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THE IMPORTANCE OF READING

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Shujaat, Qadri Meet To Form Grand Opposition Alliance

The foundation of a grand opposition alliance has been laid, as the Chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Dr Tahir ul Qadri and Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PMLQ) President, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain held a meeting in London on 31st May. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Dr Tahir ul Qadri vowed to make the country prosper by delivering the powers to the people. He said that the current rulers have been dominating the state, through a 3D system and ending a corrupt system has become an obligation for the people of Pakistan now.

Qadri said that for this purpose political consultation has formally begun from today. The PAT Chief said that family monarchy was established in the country,

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by naming corruption as democracy.

On this occasion, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that electoral reforms are barely needed to fix the system of the country. He termed speaking out against the armed forces of Pakistan as speaking against the state.

Former deputy prime minister, Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi claimed that for the formation of a grand opposition alliance, he is also in touch with Imran Khan. He added that patriotic citizens and parties are worried for Pakistan, whereas Sharif brothers are going to fight the military for the fourth time.

Moreover, Dr Tahir ul Qadri said that talks will be continued with Chaudhry brothers after which other political parties will also be taken into the loop.

THE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING BUBBLE

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CUT PIECE Page 22-23

Workers’ Wages Plunge In Sheffield The average worker in Sheffield Hallam has and borrowed and nearly bankrupted Britain. seen their wage drop by more than £7,000 “We still have some way to go, but we are a year. Government figures said income in moving in the right direction.”

Deputy PM Nick Clegg’s constituency had fallen by 20 per cent since the Coalition was formed in 2010.

The average weekly wage of a Sheffield Hallam resident was £725 in 2010, but was now £584, and there had been a ‘massive fall’ in living standards. Figures show in real terms annual pay had fallen in all Sheffield constituencies, although the most significant was in Sheffield Hallam.

A spokesman for Nick Clegg said 21,000 more people in Sheffield had a job since 2010 and the city also had the highest number of young people in apprenticeships.

Income tax was being cut, council tax frozen and tax free childcare would save families £2,000 per child a year.

He added: “The reason household budgets have been squeezed is because the last Labour Government borrowed

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Tax Dodgers Cough Up New figures show that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) secured a record £23.9 billion in additional tax revenue over the last year as a result of increased activity to make sure people pay the taxes they owe.

The additional tax – which HMRC secures as a result of investigations, on top of the tax collected from those who pay their taxes on time – is up £3.2 billion on the previous year, up £9 billion on three years ago and nearly £1 billion above the target set at Autumn Statement 2013.

More than £8 billion has been secured from

large business, over £1 billion from criminals and £2.7 billion from tackling avoidance schemes in the courts. HMRC’s compliance activity has resulted in a number of tribunal wins, and also seen corporation tax and stamp duty land tax loopholes closed, protecting the Exchequer from tax going unpaid.

The record-breaking tax revenue comes as HMRC publishes “HMRC fast facts: Record compliance revenues for the UK”.

Providing an overview of HMRC’s compliance activities, the document highlights the

actions HMRC has already taken to tackle tax avoidance. These include launching taskforces, publishing the details of deliberate and serious defaulters and challenging tax avoidance through the courts.

The document also provides information on future steps as the tax authority continues its fight against those who try to cheat the system. These include tackling high-risk promoters and employment and offshore tax avoidance and issuing accelerated payments for users of tax avoidance schemes.

Term Time Absences Change Attacked Campaigners have accused the Government of "interfering" over a crack down on parents taking children out of school during term time.

Members of the group Parents Want a Say said they would seek a judicial review challenging a decision by the Department for Education to remove the discretion of headteachers in England to approve term time absences in "special” circumstances.

Under the new rules which came into force in September, headteachers can only approve absences in term time for "exceptional" circumstances. Parents who do not have permission to take a child out of school during term time face a fine of £60. If they do not pay, parents could be prosecuted with a fine of up to £2,500, a community order

or a jail sentence of up to three months. A court can also impose a Parenting Order.

The new rules mean families are unable to afford overseas trips during peak holiday season. The group has added that workers in key professions, including people in the NHS and the police, face restrictions on when they can take leave.

The argument in favour of the rule defends

that education is first and foremost for the child. Parents are recommended to take cheaper holidays if they cannot afford an overseas holiday during school holidays A DfE spokesman said: " We recognise the challenges facing parents to fit holidays around their jobs and that's why we are giving all schools the flexibility to set their own term times so they can change term dates to ones that work for their pupils and families. "Evidence shows allowing pupils to regularly miss school can be hugely detrimental to a child's education. "The most recent full-year figures show we are making progress, with 130,000 fewer pupils regularly missing school under this government. We have also increased fines for truancy and encouraged schools to address the problem earlier."

Red CaRpet at Instant solutIonz

ILM NEWS REPORT

On Sunday 18thof May 2014. It proved quite an eventful day in the heart of the Abbeydale/Nether edge community. The honourable Mr Paul Bloomfield MP and local councillors attended the grand opening of instant solutionz. Mr Bloomfield MP unveiled a plaque giving a brief speech to over 100 people on the economy and small business trends over the last decade, he spoke of the importance of small businesses in the communities helping the British economy.

Mr Zowaib Zafar the director of Instant Solutionz quoted. “I would like to thank my father Mr Zafar Khan and my older brother Mr Mahmood Zafar who have been the driving force behind the scenes to enable us to move forward”.

Mr Mahmood Zafar, Official chair of Instant Solutionz Quoted,

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“I was overwhelmed with the turnout and the support from Mr Paul Bloomfield MP and the local councillors, friends and family, to whom I wish to thank for giving up their precious time. We at Instant Solutionz look forward to serving the people in our local community across south Yorkshire and nationwide”.

Instant solutionz had a successful opening with public in abundance; the weather was perfectly warming the temperatures, as balloons and ribbons fluttered in the cooling breeze. later an exceptionally large cake was delivered for the ceremony along with refreshments and catering served for selected close family and friends at the grand hotel Double Trees/Hilton where no expense was spared on the venue.

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Mr Compensator

Protecting Taxi Drivers Throughout Sheffield ILM NEWS REPORT

A specialist taxi replacement accident management company opened its new office in Sheffield last month to great acclaim. Mr Compensator is a national company that focuses on the private hire and hackney carriage accident replacement sector. They also provide accident replacement 4x4’s, prestige vehicles and standard vehicles to people who have had a non fault accident. Unlike other companies, Mr Compensator specialises in disputed accident claims with a knowledgeable team covering areas such as disputed accidents, forensic reporting and liability resolution. Integral to their success has been the focus on quality in service, their core value - “customer is king.”

ing played out by his

You had your opening day on Sunday the 4th brothers!” of May, how did that go?

“Chaotic! 3 nights with no sleep, but we enjoyed How’s business for every minute of it. We wanted to invite all the Mr Compensator community to our opening day to make them at the moment?

aware of our presence. The turn out was fantastic with over 400 people attending throughout the day. We met hundreds of local people from the area; it was great to connect with so many people. Everybody seemed to love our approachable attitude; we also generated new business on the day which was a fantastic result. We would like to thank Mr Mohammed Shabir, our landlord and proprietor from Talk Time Communications, everyIn an interview with Omar and Rubal from Mr one who attended, all the restaurants and takeaCompensator, we asked some questions to find ways in Sheffield that displayed our leaflets, the out more about the company and its recent open- team behind Mr Compensator for delivering such ing day. a fantastic event and all the taxi companies and drivers for their support.”

A question which is on everybody’s mind, your £2000 referral fee?

We also heard that you where planning “We are offering a £2000 referral fee for any taxi some special celebrations on the day but claim, the damaged taxi car has to be proved un- then cancelled this? roadworthy by the council and we have to provide a hire car. There’s no if’s or buts’, we will simply pay £2000 as a referral for a claim of this nature. Our client gets their compensation in full on top of the referral fee. 100% compensation guaranteed.”

Who is the character you created for Mr Compensator?

“Our business is based on fighting for our clients, we wanted to demonstrate this with a strong visual icon, a character that puts up a fight that also represents a strong company.”

Why did you decide to open in Sheffield?

“Due to such a high volume of enquiries from the Sheffield area over the past year, it made sense for us to set an office up here. We already have a strong presence in the Yorkshire area with offices in North, East and West Yorkshire. We don’t believe high quality service can be delivered without face to face communication, so opening an office in the centre of Sheffield is vital to our clients.”

Why did you choose Abbeydale Road for your office?

“It’s in the heart of the community, a central location on a busy road and that makes us easily accessible to everybody in Sheffield, especially taxi drivers who pass by our office every day.”

including community and faith leaders, university students, academics and members of the local police force.

These events were undertaken to demonstrate Government support to develop strong communities, where people can feel they belong and where steps are taken to combat religious hatred and those who seek to cause division.

No topic was off-limits for participants during the frank and

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honest question and answer sessions. A range of issues where put to Baroness Warsi.

“This was an opportunity for me to hear direct from some of those affected by hate crime and outline what government has done to help communities tackle hatred so that everyone is treated with equality and dignity.

“Everyone has the right to feel safe in the place where they live, free from discrimination and prejudice. Sadly this is not always the case and the road shows provided an opportunity to hear first-hand accounts and highlight some of the measures we have taken to tackle hate crime including the projects government has funded.”

“It is only by confronting these issues head on that we can make a real and lasting difference to our communities so that everyone is treated equally, in the way they deserve.”Warsi said.

Pictured: The opening of the shop on Abbeydale Road. Professional boxer Atif Shafiq from Rotherham cuts the ribbon

What sets Mr Compensator apart from the competition?

“Our knowledge in accident management and our work ethic are unmatched by our competitors. As a business we take pride in our work and always deliver the maximum result for our clients. We explain all the options clearly and advise clients of their best interests. Our private hire and hackney carriage vehicles are all brand new and fully licensed. We also carry a large range of prestige, saloon and super cars as well as MPV’s and 4x4’s. You name it and we probably have it in our fleet. We visit any location at any time, complete all the paperwork and deliver the licensed taxi hire vehicle directly to your door. We don’t just offer this service to taxi driver, we have a huge range of vehicles for every type of driver.”

“We planned to have fireworks and the famous Rani Taj playing the Dholl outside our office on the opening day but as a sign of respect to Shabina Begum, Anum Parwaiz, Amaan Parwaiz Kayani, Adyan Parwaiz Kayani and their baby sister Minahil, who tragically lost their lives in the house fire in Sharrow in April, we decided against this. May Allah grant them all the highest rank in paradise and may they rest in peace. May we also take this opportunity to offer our deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences to Nazim Parwaiz Kayani, Razia Nazim Kayani, Nazia Parwaiz Kayani and Ishfaq Hussain Kayani.”

What’s the plan for the future?

“We aim to be the number one non fault acYou were giving away a fabulous prize on cident claims office in Sheffield, a place where your opening day, can you tell us more about people feel welcome to call in at any time to have a cup of tea and a chat. Over the next 6 that?

“We had a prize draw to win a Citroen C4. At 5pm months we will be holding various events and Omars two year old nephew Choudhury Hadi inviting local people within the community. picked the lucky winner - Mr. Fazal Yousaf. He Generally we will be showcasing our services; wasn’t actually in the crowd, so we rang him and we aim to become a household name within explained he had a 10 minute time limit to claim the area” the prize, he said he couldn’t make it in 10 minutes as he was over 5 miles away, it would be more Don’t be a stranger, pop in say hi, and If you like 15 minutes. As the time counted down we need any advice simply give Mr Compensator thought he wasn’t going to make it in time but he a call on 0114 386 3386. turned up with 3 minutes to spare! He just couldn’t believe his luck, he said he’d never won anything in his life and initially thought it was a prank be-

Baroness Warsi Cements Integration

The Faith and Communities Minister Baroness Warsi toured the country to hear from and respond to the views of local citizens as part of the Government’s commitment to tackling hate crime and building stronger communities.

Integration ‘roadshows’ have taken place in the heart of six communities – Birmingham, Blackburn, Bradford, Leicester, Luton and Oxford and were attended by diverse audiences

“Over the last 4 months we have had a very positive response from the local residents of Sheffield. We have taken over a number of ongoing claims that people had with other accident management companies, people who had not been happy with the result of their claim.

We have been very effective in putting other firm’s wrongs to right.”

Pictured: The winner of the Citroen C4 Mr Fazal Yousaf (left) receives the keys from Omar (middle) and Rubal (right) from Mr Compensator’s Sheffield branch

Pictured: The Mr Compensator office at 280 Abbeydale Road

Council Pockets Permit Zone Profits As High As £1.5m Sheffield City Council has come under renewed criticism as new information revealed that the Council could be pocketing profits of £1.5 million from residents’ parking permit zones.

Figures released under a Freedom of Information request show that in the 2013/14 financial year, Sheffield City Council pocketed £2,717,000 from the zones, including fees, charges and fines.

While the Council refused to release the cost of running the zones an earlier request had stated the cost for the first four months of the year was £418,408. Taken across the year, this would see the Council secure annual profits of £1,462,000.

The revelation follows a historic High Court case last year, which ruled that Barnet Council had acted illegally by driving up permit prices to plug gaps elsewhere in its budget. Labour councillors in Sheffield have

approved two years of permit price hikes, raising the cost of a first permit from £10 to £36.

Javid Khan, local Liberal Democrat campaigner for Nether Edge, said: “Fees for residents’ parking permits have shot up in recent years, with local motorists paying through the nose just to park outside their own home.

“These residents will be out-

raged to learn the Council is now pocketing an extortionate profit through the zones and is refusing the pass the funds back to local communities. Parking permit zones exist to address local parking problems – not to make a profit for the Town Hall.

“It’s time for the Council to admit this profit is indefensible and cut permit prices for local residents.”

Javid Khan (right) with local permit zone campaigners, Paul Scriven and Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed:

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EDUCATION AND HIGH STORRS The Importance Of Reading

This month we are writing about an education topic that is very close to our hearts; the importance of reading for pleasure.

There is growing evidence that the amount a child reads has an impact on their achievement and attainment at school, and throughout life. Some research suggests that reading for pleasure is more likely to affect whether a child does well at school than their social or economic background.

The advantages that reading brings are numerous: • Reading helps concentration and relaxation; students have to sit quietly and stay focused while reading. As students get older they will find these skills more and more important while learning and revising.

• Reading improves vocabulary; students who read more generally have a much wider vocabulary which helps them communicate better with others.

• Reading exercises the brain; this helps the brain strengthen and build connections much more than watching TV or playing on the computer.

• Reading teaches children about the world around them; they are exposed to different places, different points of view and different ways of life.

and we now class ourselves as a ‘Reading School’, with every staff email ending with information about which books we are all reading at the moment; these books vary from ‘The Lollipop Shoes’

by Joanne Harris to ‘Seven Myths about Education’

by Daisy Christodolou.

We run a variety of book clubs in school for both staff and students; we even have a maths book club which is currently reading ‘Alex’s Adventures in Numberland’ by Alex Bellos.

As always, there is a lot parents can do to help too.

Children who see adults reading for pleasure are much more likely to want to read themselves. It is never too early to start encouraging your child to read, reading aloud to a young child, even for just a few minutes, every day improves their understanding and provides a solid foundation for them as they learn to read for themselves. The more books a child has access to the more likely they are to read; this does not have to mean having hundreds of books at home, making regular trips to a library or local bookshop can have an impact.

Things Are’ and … (I have to stop there or I will go on forever).

We have also included some writing from our Y10 students about their choices of favourite children’s book; these include classics such as Rukhsar Aslam’s choice, ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’, (another of my favourites), to more modern choices such as ‘Horrid Henry’ chosen by Iram Khan. Our other students contributions come from Nafees Hussain and Anees Ahmed who both liked ‘Biff and Chips’, Haadia Ahmed who’s favourite was ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ (We know that there are some errors in the Urdu writing but we felt it was important to use the students’ original work to show the progress they have made in this subject.)

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate We couldn’t write an article about reading without to contact High Storrs School. (Tel no: 0114 267 sharing some of our favourite books with you. I 0000, email enquiries@highstorrs.sheffield.sch.

Because of the above reasons, and many more, find it very hard to choose my favourite children’s uk) children who read generally do better at school, book but remember very fondly ‘Mrs Pepperpot’ not just in English but in all subjects. and ‘Milly Molly Mandy’ and ‘Where the Wild

Mrs Heggs and Mr Akram

High Storrs recognises the importance of reading

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Top Taxi Driver Makes Sheffield Proud

Sheffield cabbie Fazal Rehman has been hailed as one of the top taxi drivers in the country after his daughter nominated him for the honour.

Fazal Rehman, aged 53, of Stubbin Lane, Firth Park, has been driving cabs for 30 years.

He won third place in the Cabbie Of The Year awards run by Swinton Insurance, and was handed £250 in recognition of his work, which includes taking disabled children to school.

Fazal said: “I have always worked hard and it is great to receive this

Sheffield Crime Hotspots Revealed

recognition of my time as a taxi driver. Coming third is motivation for me to keep on doing a good job and to win next time.”

His daughter Rucksar Naaz, 21, of Stubbin Lane, added: “He has never really had any qualifications, so being recognised for all his hard work over the years has been amazing. He has always tried to do that extra bit more. The whole family are dependent on him. He’s my role model. I nominated him because I thought he should be recognised.”

Crime in Sheffield is at its lowest for a quarter of a century, police have revealed – but three of the city’s areas have been offending hotspots for three years running.

The number of crimes being committed across almost every area of the city has reduced, including areas such as Manor and Burngreave and the city centre.

The drop is despite a huge increase in sex crime reports across South Yorkshire, which the force says is due to the knockon effect of the Jimmy Savile investigation.

The total amount of crime in Sheffield amounted last year to 37,868 incidents, down 8.8 per cent from 41,207.

Three city areas – the city centre, Darnall and Burngreave – have been the worst places for crime for the last three years running.

But the figures are against a backdrop of falling crime, figures show.

South Yorkshire Police’s Superintendent Shaun Morley stated the city has less crime than at any time in 25 years, despite a huge increase in the amount of sex crimes reported.

“We have continued to work hard to reduce crime across the city,” he said. “Those areas where we have seen an increase, such as sexual crimes and hate crime, is in our opinion down to the increased ease with which complainants can report such crimes, and the fact we have put resources into those areas and increased the confidence of the public to report those crimes.

My overall message is crime in Sheffield is at its lowest for the last 25 years. This year we have seen a 6.3 per cent reduction in crime within the city.”

“We have constantly reduced crime to its lowest level in the last 25 years. That shows we’re working hard to make Sheffield the safest city in the country, and we are working hard to protect that status.”

Figures show 6,708 crimes were committed in the city centre, 2,808 in Darnall and 2,571 in Burngreave – but all but one were lower than 2012’s figures: 7,286, 3,232 and 2,476 respectively.

The fourth-highest area for crime in 2013 was Southey with 1,645, followed by Manor Castle with 1,689, and Walkley with 1,619 – but all were down year-on-year.

Gleadless Valley is the burglary capital of Sheffield – 241 house burglaries took place in the area, beating the city centre

with 191.

But the centre was top for assault with injury, with 640 reports, and cannabis possession, with 149, as well as being home to 1,142 thefts.

Outside the city centre, Darnall was home to the second-highest theft rate with 313, and the highest possession of cannabis rate, with 103. Darnall was the suburban area with the highest theft rate with 329, and had the largest number of rapes of a female aged over 16 outside the city centre, with eight against central’s nine.

Rounding out the top 10 in order of most crimes were Walkley with 1,619, Gleadless Valley with 1,577, Firth Park with 1,541, Arbourthorne with 1,278, and Woodhouse with 1,271.

But all dropped year on year against 2012, with the only two areas to have an increase being Stannington, from 665 to 783, and Dore and Totley, from 425 to 537, as well as increases in Stocksbridge & Upper Don, West Ecclesfield and Burngreave.

SHEFFIELD CRIME FIGURES Gleadless Valley down 18.8 per cent in Central down by 8.6% Darnall down by 15% Burngreave up by 3.8% Southey down by 6.7% Manor Castle down by 19.53% Walkley down by 7.8% Gleadless Valley down by 11.2% Firth Park down by 7.5% Arbourthorne down by 23.9% Woodhouse down by 12.8% Stannington up by 15% West Ecclesfield up by 17.4% Stocksbridge& Upper Don up by 16% Dore & Totley up by 26.4% Burngreave up by 3.8%

Subway Adopts ‘Halal Meats Only’ Policy at 185 outlets Sandwich chain Subway has defended changing the contents of some products in line with demands by Muslims for meat to comply with sharia law.

Sandwiches at 185 Subway outlets in Britain and Ireland no longer come with ham or bacon as the pig is regarded as unclean in Islam.

The pork has been replaced by turkey in a move the company hopes will avoid offending Muslim customers. Turkey is halal, or clean, to Muslims.

Subway outlets adopting the new policy will display a window sticker reading: "All meats are halal."

But the practice of halal slaughter, which can only be carried out

by Muslim men who chant "Bismillah Allahu-Akbar" (in praise of God) before the slaughter, is not without controversy.

Critics say it is inhumane because sharia law demands the animal is conscious at the moment of slaughter.

Subway insisted that the animals that provided its meat were stunned before slaughter, as required by the EU. Some Muslim leaders feel that stunning an animal before it is slaughtered does not transgress the

tenets of the Quran, the RSPCA said.

A Subway spokesman said: "All our suppliers comply with EU animal welfare legislation as a minimum and we require suppliers of halal products to adopt the stunning of animals prior to their slaughter. All halal meats are certified by the appropriate halal authorities.

"All halal Subway stores have numerous signs stating that they serve halal food. These are situated on the menu panels, nutritional information and in the front window of the store."

The US-based firm said it was responding to community requests.

"The diverse multicultural population across the UK and Ireland means we have to balance the values of many religious com-

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munities with the overall aim of improving the health and welfare standards of animals," said a spokesperson.

An RSCPA spokesman said: "Scientific research has clearly shown that slaughter of an animal without stunning can cause unnecessary suffering, and the RSPCA is opposed to the slaughter of any animal without first making it insensible to pain and distress.

"The only legal exemptions to stunning during slaughter exist for kosher and halal methods of slaughter. However, it is important to differentiate between 'religious' and 'non-stun' slaughter as around 90% of all halal in the UK receives a stun before slaughter.

"Our concern has nothing to do with the expression of religious belief but with the practice of killing by throat cutting without pre-stunning.

"We believe that meat produced from animals stunned or not stunned before slaughter should be clearly labelled to allow consumer choice, and continue to press for changes in the law that would improve the welfare of all farm animals at the time of slaughter."

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GP Casebook - Infective Conjunctivitis Conjunctivitis is very common, especially in young children. As a GP I will see 2-3 cases every week most of which do not really need to see a doctor. The majority cases of infective conjunctivitis are viral and thus will clear up on the own typically within 5 to 7 days. I hope after reading this article most of you able to manage this condition yourselves and will not need to consult your GP with straight forward infective conjunctivitis.

and wiping away the discharge.

Types of infective conjunctivitis

Common germs (bacteria and viruses) are usually responsible for most cases of infective conjunctivitis. These are often the same germs that cause coughs and colds. Therefore, conjunctivitis often develops when you have a cold or cough. However, sometimes it occurs alone. In the vast majority of cases, infective conjunctivitis is not serious.

It clears within a week or so without leaving any permanent damage to the eye. Therefore, you do What is conjunctivitis? not need to see a doctor when your symptoms are Conjunctivitis is when the conjunctiva (which is the mild and typical (as described above). thin covering that covers the white part of the eyes and the inside of the eyelids) becomes inflamed. Very occasionally conjunctivitis maybe more serious and be associated with infection of the cornea It is most commonly caused by infection but can (keratitis) e.g. due to germs such as chlamydia or also be caused allergy or irritants. In this article I due to herpes viruses. In such cases the eye is often very painful and there may be reduced vision will only discuss infective conjunctivitis. or swelling around the eye. If you develop these symptoms you need to seek medical advice.

What are the symptoms?

•The whites of the eyes look inflamed, and red or pink.

•It can affect one or both eyes.

•The eyes may feel gritty and water more than usual.

•There may be some mild soreness but it is usually does not cause severe pain.

•The eyelids may become slightly swollen.

•The eyelids are often stuck together with discharge after a sleep.

•Vision is not normally affected. There may be some blurring of vision due to discharge at the front of the eye. However, this clears with blinking

Dr Ripon Ahmed

How do you treat infective conjunc- Other important general advice tivitis?

•Do not wear contact lenses until symptoms have •No treatment - this is a common option for mild completely cleared, and for 24 hours after the last or moderate infections. Your tears contain chemi- dose of any eye drops or ointment. cals that fight off germs. Without treatment, most •You should regularly clean secretions from eyecases of infective conjunctivitis clear on its own lids and lashes with cotton wool soaked in water. within one-week. You do not need to see your GP •Infective conjunctivitis is contagious, which if your symptoms are mild. If the symptoms get means it can be passed on by touching. The likeliworse then it is advisable to see a doctor or phar- hood of passing it on is not high unless you are in close contact with others. However, until the infecmacist.

•Bathing the eyes - use cool clean water, this may tion has gone, to help prevent passing it on: •Wash your hands regularly, particularly after be soothing.

•Lubricant eye drops - these may reduce eye dis- touching your eyes. comfort. They are cheap and can be purchased •Do not share towels, pillows or utensils. from the medical aisle at all large supermarkets When should I see a doctor? and pharmacies.

•Antibiotic eye drops / ointments e.g. chloramphenicol - these tend to only be prescribed for If your symptoms change, or do not settle within more severe cases or those cases which have not a 5-7 days, or if you are concerned that you have cleared within 1 week and are continuing to get anything other than common conjunctivitis. In worse. They can also be purchased over the coun- particular, see a doctor urgently if you develop marked eye pain, light starts to hurt your eyes ter from pharmacies. (photophobia), spots or blisters develop on the skin next to the eye, your vision becomes affected or your newborn baby develops conjunctivitis.

Does my child with conjunctivitis need to stay off school / nursery?

Guidance from Public Health England states that it is not necessary to exclude a child from school or childcare if they have infective conjunctivitis, unless there is an outbreak of several cases.

Thanks to patient.co.uk for the information

A few examples of infective conjunctivitis (google images)

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Labour Leads In UK Polls Britain is heading for a new political landscape as Ukip opened accounts across the country which helps them to foothold in the parliamentary segments for 2015 campaign.

Prime Minister David Cameron already revealed his intention to fight the general election in the grounds of economic stability.

He is also planning to toughen the immigration and benefit rules.

Despite the dramatic performance, anti-immigrant Ukip vote share fell by six points compared with last year, from 23% to 17%, according to BBC calculations.

Experts identified Ukip polling

20% in most of the country but just 7% in London. The Liberal Democrat vote fell by one point to 13% while David Cameron’s leadership was stabilised as the Tory vote increased by four points to 29%.

It was estimated that this would translate into 322 seats for Labour at a general election, 255 for the Conservatives, 45 for the Lib Dems and other parties, including Ukip, 28 seats.

Miliband was criticised for a series of media mishaps during the campaign, which was described as “tremendously ill-judged” by one backbencher. He failed to recognise a local leader besides remember the price of a pint of

milk. The party was campaigning on the Living Cost Rise.

Some shadow cabinet members say they were crowded out of a campaign that failed to project Labour as a team that includes strong women such as Harriet Harman and Yvette Cooper, the Guardian reported. “There is also anger that Miliband focused too much on policy rather than projecting an empathy with voters’ sense of alienation from the political class,” they said.

Labour achieved nearly 300 council seat gains – well above its forecast of 200. The Tories lost nearly 200 seats.

Cameron said he understood the message from the voters, who he said wanted the government to work harder on issues such as welfare and immigration reform. “We will be working flat out to demonstrate that we do have the answers for hardworking people,” he said.

The prime minister rejected calls from Eurosceptic Tories to form a pact with Ukip before next year’s general election. “We are the Conservative party. We don’t do pacts and deals. We are fighting all-out for an all-out win at the next election.”

Michael Gove Doesn’t Like Them’ Education Secretary Michael Gove has caused uproar by removing well-loved novels such as To Kill A Mockingbird and Of Mice And Men from the GCSE syllabus.

Mr Gove reportedly ‘really dislikes’ the American classics and wants them replaced by English works.

Often listed as some of the finest

literary works of all time, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice And Men and the Pulitzer Prize-winning To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee have been taught to GCSE English literature students for over 20 years.

In the past 90 per cent of GCSE students studied Of Mice And Men, a statistic that Michael Gove was ‘really disappointing’.

The new syllabus, which will begin in 2015, will reportedly include more works by pre-20th century British authors such as Charles Dickens or Jane Austen.

The decision has also been criticised by educators who say being offered only English authors will put young people off reading and will grind children down.

‘Immigrants Must Learn English’ One of Britain’s most powerful politicians has said the immigrants must learn English and “respect our way of life.”

Sajid Javid MP, the Culture Secretary in David Cameron’s cabinet, says as he criticises migrants who have lived here for years but still cannot speak the language. He said that voters have legitimate fears over “excessive” immigration and are justified in wanting Britain to have more control over its borders.

Mr Javid, the first Asian Secretary of State, defends Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party, against charges of racism but insists that only the Conservatives can deliver the reforms to European Union laws needed to cut immigration.

“People want Britain to have more control over its borders, and I think they are right,” Mr Javid, who is the

son of Pakistani immigrants, says.

“People also say when immigrants do come to Britain, that they should come to work, and make a contribution and that they should also respect our way of life, and I agree with all of that. It means things like trying to learn English.” The tough message on immigration,

coming from Britain’s highest ranking Asian MP, who is also the Minister for Equalities, will provoke debate on controls to migration in a crucial week of elections.

Immigration was a key battleground in the current campaign and will be central to all parties’ manifestos in the run up to the general election.

Young library volunteers needed!

Are you aged 13 to 24 years with some spare time on your hands over the forthcoming summer break?

Would you like to meet new friends, build your confidence and gain valuable skills for future employment?

Each year Rotherham Library Service challenges local youngsters to read six books over the summer holidays as part of the

ter children; listen to them talk about the books they have read during this year’s challenge as well as supporting library staff with craft activities and award ceremonies? You could even apply to be a Mythical Maze volunteer reporter!

The closing date for applications from young people to volVolunteers are needed to give unteer is Friday, June 13, while some time in libraries to regis- the registration of children for the actual reading challenge begins on Saturday, July 12.

Volunteers can get more information and details about applying from their local library or from the web site at www. rotherham.gov.uk/libraries.

national summer reading challenge.

To help out library staff, enthusiastic young volunteers are needed to assist with this year's challenge - “Mythical Maze” that takes place over the school summer holidays in libraries across the borough.

Tensions Continue In Page Hall Page Hall in Sheffield has seen a huge influx of Slovakian Roma, who say they want to give their children the chance of a better future in the UK. But rubbish, noise and gangs of young people have put them on collision course with other residents A crime crackdown has been launched in the deprived Sheffield suburb which residents claims is being blighted by intimidating groups on street corners, nuisance motorists, litter and fly tipping.

Fed up residents in Fir Vale and Page Hall have attended several public meetings to raise concerns with police and council officers, claiming an influx of migrants has left services unable to cope. They claim schools and GP surgeries are full to capacity and that ‘intimidating’ groups hang around on street corners. Residents say muggings and fights are rife and there has been an increase in rubbish – creating an impression of a suburb in decline.

One resident who attended the Police and Communities Together public meeting, said: “There has been a vast increase in the migrant population which has had a knock-on effect in terms of the cleanliness of the area and crime. Litter has increased, there have

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been increases in muggings and violent crime and the over-riding opinion here is that we want an action plan to address all these issues. One of the main concerns is intimidating groups on the streets all day, yet you never see a police officer.”

South Yorkshire Police, say extra patrols had been put on and they are hoping to put a ‘dispersal order,’ in place giving officers the right to split up groups and take children home.

Sheffield Council said it was committed to reducing the anti-social behaviour problems in Page Hall.

Coun Mazher Iqbal, the council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “We are fully aware of the issues in Fir Vale and Page Hall.

“Anti-social behaviour is not acceptable and not something anyone should have to tolerate. “We are working closely with residents, businesses and partners to nip in the bud any possible tensions before they escalate out of hand. “In recent weeks, we have been leading on a number of initiatives including taking action to clean up the area and helping local people to take pride in their neighbourhood.

“We are also consulting on a plan to introduce tighter regulations on landlords and we are working with the police and communities

to help people feel safe.”

South Yorkshire police says it doesn’t have crime figures available for Page Hall specifically, but that anecdotally crime does not appear to have increased significantly since large numbers of Slovakian Roma started to move in three years ago. “It’s anti-social behaviour which is a problem rather than crime, really,” said one of the officers on patrol.

Nobody knows for sure how many Roma people have come to Sheffield since Slovakia joined the EU in 2004. The council’s best guess is that 1,500 eastern European Roma children now live in the city as a whole, with around 500 in the small Page Hall area. Miroslav Sandor, a Roma community worker in Page Hall, gives a much higher estimate. He thinks there may be 600-900 large families in the city, mostly concentrated in Page Hall.

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Taxi reforms risk public safety – Paul Blomfield MP Paul Blomfield MP challenged Transport Minister Robert Goodwill in the House of Commons over Government plans to loosen regulation of taxi operators. The Sheffield Central MP expressed concerns that the plans could put public safety at risk.

The Government’s Deregulation Bill will enable Private Hire Vehicle operators to subcontract a booking to another operator licensed in a different licensing district. The public will lose their right to choose which operator they travel with - if someone

calls operator A (their preferred choice) operator B might turn up. There are also serious enforcement issues. If jobs could be passed from one operator to another, the role of the local licensing enforcement would become impossible because currently only the licensing officers from an authority where a vehicle and driver is registered have the power to take enforcement action.

Speaking in Parliament Paul Blomfield MP said: “I’ve had serious concerns raised with me by drivers in Sheffield, that these rushed changes, which will let minicab operators ‘subcontract’ bookings to other operators from a different district, could see vehicles and drivers working literally hundreds of miles away from their ‘home’ licensing authority, with our licensing authority in Sheffield unable to conduct any effective enforcement against them. Does the Minister share the concerns of the drivers that have spoken to me, that these proposals put the public’s safety at risk?”

Jubilee Celebrations for Pakistan Muslim Centre

The Pakistan Muslim Centre Sheffield has proven ‘hard work always pays off ‘. The centre recently celebrated its silver jubilee.

Lord Mayor of Sheffield Councilor Vicky Priestly invited Pakistan Muslim Centre (PMC) Sheffield chair Muhammed Ali and board of directors and colleagues to celebrate PMC's 25 years in existence. The celebrations at the lord mayor’s parlor consisted of a cake cutting ceremony, speeches from selected guests including more notably Councilor Mohammed Shaffaq. The City Council Leader, Councilor Julie Dore. There

was a presentation made by the respective Lord Mayor who presented Mohammed Ali with an award trophy.

Speaking exclusively to local press the respective Lord Mayor commented on how PMC has worked so hard to maintain its sustainability and continuity. She commented on how recent projects such as work with the local EU Migrant Community has paved the way for a brighter future , but more importantly the displayed how the centre is building stronger and safer communities.

Muhammed Ali on this momentous occa-

sion thanked the Lord Mayor and Council Leader. “PMC’s journey has been an epic one, consisting of many deep bends, but with the grace of Allah, the support of a unique past and present board of directors, staff colleagues and partners we managed to steer our way round the blind spots. I want to receive this recognition trophy on behalf of the entire community. This centre is symbolic of the hard work and sacrifices of our community; it’s a testimony to the dedication, passion and commitment of British Pakistani, Muslims”.

BENEFITS RISK TO JOBSEEKERS REFUSING ZEROHOURS CONTRACTS Jobseekers risk losing their benefits if they turn down certain zero-hours contracts without good reason, the government has said.

Until now, people on Jobseeker's Allowance could refuse to accept such jobs without facing penalties. But the new universal credit system demands that people take up the casual contracts - even though they do not always guarantee work.

The government insisted such contracts offer an average 25 hours work a week. It is thought

that when workers did not get the hours they needed, their universal credit payments would adjust automatically to ensure they were financially supported.

Under the new scheme, claimants who turn down a zero-hours contract when it is thought to be suitable could lose payments for more than three months. Jobcentre "coaches" would be able to "mandate" zero-hours contracts if they thought the role was suitable for the claimant.

Jobseekers risk losing their benefits if they turn down certain

zero-hours contracts without good reason, the government has said.

A study has shown around 1.4 million jobs involved contracts that did not guarantee a minimum number of hours. The Office for National Statistics said most of the contracts were zero hours.

Under these contracts, people are not guaranteed work from one week to the next. But officials have pointed out that some workers could have more than one contract at a time.

Schools Prepare for Free School Meals Schools across the Rotherham are busy preparing for the introduction of free school meals for all young children. From September 2014, a free lunch will be available to all children in reception classes, year 1 and year 2 regardless of family income.

Thanks to new government funding, parents could save up to £360 a year on school lunches for each child – and up to £720 if they have two children aged between four and seven years-old.

Whatever parent childhood memories are, school food in Rotherham has come a long way and school lunches are better than ever.

A school lunch is lower in salt, sugar and higher in nutrients than the average packed lunch so parents can be sure their children are having a nutritionally balanced meal.

Schools follow strict national

standards which mean they offer at least two portions of fruit and vegetables every day, salt is kept to the absolute minimum and food is free of artificial colour and flavourings.

Having a healthy, nutritious meal at lunchtime is proven to lead to better concentration in class and, in turn, improved academic attainment.

It’s much easier to get vitamins and minerals into a cooked meal than a packed lunch. Only 1% of packed lunches meet the nutritional standards that apply to school food.

Trying to put together a packed lunch which meets the same standards takes a lot of work and planning. On average, parents spend 150 hours a year preparing packed lunches for their children.

But just because school food is good for children it doesn’t

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mean it’s bland and boring. Food is specially selected to appeal to children and school menus include lots of old family favourites. All school menus are available online and are usually sent out by schools so you can see exactly what children are eating.

In most schools, lunches can be taken week by week, meaning that parents and children can try school lunches to see whether it works for them.

Although meals in reception and years 1 and 2 are free, parents and carers on low incomes or receiving certain benefits are encouraged to continue to submit claims for the old style free meals. For each eligible child, the child’s school will receive additional funding in the form of the Pupil Premium grant, to support children and raise attainment.

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Faryal And Amir Khan Welcome Baby Lamaisah

British icon and boxing champion, Amir Khan has become a father for the first time. The young Bolton-born sporting hero announced the birth of his new baby girl, Lamaisah, with wife Faryal Makhdoom in the early hours of May 23rd.

Boxing hero and Bolton lad, Amir Khan has much to celebrate following his recent win over welterweight Luis Collazo earlier in May. The athletic 27-year-old has become a father for the first time, after his wife Faryal Makhdoom gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

It is thought that new mother, Faryal chose the young baby’s name. Lamaisah which is originally Arabic, means ‘soft to the touch’.

Amir and Faryal have enjoyed a whirlwind romance since they married at the stunning Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York in May 2013. Following their year-long engagement, the couple have become Britain’s next power couple and have been regularly sighted at fashion events and celebrity bashes in and around London.

22-year-old Faryal moved from New York to stay in Amir’s hometown of Bolton, and it is clear that she has taken to family life with her in-laws very well, and has been eagerly anticipating the arrival of her daughter.

Khan has been keen to get back into boxing action after a few slipups and defeats in 2013.

With a new training schedule and fitness regime, Amir has returned

in better form than ever and he is definitely on the road to success. Following his defeat of Luis Collazo, Amir has been trying to set up another fight with his rival, the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jnr, which he hopes will take place very soon.

Finding the right balance between family life and boxing life is something Amir has been very clear about from the beginning.

Even before Amir and Faryal were married, the boxer mentioned how keen he was to give up the single life, settle down and start a family, especially amidst rumours about his playboy antics. “ Now with the arrival of a new born into the Khan dynasty, the young dad has something, or indeed, someone else to fight for: “Becoming a dad is one of the biggest things in any man’s life. And it’s more nervous the first time. We’ve looked at all the scans and this a really active baby. Plenty of footwork, fast hand movement. Wonder where she gets that from!” Khan adds.

Surely, there will be a lot of high sporting hopes for young Lamaisah who clearly takes after her dad. Congratulations to the happy couple on their fantastic news.

Labour becomes first party in 15 years to take full control of Bradford Council Labour has clinched full control of Bradford Council by a whisker – the first time one party has had a majority for 15 years.

The Labour administration, which previously had to rely on the support of other parties or independents to push through its plans, now has 46 seats – the exact number needed for a majority on the 90-seat Council.

UKIP was also celebrating after getting its first candidate elected in Keighley West and coming close in a number of other wards.

The losers were the Conservatives, who made a net loss of two seats, and the Peace Party, whose sole sitting councillor, Imdad Hussain, lost his seat to Labour in Heaton.

District Is The Worst In The Uk For Banned Drivers Bradford officially has the worst drivers in the country.

The district has a higher proportion of people banned from getting behind the wheel than anywhere else.

According to DVLA statistics, the district tops the list of shame for numbers of disqualified drivers compared to the number of people who hold a licence.

The city has 1,084 people who have been banned from driving, from a driver population of 166,171.

That gives a disqualification rate of 0.65 per cent, which is almost four times the rate for Cheltenham – the country’s best performer with 0.17 per cent of its driver population banned from the roads.

Bradford is substantially ahead of the second worst city, Birmingham, which scores at 0.58 per cent and is the only Yorkshire location to appear in the top ten.

It’s a real concern that so many drivers are flouting the rules of

the road. With five people killed and 63 seriously injured on our country’s roads every day, there is never an excuse to break traffic laws. A driving licence is not a right, and those who choose to break the law should be prepared to face losing their licence. Some offences, like drink-driving, bring an automatic driving ban while other motorists can be disqualified for totting up points from lesser offences such as speeding.

Major UK acts confirmed for Bradford Festival Bradford Council has confirmed that the final line-up for the Bradford Festival is to include spectacular and innovative British street theatre and top UK world music.

Among the vast line up is renowned UK collaborators, Transglobal Underground have been signed to play at the Mela Day, Sunday 15 June.

Nutkhut, a celebrated British arts company known for their colourful flamboyance will bring several superb street theatre acts to the festival.

Nutkhut will also stage three stilt-walking acts including delightful divas, Princesses, cheeky Maharajahs and larger than life Asian superstars, DJs. Halifax Indian arts company, Annapurna Indian Dance will stage

Barefoot on a Bicycle which combines storytelling with live music and uplifting drumming.

Bombay Baja, Britain's leading Indian brass band will bring a carnival atmosphere to the Bradford Festival with popular Indian melodies and powerful dhol rhythms.

The Bradford Festival will take place in City Park and various locations within the Bradford city centre from 13-15 June.

People can find out the latest information via the Bradford Festival website http://www. bradfordfestival.org.uk/ and on Facebook and Twitter.

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Pakistan Frees 59 Indians Pakistan on released 59 Indian prisoners as a goodwill gesture ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s visit to New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi.

The Indian prisoners, mostly fishermen, were freed from a jail in the port city of Karachi.

They will be handed over to the Indian authorities at Wagah border Monday, the officials said.

The fishermen were arrested for illegally entering Pakistani waters and fishing.

Pakistan and India routinely arrest fishermen from entering each other’s waters for fishing. They enter other’s waters as there is no determination of maritime boundaries.

Freed Indian prisoners told reporters outside the Karachi’s Malir jail that they are happy at their release. They also said they were treated well and were not subjected to torture.

Modi invited heads of all the

member states of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) for his swearing-in ceremony. The invitation to Sharif was attached great importance in view of tense ties between the two neighbours.

Bilateral Talks Prime minister-designate Narendra Modi and Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif’s meeting on May 27 came eight months after the heads of the govern-

ments of the two countries last met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Sharif met outgoing prime minister Manmohan Singh in New York in September 2013.

It was their first face-to-face meeting since Sharif was elected in May last year.

Sharif had called the meeting a chance for a “new beginning” in relations between the two countries.

Tipu Sultan’s Ring Auctioned

A ring belonging to 18th century ruler of Mysore Tipu Sultan has been auctioned in London amidst a controversy over the piece of jewellery.

The jewelled ring is inscribed with the name of Hindu deity Ram in raised Devanagri script and was sold for 145,000 euros (nearly $197,870) by Christie’s auction house.

According to the auction house,

the ring weighing 41.2 gm was sold to an undisclosed bidder for almost 10 times more than its estimated price at an earlier auction in central London.

The ring was supposedly taken from Tipu Sultan’s body after his death during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1798-1799). The battle was fought between the kingdom of Mysore and the British East India Company.

The controversy over the ring is about the name of the Hindu god on a ring worn by a Muslim emperor.

A group called the Tipu Sultan United Front had urged the Indian government to take

steps to help prevent the sale of this ring as it is a piece of history.

The group also said that if the ring has been put up for auction, Indian philanthropists should have been encouraged to purchase it on behalf of the country.

The ring was previously listed for sale by Christie’s in 2012 but was then withdrawn from sale.

Tipu Sultan (Nov 20, 1750-May 4, 1799), also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was a scholar, soldier and poet.

He was the eldest son of Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore.

Sharif Summoned In Asset Case The Lahore High Court summoned 16 politicians, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to appear before it this month for maintaining their assets abroad.

The court ordered the respondents, including former president Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, to submit their written replies with all details of their assets inside the country and abroad.

The court issued notice to the

federal government and at least 64 politicians on a petition seeking directions for the politicians to bring their foreign assets back to Pakistan. If some $300,000 million from these assets were brought back to the country, it would help solve Pakistan’s financial problems without seeking foreign loans.

Notices against the respondents would be published in national newspapers if they fail to appear before the court. The

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petition was filed in 1996 by a lawyer Javed Iqbal Jafri against 26 politicians but later more names were added to it. The petition stated that the respondent politicians had transferred at least $300 billion to foreign countries through money laundering, causing a huge loss to the national exchequer.

The petition pleads that the court order the politicians to bring back their assets for the national interest.

Shahrukh Khan Named World’s Second Richest Actor The 48-year-old Bollywood star, popularly known as King Khan, has emerged as the second richest actor in the top 10 combined rich list of Bollywood and Hollywood stars, with an estimated fortune of $600 million, reported The Times of India.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld topped the rich list with an estimated net worth of $820 million.

Khan, who was the only Indian actor in the list, was found to be richer than Hollywood giants like Tom Cruise and Johny Depp.

Tom Cruise came in third at $480 million followed by Johny Depp at $ 450 million.

Shahrukh along with Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is among the 100 most “obsessed-over people” on the web, according to a list compiled by Time magazine The list is topped by former US President George Bush who has a score of 65.6 points. His successor President Barack Obama comes in at the second spot with 45.3 points.

Tendulkar is ranked 68th of the list and has 23.98 points. Khan, however, comes in at the penultimate rank of 99 with a low score of 22.07.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is one rank above Khan with 22.08 points.

The list also includes singer Madonna on the number three spot followed by Beyonce (4), former Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton (11), Russian President Vladimir Putin (27), Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic (61), Pope Francis (70), Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher (77) and talk show host Oprah Winfrey (95).

MODI ERA BEGINS IN DELHI Narendra Modi, India’s 14th prime minister, took oath on 26th May at a ceremony held in the open at Rashtrapati Bhavan and attended by the Who’s Who of the nation – including political leaders, business honchos, celebrities and leaders of religious faiths – as well as leaders of neighbouring countries.

The oath of office and secrecy was administered in Hindi to Modi by President Pranab Mukherjee.

There was a certain poignancy to the momentous occasion as the inauguration of a new prime minister happened exactly 50 years after the death of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

Present on the occasion of the change of guard was the outgoing prime minister Manmohan Singh, who remained 10 years at the helm when the general election left the Congress battered and reduced to its lowest tally of 44 seats in the Lok Sabha.

A council of ministers, numbering around 45, also took oath.

Among the foreign leaders who attended the ceremony at the forecourt of the presidential palace were Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Also present were Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Nepal Prime Min-

ister Sushil Koirala, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan and Bangladesh parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi and former presidents A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Pratibha Patil were among the over 4,000 people who gathered on the occasion.

Minutes after being swornin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought people’s support and participation for India’s journey to newer heights of development.

“As we devote ourselves to take India’s development journey to newer heights, we seek your support, blessings and active participation. Together we will script a glorious future for India,” said Modi in his message on the upgraded website of the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Let us together dream of a

strong, developed and inclusive India that actively engages with the global community to strengthen the cause of world peace and development,” he added.

“I am a firm believer in the power of technology and social media to communicate with people across the world. I hope this platform creates opportunities to listen, learn and share ones’ views,” he said, referring to the upgraded website.

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A HISTORIC DAY By: Dr A Q Khan

email: dr.a.quadeer.khan@gmail.com A nation that forgets its heroes is doomed to be years. forgotten by history. We have put our Independence Day on a back seat and have placed more On December 10, 1984 I personally informed Gen Ziaul Haq in writing that we had produced weapon emphasis on March 23 instead. grade enriched uranium, had perfected the design Resolutions make no difference unless they are of the weapon and had successfully carried out implemented. It is the day that we became truly cold tests (explosions with a depleted uranium independent that counts. Like August 14, 1947, core). We now had the ability to detonate a nuMay 28, 1998 was also a historical day. At that time clear device at a week’s notice. (Read ‘Deception’ we were a disgraced, defeated nation. The morale by Adrian Levy, page 112, Gen Arif’s statement.) of the nation was raised by the detonation of several nuclear weapons that day. What seemed an Before the nuclear explosions took place, KRL had already tested a 1500 km range ballistic missile caimpossible task was realised. pable of carrying a nuclear warhead to any target.

Other than Bhutto, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, A G N In this achievement, the key players were Bhutto, Kazi and Agha Shahi, no-one believed it to be pos- A G N Kazi, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Agha Shahi, Benasible – and they had good reasons. How could a zir Bhutto, Gen Aslam Baig, Gen Waheed Kakar country that could not even manufacture sewing and of course the dedicated scientists, engineers needles produce nuclear weapons? But, together and other staff at KRL. with my patriotic and dedicated colleagues, we did produce them and that too in hardly seven years. The commendation letters by the president, PM and services chiefs are testimony to our work.

As is always the case with a major achievement, Ghulam Ishaq Khan’s letters to noted journalists, there were many claimants to its success. Had it Zahid Malik and Shahidur Rahman, leave no doubt been a failure, only one person would have been as to who the architect of this achievement was. ridiculed – Dr A Q Khan. The claimants called them- Ghulam Ishaq Khan headed our programme for selves “the inventor of the atom bomb” and built 17 years and all the progress was made under his commemorative mountains with their monogram guidance. Quoted here: “His single-minded pursuit and name on it. But, as the great Chinese genius and unremitting efforts, surmounting all blocks Lao Tzu said 2,500 years ago, people are too intel- and hurdles, both internal and external, culmiligent to be deceived. This has been the case here nated in the May 28 detonations. It was no other too. People who wasted billions of rupees without than Dr A Q Khan and his team at KRL who made being able to produce a single kilowatt of power Pakistan a nuclear power.” or an ounce of gold still claim to be nuclear bomb Agha Shahi (Dawn 4.6.2001) said: “If there is numakers. clear capability in the hands of Pakistan today, this Sixteen years ago on May 28, 1998, Pakistan ex- country owes it to Dr A Q Khan.” ploded nuclear devices at Chaghai in Balochistan and joined the elite nuclear club of the world. This In his speech on March 27, 2001 at a farewell achievement made the Pakistani nation proud and dinner given for me at the President House, Gen self-confident. People had more or less known Musharraf said: “As we gather tonight to honour about our capability, but we had to demonstrate our most senior and eminent scientists, our naour capability. At that time we had already been tional heroes, my thoughts go back to that eventa fully fledged nuclear power for more than 14 ful day in May 1974 when India conducted its first

nuclear test and in the process, altered the security landscape of South Asia to Pakistan’s critical disadvantage. Coming so soon after the 1971 dismemberment of our country, the event served to deepen our sense of insecurity and vulnerability.

out to achieve an objective for his country and, within his lifetime, has been able to see its fulfilment and received unprecedented accolades, admiration and everlasting gratitude from his countrymen. Never before, in my judgement, has any nation owed so much to one single man’s achievements. Dr A Q Khan’s Nishan-e-Imtiaz and Bar, the only Pakistani to have been bestowed the honour, is the acknowledgement of a grateful nation and is thoroughly well-deserved.

“To our conventional asymmetry was added yet another dimension of imbalance, and Pakistan was left to fend for itself. The international community, to no one’s surprise, went through the motions of ritual censoring and posturing, but at the end of the day, it was Pakistan which was left totally ex- “Let me put on record formally, this nation is grateful to you for what you have done for us, today and posed to Indian nuclear blackmail and threats. for all times to come. You are our national hero “The situation was critical. Our security para- and an inspiration to our future generations. Nodigm had changed and, with no nuclear weapons body can ever take that away from you and your programme worth the name, Pakistanis literally place in history is assured. You will always be at the looked to the sky for help. We did not lose faith. very top. We salute you and thank you from the And sure enough, Allah Almighty answered the depths of our hearts. nation’s prayers, had mercy on our situation and made a miracle happen. In walked a giant of a “As I say quite often, in a general sea of disappointman, none other than Dr Abdul Quadeer Khan, the ments, the development of Pakistan’s nuclear caman who would give Pakistan a nuclear capability pability is a unique national success story. It is a single-handedly. His arrival in those difficult days story of selfless devotion, unbridled dedication, gave hope and cautious optimism to a doubting scientific brilliance, technological mastery and nation that was used more to scams and empty above all, supreme patriotism and religious fervour of thousands of silent workers. promises than to performance and delivery.

“Ladies a Gentlemen! Subsequent years and events and Dr Abdul Quadeer Khan’s achievements are now well-recorded and form a glorious chapter of Pakistan’s history. Dr. Khan and his team toiled and sweated day and night against all odds and obstacles, against international sanctions and sting operations, to create, literally out of nothing, with their bare hands, the pride of Pakistan’s nuclear capability, the Kahuta Research Laboratories, later renamed, most appropriately, the Khan Research Laboratories.

“These men of science, these mujahids, have put Pakistan in the exclusive nuclear club. They have made Islamic nations proud. They represent the best qualities of Pakistanis and have shown that when we want to, we can move mountains and indeed change their colour. Such is the strength of their faith and sense of duty.”

This speech was not written by me nor did I have any input in it. However, I did not give any responding speech because there was already friction between Gen Musharraf and myself leading up to the “Within a few years, he and his brave men gave mischief which he later perpetrated against me.

Pakistan its first-ever material in the form of Highly Enriched Uranium and thereby levelled the scores to be continued.... with India. His is a rare success story in that he set

A Quarter Of UK Adults Overweight More girls under 20 are overweight or obese in the UK than anywhere else in western Europe, alarming new research has shown.

In this age group, 29.2% of the British population are excessively heavy. Just over 8% of the girls meet the clinical definition of obesity, having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above.

Of the 22 western European countries studied, only Greece is on a par with the UK as far as girls aged 20 and younger are concerned, with a 0.1% lower prevalence.

The study confirms previous research that has shown roughly a quarter of Britain's adult population to be obese.

Among adults aged 20 and above, 66.6% of men and 57.2% of women were either obese or

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overweight, while obesity affected 24.5% and 25.4% respectively.

The study documented a "startling" surge in obesity and overweight rates in 188 countries around the world. Between 1980 and 2013 the number of overweight and obese people rose from 857 million to 2.1 billion.

This represents an increase of 28% for adults and 47% for children.

But the research also found enormous variation around the world, with more than half the planet's 671 million obese individuals living in just 10 countries - the US, home to more than 13%, China, India, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Germany, Pakistan and Indonesia.

In the US, about a third of the adult population

is now obese, while in Australia 28% of men and 30% of women fall into this category.

Of Britain's neighbours in western Europe, tiny Andorra with a population of just over 78,000, had the best rates with 10.6% of adult men and 7.2% of women classified as obese.

Other key findings include: :: In the developed world, men have higher rates of obesity than women, while in developing countries the opposite is true. :: The greatest increase in rates of excess weight and obesity occurred between 1992 and 2002, mainly among people aged 20 to 40. :: On the Pacific island of Tonga, more than half the population of men and women is obese.

:: In the western European region, which includes Israel, obesity levels among boys range from 13.9% in Israel and 12.9% in Malta to just over 4% in the Netherlands and Sweden.

Definitions of overweight and obese are based on BMI, which is obtained by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared.

A BMI of 25 to 29 is considered "overweight" while 30 and above is classified as "obese".

Page:Page 16 14

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The prophet (peace be upon him) said, ÒWhoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his rewardÓ

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Page: 17 Page Page 17 15

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS Amar Saleem

Business Development Manager Sheffield Chamber of Commerce Promoting your business is essential if you want potential customers to know you exist. But where do you start? Personal recommendations can be one of the most effective forms of publicity. This is why you must ensure your customers are left satisfied every time they deal with your business.

Other promotional options include advertising, direct mail, public relations (PR) and networking.

Many small businesses are now using social media and networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, too.

Focus on your product's benefits

Features don’t sell - benefits do. Focus on the main benefits your products or services offer to customers. Summarise them into a few key reasons why people should buy from you.

Drawing attention to your unique selling proposition (USP) could also help your cause. This requires an explanation of what makes your business special.

Target the right customers

Focusing on your target market's habits will help you decide how best to reach them. There’s no Marketing should be part of your everyday busi- point in advertising in a glossy magasine that your ness culture, right from the moment you decide target market don't read or advertising online if to start up. Having a marketing plan can increase your chances of success, but it doesn't need to be complex, just something that sets out your goals and strategy, structures your efforts and enables measurement.

Market Research enables you to identify those you want to sell to, your target market- or those most likely to buy from you. Segmenting customers into distinct groups enables you to finely tune your marketing efforts.

Ahead of launch, you must make potential customers aware you’re about to start a new business. Having work or sales lined up can help you get your business off to a flying start.

Devise a marketing plan

Ethnic Minorities ‘To Make Up Third Of UK Population By 2050’

Almost one third of UK citizens will be from ethnic minorities by 2050 if current trends continue.

Black and minority ethnic (BME) communities are growing at a much faster rate than the white population and are radically changing the face of Britain,

the Policy Exchange found.

Currently the five largest BME groups - Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Black Africans and Black Caribbeans - make up eight million people or 14 per cent of the population.

This number has doubled in the past decade, while the white population has remained roughly the same, and so is predicted to increase to between 20 and 30 per cent of the population by

the middle of the century. The majority of non-white Britons identify themselves as "British only", it said. This highlights the growing importance of ethnic minority voters in the future.

The UK's five largest minority groups have "clear and meaningful" differences in experiences, traditions and attitudes, which policymakers have so far failed to address. This could be a warning that politicians must start appealing to the differing views and concerns of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black African and Black Caribbean ethnic groups over the coming years.

Council Tax Payment Issues ‘Rocket’ The number of people struggling with their council tax payments has "rocketed" to become the most common type of debt problem Citizens Advice now deals with.

Some 27,000 people with council tax arrears problems got help from the charity in the first three months of 2014, marking a 17% upswing on the same period last year.

Overall, one in five people reporting debt problems to Citizens Advice has a council tax arrears issue and the charity said this problem has now overtaken credit card and personal loan

debt to become the number one type of debt that people approach it about.

Council tax arrears are a serious problem for in-work households, the charity said. Between January and March 2014, 42% of those approaching Citizens Advice for help with council tax arrears were in employment.

Citizens Advice said the number of people struggling with council tax payments has "rocketed" since council tax benefit was replaced by council tax support schemes, which are run on a local basis, in April 2013.

Council tax support is a discount

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that helps people on low income to pay their council tax and the amount of support you get depends on your circumstances.

Citizens Advice said the support is available to people in and out of work, but levels now vary from one council to the next.

Of those asking for advice from the charity for help with council tax issues, one in six (16%) also had a credit or store card problem, one in five (21%) had a personal loan problem, a similar proportion (18%) had a fuel debt issue and one in 20 (5%) had a mortgage arrears problem.

Email: amar.saleem@scci.org.uk working can also generate sales.

Word of mouth is the best form of advertising - but it is earned, not paid for. Satisfied customers can be your best advocates, which is why customers’ needs should be satisfied every time. Much will depend on the quality of your products or services, of course, but how you deal with customer enquiries or complaints can be just as important.

If relevant to your type of business, simply following up sales with a brief courtesy call a few weeks later can go down very well. It also provides the opportunity to remind customers about your business. You could even offer them a reward for recStay close to customers Simply meeting potential customers is often the ommending your business to others, possibly a most effective way to promote your business. Net- small discount of future purchases. potential customers ‘don’t surf’. Advertising in a local paper, handing out flyers on the high street or doing a door-to-door leaflet drop might be much more effective.

Simple forms of advertising can be highly effective, low cost or even free. These include simply getting a sign painted on your van, putting a card up in your local newsagent's window, creating a Facebook fan page or starting a Twitter feed. You could even strike up mutual recommendation agreements with other small businesses.

Refine your marketing

Promoting any business involves some trial and error. This is why you need to put in place a system for measuring the success of your marketing methods, which could be as simple as asking each new customer how they heard of you or including a promotion code for specific campaigns.

If something hasn't worked, find out why and don’t repeat the mistake. In future, you can concentrate your resources on more effective methods.

Sheffields New Mayor Sheffield’s new Lord Mayor will be sworn in this month.

Peter Rippon becomes Sheffield’s number one citizen at a ceremony at the town hall.

His selection comes with a couple of twists. Among family watching the ceremony will be one of his three sons, Tim, who is also a Labour councillor.

In addition to the family connection, Peter will be Lord Mayor for a shorter period than usual.

Chosen by the ruling Labour group, he will have the role for 50 weeks instead of 52 as a result of local elections and the subsequent annual council meeting, which elects the Lord Mayor, being delayed because of the European elections.

If he had lost, Burngreave Labour councillor Talib Hussain would have taken over. He is now confirmed at deputy Lord Mayor, becoming Lord Mayor in 2015/16. So Peter Rippon becomes Lord Mayor and his wife, Susan, Lady Mayoress.

They have been married for 52

years.

Peter has been a Labour city councillor since 2003, first elected for the former Nethershire ward. Before that he was on Ecclesfield Parish Council. For nearly 28 years, he combined his politics with a job as a welfare rights officer in Mansfield, helping people with learning disabilities towards independence.

Now he will be Sheffield’s 118th Lord Mayor, attending

a wide range of engagements, from delivering 100th birthday greetings and visiting community groups to hosting delegations and chairing council meetings.

The first weekend will see him at the Broomhill Festival, then he has a date at The Queen’s garden party at Buckingham Palace.

“It’s a great honour to be asked to represent the city,” he said.

Love Your Garden With the days getting warmer, now is the perfect time to give your garden a boost of colour.

Start with pruning. It is easy to let shrubs and trees get too big without realising it, or grass grow in places it doesn’t belong. Opening up overgrown spaces gives you new gardening opportunities.

Then it’s a trip to the garden centre or nursery to get the feel you want. Contemporary, traditional, cottage or natural – there are many options available for both the new or experienced garden.

Page: 18 Page 16

RONALDO CROWNED WORLD’S MOST MARKETABLE PLAYER Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is the world s most marketable footballer. Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi ranked second in the study conducted by Repucom ahead of club teammate and surprise third placed entry Gerard Pique of Spain.

The data measured the perceptions of over 6 500 people in 13 countries including Britain the United States Brazil China and India which was reportedly claimed to represent the views of more than 1.5 billion people worldwide.

Ronaldo who helped Real Madrid clinch a 10th Champions League title on Saturday was also found to be the most wellknown player on the planet with 83.9 per cent of people aware of who he was.

Ronaldo is an endorser’s dream.

His value is as important to the teams he plays for as they are for the companies that endorse him. Global awareness of Ronaldo is what drives his commercial power and with over 82 million facebook likes and 26 million Twitter followers he is also one of the most liked in the business.

An Angelic Soul’s Honorary Degree

By Mukhtar Tufail © 2014 : Nazia Hassan Foundation Trust A stranger overhearing the gentle, almost noiseless cry of a new born baby girl in the Hassan household ( 3rd April 1965 ) would have been forgiven for not realising the voice being heard was not of any conventional baby. Indeed the voice being heard was one that in years to come would rock the status quo, both home and abroad.

An angelic voice which would cement the foundation stones for a constructive pop music scene in Zia-ul-Haq's conservative, and Islamic culture of Pakistan. A voice which would create a tsunami like effect in the International culture scene, as evidence by the fact that Pakistani TV, which initially displayed reluctance to broadcast the pop

She will always be remembered as an artist with a heavenly sent voice, who in life gave hope to so many but in death left something much larger to the world.

Like Princess Diana, she experi-

British Muslim TV to launch on Sky Digital British Muslim TV is set for launch on the Sky Digital platform this June. According to the channel’s website, British Muslim TV will be aimed at showcasing the best the British Muslim community has to offer.

It states, “A new Sky channel

that provides both Muslim and non-Muslim communities with news, views and insights into how British Muslims live. We will also present content from our community, for our community, with the aim to make British Muslims feel confidently Muslim and

comfortably British.”

The channel will showcase lifestyle and entertainment programmes targeting Muslims living in the UK. The channel said, “We are identifiably British in our ethos and programming. The primary narrative is Confidently Muslim – Comfortably British. We will also be completely nonsectarian – we will showcase all things Muslim and all things British.”

The website also features names of the shows that will broadcast on British Muslim TV including ‘Marriage Made In Britain’, ‘Talking Booth’, ‘Halal Kitchen’ and ‘British Muslim Teen Vision’.

British Muslim TV is expected to launch on Sky channel 830.

Sheffield Pupils Are Top Of Class In UK A small inner-city Sheffield pri- pils were making two levels of time at Lowfield. And in the mary school has won two top progress or above during their tests themselves the multicultural school is comfortably awards for its excellent work outstripping national averwith pupils. Lowfield Commuages. In reading and maths, nity Primary is in the top na94 per cent of pupils made tional one per cent of schools the grade, in spelling and for the rate of progress being grammar the figure was 91 made by its oldest youngsters. per cent, and in writing the A second accolade has come pass rate was 88 per cent. for the school’s success with The school has been disadvantaged children, who praised for its work with are doing so well that Lowfield children eligible for the Puranks in the top 20 per cent in pil Premium – extra funding England. for disadvantaged youngA detailed assessment of last sters. year’s SATs results by 11-yearolds, found 97 per cent pu-

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videos on PTV, but later faced humiliation in the face of growing demand began to regularly broadcast her pop video’s.

To this end, this voice was responsible for engendering an environment of change, breath of fresh air, mastering a mandate for melodic tunes. The occupier of this voice will always be crowned as the rightful pioneer of pop culture in Pakistan, raising the spirits of the country. Empowering men, women, youth and strengthening the voice of the marginalised members of society.

Nazia Hassan , the undisputed queen of Asian Pop was the rightful owner of that unequivocal voice. A singer who as a pop duet with her brother Zoheb Hassan became a phenomena, with their album charting in 14 countries and becoming the bestselling Asian pop record of that time. Nazia’s voice stole the heart of masses.

enced a very short yet constructive and memorable life. Leaving behind a legacy that will continuously remain a testimony to her mission of caring beyond boundaries.

The pop princess was a cham-

pion in civic duties, a responsibility wholeheartedly and religiously pursued by her eloquent mother Mrs Muniza Baseer, through the widely acknowledged charity Nazia Hassan Foundation Trust.

On Thursday 15th May 2014, at Cadogan Hall, Chelsea Richmond, the American International University in London, hosted its Graduation Ceremony. The ceremony conferred upon the graduating class of 2014 the Bachelor of Arts and the Master of Arts degrees.

During the ceremony honorary degrees were conferred on Ms Nazia Hassan (posthumous) by The Chancellor, Sir Cyril Taylor.

Ms Nazia Hassan was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters Honoris Causa, posthumously. The award was collected by her son, Mr Arez Hassan. Commenting on the award the respective University stated “ She was an alumna of Richmond, recognised for her influence, at an astonishingly young age, on Asian pop music.

Ms Hassan also donated much of her energy and earnings to a number of charities including the Inner Wheel Club and BAN (Battle Against Narcotics). The

Nazia Hassan Foundation was established by her family after her tragic passing in 2000. By awarding the honorary degree Richmond recognises her work and the continued influence of the charity that carries her name”. ‘ The award was a clear endorsement of a unique soul that was not only a pop sovereign adored by millions, but was also an acknowledgement of an exceptional mother, an inimitable daughter, a matchless sister and a philanthropic soul. A beacon shedding light on the lives of so many underprivileged. The latter point perhaps being best illustrated by the fact that she donated her entire proceeds to charitable causes.

Page: 19 Page 17

Oak Tree High School - Sheffield

Education is the key to moving our community forward socially, economically and spiritually. Recognising the desperate need in Sheffield for a school delivering high quality education whilst maintaining Islamic values, Oak Tree High School was established in 2011. Oak Tree High School is a girls’ secondary school focussing on secular education but within an Islamic environment.

In 2012 Oak Tree had its first Ofsted inspection and obtained “Good” with “Outstanding” features.

We currently have 72 children and with the current number of applications, this is expected to rise to 100 in 2014-2015.

Our Vision: We believe passionately in the importance of a good education for our future generations and want to create the next generation of brilliant minds. We believe a good education is not just about achieving excellence in academics but also achieving excellence in character.

We believe in a holistic approach to education in which moral and spiritual growth is just as important as academic growth. To achieve this we will do our very best to make sure students at Oak Tree High School achieve their maximum potential.

We are continuously encouraged by Allah in the Quran to reflect, think deeply, and think critically about the things around us. Similarly we want all our students to reflect and think deeply about

the things they study with an inquisitive mind.

Our aims and objective: • To provide the highest standard of teaching in preparation for the first batch of GSCE examinations to be held in 2015 • To attain a 80% pass rate for the core subjects with A or A* attainment • To continually improve the working environment and develop the School as a leading provider of both national curriculum and Islamic character.

• preparing our students to positively participate in society • To make provisions for post 16 education and “A” level subjects We are always looking to expand our workforce and recruit experienced Teachers either on a full time basis or Job Share to join our excellent team of staff. If you have energy and a passion for teaching then we would like to hear from you.

We are especially interested in individuals with leadership qualities.

We would ideally like to talk to individuals who have the following expertise, skills and qualifications: • Degree in a Scientific field, Mathematics, English, Arabic, Geography, Art, I.T, or P.E • Have an excellent understanding of their subject area • Have experience in teaching their subject area at KS3 and/or KS4 • Be a hardworking team player • Be highly organised, efficient and effective at meeting deadlines

• Show a strong commitment to the ethos of Oak Tree High School We are also interested in talking to individuals who are seeking work experience in an administration capacity or within a class room situation.

If you would like to join our team please forward your CV via email, or if you require additional information email: recruitment@oaktreehs.org Interested in sending your child/children to Oak Tree High School?

If you are interested in sending your child/children to Oak Tree High School please email: enquiries@oaktreehs.org or alternatively contact us on 07943422916.

Abdul Sattar Edhi; Uneducated Yet Enlightened “I do not have any formal education… what use is education when we do not become human beings [after being educated]? My school is the welfare of humanity.” Abdul Sattar Edhi.

These are the words from a lecture on “Emergency Management during disasters” delivered by Abdul Sattar Edhi, at the Aga Khan University. Abdul Sattar Edhi is a great philanthropist, who started off as a street hawker selling pencils and match boxes and now runs Edhi Welfare Trust – Pakistan’s largest welfare foundation.

This welfare trust is a model that represents a clear vision for a welfare state that Abdul Sattar Edhi hopes one day will be adopted by the Third World.

His love for humanity, and principle centered approach are the ingredients that have led to the success of Edhi Welfare Trust.

Edhi does not hold any formal degree, yet he sounds enlightened and utters words of wisdom. A true saint at his core, he seeks inspiration from his mother who also was not educated. Her advice to him when he was a small boy was: “Empty words and long praises do not impress God. Show Him your faith by your deeds.”

And this is what Abdul Sattar Edhi has been doing.

His deeds are an expression of his faith, of his love for humans, and in turn his love for The Divine Being.

His enlightenment can be seen in his views regarding various aspects of religion and general human behaviour. In his autobiography, “Abdul Sattar Edhi – A Mirror To The Blind”, while describing his trip to Madinah, he narrates: “Here again they (the devotees at the grave of Prophet Muhammad s.m) pushed and shoved each other…they preferred to remain ignorant de-

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spite the Islamic demand of ilm, the knowledge of life, they came empty and left with nothing.”

At the time of the stoning of the Satan, one of the rituals of the pilgrimage (Hajj), Edhi recollects: “We halted at Mashar, collected our pebbles and departed for Mina where the ritual of stoning Satan is ordered. I refrained from symbolically throwing stones at Satan and gave some pebbles to a travelling companion to throw on my behalf, keeping a few with myself. Stoning of selfish desires is the demand. I stone mine all the time. I will throw stones in Pakistan where there are many satans.”

During Hajj, while Edhi was distributing medicines from his ambulance, his wife said to him: “Standing here before the house of God, you have an opportunity to be with Him, but you are still involved with your dispensary. Why don’t you pray all the time?”

To which he replied: “I am praying.”

He goes on to explain in his autobiography, “More than ever before, I was praying now.

Working for Him with the labour of mind and body. By submitting to His demand of practical devotion, I was becoming worthy of having been created…Public service is the only meaningful way to pray and the most perfect interpretation of Quran.”

Such wisdom coming from a person who did not formally attend school makes us wonder if education is as important as enlightenment. Formal edu-

cation can only improve and further grow an enlightened heart. But enlightenment is something that is kindled in only very few, who sell their soul for seeking Divine Pleasure.

Abdul Sattar Edhi has been a source of inspiration.

Edhi is not just a man of words, but he has proven himself by his devotion, simplicity and his philanthropy. If only we could follow his example and bring about a personal revolution, would we see

a wave of positive change. As Edhi mentions in his autobiography: “Chasing after desires creates inner turmoil. When the devil becomes guide, dacoits and gangsters are manufactured. He makes men fight against their souls to survive expensive items and most lose everything in the face of his strength. The internal enemy can only be overcome by a personal revolution.”

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PROPERTY CORNER

THE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING BUBBLE Mohammed Mahroof BSc (Hons) MRICS Consultant Mark Jenkinson & Son mainland Europe. People are much happier renting, therefore, house prices are much more affordable. Just watch some of the programmes on television about buying on the continent .Just as an example, I was once at a national auction where there were a number of properties based somewhere near the Polish/German border: substantial properties, detached, in their own grounds. There were a number of people looking at them in the brochure amazed at their guide price of £20k, if I recollect correctly. In the same auction there were some public conveniences based in this country at a similar guide price. Guess which were sold – yes, I have been a Chartered Surveyor for nearly thirty the public conveniences. years, having seen at least three recessions and subsequent recoveries. In the late 1980s, house I believe we as a nation contribute strongly to risprices were around the £40/£50k mark for a a ing prices. Clearly when we hear in the media that average three bedroomed semi in the south west house prices are rising, our anxiety levels increase of Sheffield. It would have been similar in other and if we do not already own a home we will try parts of the country. These properties are now and buy. With mortgages being fairly easy to seselling for around £200k. The point I would make cure in the 'noughties' and lenders prepared to is that house prices have been rising for a number lend at many times your income, the fuel for risof years, that housing is a long term investment (if ing prices was lit. I can recall it was more about you could call it that) and will no doubt continue securing a property than even the price. Houses were selling in a matter of days at over the asking to be so. price, with gazumping being a normal factor of the The question is, why are they rising? The answer is market. This scenario is beginning to creep back, complex and has as much to do with supply as the in particular, around the anxiety levels. Fortuhistoric passion of people in this country for own- nately with mortgages being a little more difficult ing their own property. Taking the latter scenario, to secure we may not see the 'noughties' being it is a well known fact that we as a nation are keen repeated. to buy our own home. It is a goal for many people which goes back in history and is a subject that we Let's now turn our attention to supply. The simtalk about as much as the weather. The passion for ple economic norm of supply and demand is very owning your own home does not exist as much in much at play. What is needed is housebuilding. It is not occurring at the rate that demand dictates.

Just look around your town and city and I am sure you would agree housebuilding is very slow. I have noticed that small builders would like to return to the market. The land is there but the ways of financing have been a challenge hence the lethargic nature of building. Many small sites that come to the market place have struggled to find a developer, in particular around what are perceived to be low value areas. So it is clear if the demand is there and no additional supply then prices for the existing stock will rise.

I am sure if you have any passing interest in the residential property market, it will not have escaped your attention that the media, whether it is print or television, has been giving a great deal of coverage to the debate that we are seeing an increase in house prices. The reality is that, yes, there has been a increase in activity in the market place and many residential survey departments have seen a substantial increase in requests for surveys. The question is whether this activity is seasonal or a real sign that we are witnessing rising prices.

Conversely, in some of the higher value areas you can see housebuilding but a lack of land supply means not enough new housing is being built, which in turn means that the price of existing

housing stock increases. The bottom line is that supply and demand is one of the key reasons for the bubble that seems to be developing in the housing market.

When one turns to the London market, this has to be considered in the context of a world market.

The buyers come from overseas as well as local people. The prices in the capital are so high that the average householder would not be in any position to compete. In turn the rental market is the only alternative that is available but even then the market is so high that rents are unaffordable. The only alternative is the statutory sector, a council house or a housing association property, which are also short in supply. There is a clear problem developing in London and the South. Clearly this is creeping north.

What needs to happen? There have been a number of possible solutions put across. Help to Buy, is an initiative which has helped people buy properties and in some areas encouraged developers to build new homes. The detractors argue this has added to the housing price bubble. Whatever the view one has it has certainly added to the debate around housing.

Another possible argument which has been put forward is that the Green Belt should be relaxed thereby releasing new land for housing. Local Authorities are looking at possible solutions to releasing more land for housing and have been encouraged to find a five year supply. This could be brownfield sites or the more controversial thought of releasing some of the Green Belt. There are many people who would object to this as it would be a encroachment on the environment. On the reverse side the argument is that nearly 90% of the land in this country is not developed. The thought of encroaching the Green Belt, however, would be a difficult and unlikely short term fix as this would require a great deal of debate and compromise.

on the waiting lists. Or alternatively, encourage private developers to build more houses to rent.

Clearly as house prices rise the rental sector will become the first choice for many people. There has been a lot of talk of the market place looking to accommodate this need. We may be looking at a substantial change in the market with the advent of a major rental sector as is the case in many European countries. Arguably this sector could be the future first choice for many people.

Other possible initiatives include releasing more public land specifically for housing. Further, shared ownership schemes where you buy a percentage of the property and rent the rest, with the option of buying further until you have purchased the whole property. There are many ways of looking at the housing challenge but one overwhelming fact is that unless supply meets demand we will continue to see the market phenomenon that we are witnessing.

The challenge we face is the question, is housing an investment or should we consider it a basic need? If we follow the latter thought then we should be looking at adding to the housing stock Another possible solution could be to look at en- as a necessity rather than a economic consideracouraging a new housebuilding initiative: a social tion. It is imperative that we find a middle ground. housing programme aimed at the rental sector.

There are many people who argue that a new If you want to contact me I am a consultant at Council house building initiative would and is Mark Jenkinson and Son, 0114 2760151/0787 needed to accommodate the rising numbers of 9015095, and will be more than happy to advise people on the various statutory waiting lists. The on any property issues you may have. Please feel problem is much more evident in the larger cities free to contact me or through ILM, and do keep and London, where there are substantial numbers requesting topics you want me to write about.

UNCONTROLLED UNSKILLED IMMIGRATION IS BAD NEWS FOR ALL INCLUDING THE IMMIGRANTS Jaan Muhummed Khan are the subservient illegitimate children of the national discourse. That is to say that they tow the party line, and drag out the usual red herrings and ambiguous speak. Their concerns are more with maintaining their own positions than they are with UKIPs recent success in the European and local the actual concerns of residents. That is why you elections was inevitable when you look at the will find the gradual descent of areas like Page Hall bloody minded attitudes displayed by the three into the abyss. main parties towards the issue of immigration.

Why can’t and why shouldn’t decent lawful citi- It would seen that words like xenophobia and raczens of this country express their legitimate con- ism, banded about with casual regard from the cerns regarding the mass influx of unskilled labour lips of most Lib Dem and Labour politicians, would from European countries such as Slovakia and Ro- not have come to pass in the recent election remania. More importantly why have the elected sults. That is to say unless you think (and no right politicians not acted on the visible signs of public minded persons would) that all the thousands discontent and the degradation of communities of electorate who voted for UKIP are racist? The and neighbourhoods, which have resulted in the children of successive waves of immigration, who recent disturbances in areas such as Page Hall. have all contributed to the development of this Well I will tell you why, because local politicians country and have established roots here with suc-

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cessive generations, are now expressing collective anxieties about the wave of unskilled labour that are destroying the fabric of existing multi-cultural communities.

The argument has never been against unskilled immigration, if that were so then many sectors of British life would seize to function including the holiest grail of all the NHS. Badly integrated Europe, with new poor former soviet bloc countries who should never be allowed to join, coming in and ultimately enabling the off loading of their unskilled labour burden, can never be an incentive for further integration and ties.

The British people who are of many faiths and colours and descendents, need to have legitimacy in their aspirations to bring about a better society, through hard work, making a contribution to their communities and Country, before they take anything back out.

These communities which have developed over time and in some cases already have their fare share of existing problems are themselves being hit the hardest. The quality of housing in these areas is an obvious example, with overcrowding, anti-social behaviour and deterioration in the quality of Landlords properties, for which they the Landlords will ultimately have to pay for. Street corners with groups of ten to 15 men standing around all hours of the day and night inevitable has a profound effect on the indigenous communities who live in these areas, with mothers push- By ing their prams and young girls especially wary of Jaan. M. Khan jmkstan@gmail.com these groups.

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Q & A - PROPERTY INFORMATION

Mohammed Nazir

Partner , Head of Property & Immigration Wosskow Brown Solicitors LLP Email: nazir@wosskowbrown.co.uk 1) What is the difference between Legal home movers on new-build homes with a purchase You will apply for a mortgage from an approved lender and you will get a mortgage of up to 95% of price up to £600,000.

Costs and Disbursements? the purchase price if the lender is satisfied that you Legal Costs are fees charged by your solicitors in le- You will need at least a 5% deposit of the purchase meet all of the criteria. price and the government will give you a loan of up gal matters.

What is the difference between a Search Disbursements are expenses incurred throughout to 20% of the purchase price. There will be a fee 4) the transaction. For example, disbursements could chargeable on the loan from the sixth year onwards. and a Survey? be incurred through the conduct of searches, the However this fee does not contribute towards the A Search is an investigation which is conducted by the solicitor. Investigations are conducted via the Lopayment of SDLT (Stamp Duty Land Tax) and any repayment of the loan. other information/documents which are requested You will not be able to sub-let your home if you use cal Authority, Water & Drainage Authority and the Environmental Agency & Coal Authority. from a third party. In litigation, it could be barrister’s this scheme. It must also be your only property.

A Survey is a detailed report about fees. the structure and the condition of the •Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantees property. Any issues which arise from 2) What are the implications of Stamp Duty This scheme is available on both existing and new- the survey will be raised to you by the Land Tax? build homes. You will be required to pay a deposit of surveyor. There are different types of SDLT is a tax payable when you purchase a property at least 5% of the purchase price and the lender will surveys, you can arrange before the exchange of the contracts. There are and/or you take a lease of a property. This tax may provide a mortgage of up to 95%. be incurred whether the property or land is being You will not take out a government loan nor will a various kinds of surveys such as Home buyer, Structural survey etc. Banks arfee be chargeable unlike the Equity Loan. bought or leased. range their own surveys for the lending For example, SDLT would be charged at 1% where purposes and these are not for the buythe value of the property purchased is £150,000. •Shared Ownership Scheme ers. Buyers can not rely upon the Bank’s Survey for The total SDLT payable in this example would be Shared ownership schemes are provided through the buying purposes as the surveyors do not owe a £1,500. housing associations. You buy a share of your home duty of care to the buyer 3) If I am a First-Time Buyer will I be able to (between 25% and 75% of the home’s value) and you will then pay rent on the remaining share. get help from the Government?

Yes, there are various schemes available to help Shared ownership properties are always leasehold Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. Please First-Time Buyers. Some of these schemes are ex- properties. seek independent advice before you proceed on any plained briefly below:matter. Alternatively, should you have any questions •New Buy Scheme relating to property matters please contact us on •Help to Buy: Equity Loans New Buy Schemes apply to newly built homes. You nazir@wosskowbrown.co.uk.

Equity Loans are open to both first-time buyers and will only need a 5% deposit of the purchase price.

The Non-Acheivements Of Nawaz Sharif

I Shah iftikhar.shah007@hotmail.co.uk

To many people, Nawaz Sharif’s visit to India for the inauguration of Narendra Modi seemed positive and constructive. But I found it false and cowardly that he didn’t mention Kashmir.

It should have been a great opportunity for a breakthrough in the stubborn stand that the two sides have taken from the time the two countries parted company in August 1947. I think there was more optimism in earlier meetings between the prime ministers on both sides.

Nothing concrete has come out because the establishments in India and Pakistan are basically hostile to each other.

The passage of time has not lessened the influence of either.

The gesture by the Indians to invite Sharif was a noble one and for Sharif to accept after much discussions behind closed doors was a bold one.

But I would have liked to see a more deeper purpose. What kind of weak leader are we encouraging?

I am also annoyed to see how Sharif avoids parliament. Just who is he representing when he is never present in parliament to answer questions? There is so much insistence on Imran Khan to come to parliament to ask questions, but to whom

should he ask when the main man is not even there. No wonder political parties have taken to the streets to share their problems when the PM plays a game of avoidance. Just now and then, Sharif makes an act of how progressive the country is becoming by laying a foundation stone or two for some big scheme which never takes shape. I am sure that many more people can see through this smokescreen at the weak show the Prime Minister of Pakistan is putting on.

Safeer TV June launch on Sky A new high quality Pakistani entertainment/Islamic channel is set to launch on Sky Digital in June.

Safeer TV, which launches on Monday 16th June, will broadcast a range of shows from comedies to hard hitting investigative documentaries, children’s cartoons, films, drama, news, social programmes and religious shows. The channel will also have live feeds from all Islamic holy cities including Karbala,

Najaf, Kadhmain and Mashad.

Safeer TV is a permanent channel which aims to deliver a true and contemporary reflection of Islam. Safeer TV is different to other faith based channels because it will cater for every age group by producing and broadcasting high quality programmes in the English language. Safeers vision is to unite Muslims alongside other religious believers from around the world and create a central hub

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providing knowledge alongside entertainment.

Safeer TV already broadcasts in North America, Africa and the Middle East.

Geo Tv Prints Front-Page Apology To Pakistan Army The owners of Geo TV have printed a front-page apology to Pakistan’s army, ISI spy chief after allegations broadcast by Geo TV that they had plotted to assassinate one of the channel’s star journalists.

The apology in English was printed on the front page of The News and in Urdu in the group’s Daily Jang newspaper. It said its coverage of a gun attack in Karachi that seriously injured journalist Hamid Mir in April had been “excessive, distressful and emotional”. Geo Network apologised to the ISI chief and his family. It also insisted that it has “the greatest regard and respect for the armed forces of Pakistan and its leadership”.

Insiders believe that the military establishment will not be satisfied with the apology alone. Calls have been made to close down the network over the furore.

Media regulator in Pakistan, PEMRA will further decide on the army’s complaint against Geo Network

UK Asian TV Awards to take place in October The first ever UK Asian TV Awards are set to take place in October. The annual ceremony, which will be known as the Asian Viewers’ Television Awards (AVTA) is the brainchild of Rajan Singh.

AVTA winners be fully determined via a shortlist of individuals nominated by viewers through a network of fan based forums and

prominent media personnel.

The winners will be announced at a glittering black-tie event at a Central London venue. AVTA will be attended by renowned media personalities, plus popular Indian sub-continent soap stars. The event will also be used to raise money for charitable organisations and profile their work locally, nationally and internationally.

The award categories include Best Entertainment Channel, Best Music Channel, Best News Channel, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actors and Lifetime Achievement Award, amongst others.

Sponsorship is currently being taken for the categories and event in general via Singh’s Digi Media Global company.

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IGNITING THE LOVE FOR URDU LANGUAGE Bearing this in mind, we came across a “Language is the blood of the soul unchanged. into which thoughts run and out A major problem that the overseas Pa- few interesting apps on Smartphone’s of which they grow.”‒Oliver Wen- kistanis face is the issue of passing on which introduce the Urdu language to dell Holmes

Language is not just a method of communication; it is a means of bonding which brings one closer to the culture to which that language belongs.

Pakistan is rich in its cultural heritage as there are many regional languages spoken here. But Urdu, the national language, unites us as a nation. There are 450 million Urdu speakers worldwide.

Living abroad, the sound of Urdu is nothing less than music to ears. It takes you back home for a while, brings back those fond memories that you left behind and reignites your love for your homeland.

Whichever passport you have, whichever clothes you wear, deep down within your roots remain

their cultural values to the next generation. Teaching Urdu to their children is the first step towards keeping the cultural heritage alive. We are losing the grip of our rich culture, and more generally Pakistanis living abroad are losing their values. To be very precise they are losing the love of their language.

Pakistani children living abroad, and to all those who love Urdu in general.

The software’s familiarize children with the alphabet, nursery rhymes, puzzles and Urdu writer apps. A good group of apps to look at are the ones created by Qurtuba. This has an advanced Urdu keyboard which is very easy to use. You can learn more about these apps at http://www. qurtaba.net/urdu/ These apps will boost the learning capability of children. It is a great step towards spreading the love for Urdu and making the language easier to teach to the young generation.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” -

Are we a nation of racists?

A new study reveals that 30% of Brits admit to harbouring some level of racial prejudice, leaving the lows of the early noughties behind.

New survey data shows that 30% of Brits describe themselves as either “very” or “a little” prejudiced against people of other races. This figure marks a return to previous levels seen before an all-time low in 2001 of 25%, suggesting little headway in tackling racial prejudice over the last 10 years.

The survey finds variation by region, age and education level: The area least likely to self-describe as racially prejudiced are Inner London (16%) and the area most likely, the West Midlands (35%);Levels of racial prejudice also rise with age: 25% of 17-34 year olds, in comparison to 36% of over-55s;

Police bid to trace men over unsolved murder of Pakistani politician Dr Imran Farooq

Nelson Mandela.

Coca Cola’s Anti-Obesity Drive Faces Criticism Coca Cola has launched 20 million pounds Anti-Obesity Drive in England, offering free sports lessons and sittings. The campaign has however received criticism from health activists.

'Coca- Cola Zero Parklives' is the campaign launched by the soft drink giant to address the serious issue of rising obesity in England.

The campaign offers to coach diverse sports to families across 70 parks in UK. But the critics are calling the strategy obscene as according to them the company is just using the campaign to divert attention from its major contribution to health problems.

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey stated in a report earlier this month that children and teenagers aged between four and 18 are consuming an estimated 40 percent of more sugar than what is suggested.

Mentioning cautions from Public Health England, critics said that soft drinks and fruit juices containing sug-

ar have been the reason of extensive obesity among the populace, affecting badly the young ones.

According to the research, Coca-Cola contains nine teaspoons of sugar per can that are the main culprits- contributing as much as 30% - to the sugar consumption among those aged between 11 and 18.

The company defended itself by claiming to address the problem in the UK in the best possible manner. The soft drink giant opposes by stating that 40 percent of its sales recently have come from its "zero-calorie" drink varieties.

The campaign aims to encourage people to involve more in sports. It is providing a chance to children, teens and even parents to enjoy fun and healthy physical activities. However, the company stressed that under its marketing code, the project

will not be promoted to those less than 12 years of age, though it will be for those who wish to join in provided they are accompanied by their parents or guardian.

Coca Cola say that the company should not be blamed solely for the present problem of rising obesity levels in UK.

Children’s Festival Ready To Swing Into Action Sheffield’s children and young people have a bumper summer of fun to look forward to when the Sheffield’s Children’s Festival opens this month. Running from Saturday 7 June to Sunday 6 July, the festival is bigger and more exciting than ever before, jam packed with fun, creative and educational things to do for all ages.

Sheffield Children’s Festival is the largest festival of its kind in the UK giving children across the city a chance to show off their creative talents and engage in the arts. It’s now in its 22nd year, and in that time it’s estimated that well over a quarter of a million children, young people and families have taken part in the festival.

It is the city’s showcase for the tremendous creativity amongst children and young people in Sheffield. There’s over a month of events and activities to enjoy, everything from theatre tasters, story-telling, picnics, dancing and sculpture. The festival is also a great opportunity for families, parents and carers to have a great time too. It’s all about getting involved in the arts – whether that’s making things, seeing your work exhibited or performing on stage in shows, musicals and plays.

Copies of the festival programme are available from the Winter Garden, the Central Library, the Tourist Information Office, the Town Hall and Sheffield Theatres. The programme is also

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available online at: www.sheffieldchildrensfestival.org The festival kicks off with Garden Up, a two day gardening spectacular in the Botanical Gardens including show gardens, floral and bonsai displays, artists, sculptors and crafters doing demonstrations and selling their works as well as a plant clinic by the RHS. Mini gardens created by children from across the city will be on show in the glass pavilions.

There’s also a large selection of family activities this year – from art and craft, to animation, music and the art of video games – so everyone in the family can join in.

Education had an impact, too: 19% of those with a degree and 38% of those with no qualifications reported racial prejudice.

Just over 9 in 10 of those who admit to some level of racial prejudice would also like to see a reduction in the current level of immigration, in comparison to around 7 in 10 who say that they’re not prejudiced at all.

Levels of racial prejudice declined steadily throughout the nineties, but have been on the rise again during the first decade of this century. This bucks the trend of a more socially liberal and tolerant Britain. Our local and national leaders need to understand and respond to increased levels of racial prejudice if we are to build strong local communities.

These are the faces of two men wanted in connection with the suspected assassination of a Pakistani politician in London. Scotland Yard named the two men and issued their photographs in connection with the unsolved murder of Dr Imran Farooq, 50, a leading member of Pakistan's MQM party.

Dr Farooq, 50, a father of two, was attacked outside his home in Edgware in September, 2010 in what detectives believe was a carefully organised plot.

He was stabbed repeatedly and battered over the head with a house brick.

One theory is he was targeted by rivals after claims that he was planning to leave the MQM party and set up a rival political force in London.

Police named the men as Moshin Ali Syed, 29, and Muhammad Kashif Khan Kamran, 34, both Pakistani nationals who both left Britain on the night

of the murder. Detectives say the men lived in Stranmore before the killing and registered to study at a college in East London after entering the UK on student visas.

Syed had been in London for around seven months but Kamran had only arrived in the UK a few weeks before Dr Farooq was attacked outside his home in Green Lane.

Detectives say they have built up a “significant picture” of the men's movements, both in Pakistan and London, but are seeking more information from the public.

Dr Farooq was one of the founder members and a significant player in the MQM party which has a power base in north London. His death sparked days or rioting in Karachi.

Detectives from Scotland Yard’s Counter Terrorism Command, which investigates political assassinations, reassured people that any information would be dealt with sensitively.

A man aged 52 was arrested in June last year on suspicion of conspiracy to murder after landing at Heathrow on a flight from Canada. Her remains on police bail.

European Elections: UKIP Top Poll In Yorkshire And Humber And Take Three Seats Edward McMillan-Scott lost his seat in the European Parliament election for Yorkshire and Humber as UKIP topped the poll.

The Liberal Democrat was ousted as six MEPs were announced for the region.

Linda McAvan (Labour) retained her seat, while Richard Corbett

made up a second seat for Labour. The UK Independence Party claimed three of the six seats, through Jane Collins, Amjad Bashir and Mike

Hookem. Tim Kirkhope (Conservative) also retained his seat.

UKIP topped the poll in Yorkshire and Humber with 403,630 votes, beating Labour into second place on 380,189.

The Conservatives finished third with 248,945, the Greens polled 102,282 and Liberal Democrats 80,182.

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