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Editor’s Note Hello readers and welcome back to another edition of Asian World Newspaper. In this edition we discuss a whole range of stories that are occurring in 2018. We discuss how the cold weather or ‘Beast from the East’ continued to cause a misery in the west midlands as march was recorded coldest ever as temperatures in parts of the region dropped to -11c We also take a look at multi- awarding philanthropist Sajid Rashid BEM will be looking to take part in a zipline Challenge to raise money for Syria. Good luck Sajid! In the month of March, the Bollywood Industry lost their One of their biggest icons Sri Devi, the megastar who was only 54 tragically lost her life. RIP SriDevi, we will miss you!In health west midlands residents are encouraged to use NHS 111 service to avoid unnecessary A&E visits. The service is available for 24 hours a day 7 days a week, the staff are

fully trained and can advice you what to do next. In sports we see the PSL league tournament started, last year winners Peshwari Zalmi have made a dreadful start to the tournament whilst the New comers Multan Sultan have made a fantastic start to their first season, Good luck to all teams. There’s so much to choose from, all you need to do is sit back and relax and grab a copy of our latest issue NOW! Filled with the latest news and gossip! If you would like to advertise in our April issue or want to share a story with us then please don’t hesitate to contact us on: 0121 771 4545 or email: sales@asianworldnews.co.uk Have a great read! Editor: Salma Ilyas editor@asianworldnews.co.uk sales@asianworldnews.co.uk Visit us online at: www.asianworldnews.co.uk

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March 2018

First Look at Athletes Village for 2022 Commonwealth Games Following Birmingham being chosen as the host city for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, new images of what the Athletes Village could look like following its completion have been revealed. The village will be located on a 59acre site close to the current Perry Barr greyhound stadium and the One Stop Shopping Centre. It is also the current location of the old University of Central England and a Birmingham City University campus. The village aims to house up to 6,500 athletes in around 1,000 homes, which will be made up of a mix of modern one or two-bedroom apartments alongside three or four-bedroom townhouses. Other amenities will include dining areas, transport, medical services and more. The Athletes village and Games overall are set to be a catalyst for the success of Birmingham, bringing in thousands of potential jobs and creating business and traffic for the area of

Perry Barr, which is also set to undergo renovation in preparation for 2022. The plans for the area include local access improvements, a proposed new bus interchange, the introduction of a SPRINT rapid bus service along the A34, and a much needed upgrade to Perry Barr railway station. After the Games, developers plan to build a further 2,000 properties in the Athletes village and all of the accommodation is then due to be converted to homes for sale and rent, including social and affordable housing to help ease the housing crisis and homelessness in the West Midlands. Councillor Ian Ward, who led the Birmingham 2022 bid, said that “The development of the village is the largest new-build element of the games – and will help rejuvenate Perry Barr and the wider surrounding area, meaning there will be a meaningful and lasting legacy for the people of Birmingham, in particular those living near the heart of the action in 2022.

11-year-old Jasmine Forrester stabbed to death by uncle

11-year-old girl Jasmine Forrester died after being stabbed multiple times in her grandmother’s Wolverhampton home on 9th February. Officers were called to the scene on Kent Road shortly before 1am on Friday following a neighbour’s call about a disturbance. Jasmine was found with serious injuries following a call from a neighbour at roughly 1am and was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but died on the Friday afternoon with her family by her side. A woman in her 80s also suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder during the incident. Her uncle, 51-year-old Delroy Forrester, was charged with her murder and appeared for a brief hearing at Walsall Magistrates last month. Her father, Simeon Forrester, paid tribute to his daughter, saying: “This is a hugely tragic time for our family and the loss we feel is unexplainable. We are utterly devastated. Jasmine

was a shining star and a huge part of us.” DI Ian Wilkins from West Midlands Police said: “We are continuing to support Jasmine’s family at this truly tragic time. The family have asked for privacy and we really hope everyone can respect that wish.” Superintendent Harvi Khatkar, of Wolverhampton police, said: “This is an extremely distressing incident and our sympathies go out to everyone affected. We are working to establish exactly what has happened, and fully understand the impact that this will have on the community. But, we do believe this is an isolated incident, and we are not looking for anyone else. Extra officers will be out patrolling the area to offer reassurance to residents.” The house remains cordoned off while a forensics team continues their investigation and heartfelt tributes to Jasmine continue to flood in.

Woman charged over abusive note left to paramedics

Kirsty Sharman, 26, has pleaded guilty to a public order offence after allegedly verbally abusing paramedics and leaving an abusive note on their ambulance as they responded to a 999 call. Sharman, from North Staffordshire, was arrested on 19th after leaving a note on the active ambulance, saying “If this van is for anyone but Number 14, then you have no right to be parked here. I couldn’t give a s**t if the whole street collapsed now move your van from outside my house”. The incident was reported by the ambulance crew on call at the time, who also claim that Sharman hurled verbal abuse at the team as they attended to a call in the Tunstall area of Stoke-onTrent. Katie Tudor, a paramedic mentor, posted a picture of the note on Twitter for the attention of local police, and she expressed her upset and anger at the occurrence; Tudor’s tweet was also met with disbelief, shock and anger from other users. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “As a Trust we welcome Staffordshire Police’s swift response to this incident and the arrest of the woman. We will continue to work closely with the police to ensure the perpetrator feels the full weight of the law. “We have a zero-tolerance policy towards people who abuse our staff whilst trying to help patients in their hour of need. It is completely unacceptable and it must stop.”

Sharman apologised for her actions in court on the 20th February, where she received a £120 fine and was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £135. She has now been released.

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March 2018

Muslims massacred in Sri Lanka S

ri Lanka’s Prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has launched a state of emergency on the Island region. Soldiers are set to be deployed across the island in a bid to curb the erupting violence and to stop the spread of atrocities. The state of emergency is initially believed to be run for a 10-day period before it will then be reviewed by security officials. It is the first time such a level of emergency has been declared, since the Tamil civil war which claimed thousands of lives. Social media sites have also been blocked by government officials, with data being restricted in a bid to cease the circulation of grotesque images emerging from the bloodshed. This could be due to the Sri-Lankan government’s unwillingness to portray the atrocities against the Muslim minority in its correct light. Sinhalese Buddhists have ferociously attacked Muslim businesses in the central province of Kandy. Kandy’s population which is largely compiled from a majority Sinhalese Buddhist community. A government statement released Monday “strongly and unequivocally” condemned the violence and denounced attempts to incite violence online. “The hate and mischievous misinformation campaigns carried out by some, especially via social media, targeting the Muslim community ... with the clear objective of creating disharmony among communities and inciting violence,” read the statement. A local Muslim politician, who did not want to be named in fear of reprisals, said hundreds of properties including

Muslim owned businesses and mosques have been vandalised due to the violence. He also went on to add that the number of isolated incidents could see that very figure rise into the lofty hundreds. Mosques, in particular, have been heavily targeted with the Muslim minority receiving the brunt of the Buddhist majority’s ire. Police had also been deployed in the eastern town of Ampara to control the unrest after a Sinhalese mob attacked a mosque, four shops and several vehicles late on Monday (05/03/18), spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said. Gunasekara said no arrests had been made so far. The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka (MCSL), an umbrella body that includes most Muslim organizations in the country, condemned the attack and requested the government to conduct an impartial separate inquiry into it and arrest the perpetrators. “The government has the sole responsibility to ensure the safety and security of all its citizens irrespective of religious belief, caste or ethnicity,” the Council said in a statement. “This form of mob violence is continuing to grow and Muslim business establishments are targeted.” Last year, diplomats condemned the violence against Muslims and urged the government to uphold minority rights and freedom of religion after in excess of 20 attacks on Muslims, including arson at Muslim-owned businesses and mosques. President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe have promised to protect minority groups, regardless attacks against Mus-

Credit images reuters

lims have continued at an unprecedented rate. Muslims comprise approximately nine percent of Sri Lanka’s population, which roughly amounts to 21 million. Buddhists are thought to make up about 70 percent, with Hindus around 13 percent. The government ended a full-blown 26-year civil war by defeating mostly Hindu Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009, with claims of atrocities on both opposing sides. The United Nations criticised Sri Lanka’s willingness last year, for slow

progress in addressing war crimes and human rights abuses. The United Nations and Human rights activists have accused the Sri Lankan military of murdering several thousands of innocent civilians, mostly Tamils, in the final weeks of the drawn-out civil war. Concerns about Buddhist radicalism have been on the rise in Sri Lanka, where a monk-led Buddhist nationalist movement has been blamed for drumming up deadly mob violence against minority Muslim groups.

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Tensions between Muslim groups, who make up less than 10% of the overall population, and the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community have escalated since the end of the civil war in May 2009. In 2014, violence directed against Muslim minority groups broke out in the southwestern town of Aluthgama, following a rally by hardline Buddhist nationalist monks, resulting in the death of at least three Muslims. By Zakaria Abraham

March 2018

Horrific Birmingham Birmingham Paedophile Jailed children’s mental for 32 Years

health crisis

A former Birmingham University academic has been jailed for 32 years after admitting to more than 130 sex offences over an 8 year period. Matthew Falder, 29, was described as “warped” and “sadistic” at Birmingham Crown Court where he received his hefty sentence following pleading guilty to 137 offences in October last year. It is believed that Falder, who lives in Edgbaston in Birmingham, abused more than 40 victims over an eight-year period; his crimes include causing the sexual exploitation of a child, voyeurism, rape, making and distributing indecent images of children, encouraging the rape of a four-year-old and blackmail. Falder posed as a depressed, female artist on the dark web as he contacted more than 300 people online under the usernames ‘inthegarden’, ‘666devil’ and ‘evilmind’. He also used anonymous email accounts and online connection software to cover his tracks, and when some of his victims threatened to tell the police, he simply bragged that he couldn’t be caught. He carried out his crimes by promising large amounts of money, which he never paid, to users

of Gumtree for naked or partially-clothed images. After building a rapport with them, he would obtain their personal information and immediately move the conversation away from Gumtree’s servers. His victims would then be blackmailed into sending increasingly horrific images, with Falder threatening to send them to friends and relatives if they did not submit to his demands. The crimes of the former geophysicist researcher at Birmingham University have been described as “sickening”, “sadistic” and “horrific” and have often had vulnerable individuals at the centre, such as anorexia sufferers and young teenagers. The 29-year-old was caught after a four-year investigation led by the National Crime Agency. It also involved GCHQ, the FBI, and law enforcement in Israel, Slovenia, Australia, USA and New Zealand. The investigation reached a peak when Falder posted an image His case is also thought to be the first successful UK prosecution relating to the socalled ‘hurt-core’ online underworld in the country. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article or are concerned about an individual, you can contact the NSPCC.

Children with mental health issues in Birmingham are said to be facing some of the country’s longest waiting times for treatment – over five months on average. Figured from the NHS reveal that there were 6,940 people aged 18 and under in contact with mental health services across the West Midlands between January and March 2017. For those based in Birmingham, they had to wait 164 days on average to receive treatment for their health issues, while those in Wolverhampton waited 149 days and those in Dudley waiting just 21 days. Across England, the average wait time for mental health patients is 80 days for those under the age of 18, which shows a clear juxtaposition between waiting times for children in Birmingham therefore putting them at higher risk. Tom Madders, director of campaigns at Young Minds, also warned of these risks and said that “while the quality of care that Child and Adoles-

cent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provides can be excellent, it is often desperately hard to access these services, with many children and young people facing unacceptable waiting times.” “Every day we get calls to our helpline from parents whose children have been waiting months for an initial assessment, or left on long waiting lists for treatment that they need. Sometimes their child has started to self-harm, become suicidal or dropped out of school during the wait.”” Plans to better the Midlands’ mental health services have been revealed, including a four week standard waiting time, making £1.4 billion available for children and young people’s mental health over five years, recruiting 1,700 more therapists and supervisors, and ensuring that an additional 70,000 children and young people will get help from mental health services yearly by 2020/21. By Furvah Shah

‘Cannabis Oil saved my life’ claims Cancer sufferer

In December 2013, doctors told Lynn Cameron she had just “six to 18 months” to live After several sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy the 48-year-old opted to try cannabis oil in a desperate bid to save her life. Incredibly, almost four years after her diagnosis, Lynn is still alive and is now pushing “for the reform of the current prohibitive laws around the use of cannabis for medication”. Lynn was told in no uncertain terms that her incurable brain tumour would kill her within six months. Lynn detailed her harrowing experience and journey of the past few years: “I took a seizure on November 30, 2013, prior to which I had been quite well. “I had a scan on December 10 and it showed a mass, and I was taken straight into Southern General at that point. “I was operated on December 16, and on December 27 I was told that I had stage 4 terminal brain cancer. “So I underwent the chemotherapy and radiotherapy combined, but was told even then I would live six to 18 months at best. “A good friend suggested cannabis, but I was too scared because it’s illegal. I also found it hard to believe that it would cure brain cancer so advanced. “But as the scans were showing there was no change in the mass, I eventually thought, ‘I’m going to break the mould here and try that’.” Lynn, from Blantyre, Scotland, began desperately researching alternative medicines and diets in a desperate attempt to win her battle with cancer, reports the Daily Record. She continued: “I researched more and more into natural ‘cancer killers’ and decided to follow an alkaline diet and cut out processed foods altogether. I also cut out sugar completely.

“I started taking cannabis oil under my tongue, as it gets straight into the bloodstream that way. “Each scan I received after that was showing an improvement. I had been told that chemotherapy and radiotherapy don’t make much difference, so I knew it must be the cannabis doing it. By the sixth MRI, cancer had gone.” Lynn had kept her use of cannabis oil from doctors, but challenged them on the use of the drug after receiving the all-clear. She added: “The doctors treating me didn’t know about the cannabis oil until I got the results. “I challenged them on it, but they dismissed it. They weren’t taught about cannabis at medical school – more for a political reason than medical I believe. “They told me, ‘eat whatever you like, take all the vitamins you want, it won’t work’. “But these were the people who told me my cancer was incurable, and it was gone. “The British Medical Journal hasn’t properly investigated cannabis. The irony was they were giving me morphine and codeine in the wards. Prior to becoming ill, I had never taken a pill before in my life. “It was up to me what treatment I took, and I’m glad I researched it.” Cannabis oil, which is also known as cannabidiol (CBD), is now available to buy in the UK in pharmaceutical shops. According to the Cannabis Trades Association UK, the number of CBD users has doubled from 125,000, 12 months ago, to 250,000 now. It has been claimed that it can be beneficial in treating a number of healthcare issues including pain, symptoms of cancer and stress and anxiety. By Zakaria Abraham

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March 2018

Flying like a falcon to raise funds for Syrian children’s education

Multi-award winning philanthropist Sajid Rashid BEM is set to ‘fly like a falcon’ along the world’ longest zip wire, 1680 metres above the ground to raise funds for children’s education in war torn Aleppo. The Zipline Challenge will take place on Tuesday 8th May 2018. Sajid Rashid will be zip lining on the Jebel Jais zip line, in the mountainous region of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Certified by The Guinness World Records, the Jebel Jais zip line is 2.8 km long and provides the closest experience to flying like a falcon crossing the skies of the mountains at 1680 metres from the ground, and at speeds reaching up to 150 km per hour. Sajid Rashid is taking on the challenge to raise funds for Human Appeal, a non-profit charity seeking to provide quality education for children caught up in the Syrian conflict in Aleppo. Funds raised will provide materials to enhance the learning environment at two co-educational schools: Batbu and Dir Hassan enabling over 1,000 boys and girls to be educated in a safe learning space. Education is a major problem in war torn Syria. The International Rescue

Committee reports that about 1.75 million children are unable to attend school, and most are up to six years behind in their education. Sajid Rashid says “Every year I try to undertake at least one challenge to raise funds for different charities and causes, to help improve or better lives locally and internationally for the under privileged. Putting a smile on these faces is what drives, excels and motivates me to strive further.” “Together we can raise awareness and funds to help these children. Living in the UK, we are fortunate enough to have a roof over our heads and food on the table, however the crisis in war torn Syria means children suffer from necessities we take for granted.” His challenge is being supported by the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism & Development Authority, which is providing exclusive access to the site for the attempt. Sajid will be paying for his own flights and accommodation so that every penny raised to go directly to Human Appeal. Within the last few years, Sajid has supported numerous charities, communities and causes. This has been achieved

through voluntary work and fundraising to strengthen humanity’s fight against poverty, social injustice and natural disaster. He is the youngest Asian ever to receive a British Empire Medal (BEM) from H.M The Queen for services to the community and charitable fundraising. Other awards include scooping the accolade of ‘positive Role Model Award for Age’ at the National Diversity Awards as well as JCI UK’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) award.

University of Birmingham officially opens new campus in Dubai

The University of Birming-

ham has officially opened its campus in Dubai - becoming the first global top 100 and UK Russell Group university to establish a campus in this rapidly developing international education hub. University of Birmingham Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood was joined by distinguished guests to cut the ribbon marking the official opening of the University of Birmingham Dubai phase 1 campus, in Dubai International Academic City. Sir David and a select group of VIP guests took a tour of the University’s new facilities as preparations continue to welcome the first students in September this year. The ribbon cutting on 27 February was followed by an evening reception at the British Embassy in Dubai attended by approximately 100 guests from Dubai and the UAE and senior members of the University. Opening the University of Birmingham Dubai supports the UAE’s vision of developing a competitive economy driven by knowledge and innovation, as well as Dubai’s goal of building an international education hub. The University of Birmingham Dubai will open its doors to students in September 2018, offering degrees that will be taught, examined and accredited to the same recognised high standards as those delivered on its UK campus. University of Birmingham Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir David Eastwood said: “I am delighted to open our campus in Dubai and look forward to

opening our doors to the first cohort of students to the University of Birmingham Dubai in September. “I would like to thank our partners here in the UAE for their support in helping us achieve this milestone. We are a global university and, for more than 20 years, have provided opportunities for students to study on our degree programmes at partner institutions around the world. “With strategic partnerships in the USA, Australia, China, and Brazil and active research collaborations across the world,

opening a campus in Dubai is the next step in our global mission and demonstrates our ambition as an outward looking, world-class institution. “As a global university with a civic outlook, we are committed to contributing to UAE society and playing our part in supporting the UAE as it drives economic progress through knowledge and innovation, whilst contributing to the development of a growing international education hub in Dubai.” The University of Birmingham Dubai will provide opportunities for students

to study on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Initially, these will include Business, Economics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and teacher training degrees, with further programmes to be offered subsequently. Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA: “The opening of University of Birmingham is an important milestone in our goal to build a world-class education hub in Dubai. It represents new opportunities for students who can

now look at a wider offering of education and research led programmes that are driven by Dubai’s ambition to be a global leader in innovation. “The University builds on its long-standing reputation and it will attract more international students to Dubai. We welcome the University of Birmingham to Dubai and look forward to its success.” The University of Birmingham Dubai is located in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), a leading international education hub with 26 universities. The initial phase of the campus saw its first open day activity in Autumn 2017 and the first undergraduate and post-graduate students will commence their studies in September 2018. “It has already proven its drive for excellence in research and education by bringing its strongest academic programmes which will cater to the growing needs of this region. Today’s launch is the first of many more initiatives to come and together, we are confident we will provide world class expertise and a truly global experience for students and faculty.” With a strong tradition of teaching excellence, commended by the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) in 2016, degrees at the University of Birmingham Dubai will be taught, examined and accredited to the same recognised high standards as those delivered on the University’s UK campus in Birmingham.

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Child safety expert recognised following 20 years’ service

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safety expert has been recognised with an industry award for his contribution to protecting vulnerable schoolchildren from harm. Tony Ayers worked for education charity, Services for Education and during his 20 years’ service provided safeguarding training to many thousands of senior school leaders and governors. The former police officer was awarded the Safeguarding Innovation Partnership award by Birmingham City Council for helping schools support children experiencing issues including online bullying, sexual abuse and violence. Tony said: “It is wonderful to be given this award in recognition for my work with Services for Education. “Safeguarding, particularly in schools can be a difficult subject to broach, yet nonetheless is imperative for the protection of children and staff. “I am sad to leave my role, but I am confident that the Services for Education team will continue to

provide much needed support to schools across the city.” Andrew Cooper, head of the School Support Service at Services for Education, said: “Tony has been a valued member of our team for many years and he thoroughly deserved to be recognised for his dedication to safeguarding in schools. “Tony was responsible for leading safeguarding training, where he worked tirelessly to deliver topical information, and support schools and academies provide the best level of safeguarding possible to their pupils” “We know from experience the importance of such training and its impact on the well-being and performance of not only children, but to the teaching staff and school leaders.” To find out more about the work of Services for Education across Birmingham and the West Midlands visit www.servicesforeducation.co.uk

102 Parliamentarians Call on UK Gov to Back Referral of Burma to ICC Rushanara Ali MP

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Affairs Council meeting on 26 February, 102 Parliamentarians across parties have signed a letter urging the Foreign Secretary to publicly support and campaign for his EU counterparts to back a UN Security Council referral of Myanmar General Min Aung Hlaing to the International Criminal Court. The United Nations has now documented more than 688,000 Rohingya refugees fleeing to Bangladesh since the Myanmar military began their offensive against Rohingya civilians in August 2017. Médecins Sans Frontières have recently documented almost 7,000 Rohingya civilians were killed in just one month last year, including 730 children. On 11th September UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein described the military’s security operations as “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.” On 18th December he went a step further and described the military campaign

as one in which “you cannot rule out the possibility that acts of genocide have been committed.” In the letter, the Parliamentarians say: “We welcome the diplomatic leadership the United Kingdom has shown so far in response to this crisis by securing a statement from the UN Security Council, and building international consensus on steps needed to be undertaken by the government of Myanmar. We also welcome the £59 million MP in UK aid that has been donated so far. However, the demands of the UN Security Council have largely been ignored. Now it is time to go further.” “It is time for the British government to unequivocally state that the situation in Myanmar should be referred to the International Criminal Court” “The British government should also work to secure agreement that the European Union bans the supply of all equipment to the Myanmar military, not just arms, and ends all military training and cooperation programmes.”

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The Queen is named the most powerful person in London in 2018’s Power 100 list The 2018’s London Power 100 list has

been released naming Queen Elizabeth II as the most powerful person in London, but who else made the much anticipated list? Retail tycoon Sir Phillip Green, rapper Stormzy, athlete Sir Mo Farah, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and former Prime Minister Tony Blair are amongst the named on the list. The LondonPower100 list aims to celebrate the 100 most influential and powerful figures in London, organised by the founders of EssexPower100 this year’s list has seen heavyweights from different disciplines populate the list. The list also includes media mogul Rupert Murdoch, former England captain David Beckham, London Live owner Evgeny Lebedev, BBC’s Director General Tony Hall, Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, Adele, former Mayor of London Boris Johnson, model Naomi Campbell, Prince Harry, former minister George Osborne, billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, model Kate Moss and former one direction star Zayn Malik who are named amongst the twenty most powerful people in London. The list is governed by judges led by city lawyer Nicholas Taylor, Taylor commented “The judging team had a particularly challenging role as suggested inductees on the list included politicians, members of the Royal family, celebrities and billionaires – the pro-

cess of weighing out who holds greater influence over the other was never going to be an easy one, I was pleased by the list presented to me for consideration and I am furthermore pleased to present

to you the 2018 London Power 100 list.” View the full London Power 100 list here: https://londonpower100.co.uk/2018london-power-100-list/

March 2018

British Council Pakistan wins International Development Award for ILMPOSSIBLE The British Council won the Collabo-

ration Award at a ceremony in London The British Council has won ‘The Collaboration Award’ at the Bond International Development Awards 2018 for its ILMPOSSIBLE: Take a Child to School programme at a ceremony in London. The Bond International Development Award 2018- an internationally recognised award- recognises and celebrates inspiring humanitarian and development work. The Collaboration Award recognises effective relationships and collaborations within and across sectors and disciplines to tackle difficult issues. Out of ten submissions for this category, the British Council, the Institute of Development Studies and the Stars Foundation were shortlisted as finalists. Through ILMPOSSIBLE, over 225,000 children have enrolled at school across 65 districts of Pakistan. 15,000 young volunteers have been trained to run door-to-door awareness campaigns and work with parents to facilitate vulnerable out of school children’s enrolment and retention. There are over 3,000 community members who sit on ‘mohalla’ (neighbourhood) committees and collaborate with schools, the local education department and the communities to address barriers to school enrolment and retention through advocacy and self-help initiatives. This was achieved through the combined efforts of the British Council working with Educate a Child

and a network of 28 local communitybased partners across Pakistan. While accepting the award, James Hampson, Deputy Director of the British Council in Pakistan said: “Congratulations to my colleagues in Pakistan whose great work helped 225,000 children into the classroom out of which 40 per cent were girls. The success of ILMPOSSIBLE: Take a Child to School was made possible due to the efforts made by parents, youth volunteers, teachers, community influencers, local NGOs and support from Educate a Child. Continuing our efforts we have started work on the second phase of ILMPOSSIBLE: Take a Child to School that aims to take more children to school.” The second phase of ILMPOSSIBLE: Take a Child to School aims to enrol 200,000 out of school children, enable positive learning in 400 new public schools through life skills and sports. The project will also train 500 teachers to play a leadership role in their communities and aims to establish 550 more ‘mohalla’ committees to enable better coordination between local education departments, schools, and communities. These efforts are made to bring sustainable change for children living in rural and marginalised communities by creating an awareness and appreciation on the importance of education in the development of young people.

March 2018

“Today… We will build our tomorrow”

They say every person has their own journey, aspirations, ambitions and goals too, but my journey so far has proven to be an incomplete, but a unique unforgettable one. I have such great parents, who I always look up to, especially my mother, who is my role model and my superwoman. I think because of her, I am standing here today. And my dad, very humble, but as well as a bit strict, but he knows what is right for me, and he always supports my every decision, because he knows that whatever I do, I give it my best shot until every struggle tastes my soul. Whatever the person I am today, the person I have become today, was due to their patience, struggles and sacrifices that they made for me. My childhood has been very good, along with my best of friends from my road, such as like Mohammed Ali, and Bilal, who always thought good of me, which due to them they became less of friends, but more of brothers to me. We fought a lot, argued, but never let go of each other, because relations are a gift of God, which by a few words, cannot break a pious relation. Just like even today, I make such good friends, and get attached to them easily that they become more of a brother to me than a friend, such as AG, Usman and Danish. Especially, with Danish and Usman I could always count on them if I ever need their help with something or if I want to speak to them. My day mostly revolves around them two, which I am very grateful to God, for sending these two great friends in my life. I had read a quote once, saying that blood is thicker than water, but in my perspective view of my life, if blood is thicker than water… then water is also like a precious pearl found in an oyster. Maybe that’s why I have a very weak, but a sensitive heart too, which makes me very unique and different from others. I am always willing to help people in my life, because I feel blessed that I was able to give a helping hand to them. I could never see them upset about something, nor would I ever leave them alone in their time of sorrows either. Smiling and lending a helping hand are both my main asset and pillars of my upbringing given from my parents, or should I say the most precious gift, which I have taken care of more than a treasure chest. In my school life, it was more of a life changing, new people around, settling in and engaging with them as well, which was quite nervous for me. This was quite a challenge for me in getting to know new people, but in due time I settled in quite well, and it was one of the best times I had in school, even though I don’t get to see all my school friends, but I get to see some in my local mosque. During the school times, I used to get bullied the way I used to be, either if I was too short or the way I used to think. This didn’t affect me, because everyone is born differently, so not everyone can think the same way as you do or anyone else does. In these times, when people are bullied, they commit suicide, which is very wrong. The person who commits suicide, is because they don’t want to live life anymore, because they cannot tolerate the abusive language that they and nor can they suffer anymore either. Doing this, it does not make things any better either, because when that person is gone, their parents, family, friends and neighbours, suffer in losing an innocent soul, who was never even at fault. Some people would try to change themselves, so that people would love them and treat them equally with others, but in doing this, you forget your own self, when trying to impress others. That’s why, there is an old saying that never change yourself, so people would like you, but be yourself and the right people would love you. In my case, when I was bullied, at some point at time they did trigger that nerve, where I thought I wanted to end these sufferings, but they say life is a precious gift given by God, so I couldn’t just end my life by snatching away that gift, but instead I gave those bullies a befitting reply and that was to just be myself and not change myself just because others didn’t like the way I think or do or even say. There is a saying that Don’t be afraid to be you, because that’s what makes you beautiful and the world around you wonderful and blissful too. During these time, this is where my ambition in writing came along. This had begun, when once after doing creative writing in my control assessment, my English tutor said to me that my story was so good, with a lot of action and tension taking place, along with a lot of twists and turns too. I should sit down and have a think about in taking this further to a next level. At first, I was thinking, who would sit down and think about writing a story, but then one day I don’t know what encouraged me, but I sat down and started to write. What inspired me the most about Zaf was his poems, which due to, I made a lot of Urdu poems myself. I read a lot in my spare time, which I took another step in writing general poems, such as for festivals like Eid and Ramadhan and other types of poems based on friendship and love. As I remember, a year and a half back, in my friend’s cousin wedding, when there were only a few minutes left, I went on stage and I said a few lines for the couple, which actually everyone loved, especially the groom and the bride. The latest one I have written is: Tum ho toh Zindagi Hai. Tum ho toh khushiyon ki behaane hai. Saath tumhara rahe, Kissi haseen ehsaas ki tarha. Yunhi saath rehna, kissi khawab ki tarha. Tumhi ho meri dunya aur tumhi ho mera dua Tumhi ho bandhu… sirf sakha tumhi ho.

The English translation of this: If you’re here, my life would be colourful. If you’re here, there would be an excuse for happiness too. If you’re with me, it will be a wonderful feeling. And if you continue to do so, then it will feel like a dream too. You are my world, and so are you my prayer. You and only you… are my best friend too.

Media team leaves politicians with egg on their faces after scooping Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race in Westminster

It was over in just about the time it

takes to make a pancake. After 11 laps, and in a time of five minutes and 25 seconds, the Media Team was first with pan and pancake past the post to deny the Parliament Team three-in-a-row victories in a no-holds-barred scramble at the annual Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race, supported by Lyle’s Golden Syrup. This quaint British Parliamentary tradition, now in its 21st year, took place in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster, witnessed by spectators from all around the globe, and beamed by news teams to bemused viewers to such far-flung places as Japan. Among the household names to take part in this year’s highstakes caper were the BBC’s James Landale and Jo Coburn, Sky News’ Lewis Goodall, Channel 4’s Angus Walker and ITV News’ Lucrezia Millarini. The relay race aims to raise awareness of the important work carried out by the Rehab disability charity, which provides training, employment, health and social care services to more than 6,000 disabled people and those at a disadvantage in the labour market throughout the UK. Members of the public wishing to support the work of Rehab’s brain injury services across the UK can visit www.parliamentarypancakerace.co.uk to donate. Amid accusations of “fake flipping”, the 2018 Official Starter, and a race veteran himself, ITV newscaster Alastair Stewart OBE, awarded the race trophy to the Media Team. He said: “Let’s be honest, the rules state very clearly that there must be continuous tossing to a height of three feet throughout. It’s clear that there were participants on both sides who blatantly disregarded this requirement and engaged in ‘fake flipping’, either tossing only half-heartedly, if at all, and then doing a ‘Mo Farah’ to the finish line. Of course, while the winner takes it all when it comes to a bountiful supply of pancakes with which to savour victory, the truth is that everyone’s a winner for taking part and supporting the work of the Rehab disability charity.” For ITV News’ Lucrezia Millarini,

injury in supporting their needs and ambitions. “For 21 years, Rehab has been hosting the Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race in Westminster, and this year’s anniversary reflects our ongoing work supporting people with acquired brain injury to regain the key to unlocking the potential in their own lives. Each year, we work with more than 6,000 people around the UK to support them in their efforts to gain new life and social skills, to take up further education, and to return to work. We are especially grateful for the support shown by the members of the Houses of Parliament and the media, for not taking themselves too seriously, and for showing their fun sides for a good cause. They really are good eggs.”

captain of the victorious Media Team, denying the politicians bragging rights of a three-in-a-row victory was very sweet-tasting. She added: “We knew that this would be no pancakewalk. Going in as the clear underdogs into this contest, having not won since 2015, we knew that the Parliament Team would be tough eggs to crack. But we knew what he had to do and spared no pancakes in going out to do it. Notwithstanding the fact that as media rivals we are often trying to get the inside scoop over each other, we came together as a team and showed that when it comes to the causes that matter, in particular the work of Rehab with people with acquired brain injury, we stand shoulder to shoulder. To secure victory for the first time in three years, and leave the Parliament Team with egg on their faces, proves that there is nothing fake about our flipping. You dream about this moment growing up. Whatever about fresh eggs, today we showed we had the fresh legs to be simply unbeatable.” For Mo Flynn, Chief Executive of the Rehab Group, the race provides an opportunity to shine a light on the lives of people with acquired brain

Gerald Mason, Senior Vice President with Tate & Lyle Sugars, added: “We are absolutely delighted to sponsor the Rehab Parliamentary Pancake Race. Lyle’s Golden Syrup, made in the same East London factory since 1883, is one of the nation’s favourite kitchen staples. As the sticky but worth it perfect pancake topping, we are very excited to have the opportunity to join the pancake flipping fun. It is wonderful to be able support a charity which has been providing care, and support to those living with the effects of acquired brain injury, getting them back on their feet and back to work.”

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March 2018

Almost 18,000 heartfelt messages united in world’s longest chain of paper hearts Residents in the West Midlands help charity smash GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title in show of solidarity for heart patients

The British Heart Foundation (BHF)

marked Valentine’s Day by joining the messages of 17,939 BHF supporters in a Guinness World Records title attempt for longest chain of paper hearts. Through its network of over 720 charity shops and thousands of supporters, the British Heart Foundation asked people to write messages of love and support for their loved ones, people battling heart disease or in memory of those they’ve lost. It’s with the help and support of people in the West Midlands that the charity was able to break this record as a mark of solidarity for the 7 million people in the UK fighting a daily battle with heart and circulatory disease, which includes around 655,800 people in the West Midlands and to raise

“

funds for the BHF’s life saving research. With the help of volunteers, the charity created a chain of 17,939 of these hearts, surpassing the previous Guinness World Records title holder for longest chain of paper hearts of 11,288 by Moët Hennessy UK. The new record-holding chain measured almost one and a half miles long, the equivalent to 25 football pitches. Residents in the West Midlands helped contribute approximately 922 hearts to be included in the chain. The Guinness World Records title attempt was supported by stars from the world of sport and entertainment, including Ulrika Jonsson, Esther Rantzen and the England Women’s Hockey Team, who all wrote personal messages to be included in the chain.

Simon Gillespie, CEO of the British Heart Foundation, said:

7 million people in the UK suffer from heart and circulatory disease which accounts for 1 in 4 of all deaths. The British Heart Foundation is committed to funding over half a billion pounds of new research before 2020 to help bring an end to this heartbreak. Bringing together so many tender yet powerful messages of love, support and hope through this Guinness World Records title attempt shows that we’re standing united against heart and circulatory disease.

”

March 2018

Prime Minister and University of Birmingham London Mayor Take student warns of addiction Part in Visit My to betting machines M Mosque day

(Sadiq Khan with [left to right]: Zaheera Ahmed and Abdur Rahman Syed, CEO of Al Manaar Mosque, Secretary General of MCB, Harun Khan and an Imam from Al Manar)

Over 200 mosques across the UK

opened their doors to their neighbours of all faiths and none on 18 February as part of Visit My Mosque day, facilitated by the Muslim Council of Britain for the fourth consecutive year. Key figures from British public life and across the political spectrum also took part in visiting a Mosque today. Maidenhead Mosque welcomed in Prime Minister, Theresa May, whilst the mosque at the centre of the Grenfell Tower response, Al-Manaar, today welcomed London Mayor Sadiq Khan today on national #VisitMyMosque day. Jeremy Corbyn MP, the leader of the opposition took part at his local Finsbury Park Mosque. Speaking from Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I’m delighted to be back at Al Manaar Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre as it opens its doors to the local community on Visit My Mosque Day. London is a place where we don’t just tolerate diversity, we celebrate, cherish and embrace it - that’s why I’m so pleased to support this great initiative to help us build a more open and inclusive society. Today is a day to increase understanding, celebrate the important role mosques play in bringing the local community together, and in particular, to highlight the major part everybody at this mosque has played in responding to last summer’s devastating Grenfell Tower fire.” Emma Dent Coad, MP for Kensington said, “We must counter hate with love and this is exactly what this initiative is doing” while local Councillor Gerald Hargreaves said “Visit My Mosque Day is a day to celebrate and a strong way to counter Islamophobia.” Harun Khan, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said,

“Mosques are part and parcel of the fabric of British society with many positively contributing to their local communities. This was illustrated so well by Al-Manaar in West London last summer as their volunteers and their local community pulled together to support the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire” “Visit My Mosque is a grassroots initiative organised by hundreds of Muslim volunteers across the UK, young and old, male and female, of all ethnic backgrounds. We are pleased to see more mosques than ever before taking part in 2018 and we hope it will help local communities build long-lasting relationships for years to come.” Messages of support have poured in on social media with Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream encouraging their viewers to “try a different flavour and head over to your local mosque” and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain tweeting “Open up those doors!” Earlier this week, the Bishop of Bradford, Rt Rev Toby Howarth said: ‘Crossing the threshold of a different place of worship can be an important step in learning about and getting to know our neighbours,’ he said. ‘I plan to visit mosques in Bradford on 18th February with local clergy and congregation members, and I warmly encourage others to do the same where they are.’ A YouGov Poll commissioned by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has found that almost 70% of Britons hadn’t seen the inside of another faith’s place of worship, and almost 90% hadn’t been inside a mosque, in recent years. For visitors that couldn’t take part today, many mosques have open door policies and welcome visitors all year round. You can type in your post code to find and contact your nearest mosque online at www.visitmymosque.org/find

att Zarb-Cousin has urged students to stay away from gambling and tells how his addiction saw him loose £20k on betting machines. The 28 year old lost over £2000 in one day on fixed odds betting terminals and a total of £20,000 whilst studying politics at the University of Birmingham and living in Selly Oak. Sometimes his bet would be as high as £100 per spin on a roulette machine, which resulted in him betting his £3,000 overdraft and two bank overdrafts of £2,500. Now Matt works as a Parliamentary Researcher and has co-founded a software that blocks gambling sites and apps. He said “Fixed Odds Betting Terminals are

lethal. It starts out as fun but you can get addicted really quickly. For me it got to the point where I came very close to taking my own life. I would urge students to please do something positive with their free time and not be tempted with

all the money they will suddenly have at their disposal. Don’t be lured into gambling like I did.” Fixed odds betting terminals are known as the “crack cocaine” for gamblers because of their addictive nature, and MPs have raised their concern for their impact on problem gamblers. The Government announced a consultation on plans to cut the maximum stake on the machines from £100 to between £50 and £2. Culture minister Tracey Crouch said: “It is vital that we strike the right balance between socially-responsible growth and protecting the most vulnerable, including children, from gamblingrelated harm.”

Sikh Man’s Turban Ripped off Outside Parliament!

Police have been investigating an al-

leged racist attack after a Sikh man had his turban ripped from his head while he was waiting in line outside parliament. Ravneet Singh, 37 said that he was meeting with a Labour MP at the Portcullis House where the assault took place. Mr Singh said that he was approached by a man who shouted “Muslim go back” before attempting to remove his Sikh head covering. Mr Singh said: “I was in the queue out-

side Portcullis House and this guy ran up to us. Just before we got to the entrance he came up to me and attacked me. “He was pulling at my turban strongly. It half moved, and I grabbed it. Before he could do anything else I shouted at him and he ran. “He made a racist comment in another language that I didn’t recognise. He was a white man, but he didn’t sound English. He said something like ‘Muslim go back’.” Mr Singh added: “I was surprised and

shocked. I pray for these racist people who don’t realise that we are all one.” Mr Singh arrived in the UK in order to discuss his work for an environmental group, which included a meeting with the Labour MP for Slough, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi. Commenting on the attack, Mr Dhesi said he was “disgusted to discover today that someone filled with hatred tried to pull off the turban of one of my guests standing in line outside Parliament” and called on police to take “urgent action”.

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March 2018

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Pakistan Blasphemy law turns Rome colosseum red Rome’s ancient Colosseum was illuminated in bright red on Saturday in an attempt to portray solidarity with persecuted Christians. The particular case of Asia Bibi, a woman condemned to death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws was reportedly the motivation for a change in colour of the historic landmark. Hundreds gathered on a rainy night outside the Roman amphitheatre that is a symbol of the martyrdom of early Christians to hear the husband and daughter of Asia Bibi. The Catholic woman has been a resident on death row in Pakistan since 2010, where she was condemned for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Islam. Neighbours were also alleged to have objected to her drinking water from their glasses because she was not reportedly a ‘Muslim’. Human rights groups

tians, who are considered impure,” he said. The husband and daughter, who broke down in tears as she addressed the group, were earlier received by Pope Francis, who told her: “I think such as Amnesty International say often of your mother and I pray for the blasphemy law is increasingly her”.European Parliament President exploited, by religious extremists Antonio Tajani, who has been tipped as well as ordinary Pakistanis as as a possible Italian prime minister a means of settling religious & after next week’s election, remarked personal perceived slights. that persecution of Christians was “The aim of the blasphemy laws “a genocide”. “A message must be is to crush people who believe sent from this place. It is the duty of differently,” Archbishop Nunzio Europe to defend these values (of Galantino, secretary-general of religious liberty) wherever on earth the Italian bishops’ conference, they are trampled on,” Tajani said. told the gathering.” Rebecca Bitrus, a Nigerian Christian The law does not define blaswoman who was held for two years phemy and evidence might not after she was abducted by Boko be reproduced in court for fear Haram Islamist militants, told of of committing a fresh offence. how she was repeatedly beaten and There are no penalties for false raped. With incidences such as this accusations. Asia Bibi’s case in the past, many have begun to fear drew international attention after a repeat scenario. the murder of two politicians who During the event, organised by the tried to intervene on her behalf. Catholic group “Aid to the Church At the Rome gathering, her husin Need,” there were live link-ups band Ashiq Masih stated his wife with Aleppo, Syria and Mosul, Iraq, was innocent of blasphemy & both of whose minority Christian lamented government officials. populations have been hit hard by “This is just hating against Chris- wars.

Pakistan-India trade artillery fire on Kashmir frontline

India and Pakistan have reportedly exchanged artillery fire in the hotly disputed region of Kashmir. Scores of people have been forced to flee, police in Indian Kashmir have said, sparking fresh controversy regarding the 15-year-old ceasefire the two nuclear-armed rivals in the area have been observing. It is not yet clear what triggered the fresh wave of conflict on Saturday (24/02/18), in the Uri sector on the so-called Line of Control (LoC) that divides the mostly Muslim Himalayan region. However, it has been speculated that the raised tensions stem from an attack on an Indian army camp in Kashmir this month in which six soldiers were killed. India duly blamed Pakistan, for the slaying and cryptically predicted grave consequences for their neighbors claiming they would ‘pay’ for the misadventure.

Police superintendent Imtiaz Hussain said artillery shells fired by the Pakistan army fell in the Uri area and hundreds of villagers had fled from their homes. Indian forces returned artillery fire, an Indian official said, the first time the heavy guns had been used since a 2003 ceasefire along the disputed frontier. The two warring factions have been exchanging intermittent small-arms and mortar fire over the past couple of years as ties have slowly but surely disintegrated. Hussain said Pakistani authorities, sounded out announcements from a mosque advising villagers living close to the LoC on the Indian side too; flee’, saying the situation was ‘bad’. Approximately, 700 people were sheltering at a school in Uri, he went on to declare. This, of course, isn’t the first time the two nations – who hold a deep antipathy towards one another

even in sport – have clashed over rights to the disputed region. India and Pakistan have twice ferried to war over Kashmir since independence from Britain in 1947. The neighbors both claim the region in full, but curiously rule it in part. Pakistan’s foreign ministry outwardly condemned the firing and said in statement 17 Pakistani civilians had been killed by Indian fire along the LoC this year. In a tit-for-tatter blaming game, India in return accuses Pakistan of orchestrating a separatist revolt in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Muslim Pakistan, denies giving material support to the fighters and calls for talks to resolve what it regards, as the core disagreement between it and India. With tensions already flaring, the two nations would do well to avoid the catastrophic and economically damaging effects, of a full-blown cascade of violence.

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Imran Khan, Cricketer turned Politician ties knot for third time

Imran Khan, the former Cricket captain, has re-married for a third time in a simple ceremony held in Lahore on Sunday. The former sports star turned politician wedded Bushra Maneka (also known as Pinki Piri), who he has in the past described as his “spiritual guide”. The ceremony, which was hosted at the Maneka brothers’ residence, went ahead at the weekend without complication; and was confirmed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI) spokesman Fawad Chaudhry. He established the ceremony in a tweet where he extended his wishes for the pair to have a successful union. “Marriage is the combination of two hearts and two souls which join each on this special day of the wedding. I wish a very happy and blessed married life to Imran Khan,” Mr Chaudhry said. He went on to say, “The Valima ceremony will also be held simply in a few days.” In a show of solidarity and support from his PTI colleagues, the ‘Nikah’ was performed by Central Executive Committee member Mufti Muhamad Saeed. The straightforward manner of the marriage ceremony will have surprised few with Khan no stranger when it comes to tying the knot. The PTI media wing released exclusive images taken from Sunday’s ceremony. The groom was seen to be donning a fitted, Shalwar

Kameez & black jacket; with the bride to be decorated in a red suit accompanied Woollen shawl. Khan who has previously married on two separate occasions was recently married as early as 2015 to former spouse Reham Khan. Their Partnership was short-lived, however, and Khan’s whirlwind romance with the TV news anchor lasted a mere ten months. Unsurprisingly, the pair went their separate ways following their divorce. Before his marriage with the famous news anchor, Khan wedded the daughter of a British billionaire, Jemima Goldsmith which incidentally was his first marriage. The loved-up pair married in 1995 and looked to be the perfect match. They were happily married for nine years with Khan birthing two sons while married to Goldsmith. Now, having re-married for a third and final time, many close to him hope the party chief appears to be smitten with his new spouse. Maneka, herself has been previously married and has five children from her marriage with her first husband. She hails from the Pakpatan district, some 250 odd kilometres from Lahore famed for the shrine of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar. Khan, reportedly began seeing Maneka over a year ago in which she became a close confidant and offered ‘spiritual advice’ to the former

sports megastar. The pair grew close, and speculation began to circulate that the couple were actively in a relationship. Khan initially rebuffed these rumours stating their relationship, was borne out of a need for political advice. A source close to the star reiterated Khan’s sentiment by saying; “He got closer to her when some of the political predictions she made about his party came true. Later, both developed some ‘intimacy’, and finally Bushra took divorce from her husband and contracted marriage with Imran early last month,” the source said. Khan had confirmed that he had proposed to Maneka only as early as last month. At the time, he reportedly stated the pair had grown closer following the level of “spirituality” he had witnessed in Maneka. He also went on to state that he had maintained strict standards of respect, following the correct protocol when courting his now new spouse. “I would like to reiterate that every time I met her, with family and alone, she has been in purdah (veil). My interest in her lies in the fact that I have not seen or met anyone with her level of spirituality. I only sent the proposal for marriage after she divorced her husband,” said Imran. By Zakaria Abraham

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March 2018

Saudi Arabia Allows Women to Start Businesses Women in Saudi Arabia will now be able to start businesses without the permission of a male guardian, in the latest in a line of recent social reforms launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. A new system, which launched on Sunday, will carry out business start-up procedures electronically with no special permissions required for women. While Saudi women only make up a small fraction of the country’s labour force at the moment, the number

of women working in the private sector has risen 130% in the past four years. While women still face a many restrictions in the ultraconservative state, Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor’s office this month said that it would begin recruiting women investigators for the first time. The kingdom has also opened 140 positions for women at airports and border crossings, a historic first that the government said drew 107,000 female applicants.

The move is part of a shift inside the deeply conservative kingdom to offer more freedom to women and, more broadly, to reshape Saudi culture along more secular, modern lines. This movement is being led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the powerful heir to the Saudi throne. His father, King Salman, in September approved the end of a decades-long ban on driving, which goes into effect in June 2018.

Pakistan to South African post troops in President Saudi Arabia Resigns for Training

South African President Jacob Zuma has resigned following intense pressure from his own political party. In a televised statement, Zuma said he was quitting with immediate effect but that he disagreed with the ruling ANC

party’s decision about his presidency. The ANC had told him to step down or face a vote of no confidence in parliament over numerous allegations of corruption. These corruption allegations are in relation to Zuma’s links with the wealthy and powerful Gupta family, who are claimed to have illegal influence in the South African government and who Zuma has close ties with. Police raided the Gupta’s home in Johannesburg on 14th February in response to the allegations. During his televised resignation statement, Zuma paid tribute to those whom he had worked with over the years ans said that that violence and division within the ANC had influenced his decision to step down. “No life should be lost in my name

The Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar (Burma) is regarded by the United Nations as one of the world’s most persecuted communities. Thousands have been killed and more than 500,000 forced to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh in the latest bloodshed which has seen their villages burned, their homes destroyed and their families torn apart. In total, more than 1 million Rohingya refugees are in Bangladesh where they are struggling for the basics of life like food, water, shelter and medicine. With the distribution of emergency aid inside Myanmar prevented by a government crackdown, Islamic Help is concentrating its efforts on supporting tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. We have been providing relief aid to the Rohingya community at refugee camps in and around Cox’s Bazaar for the last two years. As previously, our field office, partners and volunteers are distributing desperately need emergency supplies to help those who have fallen victim to the latest crisis. However, we need your support to do that. Please donate to our Rohingya emergency appeal today. Call 0121 446 5682 or online at islamichelp.org.uk and also the ANC should never be divided in my name. I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect,” he said. “Even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organisation, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC. “As I leave I will continue to serve the people of South Africa as well as the ANC, the organisation I have served... all of my life.” Zuma, 75, has since been replaced by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the ANC’s new party leader.

Six months on and no end to the Rohingya refugee crisis

Pakistan is sending troops to ally Saudi Arabia on a “training and advise mission”, the military has confirmed. This follows their stance three years prior to deciding against sending soldiers to join the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen. The specific role troops will play in the region is unclear, but a statement from the army’s press wing on Thursday stressed they “will not be employed outside” the kingdom. Pakistan’s retired army chief, General Raheel Sharif, commands the new Saudi-led Islamic military alliance to fight terrorism, though it was not immediately clear whether the new troops would participate in that coalition. Saudi Arabia had asked fellow Sunnimajority Pakistan to provide ships, aircraft and troops for the Yemen campaign to stem the influence of Shi‘ite Iran in

what appears to be a proxy war between the Gulf’s two dominant powers. Pakistan’s parliament voted to remain neutral to avoid being dragged into a sectarian regional power struggle, due in part to the countries geographical location as it shares a border with Iran and has a sizeable Shi‘ite minority. Pakistani military analyst & retired Brigadier Shaukat Qadir said talks revolving the output of troops to Saudi Arabia have been ongoing for some time. He was speculative on the speed at which the decision was reached saying, “Now, apparently, for whatever reason, the decision has been taken.” There are already about 750-800 Pakistani servicemen in Saudi Arabia, in part to guard Islamic holy sites, but they do not train this cluster of troops for combat. By Zakaria Abraham

The Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar (Burma) have long endured persecution but in August 2017, facing a new wave of state oppression and ethnic violence, they started to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh for refuge. What started as a trickle became an exodus of the homeless and dispossessed. By the end of February 2018, an estimated 650,000plus Rohingya refugees had arrived in Bangladesh. Despite international pressure urging the Myanmar government to protect the Rohingya minority and condemnation from the UN of a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing”, the position of the Myanmar government is clear. The Rohingya, even if they were born in Myanmar, are not their citizens but Bangladeshis. In Bangladesh, while the government and aid agencies are doing what they can to ease their plight, the sociopolitical situation is just as dispiriting. Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest and most crowded nations, does not want them settling permanently. Border guards were instructed to turn away groups of refugees – thankfully, many

turned a blind eye – while the government has drawn up plans to develop a flood-prone island to temporarily re-house tens of thousands of refugees, effectively isolating them from the mainland. The subliminal message that they are not wanted even in Bangladesh is highlighted by the fact that while allowing Rohingya refugee children to be taught in makeshift schools set up by aid agencies, the authorities have banned them from formally learning the Bangladeshi language. The UK and other governments have stated that the Rohingya should only return to Myanmar voluntarily and under international supervision, and recently the Bangladeshi and Myanmar governments agreed to start repatriating refugees. However, with no accountability or deterrent to check Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya population, the danger is they return to face even more violence and repression. Meanwhile Bangladesh starts a seemingly voluntary repatriation of refugees that is effectively driven by the desire to ease its own social and economic problems rather than humanitarian motives. Human nature

dictates that communities which at first welcome those seeking refuge can soon turn on their guests if they fear that their livelihoods or their way of life is under threat. One only has to look at the rise of the right wing in Europe and their attitudes towards refugees to recognise how quickly the persecuted of one country can become the victim in another. Unless a permanent and lasting solution can be found to the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar – the granting of citizenship, equal rights and access to basic services, political recognition – the return of the refugee population will only compound the vicious circle of violence. The international community, and especially its strongest members, need to show the will and the means to prevent that. Too often however they’ve failed to do that and the danger is that they will again fail, leaving the way open for more ethnic cleansing in the future. Mohammed Ilyas is Press and Publicity Manager for the charity Islamic Help. The views expressed in this article are his personal opinions.

March 2018

Largest Ousted PM Sharif, Earthquake on will not lead party British channels Supreme Court rules for ten years

Ousted Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has had his hopes of returning to the head of his political party by Pakistan’s highest court. The Supreme court has ordered Sharif be removed as the figurehead of his party, six months after the court disqualified him as the country’s leader over unreported income. The new ruling could plunge senate into a state of disarray with elections due to be held on the 3rd of March. Opposition figures have said it invalidates candidates from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominated by Sharif. The PML-N controls the lower house of parliament. Winning control of the Senate too would allow the PML-N to change the constitution to make Sharif eligible to hold office again when the party contests a national election due later this year. Sharif is also being tried by a separate anti-corruption court on other charges - proceedings ordered by the Supreme Court last July - and could face jail when that trial concludes potentially as early as next month. Wednesday’s order overturned a legal amendment by PML-N lawmakers, allowing Sharif to remain party president despite being disqualified from public office by the Supreme Court; for failing to declare monthly income of 10,000 Emirati dirhams, ($2,723), from a com-

pany owned by his son. “The Election Commission is directed to remove the name of Nawaz Sharif as president of PML-N from all official records,” Chief Justice Saqib Nisar said from the bench. As a result, all steps are taken, all orders passed by Nawaz Sharif are also declared to be as if they had never been taken.” Sharif has refuted claims of any wrongdoing claiming his family fortune has been obtained through legitimate means. Sharif’s party retains a large majority in the National Assembly vowing it will be vindicated in elections held later this year, in which his brother will be the prime ministerial candidate. While the national election is voted upon by the public, the Senate election is conducted by members of the National Assembly and the local assemblies of Pakistan’s four provinces. The legal cases against Sharif have been spearheaded by opposition politician Imran Khan, a former international cricketer whose party cheered Wednesday’s decision as a victory against corrupt politics. Members of Sharif’s party were defiant on Wednesday. “This is Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif will run PML-N even if he is in a jail cell,” said a government official from Sharif’s party, speaking on condition of anonymity. It will send an impression among

people, and in our party that these actions are being taken to pressure Nawaz Sharif,” Zafrullah Khan, Sharif’s ruling party legal adviser, said to Geo TV. “It will benefit us.” He went on to add. Sharif has said his removal from office was part of a political conspiracy against him, and his party and the judiciary have engaged in an escalating war of words. Sharif has served as prime minister on two previous occasions and each time was removed from office - in 1993 by presidential order and in 1999 by a military coup that saw him jailed and later exiled before returning when General Pervez Musharraf stepped down. Faisal Chaudhry, a lawyer for one of the 17 opposition party petitioners who sought Sharif’s removal as party head, said the court decision invalidated all of Sharif’s decisions since last July, including the candidates he nominated for the Senate election. “My understanding is that the candidates can still contest but as independent and not as Nawaz Sharif’s party ticket holders,” Chaudhry said. Khan’s party praised the ruling, saying it was a “disgrace to the constitution to appoint a person who has been disqualified by the court for dishonesty and corruption”. By Zakaria Abraham

The UK was rocked by a substantial Earthquake over the weekend, in what is thought to be the largest on these shores in over a decade. The epicentre of the 4.2 magnitude Earthquake, struck eight miles North-east of Swansea city centre at approximately 14:31 on Saturday afternoon. The tremors were felt far and wide with some parts of Wales, and the south-west of England reportedly feeling the effects. Cansbrooke Castle situated on the Isle of Wight was also reportedly affected. The shaking was so formidable that it was felt across large parts of Britain, with a live television interview per the Metro capturing the moment the Earthquake struck. Although the said interview was unrelated to the incident, the interviewee Kevin Bennett; is seen to remark on the tremor which momentarily grabs Bennett’s attention and remarks “That was something, weren’t it.” Thousands also took to social media to mark the unusual event, with many attempting to gauge whether or not they were alone. Mark Wyatt, an avid Twitter user & third year student at Cardiff University, was one of the first to tweet on the incident. His tweet read, “Entering the house and heard a weird, deep rumbling sound. Anyone else?” Another Twitter was also quick to take to social

media to mark the unusual event. Seth Piper tweeted; “Ok pretty sure I just experienced my first ever Earthquake... in Bristol, UK? Fortunately, the severity of the earthquake was not critical without any notable incidences of injuries reported across parts of the UK which were affected. A spokesman for the BGS as per The Telegraph said: “It was a reasonably sized earthquake. This earthquake has been felt across a large area of Wales and England with the furthest reports so far from Birmingham and Devon. This is the largest earthquake in mainland UK since the Market Rasen earthquake in 2008.” The Market Rasen Earthquake, which was the last recorded Earthquake to take hold of these shores, was recorded at a 5.2 magnitude. The largest known British earthquake on record occurred in the North Sea, near the Dogger Bank in 1931, with a magnitude of 6.1. It was 60 miles offshore but still powerful enough to cause minor damage to buildings on the east coast of England. The British Geological society (BGS), which first reported the quake specialises in; ‘Earth Science research, fieldwork & events from the British Geological Survey staff’ according to its official Twitter page.

Oxfam Sexual Misconduct Scandal

UK charity Oxfam is under scrutiny in the wake of a scandal surrounding the sexual misconduct of aid workers based in Haiti following the 2011 earthquake, which killed roughly 200,000 people. The Charity Commission has opened an inquiry into allegations that multiple senior members of Oxfam staff hired prostitutes while in Haiti and that the charity attempted to conceal these in-

cidents from the UK government, from which it receives tens of millions of pounds in funding yearly. On Monday, Oxfam’s deputy chief executive, Penny Lawrence, resigned

over the charity’s response to the issues. Since the original allegations, others have also come to light such as the sexual misconduct and exploitation among aid workers in other countries such as Chad, as well as several claims of child abuse in Oxfam shops across the UK. This all follows whistleblower Helen Evans, who worked as Oxfam’s global head of safeguarding from 2012 to

2015. Evans said that an Oxfam aid worker partook in coercing a woman to have sex “in exchange for aid” in an interview for Channel 4. Ms Evans, who is now a Labour councillor in Oxford, also tweeted that in just one month, she had received three allegations of child abuse in Oxfam shops, claims of sexual exploitation against aid beneficiaries, alongside other overseas allegations.

After taking her concern to Oxfam’s trustees, Evans had to fight to be heard and for any action to be taken, which later resulted in her resignation in 2015. Similarly, she was disappointed by The Charity Commission’s lack of response in 2015. Since the scandal, the charity’s government funding has been threatened and other allegations are slowly coming to light. By Furvah Shah

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March 2018

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March 2018

Child murderer in Pakistan sentenced to death by courts

An anti-terrorism court in Lahore was the scene of an eagerly awaited sentencing hearing both globally and regionally. Hundreds of residents protested after Zainab’s body was found, with two reported casualties when police fired warning shots to disperse the large crowds which had gathered. Muhammad Imran, a suspected serial killer and convicted child rapist was sentenced to death following the brutal rape and murder of an innocent seven-yearold girl, prosecutors confirmed. Police last month discovered Zainab Ansari’s body in a garbage dumpster in Kasur district, near the eastern city of Lahore, four days after she was reported missing by her family. The heinous crime caused an outcry of outrage & disgust, with immediate attention & spotlight being directed at Pakistani authorities over their perceived lack of reacting to such cases. This sentiment was mirrored by residents in the area, who incredibly cited that this was the 12th such incident of this nature this calendar year. In the same district, Kasur, there have been a number of complaints regarding missing children since 2015.It was around this same period authorities uncovered what they described as a paedophile ring, operating in the local area which was linked to a prominent local family. At least two have been convicted in connection with the said case, in which authorities say hundreds of children in the district were abused. It is estimated

that almost 10 cases of child abuse are reported in Pakistan daily, according to Sahil, an organisation that focuses on child protection. Investigating officials later confirmed that they had a positive DNA profile which matched convicted killer Imran Ali, 24 to that of Zainab’s and a further eight girls. Ali, who has only been convicted for a handful of his crimes, is set to be prosecuted further amid wide spread reports he could be a potential serial killer. “The court handed down death on four counts and life imprisonment to Imran Ali in the rape and murder of the little girl, Zainab,” government prosecutor Ehtisham Qadir Shah confirmed as per Reuters. Pakistani authorities were forced to act following mass outcries for the perpetrator to be caught and tried in equal measure. Ali was identified following an extensive police investigation, which led to police identifying the child killer as a neighbour of Zainab’s. The link was established following the trawling of CCTV footage, which unearthed, footage of the depraved killer walking away hand in hand with little Zainab. Zainab’s case has triggered wide scale debates in Pakistan, over whether or not to teach children how to safeguard themselves against sex abuse, which is largely considered a taboo issue in the Muslim majority nation. By Zakaria Abraham

Muslim Women Sexually Assaulted During Hajj

When a Muslim decides to complete the fifth pillar of their religion by attending the holy pilgrimage of Hajj, it is often a monumental and emotional moment of their life. The pilgrimage is seen to be an integral part of the Islamic faith; a way to get closer to God, cleanse yourself of sins and better yourself as a person. But, these initial beliefs and excitement about attending Hajj have all too often been blemished by the traumatic experiences that many Muslim women go through when arriving in Mecca. Sexual assault is said to be a commonality for many Muslim women completing the pilgrimage, with reports of assaults taking place as women are simply circling the Holy Kaaba. Yes, you read that right. Despite many claiming that sexual assault during Hajj has been an occurrence for many years, it is only recently coming to light which could be inspired by the conversation also taking place in regards to the entertainment and political industries. Nevertheless, many Muslim women are now finding the strength to open up about their experiences to help in creating change, or at least, awareness. Feminist author and public speaker, Mona Eltahawy, opened up about her experiences in her bestselling book ‘Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution’. She explains how a male grabbed her bottom while circling the Kaaba and how a Saudi police officer groped her breast as she kissed the Black Stone (a rock set into the eastern corner

of the Kaaba). Miss Eltahawy was just 15-years-old at the time. She retold these experiences on Twitter in early February to her 284,000 thousand followers, many of whom also had their own stories to tell. Sabica Khan narrated on Facebook that she was sexually harassed several times while performing tawaf, with someone inappropriately touching her and another aggressively groping her bottom. A Twitter user said how a man attempted to flirt with her and caressed her hand as she was looking for souvenirs for her family, just a few feet away from Masjid Al-Nawbi during her Umrah trip. Another said how multiple people pushed their bodies up against hers and touched her inappropriately as she performed Tawaaf (circling the Kaaba 7 times) during her Umrah trip. Sadly, these stories are just a few of many, with other shared experiences being a lot more explicit and shocking to read and the stories shared on Twitter probably do not come close to explaining the scale of this issue. The shock and outrage that I felt when I read of these experience was something that I later came to realise was a product of ignorance, as sexual assault is such a widespread occurrence and it does not discriminate. Whether you’re a Muslim, Christian, black, brown or white and whether it is in a holy site, the workplace or at home, approximately 1 in 5 women aged 16 - 59 has experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16 according to the charity Rape

Crisis England & Wales. I feel that this statistic indeed does speak for itself. Another key issue associated with sexual assault is the concept of blaming the victim. Following Miss Eltahawy’s vocalisation of her story, many insensitive replies followed including that she should have been wearing her hijab correctly, that she was ‘too ugly to be assaulted’ or that she was merely lying for attention. This insensitivity and ignorance can contribute to the overall issue of sexual assault as it trivialises the traumatic experiences and suggests that the victim is to blame, which is absurd as the only person at fault in these situations are those who choose to assault someone sexually. The key question that arises from this topic is: what can we do to stop sexual assault? Although the answer contains many complexities regarding gender roles, societal structures and cultural norms, a simplified answer to this question is to thoroughly educate yourself and become much more aware of issues surrounding sexual assault so that if you do recognise an occurrence, you can deal with it in the best way possible to minimise trauma and protect your friends and family in the best way possible. Charities that can provide information and support if needed include NSPCC, Rape Crisis, RASAC (Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre), The Survivors Trust or Sexual Abuse Referral Centre (SARC). By Furvah Shah

17 Dead in Florida School Shooting

At least 17 people have been killed following one of America’s deadliest school shootings, committed by a 19-year-old male in Parkland, Florida. The attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School began at roughly 2.30pm on Wednesday 14th February where suspect Nikolas Cruz, an expelled pupil from the school, killed three people outside of the school before entering the building and killing another twelve. Broward County Sheriff, Scott Israel, told reporters of Cruz’ actions and described the event as “catastrophic”. Two people later died in hospital, where three people currently remain in a critical and three others are in stable condition, health officials said. The victims are still being identified; Sheriff Israel said a football coach was among the dead but no names have been released as of yet.

As the attack unfolded, students were forced to hide or flee as police and SWAT teams quickly entered the building and emergency services arrived at the scene. Some told US media that they hid under desks, in closets or barricaded doors as loud shots rang out. The perpetrator, Cruz, who had previously been expelled for undisclosed “disciplinary reasons”, was taken into custody in the nearby town of Coral Springs roughly one hour after the shooting took place. This shooting has been described as the worst in recent history, following the killing of 26 children and teachers at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012, and it is the 18th school-related shooting in the US this year alone. By Furvah Shah

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March 2018

ROHINGYA EMERGENCY APPEAL THE ROHINGYA MUSLIMS IN MYANMAR (FORMERLY BURMA) ARE THE WORLD’S MOST PERSECUTED MINORITY. ABOUT 500,000 ARE INTERNALLY DISPLACED AND IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS MORE THAN 650,000 ROHINGYA REFUGEES HAVE FLED TO BANGLADESH, ONE OF THE WORLD’S POOREST NATIONS.

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March 2018

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Barclays Charged by Serious Fraud Office over Qatar Loan

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Canadian PM Kick-starts India visit with trip to iconic Taj Mahal By By Zakaria Abraham

Barclays Bank has been charged by The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) over of a $3bn (£2.2bn) loan the bank gave to the State of Qatar. The loan was allegedly a part of a side deal linked to emergency fundraising measures in 2008, which was used to avoid a government bail-out during the financial crisis. The charge is related to the issues that arose from Barclay’s capital-raising that year. This charge extends one previously brought against the bank’s parent com-

pany, Barclays PLC, for “unlawful financial assistance” last July, over allegations the Qatari loan was used either directly, or indirectly, to buy shares in Barclays. The SFO have since decided to charge Barclay’s Bank with the same offence as its parent company, despite initial questions arising about if this would occur. It marked the first criminal charges to be brought in the UK against a bank and its former executives for activities during the financial crisis. The emergency fundraising at the centre

of the SFO case allowed Barclays to avoid the fate of its bailed-out rivals Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland, who were aided by the UK government and became part-nationalised during the financial crisis of 2008. Barclays has said it will defend itself and have stressed that ‘Barclays does not expect there to be an impact on its ability to serve its customers and clients as a consequence of the charge having been brought,’ the company said in a statement referring to the SFO prosecution.

Indian bank hit by $1.8bn fraud case

India’s second largest state-run bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB) has uncovered a $1.77bn (£1.3bn) scam linked a single Mumbai branch. The fraud amounts to nearly a third of Punjab National Bank’s (PNB) market value, and 50 times its profits for the last quarter of 2017. The bank said the fraudulent transactions appeared to be beneficial to a handful of customer but there are many concerns surrounding how the fraud could affect other banks, and hurt customer confidence in India’s banking sector. India’s Enforcement Directorate, a government agency that fights financial crime, is said to be exploring the possibility of money laundering in the case. PNB, the country’s second-largest state-

run lender with assets of $120 billion, said in a regulatory filing that the fraud benefited “a few select account holders,” and that it has reported the matter to law enforcement agencies. It signalled that the fraud could affect other banks, which “appear to have advanced money to these customers abroad”. Shares in the bank have fallen by more than 10% and separately, PNB has made a fraud complaint against prominent

Mumbai jeweller, Nirav Modi. India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the allegation that Mr Modi and five others defrauded PNB of $44m in collusion with a deputy branch manager. Mr Modi is yet to comment, but reports suggest about a dozen of his premises across India have been raided by police. The CBI has not yet said yet if the case is connected to the $1.8bn fraud. Indian state banks have been struggling in recent years, negatively impacted by an increase in unpaid loans. That bad debt has made it more difficult for banks to increase lending to businesses, which could accelerate the economic growth of Asia’s third-largest economy.

Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister triggered his week-long stay in India with a visit to one of the countries crowning jewels. Trudeau visited the iconic Taj Mahal with his family & children during a rare retreat from his political duties. The Canadian native was clearly eagerly anticipating his visit to the region, releasing a tweet announcing his eagerly anticipated trip to the country. Trudeau tweeted, “Wheels up for India and a busy visit, focused on creating good jobs and strengthening the deep connection between the people of our two countries,” Canada which is home to an estimated 1.2 million Indians more than three percent of its population – with Trudeau being accompanied by Sikh members of his cabinet for the visit. The delegation & Trudeau will visit the Golden Temple - the holiest site in Sikhism, and the scene of a bloody massacre of religious separatists in 1984. For decades Sikh separatists have been angling for an independent state, and last year Punjab’s chief minister accused Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan - who joins Trudeau on this trip - of being sensitive to their cause. The Canadian PM is in the country to promote trade and investment in India, amid an upturn in foreign interest and

investment in the rapidly developing country over recent years. Trudeau, his wife Sophie Gregoire and their three children posed for a family portrait before gawping at the renowned marble monument frequently visited by foreign leaders during visits to India. It was Trudeau’s first visit to India since taking the PM post in 2015. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with talks in relation the expansion of trade set to dominate the agenda. Talks are set to cover a broad range of subjects ranging from energy, education and infrastructure. The Canadian PM will meet Indian political leaders, civil society figures and corporate executives between ceremonial visits to religious sites and national memorials. Trudeau is scheduled to visit Modi’s home state of Gujarat on Monday before flying out to India’s financial capital of Mumbai for talks with CEOs and business leaders the next day. After visiting Amritsar in Punjab on Wednesday, Trudeau will meet Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi following a welcome at the presidential palace and a wreath-laying at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial. Indian PM Modi visited Canada in 2015 and addressed a crowd of 10,000 from the Indian Diaspora in Toronto.

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Commercial Finance for SME Business owners in the UK

March 2018

China’s flagship port in Pakistan flanked by heavy security

For the thousands of attend-

ees, the conference signalled an opportunity to showcase China’s flagship Belt and Road project in Pakistan - the port in south-western Gwadar that gives Beijing access to the Arabian Sea. The evening played host to 8,000 delegates who were wooed with cultural shows and an extensive firework display at the newly unveiled five-storey, Gwadar Exhibition Centre, - which was the setting for approximately 100 companies last month (January)-. Despite all the furore and ceremony, what really gripped the attention of some investors were the hundreds of Pakistani troops patrolling the roads and marshalling high-end hotel lobbies. With national elections looming on the horizon (in July), Pakistan’s government is keen to trumpet the commercial viability of the deep seaport in the once sleepy sea town of about 200,000 people in a province long racked by separatist insurgency. In a bid to secure Beijing’s funding of more than US$50 billion (S$65.8 billion) in infrastructure projects, Pakistan has raised a special 15,000-strong security force. Muhammad Zafar

Paracha, who is a director at the Pakistani partner of MoneyGram International, was sceptical of the potential large-scale investment. “Nobody will come and invest in this climate of fear.” The port is scheduled to start transhipment on March 7. Yet, for all the fanfare, some question Gwadar’s prospects amid heavy security. Balochistan is mainly off limits to outsiders and there is no substantial foreign presence barring the Chinese. Journalists and visitors are closely monitored by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies. “It doesn’t feel like a normal investment location or an enabling business environment if that level of protection needs to be provided,” said Andrew Small, who has written a book on Pakistan-China relations and is one of a handful of Westerners to have travelled to Gwadar. Beijing has become increasingly vocal over the risks in Pakistan over recent times. In December 2017, China’s embassy in Islamabad reportedly warned of imminent terror attacks on Chinese targets. This month, a Chinese manager at Cosco Shipping Lines was gunned down in an upmarket area of Karachi. Following the

armed attack, China called on Islamabad to take more measures to ensure security. More than 2,600 people have been killed or wounded in suicide attacks in Balochistan since 2003, according to data gathered by the South Asia Terrorism Portal.“It’s our commitment to the Chinese companies or other investors going there to provide security,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said in an interview. The security situation has significantly improved in Balochistan, he said. Security challenges arose from longstanding grievances of the local Baloch people. Many have claimed they have been discriminated against by Islamabad, which they say plunders their natural resources and in return provides little back to Pakistan’s least populated and developed province. By Zakaria Abraham

Sharia-compliant, commercial finance specialist launches nationwide.

www.barakahbusinessfinance.co.uk specialises in Islamic ethical finance. The first to provide a Sharia-compliant leasing facility for SME’s in the UK. Muslim Business owners, who actively avoid interest-based finance products to expand their company, can now do so with Barakah Business Finance. Whilst also benefitting from the effective use of commercial leasing. Barakah Business Finance has been developing its unique offering over the last two years. They are now launching with a larger team, new website and more products. The Muslim small to medium enterprise market has largely been overlooked, making it difficult for them to source critical assets to expand their business without the use of Interest (Riba). The Business Cash Advance product is simple to understand and designed to help boost business with instant cash flow. With only a minimal set of qualifying criteria, this product can be offered quickly and regularly, thus being ideal for retail businesses. Your business must be trading for at least

4+ months, and then an average of your monthly card sales turnover will be taken to work out the maximum facility available. The facility is repaid from your future card sales – this is usually 10% of your card turnover until the facility is paid. Barakah Business Finance also provides commercial asset finance, operational lease being one of the products that they specialise in. The Ijara facility is available to many sectors such as; Leisure & Hospitality, Manufacturing, Construction, Retail, Health Care, and many more. Almost any asset can be leased such as; cars, gym equipment, computers, kitchen appliances, shop floor furnishings, etc. Any tangible asset that can benefit the business commercially can be used for this lease facility. Barakah Business Finance has an ethical approach to finance, where there is no interest, or ambiguity in the products that they offer, with much greater clarity. A business owner, who wants to benefit their enterprise with the effective use of commercial finance, can do so with Barakah Business Finance.

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March 2018

Growth in Indian Software Services

India’s software services exports are set

to have a revenue growth of 7-9 percent in constant currency terms in the fiscal year to March 2019, a leading lobby group forecast on Tuesday, as the industry continues to recover from this difficult year. The forecast, which was announced at the annual summit of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), is in line with the 7.8 percent revenue growth it expects in the six months until the end of March 2018. The country’s $154-billion information technology sector has been hit by a slowdown in technology spending, while worries remain over the work visa rules in the United States which is the biggest market for Indian software services firms. Donald Trump has, however, has not made any significant changes to the H-1B visa programme as of yet, which is the service most used by Indian companies to bring engineers and developers to the U.S. Executives at the summit in Hyderabad, the fastest rising competitor to traditional IT hub Bengaluru, were optimistic about the sector pulling through the current uncertainty by moving from low-margin businesses like server maintenance to more sophisticated work such as artificial intelligence (AI). “The current outlook is one of cautious optimism,” said NASSCOM President R. Chandrashekhar in a statement.

“There is still some turbulence and it is not clear how some of the known uncertainties will play out. However, FY 2019 is likely to be a better year, based on our current assessment.” Major companies such as Infosys and Wipro have posted improved earnings in the January to March quarter and IT executives in Hyderabad have also remained optimistic about a continued recovery as the sector branches into more lucrative digital segments such as cloud computing and big data. “This is an opportunity for people like us who service enterprises to step up and say: I can help you in the front, I can help you with the business model, I can help you with your operational profile,” said Ananth Krishnan, chief technology officer at top-ranked Tata Consultancy Services. Company officials were particularly looking forward to what artificial intelligence could do. Krishnan said TCS was already embedding AI in its offerings. The IT sector is likely to add more than 100,000 jobs in the coming fiscal year, Chandrashekhar said, as the industry pivots to new offerings. However, finding fresh talent to work on AI-driven solutions could be a key constraint. “There is limited talent available in this space and to me that’s the No.1 challenge today, across the industry,” said Vivek Agarwal, global head of enterprise verticals at Tech Mahindra.

India gives state-run banks 15 days to improve oversight T

he Indian finance ministry set a 15-day deadline on Tuesday (27/02/18) for state banks to take action to improve their oversight of operational and technological risks. The news follows the events of the country’s second-biggest state lender being hit by a $2 billion fraud. The directive did not include the Punjab National Bank but comes after the lender said on Monday the number of fraudulent transactions witnessed could rise by $204 million. This is in addition to the $1.77 billion earlier reported. The news sent PNB shares plummeting to a 20-month low. PNB’s announcement late on Monday (26/02/18), also led to a dip in shares of other state-run lenders, reinforcing concerns about the escalating financial cost of the unauthorised loans streamed towards billionaire jewellers Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, owner of Gitanjali Gems Ltd. The large-scale fraud - the biggest to hit an Indian lender -, has stunned the coun-

try. The lacks of supervisory oversight by PNB’s own finance officials, as well as the central bank and auditors, have cast an intense spotlight. The fraud has also triggered aggressive investigations by the country’s authorities, including a raid last week at Nirav Modi’s former law offices that lawyers describe as ‘unprecedented’. Rajeev Kumar, the top bureaucrat in the Department of Financial Services, said in a Twitter post that the government expected state-run lenders “to take pre-emptive action and identify gaps/ weaknesses” for potential operational and technological risks within 15 days. Kumar also listed a notice from his own department with a number of expected action outlined by the lenders. This included identifying current oversight weaknesses, preparing a report on how to improve practices and standards, and directing the banks’ boards “to assign clear accountability” for implementation and compliance. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, – also without mentioning the PNB case -

decried a “lack of ethics” among sectors of Indian business and bemoaned the inadequate oversight by auditors and regulators. Meanwhile, pen maker Rotomac Global is facing a police investigation over accusations it cheated a consortium of lenders, while private lender City Union Bank has said this month “cybercriminals” had hacked its systems and transferred nearly $2 million via the SWIFT financial platform. Analysts said the government directive could hit banks in the short-term if more fraud is detected, though it would benefit the sector in the long-term. “The oversight in the banking system is obviously not good; this could lead to uncovering of more potential scams. We can expect bottom-lines to be hit in the coming quarters.” The comments were made by Yuvraj Choudhary, an analyst at brokerage Anand Rathi. By Zakaria Abraham

LawBid the legal match maker up for awards again The UK-wide innovative Law-

Bid.co.uk legal matchmaking service has caught the imagination of another awards panel, this time in Birmingham. LawBid.co.uk, the online service that seamlessly matches clients with a panel of solicitors, has been shortlisted for Business Innovation by the Birmingham Law Society, the professional representative body in the West Midlands. After a string of plaudits in 2017, it’s the first nomination of the year for the service. The award shortlisting follows up reports from both the Law Society and the Competition & Markets Authority, which both

identified a need for a better way for solicitors to make first contact with clients, and for better price transparency to stimulate growth in the legal sector. LawBid.co.uk, was developed by Kid Harwood, a practicing solicitor and director at Wildings in Birmingham and Manchester. It’s under that firm’s membership of the Society that the LawBid service is entered. LawBid provides a legal matchmaking service, allowing clients and law firms to connect securely and transparently online. Firms all over the UK are already using LawBid. co.uk to better serve existing and new clients in all areas of legal expertise.

Kid Harwood said the nomination recognised the growing contribution LawBid is making to bringing digital presence into the legal profession. The service makes it easier for more potential clients to engage with the legal advice they need. He said: “Over the past few years, price transparency has been an issue repeatedly identified by the Law Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and the Competition & Markets Authority. “As a solicitor, I know the difficulty that firms have publishing prices upfront. With LawBid, instead of giving one-size-fits-all prices, firms are able to review a potential client’s requirements

and provide a quote on a case by case basis. This gives the consumer the choice and transparency they need without making life difficult for solicitors.” The Awards will be presented on Thursday, 8 March 2018 at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre, in front of a panel of judges drawn from industry and academia. Kid Harwood said: “We are delighted to be nominated for our work and to have the chance to shine in front of some of the best and brightest from the legal sector.” Both solicitors and clients can access LawBid securely and confidentially by simply visiting www.lawbid.co.uk.

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March 2018

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March 2018

Pakistan’s crumbling architectural heritage By Zakaria Abraham

When British colonial rulers hast-

ily left South Asia during Pakistan’s painful birth in 1947, neglect was the prevailing factor. The ensuing chaos and violence meant little attention was paid to the architecture they built or influenced in Pakistan’s biggest city, Karachi. Over 70 years later, architectural gems have been scythed down with many either crumbling or under threat from real estate developers in Pakistan’s commercial capital which is mushrooming into a mega-city. The structures, weathered by the salty air, open the door to Karachi’s colonial scars, researchers say, pointing out that many of the original owners were among millions of Muslim and Hindu refugees who fled their homes amid communal and religious violence that accompanied the end of British rule in India in 1947 and the creation of Pakistan. ”Every brick of the heritage building narrates a story of those who left in

1947,“ said Akhtar Baloch, a researcher who has written several books on Karachi’s heritage. ”They built them with love and affection. When people like me feel bad looking at the neglect of these heritage sites, one wonders how the families of the owners must feel if they ever visit Karachi.” Karachi’s population has skyrocketed to nearly 17 million people in 2017 from an estimated 400,000 at independence, and every inch of the city has become a valuable commodity for developers building homes or drafting plans to alter the city’s skyline with new skyscrapers. Jahangir Kothari Parade promenade, once an imposing British heritage site, is now obscured by a maze of overpasses and the shadow of Pakistan’s largest skyscraper. The promenade is part of a handful of buildings, along with the colonial-era Imperial Customs House, which has been restored to their former glory, but such projects are rare when the focus is on tearing down old and replacing with

new. Rapid urbanization has ensured large-scale destruction, particularly in the old city areas, where more profitable multi-story residential buildings have sprung up. Amid the new concrete, remnants of the colonial legacy can still be seen, often recognizable by their state of neglect. The Saddar neighbourhood of Karachi has perhaps the largest concentration of British architectural history, while in the city’s eastern district, the iconic old colonial jail has been declared a heritage site by Sindh province’s antiquities department. So far more than 1,700 premises have been listed as heritage sites by the antiquities department and the process continues. The Sindh Cultural Heritage Preservation Act, introduced in 1994, has helped provide legal protection for structures of historical significance. But courts are also busy with cases of developers trying to circumvent such protection.

Choosing Your Niche Pakistan return to Market terrorist financing O most likely to be interested, singers or instrumentalists? From there you might want or need to narrow it even further. For example, ne of the keys to being a successful your product might appeal to musicians of a Internet Entrepreneur is choosing a niche. One certain age or musicians who favour a certain of the challenges of the World Wide Web is its kind of music or even a particular singer. expansive reach and versatile nature. As the After narrowing it down as far as you can, old joke goes, the best thing about the Web is think of appropriate keywords. Check with that you can do virtually anything, the worst Google to see how many sites come up using thing about the Web is that you can do virtuthese keywords. Next use a site that tracks ally anything. Pick a starting point that you’re keyword usage (such as Word Tracker or interested in and stick with it until you are suc- Overture) to see if there are plenty of users cessful or you have established that your idea looking for that information. If there are is not as profitable as you originally thought. enough potential customers and the competiOkay, when you begin to market, where do tion is low, you may have found your niche. you start? You know you don’t want to comAfter you have chosen your niche, try to use pete with some of the large companies on the it in your Website title. This can help your Net. However, there are great opportunities for Website ranking. Another tool for choosing a small and nimble operators. Analyze what you niche is to study the competition and find out are selling or what you want to sell. It should how to make your site unique. Choosing a be in an area that you know a lot about or want niche will help your Website stand out. Find of learn about. It may have wide appeal but one with plenty of potential customers and think of those it appeals to most. For example, little competition and you have a very good does your product appeal to musicians? That’s chance of watching your business grow. a pretty wide market. Narrow it down. Who is

‘grey list’ P

akistan runs the risk of returning back onto the global terrorist financing list also dubbed the ‘grey list’. The move could potentially jeopardise Pakistan’s final remaining banking links to the outside world, of which their only remains a handful. The economy could take a potential hit and cause untimely financial constraints as the general election looms large. Washington and its European allies have co-sponsored a motion calling for the nuclear-armed nation to be placed on a “grey list” of countries. This is due to Pakistan’s apparent lack of doing too little to comply with anti-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering regulations, with a decision expected next week when member states of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meet in Paris. The ploy is part of a broader U.S. strategy to pressure Pakistan to cut its alleged links to Islamist militants waging chaos in Afghanistan. Pakistan, which has denied such links, last month shrugged off a U.S. aid suspension worth $2 billion. However, inclusion on the FATF watch list could inflict real damage, bankers and government officials say. Islamabad has wanted to see off the motion by amending its anti-terrorism laws and by taking over organisations

By Zakaria Abraham

controlled by Hafiz Saeed, a Pakistan-based Islamist whom Washington blames for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. Real concerns are emerging for Pakistan’s nearly $300 billion economies, expanding at its fastest rate in a decade at above 5 percent, could lose steam if it ends up on the FATF watch list, from which it was removed in 2015 after three years. “We don’t think the consequences are going to be drastic but it’s definitely not good,” said one senior finance ministry official. Military successes against militants and massive Chinese infrastructure investments have restored some respect to an economy handicapped by a long-running Islamist insurgency and wrecked by the 2008/09 global financial crisis. Officials are aiming for economic expansion to hit 6 percent this fiscal year (July-June) and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s ruling party will want to avert a slowdown in the lead up to a general election due in about six months. Being placed on the FATF watch list carries no instant legal implications. It does, however, bring extra scrutiny from regulators and financial institutions that can chill trade and investment and increase transaction costs, according to experts.

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March 2018

United States seeking ‘new relationship’ with Pakistan

The United States is set to explore new methods

on mending its ties with Pakistan, amid rising tensions between the two nations. A senior aide to U.S. President Donald Trump said during a visit to Pakistan that Washington wants a “new relationship” with Islamabad, Lisa Curtis, deputy assistant to U.S. president Donald Trump, also voiced U.S. concerns about Pakistan’s “deficiencies” in preventing terroristfinancing during, her two-day trip to the nucleararmed South Asian nation. Relations between the allies soured again last week when Washington, persuaded member states of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to put Pakistan back on the watchlist of nations, with inadequate terrorist financing or money laundering controls. The U.S. ploy infuriated Islamabad amid fears it could hurt the fragile economy of Pakistan, whose de facto finance minister accused Washington of

trying to “embarrass” his country. “Ms Curtis said that the United States seeks to move toward a new relationship with Pakistan, based on a shared commitment to defeat all terrorist groups that threaten regional stability,” the U.S. embassy said in a statement. This new relationship would also be based on a “shared vision of a peaceful future for Afghanistan”, the embassy added. Tensions with historic-ally Washington, have pushed Pakistan further into the baying arms of China, officials and analysts have suggested. Closer diplomatic and military ties between Beijing and Islamabad have come at a time when China is helping Pakistan’s economy boom by investing billions in infrastructure projects. The United States and Pakistan have in the past clashed over militants waging war in Afghanistan, with Washington accusing Islamabad of providing

safe havens to the Afghan Taliban and their affiliates, the Haqqani network. Pakistan denies any involvement with the militants, stating the Islamist fighters are mostly situated across the border. “Ms Curtis urged the government of Pakistan to address the continuing presence of the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups within its territory,” the embassy added. The Trump administration suspended about $2 billion in security assistance to Pakistan in January, days after Trump tweeted that Pakistan has given nothing but “lies and deceit” in return for generous aid. Islamabad responded emphatically, saying it doesn’t need Washington’s money but wants,

instead, respect for the vast sacrifices it has made in the war on terror. Curtis, who also holds the role of U.S. National Security Council’s senior director for South and Central Asia, also raised Washington’s queries about gaps in Pakistan’s anti-terrorist financing controls, a frequent criticism by Western powers who say not enough is done to curb fund-raising by militants. The U.S. motion to place Pakistan on the FATF “grey list” of nations with weak terrorist-financing controls was co-sponsored by Britain, Germany and France. Only Turkey opposed the U.S. motion at a Paris convention of nearly 40 member states.

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March 2018

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT INVESTING IN DUBAI

hе rеаl еѕtаtе mаrkеt оf Dubаi is hоt аnd has bееn fоr thе раѕt ѕеvеrаl years. Aѕ the rеgiоn’ѕ tourist activity grоwѕ, Dubаi рrореrtу bесоmеѕ in much larger dеmаnd аѕ investors ѕее great роtеntiаl fоr buying in thiѕ luсrаtivе аrеа. There hаѕ bееn ѕоmе hеѕitаtiоn from реорlе who wiѕh tо invеѕt in Dubаi duе tо the fact thаt growth is hарреning ѕо ԛuiсklу аnd thеу fеаr the risk оf investing in a market thаt iѕ ѕооn to bесоmе оvеr ѕаturаtеd.The possibility оf thiѕ happening iѕ ѕlim as most investment

properties in Dubai аrе bought before thеу аrе built. Thiѕ mеаnѕ that Dubai is ѕimрlу kеерing up with dеmаnd, nоt еxсееding it. Thiѕ iѕ only one rеаѕоn whу Dubаi is ѕо profitable and whу when it соmеѕ tо invеѕting, thеrе is nо better place than Dubаi.One оf thе largest reasons to invest in Dubаi рrореrtу iѕ bесаuѕе the grоwth iѕ ѕо exponential. Thiѕ аrеа hаѕ оnlу ѕееn thiѕ ѕоrt оf grоwth and development over thе раѕt twо оr three уеаrѕ ѕо thе роѕѕibilitiеѕ аrе еndlеѕѕ аѕ the growth dоеѕ nоt indiсаtе even

thе ѕlightеѕt downturn аnуtimе in thе near futurе. This kind оf grоwth is very аttrасtivе tо invеѕtоrѕ аѕ thе growth provides fantastic орроrtunitу fоr individuаlѕ wiѕhing to rеnt thе property thеу hаvе invested and duе tо thе rеѕаlе value оn аnу Dubаi property that iѕ ѕurе to оnlу inсrеаѕе ѕignifiсаntlу over thе nеxt few уеаrѕ. Not only with thе рrореrtу increase in vаluе, but thеrе will also bе mаnу people in Dubаi, making it a larger mаrkеt tо ѕеll рrореrtу.Thе firѕt роint tо consider whеn you

сhооѕе tо invеѕt in Dubai iѕ thе location of the рrореrtу. Location is оnе of the main fасtоrѕ whеn сhооѕing invеѕtmеnt property аnd thiѕ iѕ nо different whеn rеfеrring to thе mаrkеt of Dubai. Whеn choosing a lосаtiоn, уоu wаnt tо bе sure to сhооѕе a lосаtiоn thаt will аlѕо inсrеаѕе in vаluе. This mеаnѕ looking at areas thаt аrе currently in dеvеlорmеnt in рlасе of thе dеvеlорmеnt areas thаt hаvе аlrеаdу been dеvеlореd to their fullest роtеntiаl. Making the decision tо invеѕt in Dubai саn аlѕо be vеrу smart bесаuѕе it iѕ much еаѕiеr tо соmрlеtе thе invеѕtmеnt trаnѕасtiоn in Dubаi thаn it iѕ in оthеr аrеаѕ of thе world inсluding thе United Stаtеѕ.Thiѕ iѕ simply bесаuѕе thе processes in Dubai аrе more ѕtrаightfоrwаrd, аnd thеrе iѕ nоt muсh bureaucracy to ѕреаk of. Along with сhооѕing Dubаi property fоr itѕ ѕtrеѕѕ-frее buy аnd ѕеll рrосеѕѕ, сrimе is аlѕо еxtrеmеlу low in Dubаi. Thiѕ iѕ not оnlу a desirable fеаturе in аnу real еѕtаtе purchase fоr ѕаfеtу rеаѕоnѕ but will аlѕо аdd tо the resale vаluе оf the Dubаi рrореrtу. It’ѕ important to rеmеmbеr thаt when you choose tо invest in Dubai рrореrtу that уоu first find a рrоfеѕѕiоnаl real еѕtаtе agent thаt iѕ familiar with Dubai рrореrtу аnd with invеѕtmеnt trаnѕасtiоnѕ specifically. Thеѕе рrоfеѕѕiоnаlѕ will bе аblе tо оffеr аdviсеand support thаt will hеlр уоu еnjоу аnd рrоfit frоm уоur Dubai invеѕtmеnt рrореrtу Thеу will knоw what аrеа оf Dubаi will be ѕuitаblе tо уоur needs аѕ well as whаt tуре of property уоu may want. A Dubai real еѕtаtе agent will аlѕо bе more familiar with thе different аrеаѕ оf Dubаi rеаl estate рrосеѕѕеѕ and will make уоur investment gо that muсh ѕmооthеr.

BCC open letter to PM: Businesses need clarity on Brexit As Cabinet ministers gathered on 7th February to discuss the government’s negotiating stance ahead of critical talks on the UK’s future relationship with the European Union, Francis Martin, President of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and Adam Marshall, the BCC’s Director General, wrote

an open letter to Prime Minister Theresa May, making an urgent appeal for clarity on the government’s objectives.In the letter, the BCC’s leaders urge the government to make key choices and deliver a clear statement of intent – so that businesses of all sizes and sectors can make decisions for the future.

MEET THE WORLD’S YOUNGEST ECO FRIENDLY Z BUSINESS OWNER ymal Umer, a ten-year-old Pakistani girl currently in grade five has set up her own eco-friendly initiative. This makes her the youngest person in the world to own an eco-friendly business.From Sargodha, Zymal was displeased, to say the least, to see so many plastic bags cluttering up the streets and causing pollution in her city. According to the country’senvironment protection department, 20m tonnes of solid waste is generateda year and the figure is growing by 2.4% annually.“This is a situation you can find across all of Pakistan – these bags are not biodegradable and people carelessly discard them. They don’t really think about recycling,” Zymal says. She started working on a plan to solve this problem and wanted to think of an alternative to these plastic bags, in order to combat pollution. In 2014, she used her pocket money to buy wastepaper and started making bags from them that were environmental-friend-

ly. The fifth-grader entrepreneur set up a small business called Zeebags where she sold those environmental-friendly bags to her relatives and to the general public at local fairs. She donated all her profits to the needy and most vulnerable.In November 2015, Zymal was awarded with the prestigious “Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah International Award” for being the world’s youngest and only Pakistani startup at the International Business Conference. She said, “It is hard to balance my schoolwork with running Zeebags, so I make them at the weekend or during the holidays with my cousins.One charity Zymal’s donates her profits to is called SOS Children’s Villages, which helps orphans and vulnerable children across Pakistan. “Through my income, I’ve been able to pay for water coolers, washing machines, batteries and the type of things they need for daily life,” Zymal explains. “To see the happiness on their faces gives me a lot of satisfaction and motivation to carry on.”

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: SUBAIG SINGH

Sridevi dies at age 54

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March 2018

Maihira Khan comes to UK

Sholay 3D comes to Birmingham

March 2018

Subaig Singh

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

We caught up with UK sensation, Subaig Singh, who is currently making his mark on the international music scene ahead of the launch of his brand new single ‘’137 DI SPEED’’ on Thursday 22nd February 2018 to a worldwide audience. 1) The journey until now in the industry, has it been difficult? It has been very enjoyable and rewarding but it has also been tough. The music industry is a tough nut to crack and there has been no shortage of challenges along the way. You have to learn to take the rough with the smooth and learn to be thick skinned to deal with the critics. 2) Can you sum up your experience? It has been a steep learning curve. My mother and I set up our own record label Mahaveer Records and threw ourselves at the deep end by releasing and promoting our music by ourselves. Since we had no prior experience, we have learnt as we have gone along and feel we understand the industry fairly well and how it all works. I would say that we have made errors but there’s nothing like experiential learning! Our philosophy has been to enjoy the process. It is a steady growth that is satisfying to experience. 3) What was that particular inspiration that led you to become a singer? Whilst I was at university, I did a lot of soul searching and fell in love with traditional Punjabi folk music. It was my passion for the music itself that inspired me to sing. I was a natural performer from a young age and loved any opportunity to be in the limelight. So the transition from singing as a hobby to singing as a career was an easy one for me in that sense. 4) How did your collaboration with Popsy the Music Machine come about? I used to sing folk songs, record them on my phone and upload them onto Facebook. I had a large following from my MMA fighting days so the videos took off and became popular. I was shocked when world famous producer Popsy got in touch and asked me if I wanted to do a track with him. We clicked from the very beginning and the rest is history. After recording six or seven tracks together our partnership has grown stronger by the day and Popsy’s wealth of experience has been instrumental in my success. We have a good working relationship and an understanding of each other which makes for a good team. 5) What was it like working with The Godfathers of the Punjabi music video makers Rimpy & Prince? It was daunting at first. However, straight away, I was very impressed by the professionalism that they brought to the table. They had a keen eye for costumes, colours, sets and they plan everything to the very last detail. They made us feel very welcome and supported us along the way. We were taken aback by their scale of operation and access to resources as well as knowledge. They in turn have faith in me as a performer and they very much want me to succeed. This makes for a good working partnership. 6) The 137 Di Speed video is very well made, did you as an artist have an input into the storyline of the video? Yes. Rimpy and Prince proposed a couple of different concepts that could work around the lyrics. Mum and I had a few requirements for this track. Our previous work had been very folk orientated but we wanted this track to be modern and depict a younger and more urban look. Once we had agreed a broad concept with Rimpy and Prince, we left them to conjure up the magic. They kept us informed of all their ideas and we were very happy with what they were suggesting. 7) After reading your profile we can see you are very talented from singing, acting and boxing and not forgetting your day time job as a Doc-

tor, how do you fit everything into your daily routine? Haha, it can be tough at times. I work as a Locum in Accident & Emergency which allows me to choose my own hours. This also gives me flexibility and a bit more time to focus on training and singing. I have been involved in a variety of things from a young age and therefore, I am used to multitasking! I also get a lot of support from my family for which I’m very grateful. 8) From your 1st release we have seen you progress from strength to strength, how do you discipline yourself? My discipline comes from a desire to succeed in any thing that I do and to keep working hard until I make it...doing whatever it takes. It was how I was brought up and it’s within my DNA! 9) How would you say the Asian music industry differs from the main stream industry? I haven’t yet worked in the mainstream field so I can’t comment on it in the way that I can about the Punjabi scene. The most obvious difference is the scale of operation and the difference in size between the respective markets. 10) Which mainstream music director would you like to work with? Good question. Can I get back to you on that one? 11) Who would you like to do a collaboration with from both Asian and mainstream – Male & Female? Besides Popsy, I would be interested in working with Surinder Rattan, Deep Jandu and Dr Zeus to name a few. I’d like to do a duet with Jasmine Sandlas some day and work with my idol, Surinder Shinda. In the mainstream world, I’d love to do a project with Tom Jones and/or Shaggy. 12) What advice would you have for someone who wants to take steps to a career in the music industry? I’m still trying to work it all out for myself so probably not in the best position to advise at this stage. I am still a newcomer that is chasing the dream. Maybe once I have achieved it I can help to advise others. One thing is for certain, anything that I have achieved thus far has been achieved with the blessings of my family and especially my mother, Kulbir. So I would say that you definitely need your family’s support. You’ve also go to be passionate about what you do and enjoy it. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. 13) What is the biggest lesson you have learnt throughout your career in music? The biggest lesson I have learnt is that it is important to remain focused and do what you enjoy regardless of what everyone else is doing. I’ve also learnt that you will get your haters as well as your fans but don’t let the haters get the best of you. It’s a very small industry and it’s important to be respectful of everyone’s art. 14) 18. 137 Di Speed releases worldwide on the 22nd February 2018, when can we expect a live performance from you for your UK fans ? I’m still concentrating on producing new tracks with at least three more ready to be released which obviously takes up a lot of my time and requires me to be abroad for filming. Once I have a reasonable amount of my own material, I will be more free for live gigs. Some dates are already penciled in for 2018. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to find out the details. I’d like to thank all members of my team, my mother, Popsy, Laddi Gobindpuri, RimpyPrince, UK Premier and Marketing and finally all my fans for all their love and support. 2018 is going to be an action packed year and I have lots of new exciting material to share with you.

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Tiger Shroff, the Rebel for Love, Returns In Baaghi 2

Fire, fury, action and love: Tiger

Shroff, the undisputed rebel for love, is back with more action and more adventure in Baaghi 2. The much-awaited sequel to the 2016 hit film Baaghi, is heading to cinemas worldwide through Fox Star Studios on 30th March 2018, with a daring and action packed new mission in Goa. Produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and Presented by Fox Star Studios, Baaghi 2 is directed by Ahmed Khan (Fool & Final), and sees the return of new age Bollywood heartthrob and action-hero Tiger Shroff (Heropanti, Baaghi). The talented Disha Patani (M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Kung-Fu Yoga) joins Tiger Shroff in the film as the female lead, alongside a stellar star-cast comprising Randeep Hooda (Sultan), Manoj Bajpayee (Aligargh) and Prateik Babbar (Umrika) in pivotal roles. The music of the film is composed by an eclectic array of musicians including Mithoon, Arko Pravo Mukherjee, Gourov-Roshin, Sandeep Shirodkar and Pranaay Rijay while the lyrics have been penned by maestro Javed Akhtar, Kumaar, Ginny Diwan, Arko Pravo Mukherjee and Sayeed Quadri. The songs featured in the film are sung by Atif Aslam, Ankit Tiwari, Shruti Pathak, Jubin Nautiyal and Navraj Hans. Soaring the heat quotient and music tempo in the film will be a killer soundtrack, ranging from romantic ballads that will stir emotions, to upbeat revivals of much loved classic tracks. The first song to be released is the Bhangra phenomenon Mundiya

to Bach Ke Rahi, which will enthral listeners with a strong Punjabi vibe. Baaghi 2 will also feature a special rendition of the chart-buster song Ek Do Teen from the 1980s blockbuster Tezaab. A tribute to Madhuri Dixit, the song has Bollywood starlet Jacqueline Fernandez recreating the magic of this iconic track on screen with a contemporary twist. Baaghi 2 is the story of an army officer who goes in search of his ex-lover’s child who has been mysteriously kidnapped. Neha (Disha Patani) reaches out to the only person who can help her with her plight, Ronnie (Tiger Shroff). Ronnie goes deep into the underbelly of Goa, facing off against drug lords, menacing Russian henchmen, and blood thirsty animals. Daring stunts, chase sequences, air strikes, bomb blasts and other large-scale action sequences create a bona-fide, larger than life approach, truly making it a spectacle. With the film’s high-octane action sequences, Baaghi 2 promises to raise the bar for action thrillers in Bollywood. Audiences will also be treated to a much more muscular Tiger Shroff in a deadly role compared to the prequel. He will be up against a new set of challenges unlike any he’s faced before. Catch the skilled martial artist, Tiger Shroff, fight, shoot and battle his way through a host of new foes with a fiery passion and determination alongside Disha Patani, showing that he is still the rebel for love we remember. Baaghi 2 releases worldwide on 30th March 2018, and is Produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and Presented by Fox Star Studios.

March 2018

Brand New Mumbai Based Netflix Show Sacred Games

A brand new Netflix original series called Sacred Games

is set to be released in June! Set amid the chaos of Mumabi, the epic and gritty series explores the corrupt underworld lurking beneath India’s economic renaissance. The series is based on the critically-acclaimed best-selling novel Sacred Games by author Vikram Chandra and focuses on Sartaj Singh, a seasoned and cynical Bombay police officer, summoned by an anonymous tip one morning, a voice which promises him an opportunity to capture the powerful Ganesh Gaitonde, criminal overlord of the G-Company. As the stakes mount and Sartaj seeks knowledge of his prey, it becomes clear that the game the two players thought they were engaged in is, in fact, part of a much larger scenario, one that expands beyond their city. Sacred Games, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, will be available exclusively on Netflix.

March 2018

Male grooming evolving in conservative Pakistan

By Zakaria Abraham

Deeply conservative Pakistan has long had a

strict philosophy regarding the masculinity of males, who are often expected to be austere with flamboyant styling to be avoided. Business savvy Entrepreneurs operating in urban centres have latched on to a new metro-sexual trend. Male beauty parlours. While women in urban Pakistan have long enjoyed access to the care of beauticians and stylists, expensive facials and mani-pedis for men are becoming more common as disposable incomes in the nation’s swelling middle class grow - per capita income jumped by 6.4 percent in 2017. Men are now undergoing a similar beauty regime with nails being buffed, blackheads scrubbed and coffee sipped to the sound of clipping scissors inside the “Men’s” salon in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. Pakistan is a deeply conservative country with strict Islamic rules often governing lifestyle and beauty. However, due to Western influences via a vibrant social media culture has fuelled the desire to be selfie-ready at any time, with influencers like Adnan Malik and Osman Khalid Butt attracting hundreds of thousands of followers online with their fashionconscious posts. Bollywood entertainment has long too driven fashion trends for conscientious groomers. At Tauseeq Haider’s “Men’s” salon, customers usually fork out a minimum of 1,400 rupees (US$12.60) for a visit - a far cry from the 200 rupees spent at traditional barber shops. “Men have equal right to be groomed and times have changed. It’s no more just getting your haircut,” says Haider.”Senior citizens, bureaucrats, they don’t feel ashamed of saying that I need a facial, massage, my nails need to be done, please suggest what should I get,” he adds. In rural Pakistan, men have traditionally taken their fashion tips from Islamic dictates, with the Koran specifying the length of beard and moustache along with hygiene guidelines. However, times are rap-

idly evolving in the developing South Asian nation, with social media setting and wrecking trends in urban centres at the speed of a swipe. According to Lebanese salon owner Michael Kanaan, who has been based in Pakistan for more than a decade, rising wages and greater exposure to global culture is fanning the burgeoning demand. “The Pakistan male is becoming more metrosexual. It is all due to the internet and the age of satellites and TVs,” says Kanaan. Economist Minhajul Haque agrees, saying Pakistani men are also subjected to a new slew of online advertising campaigns that have reinforced the trend. “There is this whole lot of clever marketing of male beauty products which is spurring demand,” he explains. Humayun Khan, 49, says he is fine with spending more money to look good and his wife is supportive of the new passion. “I... get my nails done, get my haircut, get my facial and I am done for the day and after two weeks I come again,” he says. “If I don’t look good, my wife wouldn’t like me,” he laughs. Stylist Ghulfam Ghori says Pakistani men are also now more concerned with skincare, opting for blackhead removal, acne treatments and even the occasional brush with makeup before major events like weddings. “Men are very conscious about their skin now... and consider it essential to get facials. Previously it was not common, but now the trend is increasing among men to get themselves groomed,” says Ghori. It’s not just the salons that are cashing in on Pakistani men’s blossoming cosmopolitan predilections. Zafar Bakhtawari, chairman of the D. Watson Group, one of Pakistan’s biggest pharmacy chains, explains: “I can say there is a revolution coming up in Pakistan in the male psyche that they are becoming very much conscious about their beauty, about their face, about their hair, about their dress and it’s a great revolution.”

Bollywood superstar Sridevi Kapoor, dies aged 54 I

ndia is in mourning today, following the death of one of their most coveted showbiz entertainment goddesses. Sridevi Kapoor, who has starred in over three-hundred Bollywood films throughout her glittering career – which spanned a remarkable five decades - fell victim to a heart attack on Saturday (24/02/18). These included timeless classics such as Mr. India, Chandni, ChaalBaaz and Sadma to name but a few. She reportedly suffered the heart attack whilst attending a family wedding in Dubai. The actress was believed to be in the United Arab Emirates to attend the wedding of her nephew, Mohit Marwah. Her husband and daughter, Khushi, were with her when she passed away on Saturday, reports claim. Sanjay Kapoor, her brother-in-law, said the fatal incident had occurred at around 23:00 local time (19:00 GMT), according to news site The Indian Express. He He did not provide further detail. Top Bollywood figures, sporting giants and leading politicians were widely stunned, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying he was “saddened” by her death. Huge Crowds began to gather outside Bollywood star’s home as news of her death filtered through in Mumbai. A spokesperson for Sridevi’s husband, who is the producer Boney Kapoor, told the Indian news

agency Asian News International that her body would be flown from Dubai to Mumbai on Monday. Kapoor was considered a rare breed due to her ability as one of the very few Indian female superstars, capable of a huge box office haul despite the lack of a dominant male protagonist featuring beside her. All the more impressive as the overriding culture of Bollywood classics stems from a male hero flanked by his glamorous female counterpart. Sridevi also starred in films in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi languages. Her acting career began at the tender age of four with a flourish and by 13 she was cast in the adult role of a complicated woman avenging her lover’s death. Kapoor then debuted as a lead actress in a Bollywood film in 1978, soon becoming one of India’s biggest film stars and inevitably a household name. Her glamorous looks aided her in endearing herself to the Bollywood stratosphere. The actress took an abrupt hiatus from the film industry however in 1997, following the release of Judaai. She then made an eagerly anticipated comeback in 2012, starring in English hit Vinglish. In 2013, Kapoor was awarded her the Padma Shri by Indian government officials - the fourth highest civilian honor.

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March 2018

AKSHAY KUMAR SHARES ON-SET PICTURE FROM KESARI WITH HIS YOUNG CO-STARS

PakistanI Biggest Superstar actress Mahira Khan to attend UK Asian Film Festival Pakistan’s biggest superstar with a global fan base, actress Mahira Khan, will be attending the UK’s leading South Asian film festival to champion femaleoriented films, artists and auteurs, UK Asian Film Festival. Historically known as Tongues on Fire and, more recently, London Asian Film Festival, the festival synonymous with programmes featuring strong, South Asian feminist content will run in London, Leicester, Manchester and Edinburgh from 14th – 25th March, now known as UK Asian Film Festival. The Opening Gala Dinner on 14th March at The May Fair Hotel, will host an In Conversation with Mahira Khan. The evening will also feature an award presentation honouring female heroes that have challenged stereotypes, broken barriers and pushed boundaries to make a difference. Further attendees will include veteran Indian actress, director, producer and talk show hostess, Simi Garewal. On 15th March, Mahira Khan will be conducting a Q&A with audiences at Phoenix Cinema, Leicester. On 16th March at Regent Street Cinema, London the actress will conduct a Q&A following a screening of social issue film, Verna. Synonymous with female-centric films that hold a mirror to the injustices of contemporary society, director Shoiab Mansoor’s latest feature tackles the issues of rape, misogyny and the position of women in Pakistani society and culture. With her fan base transcending borders globally, Mahira Khan made her film debut with the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Bol (2011) directed by Shoaib Mansoor, which become one of Pakistan’s highest grossing films of all time. She went on to champion roles in film and television, garnering a portfolio of coveted industry awards and accolades along

the way. She played lead role in Pakistani drama Humsafar, a turning point for the Pakistani television industry, with many attributing the series to the renaissance of local drama, now consumed by audiences globally. Since then, she has essayed lead roles in the country’s most popular television dramas and films, going on to crossover into Bollywood, cast opposite superstar Shah Rukh Khan in Hindi film Raees (2017). Khan’s recent performance in Shoaib Mansoor’s Verna (2017) garnered unanimous plaudit the world over. With the biggest social media following of any Pakistani actor, she was recently announced as the first ever Pakistani Ambassador for L’Oreal. Marking 100 years of women gaining the right to vote in the UK, the theme of UK Asian Film Festival 2018 is F-Rated – known to have denoted films that have been cinematically classified as representing women on film or behind the camera and that are femalecentric in subject matter. Ben Luxford, Head of UK Audiences at the BFI says, “We are pleased to support the 20th anniversary of the festival, enabling it to expand to reach more people across the UK and to engage audiences with a broad range of South Asian cinema.”

Akshay Kumar recently shared the first look from his upcoming film Kesari and it created waves of excitement among fans and the Bollywood fraternity equally. The film has already generated anticipation since it was announced and Akshay Kumar heightened our enthusiasm further by sharing his first look from the film as the Sikh Warrior. The actor recently took to social media to share an adorable picture of him dressed as British-Indian Sikh soldier and his young co-stars playing Afghani kids from the sets of Kesari. He said, “Innocent smiles galore on set today. Shooting with these lovely children playing Afgani kids in #Kesar based on the Battle of Saragrahi, one of the bravest battles fought in India” Akshay, who is busy experimenting with roles with each passing film, has yet again picked an interesting content-driven story-line for his forthcoming production with Karan Johar. Sharing his first look he said, “Feeling nothing but immense pride and gratitude while sharing this. Beginning my 2018 with #KESARI, my most ambitious film and a lot of passion. Need your best wishes as always”.

Kesari is based on the encounter between 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army and a 10,000-strong troop of Afghani tribesmen in the Saragarhi outpost of the North-West Frontier Province on 12th September 1897. Though vastly outnumbered, the regiment is said to have fought to its death in what is hailed as one of history’s greatest last stands.

Zayn Malik covers Teri Deewani by Kailash Kher

Zayn Malik has excited his Asian fans with a cover of Teri Deewani by Kailash Kher that he has posted on his Instagram. Ever since the British-Pakistani singer has declared his love for Bollywood and interest in branching into the industry, fans have been eagerly waiting for possible Bollywood music or film appearances, and this seems to be the first glimpse at his new endeavour. The former One Direction star has also recently revealed that he has worked on Bollywood music with the Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire producer, A.R. Rahman. “It’s one of the first songs I’ve sung in

full Hindi, so it’s going to be cool to see what the response to that is”, he admitted in a recent interview. “There’s definitely a lot of Urdu; some nice qawwali sounds. There might even be some bhangra vibes. I have worked with AR Rahman on one song.”. This isn’t Zayn’s first brush with Bollywood either, as he’s also spoken about his love for Hindi film Devdas, posed for pictures with Shah Rukh Khan and even posted an image of his father alongside legend Dilip Kumar. Zayn, who recently starred in Vogue India, is set to be a part of the soundtrack for an upcoming Bollywood production along with releasing his second album this year, which is rumoured to have a lot of Bollywood and bhangra inspirations throughout.

London Modest Fashion Week success London Modest Fashion has had immense success in the second instalment of the event that occurred last month. London Modest Fashion Week, which took place over two days from February 17 during London Fashion Week, was founded last year by famous, modest fashion brand Haute Elan. It celebrates modest fashion by designers from around the world, showcasing a range of hijabs, abayas and long hemlines. The event has been describes as a “celebration of style and global cultures

featuring runway shows, presentations, exhibitions, talks, shopping and inspiration”. One of the show’s attendees this year was actress and rumoured Muslim convert Lindsay Lohan, who made an appearance while wearing a black hijab. The event is seen to be a step forward for Muslim woman, bringing them into the mainstream and the impact of modest fashion is continually growing; with SomaliKenyan model Halima Aden wearing her hijab on countless runways and big brands such as Dolce & Gabbana and Debenhams selling abayas and hijabs.

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March 2018

BOLLYWOOD FEVER Sidharth Malhotra: BRINGS SHOLAY IN 3D “Aiyaary is not a war film” TO BIRMINGHAM Whilst shooting for the film Baby with, the base of Aiyaary started shaping up in the director’s Neeraj Pandey mind, as the filmmaker recently revealed. Revolving around two men in uniform serving their country, the film stars Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee. Speaking about the background the film, Sidharth Malhotra recently said in an interview, “It is not a war film. It’s an espionage thriller predominantly. It talks about different issues of the country. It’s an entertaining thriller. But this is not a theme based film.” Furthermore the Aiyaary actor shared, “I love spy thrillers. I grew up with the James Bond series, True Lies, Mission Impossible etc. Hollywood also does some real versions of a spy thriller. Even Aiyaary is the real version of a spy thriller.” Also starring Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah, Rakul Preet Singh and Pooja Chopra in lead roles

mmersive film experience specialists, Bollywood Fever are presenting the timeless classic of Indian cinema, Sholay, in a newly converted 3D format at The ICC Birmingham on Saturday March 17th and Sunday March 18th 2018. Following on from the conversion of this worldwide blockbuster into the digital 3D format, this will be the first time Sholay in 3D will be screened in the UK on such a wide-reaching scale, targeting a new generation of filmgoers and Bollywood film fans. Supported by the BFI Audience Fund, using money from the National Lottery, to connect audiences across the UK with the best of world cinema, the event will see the venue transformed to create an immersive treat that captures the essence of Bollywood through live music, dance, food and entertainment. Considered by many to be the greatest Bollywood film of all time, Sholay topped the Indian box office for 19 years after its release in 1975. It went on to receive numerous ‘Best Film’ honours, topped the BFI’s “Top 10 Indian Films” in a 2002 poll and was named in the Top 10 list compiled by London’s Barbican Centre “What London Watches: Ten Films That Shook Our World” in 2017 – 42 years after its initial release. nspired by the spaghetti western genre in mainstream cinema, the film follows two criminals, ‘Jai’ and ‘Veeru’ (played by Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra) hired by a retired police officer (Sanjeev Kumar) to capture the ruthless dacoit ‘Gabbar Singh’ (Amjad Khan). Hema Malini and Jaya Bhaduri play ‘Basanti’ and ‘Radha’ respectively – Veeru and Jai’s love interests. The film’s dialogues and characters became universally popular, forming archetypes that have since defined and inspired subsequent eras of Indian cinema; contributed to numerous cultural memes; and become part of India’s daily vernacular. In 2014, over 300 people took part in the process to convert this iconic film into a 3D digital format, where every scene had to be individually restored, colour corrected and re-composited in 3D. The music has been re-composed and re-created by RajuSingh. Bollywood Fever says: “We are excited to bring Bollywood Fever to Birmingham for the first time and literally ‘take-over’ the ICC’s two largest spaces, making this an immersive experience for every fan of Indian cinema to enjoy. “Securing the iconic Sholay and bringing it back to the big screen in the 3D digital format for the first time in years will make this an event to remember. We encourage all fans to come dressed as their favourite Bollywood character making this an occasion for everyone to have fun and enjoy. Together with live music, dance workshops plus a few other surprises to be announced, we have the ingredients for the perfect Bollywood Fever experience.” This will be the first time Sholay in 3D will be screened in Birmingham, targeting generations that have not seen the magic of Sholay in theatres, those who have seen the film countless times, as well as world cinema aficionado’s. Bollywood Fever, sponsored by Cellar Door, are proud to partner with the BFI and Lyca Radio to bring Sholay in 3D to UK audiences. Bollywood Fever is also delighted to have Lyca Radio on board as a Media Partner and RealD as an official supplier.

Neha Dhupia

rom the film world to a podcast show, judging television non-fiction entertainers to running a marathon — Neha Dhupia is doing it all. The actress and former beauty queen says entering the film industry was an adventurous step she took around 20 years ago, but staying relevant during all these years has been quite a task. Neha, who made her screen debut with a Malayalam movie in 1994, and forayed into Bollywood with “Qayamat: City Under Threat” in 2003, has been doing non-fictional shows like “MTV Roadies – Roadies Xtreme“, podcast “#NoFilterNeha” and other chat shows, apart from movie projects of late.She told IANS: “There are so many TV shows that go off air within three months of their

beginning. MTV Roadies is one of the adventures TV shows that has earned the credibility of 15 years from its audience. And I am the only female judge on the show. “I earned the show because of my body of work. Staying relevant for 20 years is challenging.” As for adventures in her own life, she said: “I think the most adventurous thing that I have done in my life is to become part of the Indian cinema industry, being a complete outsider. So today, when I am getting an offer of one of the longest-running youth show on Indian television, it is purely a by-product of my credible work in the industry. (ALSO READ: MTV Roadies Xtreme: The talent of Chandigarh impresses Neha Dhupia, Prince Narula, Rannvijay Singha)

Before Race 3, Salman Khan will shake a leg with Bobby Deol in Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se All you Salman Khan and Bobby Deol

fans, here’s some good news for you. Before you get to see their camaraderie in Race 3, the actors will come together for a different project and no points for guessing the movie’s name. BollywoodLife was the first one to break this exciting news and yes, you can thank us later. Salman Khan has a special appearance in Yamla Pagla Deewana: Phir Se. The actor will be seen shaking a leg in a song from the film, along with Bobby Deol, and it’s something we are eagerly looking forward to. Imagine the Deol trio

and Salman together in one song! We can already assume everyone humming it. Though the details about the song are not revealed yet, we bet it would be a peppy number that will instantly make us groove. Salman has quite a few special appearances in different movies this year. The actor had a cameo in Sonakshi Sinha’s last release, Welcome to New York. We also know that he shot for a song in Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero and now there’s another one with Bobby. All you Salman fans, this year is indeed very special for you

Dipika Kakar opens A up about converting to Islam after marrying Shoaib Ibrahim

part from falling in love with Dipika Kakar and Shoaib Ibrahim’s wedding ceremonies that were so beautiful, news that did rounds were that Dipika has converted to Islam. A news portal laid their hands on the wedding card that had the name Faiza on it instead of Dipika. While a source told us exclusively that Dipika had not converted to Islam, the actress got up close and personal with TOI revealing that she did convert to Islam. She also added that she is proud of her decision and it is a very private space of her life that no one has the permission to enter.

March 2018

New March Beauty Must-Haves

The beauty industry is flourishing, with brand new products being released by your favourite brands every month. These are just five of the most exciting new beauty items at the moment: 1. Benefit Bad Gal Bang Mascara - £21.50

Following the cult success of Benefit’s original Bad Gal Lash mascara, Benefit has released a brand new version supercharged with space technology to create ‘out of this world’ lashes. It is said to create a bold, voluminous look while maintaining a light weight feel that is created through the use of aeroparticles, one of the lightest materials known. Also, the mascara brush is one of the main selling points, uniquely created to deliver even more volume and separation.

2. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Lavender, Chamomile and Aloe - £7/£11

A new addition to Mario Badescu’s cult skincare brand, this facial spray is an exclusive adaptation of their facial spray with the added ingredient of lavender to calm and hydrate the skin. These sprays work as a great base under makeup and help refresh your face throughout the day, maintaining a flawless look to your makeup. It’s also available in a cheaper 118ml or a bigger 236ml. 3. L’Oreal Smooth Sugar Scrubs - £9.99 L’Oreal are expanding their raved about skincare line with these face scrubs, made to gently exfoliate the skin and keep it smooth. They’re made for face and lips alongside being suitable for all skin types, and they are said to contain all natural sugars for ef-

fective exfoliation. There are also three types, one containing Kiwi Seeds, another containing Cocoa Butter and the third with Grapeseed Oil for all your skincare needs. 4. EX1 Cosmetics Invisiwear Liquid Foundation - £12.50 This foundation has been worn by countless celebrities such as Priyanka Chopra, Adele, Kim Kardashian etc. and it is easy to see why. The medium coverage foundation has a skin like finish and it’s carefully created shades are perfect for Asian skin tones, which is who the creator Farah Naz initially created the foundation for. Although it isn’t a recent release, it has recently come in certain Boots stores and has expanded its shade range, too. For as little as £12.50, it is a must have for Asian girls.

7 shocking remarks Shabana Azmi made on the sexualisation of women in cinema

Veteran Bollywood actor and activist

Shabana Azmi made some shocking remarks with regards to how film-makers should be more responsible in the depiction of women’s bodies on screen, because the business of cinema is one of images. The actor was asked her opinion on stars who practice their right of “my body, my choice”, especially in item numbers in Bollywood films. Azmi said people in India are simultaneously living in different centuries in various parts of the country. Considering the presence of women at workplaces is increasing in India and, at the same time, the incidence of sexual violence growing, is gender equality an outdated topic of conversation? I would have loved to have acted in all of Satyajit Ray’s films: Shabana Azmi Here are seven shocking statements the veteran actor made at the session:

we have a woman President, woman Prime Minister, woman politicians, but at the same time there are several girl children being killed because they are girls… both the realities co-exist.” 5) “We talk about education but often education re-enforces the gender stereotype and role play. The definition of masculinity needs to be changed.”

3) “In Zoya Akhtar’s film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, a scene shows leading lady Katrina Kaif coming out of the water wearing a bikini and wear her bathrobe. The camera does not go close to her, does not show her bosom. But on that very shot, if the director had decided to go over the top, it would have been objectification. So the intention needs to be clear.”

6) “The idea of a woman being as good as a man to compete should be stopped but why to compare? The competition should be with oneself and not with a man.” “When women get together, we are unstoppable”, said Ushna Shah 7) “I think unless we are breaking away from the stereotypical idea of gender and role play set by the society and culture, the constant conversation on gender equality will remain relevant and not outdated.”

1) “When a leading lady says that ‘It’s alright, I want to celebrate my sensuality in those songs’ I have no problem with that. But under the pretense of ‘celebrating your sensuality,’ what you are actually doing is surrendering to the male gaze and objectifying yourselves because the business of cinema is one of images.” 2) “When you see the fragmented bits of a woman’s body, you see heaving bosom, swinging navel, shaking hips… you are robbing the woman of all autonomy, completely.”

“India and Pakistan must collaborate on projects”, said Shabana Azmi 4) “Let’s acknowledge the fact that India is living in many centuries in different parts of the country simultaneously. Yes,

By Furvah Shah

5.Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Concealer - £4 Makeup Revolution has recently released their brand new ‘conceal and define’ concealer, and it is already flying off the shelves. Priced at just £4, it is a full coverage and matte finish concealer which is great for perfecting the skin and for highlighting and contouring your face, too. It has also been labelled as a duplicate for Tarte’s ‘shape tape’ concealer which is over quadruple the price, and it comes in a range of 18 shades which is a great start for a high street brand and it has been rumoured that Makeup Revolution are releasing even more shades in the coming months. But, it is selling out fast so make sure to get your hands on it if and when you can!

Anushka Sharma’s ‘Pari’ banned in Pakistan

The Central Board of Film Censors

(CBFC) of Pakistan has decided to ban upcoming Bollywood film Pari from being screened in cinemas across the country. Apparently, the decision has been taken because the content of the horror film promotes black magic, some non-Islamic values and anti-Muslim sentiments. “Pari’s script, dialogues and storyline go against our Islamic values. The concepts within Islam have different ideologies about magic. This film stimulates the viewers in favour of black magic and promotes thoughts that are contradictory to our religion,” stated a senior member of CBFC. The Pakistan Film Distributors Association’s chairman, Chaudhry Ejaz Kamran agreed with CBFC’s decision. “Any film that goes against our culture and Islamic history should be banned in Pakistan,” he stated. The CBFC source added, “None of the CBFC members are willing to give the film a certificate in any category and therefore, a ban has been implemented.” Speaking of the re-screening, the official added, “The distributors have a right of

appeal and following said appeal, we will screen the film once again today, for review by the full board.” Although the Punjab Film Censor Board (PFCB) had already passed Pari – which stars Anushka Sharma in the lead role and is the third venture for her company Clean Slate Films – with an Adult rating, its officials will be reviewing the film again due to the CBFC’s decision. Sources close to the institution claim that after the distributors’ appeal, the CBFC officials will screen Pari one more time before announcing the final decision.

Bans of any nature are never a good idea: British-Pakistani actor Alyy Khan

Amid the ongoing debate on whether

Pakistani artistes should be allowed to work in Bollywood or not, British-Pakistani actor Alyy Khan feels ‘bans of any nature are never a good idea’. He says the key to more understanding and tolerance lies in more collaborative work. The actor, who has extensively worked in India, pointed out the irony of how art connects different cultures, but also sometimes ends up suffering due to political tensions between countries. “Bans of any nature are never a good idea – they inhibit creativity and create a culture of negativity and suspicion. The key to more understanding and tolerance is more collaboration. In unity lies strength. How can that push us back? That is the future,” Alyy told IANS. “Art does usually suffer, which is quite a paradox because it is also the unifying sensibility that transcends time and space to bond similar cultures together,” he said. The calls for banning Pakistani talent

from working in Indian cinema first surfaced in 2016 when cross-border India-Pakistan tension spilled over into the entertainment world, with some Indian political outfits imposing a ban on Pakistanis and a few Pakistani theatres pulling down Indian movies from their big screens. The issue resurfaced last month when Union Minister Babul Supriyo said that Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice in the song Ishtehaar in the Bollywood film Welcome to New York must be dubbed by someone else. Supriyo also demanded a ban on Pakistani artistes in Bollywood.

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March 2018

HEALTH

T: 0121 771 4545

West Midlands residents encouraged to use NHS 111 service to avoid unnecessary A&E visits

ate healthcare service. 2. Depending on the situation, the NHS 111 team can connect you to a nurse, emergency dentist or even a GP, and can arrange face-to-face appointments if they think you need one. 3. NHS 111 is staffed by fully trained advisors who can assess if you need an ambulance, and if you do, one will be sent immediately. 4. NHS 111 has a confidential interpreter service available in many languages. 5. If you need a prescription, the service can organise to have it available for pick up at a convenient local location for you.

It is estimated that nearly three

quarters of a million West Midlands residents (731,525) go to A&E each year who could have been helped by NHS 111 West Midlands residents are being urged to avoid unnecessary trips to A&E by getting help from an enhanced NHS 111 service, which now offers a wider range of clinical services in the Midlands than ever before. This includes direct access to advice from GPs, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and specialists in mental health, cancer and child health. Dr Mathi Woodhouse, GP at Pinn Medical Centre said: “NHS 111 in the Midlands can now offer

patients an even wider range of medical advice direct from pharmacists, GPs, nurses and mental health specialists who work hand in hand with call handlers. “We want to help people understand how NHS 111 can help them and reduce unnecessary trips to A&E, which will help our hospitals. I know that patients want high quality clinical advice, close to their home from trained professionals and this is what they can get from NHS 111.” Dr Mathi shares 5 things worth knowing about NHS 111 1. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s recently been enhanced and can now offer clinical advice, assessment and direction to the most appropri

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BINGE EATING DISORDER-MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK

Hemangini Bhatia shares her experience of using NHS 111: “I called NHS 111 when my son was breathing very heavily with a wheezing sound. This happened twice, first when he was 4 months and later when he was 16 months. I found NHS 111 very helpful. The call handler asked a few questions, talked me through the process and then made an appointment at Hospital which saved me from going to A&E. As a result, my son was quickly diagnosed with croup and was successfully treated. I wouldn’t hesitate to call 111 again if I needed to.” Mala Kumari shares her experience of using NHS 111: “We were concerned when my 3 year old son was breathing heavily during the night so we called NHS 111. After asking about his symptoms the call handler arranged for an ambulance to be sent to us and my son was admitted to hospital. It transpired that he was allergic to dust and had an asthma attack. I am grateful to the NHS 111 team for their quick response to our call and the immediate It is often common for individuals to action taken.” overeat on certain occasions, such as a special meal or during the holidays. But what you ate every meal in this fashion? That’s what occurs for those who suffer from a binge eating disorder. To them, no special requirement is necessary in order to consume large quantities of food. Approximately 2 million people from differing backgrounds have this condition. It does not single out certain groups according to ethnicity or age. In fact, an alarming fact is that it can even be found in children. People with this type of affliction are often overweight, if not obese, although it is not a necessity in order to have the condition. They find it necessary to consume massive quantities of food at every sitting, even though they are not hungry. When a person begins to eat, it takes the stomach approximately 20 minutes to register what has been eaten and to notify the brain that it is full. That’s why the recommendation is to wait this period of time between helpings to give the body time to signal that no more food is necessary. But in these extreme cases, there is no cut-off, nor does the brain intervene. The individual is so adept at continuing in their eating

that they pay no attention to the body or the brain as a way of stopping. And not only do they consume large quantities of food, but they do so very quickly, which further complicates the matter. Many times, others may think that these individuals do not care or that they might even wish to be overweight, but that is simply not the case. In fact, research has shown that those who suffer from this condition do so because of a loss of control, which is why the condition has also been known as compulsive eating. The compulsion to continue eating is there, but not the will to stop. There is any number of triggers that can set off one of these eating sessions. It can be anything ranging from guilt to fear, anger, resentment, depression or even stress. When one of these times occurs, the binger is looking for solace in the food, even though they typically feel guilty and upset while they are doing it. The treatment for a binge eating disorder is medication, psychotherapy, or even a carefully designed combination of both. Regardless of the course of treatment, the main goal is to determine what the triggering mechanisms are and to learn to effectively deal with them without the use of food.

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Study locates the root of Pakistan “superbug”

A study has found the root

cause of a “superbug” that has been sweeping across Pakistan. The outbreak of Typhoid fever is thought to have been created due to its extensively drug-resistant nature, a sign that treatment options for the bacterial disease are running out, scientists said on Tuesday. Researchers from Britain’s Wellcome Sanger Institute who analysed the genetics of the typhoid strain found it had mutated and acquired an extra piece of DNA to become resistant to multiple antibiotics. The large-scale outbreak of the drug-resistant Typhoid reportedly began in Hyderabad, Pakistan, in November 2016. The disease has spread at an alarming rate and continues to do so, according to experts from Aga Khan University who worked with the Sanger team. Official government data, on the number of cases reported for treatment or fatalities, have not yet been made available;

with local Pakistani media reporting, health authorities reportedly detecting more than 800 cases of drug-resistant typhoid in Hyderabad alone in a 10-month period between 2016 and 2017. The research conducted found the bacterial strain responsible for the outbreak is now resistant to five antibiotics in total, a figure not previously seen before. Elizabeth Klemm, who co-led the analysis work at the Sanger Institute, spoke candidly about the research being conducted by her team. “This is the first time we have seen an outbreak of extensively drugresistant typhoid,” said Klemm. “This outbreak was caused by a multidrug-resistant strain that had gone a step further and acquired an extra piece of DNA encoding additional genes for antibiotic resistance.”Typhoid is a highly contagious infection caused by the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi bacteria. It is contracted by consuming contaminated foods or drinks and symptoms include nausea, fever, abdominal pain and pink spots on the chest. Untreated, it can be fatal. Scientists at Aga Khan University in Pakistan are eager to develop new methods to tackle the ongoing outbreak amidst growing pressure. They

reportedly contacted the Sanger, in the spring of 2017 and asked scientists there to genetically analyse samples. The team found it was being caused by a strain known as H58, which is already known to be linked to drug-resistant cases. Looking further, they found this H58 strain had gained an extra strand of bacterial DNA – a plasmid – that encoded for additional antibiotic resistance genes. The study’s results were published in the scientific journal mBio. Charlie Weller, head of vaccines at Britain’s Wellcome Trust global health charity, said the findings were a clear warning that “treatment options for typhoid are running out” and focussing on prevention was now vital.A new vaccine against typhoid was approved last month by the World Health Organization and the GAVI global vaccine alliance, said last year it had earmarked $85 million to help support the introduction of typhoid vaccines in poor countries. Previous research by Sanger scientists published in 2015 found that the H58 strain of typhoid first emerged in South Asia an estimated 25-30 years ago. It initially took hold of Asia and Africa before spreading around the world, becoming a prominent strain by 2015.

March 2018

DIABETES- A 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGE

Diabetes mellitus is often a

misunderstood disease in the Asian community, with many people associating it simply with sugar consumption. Being Asian means that we have a far higher rate of diabetes, mainly Type2 diabetes, which affects the vast majority of diabetics. Globally, diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death. Fortunately, simple lifestyle changes can help prevent diabetes altogether and therefore also reduce the risk of many associated illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. Furthermore, early diagnosis can help with controlling diabetes, thereby reducing its negative long term effects on your health and well-being. In this article, the first of a two, I will explain what diabetes is, what to look for and how to prevent it. In the UK alone, there are 2.5 million people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, of which it is estimated that 90 per cent have Type 2 (explained below). Furthermore, there may be another half a million people in whom diabetes has not yet been diagnosed. Alarmingly, south Asian people who live in the UK are up to six times more likely to have diabetes than the white population. It is predicted that the number of people living with diabetes in the UK will increase by almost 50 per cent by 2025. Diabetes UK and the south Asian Health Foundation UK are doing some fantastic work to better understand the disease in our communities. What is Type2 diabetes? Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which your body fails to control sugar levels in the blood. In Type2 diabetes, this occurs because there is not enough insulin, a natural hormone which helps to carry sugar inside cells where it can be used. This is either due to there not being enough insulin produced, or “insulin resistance”, when the body cannot respond to the insulin properly. Many of the drug treatments work on increasing sensitivity to insulin or increasing insulin production, whilst lifestyle measures such as weight loss help to increase

your body’s natural response to insulin. Most people need a combination of both, and some might also require insulin injections. Even when we are fasting, or starving, the body still produces insulin. It is therefore important to visit your GP at least two months beforehand to adjust your medication if you plan to fast during Ramadan. What are the symptoms of diabetes? Many people have vague symptoms for some time before they are diagnosed. Often, people may have no symptoms and may be diagnosed following a blood test for another reason. Four common symptoms are: thirst, passing urine a lot, tiredness and weight loss. Some people also suffer frequent infections such as thrush and boils or may notice blurred vision. You should visit your GP and request a simple blood test for diabetes should you be experiencing any of these symptoms. Long term, untreated diabetes is associated with heart and circulation problems, strokes, visual problems, kidney problems, nerve damage and foot problems. Many of these complications can be avoided by preventing diabetes in the first place and if you have diabetes already, by losing weight and taking diabetes medication. It is also important to treat blood pressure and cholesterol carefully in diabetic patients to prevent complications. Who gets Type2 diabetes? It is important to look out for diabetes from the age of 25 years in Asian communities and also to be screened in pregnancy. It is also becoming more common in children, adolescents and young people of all ethnicities. Being overweight and having a family member with diabetes are also risk factors. You can find out your individual risk by visiting: http://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/ start Prevention Fortunately, in 4 out of 5 people, Type2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by very simple and small changes with massive benefits for their health. These changes involve eating a healthy,

balanced, diet, maintaining a healthy weight and getting exercise. You should also stop smoking and reduce your alcohol consumption. The government is now rolling out the National Diabetes Prevention Programme in seven areas to begin with: Birmingham South and Central , Bradford City, Durham, Hereford, Medway, Salford and Southwark. The scheme will help identify people at high risk of developing diabetes and will also provide support with weight loss, exercise, cooking/ nutrition and peer support. You can find more information on healthy eating here: https://diabetes.org.uk/upload/ How%20we%20help/catalogue/ DiabetsUK_SouthAsian_eng. pdf. A healthy, balanced diet should include at least five pieces of fruit and vegetables. It should minimize fried foods such as bhajis and samosas- although it is fine to grill or bake these and you should use heart- healthy oils such as olive or rapeseed to cook. You should also include lean protein such as chicken and fish and starchy carbohydrates in the form of rice, including Basmati rice and chapattis. There is no need to buy diabetic foods or to eliminate sugar completely from your diet. You should also try to have an active lifestyle- try walking as the days get brighter, alight from the bus a stop earlier- see where you can fit it into your routine. I would recommend aiming for half an hour a day of exercise, which gets you out of breath. Find something you enjoy and can manage easily, perhaps find some friends or a club to help you. Not only will it help with preventing diabetes, it may help to reduce your medication, with weight loss, lift your mood and keep your heart healthy! In summary, diabetes is a growing problem in our community. Fortunately, exercise, a healthy weight and a healthy diet can go a long way to prevent it happening to us. In the next issue, I will discuss the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in more detail.

March 2018

ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES TO BACK PAIN THAT WORK Many people suffer from back

10 TIPS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR METABOLISM

Metabolism basically means the

count of calories you burn per day. Repeatedly you have might read from the articles about accelerating the rate of metabolism. The most common reasons are consuming highly nutritious food and performing workouts. If your metabolism rate is slower, it shows you are burning less of calories. In order to increase the rate, you must follow the below tips: 1) Do not observe fasting because you burn too many calories at once, which is really harmful to your body. In this process your muscles turn weak and you face dehydration rather than minimizing the fat content. 2) Dine about 6-8 times a day by consuming nutritious items such as fruits and vegetables. 3) A heavy breakfast is a key factor in increasing the rate of metabolism. Since you are awake for the whole day, the rate of metabolism is fast. 4) There are many kinds of healthy fats available such as nuts, fish, olive oil, and flax oil. They can be the substitutes

for processed carbs. 5) Consume less of sugar so that the insulin production is regulated and you will thus burn calories easily. 6) Eat about 1 gm of protein per pound because the excessive fat content will be drained away. 7) Remember that alcohol is uprightly harmful for the people planning to loose weight. It prevents fat burning and contains almost 100s of calories. 8) Green tea and water are the best forms of beverages that do not affect the metabolism process. So use them instead of tea, coffee and alcohol. 9) Night shifts are normally not advisable, but if you think they are unavoidable then follow the above-mentioned tips carefully. 10) In order to make your metabolism process effective use the Turbulence Training manual that provide you right instruction to perform workouts. If your metabolism rate is slower, it shows you are burning less of calories. Remember the above points for a healthy life.

pain these days without finding any cure with orthodox medicine, maybe because of incorrect diagnosis or ineffectiveness of the prescribed drug or drugs, so the pain becomes a part of most people’s lives. However, for a lot other people who have not been able to obtain a exact diagnosis of their back pain problems, seeking alternative means of obtaining relief has become their immediate concern. It is becoming a big problem finding solution to back pain with orthodox medicine, back pain treatments are no long yielding the results that are expected. So the nonemedical alternatives are coming to the rescue as follows: Acupuncture: Acupuncture is an alternative treatment for back pain that has been in existence for sometime now. Rooted in ancient civilizations of Asia, acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into specific parts of the body for the purpose of taking away the pain. Acupuncture has been proved to work for chronic pain. It has provided short term relief from back pain for a great

deal of people. Massage therapy: The art of massage has been used for years as a tool of relief and relaxation. An experienced masseuse can massage the points of pain in your back, especially if it is caused by a strained muscle. People have been known to attain a state of painlessness after undergoing a well executed massage therapy. Some people argue that acupuncture or pressure point massage may be more effective than Swedish massage. Physical therapy and exercise: Under the keen eye of a licensed physical therapist, you can stretch and exercise your back pain away. Exercise and physical therapy as a whole has been known to work well with chronic back pain sufferers than with acute back pain sufferers. Most back pain sufferers have also found relief from the education of the psychosocial factors of back pain. You can end your suffering from back pain by finding a cure with alternative medicine because of incorrect diagnosis or ineffectiveness of the prescribed orthodox drug or drugs, so that the pain does not become a part of your life.

Parents urged to think pharmacist first for minor illness in their children

* A major new public health campaign urges parents to consult a pharmacist first for minor illness, instead of GP or A&E * 18 million GP appointments and 2.1 million visits to A&E for self-treatable conditions cost the NHS £850 million per year * Using a pharmacy for minor health concerns eases pressures on GPs Millions of parents could get more convenient and timely expert advice if their child has a minor illness by opting to go to their local pharmacist first instead of the GP. Research for the NHS shows just 6% of mums and dads with children under the age of five would consider seeking help about a minor health concern from a high street pharmacist in the first instance. More than a third (35%) would opt for an appointment with their GP while 5% of those questioned would choose emergency care as their first point of call. This is despite an overwhelming majority of adults (79%) saying they are aware that pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can give advice on most common illnesses which includes when and where to seek advice for more serious conditions. The NHS is urging more parents to use their pharmacy first in a move which could help free up GP time for sicker patients and help save the NHS around £850 million each year as well as save time for busy families. Around 95% of people live within a 20 minute walk of a local community pharmacy, making pharmacists extremely accessible and a valuable first port of call for minor health concerns such as coughs, colds, tummy troubles or teething. Around 18 million GP appointments and 2.1 million visits to A&E are for selftreatable conditions - such as coughs and tummy troubles - at a cost of more than £850 million each year to the NHS. This is the equivalent of more than

220,000 hip replacements or 880,000 cataract operations. The NHS nationally is working with community pharmacies to increase the range of patient services they provide including asthma audits and flu vaccinations and to promote the clinical expertise available from the pharmacy team. Dr Bruce Warner, Deputy Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England said: “Pharmacists are highly trained NHS health professionals who are able to offer clinical advice and effective treatments for a wide range of minor health concerns right there and then. They can assess symptoms and recommend the best course of treatment or simply provide reassurance, for instance when a minor illness will get better on its own with a few days’ rest. However, if symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, they have the right clinical training to ensure people get the help they need. We want to help the public get the most effective use of these skilled clinicians who are available every day of the week.” The call for people, in particular the five million parents of children under five, to use their local pharmacist first for advice is part of the Stay Well Pharmacy campaign. It is backed by pharmacists and Netmums, the UK’s biggest parenting website. A survey carried out as part of the campaign reveals that the proportion of adults questioned who would get advice from the pharmacist for minor health concerns is only 16%. This went down to just 6% for parents of young children. While 77% of people agree they trust advice from their pharmacist, there are misconceptions about the level of service this highly trained group of healthcare professionals can offer in terms of advice and expertise.

A quarter of people (26%) feel it is difficult to discuss health concerns in private with a pharmacist, with many not being aware that more than nine out of 10 pharmacies have a private consultation room. Nearly a quarter (24%) feel they would need to visit the GP anyway, so go direct to the doctor in the first instance. However, NHS England found that among adults who have received advice from a pharmacist in the past six months for themselves or their child, two thirds (66%) found it useful and less than a fifth (19%) needed to go to the GP afterwards. Ruksana Rohim, a mum of one, said: “I regularly use my local pharmacy when my child has a minor illness like a cold or tooth ache and to help other family members manage their long term health conditions. I have developed a really good relationship with my local pharmacy. It’s close to home and the team there are always so helpful. They are healthcare experts so the advice they give puts my mind at rest. The fact that I don’t need to book an appointment helps a great deal when I need quick, immediate advice for a minor health issue.” Meera Thakrar, Community Pharmacist who features in the ‘Stay Well Pharmacy’ TV advert, adds: “We understand that it’s worrying when a young child is poorly, and for parents it can be particularly distressing. We urge the public to choose to visit their local pharmacy first for minor health concerns when they want to see a highly trained specialist who is qualified to assess symptoms and who is always available without an appointment to offer clinical advice and support. And if symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, we have the right clinical training to ensure people get any further help they need.” For more information search NHS.uk where you can also locate your local pharmacy services.

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March 2018

Study Finds Antidepressants Are Effective Scientists say they have settled one of medicine’s biggest debates after a

large-scale study found antidepressants do work. The study, which analysed data from 522 trials involving 116,477 people, found 21 common antidepressants were all more effective at reducing symptoms of acute depression than placebo pills. Authors of the report, published in the Lancet, say the results show around one million more people in the UK and millions more around the world could benefit from the drugs.

There were 64.7 million prescriptions for the drugs in England in 2016 - more than double the 31 million in 2006 but there has been a debate about how effective they are, with some trials suggesting they are no better than placebos. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has said the study, “finally puts to bed the controversy on anti-depressants”. However, it also found some disparity in the efficacy of different kinds of pills, ranging from being a third more effective than a placebo to twice as effective.

Cannabis legalisation on Measles cases the cusp? Parliament to on the rise in debate Weed bill at House Europe of Commons this week.

Parliament is set to debate the hotly contested topic of cannabis legalisation

this week. This comes amidst years of campaigning from activists in favour of legalising the drug, which research has recently shown could have potential health benefits. The use of cannabinoids has widely been used in medical treatment in recent years, with countries like the United States of America pioneering the method of oil-based treatment for the plant-based drug. On Friday, politicians will re-hash the long-standing debate following a previous bill last year which raised the issue of whether terminally ill or ill patients, in general, should be allowed to seek Cannabinoid drugs. The second reading of the Legalisation of Cannabis (Medicinal Purposes) Bill will take place after it first appeared before MPs in October 2017. The bill proposes to “allow the production, supply, possession and use of cannabis and cannabis resin for medicinal purposes; and for connected purposes.” Cases of individuals self-medicating with the controlled substance (Class B drug), has risen ten-fold in recent times; springing government officials into action prompt-

ing them to propose new legislation which could see the drug potentially legalised. A case which potentially re-triggered the debate into the public consciousness was that of a six-year-old British boy who was crippled with a rare form of epilepsy. His parents, desperate to ease their little boy’s anguish flew him out to Amsterdam where he received treatment via the drug. He went from experiencing 30 seizures a day to being fit-free for 24 days; his parents were reported to have said. His mother was eager to underline the minimal dosage which was applied, with three drops of cannabis oil reportedly being enough to help curb her son’s epileptic seizures. Despite the fresh waves of calls for the legalisation of Cannabis, the law remains largely the same and the penalties just as harsh. Anyone found in possession of Cannabis can face a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment – varying on the amount -and a potential fine under UK legislation. However, in recent times police forces across the UK have begun to de-criminalise possession of the substance, with some even outlining the minimum number of plants a cultivator of Cannabis could have in

their home. The campaign has been endorsed by a number of high-profile figures including Virgin media tycoon Richard Branson and TV personality and political activist Russell brand. The UK is one of the final nations to follow suit in the relaxation of the controlled substance, with the main aim of helping patients who are stricken with unbearable illnesses. In Australia, Puerto Rico, Poland, Czech Republic, Canada, Croatia and Macedonia; some forms of cannabis are legal for medicinal purposes, while its cultivation is legal in Turkey for the same purposes. However, a recent article in the Medical Journal of Australia suggested that people have been too quick to back the idea. “The pace and scale of the introduction of medicinal cannabis are unprecedented and have raised challenges for health professionals, not so much because of its known addictive and psychoactive properties, but because its introduction has not followed the usual research-based safety and effectiveness processes,” it said. By Zakaria Abraham

M easles cases have risen by 400% in Europe during 2017, affecting more than 20,000 people and causing 35 tragic deaths as stated by the World Health Organisation. Fifteen European countries, including the UK, saw outbreaks of the deadly virus over the duration of last year with countries such as Romania, Italy and Ukraine being the most affected. This is a major step backwards following a record low is measles cases in 2016. Experts have suggested that opting out of vaccinations is a big part of the problem, with the WHO stating that there have been overall declines in immunisation coverage, particularly amongst marginalised groups. Alongside this, interruptions in vaccine supplies and underperforming disease surveillance systems have also been blamed. Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, from the WHO,

said: “Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the disease and spreading it to others who may not be able to get vaccinated. This short-term setback cannot deter us from our commitment to be the generation that frees our children from these diseases once and for all.” 282 cases were recorded in the UK in 2017 and at the end of January 2018, there were 51 confirmed cases in the West Midlands alone. The highly infectious, viral illness can be prevented by the MMR vaccine that is given to infants over two doses, which can also be given to previously untreated adults. Measles symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, red eyes, a high temperature and a red-brown blotchy rash.

March 2018

TRAVEL

The New Forest Situated in Southern England, covering an area

of 219 sq. miles sits the New Forest National Park. Boasting trees of Birch, Beech and Oak, wildlife and animals in abundance, the area attracts visitors in their millions year upon year. During the summer months hotels, guest houses and camping sites are full to capacity as visitors return each year to what is one of the most beautiful beauty spots in the country. But what of the area in winter you may ask, well, it takes on a new suit of clothes. The trees are bare, their past foliage covering the ground in an array of colour or on a frosty morning crunches underfoot, a time to visit the famous beauty spots and ancient sites without crowds, roads free of heavy traffic allowing you to stop and admire the wildlife and animals that freely roam the Forest. I travelled with South Western Railway from London Waterloo to Brockenhurst in a remarkably quick 92 minutes, just time for a coffee and a quick read of the daily paper. https://www.southwesternrailway.com There are many residences to choose from but my choice was the Balmer Lawn Hotel on the outskirts of Brockenhurst and I was not disappointed. Why this hotel, several reasons, it’s run by Chris and Alison Wilson owners for the last 20 years who together with a very dedicated staff put immense effort into ensuring their guests receive 100% satisfaction. The bedrooms, all 53 of them, are individually designed, tastefully furnished and well appointed, many with wonderful panoramic views across the forest, it has its own microbrewery, the Brockenhurst Brewery producing Smokin’ Deer Ale which is on sale at the hotel bar. For the more energetic there are both indoor and outdoor pools, squash courts and all weather tennis courts thus, having exerted all that energy, what better than to relax in the Nordic Spar with its comfortable loungers or enjoy a massage in one of the luxurious massage rooms. Feeling hungry after all that? sample the main restaurant, ‘Beresford’s, which even offers a 7 course tasting menu. Balmer Lawn has a history that few can match, a former hunting lodge, during WW1 as a hospital and during WW11 it was used by the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division as their HQ prior to the D-Day Landings. Contact them direct for the best price. https://www.balmerlawnhotel.com Using Balmer Lawn as a base the locality is a myriad of venues and attractions to visit. One of the most famous being the National Motor Museum. Founded by the 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, beginning life with just 5 motor cars on display

at the official opening of Palace House and Gardens in 1952. Over the last 55 years the exhibition has grown to what it is today, a collection of 250 vehicles manufactured since the late 1800’s accompanied by books, journals and films from around the world. Other attractions include the Monorail, rides on a veteran bus or in a vintage car and having done all of this there is the restaurant to eat and relax in. Also visit the Palace House with much of it now open to the public together with the partial ruins of Beaulieu Abbey. Open every day with the exception of Christmas Day this is worth a visit winter or summer. https://www.beaulieu.co.uk/ Lyndhurst, dubbed by many, ‘The Capital’ of the New Forest, an area that over the years has become a favourite with tourists and visitors alike. Enjoy the tea rooms, craft shops, restaurants and much more. Whilst in Lyndhurst visit the New Forest Centre, open 7 days a week and a venue where all your questions on the New Forest will be answered. Whilst in the area visit the church of St. Michael and All Angels where is buried Alice Liddell, Lewis Carroll’s inspiration for Alice in Wonderland. http://www.newforestcentre.org.uk Finally, the Forest itself, dating back to time immemorial, an area of heath, woodland, lakes and streams, teaming with animals and wildlife where artefacts going back to the Bronze Age have been found indicating the existence of dwellers going back centuries. The first records show that in 1079 King William 1st designated the area as his hunting ground. The Forest is looked after and tended by Verderers and Agisters, Verderers, of whom there are 10, are concerned with the management of the Forest whilst Agisters are full time employees who look after the welfare of the wild life and animals that roam the Forest. Year upon year the number of animals inhabiting the Forest increases with numbers for 2017 totalling nearly 13,000, ponies and cattle making up the majority but a plus to this figure is around 2,000 deer of which there are 5 species. From the Balmer Lawn Hotel so many locations are possible on a day trip: Marwell Zoo, Monkey World as featured on the TV series ‘Monkey Life’, Corfe Castle, Stonehenge, The Isle of Wight, Lulworth Cove and many more. This is an area that is special whichever season you choose to visit. Peace, tranquillity and relaxation are key words for the area, and an area I will certainly return to. My thanks to ‘Go New Forest’ www.gonewforest.com for all their help and assistance during my visit.

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March 2018

Virgin Tycoon Richard Branson reveals revolutionary ‘Hyperloop’ plans for India British billionaire Richard Branson has

backed an innovative super-transportation system, which could revolutionise India’s tourism industry. Branson who revolutionised the tourism industry by introducing ‘Space tourism’, with the highly ambitious Virgin Galactic, has his Entrepreneurial roots in the music industry with Virgin records. The Branson –backed Virgin Hyperloop one is in line to build a super-fast transportation system in India. The high-speed train will connect the city of Pune, with a planned construction of new Airport which is set to be built in Mumbai in the near future. The journey, which would typically take customers three hours to complete is set to be reduced to a jaw-dropping twenty-five minutes via the Hyperloop train link. Mumbai was the scene for the signing of a preliminary agreement, on Sunday (Feb 18), which detailed proposed plans for a broad Hyperloop framework the company confirmed in a statement. The plans include the assembly of a demonstration track, which will likely take 2-3 years to build upon the signing of a final agreement. The second phase is to complete construction of the full Pune-Mumbai route in 5-7 years it is hoped. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to invest an estimated 8.6 Trillion Rupees ($174 billion) to upgrade the nation’s ageing rail network system. The development of India’s rail transportation sys-

tems was kick-started last year, with plans to build a 508km bullet train. The bullet train-line would potentially link the cities of Mumbai and Ahmedabad – both are booming commercial hubs for the country - . The tube-based transportation system – first introduced into the mainstream consciousness by billionaire Elon musk – was designed to help curb the infrastructure bottlenecks India, has been crippled within the course of rapid urbanisation in the region. The new development could skyrocket India’s tourism industry and could potentially amass, ($72 billion) in socio-economic benefits over a 30 year period

according to initial studies by Virgin Hyperloop one. Branson outlined his visions fore the proposed new plans, predicting a boom in the Indian tourism industry. I believe Virgin Hyperloop One could have the same impact upon India in the 21st century as trains did in the 20th century,” Mr Branson said. “The Pune-Mumbai route is an ideal first corridor as part of a national hyperloop network.” The high-speed train has already undergone early

testing in Nevada, USA, with speeds of 386Km reportedly to having already been achieved. The start-up is also developing technology that would use magnetic levitation in low-pressure tubes, to transport both people and merchandise at-aeroplane like speeds, according to the company’s official website. They are currently working on the ultimate goal of having three production systems in service by 2021.

March 2018

TECHNOLOGY

Robobees could revolutionise pollen industry T he world’s largest science conference was host to a groundbreaking announcement by one of the world’s leading technology experts. A leading expert in the tech field has revealed a fleet of robobees, could be deployed in the future if the natural populations of the buzzing insects continue to decline at a current alarming rate. Japanese scientists have developed a remotely controlled drone the size of a dragonfly which was able to pollinate lilies.US scientists have also joined the technology race developing a robobee about half the size and ability to flap 120 times a second. Prof Shashi Shekhar is one of the world’s leading experts in state-of-the-art mapping and said robotic swarms could be the answer to catastrophic food shortages. Prof Shekhar mused that he expects US funding for the robobee project to be permitted within the next two years. He outlined the necessity of such research and hopes for future innovations using similar faceted technology. “There are efforts going on to understand why bee colonies are collapsing,” he said. “This is a back-up plan. With climate drying, if you look at areas like California and the west you are losing lots of trees. If you lose the tress that’s the beginning. The next things are probably insects or birds or animals so it’s good to have some insurance.”

The Japanese prototype has been developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Tokyo. They fly using a helicopterstyle propeller and used gel applied to horsehair pads to mimic their fuzzy body which helps pollen stick. Researchers now plan to create a smaller, bee-sized drone that would use the same technology to carry pollen grains but could fly autonomously. US researchers at Harvard University had already developed a bee-sized drone weighing less than a gram that has wings that flap similar to the real thing. Computer science expert Prof Shekhar said Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have now been developed using aerial scans to provide detailed field maps. Incredibly detailed maps are now used in agriculture and with drones flying over crop fields able to scan and count individual leaves and flowers. Prof Shekhar, from the University of Minnesota, said: “The big gap when you think about what was missing is you have to have some kind of a map of the flowers.” “If you made a very detailed map, then offline using these images you could create the location of the plants and the flowers. “Today these technologies are mature enough that this could be done daily. Then all of this computing and sensing is offloaded from the bee.

“Then offline you can choose the route. Suppose you have a fleet of 10 bees or 100 bees or 1,000 bees, then you can divide up the work. “You can say to bee number one go to these 10 flowers. “It’s just like when you look at delivery services like UPS or the Post Office they have to deliver all the letters and pick up all the letters, but it’s all pre-programmed. “Every vehicle knows exactly the route and the stops for pick up and drop off. Imagine a similar thing for the bees.” He told the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science this had been made possible by developments in technologies such as LIDAR scanning. This can assess depth and mass from above and combined with detailed aerial images. But Prof Shekhar warned fleets of robobees could be hacked or developed by militaries to carry chemical “stings” as a weapon to attack humans. He added: “There is a food security problem being looked at in the US because of climate change. “It’s conceivable that from the security perspective some Government labs are trying to create a small group [of bees] in case the commercial sector is not there yet. “There are things which are classified. I don’t have security clearance to know for sure but there are things they do prepare for.” By Zakaria Abraham

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Paytm to launch own credit score system Fintech Company - In line with In-

dian banks’ credit scoring instrument, CIBIL Score - Paytm is now introducing its own credit scoring product Paytm score. Unlike CIBIL Score, this takes into consideration an individual’s credit history, the Paytm score will now give the users on its platform a rating based on their digital transactions online. Paytm will consider the digital transactions across its offerings such as digital wallet, e-commerce, booking platform and will issue a credit score based on the combined value of these transactions. This credit score will then be shared with the lending partners of Paytm. Reportedly, the company has already started approaching some digital lenders and non-banking financial companies with the product. The initiative aims to reinforce Paytm’s lending vertical. Paytm entered into credit segment, after acquiring online lending start-up CreditMate, in November 2017. It has also partnered with ICICI Bank to launch a shortterm, interest-free credit line, enabling instant loans to customers.. Paytm has been so far reaping the

rewards from the digital payments segment post demonetisation. With global conglomerates such as Alibaba, and Softbank, now backing the company, Paytm is aggressively working to boost its other business verticals. This includes Paytm Payments Bank, Paytm Mall, the messaging chat feature Paytm Inbox, as well as it is also exploring other fintech domains such as insurance, online grocery delivery with BigBasket, online ticket booking, initiatives to set up a money market fund, the partnership with PVR and more, to create an umbrella of services under one brand. Vijay Shekhar Sharma had also earlier stated that the company, has planned to infuse $2.5bn to the e-commerce platform Paytm Mall, to provide stiff competition for tech giants Flipkart and Amazon. The Indian government plans to make India a digitalised nation by 2020, Paytm has a host of opportunities in the Indian Fintech domain. This is reflected in the Indian government’s attempts to foray into, almost all major verticals including online lending, insurance, banking, gold loans, and wealth management amongst others.

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March 2018

by Khalid Karim Technology Correspondent

Micropodcasting? Facebook tries Voice Clip status updates Can’t be bothered typing your least

post updates on your smartphones? Facebook’s is beta testing a new option which would enable you to share voice clips as status updates, providing another means through which to share your

thoughts and opinions. Facebook’s is actually doing a first test phase of voice clips with a small percentage of users in India. The feature was actually spotted ‘in the wild’ last week, with Twitter user Abhishek Saxena sharing screenshots of it in action.

Facebook reportedly had this to say: “We’re always working to help people share and connect with their friends and family on Facebook in ways that are authentic to them. Voice Clips gives people a new medium through which to express themselves.”

Its just one of the many expanding ways for personal sharing updates, since users can send voice clips in Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp this seems like another natural evolution – which Facebook is very keen to boost, given usage of the app has declined in recent times. Facebook is also planning to test out Audio and Video calling options on one of its other assets - Instagram. This would add to Instagram’s popular direct messaging features – which they’ve upgraded over the last 12 months, and would further compliment their live-stream guests’ option, which gives users a means to connect, in real time, through the app. Bookmarking with Twitter The use of the “LIKE” button has been popularised on the majority of Social Media Platforms, in Twitter’s case as it’s a way to appreciate a tweet, show an agreement or sometimes to practically save particular tweets for later reading. To this end, Twitter is releasing a Bookmark feature which will remove that ambiguity. No need to like a tweet just to revisit later which will remain there forever. The process has been made simple explains Twitter press release: “To bookmark a Tweet, tap the share icon under the Tweet and select, ‘Add Tweet to Bookmarks,’”. “To find it later, tap ‘Bookmarks’ from your profile icon menu. You can remove Tweets from your Bookmarks at any time. A much-needed update.

Digital liver scanning technology could halve number of liver biopsies

A study jointly led by the University of Birmingham and University of Edinburgh has revealed that a new scanning technology could almost halve the number of liver biopsies carried out on people with fatty liver disease. The authors of the study, also carried out in collaboration with the Universities of Liverpool and Oxford, concluded that 458 out of every 1,000 liver biopsies could be avoided if people are first assessed using scanning technology. The study, published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, provides evidence that using the non-invasive technology as a first-line test can rule out the need for further liver tests, and could stop patients having unnecessary biopsies. The researchers calculated it could potentially save the NHS around £150,000 per 1,000 patients. Liver biopsy is the current gold standard for assessing liver disease, however a

global rising prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) means there is a need to develop fast, non-invasive and cost-effective ways for assessment and diagnoses. In this study, 50 patients and six healthy volunteers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh underwent digital image scanning, and the results were processed by clinical and imaging specialists. A summary of three biochemical characteristics of the liver as well as the images were then used as a new way of helping doctors to diagnose fatty liver disease. Professor Philip Newsome, Director of the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Liver Research, said: “Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the increase – the prevalence is estimated at around 2030% in the UK. “As numbers are expected to grow, this will undoubtedly have a major impact

on the nation’s health, and will place a significant demand on NHS resources. “The rising burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease calls for simpler and low risk strategies to manage this clinical problem that meet the needs of both clinicians and patients.” Professor Gideon Hirschfield, also of the University of Birmingham, said: “It is clear that there is a rising burden of liver disease, particularly from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Our study is of importance to evaluating the best pathways to offer patients who need evaluation of their liver health. “Whilst liver biopsy remains an important part of advanced Hepatology practice, clearly we need better non-invasive tools at our disposal to evaluate the nature and severity of liver disease. “In this work we were able to compare and contrast different approaches to this challenging problem and show where

scanning technology could help contribute to optimised diagnostic, prognostic and treatment pathways.” The new scanning technology used in this research was called LiverMultiScan™ and was developed by Perspectum Diagnostics. CEO of Perspectum Diagnostics Dr Rajarshi Banerjee said: “A LiverMultiScan can help a patient see liver disease and act on it. Digital health will improve the way we practice medicine; in this case, a painless scan is clearly safer than a biopsy needle, and is far better suited to monitoring patients. “We are proud to be leading the way in providing more patient-centric solutions for people with liver disease that helps them and their doctors make informed decisions about their care.” LiverMultiScan can be used to help doctors diagnose liver disease, even at the early stages, and can also help to predict

New Snapchat redesign irks users By Zakaria Abraham

More than 1.2m Snapchat users have

signed a petition urging the company, to reverse its “annoying” redesign which has caused a mass upset. Celebrity cult figures such as Kylie Jenner have also piled in with criticism for the much-loved social media app. Kylie tweeted out to her 24 million followers this month posing the question, “Sooo does anyone else not open Snapchat anymore? Or is it just me.” The tweet received a gargantuan wave of responses in agreement for the star’s widely shared viewpoints on the previously popular app. Shares of the app’s parent company Snap have also reportedly plummeted 6% – a $1.3bn drop in market value that has triggered a fresh cycle of embarrassing headlines. Silicon Valley bosses have been quick to dismiss the dip in shares and popularity but some analysts are not convinced. Analysts and ‘Snapchatters’ said this was more than just a one-day PR snag. Facing backlash from brands and influencer, Snapchat is now facing stiff competition from Facebook, and newer apps like Musical.ly - another platform popular among children -. Snapchat is suffering from a larger existential crisis then they previously thought, and it’s unclear how it will recover. Eric Schiffer, CEO of private equity firm Patriarch Organization, argues that the redesign scandal is the “greatest app debacle” he had ever witnessed in Silicon Valley. Schiffer said, “This is a kiss of death to a brand like Snapchat with their base that has stuck with them. We’re watching a company explode into bits.” The redesign, launched earlier this month, featured substantial interface changes, including distinguishing content between friends and publishers. The app giant re-organized Snapchat Stories, which are videos and photos that disappear after 24 hours once uploaded by users. While major changes to social media platforms are common and usually spark brief waves of criticism, the Snapchat controversy could have longer-term impacts and is just the latest in a series of struggles. those people whose liver disease is going to progress more quickly. In this study LiverMultiScan was superior for grading disease severity and excluding people at increased risk of disease progression, compared to the other tests evaluated. In practice this means that management of patients’ liver disease can be optimised, saving on healthcare resources and minimising risk to the patient.

March 2018

MOTORING

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USED DIESEL CAR PRICES REACH TWO-YEAR HIGH SAYS ASTON BARCLAY REPORT Used diesel cars are showing no

signs of losing their appeal with trade buyers and their retail customers according to Aston Barclay’s 2017 Market Insights report. Average diesel auction prices have increased £601 since Q1 2016 to £8,829 in Q4 2017, while ex-fleet diesel reached a two-year high rising 11.4% to £10,076 in Q4 2017, helped by a fall in average age and mileage to 41.1 months/54,415 miles. At the same time, average used petrol prices increased by £426 to £4,011 from Q1 2016 to Q4 2017, while ex-fleet petrol prices stagnated over a 24-month period at around the £7,250 mark. Generally, 2017 saw a strong used market only faltering in Q2 partly due to dealers pushing new car sales into March as a reaction to 1 April VED changes. This retail activity meant trade buyers had a greater used stock choice in April and May

earlier than usual which contributed to a Q2 average price fall to £6,485 from £6,609 in Q1. Prices picked up again finishing Q4 at £6,991, just £174 shy of the Q4 2016 average market price (£7,165). Alternative Fuelled Vehicles (AFVs) are slowly growing in volume at auction (from 2-3% of all cars sold) with the higher average mileage versus diesel (64,700 v 54,415 miles) showing they are used as daily workhorses rather than just urban runarounds. “2017 delivered a stable used car market, with diesel demand and prices remaining strong. The continued fall in new car sales will see fewer dealer part exchanges entering the used market in 2018. However, higher used car volumes are likely to balance this shortfall as stock comes back from the peak new car sales years of 2013 and 2014,” explained Martin Potter, Aston Barclay’s group operations director.

GRAND OPENING FOR MARCH SET TO BE REFURBISHED ASTON MARTIN RECORD MONTH FOR MOTs MAYFAIR SHOWROOM N

The beautifully refurbished showroom of one of Aston

Martin’s flagship dealerships was revealed on 16th February when footballing legend and Aston Martin brand ambassador, Rio Ferdinand cut the red ribbon at the opening event. The frontage of Aston Martin Mayfair has been a familiar site on London’s prestigious Park Lane for almost 20 years. With the refurbishment, this has been enhanced by realigning the frontage and installing new seamless glazing, which allows the light to pour into the showroom. Customers now have an even clearer view of the six stunning Aston Martin sports cars on display in the showroom, and access to the full portfolio of ‘Q by Aston Martin’, the brand’s bespoke personalisation service, via dedicated specification lounges. The upgraded dealership, officially opened by Aston Martin

President of the UK region Dan Balmer, complements Stratstone’s existing Aston Martin dealerships across the UK. Dan Balmer said: “As a luxury brand it is vital for Aston Martin to have a bold presence in London’s Mayfair. This refurbishment ensures that one of our flagship dealerships looks more stunning than ever on Park Lane. It is truly a place that our customers will enjoy visiting, where they can immerse themselves in the Aston Martin brand.” Trevor Fussey, Managing Director for Stratstone Aston Martin, said: “The refurbishment of our Mayfair showroom is a significant investment that will allow us to continue to provide distinct and memorable experiences for our customers. It was a pleasure to attend last night’s launch event and we look forward to welcoming customers new and existing to the showroom and showcasing the state-of-the-art facilities and unique experiences we can offer.”

ew analysis released today by Kwik Fit, the UK’s largest MOT tester, reveals that this coming month is set to break MOT records. March 2018 will see the largest number of MOTs carried out in any single month since the introduction of twice-yearly registrations in 1999. This peak comes because the new month sees cars which were newly registered in March 2015 requiring their first MOT. 492,774 new cars were registered three years ago, the largest monthly figure since August 1998 (the last year before the switch from one to two new registration plates per annum). As a result, this month will see the biggest monthly increase in three year old cars in almost two decades.It is not only the growth in three year old cars which is going to cause increased demand for MOT appointments this month. Kwik Fit’s analysis of 22.3 million new car registrations over the last 13 years reveals that almost one in five (18.9%) cars were registered in March. This is more than double the number which would have been the case if registrations were spread evenly across the year and results in even greater demand for MOT appointments at this time of year. The huge increase in the number of new cars being bought on personal contract plans (PCP) over recent years will have a significant impact on the ownership of those three year old cars. The majority of PCPs last for three years, with many drivers switching to another new car at the end of the agreement. When combined with the cars that were bought as fleet vehicles and so will also be sold

on by the fleet companies, Kwik Fit analysts suggest that at least 389,000 three years old cars will be coming on to the used car market over the coming weeks. Kwik Fit advises those looking to buy a car of this age to have a clear checklist. While the quality of modern car manufacturing is such that the core structure of a three year old vehicle is unlikely to be compromised, the wearable components are a different matter. These cars will have collectively travelled over 4.9billion miles, an average of 29,943 miles, by their first MOT. With the typical life expectancy of a tyre currently around 17,000 miles, depending on driving style and conditions, many three year old cars will be close to needing their third set of tyres, something those in the market for this age of car should be aware of.Roger Griggs, communications director at Kwik Fit, says: “March is always a peak month for MOTs, but this year it will be busier than ever as the record breaking new car sales of 2015 feed through. Our research has shown that many drivers tend to leave their MOT to the last minute but this can be a particular problem in March when all testing centres get very busy.“Some owners don’t realise that they can have their car tested up to a month before their MOT expires and still keep the same anniversary, which helps to avoid a last minute panic. While thinking about the MOT it’s also worth remembering that maintenance is not just an annual activity – we should all be checking our cars regularly throughout the year.”

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March 2018

ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS ANNOUNCES THE ‘SILVER GHOST COLLECTION’ O ne motor car changed the course of automotive history. Today, the legend is

re-told as Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly announces the creation of a collection of 35 model year 2018 Rolls-Royce Ghosts, created in homage to the original Silver Ghost’s achievement.In 1904, a pioneering motorist, a brilliant entrepreneur and an intrepid engineer were united by a desire to succeed. Three years later, this success was recognised by the world’s media. An unfathomable challenge unprecedented of its time and legendary to this day was completed by The Hon. Charles Rolls and Claude Johnson in Sir Henry Royce’s ‘Silver Ghost’. The car achieved a nonstop long distance endurance record of 14,371 miles. This challenge was to shape automotive and luxury history, creating a world-renowned benchmark for excellence in the process It was the twelfth 40/50hp chassis, complete with a Barker & Co 4/5 seater touring body, commissioned by Claude Johnson, then Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Limited that was quickly recognised for its ability to demonstrate the marque’s prowess. The ethereally quiet running of this extraordinary automobile and the silver paint with silver fittings led Johnson to select this very car for high-

profile competitive trials, bestowing the name, ‘Silver Ghost’ upon it In celebration of this extraordinary feat of engineering excellence, a special collection of the model year 2018 Bespoke Ghosts will be created at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, West Sussex. Thirty-five patrons of the marque will delight in a contemporary masterpiece of automotive history, as the Bespoke Collective of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars envisions the ‘Silver Ghost Collection’.Speaking from the Home of Rolls-Royce, Torsten MüllerÖtvös, Chief Executive Officer, RollsRoyce Motor Cars, commented, “The extraordinary accomplishments of our marque’s founding fathers are honoured by the creation of this elegant ‘Silver Ghost Collection’. The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective masterfully weave the rich narrative of the original ‘Silver Ghost’ into just 35 motor cars, creating a contemporary homage to the original motor car. Today, our craftspeople and master artisans continue this legacy of excellence, creating unique motor cars that define luxury.” The Rolls-Royce ‘Silver Ghost Collection’Today, a Rolls-Royce motor car is the ultimate luxury, steeped in narrative, veiled in rarity. A Rolls-

Royce Collection Car showcases the extraordinary talents of the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Design team; they are born collectables. These are future classics, destined for the lawns of the great international Concours d’Élégance.Careful consideration has been paid to the defining features of this collection. References extolling the past are skillfully handcrafted into Ghost’s interior and exterior, creating a contemporary homage which speaks as much of today’s great brand as the ‘Silver Ghost’ does of its day. A solid sterling-silver Spirit of Ecstasy, the muse that has guided motor cars created by the marque since 1911, will hint at the pioneering heritage of this motor car’s forebear. A specially created Hallmark of AX201, the registration plate of the original ‘Silver Ghost’, will be marked on the base of each muse by the British Assay office, an honour reserved for few. Alongside the AX201 Hallmark, the Metal Fineness marks and the Assay Office town mark, a second unique ‘RR’ Hallmark, the eponymous badge of the marque, will act as the Sponsor’s Mark and authenticate its heritage A black-gold-plated collar enshrouds the base of the Spirit of Ecstasy, itself bearing the unique identity of this collection. An

insert is crafted from hammered copper, in tribute to the copper extensively used in the engine bay of the original ‘Silver Ghost’. The copper, shaped, beaten and textured is engraved with the newly designed AX201 Hallmark.Cassiopeia Silver, a complex Bespoke silver paint that incorporates both warm and cool tones, bathes the exterior of Ghost in a hue that echoes the silver paint of the original motor car. A Bespoke hand-painted coachline, applied by Rolls-Royce’s master coachline painter and taking eight hours to apply, is imbued with fine particles of 100% pure silver, adding to the provenance of this collection.The face of the Model Year 2018 motor car is instantly recognisable as one of 35 in this collection. Black painted grille veins mimic the distinctive black grille of the ‘Silver Ghost’, while the fully-polished wheel centres encircled with ‘SILVER GHOST – SINCE 1907’ engraved on a Cassiopeia Silver backing, echo the fine details of the original car Further reference to the ‘Silver Ghost’ is made via the collection’s clock, styled as an ingot of silver, engraved with ‘Silver Ghost Since 1907’ and once again marked with the distinguishing hallmarks of this collection. A peened solid silver encasement provides a decorative surface, reminiscent of the original dials of the ‘Silver Ghost’ The tread plates proudly authenticate each motor car, engraved with the words ‘Silver Ghost Collection – One of Thirty-Five’, while the Rolls-Royce umbrellas, stowed in the doors of each motor car, are edged in a silver-coloured binding and have an open-pore Tudor Oak handle, with the end of the handle engraved to demonstrate its unique origins.A Bespoke central console allows the patron to convey personal accoutrements, accommodating contemporary touring. A time-piece, sunglasses and accessories case is presented alongside a ‘Silver Ghost’ pen, shaped as the speed form of the car; clean, modern and streamlined.

NEW CAR PRICES RISE THE GOOD, THE MAD AND THE 38% IN LAST DECADE UGLY ... NOT TO MENTION A nalysis by automotive data experts cap hpi has revealed the average price of a new car has risen 38% over thelast decade. The average offered price of cars has increased from £24,383 in February 2008 to £33,559 in February 2018. The experts argue that while cars sold today are fitted with much more technology, from satellite navigation to selfparking, the increased cost is not always reflected in the price rise. New technology is often rolled out as standard by manufacturers seeking to improve the competitiveness of their products. Matthew Freeman, the managing consultant at cap hpi, said: “The real driver of this is the changing structure of the marketplace. Over the past decade, we’ve seen more expensive models being rolled out. We see more SUVs on our roads, and they are usually more expensive than the equivalent saloon.” The company’s data also reveals more premium brand cars across almost every segment and premium brands experimenting with new segments. The

expansion of diesel ranges has also driven up the average price of a new vehicle as diesels are around £1000 more expensive than the equivalent power petrol version. Freeman said: “Many brands have moved to offer a more luxurious specification mix and eliminated their entry-level specifications. This is partly a response to PCP making cars more affordable, and consumers moving up to more expensive models. It’s also worth noting that those base models were not especially desirable in the used market, and had poor resale values. “PCP has also shifted focus from the entry price to the monthly repayment and having a model to advertise as ‘From £9,995’ is no longer a priority – cars are more likely to be advertised on their monthly payment.”

JEREMY CLARKSON THE GOLDEN YEARS OF MOTORING JOURNALISM? ABOUT THE BOOK

This book takes a light-hearted look at what the author considers to have been the golden age of motoring journalism – the last two decades of the 20th century. As a writer and tester for Motor magazine, founding Editor of Fast Lane magazine, and a freelance journalist with a weekly column in The Daily Telegraph, Peter Dron has many tales to tell. In these pages we meet industry moguls, unusual motoring journalists and various other passers-by. The reasons why it has all gone wrong, both for the

motor industry and motoring journalism, are examined with candour. Although this book is essentially about cars and car people, the author ambitiously hopes that it may amuse, irritate or even inform people who are not interested in cars at all. If the readers are not amused, irritated or informed, the author does not mind in the least, provided they have bought the book with their own money rather than stolen it or acquired it by other means, fair or foul. The good, the mad and the ugly ... not to mention Jeremy Clarkson by Peter Dron

2018 a new vintage year for Ghost In addition to the beautiful Bespoke features enumerated above, the ‘Silver Ghost Collection’ also benefits from the several enhancements of the 2018 Rolls-Royce Ghost.The most immediate of these is the bolder and more sculptured face of Ghost, reinforcing the decisive and dynamic character of Ghost. The grille frame is pushed further forward,producing a stronger sweep back into the front wings, to give the front of the car a more decisive character. More deeply set grille vanes underline the perception of power and dynamism, while the redesigned front bumper now features strongly horizontal lines. The perceived dynamism of the 2018 Ghost’s exterior is also enhanced by two completely new 21” wheel designs.The owner’s enjoyment of Ghost’s cabin has also been enhanced through a suite of technological upgrades and acoustic advancements. Inspired by the acoustic engineering undertaken to make New Phantom ‘the most silent motor-car in the world’, the 2018 Ghost benefits from Rolls-Royce’s mantra to “take the best and make it better”, as it constantly strives for even the smallest improvements. Additional sound dampening materials have been added to the doors, rear wings and luggage compartment. Working in combination with a new acoustic film fitted between the glass layers in the side and rear windows to further reduce noise entering the cabin, the results are most impressive. A quieter cabin sets the stage for the most technologically advanced RollsRoyce multimedia entertainment system. A totally new multimedia interface and larger screens for the rear passengers are only the start of the entertainment upgrades offered by Ghost this year. To add to the effortless experience, the new system now responds to natural speech rather than predetermined commands, whilst navigation is improved by the Real Time Traffic Information for 32 countries.

March 2018

FOOD

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AWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

Kitchen

Mothers Day Breakfast

Simple Brioche French Toast

Ingredients (for one serving) * 2 slices of brioche loaf * 2 eggs * 5 tbsp of milk * 1 tbsp of sugar

* A drop of vanilla extract * Butter for frying * Jam, ice cream or fruit for serving

Utensils * Whisk * Large plate

* Large pan

Method: 1) Firstly, whisk the eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla extract together in a large plate, making sure the mixture is smooth with no large lumps 2) Next, dip the brioche bread into the mixture, making sure it is thor-

oughly coated. 3) Then, place the brioche onto a heated pan that has been wet with butter to prevent sticking. Leave to fry for roughly 1 minute or until golden brown, and then flip the brioche over to fry the other side

for a further minute. 4) When the brioche slice is golden brown all over, serve with your choice of jam, ice cream or fruit. 5) Finished!

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March 2018

Easter Recipes

Balsamic, Beet, and Berry Salad

Ingredients: Vinaigrette: * 3 tablespoons olive oil * 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar * 1 teaspoon honey * 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt * 1/4 teaspoon pepper * 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary

Salad: * 2 cups spinach * 1/4 cup strawberries * 1/4 cup blueberries and blackberries * 1/2 cup thinly sliced raw beets * 3/4 ounce crumbled goat cheese 1 * 1/2 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts

How to Make It: Step 1 To prepare vinaigrette, combine first 6 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Reserve 1 tablespoon vinaigrette. Refrigerate remaining vinaigrette in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Step 2 To prepare salad, combine spinach, fruit, and beets on a plate; sprinkle with cheese and walnuts. Add 1 tablespoon vinaigrette; toss well.

bly cheeses (100 calories per ounce), chopped nuts (50 calories per tablespoon), beef meat (25 calories per slice), and dried fruits (25 calories per tablespoon) are tasty but caloriedense. Add these at the end. Plate It: Serve your salad on a plate to keep all those tasty (and heavy) toppings from collecting in the bottom, as they might in a bowl. Dress with Less: A little of our dressing goes a long way. Start with 1 tablespoon; toss well. If the greens still seem dry, add more 1 teaspoon at a time.

Step 3 Top Tips for Tossing Sprinkle Lightly: Crum-

Step 4 Dressing serves

Rosemary-Orange Roast Turkey

Ingredients: Turkey: * 1 (12-pound) fresh or frozen turkey, thawed * 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary * 3 tablespoons grated orange rind * 1 tablespoon kosher salt * 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper Glaze: * 1/4 cup orange marmalade * 1/4 cup fresh orange juice * 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary * 1 tablespoon cider vinegar * 1 tablespoon unsalted butter * 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Remaining ingredient: * 2 cups water

How to Make It: Step 1 To prepare turkey, remove giblets and neck; reserve for another use. Place turkey on a broiler rack on a broiler pan. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breast and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat. Combine 3 tablespoons rosemary, rind, salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper in a small bowl. Rub rosemary mixture under loosened skin. Tie ends of legs with kitchen string. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey. Loosely cover, and refrigerate 8 hours or up to 12 hours.

Step 2 To prepare glaze, combine marmalade, juice, 1 teaspoon rosemary, vinegar, butter, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 4 minutes or until slightly thickened. Set aside 1/4 cup. Step 3 Preheat oven to 425째. Step 4 Remove turkey from refrigerator, and pat dry with a paper towel; let stand at room temperature 1 hour. Bake at 425째 for 30 min-

utes or just until beginning to brown. Rotate turkey; add 2 cups water to bottom of pan. Step 5 Reduce oven temperature to 375째. Cook turkey an additional 60 minutes. Remove turkey from oven; baste with reserved 1/4 cup orange mixture. Bake an additional 15 minutes or until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165째. Remove turkey from oven. Cover loosely with foil; let stand 30 to 60 minutes. Carve turkey; drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup orange marmalade mixture.

March 2018

SPORTS

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Football For Peace Launches In India

By Zakaria Abraham

Legendary ex-footballer Nemanja

Vidic and Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh launched Football ForPeace (FFP) in Mumbai, India. Founded in 2006, the Football ForPeace became bigger in 2013 when British south Asian footballer Kashif Siddiqi pushed it to the international stage. Nemanja Vidicsaid, “Football has been a great unifying force across the globe. The FFP has been using football diplomacy to bring people together by promoting peace and the virtues of inclusion since its inception.” “I am sure it can pay a huge role in making India a more tolerant society,” he added. Kashif Siddiqi said, “We will be inviting the honourable Prime Minister of India to play in this match. We are also looking at other world celebrities, like David Beckham, the Prince of Monaco, as also top diplomats and India’s senior politicians to bring about awareness for FFP’s initiatives.” The FFP will highlight 10-12 cities in India as part of the Cities for Peace initiative, aswell as itbeing supported by the English Premier League and the UK Foreign Office. “Close to 1,600 kids in the age group of 7-14 years will be selected in each of

these cities. They will be part of a yearlong project, which will include 60% classroom education and 40% football training. Once we reach 5,000 kids, we will declare it a City of Peace,” Kashif explained. “The workof Football for Peace is important and the fact that sport can do this, bridge so many barriers is fantastic,” The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William stated.

In 2016, Ronaldinho was part of an FFP women’s empowerment project in India, where sixty femaleambassadors went on to engage 15,000 children. Over 100,000 fans attended the Peace Match in the city, where Ronaldo was playing. “It is a great honour for me to be involved in a movement which contributes to peace by uniting, educating and promoting friendships between people,” Ronaldinho, a World Cup winnersaid.

As Serena Williams prepares to return to the WTA Tour six months after giving birth, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion says “she is ready to play” even if it is at a “turtle’s pace”. Serena Williams often mentioned about wondered how she would keep up with the practice courts following the birth of her first child. The 36-year-old American tennis player said she is more motivated by the thought of playing for her six-month-old daughter. She will return to the WTA Tour at Indian Wells in California in early March. “It’s been hard,” she said. “There have been so many days, even still, when I’m like, ‘how am I going to keep going?’ “It’s been really, really difficult but I keep going and I know that I might not be at my best yet, but I’m getting there and every day is a new day and every day I should be getting better. “As long as I’m moving forward, even if it’s at a turtle’s pace, then I’m OK with that.”

A chance of winning 4 family tickets to West Midland Safari Park, simply answer the following question.

Win 4 FREE Family Tickets

Manchester city stroll to Carabao cup final win

By Zakaria Abraham

“I’m back and ready” Serena Williams

Competition

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Question: What is the new exhibit opening this year at West Midland Safari Park called? Please send your answers to sales@asianworldnews.co.uk with name and contact details. Good Luck!

* There will be a random selection from all correct answers given. Winners will be announced in next month issue of Asian World Newspaper.

Pep Guardiola's long-awaited inau-

guration amongst England's silverware bearers finally reached completion yesterday. Manchester City eased to a three-goal cup final win at Wembley on Sunday, (25/02/18) at the expense of a beleaguered Arsenal side. Manchester City came into the game in imperious form and thus as strong favourites, with Arsenal hoping their recent impressive records in finals – namely the FA cup – would continue. The final started in typical fashion with both sides furiously getting about the field with chances at a premium. Manchester City, who began to slowly impose their possession-based stylistic combination football on Arsenal bore fruit eventually. However, the first goal encapsulated an altogether different style of play one which a Guardiola side is not usually averse to. In the 18th minute Claudio Bravo, - the usurped number one – punted a long ball down the field towards prolific striker Sergio Aguero who had found himself in between the Arsenal centre-halves. As the ball perilously fell from the sky Aguero – with one eye on Shkodran Mustafi and one on the ball – eased the German defender out the way. As Mustafi bemoaned a foul, Aguero latched onto to the bobbling ball and guided a delightful chip over Colombian international David Ospina. The writing it seemed was on the wall. Arsenal tried to recover from the sucker punch they had been dealt, with Winter window signing PierreEmerickAubameyang missing a tap-in when it seemed Arsenal would be set to go ahead. It was as good as it got for Aubameyang and Arsenal with the striker a peripheral figure throughout & not helped by the lack of service from his wanting team-mates. The midfield three of Granit Xhaka, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey lacked cohesion and the attacking nous to trouble city who consistently picked them apart. In contrast, IlkayGundogan, the imperious David Silva &Fernandinho – later replaced by Bernardo Silva after being

injured – teased and penetrated the gaps in midfield which grew larger as the game wore on. Vincent Kompany, the returning City capta in who has endured a tumultuous period in recent years began to come into his own. He consistently marauded into the Arsenal half and you would be forgiven for thinking the Belgian was being deployed as a central midfielder. It was the skipper who made it two shortly after the break guiding a team-mates strike on goal into the back of the net. The explosion of joy and ecstasy was palpable and signalled a new beginning for Kompany and his charges. That was in the 58th minute and despite the score not unassailable the gunners were winded. After that, it was wave after wave of City attacks with intermittent Arsenal attacks in coming after occasional lulls in City's attacks. The game would be well & truly over, however, less than ten minutes after Kompany had made it two. David Silva, the Spanish magician received the ball on the turn on the edge of the box in the 65th minute, rolling Callum Chambers with frightening ease and rifling a strike into the bottom corner. The champagne football had finally come to the fore and City were now in danger of embarrassing Arsenal in a major cup final. Whilst City's football was masterful, Arsenal's was infantry. Gary Neville who was on commentary duty was withering in his assessment labelling Arsenal a ‘disgrace' & ‘spineless'. With an hour to go the travelling Arsenal fans left in their droves and the overriding feeling was for the final whistle to arrive abruptly. The final whistle finally arrived and with it the first of many trophies for Pep and Manchester City this season. The wheels on the Manchester City dynasty were now in full motion. Arsenal was left to bemoan another lackadaisical display with a sharp sense of regret. They now must surely place all their eggs in the Europa League basket. Only time will tell if they are able to use the bitter taste of defeat here to spur them on to victory.

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From Throwing Stones To Playing Sports In J&K W

By Ambreen Mahmood

hen Insha Mir was first embarassed by neighbours for playing cricket, she ignored it by remembering her father’s words: “Don’t answer people with your mouth, but through your bat.” Mir, a student at Government Women’s College, is the daughter of a businessman father and homemaker mother. Both immensely support her passion for sports. “When I carry my cricket bat in my hand, I forget who I am, I forget my food, everything. I can do anything for cricket,” Mir says. She’s part of the new generation of Kashmiri girls showing their skills in sports such as rugby and football to karate. In Jammu and Kashmir, the girls are fighting gender stereotypes every game. Mir’s and her teammates’ view on this is that gender is no handicap; “We are in the 21st century and we shouldn’t be living like ancient times,” she says. “Girls who can carry a broom can also pick up a bat.”

TECH 44-45

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March 2018

India & England rally to save test cricket

By Zakaria Abraham

England is brokering a desperate

deal with India to try to ensure the survival of world cricket. There is growing fear the deal could be set to collapse if it contains elements of naked greed and self-interest. This could cause the whole structure of the international game could collapse. Both countries have been in talks for months, which have also involved Australia, to try to formulate a way forward which will mean a revolutionary change in the way the game is run. At its root is the next TV rights deal which the International Cricket Council is taking to market in the next few months and may be worth $2bn. The final document after several drafts will be presented to the ICC’s board meeting in Dubai next weekend. If it is not approved, or if it is delayed for long, the feeling is that India will simply play who, where and when they want. They have frequently indicated that the Future Tours Programme of international cricket is a hindrance and that playing in ICC events such as the World Cup are inconveniences. While it is a form of appeasement, if not quite a pact with the devil, it will have ample compensation for the three leading nations. Under the proposed new arrangements, all three will take more money from ICC central funds than they have previously.

Countries will be paid for partaking in ICC tournaments. There will also be a four-man executive body of the ICC, which will effectively take all decisions, and will have three permanent members, India, England and Australia. The more money the next batch of rights brings in the greater proportionate increase to which India will be entitled starting at 4.2 percent and rising to 21.9 percent. The lesser cricketing nations should also receive more but their proportion of any increase will be much lower. The ploy will ensure that the strong only become stronger, the ICC’s Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee, on which India and England are the most influential voices, is insisting that there is no other way. India generates 80 percent of cricket’s finances. The only way that many if not most of the countries make any real money is by selling the rights of bilateral series at home against India to Asian broadcasters. The present Future Tour Programme, which has created a proper rankings system, will be heavily diluted at best and the proposed World Test Championship in 2017 which was formally agreed only last year will be scrapped. The paper insists that the continuation of Test cricket is still the chief concern of all member nations. Unfortunately, it also recognises that too much Test cricket is minimally

viewed and not commercially viable. In future, countries will be allowed to play who they wish, though England, where Test cricket remains vibrant, and Australia have undertaken to play all seven of the other top eight nations in at least three Tests in a four-year cycle. Sixteen countries will be split into two groups of eight, the top tier playing Test matches and the bottom in the so-called Inter-Continental Cup. The winner of the bottom group in an eight-year cycle could be promoted to the top group, which would ensure greater structure, but India, Australia and England could never be relegated. The impression amongst England’s administrators is that there was no other option. One might have been to tell India that the other nine nations would cast India adrift with a vote of no confidence but this would prove to be too great a financial risk. That would have left England as the richest nation but the truth is that without

India, the international game is virtually, of no value. The few powerbrokers there are at the ICC appear certain that the market must dictate at all. While anxious not to empty the pockets of the lesser nations entirely there is also a warning in their position paper’s summary. “For cricket to survive and thrive into the 21st century and beyond ICC members have to become self-sufficient with sustainable investment and growth in their domestic markets,” it says. “In that context, however, the ICC has lost touch with the issues members face in sustaining the growth of cricket in the markets. It has tried to be all things to all members resulting in a situation where most members look to the ICC to be told what type of cricket to play and expect the ICC to resolve any financial problems they may encounter.” This may work and it probably has to if Test cricket has any chance of prospering beyond Ashes series.

World’s most expensive player,Neymar breaks a bone in his foot

By Zakaria Abraham

Kashmir is a disputed territory, claimed by both India and Pakistan. Reports claim a death toll of 41,000 lives in 27 years. Today, youth are at the frontline of the Kashmir movement, joining street protests and insurgency groups. Irtiqa Ayoub, a player and assistant coach for the state rugby team said: “I still go out during curfew or protests to give training to fresher players,” whilst also studying at the University of Kashmir, aswell as running 10 rugby clubs. Her usual reply to aspiring rugby players on social media is: “You’re most welcome. Whenever you have time, come and I will teach you.” Without proper facilities or a coach, Mir learned cricket skills by watching cricket matches on television, and by asking senior cricketers for tips when she travelled outside of the state for cricket. Their hard work has paid off, with Mir recently playing in the region’s first-ever twenty-overs format Women’s Cricket Championship. Ayoub has also made a name for herself, winning gold and silver medals in national championships. The future is shining bright for the sportswomen of Kashmir.

Paris St-Germain’s Champions

League, excursions may have taken a huge setback following the news, star attraction & key player Neymar’s fresh injury crisis. The Brazilian ace suffered fractured metatarsal and a sprained ankle during Sunday’s French Ligue 1; win over arch-rival Marseille in ‘Le Classique’. The world’s most expensive player in history was injured, while chasing Marseille forward Bouna

Sarr, with Neymar being seen fighting back tears as he was stretchered off near the end of the 3-0 win at the Parc-de-Princes. The news is a bitter blow for PSG, who face Spanish giants & Champions League holders Real Madrid, in less than nine days – with the French capital club losing the first leg 3-1 in Madrid-. Neymar is now odds-on to miss the Champions League last 16 second-leg tie at home to Real Madrid on March 6.

Ligue 1, leaders PSG confirmed on Monday (Feb 26), that Neymar had indeed suffered “a sprain of the right ankle with his misery compounded by a fracture of the fifth metatarsal” The club, however, refused to be drawn into the speculation surrounding a proposed return date. Neymar, who joined PSG for €222 million (S$360 million) from Barcelona in the summer transfer window, posted a picture of his heavily bandaged ankle on social media

site Instagram, earlier on Monday (26/02/18). The fee paid ensured Neymar became the costliest signing in football history, with the media furore surrounding his move then reaching pitch fever. The Brazilian has netted 28 times and laid on 16 assists for his PSG compatriots this season, although he was heavily maligned for an underwhelming display against Real at the Bernabeu a fortnight ago.

March 2018

Pakistan set to star at 2018 World Cup By Zakaria Abraham

The world’s most significant sporting

event will have an unusual leading light this summer. With the 2018 World Cup in Russia, only months away a host of star nations will compete for sport’s most prestigious and coveted trophy. Hosts Russia will be accompanied by fabled sporting giants such as Argentina, Brazil & Germany to name but a few to stage the eagerly anticipated competition views by millions across the globe. Alongside the glitterati of nations set to line-up at this summer’s tournament is a curious nation when it comes to Football. That honour falls to Pakistan. Pakistan, who will not feature at this summer’s competition, (ranked 198th in the world) will take centre stage in an intriguing but pivotal role. Pakistani great thermo bonded balls will be in use in the competition for the first time in World cup matches. Adidas, (who are the largest manufacturers of footballs in the sport) unveiled their official World cup ball back in November 2017. The ‘Telstar’ which has been modelled on balls from previous tournaments has a

pixelated, retro look & to it. It will now also take on a distinctly Asian feel too. Russian ambassador to Pakistan, Alexey Pedov, recently confirmed Russia is indeed going to use Pakistani-made footballs Forward Sports Company - which is a contracting manufacturer of global sports brand Adidas - are working overtime to ensure match balls are ready for use this summer. They are already responsible for providing footballs to some of Europe’s major top-tier leagues, including Germany’s top flight the Bundesliga, France’s Ligue 1, & Europe’s premier club competition the UEFA Champions League. They were also the providers of the official match ball for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil ‘The Brazuca’. The company, located on the outskirts of the North-eastern Sialkot city, which borders India. The region is famous in the sports entertainment industry for producing the excellent quality sports goods. Khawaja Masood, the chairman of the company, told Anadolu Agency “This is an honour for us, that we are going to provide footballs for the world cup once again. We are very excited to meet this challenge.”

Refusing to give the exact numbers of footballs the company is going to supply for the World Cup alone due to restrictions from Adidas, Khawaja said his firm produced a total of 700,000 footballs a month. The football that will be used in the upcoming tournament is technically termed as thermo bonded, which was first introduced in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Before that, Pakistan had supplied hand stitched football for almost all the World Cups from the 1990s to 2010. Other types of footballs produced in Sialkot are glued balls and hand-stitched balls. Thermo bonded balls are made by attaching the panels through heat - the latest technology adopted by Adidas and transferred to Forward Sports in 2013. “Although Pakistan football team will not be participating in the forthcoming World Cup, its presence will be felt in all the matches [because of the balls],” Khawaja told Anadolu Agency. According to Husnain Cheema, president of the Pakistan Sports Goods Association, the country will export around 10 million footballs across the world this year.

WHEN STROKE STRIKES, ACT F.A.S.T.

FACE HAS THEIR FACE FALLEN ON ONE SIDE? CAN THEY SMILE?

ARMS CAN THEY RAISE BOTH ARMS AND KEEP THEM THERE?

SPEECH IS THEIR SPEECH SLURRED?

TIME IF YOU NOTICE ANYÂ OF THESE SIGNS MAKE THE CALL

Jaswant Naker STROKE SURVIVOR

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