUM with the amazinggg @ homiadajania @itsSSR @Anaita_Adajania’ Revealing the plot of the movie, actor Sushant Singh rajput tweeted, ‘About a gir l who has the sky in he r eyesa guy whose only dream is to touc h that goddamn sky #TAKADUM @homiad ajania.’

ASIAN STYLE MAGAZINE

15

Cher apologises for ‘insensitive’ tweet after Istanbul attack

Veteran singer Cher apologised to her fans after posting an “insensitive” tweet after the terror attacks at Istanbul airport on Tuesday.

In her now-deleted tweet, Cher wrote: “We all pray for innocent people in Turkey airport” and then used a bomb and an explosion emoji. Many fans felt the emojis were ‘insensitive’, reports etonline.com.

Cher followed that post with her apology, writing: “Been thinking about my poorly placed, insensitively timed ‘bomb emoji’. No excuse.”

“I’m used to using emojis to help say more than 140 letters.

Sorry,” she added.

The gun and bomb attacks at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport led to the death of 43 people and left 230 injured.

Three suicide bombers first opened fire outside the terminal to create panic before two of the attackers entered the building and blew themselves up, while the third detonated his explosive device at the entrance.

Audrey Hepburn letters sold for £11k at auction A collection of letters written by late British actress Audrey Hepburn has sold for 11,250 pounds more than twice its estimate.

In one letter, the actress wrote that “with a heavy heart” she had broken off her engagement to socialite James Hanson.

The 10 letters were penned between 1951 and 1960 to her mentor and lifelong friend Felix Aylmer.

“It is all very unhappy-making. I fear I thought it possible to make our combined lives and careers work out,” Hepburn wrote.

They reveal details of a dramatic decade of the actress’ life as she rose from an unknown ballerina to Hollywood fame, the BBC reported.

It was followed by joy at finding her future husband, actor Mel Ferrer, whom she married in private in 1954.

They had been estimated to sell at the Bonhams auction here for up to 4,000 pounds.

“We want to keep (the wedding) a dark secret in order to have it without the ‘press’,” she wrote.

Johnny Depp gets $11m from Basquiat artworks Actor Johnny Depp has bagged $11.5 million after he sold two artworks by Jean-Michel Basquiat in an auction.

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star auctioned off two artworks by Basquiat at a Christie’s auction, earning $4.75 million for one and $6.84 million for the other, reports femalefirst. co.uk.

Meanwhile, the 53-year-old actor who is currently in the midst of a highly publicised divorce from actress Amber Heard is reportedly keen to head to his private island in the Bahamas as much as possible to escape the drama of Los Angeles.

“He has no plans to return to Los Angeles. He misses nothing about LA but his kids, and they are visiting him in the Bahamas,” a source said.

Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

Employers must adopt a practical approach to dealing with employees during ramadan, says leading lawyer As the festival of Ramadan draws to a close for another year, a leading employment lawyer is calling on employers to work closely with Muslim employees to explore all options to avoid performance related issues during the religious festival.

Yunus Lunat, head of employment law at West Yorkshire law firm Ison Harrison is encouraging business owners with Muslim staff to work out practical solutions to ensure individual performances in the workplace don’t have a negative impact of productivity due to the strictly observed fast conditions of Ramadan. He also suggests that a more collaborative approach can also avoid running the risk of discrimination accusations.

Mr Lunat said: “An interesting scenario was put to me by an employer concerned about the performance of his Muslim employees observing fast during Ramadan. Due to a perceived dip in performance in their required roles, the employer was contemplating asking these employees to take time off but the issue was whether it should be unpaid leave, time off in lieu or taken as paid annual leave. Could the employer insist that any time taken off is taken as annual leave rather than unpaid leave?

“Whether these absences were paid or unpaid is insignificant. The absences are however, likely to amount to indirect discrimination.

This is because even allowing for the effect on performance, the

employer would only be requiring the employees to take time off in

circumstances where performance has been affected by observance of a religious practice.”

Mr Lunat points out that any other similarly under-performing employees who are not of the Muslim faith and fasting would be unlikely to be subjected to a Performance Management Plan. Under such a scheme, an employer is unlikely to impose such a requirement for under-performing employees to take time off work. Seeking to impose the requirement for employees to take leave is likely to amount to an act of less favourable treatment on the grounds of religion.

Commented Mr Lunat: “This would in fact amount to direct discrimination which cannot be

21

NEWS justified by the employer and as such would not be able to rely on the impact on performance.”

Mr Lunat added that an employee who requests leave in such circumstances for fear of work performance being adversely affected presents the ideal solution to employers, saying: “This would appear to be the best solutionfor the employer, to grant leave. On the other hand, a refusal to grant leave to enable an employee to observe a religious festival is likely to amount to indirect discrimination on the grounds of religion. An employer would be required to justify his refusal on objective grounds.

“I would encourage employers to adopt a practical approach to deal with staff members observing fast during Ramadan.

"This includes actively engaging with the workforce which may involve considering temporary arrangements such as flexible working hours and remote working.”

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Issue 22

ASIAN SUNDAY

Politics

Historic Brexit plunges UK into political and economic crisis

by ITRAT BASHIR On June 23, the UK made the historic decision to leaving the European Union and thus showed a resolve to take greater control of the country; some experts are calling the Brexit results a ‘seismic shock’ for the country as well as the European Union, which has created a political and economic crisis in the country.

Well, it was indeed a shock of a large magnitude that created a big jolt in the British politics and financial markets. In the political front, the ‘Remain’ camp leaders of the leading political parties found themselves in an embarrassing situation after failing to read the sentiments of the British people.

The first victim of the seismic result was none other than Prime Minister David Cameron who announced his resignation after finding himself not a fit person ‘to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination’.

As for the Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn is in the leadership crisis after his shadow cabinet and MPs have revolted against him. Only the time will tell if they were on the right or wrong side of the history.

However, the immediate aftershocks have created

Also commotion in the financial world; the sterling pound plunged to levels not seen since 1985, and stock markets violently reacted to the news, as shares of banks, airlines and property plummeted.

So, what is the future lies for the UK? The process will take two years for the UK to come out of the EU once the Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is invoked. Since the incumbent Prime Minister left this job for new Prime Minister, it will take a few months for the process to begin. This will be followed by long negotiations over trade, business and political links with the EU. Going by the prevailing mood in Europe, put it politely, it will be hard negotiations.

Some people are thinking of securing single market after the exit, but it will have a price tag, accepting free movement of people. If this is the case then, the whole argument behind the Brexit dies down.

Even before the start of the process, we are seeing regrets in the leave camp for voting in favour of Brexit.

The aftermath economic shocks, and banks like HSBC and Morgan Stanley threatening to move out, has created uncertainty in their minds. This should be alarming for Britain; if foreign companies decide to relocate themselves to the main continent, we will lose jobs and revenue in the form of taxes they pay to us. The revenue shortfall will have to be met by high taxes and further cuts in public spending.

A combination of these fears and finding no concrete answers on the future roadmap from the Brexit leaders has created uneasiness among the people at large , and Brexit voters in particular.

Somehow, one gets the sense that

they now feel misled by the Brexit camp.

A prominent British Asian businessman Dr Rami Ranger CBE believed that the voters in favour of Brexit took an emotional decision, rather than a pragmatic one. He said the Brexit has stunned the world, including those who voted to leave the European Union.

“Undoubtedly, the economy will shrink; sterling has become weaker, share prices are low and Britain will now attract less foreign investment.

Unfortunately, loss of world’s biggest single market of 500 million affluent consumers will be hard to replace,” he feared.

He believed that companies like Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Fujitsu and Samsung came to Britain due the fact it was a part of the European Union. “Now, such companies, understandably, will invest in countries that are still part of the single market,” he added.

On the foreign affairs side, he sees Britain on the losing side, as its influence in the world will diminish.

He continued that under the new arrangement, Britain’s power of threatening or influencing a rogue country with sanctions would be weakened; there is no doubt that Britain had been more effective with sanctions while being under

the umbrella of EU. “The European countries that were allies of the UK will now become rivals, each fighting for its corner against Britain rather than fighting in unison for common goals,” he added.

On the immigration, Ranger said it is a fallacy to think that Britain can stop immigration in view of the fact that British population is aging and the birth rate is declining.

“Britain needs migrants to grow its economy, as it has done for centuries. The countries like India were benefiting more while Britain was a part of the European Union, as the Indian companies could base their headquarters in the UK and do business freely in the Europe Union.

The UK will lose this edge now,” he added.

Paresh Davdra, Founder and Sales Director, Rational FX, was worried about his sector losing global importance. He said the choice to leave Europe brings the greatest of challenges for the UK’s important and growing fintech sector. “Britain’s status as the global gateway to Europe is under question for the first time, and there is a risk of losing much needed investment, start-ups and talent,” he added.

According to him, while he strongly believed that the UK would have been better off remaining in the EU, the priority now must be to ensure that an independent United Kingdom remains the most attractive place to start and base a business in Europe, and the world.

“I believe that we can achieve this and that there is, therefore, no need for panic in our sector, or the wider economy. Britain’s continued access to the single market will be a critical issue ahead and should be a priority in our exit negotiations.

But let’s not forget London has always been a global, not just European city, and I have no doubt we will remain so going forward.

Our new Mayor’s commitment to support tech and champion businesses overseas will be all the more important as we embrace and adapt to the new reality,” he said.

The referendum has also exposed the fragility of the UK integration.

For the lust of being in control of their own destiny, the Brexit leaders and voters alienated Scotland and Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. They overwhelmingly voted to remain with the EU. Feeling leftout, Scotland is strongly advocating for a second referendum on Scottish independence, while Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams showed concerns over reintroduction of border controls and tariff s along the Republic’s border with the North. This has indeed raised the issue of a united Ireland.

The next few months are indeed a bumpy ride for us with uncertain future and it is thus imperative that, in the words of the David Cameron: ‘Now the decision has been made to leave, we need to find the best way'.

ASIAN SUNDAY 23

Issue 22

Politics

Five candidates, except Boris Johnson, contest for Tory Party leadership

by ITRAT BASHIR

delivered at the referendum and to champion the agenda that I believe in, to stick up for the forgotten people of this country.”

In a dramatic day of British politics, there was a quite few twists and turns in the race of the Tory leadership; the party announced five candidates for the contest, but Boris Johnson was not one of them who ruled himself out of the race.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove, Home Secretary Theresa May, Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb, Energy minister Andrea Leadsom and former cabinet minister Liam Fox have been confirmed as the official contenders for the next Conservative Party leader and UK Prime Minister.

the highest seat in the land.

In a speech in London, which was expected to be a formal launching of his party leadership bid, Boris stunned the media by saying that “having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in parliament, I have concluded that person (for the party leadership) cannot be me”.

To the surprise of many political pundits and public at large, Brexit campaign leader Boris Johnson pulled out from the Conservative Party’s leadership race and thus burying his ambition of becoming the Prime Minister.

After the success of the Brexit referendum and subsequent resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron, it was generally believed that former Mayor of London Boris Johnson will most likely replace him. He was the hot candidate for

“My role will be to give every possible support to the next Conservative administration to make sure that we properly fulfil the mandate of the people that was

Then, Justice Secretary Michael Gove took the political circle by surprise by announcing his candidature for the party leadership. Interestingly, he was expected to support Boris, but then he had a change of heart: “I wanted to help build a team behind Boris Johnson so that a politician who argued for leaving the European Union could lead us to a better future.

“But I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead. I have, therefore, decided to put my name forward for the leadership.”

In the race to the party leadership and ultimate prize of premiership, political pundits have declared a two-way fight between Michael Gove and Theresa May. Initially,

a successive round of voting will take place until three candidates are eliminated and later the two remaining front-runners will contest the election that is expected on September 9. The first set of voting will commence on Tuesday (July 5).

Meanwhile, launching her bid for the party leadership, Theresa May said, “Following last week’s referendum, our country needs strong, proven leadership – to steer us through this period of economic and political uncertainty, and to negotiate the best possible terms as we leave the European Union.”

She also pledged to ‘unite our party and our country’.

“With the Labour Party tearing itself to pieces, and divisive nationalists in Scotland and Wales, it is

nothing less than the patriotic duty of our party to unite and govern in the best interests of the whole country.”

Although she backed the ‘remain’ camp, but maintained a low profile during the campaign, now she pledges to honour the referendum results by categorically stating that “Brexit means Brexit”.

“There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door, and no second referendum.

The country voted to leave the European Union, and it is the duty of the government and of Parliament to make sure we do just that.”

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

TRAVEL

Costa Rica A bit of family adventure colourful tropical fish, sharks and

an adventure through the

rays to dolphins and whales, the

cultivated National parks. These

destination is definitely a

allow visitors to glimpse life in

conservationist’s dream.

the tropical rainforest and cloud

Outdoor Adventures

forest, with simmering volcanoes and reliable surf breaks that are

There is so much to do in Costa

suited to beginners and experts

Rica, from exploring wild life

alike.

to the exceptional outdoor adventures. The best thing about this little country is that you don’t need to worry about cramming things in, especially with the little ones in tow, as there are many

The Costa Ricans (or 'Ticos', the local name for anything Costa Rican) are a very friendly bunch and are very welcoming to visitors. Their way of life is pretty simple, relaxing and enjoyable.

They most

This summer holiday, if you’re

combined? Definitely earns

looking for an adventurous trip

its place as an outstanding

surroundings. Children will love

with your family that doesn’t bear

destination.

their little adventures with mini

the peak holiday season price tag, then Costa Rica is the place especially with the variety that is on offer.

Costa Rica currently tops the list for the worlds happiest countries,

Wild Life

will most certainly enjoy the

creatures from Blue morpho butterflies flitting amid orchid-

The wildlife is just splendid, with

festooned trees, to tiny arrow

something for everyone in your

frogs at ground level.

family. From sloths, macaws, tomonkeys and toucans, parents

Not to forget the wonderful creatures in the water from

and if you love wildlife then you and your family are most definitely

many tour operators who can help

in for a treat.

you plan a relatively short trip

Costa Rica is a peaceful green jewel and the eco- and adventuretourism capital of Central America.

Did you know that more than a fourth of the land enjoys some form of environmental protection and there’s greater biodiversity here than in the USA and Europe

that will include all the activities you really want to do. So whether it’s a rainforest hike, high-altitude trails, rushing white-water rapids or world-class surfing, you can be sure to enjoy outdoor pursuits in every shape and size. Don’t worry there is also time for sun dazed afternoons on the beach and

certainly enjoy the highest quality of life and you will most definitely feel that during your visit.

Eating out For those of you who enjoy good nutritionist food then you will not be disappointed here as due to the tropical location of the country, there are many exotic

ASIAN SUNDAY 25

Issue 26

TRAVEL Climate It is generally said that the best time to visit Costa Rica is during the dry season, from December to April.

Costa Rica however, overall (as it is not far from the equator) has a tropical climate year round. The temperature is fairly constant across all 12 months, with a daily low around 18C (64F) and reaching a daily high most days around 26/27C (80F). However, it should be noted that the country has multiple microclimates

is the most popular time to go

depending on elevation, rainfall,

when hotel rates are lower. Fewer

there, and the rainy season,

topography, and the geography of

crowds, lush landscapes and

known locally as “the green

each particular region. Thus in the

inexpensive lodging make August

However, if rice and beans

season” (June to October) – with

mountains temperatures can be

– October wonderful months to

doesn’t take your fancy, then

May and November being the 2

cooler at 10C (50F) and humidity is

travel in Costa Rica. Also, much

there are a wealth of other

‘shoulder season’ months, where

also higher on the Caribbean side

of the rain can be at night on the

cuisines from Japanese to

one season fades out and the

than on the Pacific side.

Pacific side which can leave some

other season fades in.

of the day clear and sunny even

Caribbean influenced eateries. So

Costa Rica’s most important

Budget-conscious travellers

if you have fussy little munchkins,

climate feature is that the year can

however, may prefer to visit

food is not something you will

be split into two periods. The dry

Costa Rica in the green season,

need to worry about.

season (December-April) generally

fruits and vegetables readily

meals, often served three times a

available and included in the

day.

local cuisine. Costa Rican fare is nutritionally well rounded, and nearly always cooked from scratch from fresh ingredients. Costa Rican cuisine is known for being fairly mild, with high reliance on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Rice and black beans are a staple of most traditional Costa Rican

Chinese, to Italian and Afro-

in the rainy season. The country experiences a mini-high season in June and July when the rains temporarily lessen.

Combine exotic treks with stunning beaches for a true walk on the wild side

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

Business

Access to single market will be top priority

of the European Union, and still a member of the single market.

Employment is still at a record high.

And this government is still 100 percent committed to making the UK the best place in Europe to start and grow a business. None of this

the negotiation of the UK’s future relationship with the EU is carried out in the interest of UK companies, investors, potential investors and workers.

has changed on Friday morning and none of this will change overnight,” he reassured the business community.

by ITRAT BASHIR Business Secretary Sajid Javid chaired the first meeting of Britain’s business leaders since the EU referendum last Tuesday, and assured them that keeping the UK’s access to the single market will be his number one priority in the negotiations with the European Union.

The event was attended by representatives from the leading business trade associations and CEOs and senior representatives from many of our biggest employers to discuss the challenges faced by businesses and ensure that

the fundamental facts remain unchanged. The UK is still a member

According to him, over the next few months he will be visiting key overseas markets and reminding firms there that the UK is still very much open for business, just as before. Similarly, the Prime Minister’s business ambassadors and trade envoys, drawn from across the business world and political spectrum, are out there representing the UK in the key markets and sectors around the world. Between now and the end of the year he will be leading a series of trade missions in order to

On the occasion, the Secretary said the biggest issue raised was the need to secure continued access to the single market. “While I’m not in a position to make promises, I assured everyone that my number one priority will be just that in the negotiations to come,” he added.

His message for everyone was very clear, “Britain is open for business”.

“Yes, the financial markets are still reacting to the result. But

communicate that message myself.

“The impact of last week’s vote will not just be felt among exporters and foreign investors, across the country there are millions of businesses, large and small, that are not directly trading into EU, but who also have questions. In the weeks to come my ministerial team and I will be visiting businesses right across the country,” he added.

He revealed that they have also received plenty of reassurance from business. “Investors have reaffirmed their commitment to the UK. For example, Huawei has confirmed to the government that its planned £1.3 billion investment in the UK will go ahead. The referendum will make no difference to that commitment.

Numerous other companies have offered us staff to help with negotiations,” he added.

EasyJet confident of meeting Pakistani youngsters post-referendum challenges receive Queen’s Young

by ITRAT BASHIR The recent the results of the UK referendum will have no impact on the easyJet airline’s strategy or ability to deliver, said a spokesperson of easyJet airline.

The airline notes the result of the referendum in favour of the UK leaving the EU and it is confident that it will not have a material impact on its strategy or its ability to deliver long term sustainable earnings growth and returns to shareholders.

The airline has been preparing for this eventuality in the lead up to the referendum vote and has been working on a number of options that will allow it to continue flying in all of its markets.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet Chief Executive, said that they remain confident in the strength of easyJet’s business model and their ability to continue to deliver our successful strategy and our leading returns. “We have written to the UK government and the European Commission to ask them to prioritise the UK remaining part of the single EU aviation market, given its importance to trade and consumers.”

According to the spokesperson, easyJet’s initial focus will be to accelerate discussions with UK and EU governments and regulators to ensure that the UK remains part of the single EU aviation market. This would enable EU airlines to fly freely within the UK and between the UK and EU, allow UK airlines to fly freely across Europe and would ensure that consumers continue to benefit from low fares. This would mean easyJet and other airlines can continue to operate as they do now. The airline will also continue to develop its alternative options that will fully maintain its existing network and operations.

“We are confident that its unique network, digital leadership, cost advantage and financial strength will enable it to continue to execute on its strategy and to deliver long term sustainable earnings growth and returns to shareholders,” the spokesperson added.

However, the outcome of the EU referendum had an impact on its share prices, which fell by 17 percent.

The airline said the operating environment for all European airlines in May and June had already been extremely challenging. It had

experienced 1,061 cancellations in the third quarter due to the strike by French Air Traffic Controllers, runway and congestion issues at Gatwick airport and severe weather.

“These incidents, together with the Egyptair tragedy, resulted in some drop off in consumer demand leading to lower yield and have impacted third quarter Profit before Tax by approximately £28 million and have had a negative impact on third quarter revenue per seat,” the airline added.

In addition to that, following the outcome of the EU referendum, they also anticipate that additional economic and consumer uncertainty is likely this summer and as a consequence it is expected that revenue per seat at constant currency in the second half will now be down by at least a mid-single digit percentage compared to the second half of 2015. In addition, recent movements in fuel prices and exchange rates are now expected to add around £25 million of additional cost in the year to that guided at the Half Year Results. In response, easyJet is continuing its efforts to drive exfuel cost savings.

Leaders Award 2016

by ITRAT BASHIR Two young Pakistanis have received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award 2016 for their exemplary work in the field of environment and education.

The Queen presented the awards to the 2016 Queen’s Young Leaders Zainab Bibi and Muhammad Usman Khan in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 23. His Royal Highness Prince Harry attended the event in support of The Queen, which recognised exceptional young people from across the Commonwealth who are making lasting change in their communities.

Former Prime Minister and Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust Sir John Major, David Beckham and Sir Lenny Henry were also present on the occasion.

On the occasion Syed Ibne Abbas, Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK, met with the Pakistani winners and commended their efforts for the prestigious award. The High

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Issue 26

Finance Commissioner termed them role models for the Pakistani youth.

He also had an audience with the distinguished guests in attendance.

cycle and a greater resistance to drought, which means that it can be grown in desert areas in Pakistan.

Zainab Bibi is a keen environmentalist, with a strong interest in renewable energy. In 2013, she established the Pakistan Society for Green Energy to increase awareness of green energy solutions. She then successfully managed to develop a bioethanol (a bio-fuel) from waste tissue paper, which could help provide cleaner energy. She also introduced into Pakistan, from the US, a plant species that produces bioethanol (biodiesel).

‘Camelina sativa’ has a short growth

Meanwhile, Muhammad Usman Khan is dedicated to helping all children to receive an education.

After attending the British Council’s Active Citizens Programme, he designed an educational programme called ‘Back to Life Edutainment for street children’. He promoted the programme using social media and managed to

encourage more than 500 young people to voluntarily implement the project in four cities.

He also founded the BEYLI Organisation, which aims to educate and support underprivileged young people. He then returned to his home village, set up the Rethinking Education community school, and created a programme called ‘Edupowerment’, which teaches students computer skills, English language skills and peace education.

In the year of the Queen’s 90th birthday, the Queen’s Young Leaders, including Muhammad and Zainab, have all been taking part in a series

of high-level engagements across London and in Cambridge over the course of the past week. This has included participating in a challenge set by global social networking company Twitter, meeting Senior Executives at BBC World News and visiting 10 Downing Street.

As part of the programme they also received leadership training at the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education, met UK business leaders from Standard Chartered, AMV BBDO and PWC and heard from leaders from UK charities working to deliver life-changing projects.

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

BUSINESS It has been a week since millions of people voted on how they want the UK to be shaped, and guess what: things seem to be going smoothly. Yes markets have fallen, and sterling fell in value, but since last Friday the markets have been recovering.

The referendum result – is it all doom and gloom?

There is currently no talk of a rise in tax, or interest rates or other punitive measures that Joe Bloggs on the street would perceive as being a financial detriment to them; therefore was it all scare mongering, or was there any truth in the doom and gloom predicted by the government?

There were certain myths linked to a leave vote, and I am glad to say that these have remained myths (touch wood!). There was talk of a housing crash where the cost of our houses would dramatically fall. In terms of my own analysis I believe that if there is any fall in prices, it is likely to be a slowdown and will be short term.

The other major factor that many of our readers were worried about was an increase in bills. There is talk of petrol getting more expensive as the pound has fallen against the dollar; however experts predict this should be no more than a penny or two. In fact my view is that overall in the long term there could be no affect. This is because the pound has recovered since last week, and we seem to forget that several years ago the pound was significantly stronger compared to where it is now.

The fall in the value of sterling when comparing to the euro was also worrying.

However as someone who visits Paris a fair amount, I can tell you now ÂŁ1 was equal to a euro only a few years ago. Surely, at that time we should have panicked, yet people were still visiting Europe.

Our columnist Mr Money Bags, who has decades of experience in finance, an MBA, an advanced diploma in financial planning and not to mention his super business skills each edition will give you, our lovely readers some valuable tips and advice on money and business matters.

He is forthright and can sometimes be stern when it comes to your cash, but when it comes to finance he really is the expert. Read on for your business and finance advice.

Mr Money Bags

The small fall last week should not worry us, as it was only a small fall. World currencies are always fluctuating, and this is sometimes good news, and at other times bad news depending on the state of a countries economy.

Lets now look at the stock market. Well the stock market on June 24 fell from circa 6300 points to around 5800 points. A major fall, and wiped billions off the value of many companies. Now lets fast forward a week, and the FTSE on 30 June was trading at 6387. Overall, the FTSE is actually higher than it was last week. This means those people that kept their funds, and although worried, held their nerve in UK stocks, have actually made a gain.

There is always uncertainty when a major event happens such as Brexit, but it is usually short term. Would it surprise many of you if I told you that during the banking crisis of 2008 the markets crashed by circa 8%, and after a period of five years had gained by circa 80%? This is called volatility, and if you are an investor you should be prepared to suffer falls as well as gains. I would go further to say that when markets fall, then this is potentially the best time to invest because you buy units at a cheaper rate; therefore when the markets rise you will make a gain.

So overall, what is going to happen in the next few months? I think it is business as usual. Yes we will hear from politicians, and yes agreements need to be put into place; however this should have been expected if leave was going to win.

The honest answer is I do not think leave voters, nor the government actually expected a leave vote to win; therefore it will take some time for us to get our heads around the fact that we will not be part of the EU.

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Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

OPINION

My first charity iftaar and why ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ is more important than ever no wine, I eye the soft drinks on the table with longing. I think it is the fact that when you are told you cannot have something, it somehow seems more appealing. I also think eating and drinking so much is sometimes just a habit.

I take a few notes in a small notepad and a woman nearby eyes me suspiciously. I explain I am from the Asian Sunday Newspaper and writing about the multi-faith event. She tells me about seeing the world’s press in

by ALISON BELLAMY I turn up for my first ever iftaar, not knowing quite what to expect. I realise there will be no food served until sunset and it is only 7pm, but I already feel a little hungry and I am not even fasting.

I wasn’t really sure how to dress for an iftaar. ‘Do you think I should show my arms?’ I asked my husband.

‘Yes your arms look ok’ he said. He thought I was asking in the style of ‘Does my bum look big in this?’

I settle on a dress with sleeves to the elbows and also wear a wrap around my shoulders. Although in hindsight, I don’t think it mattered how you dressed, but I wanted to be respectful.

I arrive at Carlton Junior and Infant School, in Batley Carr, to a warm welcome from members of school staff and workers from the charity Penny Appeal.

I join an Asian family at a table and chat to the mum and her two daughters both aged 19, plus a boy of five. He is not fasting and is eating rice from a tub. The mother explains that it is after puberty when children start to fast, or earlier, if they are mature enough and want to try it.

We sit down and although I was prepared for the fact there would be

nearby Batley town centre at the Jo Cox memorial event. I reassure her not to be worried and I am there as a friend, not a spy. We laugh together.

As the local vicar, MP Paula Sherriff and various councillors talk about unity and how we should live in harmony, the theme of the event ‘Love Thy Neighbour’, seems to be more important than ever, especially after the murder of our beloved local MP Jo Cox and the shock result from the European Referendum, earlier in the day.

The Imam from Leeds Makkah Masjid Dr Qasi Asim, MBE, leads a prayer

from the Holy Qur’an and it is a loud and haunting cry, but also spiritual at the same time. I don’t understand the words but it doesn’t really matter and I feel it is positive stuff and everyone seems happy and at peace with themselves after the prayer.

Then a special guest arrived. It is Boonnaa Mohammed who is an international poet and rapper. He has an American accent and it is all rather dramatic as he starts to perform but even the grannies don’t seem to mind. Some of the youngsters are very excited.

Eventually, I cannot stand it any longer. I ask the people at the table whether they mind if I have a drink.

They reply with peels of laughter, especially the teenage girls who are studying at university, saying that I don’t have to ask and to go ahead.

I can see them staring at me as I pour some water and feel slightly uncomfortable as no one else is drinking a thing.

Someone says it will be 10 to 10 before the food arrives to end the day’s fast.

I am counting down the minutes. We can smell it being made and I find out more about the fast and how it makes people feel. One woman says how cleansed she feels and how it is important for her spirituality.

One girl says she doesn’t do fasting well and often feels a bit giddy. They all agree that the first taste of food is the best thing ever. I can understand that. They explain that anyone with

health problems and those who are very elderly, do not fast. I wonder how they manage in the hot weather.

Then, as if by magic, the time has passed quickly and some helpers appear holding trays of fruit. They put the plates down and I can see the pleasure as my dining pals devour the tasty, juicy fruit pieces. Then crispy samosas arrive and they are truly delicious. It was worth waiting for, I agree with the others. Although, admittedly, I do feel slightly guilty as I had eaten a snack at 6pm.

The main course of byriani chicken smells divine. There is plenty for everyone and it is a good feeling to sit and share the food. The family I am sitting with say that at home they may take their time eating during Ramadan and that they would generally sit on the floor to enjoy the food. This seems quite strange to me, although it is the most natural thing in the world to sit on the floor and eat your meal.

So it was an interesting and enjoyable evening. I was home quite late but really felt I had had a taste of life as a Muslim person.

The Love Thy Neighbour idea is more vital than it ever has been, that is clear to me. With an uncertain future ahead of us regarding the state of our economy and who is running the country, we are undoubtedly all in this together, whatever our race, religion or outlook.

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ASIAN SUNDAY

MOTORING

THE NEW MERCEDES-AMG GT R: DEVELOPED IN THE “GREEN HELL” From the world’s most demanding racetrack directly onto the road: Never before has Mercedes-AMG packed so much motorsport technology into a production vehicle than into the new AMG GT R. The front-mid-engine concept with transaxle, the twin-turbo V-8 engine rated at 430 kW/585 hp, the extensively modified suspension, the new aerodynamics and the intelligent lightweight construction lay the foundations for an especially dynamic driving experience. Even from afar, the exclusive “AMG green hell magno” special paintwork leaves no doubt

as to the sports car’s origin, having spent most of its development time in the “Green Hell” of the Nurburgring racetrack. Wider front and rear wings allow an increased track width for optimum grip and

even higher cornering speeds.

The new front fascia with active elements, the large rear aerofoil and the new rear fascia with double diffuser enhance aerodynamic efficiency and help ensure optimum grip. The lightweight forged wheels shod with cup tyres as standard are likewise designed for maximum driving dynamics. The same applies to other new features such as the active rear-wheel steering, the nine-way adjustable traction control system and the adjustable coil-over suspension with additional electronic control.

What is more, the new AMG

Panamericana grille emphasises the unique standing of the AMG GT R. Its characteristic form with vertical fins celebrated its world première on the Mercedes-AMG GT3 customer-sport racing car and

now for the first time features on an AMG production vehicle.

Mercedes-AMG continues to grow and is expanding the top end of its product range with the introduction of the new AMG GT R. “Our sports-car and performance brand AMG has its roots in motorsport and, ever since its formation, has repeatedly faced up to the competition on the racetrack. These genes are particularly prevalent in the new AMG GT R. Boasting a wealth of technological innovations, the new top-of-the-range model is proof of the close collaboration between our constructors of racing cars and roadgoing vehicles,” states Professor Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, responsible for Group Research and Mercedes Benz Cars Development.

“With the new AMG GT R, we have reached the next level of driving performance.

This road-going sports car with motorracing genes and innovative technical solutions offers an ultimate driving experience that allows people to feel our motorsport origins in every fibre. It combines the driving dynamics of our AMG GT3 racing car with the everyday practicality

of the AMG GT. Those with petrol in their veins will be thrilled by the radical longitudinal and lateral acceleration, the precise turn-in, and the sensational grip. We have modified all performance-relevant components and linked them together intelligently for maximum driving dynamics,” says Tobias Moers, CEO of Mercedes AMG GmbH. The data at a glance: Mercedes-AMG GT R Engine

4.0-litre V-8 with twin turbochargers and direct injection

Displacement

3982 cc

Output

430 kW (585 hp) at 6250 rpm

Peak torque

700 Nm at 1900-5500 rpm

Driven wheels

Rear-wheel drive

Transmission

AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7 speed dual-clutch transmission

Fuel consumption urban/extra-urban /combined

15.0/9.2/11.4 l/100 km

Combined CO2 emissions

Combined CO2 emissions 259 g/km

Efficiency class

G

Weight (DIN/EC)

1555*/1630** kg

Power-to-weight ratio

2.66*/2.79** kg/hp

Acceleration 0-100 km/h

3.6 s

Top speed

318 km/h

*Kerb weight according to DIN, not including driver and luggage; **Kerb weight according to EC, including driver (75 kg)

The third member of the AMG GT family is the new spearhead of the AMG model range. Featuring pioneering technologies, the AMG GT R was designed with racetrack use firmly in mind. Its development was largely based on vast motorracing experience in AMG GT3

customer sport and the German Touring Car Masters. Figures such as 3.6 seconds from zero to 100 km/h and a top speed of 318 km/h, combined with the outstanding driving dynamics, will undoubtedly translate into extremely fast laps on the racetrack. The new exclusive colour “AMG green hell magno” alone establishes a visual link to the “Green Hell”, the nickname for the legendary “North Loop” of the Nurburgring, emphasising that the car’s roots are firmly embedded in the racetrack. Sharpened racetrack performance comes courtesy of the intelligent lightweight construction incorporating aluminium and carbon, specific reinforcements in the body shell, the uprated twin-turbo V-8 engine with the specifically adapted seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the innovative aerodynamics with active components, and the new suspension with active rear-wheel steering and uniball joints.

The concept with front mid-engine and transmission in transaxle configuration on the rear axle, a tried-and-tested feature of the AMG GT and AMG GT S, makes for a beneficial rear-biased weight distribution of 47.3 to 52.7. In conjunction with the vehicle’s low centre of gravity, this translates into extremely agile handling and permits high cornering speeds.

With a power-to-weight ratio of 2.66 kilograms per hp, the Mercedes-AMG GT R takes up pole position in its segment.

MITSUBISHI GROUND TOURER CONCEPT 2016 PARIS MOTOR SHOW PREVIEW Following the unveiling of the Concept XR PHEV II and eX Concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show and the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show respectively, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) continues the development of its ‘Dynamic Shield’ design philosophy with its latest concept to be unveiled at this year’s Paris Motor Show.

The Ground Tourer Concept carries the latest expression of Mitsubishi Motors’ design journey, expressed

through four powerful elements: Functional beauty, augmented possibilities, Japanese craftsmanship and solid thrust.

Combining Mitsubishi Motors’ unparalleled off road heritage and cutting edge plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology, the Ground Tourer Concept SUV will offer effortless travel both on and off the beaten track whatever the driving conditions.

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MOTORING ALFA ROMEO GIULIA QUADRIFOGLIO UK PRICING AND SPECIFICATION ANNOUNCED UK pricing for the all-new Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio was announced at a press conference at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Powered by a new 510hp, 600Nm Bi-Turbo V6 petrol engine, with an eight-speed paddle shift automatic transmission as standard, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is capable of sprinting to 62mph in just 3.9* seconds and on to a top speed of more than 190mph*^ while still being cable of up to 49mpg* on the official extra-urban fuel efficiency cycle, with low emissions of 189g/km*.

Built around Alfa Romeo’s all-new rear-wheel drive architecture, the Giulia sports short overhangs, a long bonnet, muscular haunches and the longest wheelbase in its segment.

Careful management of weights and materials has resulted in perfect 50/50 weight distribution across its axles, while the sophisticated fourarm Alfa™ Link rear suspension (with an Alfa Romeo-patented solution for toe adjustment) and new doublewishbone front set up have been specifically tuned to maximise its dynamic abilities and enhance driving comfort.

Q BY ASTON MARTIN BUILD THE ULTIMATE OPEN-TOP VANTAGE Q by Aston Martin, the Roadster also features bespoke paint and trim.

Aston Martin today unveiled its most extreme roadster ever in the unique form of the one-off Vantage GT12 Roadster. A tailor made customer commission undertaken by Q by Aston Martin, the Vantage GT12 Roadster takes the original Vantage GT12 Coupe’s hardcore ethos and adds the visceral thrill of opentop driving, offering the driver an intensified sensation of exhilaration and the unfiltered fury of a 600PS V12 soundtrack.

Conceived and delivered within a nine-month period, the Vantage GT12 Roadster draws its origins from the Vantage GT12 Coupe, with a special 600PS version of the

brand’s 6.0-litre normally aspirated V12 engine mated to a sevenspeed Sportshift IIItm paddle-shift transmission. Technical highlights include magnesium inlet manifolds with revised geometry, a lightweight magnesium torque tube and a full titanium exhaust system.

The Vantage GT12 Roadster is a significant landmark, for it is the first time a customer has been able to call upon the full scope of Aston Martin’s design and engineering capabilities as part of the Q by Aston Martin bespoke commission service.

Initially offered as a means of providing fully personalised colour and trim combinations, the service has been continually expanded.

With the incorporation of Aston Martin Advanced Operations - the team responsible for the original Vantage GT12 Coupe, along with low volume inhouse projects such as the Aston Martin Vulcan, Lagonda Taraf and One-77 customers can now commission highly ambitious full-scale design and engineering projects.

The most visible differences are the significant number of new carbonfibre body panels, while beneath the skin a unique suspension set-up defined by Aston Martin’s in-house dynamics experts, helping to ensure the Vantage GT12 Roadster shares the same exceptional handling characteristics as the Vantage GT12 Coupe. Naturally being a product of

David King, Vice President and Chief Special Operations Officer, says of the Vantage GT12 Roadster: “Aston Martin has a growing reputation of

building ambitious commissions for customers, perhaps the best example being the spectacular CC100 Speedster Concept. We have also become world leaders in ultra-low volume projects with cars such as the One-77, Lagonda Taraf and Aston Martin Vulcan, while the Vantage GT12 and Vantage GT8 show how far we can take our series production models.

“The GT12 Roadster is the first project to combine all of those skill sets in one magnificent car. In just nine-months we took a customer’s dream and realised it, with a fullyformed, exactingly engineered and

fully road-legal one-off. That is the essence of the Q by Aston Martin service”.

Dr Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President and CEO, commented: “The Vantage GT12 Roadster is a hugely exciting project. Not just because it’s sensational to look at, but because it vividly demonstrates the expanded capabilities of Q by Aston Martin. By incorporating the exceptional engineering capabilities of Aston Martin Advanced Operations within the Q by Aston Martin bespoke commissioning service we have a truly formidable creative team.”

Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

PUZZLES & CROSSWORD

Crossword

Wordsearch Daisy Dale Donald Eeyore Geppetto Grumpy Huey Kanga Lady Mickey Mowgli Pegasus Piglet Pluto Pocahontas Scamp Tramp Wendy

Brainteaser What do the following words have in common?

FAST THROUGH DOWN AWAY WATER NECK

Each may be preceded by BREAK to give a new word

34

Answers

Spot the Difference Can you spot the 10 differences?

Love reading

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ASIAN SUNDAY

Issue 26

JOBS

Reporters/Journalists wanted

SALES EXECUTIVES Hours of Work: Flexible Salary: £40k OTE (basic, plus car and expenses) Are you a self starter, ambitious, self motivator, have the hunger to achieve and increase earning potential? Then our Managers at Asian Sunday want to hear from you

communication skills and be educated to a minimum of 5 GCSE’s at grade C or above and have a can do attitude. You will be required to travel nationally and with positions in London and Yorkshire.

For the right candidate full training will be given

To apply or for more information email a covering letter with your CV to jobs@ A positions has become available for Business development Manager to help sell asiansunday.co.uk with Sales Executive in the subject field or post to: our services to Business clients.

You must have a minimum of one year’s experience selling to B2B customers. You must possess excellent

Asian Sunday Newspaper , 1st Floor,18 East Parade, Bradford, BD1 5EE T. 0333 577 0046

Asian Sunday is expanding nationally and therefore is looking for journalists/reporters.

We have a cracking news patch here and we want enthusiastic reporters who will get out and about bringing in exclusive stories and getting into the heart of our communities. You will have all your preliminary qualifications, including 100 wpm shorthand. The ideal candidates will have knowledge of Asian Communities living in the UK along with business and lifestyle.

We are an equal opportunities employer and therefore accept

applications from all backgrounds.

Flexible working hours. Pay scale according to NUJ guidelines and based on experience.

To apply send your CV with a covering letter to editor@ asiansunday.co.uk or post to: Asian Sunday Newspaper 18 East Parade, Bradford, BD1 5EE T. 0333 577 0046

DISTRIBUTORS wanted Asian Sunday is expanding and therefore are looking for more distributors.

Asian Sunday is now approaching its fourth year and has now launched nationally. Therefore, we are looking for distributors in London, Leicester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Lancashire and Manchester.

If you want to earn some extra cash and have a few spare hours over the weekend to deliver the Asian Sunday newspaper to businesses, then we want to hear from you.

You must have your own van or car.

NON-ExEcUTIVE MEMBERS wanted

Key stakeholders and help us build trust with our readership with factual, responsible and independent reporting

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

4 year appointment, approximately 12 days per year.

We are looking for individuals who have a passion for news and are committed to developing responsible relationships with our partners across the country.

I The foundation is now looking for Non-Executive Board members to

NoN-ExEcutivE MEMbEr

Pay: Voluntary first year. Thereafter £150 per day plus expenses Number of positions: 6 The appointed candidate(s) will be expected to contribute to the strategic development and direction of our publications oversee the development and review of key performance targets, ensure the publication complies with its statutory requirements and ensure that a high standard of corporate governance

Hiring?

Hours: Flexible In the first instance please apply with a letter of interest to jobs@asiansunday. co.uk with Distribution as your subject or post letter of interest to: Asian Sunday Newspaper 1st Floor18 East Parade, Bradford, BD1 5EE T. 0333 577 0046

– Asian Sunday Newspaper

Asian Sunday newspaper launched as Britain's leading FREE Sunday newspaper, with a particular focus on British Asian news, for the British born South Asians, with a view to reaching out to the wider community.

Therefore to help us with our vision, we are looking for like minded individuals who have a passion for community and want to help make a difference by guiding and steering our media relations and reporting in the right direction.

Pay: Full car allowance and salary will be paid to the ideal candidates.

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

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

Candidates must also be able to demonstrate: integrity and a commitment to transparency of decision-making; effective communication, influencing and inter-personal skills; high level of analytical ability; and the capacity and temperament to work in an open, inclusive and collaborative environment.

Previous experience as a Non-

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

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

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

Interested candidates should submit a CV to md@asiansunday.co.uk with a covering letter explaining why you believe you are suitable for the role.

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ASIAN SUNDAY 37

Issue 26

MATRIMONIALs

Single?

Find your perfect match with AS matchmaker To reply to any of the adverts listed below simply email matchmaker@asiansunday.co.uk with your details and box no and we will be sure to get a message back to you. All the best in your journey of finding that perfect partner.

Single Men CIVIL SERVANT 44 year old divorced Sunni Muslim.

Works for local government.

5, 5 tall and is of reasonable build.

Enjoys travelling and socialising.

Live in Manchester. Family background originally from Kenya Looking for marriage. Looking for an educated female, who is grounded and has good family values.

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38

Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

SPORTS

Wimbledon 2016 Preview

by AYYAZ MALIK

After suffering disappointment again to great rival Novak Djokovic at the French Open, Andy Murray will be hoping to exact his revenge on ‘home soil’ at Wimbledon.

Wimbledon, one of the biggest tennis events in the tennis calendar began on Monday 27 Jun and will end on Sunday 17 July.

Looking from the outside, observers may naturally think that this tournament will see Novak Djokovic add to his ever growing number of Grand Slams.

The world of sport can work in mysterious ways, however – just look at the English football Premier League season, who would have thought Leicester City would have conquered all to become domestic champions?

Some might actually forget the achievements of Argentinean David Nalbandian. The Argentinean, who was a qualifier

for the tournament in 2002, exceeded all expectations and was a beaten finalist that year.

Nalbandian was swept aside by a quite brilliant Rodger Federer on the day, but this example is a sign that maybe there is hope for the chasing pack.

This year’s tournament won’t include Rafael Nadal, who unfortunately has had to pull out due to yet another injury. The

Wimbledon tournament won’t be short of world class players taking part though. Usual suspects Rodger Federer, Andy Murray and of course Novak Djokovic will be seen as the ‘favourites’ for the Wimbledon title.

‘Favourite’ is a dangerous label, and with players such as Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios also in the tournament, one would be hoping for an open tournament.

All three of these players have reached the latter stages of big tournaments in the past, so write these three men off at your peril. Wawrinka actually won the

French Open last year, which only emphasises that anybody could snatch victory at Wimbledon.

tournament he has competed in, but even he can have a ‘bad day at the office’ - he is human, after all.

Experience and the know-how of actually going ‘the distance’ at Wimbledon is something that Murray, Djokovic and Federer have over the rest of the tennis circuit.

Once upon a time though in the case of all three of these players, none of them had won Wimbledon despite the undoubted promise that they had.

Looking in on the outside, ominously for the chasing pack Andy Murray appears to have a ‘favourable draw’ where he won’t face any of his main rivals until the latter stages of the tournament.

Especially since winning at The Queen’s Club for a record fifth time and the fact that former coach Ivan Lendl has returned, Murray seems to have the ‘bit in between his teeth’ for SW19.

So maybe there is a glimmer of hope for the chasing pack, it won’t be easy, though. Novak Djokovic has been close to unstoppable ever since he famously changed his diet and refined his strength and talent all those years ago. He was the man who broke up the Nadal/ Federer rivalry, one of the best tennis rivalries in this era, to make it a three-way rivalry – that’s quite an achievement by the 29-year old.

Since the changes to his lifestyle, Novak has won almost every

All gloomy signs then for the chasing pack, but one shouldn’t be too hasty just yet, as 2016 has been a very ‘bizarre year’ in the sporting sense. There have been shocks and upsets galore in the sporting arena, so who’s to say the same won’t happen here.

One thing is for certain, Wimbledon 2016 should make for a very exciting tournament.

Euro 2016: The Year of the Underdog

by AYYAZ MALIK This footballing year has been one of the most bizarre in living memory, and all footballing logic has seemingly gone out of the window. It started with rank outsiders Leicester City winning the Premier League title, and now the upset has carried on after Iceland’s stunning win over England.

Hearing the name Iceland, one wouldn’t associate them with football necessarily; with a population of just approximately 325,000, the term ‘minnows’ couldn’t be more relevant in this instance.

England have been somewhat disjointed in the tournament and their game against Iceland was further evidence of that, as Iceland won the game after an error from goalkeeper Joe Hart. Iceland’s win meant they qualified for the quarter-finals, and at the start of the tournament who would have thought that!?

The French are maybe still the overwhelming favourites for the tournament as they are the hosts.

One shouldn’t forget, however, that Euro 2016 is a tournament

which even teams such as Holland failed to qualify for. Teams like Iceland, Northern Ireland and Wales have defied footballing logic in this tournament by exceeding expectations, but this footballing year hasn’t had much ‘logic’ behind it.

Wales came out on top against Northern Ireland, in a game that was dubbed ‘The Battle of Britain’, to reach the quarterfinals stage.

They have done remarkably well considering this is the first tournament that they have qualified for in 58 years.

On their best days Belgium are close to unstoppable, just ask the Republic of Ireland, but The Red Devils can also have games like they did against Italy. ‘Favourite’, overall, is a dangerous word considering how the tournament has been this year.

What has made this tournament as wonderful as it has been is that teams like Wales don’t have any respect for reputations; the Welsh topped a group which many would have expected England to top.

Another example of reputations counting for little was Spain being

convincingly beaten by Italy, and this Italian team is apparently one of Italy’s worst ever.

but no team is infallible as even the Germans have shown deficiencies in defence in this tournament.

The 2014 world champions Germany have moved through the gears as the tournament has progressed, so it would be difficult to overlook them,

With Euro 2016 coming to the latter stages, the tournament is really hotting up, and arguably anyone can win it. In these situations the

players with ‘big game’ experience will likely come out on top, which is what could give Germany the edge over others. This has however, been a year of fairytales, and France will be hoping for their little fairytale by winning Euro 2016 in front of their home fans.

ASIAN SUNDAY 39

Issue 26

England v Pakistan Test Series:

Will it be ‘Shah La La’ time for Pakistan?

by AYYAZ MALIK After six years away, Pakistan will soon kick off their four match test series with England on 14 July at Lords. Test series between these two nations have produced memorable moments over the years. Whether the magical bowling of spin duo Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed, or Alex Stewarts epic 170, clashes between these two over the years have produced memorable matches and brilliant individual performances.

Sadly for the cricket community, the last time these two countries locked horns, cricket was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Captained by Salman Butt at the time, Pakistan were caught up in an all new ‘spotfixing’ scandal.

Spot fixing, as it’s known, is where a bowler deliberately bowls an illegal delivery on a preset ball of an over, in other words fixing a specific part of the match. For Pakistan, their captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Amir were given custodial sentences as a result of the scandal.

Time, one would hope, is a great healer after all have done the necessary steps to start their integration back into cricket. In fact in Amir’s case, the 24-year old is already back in the T20 and one-day international fold; the former teenage sensation is now arguably seen as the spearhead of the tourists bowling attack.

The 2009 T20 world champions have worked hard on the field over the last six years. Due to political turmoil, the Asian side have been playing their ‘home matches’ in the UAE, where sides like New Zealand, Australia and even England have failed to win.

Home side England were well beaten 2-0 in the end, but might count themselves unlucky to have been on the wrong end of an umpire’s call to end a game due to bad light. After that bit of misfortune for The Three Lions, they crumbled to leg-spinner Yasir Shah’s wonderful bowling.

SPORTS Boxing with Khalil Alam Khalil Alam works as a boxing coach for The Lion strength and Fitness Academy (LSFA) based in Bradford an independent and registered non-profit organisation that is affiliated to England Boxing.

The aim of LSFA is to engage young people and adults into physical fitness, health and nutrition, drugs and alcohol awareness and dangers of weapons.

Khalil is extremely passionate about boxing and each edition he will be sharing the latest news and reviews from the world of boxing.

CHRIS EUBANK JR VS GENNADY “GGG” GOLOVKIN

England would have been hoping to have seen the back end of the 30-year old leg-spinner, but unfortunately, for them, he is travelling with the squad after serving his drug ban. Throughout these last 12-18 months, Captain Misbah Ul-Haq has been extremely instrumental in the side’s batting line-up.

Ul-Haq will be accompanied by fellow veteran Younis Khan in the Pakistani middle order. Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are very talented players and will complement an already very impressive middle order for the 1992 world champions.

It’s at the top of the batting where England could have a foot in the door. There’s no place for opener Ahmed Shehzad, who despite being talented lacks the consistency, and also his opening partner Mohammed Hafeez who has a knee problem. Pakistan will most likely open with Shan Masood and Babar Azam for this series.

That could be a key factor in this series between these two sides.

England as we know have a world class bowling attack in Stuart Broad and James Anderson, Chris Woakes and a brilliant all-rounder in Ben Stokes. It is perhaps England’s batting at the top of the order that is a concern for the home side.

If the recent Sri Lanka series is anything to by, far too often The Three Lions lost most of their top order before 100 runs were even

on the board. With the bowling attack, Pakistan have bowlers such as Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Mohammed Amir and star spinner Yasir Shah, so England will know that they can’t afford to start their batting innings in a sloppy manner. They might have got away with it against Sri Lanka, but they may not be as lucky against Pakistan.

The hosts do have a good batting order and do bat very deep, something which cannot be said of the Pakistani batting line up. Yes, they do have a brilliant middle order, but should one of the legendary duos of Misbah or Younis get dismissed early, then England could be looking at a completely different game.

With Alistair Cook and Alex Hales at the top of the order, England just might have eventually found the right player to the partnership after the Cook and Andrew Strauss opening partnership.

England will be hoping to counter Pakistan’s most potent weapon, a world class leg spinner, with their own in the form of Adil Rashid, who has been improving game by game.

With both teams having their own strengths and weaknesses, this series promises to be a classic.

Who will win between the two?

It’s just too close to call and this series will no doubt be much closer than England’s last series against Sri Lanka. Let’s just hope that this series is remembered for all of the right reasons.

I have great admiration for Chris Eubank Jr who burst onto the boxing scene a couple of years ago and has since been moulded into a very decent and dangerous fighter.

Eubank Jr has had convincing wins against some durable opponents and picked up a British middleweight title recently.

Eubank has to be applauded for the way he has handled the immense pressure on his shoulders of fulfilling his father’s legendary boxing achievements and people unjustly will always compare.

However in my opinion I feel Eubank Jr is a better fighter now than his father was at the peak of his boxing career and he seems to be getting better and stronger with each fight.

Eubank Jr is a very brave man and he has displayed that in his willingness to fight the most avoided and feared boxer in the history of the sport Gennady Golovkin.

Reports have recently surfaced that Eubank Jr is close to signing a deal that will see him take on Golovkin at the London O2 Arena in September.

Eubank Jr is expected to sign a 3 million pound contract to fight Golovkin and confirmation from promoter Eddie Hearn has been received that the deal is almost complete to make this fight happen.

“It is very close to being made. We had a positive meeting with Sky and the major details are nearly all agreed. We still have stuff to discuss but I expect both sides to sign by the end of this weekend,” he said. “We have been negotiating and each camp is up for it and September is in my mind at the O2 in London.”

The mighty Golovkin currently holds IBO, WBA, WBC and IBF world titles and he has recently tweeted that he is very much interested in making this fight happen and has welcomed the Eubank Jr challenge.

Some boxing pundits are surprised that this fight is happening at all and feel that this bout against Golovkin has come too early for Eubank Jr considering his fight record and experience.

Golovkin at 34 years old has won all of his 35 professional fights, 32 coming by way of knockout and seems to have hurt power in both hands being able to knockout and hurt is opponents at will. He walks through and absorbs his opponent’s biggest shots to land his own that usually result in a damaging knockout.

This fight is a massive task for Eubank and beating Golovkin seems vitually impossible but the 26 year old Eubank Jr has boxing ability, power and speed to give Golovkin a fight and cause him problems even though I expect Golovkin to be the winner in the end via knockout.

Golovkin may well be the most powerful puncher in the history of the sport and have the ability to inflict serious damage to his opponents, but his power does make him a much slower fighter than Eubank and that is where Eubank can hopefully capitalise and even win this fight.

40

Issue 26

ASIAN SUNDAY

SPORTS

Saq Attack

by AYYAZ MALIK Pakistan bowling legend Saqlain Mushtaq is to take on a consultant role to help England’s bowlers in the upcoming series against his native Pakistan. Mushtaq who has terrorised England with his deliveries such as the ‘doosra’ over the years is likely to work with the England team for a week in the

lead up for the second test against England at Old Trafford.

Saqlain is contracted up until 2017 in his current role as a cricket expert for Pakistan TV, but Saqlain Mushtaq’s TV bosses have given their blessing for the former Surrey man to take on the consultant role.

It’s hoped that England’s spin duo Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali will

benefit from the Pakistani off-break bowler’s wisdom and expertise.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) actually used the expertise of their legendary spinner to help rectify the action of current off-spinner Saed Ajmal.

Ajmal, of course, was banned from bowling in 2015 after his arm bent more than the permitted 15-degree

New Mini IPL to Start in September

angle that ICC laws permit. England will be hoping for the former Surrey bowler to have a similar effect to that of Saqlain’s spin-bowling partner Mushtaq Ahmed.

Ahmed was at the helm in the spin bowling coaching department when Graeme Swann became one of the most feared bowlers in spin cricket. Saqlain Mushtaq does have

experience in the field of being involved with national set ups.

Saqlain has worked with spinners from West Indies and Bangladesh, England will be hoping that one of Pakistan’s greatest spinners can help them get the better of the very team that helped Muhstaq make him such a house hold name as he is today.

by AYYAZ MALIK It has been announced that a shorter form of the Indian Premier League is to be played in September. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to hold a two-week competition at an overseas venue.

The T20 tournament will include the same eight teams that already compete in the established sevenweek format in India. One of the main reasons for this new tournament is due to the fact that the Champions

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League T20 tournament was discontinued last year.

Hopefully, this will fill the void left by the Champions League T20. Money talks in sport and hopefully for the organisers sake, this will be a financial boost, but also help to build the IPL brand in more countries.

The inaugural mini IPL will be held next September and every year thereafter.