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BRITISH ASIAN NEWSPAPER

ISSUE 4

JAN - FEB 2013

Eastern Insider Packed With News, Sports And Features

ONLINE CHILD ABUSE ALERT SYSTEMS FOR HOSPITALS IN THE UK

Children who are in danger of neglect and abuse will now be monitored by an online alert system which will be developed in hospitals across the UK. The new online system is a form of the Child Protection Information System which will be introduced this year.

Health ministers developed a format to create the alert system which will put doctors and nurses on alert throughout UK hospitals to identify children who have already been to emergency departments in

the past.

The process involves doctors and nurses checking the NHS system as soon as a child arrives into the accident and emergency department which will further result in assessments whether if the child is under risk.

According to sources, health minister Dan Poulter stated that it will now be easier for this new system to track children who are at risk as it has been difficult for the healthcare professionals in the past

to identify whether if children have previously been into emergency departments. He further stated that this would be a much quicker process to identify the children.

Further sources by the Department of Health reveal statements by Dr Amanda Thomas, Officer for Child Protection at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, where she stated, “The Report of the Children and Young People’s Health Outcomes Forum highlighted that profession-

als working in different care settings need to communicate better with one another on child protection issues, and highlighted the proposed Child Protection – Information System solution as an encouraging move towards ensuring that clinical professionals have immediate access to important child protection information.

“This solution is a positive step and an important part of the overall solution. The college has been involved

from an early stage and will continue to work with the Department of Health to ensure it is introduced effectively, integrates well with the working practices of NHS staff and makes a genuine contribution to improving child protection practice.”

The £9m alert system is due to start earlier this year which will be fully effective during 2015.

By Renu Rai

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Local Insider

People Gather At Birmingham’s First Die-in for Palestine

M6 Crash Victims Buried

Our Spices are Ground in the UK for Purity & Freshness… *

Adnan Habib, 10, Mohammed Arsalan Habib, 4 died on the Christmas Day crash on the M6

On November 22nd Birmingham City Centre saw its first ‘Die-In’, where in the blistering cold and pouring rain people gathered outside the BBC offices in the Mailbox to protest and condemn what they believed had been biased and unfair coverage of the recent outbreak of violence between Israel and Palestine.

The protest, which was organised by the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign, saw people of all races, faiths and backgrounds come together in solidarity to demonstrate against the horrors of what occurred during the weeks leading up to the ceasefire which had been brokered by Egypt on the same day. The aptly named ‘Die-In’ saw protesters gather around outside the Mailbox as they went around with buckets collecting charity for people affected in the West Bank where most of the damage was caused, with others holding signs hoping to make passers-by more aware of the kind of damage that had been caused by the conflict.

The main purpose of the Die-in was to simulate the scenes of the massacre that had taken place in Gaza since Israel began operation ‘Pillar of Cloud’.

After which they presented the BBC with a letter from the people which demonstrated the views of people who had been upset by their reporting of the conflict. Throughout the affair, chants were bellowed in the rain and supporters read the names of the civilians killed during the outburst of violence.

Naeem Malik, Chair of the WM PSC, was present at the event

and was vocal about his own feelings towards the way the BBC had covered the fighting in Gaza. “I was shocked and angry at how Jeremy Bowen on the BBC News minimised the carnage by suggesting that Gaza has a culture of martyrdom. It reflects the stereotype that Israel wants to portray. It is racism in the extreme.”

Though the protest itself went along peacefully, with some even bringing their families, it was obvious that the BBC and Birmingham City Council didn’t expect it to be. Liaison officers and police were appointed to overlook the protest and keep order, though it was evident that they didn’t have much to do and instead came across as imposing.

Speaking with various people who either were passing by the event or had come to join off the street, many seemed to believe that perhaps something criminal was going on due to the amount of police cars and personal. The BBC executives themselves seemed flippant of the whole affair coming out simply to get the letter and then leaving, not willing to address the crowd who had been waiting for them in the downpour.

The Die-in was not the only event in Birmingham this past month that related to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Following on from the protest a number of different organisations and charities held fundraisers and rallies in an attempt to raise sympathy and awareness for the people suffering and those civilians who were lost. Some of the country’s leading organisations such as Islamic Relief and NUS were amongst those

who supported events within the Birmingham area.

One such event in particular was a rally that was held at the University of Birmingham, where students and non-students alike gathered to voice their own views and raise awareness.

The rally was countered however with a separate rally led by students of the university’s Jewish Society, (JSOC), who themselves were disappointed and upset having felt that the student guild, a body that is meant to represent and protect the views and interests of all students, had not done its job. Speaking to both sides however there were clearly conflicting stories, and both seemed adamant that theirs was the correct version.

The rallies on both sides then devolved into a shouting match, with a few members from both sides attempting to either provoke the other, or simply deciding that the views of those opposing them had to have been misinformed or blatantly biased. Daniel Bratt, one of the protesters in attendance on behalf of the JSOC, called it “a sad day for the university” in regards to the way that he felt the atmosphere was encouraging “uncomfortable feelings” amongst his fellow students.

On the other side Bilal Hussain, associated with the university’s Pakistani Society, (PAKSOC), shared his sentiments in a letter in which he expressed his views that it is not only due to the actions of Israel, but also the daily suffering of the Palestinian people that “cause(s) students in their hundreds to attend such rallies and protests.”

Also whilst many wanted to speak I found it difficult to get

people to go on record with their views, perhaps out of fear of misunderstanding or them feeling as though I may misrepresent their views. However it seems as though the rally was perhaps the best microcosm of the conflict itself, with both sides being unable to agree on facts and unwilling to accept any blame for the resulting mess, which in this case led only to tears and frustration as opposed to the death of civilians.

One thing that has come out of the conflict and its resulting impact on the UK, is the fact that as of the time I am writing this article Palestine is now a recognised state by the UN and can perhaps lead itself to a peaceful solution with the Israeli government whilst utilising the services and help of the overwhelming majority of countries that approved their status.

Britain however abstained when casting its vote.

Overall it seems unlikely that these will be the last protests in the country, or even in Birmingham, but what is clear is that more and more people seem to be vocally calling for a solution, and for the country itself to address their role in what continues to be a tense situation that has taken and changed the lives of many in the West Bank and Israel, whilst effecting the opinions and views of people all over the world.

By: Kamran Sadiq

Two boys and a woman who died in a fatal crash on the M6 have been buried. The bodies of Adnan Habib, 10, Mohammed Arsalan Habib, 4 and their aunt Bushra Tazarib, 32, were taken to the community mosque where funeral prayers were held.

All three were travelling to a family wedding in Manchester on Christmas Day alongside the boys’ mother Parveen, 38, who survived the crash and was the one driving. Over 2,000 people attended the funeral with many more spilling onto the streets.

Those amongst the funeral procession was boxer Amir Khan who was also at the wedding which the group was headed to. Khan had earlier described how the wedding turned from “being joyous to despair as the news of the accident spread.” A private burial was held for the

two boys, described by their family a “precious jewels”; while Bushra Tazarib’s body was flown to Pakistan to be buried.

The accident happened between junction 14 and 15 close to Stoke on Trent. Parveen and another passenger believed to be her daughter and the boys’ sister, Misbah, 17 were both treated in hospital and have since been released. Staffordshire Police has called for witnesses to come forward and contact them about any information concerning a red Ford Focus. Ch. Inspector David Bird said, “We will be doing reconstruction work and a thorough examination of the vehicles and the scene itself and hopefully that will provide a clue as to what happened and what the cause was.”

New Secondary School Qualification is “Unrealistic” Exam watchdog, Ofqual, has said the Coalition’s plan to scrap GCSE’s and replace them with the new English Baccalaureate is “unrealistic” and “they may not be able to fulfil all the purposes of the Coalition.”

Education Secretary, Michael Gove had revealed that the exam regulator has written a letter to him in which they professed doubts and reservations about the changes; however Mr Gove refused to go into detail about what the letter said.

Immediately after, Ofqual published the letter on its website stating “the EBC’s may exceed what is realistically achievable through a single assessment.” She also explained that

the EBC would not be able to give accurate data on school performances during exams along with “maintaining the same standards” as that of the GCSE’s.

Ofqual’s Chief Executive, Glenys Stacey wrote, “Our advice is that there are no precedents that show a single assessment could successfully fulfil all of those purposes.” On the issue of planning to use just one exam board for each qualification she wrote, “The system would lose a large amount of subject expertise, which would not only damage the quality of EBC’s but would also jeopardise the A-Level reforms.”

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ISSUE 4

Local Insider

Suspect laundered money found in dirty socks!

A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of money laundering after police discovered around £10,000 hidden in the boot of a car – and more notes stuffed inside his socks!

The bundle of cash was found in a concealed compartment of a Mini Cooper that jumped a red light and sped away from early morning police patrols in Digbeth before crashing in Alcester Street.

Officers arrested a 22-year-old man, from Ladywood, at the scene and, in addition to the money, also uncovered a baseball bat inside the car and a second set of number plates.

Detectives are currently questioning the man on suspicion of money laundering and

possessing an offensive weapon, whilst West Midlands Police’s specialist Economic Crime Unit has seized the cash pending an investigation.

Detective Sergeant Mick Byron from West Midlands Police Force CID, said: “We will seize any money suspected of being generated through criminality.

“In this case a large sum of cash has been found alongside several suspicious items – our financial investigators will delve into where that money’s come from and, if it’s believed to be ill gotten gains, we’ll look to permanently take the money through the Proceeds of Crime Act. “In addition to the money uncovered in the

boot officers also found more notes inside the man’s socks…it’s an unusual way of carrying your money around!”

The Mini was spotted in MacDonald Street at around 1.45am this morning (Feb 6) where it ran a red light.

Minutes later officers found the car, which had damaged a wheel after ramping up a kerb, abandoned in Alcester Street where the 22-year-old passenger was detained.

Inquiries are ongoing to trace the owner of the vehicle.

Courtesy: West Midland Police

Driving Licence Laws Changed

Drivers from Non-EU countries will have to retake their driving test

Driving licences laws in the UK are to be changed after a loophole was discovered in the current system. Motorists which have a non-EU licence will have to prove that they have passed a test in a selected country before being given a licence.

Currently, individuals from certain countries such as India, Pakistan, USA and China can not swap their foreign licences and will have to retake their test. If individuals are eligible for a swap then they have an opportunity to drive in the UK for up to one year before, by law, they would have to take the test.

The loophole was identified after the BBC secretly filmed rogue agents were illegally swapping licences on foreign nationals with Hong Kong licences, a country which the UK does accept licences from.

MP Stephen Hammond said, “ It is obvious to everyone that drivers who have not been through a rigorous driving test will not be as safe as those who have. This change in the law will mean we can be sure that any foreign drivers exchanging their licence here have already passed a test of a similar standard to ours.”

By Hifzha Shaheen

More Than 500 Jobs To Be Cut In Birmingham During 2013

2011 Census Shows Growth in UK Diversity The results of the United Kingdom Census of 2011, released by the Office of National Statistics, have shown that the UK has increased in multiculturalism from the last Census of 2001. Although not a surprise, the results show 7.5 million residents were born outside the UK with the most main places of birth outside the UK being India, Poland and Pakistan, a rise of 9% from 8.3% in 2001.

In terms of religion, Christianity was the only religion which had a decline in numbers with other major religions growing.

Islam was up by 2% from 3%, Hinduism was up by 0.4% from 1% and Sikhism had increased by 0.2% from 1%. There was also a major increase in the number of people that had said that they follow no religion with an increase in 11.5%. The Christian population, amongst England and Wales, was down 13%.

The biggest statistic of decline was that of London which became the first region to have a majority ethnic community. 45% said that they were White British which was down 58% from the previous census.

In terms of the Midlands, the region has truly made a change in the last 10 years, in multiculturalism mainly. The top 5 cities and towns outside of London which had an ethnically diverse community were based in the Midlands, these were; Leicester, Birmingham, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Coventry. Within Birmingham more than 50% of people were born outside of the UK and Leicester having 50.4% of individuals which described themselves with an ethnic background. Leicester was also the city which had the highest number of British Indians in the UK at 28.3%. The increase of statistics has been blamed on the increase in immigration with many organisations

saying that these figures are related to the amount of people which have been immigrating from the EU and from other parts of the world. The overall population of the country had increased by 7% and stands at 62.3 million.

More people are educated with many identifying themselves with an A-Level or degree qualification. The number of individuals owning a car or van also increased with 27.3 million people stating that they owned one or the other.

The census, historically, shows the rapid changes of a nation within the last decade.

No doubt that many changes have yet to come which will, visible within the next census in 2021.

By Hifzha Shaheen

The owner of the long standing bread company Hovis has said it is to close two bakeries and cut 900 jobs nationwide as part of plans to overhaul the now struggling bread business.

The biggest impact will be felt in Birmingham, where 511 jobs are to be lost with the closure of a factory and distribution operation. This figure is thought to be nearly double the size of the collective jobs lost around the UK where Hovis’ parent company, Premier Foods, is shuting down distribution sites along with other operations.

Hovis operations in Greenford, west London, will also close, costing 196 jobs, while cities such as Plymouth and Mendlesham, Suffolk, will also see a loss of 95 jobs in total.

The closures are scheduled to take place during the course of 2013.

St Albans-based Premier, which also makes Mr Kipling cakes and Bisto gravy, has seen its Hovis division hit

hard by an intense competition in the bread industry, along with a surge in wheat price inflation which is the result of poor weather.

The company is also set to lose a £75 million contract which it currently holds with a major grocery chain from the middle of next year after Premier was unable to agree a new deal on beneficial terms.

With the cutting of over 100 distribution routes and the closing of supply centres to taken into account, Premier is also expecting a reduction in the volume of bread they will be able to produce.

Premier chief executive Michael Clarke said: "We recognise the impact these actions will have for our employees at the sites affected.

"Decisions will not be taken lightly but they are necessary if we are to build a strong and successful future for the bread division and those who remain with our business."

By; Kamran Sadiq

astern EInsider

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ISSUE 4

Global Insider

Global Insider

A Royal Baby Prank Gone Wrong..

An Australian radio station at the centre of the prank made to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted for acute morning sickness has defended the DJ’s who made the call.

The incident involved the presenters, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, calling the hospital and pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles asking for an update on the Duchess’s condition.

Although no private medical information was exchanged, the incident has been internationally condemned and criticised by the Royal Family and the station had issued an apology. The prank is also believed to be the reason to which Jacintha Saldanha a nurse at the King Edward VII Hospital who had put the call through committed suicide three days later.

Southern Cross Austereo, the company which owns the radio station has refused to sack the presenters over the incident stating that company protocols were adhered to" by the hosts (including internal legal review and authorization)” and said that it "does not consider that the broadcast of the segment has breached any relevant law,

regulation or code." . The company also organised a full broadcasting review of the station.

When interviewed by Australia’s Channel 9 news programme, A Current Affair, both Mr Christian and Ms Greig, clearly shocked apologised stating that they are “shattered and heartbroken” over the death of Mrs Saldanha. Mr Christian said “Mel and myself are incredibly sorry for the situation and what's happened. I had the idea. … It was just a simple harmless phone call. It was going to go on for 30 seconds. We were going to get hung up on.” While Ms Greig said, in tears, “It was the worst phone call I've ever had in my life.

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There's not a minute that goes by that we don't think about her family and the thought that we may have played a part in that is gut-wrenching." They added "We wanted to be hung up on with our silly voices and wanted a 20-second segment to air of us doing stupid voice. … Not for a second did we expect to even speak to Kate or even have a conversation with anyone at the hospital. We wanted to be hung up on."

The online backlash has been aggressive with many social network users accusing the radio station of having blood on their hands. However, many people have also said that both, Mel Greig and Michael Christian are not to be blamed as this was a harmless prank which turned into a terrible tragedy. The programme has since been taken off air with all advertising being postponed and the presenters being suspended until further notice with all profits for the rest of the year going into a

fund for Mrs Saldanha’s family.

It was also reported that Mrs Saldanha had previously tried to commit suicide on two previous attempts, both last winter. The second attempt came 9 days after the first when she jumped off a building. She had received support and care before being allowed back to work.

Mrs Saldanha’s body was flown to Manglore, India with the funeral taking place on Monday 17th December 2012. Her casket was accompanied by her husband, Benedict, her daughter, Lisha and her son, Junal. In a statement, the family said that their lives have been shattered. “You were the core of the family that kept us together. In times of difficulty, you showed us the way forward to happiness and success...You worked tirelessly to give us everything that we have today.”

The hospital has persistently expressed that Jacintha Saldanha was not disciplined and no blame was accounted to her and said that they understand that she was the victim of a cruel prank.

An inquest, at Westminster’s Coroner Court, into her death heard that she had been found hanged at the nurse’s quarters and had left three suicide notes. The inquest has been adjourned until 26th March.

By Hifzha Shaheen

Malala’s Father Given International Roles Former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown has set up a scheme in which he plans to get every child in the world in school by 2015.

The scheme, known as the Malala Plan, has been inspired by 14 year old Malala Yousafzai who was shot in the head by the Taliban while on her way to school. The Taliban proclaimed she was spreading liberal ideas by encouraging young girls to go to school.

Mr Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education has also appointed Malala’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai as a Special Advi sor on Global Education. Mr Yousafzai, who is a former Head Teacher, has been appointed to assist Mr Brown in helping every child in the world get into education.

A statement by Mr Brown’s department said, “Worldwide, 32 million girls, are not at school. Ziauddin Yousafzai will play a critical role in helping remove the discrimina-

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Mother sentenced to 17 years after beating son to death

Gordan Brown announcing Malala’s father has been given a UN role.

tion and barriers that prevent girls going to school.” Mr Brown added, “Malala’s courage and her inspiration is evident for everyone to see. We will prepare country by country reports of the gaps in educational opportunity. If the Taliban sought to vanquish her voice and her insistent dream that children should go to school echoes all around the world, as girl after girl, each wanting all girls to have the right to go to school, identifies with Malala.”

Mr Bown has also announced that a meeting will be held in Paris on 12 July 2013 to ask people to join a special day of action to which Pakistani President Zardari has also been invited. Before that, Mr Brown has announced he will begin meetings with each country on April 19th 2013 in Washington.

Along with the role at the United Nations, Mr Yousafzai has also been appointed as

US Troops arrive in Turkey to operate new 'Patriot Missiles' The United States, Germany and the Netherlands are each deploying two batteries of the U.S.-built defense system to boost ally Turkey's air defences against any spillover from Syria's nearly 2-year civil war.

The Patriot systems are expected to become operational later this month.

The Stuttgart, Germany-based U.S. European Command said in a statement that U.S. personnel and equipment had started arriving at Turkey's southern Incirlik Air Base. Some 400 personnel and equipment from the U.S. Military base, Fort Sill. The Oklahoma-based 3rd Battalion were to be airlifted to Turkey over the coming days, while additional equipment was expected to reach Turkey by sea later in January, the Command said.

NATO endorsed Turkey's request for the Patriots on Nov. 30 after several Syrian shells

Insider Eastern

landed on Turkish territory.

Last month, NATO said the Syrian military has continued to fire Scud-type missiles, although none had hit Turkish territory, and said the alliance was justified in deploying the anti-missile systems in Turkey.

Ankara is supporting the Syrian opposition and rebels and is providing shelter to Syrian refugees.

More than 1,000 American, German and Dutch troops are to be based in Turkey to operate the batteries. NATO said the Americans will be based at Gaziantep, 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Syria. The Germans will be based at Kahramanmaras, located about 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of the Syrian border; the Dutch at Adana, about 100 kilometres (66 miles) west of the border.

Navy Vice Adam. Charles Martoglio, the Command's deputy chief, reiterated that

an education attaché at the Pakistani Consulate, In Birmingham. This now means Malala and her family will be able to stay in the UK for up to 5 years, whilst the teenager the teenager carries on her treatment at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

In a statement the Pakistani Government said, “Mr Ziauddin Yousafzai has been appointed as education attaché in the Consulate of Pakistan, In Birmingham. The President has also directed High Commissioner Mr Wajid Shamsul Hasan to look after all the needs of Malala, and discuss with Mr Yousafzai a mode of financial sustenance and accommodation of the family”.

By Hifzha Shaheen

the Patriots' deployment is for defensive purposes only and would not support a no-fly zone "or any offensive operation," in Syria, according to the Command's statement.

"Turkey is an important NATO ally and we welcome the opportunity to support the Turkish government's request in accordance with the NATO standing defence plan," it quoted Martoglio as saying.

Syria is reported to have an array of artillery rockets, as well as medium-range missiles — some capable of carrying chemical warheads. These include Soviet-built SS-21 Scarabs and Scud-B missiles, originally designed to deliver nuclear warheads.

Last month, a top military commander from Iran — a key Syrian ally — warned Turkey against stationing the NATO systems on its territory, saying such a move risks conflict with Syria.

By: Kamran Sadiq

On January 7th, a British judge sentenced a woman he called a "devoted and loving mother" to at least 17 years in prison for beating her son to death after he failed to memorize passages from the Quran.

A jury at Cardiff Crown Court in Wales convicted 33-yearold Sara Ege last month of murdering 7-year-old Yaseen and burning his body to destroy the evidence. Judge Wyn Williams said Ege beat Yaseen repeatedly with a stick over several months, causing internal injuries.

He said that, on the day he died in 2010, Yaseen had been kept home from school to memorize verses from the Muslim holy book, and that his failure "was the trigger for the beating" that killed him.

The judge agreed with defense

arguments about India-born Ege's state of mind, saying she was "a devoted and loving mother" who suffered from depression and had been a victim of domestic violence.

Still, the judge said, she subjected her son to "prolonged cruelty." Ege admitted killing her son in a confession taped by police, but later retracted it and blamed her husband, Yousef. He was tried and acquitted on a charge of failing to prevent his son's death.

Ege sobbed as the judge passed sentence. Williams said the 2 ½ years she had spent in secure psychiatric units since her arrest would count toward her 17-year minimum sentence.

By: Kamran Sadiq

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ISSUE 4

Global Insider

Fiscal Cliff Deal Signed

Three Days of National Mourning Declared in Brazil

231 people died when a fire started in a Brazilian nightclub.

US President Barack Obama and US Vice-President Joe Biden have signed a new law preventing the fiscal cliff United States President, Barack Obama, has signed a deal which has prevented the much disastrous repercussions of the fiscal cliff. The bill, which is now law, had been debated and approved just a day before, by the House of Representatives.

The bill states that any individual or couple earning less than $400,000 will have their taxes cut, a policy which the Bush Administration created; this law makes the tax cut permanent. The law raises taxes for

those earning more from 35% to 39.6%.; a policy which was created by the Clinton Administration and will raise over $500 billion over the next 10 years.

Along with this the new law broadens the use of unemployment insurance, for those who need it.

The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly for the new law with 257 saying yes and 167 saying no. Many critics of the new law have said that the federal cap needed to be

raised before taxes had to be cut. Republican Senator John Barrasso said, “The President has maxed out his credit card, and he is not going to get an unlimited credit card.”

Speaking at the White House, President Obama said leaving negotiations till the last could have been “catastrophic” for world markets. “While I will negotiate over many things, I will not have another debate with this Congress over whether or not they should pay the bill

that they’ve already racked up.”

Markets all over the world opened on a positive note in light of the new agreement.

In New York the Dow Jones had closed up 2.4% whilst in London the FTSE 100 went for more than 6000 points, a first since July 2011, and was up 1.8%.

By Hifzha Shaheen

DELHI GANG RAPE VICTIM DIES

The horrific gang rape of a 23 year old woman in Delhi last December caused an outrage of anger across India and throughout the world with demonstra-

tions taking place to make the Indian law tougher on committing crimes of rape.

The medical student who was accompanied by her male friend

on the night of 16th December 2012 after returning from a cinema trip boarded onto a private bus to go home, where they confronted six drunk men

including the driver which had turned into the darkest moments of both the victims’ lives.

All six men on the private bus viciously gang raped the woman

Three days of national mourning have been declared by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff after 231 people died in a nightclub fire. The fire broke out during a fresher’s ball of the local university, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Most of the dead were students who died of smoke inhalation, with over 100 people admitted to hospital for injuries.

A makeshift morgue has been created at the local gym, which is holding the bodies of those that have died a place where family and friends are being directed to identify their loved ones. On Monday, the first funerals of victims were being held.

Reports of how the fire started are emerging, with the AFP reporting that a flare on stage, ignited by the equipment which the band was using, spread and caused people to panic. Reports are also circulating that security had stopped people from getting out because they had not paid their tab; a common occurrence in Brazil. Police have already arrested three people, the owner of the Kiss nightfollowing by beating her male friend with an iron rod which had become impossible for him to save her that night. After the attack, the woman and her male friend were dumped onto the road side of Delhi leaving them badly beaten and unconscious.

The two lifeless victims were found by nearby people who immediately called the police where they were rushed to a hospital. Doctors and nurses had confirmed the female victim had been badly beaten resulting in severe internal and brain injuries. After having three operations in Delhi, she was later transferred to a hospital in Singapore for further treatment.

The victim had severe intestinal injuries but due to an or-

club, a member of the band and the security chief, which a fourth wanted, who is believed to be the co-owner of the club.

The management of the club has come under fire for the lack of safety precautions, mainly due to the one emergency exit in the whole nightclub. The owner of the club has also confirmed that the club’s licence had expired a year ago and was in the process of being updated.

President Rousseff had cut short a state trip to Chile and called the incident a “tragedy for all of us.” Luana Santos Silva was in the club when the fire started. "There was so much smoke and fire, it was complete panic and it took a long time for people to get out, there were so many dead."

Clubber Matheus Bortolotto said, “Those who were far from the doors had simply no chance, and it was like something out of a movie. The ambulances simply could not cope with all the wounded.”

This was the worst fire incident in Brazilian history for five decades.

By Hifzha Shaheen gan failure she had later died on Saturday 29th December 2012. Her friend had survived the attack and later had given a statement to the police of what had happened on that night to them both which had shocked the world.

After the rape and death of the victim, mass demonstrations took place over the world and in India to change the law where protests for tougher rape laws are continued to be held.

The five suspects are now jailed and are appearing in court charged with rape and murder, where as a result, the Indian government are now demanding death for the rapists.

By Renu Rai

Palestine continues it's struggle towards statehood With U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state in his pocket, President Mahmoud Abbas wants official documents to carry a new emblem: "State of Palestine."

But scrapping the old "Palestinian Authority" logo is as far as Abbas is willing to go in provoking Israel. He is not rushing to change passports and ID cards Palestinians need to pass through Israeli crossings.

The very modesty of Abbas' move to change official stationery underscores his limited options so long as Israel remains in charge of territories the world says should one day make up that state. "At the end of the day, the Palestinian Authority won't cause trouble for its people," Nour Odeh, a spokeswoman for Abbas' self-rule government, said of the need for caution.

Abbas won overwhelming U.N. General Assembly recognition for a state of Palestine in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in late November, a rare diplomatic victory over a sidelined Israel. The U.N. nod was important to the Palestinians because it affirmed the borders of their future state in lands Israel captured in 1967.

Recognition, however, has not transformed the day-to-day lives of Palestinians, and some argue that it made things worse. In apparent retaliation for the U.N. bid, Israel in December withheld its monthly $100 million transfer of tax rebates it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, further deepening the Abbas government's financial crisis.

Since the U.N. recognition, Abbas has manoeuvred between avoiding confrontation with Israel and finding small ways to change the situation on the ground. Last week, his government press office urged journalists to refer to a state of Palestine, instead of the Palestinian Authority, the autonomy government set up two decades ago as

part of interim peace deals with Israel.

Palestinian diplomatic missions around the world have been told to use the new names, including those in countries that did not vote "yes" at the General Assembly, said Omar Awadallah, a Palestinian Foreign Ministry official.

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev dismissed the name change as pointless but declined comment on whether Israel would retaliate in any way. "Instead of looking for gimmicks, Palestinians should negotiate with Israel to bring about the end of the conflict," he said. "That will lead to a situation of two states for two peoples."

Israel objected to Abbas' U.N. bid, accusing him of trying to bypass negotiations with Israel on the terms of statehood. Such talks have been frozen for more than four years because Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disagree on their parameters. Netanyahu says he is willing to cede land to a Palestinian state but will not withdraw to the 1967 lines or give up any part of east Jerusalem, the Palestinians' desired capital.

Abbas has said negotiations remain his preferred choice, and that U.N. recognition was meant to improve his leverage with a far more powerful Israel once talks resume. Since the U.N. vote, Abbas has shied away from measures that could close the door to talks by upsetting Israel or the U.S., which also objected to his U.N. bid.

Abbas has not taken practical steps toward seeking membership for Palestine in U.N. agencies, something made possible by the November vote, and his security forces continue to coordinate with Israeli troops in tracking Islamic militants in the West Bank.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland expressed U.S. opposition to using the term "State of Palestine." "You can't create a state by rhetoric and with labels and names," she told reporters.

"You can only create a state, in this context, through bilateral negotiations." Nuland called Abbas' decision "provocative, without changing the condition for the Palestinian people."

She said the U.S. peace envoy for the Mid-East, David Hale, was headed to the region and would meet the Palestinian leader on Tuesday. Some countries, such as Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras, have adopted the new name. Others, like Norway, Sweden and Spain, stick to the Palestinian Authority term even though they supported U.N. recognition.

Analysts said Abbas holds out hope that President Barack Obama will get more involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his second term and — freed from the restraints of seeking reelection — take a tougher stance toward Israel.

"He still hopes to resume peace talks in line with U.S. efforts," Palestinian analyst Hani al-Masri said of Abbas. "Therefore, he is making these slight changes because people expect him to make changes after the U.N. recognition."

Still, the gap between the symbolic U.N. nod and the reality on the ground remains wide. The Palestinian Authority administers some 38 percent of the West Bank, but Israel maintains overall control over the territory. Abbas has no say in east Jerusalem, annexed by Israel in 1967, or in Gaza, seized by his political rival, the Islamic militant group Hamas, in 2007.

The documents and stationery with the new emblem will be ready within two months, said Hassan Alawi, a deputy interior

minister in the Palestinian Authority. Israeli officials declined comment Monday on whether Israel would refuse to deal with documents bearing the "State of Palestine" logo. However, Alawi said his office was informed by Israeli officials after Abbas' decree that "they will not deal with any new form of passport or ID." Saeb Erekat, a senior Abbas aide, said the new emblem will be used in correspondence with countries that have recognized a state of Palestine. He suggested that there would be no change in passports or other documents Palestinians need for movement through Israeli crossings.

"As far as the Israelis are concerned, we are not going to overload the wagon of our people by putting state of Palestine on passports," he said. "They (Israelis) will not allow them to travel." Palestinians must pass through Israeli-run crossings to leave the West Bank and also carry an ID card at all times or risk arrest if stopped at an Israeli military checkpoint inside the territory.

The name change has even less meaning for Palestinians in Hamas-ruled Gaza. Israel withdrew from the coastal strip in 2005 but continues to control access by air, sea and land, with the exception of one Gaza border crossing with Egypt.

"For me, it's just ink on paper," said Sharif Hamda, a 44-yearold pharmacist in Gaza City.

"I wished they would save the money they will spend on this and use it for helping needy families."

Laub reported from Jericho, West Bank. Associated Press writers Ibrahim Barzak in Gaza City, Gaza Strip and Bradley Klapper in Washington contributed reporting.

By: Kamran Sadiq

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Pakistan launch protest over Indian attacks on Army post The Pakistani Foreign Office said it has protested formally to India for an attack on its army post.

In a statement issued by the office on January 7th, the Foiegn Office stated that the Indian deputy high commissioner was summoned to the Foreign Ministry over what Pakistan calls an "unprovoked" attack on an army post Sunday. The mostly Muslim mountainous Kashmir has been a flashpoint of violence between these two neighbours, who have fought two full-scale wars over control of the region.

Pakistan and India traded accusations Sunday of violating the cease-fire in the disputed northern Kashmir region.

Islamabad accused Indian troops of a cross-border raid that killed one of its soldiers.

The statement warned India to avoid a recurrence of such incidents.

India denied the raid and said Pakistani shelling destroyed a home on its side. In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that the U.S. is concerned about reports of violence along the Line of Control in Kashmir.

"We urge both sides to take steps to end exchange of fire and to resume normal trade and travel across the Line of Control," she said.

By: Kamran Sadiq

Wildfires cause worry as blazes sweep across Australia Fire-fighters battled scores of wildfires raging across southeast Australia on Tuesday as authorities evacuated national parks and warned that blistering temperatures and high winds had led to "catastrophic" conditions in some areas.

No deaths had been reported, although officials in Tasmania were still trying to find around 100 residents who have been missing since a fire tore through the small town of Dunalley, east of the state capital of Hobart, last week, destroying around 90 homes. On Tuesday, police said no bodies were found during preliminary checks of the ruined houses.

"We are shaping up for one of the worst fire danger days on record," New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said. "You don't get conditions worse than this. We are at the catastrophic level and clearly in those areas leaving early is your safest option."

Catastrophic threat level is the most severe rating applicable.

Wildfires have razed 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of forests and farmland across southern Tasmania since Friday. In New South Wales, the country's most populous state, the fires had burned through more than 26,000 hectares (64,000 acres) of land.

More than 130 fires were blazing across New South Wales, though only a few dozen houses were under threat by early

evening. One fire was threatening about 30 homes near the small town of Cooma, south of the capital of Canberra.

Cooma-Monaro shire mayor Dean Lynch told Australia's Sky News some residents had evacuated to the nearby town of Nimmitabel.

Strong winds were hampering efforts to bring the fires under control. Wind gusts more than 100 kilometres an hour (62 miles per hour) were recorded in some parts of the state. All state forests and national parks were closed as a precaution and total fire bans were in place with temperatures surpassing 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in some areas.

One volunteer fire-fighter suffered severe burns to his hands and face while fighting a grass fire near Gundaroo village, about 220 kilometres (138 miles) south-west of Sydney, on Monday. He was flown to a hospital in Sydney for treatment.

Fitzsimmons , the fire commissioner, said the fire-fighter’s condition had improved on Tuesday, and he should be released from the hospital in the next few days. Wildfires are common during the Australian summer. In February 2009, hundreds of fires across Victoria state killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.

By :Kamran Sadiq

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Business Insider

Sports Insider

High Street Chains go in to Administration Well known high street organisations HMV and Blockbuster have gone into administration.

It is estimated that over 4800 jobs are to be lost with over 300 stores set to close between them.

DVD rental store, Blockbuster, called in administrators earlier this month, however was still hopeful of being bought. This was not the case and it was announced when administrators failed to find a buyer and was subsequently declared that all stores were to close with the loss of over 750 jobs, nationwide.

Administrator Lee Manning said, “Having reviewed the portfolio with management, the store closure plan is an inevitable consequence of having to restructure the company to a profitable core which is capable of being sold. We would like to thank the company’s employees for their support and professionalism during this difficult time. We are

also grateful to the customers for their continued support.”

Music store HMV has also appointed an administrator after a major slump in profits. Administrators will allow all HMV’s 239 stores to go on and operate whilst it finds potential buyers.

If administrators fail to find a potential buyer, all stores would have to close, risking over 4000 jobs. In a statement, HMV said, “The board regrets to announce that it has been unable to reach a position where it feels able to continue to trade outside of insolvency protection and in the circumferences therefore intends to file notice to appoint administrators to the company and certain of its subsidiaries with immediate effect.”

This comes after the closure of 3 other major high street long established stores. Jessops, Comet and JJB Sports have all gone into administration and closed

HMV is one of the chains gone into administration while Clinton Cards was forced to close 350 stores. These companies have suffered from the rise and advancements in technology along with their failure to up date their companies with the needs of their custom-

ers; especially when facing stiff competition from online movie and music streaming sites. Chairman of UK Music, Andy Heath, said, in regards to the closure of HMV, “They haven’t been in the right corporate

Samsung expected to announce record year for smartphone sales

Samsung, the world's largest technology company by revenue, expects record earnings for the fourth quarter of 2012 as shoppers continued to snap up its smartphones and tablets.

The company said its operating profit for the October-December quarter would be about 8.8 trillion won (£5.1 billion), up 89% from a year earlier and higher than expectations.

It will release its full quarterly result including net profit at the end of this month.

The maker of Galaxy smartphones and tablets said fourth

quarter revenue likely rose 18% from a year earlier to 56 trillion won.

Analysts said nearly 70% of the operating income for the quarter was likely generated by Samsung's mobile division that makes and sells smartphones and tablets. Samsung's mobile business, which recently overtook Apple in smartphone sales and Nokia in mobile handsets, has driven Samsung's earnings growth in recent quarters.

Samsung's quarterly operating profit has risen steadily since the final quarter of 2011, while rival

ISSUE 4

shape to fight the competition of the internet in the way that they should be.”

By Hifzha Shaheen

mobile phone makers such as Nokia, Research In Motion and HTC have experienced falling market share and profits.

Samsung shipped at least 60 million smartphones in the last quarter of 2012, according to analysts' estimates, about 10% growth from the previous quarter.

The launch in September of the Galaxy Note II, a giant smartphone with a 5.5-inch screen and a digital pen, helped Samsung retain its market dominance during the Christmas holiday season despite competition from Apple's iPhone 5, analysts said.

Samsung's flagship Android device, the Galaxy S III, also sold strongly.

Jin Sung-hye, an analyst at KTB Securities, estimated Samsung shipped 15 million S III smartphones and seven million of the Note II during the final three months of 2012.

The surprise popularity of the Note II device prompted other handset makers to increase the screen size of their smartphones as consumers embrace a wider mobile phone screen to watch videos.

By: Kamran Sadiq

Eastern Insider’s Top Ten Sporting Moment’s of 2012 2012 was a year in which sport will always come out on top. In a year which was dominated by sports, and in particular the London Olympics, little was focused on anything else.

Hifzha Shaheen looks at the top 10 sporting highlights of 2012.

1. Manchester City’s win over QPR As you will read later on, there were many memorable sporting moments in 2012; but nothing came close to the dramatic final day of the English Premier League. With both Manchester clubs tied at 86 points the title was up for grabs on the final day of the season. With United easing to a 1-0 win against Sunderland and City trailing 2-1, it looked as if the red half of United which would be celebrating. But two injury time goals from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero gave City a win and topped the League on goal difference which ultimately handed them the title.

2. Europe’s Ryder Cup win over USA With the spirit of Seve Ballesteros urging them on, Europe’s golfers achieved one of the greatest comebacks ever to be seen in Ryder Cup history. The final day began with the US team needing 4 and a half points to win and Europe needing 8 to retain the cup. Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, Rory Mcllory, Justin Rose, Paul Lawrie, Sergio Garcia, Peter Hanson, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer all held on to their nerves to pick up the 8 points needed.

3. Chelsea’s Champions League Triumph The heartbreak of being consecutively knocked out of the biggest league in Europe is all to familiar to Chelsea fans. However 2012 was going to change that. Facing the German side Bayern Munich on their home field was not going to help and this proved right when the home side went 1-0 up through Thomas Muller. However Chelsea striker Didier Drogba scored equalising on the 88th minute. The home side were awarded a penalty when Ribery was brought down in the box only for ex-Chelsea player Robben to miss. The match went to penalties with Chelsea winning, scoring 3-4.

4. Andy Murray’s US Open Victory With the pressure of not winning a Grand Slam Title being pushed at him and the inspiration of winning two Olympic medals behind him, Andy Murray delivered. Facing Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadows in New York City, the match came down to the last set with the score already at 7-6 7-5-2-6 3-6, Murray already having lost a 2 set lead. Murray won the final set 6-2 and unwittingly became the first British tennis player to win a Grand Slam title Fred Perry in 1936. It also became Murray’s first ever Grand Slam.

5. Wimbledon Final As Wimbledon finals come, nothing comes as heartbreaking as this.

With Andy Murray beating Tsonga in the semi final, it set up a very anticipating finale against 6 time winner, Roger Federer, especially with it being on Murray’s home ground. With Roger Federer taking the first set 4-6, Andy Murray came back to level things by winning the second set 7-5. Every British tennis fan could feel the pressure on Andy Murray to win the championship on home with the majority of

the 484,805 urging him on. However, Federer took the next two sets 6-3 6-4, and beating Murray for the second time in a final.

6. Super Bowl XLVI With the New England Patriots capping off their regular season with an impressive 13-3 record, the New York Giants entered the Super Bowl as second best; but they played with flow of perfection and precision mirroring their victory over the Patriots in 2008. The first half saw the Giants score 9 points with the Patriots making a late comeback and scoring 10. The second half started with the Patriots scoring 7 more, increasing their lead to 17-9. Nevertheless, the Giants made a remarkable comeback scoring 6 in the third quarter and another 6 with 57 seconds remaining which gave the Giants the win.

7. Mo Farah’s Two Gold Medal’s Mo Farah produced one of the most inspiring wins of the Summer Olympics, winning two gold medals. The first came at the 10,000 meters, which subsequently closed Britain’s “Super Saturday”. The second gold medal came when he won the 5,000 meters race, which he led from 600 meters. These extraordinary achievements have made Mo Farah one of the greatest Olympic Athletes, ever, in Team GB. His year capped off by being awarded a CBE in the New Years Honours list along with his wife, Tania, giving birth to two baby girls.

8. Bradley Wiggin’s Amazing Year 2012 was a year in which Bradley Wiggins achieved many things.

The year started for him with the Tour de France, a competition which he dreamt of winning, and now has won and thus becoming the first ever Briton to win the Yellow Jersey. Next for Wiggins was the London Olympics. When Team GB was lacking inspiration with Mark Cavendish failing to win a gold medal when required to, Bradley Wiggins delivered that medal. Wiggins ended that year on a high; winning the BBC Sports Personality Award and being honoured with a Knighthood by Her Majesty, The Queen.

9. Race 20 of F1’s 2012 Season 2012 saw Red Bull driver, Sebastian Vettel claim his third F1 Championship, at just 25 years of age. The last race of the Formula 1 Championship was epic, with both Vettel and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso staking a claim for the Championship. However, after slipping to 22nd position, Vettal pulled off a stunning comeback to finish 4th and gaining enough points to take the title, Alonso finished 8th.

10. Jonnie Peacock’s World Record Jonnie Peacock was little known before the Paralympic T44 100 meter final. However, after beating favourite Oscar Pistorius and claiming gold along with setting a new world record of 10.85, Jonnie Peacock is now very well know. After contracting meningitis at the age of 4, Jonnie has become a role model for so many young people.

He is 0.85 seconds slower that Usain Bolt. He was awarded an MBE

by Her Majesty, The Queen.

By Hifzha Shaheen

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Boot of Gold..Ronaldo makes donation worth over £1million To Palestine Real Madrid iconic forward Cristiano Ronaldo has donated €1.5 million to Palestinian children in Gaza, the Arabic version of the club’s Classico network reports.

The star forward who is often known less for his generosity and more for his on-field flair, gave his Golden Boot which he earned in 2011 to the Real Madrid foundation, RT.com reports. The Spanish giants then went on to sell the piece at an auction and will now donate the funds raised to rebuilding the infrastructure in Gaza, Palestine.

According to various reports, the Real Madrid Foundation has helped to build 167 schools in 66 different countries. The club’s many foundations span across the globe as they try to help children in poverty improve their life through study and sport. Recently they signed on with the Aman Foundation to build 2 new sport schools in Pakistan.

No confirmation has come yet from Ronaldo officially or from Real Madrid’s own website regarding the sale or where the money will go specifically but it’s not the first time Ronaldo has given to charity, and is not the first time that the star has shown his support for Palestine. Last year he sold most of his boot collection at a Real Madrid Foundation auction which was also dedicated to raising funds for schools in Gaza.

Ronaldo became the most expensive footballer in history after moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid in a transfer worth €93.9 million. In addition, his contract with Real Madrid, in which he is paid €12 million per year, makes him one of the highest-paid footballers in the world.

By: Kamran Sadiq

Simply the Best: Lionel Messi secures record 4th Ballon d'Or Lionel Messi won a record-breaking fourth consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Or at an awards ceremony in Zurich on Monday night.

The 25-year-old Argentinian took the honour ahead of Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi enjoyed a remarkable 2012 even by his own high standards, most notably surpassing Gerd Muller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year, finishing with an incredible 91.

Messi said: "To tell you the truth this is really quite unbelievable.

The fourth award that I have had is just too great for words. I would like to recognise my other colleagues from Barcelona; Andres it has been great to train and play alongside you."

He added: "I would also like to recognise all of my friends in the Argentinian national team, everyone that has worked with me, coaches and staff and my family and my friends. Also my wife and my son. Thank you."

Messi polled 41.60 per cent of the votes, with Ronaldo taking 23.68 per cent and Iniesta 10.91 per cent. Although he missed out on both the Primera Division and Champions League crowns, he racked up a host of personal achievements last year.

He scored an unprecedented 50 goals in a La Liga season, a record 14 goals in a Champions League season and became the first player to net five times in a Champions League match.

He also shattered the myth that he does not perform as well for Argentina as he does for his club by scoring 12 goals for his country in nine games. Messi's fourth award takes him past the three won by both former Brazil striker Ronaldo and former France midfielder Zinedine Zidane.

Speaking at the pre-gala press conference, Messi claimed he did not consider 2012 his best year yet. He said: "I'm more interested in team awards than I am about what I might win individually. There have been years where we won more titles that have been better."

Fenerbahce's Miroslav Stoch won the FIFA Puskas Award for goal of the year, Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque was named World Coach of the Year and United States international Abby Wambach won Women's World Player of the Year.

The FIFPro World XI was named up entirely of players based in Spain with Barcelona's Dani Alves, Gerard Pique and Xavi, Real Madrid's Iker Casillas, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso and Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao joining the three Ballon d'Or nominees in the team. Franz Beckenbauer received the FIFA Presidential Award.

By: Kamran Sadiq

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Sports Insider

Farewell to the Little Master Indian batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, has decided to call time on his One Day International career. In a statement, released

by The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Tendulkar said, “I have decided to retire from the One Day format of the game. I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup winning Indian team. I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future.”

Widely considered the best living batsman and with a career spanning 23 years and gaining 463 caps, Sachin Tendulkar became a legend scoring the most ODI runs in the 50 over format with 18,426 runs. His final match came against Pakistan in the Asia Cup; coincidently his first ODI match was against Pakistan in 1989 at the age of 16.

However, his game has been disappointing recently and was called to retire by former Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly.

STARS LAUNCH

However, he went on to score his 100Th ODI century against Bangladesh and was also included in the World Cup team; a competition which India won on home soil and in his hometown of Mumbai.

Many tributes have come out praising Tendulkar’s career, what he has achieved and what he has given to the game of cricket. Former Pakistani Captain, Inzamam ul Haq said, “A chapter in cricket’s history has come to an end but the book is still to be finished.” Current Indian All-Rounder, Yuvraj Singh tweeted, “Emotional time! Letting Sachin go from one dayers.

18 thousand plus runs. Your jaw drops when you see those records, master you will always live.” Analyst Ayaz Memon, wrote, “In Test Cricket, Sachin may have had some serious rivals in Lara, Pointing, Kallis for being the best batsman. But in ODI’s; he was peerless.”

By Hifzha Shaheen

NEW MOTORSPORT India Survive SEASON Media information: 13 January 2013 A host of motorsport’s biggest names helped fans celebrate the start of the 2013 motorsport season in Birmingham during Autosport International.

The NEC hosted a star-studded lineup including three-time Formula One World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart, Sahara Force India Formula One Team driver Paul Di Resta and British Formula One race winner Johnny Herbert, along with stunning machinery from the sport and live entertainment.

Fans attended the show during Sunday’s final day, where they also heard from newly-crowned FIA World Touring Car Championship and Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship titlists Rob Huff and Gordon Shedden, former DTM champion Gary Paffett and former BBC F1 anchor Jake Humphrey.

Attractions at the show featured a stunning display of cars from the 2012 Formula One season, a dedicated BTCC display and collections to celebrate the successful careers of Stewart and Britain’s late World Rally Champion Richard Burns.

“I think it’s definitely been a great way to start the year, bring everyone involved in the sport together and get everybody in good spirit,” said Paul Di Resta.

“Personally, it’s been nice to come and meet the fans of the sport because obviously we fly away pretty soon to do a lot of racing, which means we don’t get a lot of opportunities to see them, other than the British Grand Prix. It gets people motivated for our automotive and motorsport industry, which gives me the job I’m fortunate enough to have.”

Humphrey, who moves from motorsport to football in 2013 after four years fronting BBC’s F1 coverage, gave away a pair of tickets to the British GP to a lucky fan.

“With me leaving the BBC F1 team, this has been a bit like the farewell tour for me. It’s been nice to be reminded of the passion and the love that exists for motor racing in this country,” said Jake Humphrey.

“I think this year’s show has probably been the best that I can remember. It’s been a fantastic atmosphere: they’ve had incredible drivers from modern F1

drivers like Paul Di Resta to legends like Sir Jackie Stewart, and the access is just like nowhere else. It’s been great.”

Autosport International also featured motorsport shows in the Live Action Arena, interactive elements including high-speed rides and companies from around the world showcasing their products and services to attendees.

“It’s been a fantastic four days here during Autosport International 2013,” said Ian France, Autosport International Show Director. “There’s been so much enthusiasm within the NEC and it was great to see so many motorsport fans in attendance this weekend, enjoying the show.

“I’d like to thank everyone who attended in any capacity over the four days, and we look forward to welcoming them back to Autosport International in 12 months time.”

Next year’s Autosport International will be held on 9-12 January 2014.

Whitewash

India ended a disastrous end to 2012 and start to 2013 with a thrilling win against bitter rivals, Pakistan. After a tight win in the second T20 and drawing the series and having already losing the first two One Day Internationals and thus handing over the series to the tourists, India needed to save face and add some much needed momentum to the team for the upcoming ODI series against England.

After Pakistan bowled the home side out for 167 in just 43.4 overs, it look like they would be taking a 3-0 victory in India’s own backyard. Spinner Saeed Ajmal took 5-24 with Mohammed Irfan pitching in and taking 2-28.

However, the impulsive Pakistani batting line up suffered from the unpredictable bowling style which India threw at them. On an erratic cricket pitch, Indian Captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni had a very strong and reliable force of bowling which contained Ishant Sharma who took a well deserved 3 wickets for 36 runs; including the last wicket of Muhammad Hafeez, caught by Yuvraj Singh.

Pakistan were going steady at one

stage, needing 79 runs off 140 balls; and with able and experienced batsmen Nasir Jamshed and Misbah ul Haq at the crease; it was surely an easy task. However, after both were out, India fought back, Pakistan needed 12 off 8 balls and with Hafeez at the crease a whitewash was still possible. However, that was not the case, as Hafeez was caught two balls later.

This series has left many questions for both fans and players alike. India, considered a power house in cricket and the current World Champions have lost two home series in a row. Pakistan on the other hand, have to consider how they got in to such a situation.

Captain, Misbah ul Haq took 82 balls to make a run of just 39.

Another issue was that of the crowds.

No invitations, visas or tickets were allocated to Pakistani fans, with all the fans in the stadium being Indian. All things considered, the series provided the action and drama which comes with a Pakistan and India match.

By Hifzha Shaheen