The World News Headlines 28 November 2012

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29 November 2012

The World News Headlines This Week Egyptians in anti-Morsi rally

Tens of thousands of people are staging a protest in the Egyptian capital against President Mohamed Morsi, who last week granted himself sweeping new powers. “The people want the regime to fall,” the crowds chanted.

Protesters and riot police clashed in Cairo on Tuesday near Tahrir Square, the birthplace of the uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak nearly two years ago.

Arafat’s body exhumed

The tournament draw was made by Shadwell Councillor, Harun Miah, recently and 12 teams took part. They were lucky that heavy rain stopped before they started playing

Football tournament held to aid Rohingya

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he Berner Estate pitch hosted the Play4Burma Tournament, organised

by Human Relief Foundation to raise awareness and much needed funds to support the atrocities committed upon the Rohingya people in Burma.

The Rohingya are recognised by the UN as one of the most persecuted minorities on the planet.

The tournament draw had been made by Shadwell Councillor, Harun Miah on 16th November 2012.

Twelve teams took part and the participants were fortunate that rain stopped before kickoff and stayed that way for the rest of the day. There was even a burst of sunlight late in the afternoon.

The day was managed by tournament Co-ordinators and HRF staff Khoyrul Shaheed &

Muhammad Haque. They were ably supported by a volunteer crew comprising of but not limited to: Zoinul Abidin, Shah Mahmud, Abdul Hamid, Lokuj Jaman, and Ibrahim Faruqi.

There was a tense shootout in the semis as London Tigers were seen off by the Brick Lane Gutt Boyz, who then defeated Rakhine Rangers 2-0 in the final. The Man of the Tournament award went to Gutt Boyz’ playmaker Shakil Rahman.

The wining captain said: “Gutt Boyz are very happy to have won this special tournament. We have played away and have loved the support we have received from the home supporters. We will be back to defend our trophy next time.”

“Were disappointed but proud to have progressed to

the final of this great tournament,” said losing captain Abdul Hamid of Rakhine Rangers.

Khoyrul Shaheed, HRF staff

‘An excellent display of solidarity by the footballing community towards the displaced people of Burma’

Hasan Mueenuddin

member said: “I have been so impressed with the unity, togetherness and amity amongst players, fans and officials.

“All participants have been a credit to our community and I am humbled to be a part of such a great occasion.

His colleague Muhammad Haque added: “I would like to thank the volunteers, fans, HRF staff, players and officials.

“Play4Burma has galvanised the community and HRF will continue to organise events like this every year.”

Zoinul Abidin, Captain of RLB FC, an all star family line up said: “We all know that football unites where other mediums fail. Many have braved the cold weather and sacrificed their time to make this event a great success. It has been inspir-

ing to see how young people have put their differences aside, to play football with great camaraderie and raise awareness of a major humanitarian issue.”

Hasan Mueenuddin, the HRF London Regional Manager described the tournament as: “An excellent display of solidarity by the footballing community towards the displaced people of Burma.”

Rongu Miah, Captain of Walford House team said: “On behalf of myself and my team, I would like to congratulate HRF on all their efforts and hard work on Saturday.

“We hope this will go some way towards the great cause which you held the event for.”

Final Referee Emdad Rahman described his refereeing of the final as “ a great honour and a moment to savour.”

Swadhinata Trust to hold roundtable talks about British Muslims

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ollowing from the success from Swadhinata Trust’s ‘One Tower Hamlets for All’ events and ‘Countering Extremism’ seminar held at Brick Lane Mosque on 10 March 2011 the Swadhinata Trust is holding an event

entitled “British Muslims and the Politics of Religious Diversity”, which will take place in the afternoon on Thursday 29th November 2012, 2pm-3.30pm at the Brick Lane Mosque, 59 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL. Building upon Swadhi-

nata Trust’s work, it is holding a roundtable discussion, bringing together policy makers, community groups, organisations and the media.

The purpose is to bring insights from the project to policy-makers in on-going

debates around the politics of religious diversity – countering extremism, local politics, interfaith partnerships – and to draw on the expertise of participants in finding practical ways to look at what steps could be taken as a way forward.

Brick Lane Mosque

Scientists have exhumed the remains of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and gathered samples that will now be shipped overseas to test for radioactive polonium. Workers began digging through Arafat’s concrete mausoleum around midnight on Tuesday at the muqataa, the Palestinian Authority headquarters, where Arafat is buried, in Ramallah, in the West Bank.

B’desh mourns fire victims

Bangladesh has declared a national day of mourning following the Tazreen garment factory fire that led to the deaths of at least 110 workers in a blaze in the capital city, Dhaka, over the weekend.

Green and red national flags flew at half-mast on Tuesday alongside black flags over government offices and the country’s 4,500 garment factories.

France to support Palestine

France will vote in favour of Palestinian “non-member status” at the United Nations.

This Thursday or Friday, when the question is asked, France will vote yes,” Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced in the lower house of parliament. The move recognises efforts made by Palestinian officials to establish a statehood bid for the occupied territory.

Deaths in Iraq explosions

At least 21 people were killed and 70 others injured in a series of bomb attacks against security forces and civilians in central and northern Iraq, officials said. Shia mosques in Baghdad were main targets in Tuesday’s attacks, along with policemen in Kirkuk, a city claimed by quarrelling ethnic groups in a disputed northern region.

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News More residents take up lifelong learning This Week

Kabul fraud ‘profited elite’

Afghanistan’s failed Kabul Bank was involved in a fraud that funnelled almost $900m into the pockets of a small number of the political elite, an independent auditors’ report says. One of President Hamid Karzai’s brothers, Mahmoud, is said to be a beneficiary. He denies any wrongdoing. Details of the audit were revealed in a leaked report seen by the New York Times newspaper. Revelations of corruption led to a run on the bank in 2010. Foreign donors bailed it out fearing its failure could lead to the collapse of Afghanistan’s fragile economy.

Indian cops suspended

Two senior Indian policemen have been suspended over the arrest of two women for comments made on Facebook following the death of politician Bal Thackeray. Maharashtra state’s home minister said the men had disobeyed orders.

The judge in the case has also been transferred. Shaheen Dhada was held for criticising Mumbai’s shutdown after the 17 November death. Her friend Renu Srinivasan, who “liked” the comment, was also arrested.

Taliban claims Mir attack

The Pakistani Taliban have said they were behind a failed attempt on Monday to kill one of Pakistan’s best known television presenters, Hamid Mir. Half a kilogram of explosives was found under Mr Mir’s car outside his home in the capital, Islamabad. Police say it was a remotecontrolled bomb, but it failed to go off. The Taliban threatened Mr Mir and other journalists for their coverage of the militants’ shooting of schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai last month.

Tibetan students protest

SA crowd of Tibetan students has protested in Qinghai province, activists say, as four more self-immolations were reported.

Reports said more than 1,000 students took part in the protest, which was reportedly provoked by the contents of a book.

Sri Lanka’s menu for monks

Buddhist devotees in Sri Lanka who traditionally give food to monks are to be given special menus in an attempt to stop the clergy becoming sick.

Reports suggest increasing numbers of Buddhist monks are contracting diet-related diseases such as diabetes because of fatty, sugary gifts.

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ore and more people are picking up a new skills and unleashing hidden talents thanks to Tower Hamlets Council’s innovative Idea Store Learning courses.

Record numbers have signed up to classes this term ranging from cookery and photography to dance and languages.

So far more than 4,500 learners have enrolled on courses, which is a 14.5 per cent increase from last year’s figures.

The council offers a huge range of more than 800 courses for residents aged 16 and over to choose from.

Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman said: “We have always prided ourselves on providing excellent value for money and a wealth of courses to suit all tastes and abilities.

“Idea Store Learning is a fantastic resource to help you get a qualification and develop skills, help your family or make a contribution to our community.”

The success of the adult

Cllr Rania Khan

Abjol Miah

Gaza ceasefire welcomed Viewpoint Abjol Miah

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‘Idea Store Learning is a fantastic resource’, said Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman learning courses is based on a number of factors including excellent value for money, with fees capped to a standard rate

‘I am a great advocate of lifelong learning and am pleased so many residents are taking up the excellent courses we offer’

of £2 an hour and wide concessions available, word of mouth as many learners continue with their studies and tell their family and friends and effective marketing of the service.

Another key aspect which puts Idea Store Learning head and shoulders above the rest is the high levels of customer satisfaction.

Feedback from learners highlighted praise for how courses are taught, providing the right level of stimulation and challenge and benefit of acquiring new skills.

The courses are acces-

sible to all as they held in different venues throughout the borough and are staggered throughout the day to fit in with busy lifestyles.

Cllr Rania Khan, cabinet for culture added: “I am a great advocate of lifelong learning and am pleased so many residents are taking up the excellent courses we offer.”

Further qualification courses to develop skills for employment are also being introduced in photography, complementary therapies, sign language, accounting and IT in January.

Restaurant in Stepney prosecuted over hygiene

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Stepney restaurant has been prosecuted for breaches of food hygiene standards following a cockroach infestation.

The Red Dragon restaurant, on Mile End Road had cockroaches crawling next to ready made foods waiting to be placed on a buffet. The cockroaches were found in the restaurant kitchen in October 2011, during a visit from the council’s

Environmental Health Team.

Environmental Health Officers carried out a visit to the Chinese restaurant in October 2011 following a complaint.

Officers found further evidence of disregard to public safety when cockroaches of all sizes were found inside the seals of the fridges, where food was also left uncovered. The officers said that the kitchen was poor and

staff working at the premise lacked basic food hygiene.

Thames Magistrates Court heard Zaynah Ltd, the restaurant owners, pleaded guilty to six offences and they were fined £2,040 on 8 November.

Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said: “Food health and safety standards are essential to ensure public safety and our officers are on hand to provide advice and en-

forcement where it’s needed.

“Tower Hamlets has a rich culture of food from all over the world, and making sure that residents and visitors to the borough can count on high standards is important.”

Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Ohid Ahmed, said: “I hope that restaurant owners see this prosecution as a warning to make sure their premises are kept up to hygienic food standards.”

veryone will be grateful there is a ceasefire between Gaza and Israel and the relentless killing and destruction by the Israeli military has stopped. In Gaza there have been celebrations as the ceasefire deal brokered by the democratically elected president of Egypt promises to bring an end to the Israeli blockade and siege of Gaza which has made this the most overpopulated prison camp in the world.

However the ceasefire is bound to be temporary as all ceasefires have been in the past unless Israel begins to accept the profound injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people since 1948 and begins to address and rectify the injustice and compound it.

There is no equality between Gaza and the Palestinians and the Israeli state much less a right of the Israelis to kill innocent Palestinian men, women and children and bomb Gaza back into the middle ages on the spurious grounds of defending Israeli citizens. Israel has the fourth largest military capacity in the world including of course nuclear weapons. It has this military capacity courtesy or the hypocritical Western powers without whose support Israel would not exist.

Israel uses this enormous military capacity to keep the Palestinian people in miserable subjection, and to extend its theft of Palestinian land as Israel relentlessly extends its illegal settlements in the West Bank and to bring division and destruction to the surrounding Arab countries and beyond.

Every time Israel launches its attacks on Gaza the imbalance is demonstrated in the grizly statistics of death. In Operation Cast Lead in 2009 over 1,400 Palestinians died, the majority women and children and just 12 Israeli soldiers.

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29 November 2012

News

Race is on to be Young Mayor of Tower Hamlets Move over Barack and Romney – as teenagers race to be Young Mayor

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hilst the race to the White House had more twists and turns than a James Bond novel and audiences all over the world gripped, Tower Hamlets is gearing up for its own clash of the Titans with the Young Mayor election underway.

Budding politicians from the borough were whisked away for a three day residential in Kent during October half term to gear them up for the world of politics.

The Young Mayor scheme has now become a well-established part of youth culture in Tower Hamlets and is a flagship project for the council’s Youth and Community Services.

‘Each year the elections are very closely fought and I urge all young people to get out there and vote for who they want to lead them ‘

Each year the scheme attracts more and more young people eager to make their mark in the borough and to bring about changes to benefit youngsters.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman said: “I am proud to support the Young Mayor scheme and we have been privileged to have so many talented young people taking on the mantle to represent our young people and uniting them as one voice.”

The Young Mayors have been exceptional in engaging with young people on issues that matter to them and this will be a taste of what to expect if they decide to pursue a career in politics.”

Cllr Oliur Rahman, cabinet member for Children’s Services added: “Each year the elections are very closely fought and I urge all young people to get out there and vote for who they want to lead them.”

The elections were designed to introduce young people to democratic participation at an early age, as well as empowering young people to influence decisions made about them.

Now in its sixth year, the election is set to be bigger and bolder than previous years. New additions for this year include training around campaigning, leadership, public speaking and what it means to serve.

This training will ensure

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lice said they had not yet found any links between the arrests and the other factory fires.

Hasina’s remarks came the night before Tuesday’s day of mourning for those killed at the factory and for the victims from a recent overpass collapse in southeastern Bangladesh.

All apparel factories were to be closed Tuesday, and special prayers will be offered at mosques, churches and temples, the government said.

Meanwhile, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. put some distance

UK floods claim another life

The body of an elderly woman has been found in a flooded home in St Asaph, north Wales, as heavy rain continues to cause problems in England and Wales. David Cameron has said he is personally involved in flood insurance talks. Mr Cameron said: “It is obviously very traumatic when communities are hit by flooding like this... and now we need to help them with the recovery. We have to make sure their insurance pays out, make sure the Environment Agency puts in place good flood defences, make sure there are better warning schemes.”

Cyril Smith ‘did abuse boys’

each candidate can maximise their votes, as well as gain lifelong skills after the election.

Over the past five years, the Young Mayor elections have gained enormous momentum in engaging young people with local democracy and the world of politics.

The Young Mayor will be assisted by two deputies and supported by a team of youth workers as they represent 11 to 18-year-olds across the borough and participate in key decision-making processes.

Last year, there was record turnout for the elections with a turnout rate of 52.4 per cent as young people casted votes at polling stations in secondary schools, Idea Stores and youth clubs This year, another 17 youngsters have put themselves forward for the role and are canvassing for

support from their peers.

The Young Mayor will be announced on January 31, 2013.

When and where to vote Anyone aged 11 to 18 who lives, works or studies in Tower Hamlets is eligible to vote.

Secondary schools and colleges will be hosting official polling stations for their students on January 30 For those who don’t go school in the borough, polling stations will be manned the week before, as below: January 21-25, 5-8pm Idea Store Whitechapel, 321 Whitechapel Road E1; Idea Store Bow,1 Gladstone Place, Roman Road E3; Idea Store Chrisp Street, 1 Vesey Path, East India Dock Road E14; Idea Store Canary Wharf, Churchill Place E14 During this week, voting will also take place in most

youth centres. For more information, speak to a teacher or youth worker, or visit www. a m p . u k . n e t / y o u n g m a y o r.

Young people will need to take suitable ID (e.g. a public transport card) to confirm they are eligible, wherever they vote.

List of candidates 1. Jordan Barker 2. Sonia Begum 3. Shofiqul Alom 4. Ibrahim Faruqi 5. Mahdi Alam 6. Munadiah Aftab 7. Aktar Hussain 8. Tania Begum 9. Tanvir Raza 10. Tahid Zaman 11. Tasrin Chowdhury 12. Tahir Uddin 13. Joe Kavanagh 14. Sharmin Khan 15. Shabika Miah 16. Sadia Khan 17. Yehya Sheikh

Sheikh Hasina alleges arson to blame for factory fire deaths he clothing factory fire that killed more than 100 workers in Bangladesh over the weekend was no accident, the country’s prime minister said.

The fire Saturday at the factory near Dhaka, and a second fire at another factory Monday were “planned arson,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Monday.

Two people were arrested Monday trying to set fire to an apparel factory on the outskirts of Dhaka, but local po-

This Week

between it and the clothing factory, saying the factory was no longer authorized to produce merchandise for the company.

“A supplier subcontracted work to this factory without authorization and in direct violation of our policies. Today, we have terminated the relationship with that supplier,” Wal-Mart said Monday.

The clothing factory, housed in a multistory building near the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, caught fire Saturday night.

Sir Cyril Smith was a sex abuser of boys in the late 1960s, police have accepted.

The news comes as the Crown Prosecution Service admitted he should have been charged with the crimes more than 40 years ago. In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said the boys “were victims of physical and sexual abuse” by the late Rochdale MP. Sir Cyril was never charged despite investigations in 1970, 1998, and 1999.

Patten defends BBC pay-off

The chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, has told MPs he had no choice but to agree to a £450,000 pay-off to director general George Entwistle. Mr Entwistle, who had been in the job for just 54 days, resigned on 10 November after a row over Newsnight.

A Newsnight report had led to Thatcher-era Tory Lord McAlpine being wrongly accused of child abuse.

Gov’t misses jobs target

The government’s flagship welfare-to-work programme has failed to hit its main target, official figures show. Under the scheme, firms and charities are paid to help find jobs for the long-term unemployed. But only 3.53% of people found a job for six months or more – missing the coalition’s 5.5% target.

‘I pretended to be terrorist’

The PM claims the fire which killed more than 100 people was arson

A Birmingham man accused of plotting suicide bombings in the UK has told his trial he pretended to be a terrorist to make himself look big. Irfan Naseer said he posed as a trained plotter with al-Qaeda contacts after he was faced with rumours in his local community that he was a Pakistani spy.

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Features Oxfam concerned about humanitarian suffering in the Congo

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s the M23 armed group fights to take control of yet more territory in eastern DRC, and a multitude of other armed groups terrorise communities, there is a very real risk of complete collapse of state authority and the humanitarian crisis reaching new depths, Oxfam said.

Recent conflict has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people, with an estimated 120,000 people now in urgent need of aid. Many are sleeping in the open or sheltering in schools and other buildings and are now without vital humanitarian assistance.

“People are living in chaotic conditions. There are real fears that cholera and other fatal waterborne diseases could spread, as shortages of power and water in Goma have left thousands of people with no choice but to get water straight from Lake Kivu,” said Tariq Riebl, Oxfam’s humanitarian coordinator.

The agency called on regional and international governments to increase emergency aid to the region, ensure that people are protected from further violence, and urgently work towards finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

This week’s crisis in Goma may only be the tip of the iceberg, Oxfam said. Since April the number of rebel groups has mushroomed after the Government army pulled troops out of much of the east to focus on the M23 rebellion. Other armed groups took advantage of the security vacuum and now at least 25 rebel groups are active across North and South Kivu.

Most of the people affected by this week’s fighting were already living in camps after fleeing the massive increase in insecurity this year that has displaced 767,000 people across the east.

A shifting patchwork of territory, allegiances and agendas has created a constantly changing situation, and communities that Oxfam works with are afraid that some of these armed groups may opportunistically seize more territory as the crisis deteriorates.

“Chaos breeds chaos. It is communities that will get hit the hardest,” Riebl said. “Every day we hear of another attack against farmers as they work in the fields or traders as they go to market.

There are hardly any places left that are safe from conflict and violence.

The Consortium of Bengali Associations launches “Nodir Manush, The Sea People” at a press conference recently. The project will look at the migration of Bangladeshis

Bengali associations launch ‘Nodir Manush’ Press release From the Consortium of Bengali Associations

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n 18th October 2012 the Consortium of Bengali Associations (CBA) organised the Press Launch of their recent project titled “Nodir Manush, The Sea People”.

Mr Mahmud Hasan MBE, the Chairperson of CBA, welcomed everyone to the event. He also explained the background of the history of Bangladeshi people’s migration in the UK on 1940s, 50s and 60s highlighting their struggle against racism and language barriers.

Mr Helal Miah, The Project Manager, made a presentation about the project “Nodir Manush, the Sea People” and explained how it would develop and create the oral history of those who came to settle in this country in the 40s, 50s and 60s from Bangladesh.

The project would look at their migration and the reasons for that migration and then settlement here in the UK. CBA are also documenting the stories of people that migrated here from a fishing background – those people’s livelihoods that depended on the rivers and seas of Bangladesh.

Many merchant seamen (particularly those that came here with the East India Company) are no longer here with us, only a very few are still alive and we want to record their stories for the future generations. We would also like to take the final exhi-

The project is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and has established partnership with National Maritime Museum.

It has also committed support from Bangladesh High Commission, London and Greater London Authority

bition on a tour of the UK. The final exhibition will be hosted at the Greater London Authority (The Mayor’s Office).

The project is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and has established partnership with National Maritime Museum. It has also committed support from Bangladesh High Commission, London and Greater London Authority.

It has recruited 10 volunteers from 10 local voluntary organisations, who are the driving force of the project. Mr Miah also requested people to contact CBA if they know anyone who came to settle in this country in the 40s and 50s.

The Chief Guest Mr Rashed Chowdhury, the Asst. High Commissioner of Bangladesh expressed his appreciation of the project and confirmed his commitments to support the project in all possible way.

Mr Murad Qureshi, GLA Assembly Member, one of our special guests also talked about his own families migration and how it relates to the project and expressed his admiration to the work that the project is undertaking. He also pledged to support the project.

Among other speakers two our volunteers (13 year old Cameron Nessa – from George Green Secondary School and Sultana Kulsum – from Jeremiah Children’s Welfare Project) who are working on the project spoke about their experiences and enjoyments from the project. Mr Andrew Ferguson, the Project’s mentor and Mr Jonathan Hems, Director of J-go Consultants also spoke at the event.

There was a Q & A session and guests enquired about different aspect of the project.

The event was closed by Rifat Wahhab, the Secretary of CBA, who summarised the event and thanked everyone for their support to the project.

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29 November 2012

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Features

Jenny Bond drove 220 miles to be at the British Curry Awards and show her support for the restaurant industry in the UK. (From left) Jenny Bond, Dipna Anand, Enam Ali and Francis Maude

British Curry Awards honours restaurant industry talent T

he British Curry Awards were held last week and the winners have been announced. Some very well-known names were present at the awards and here is a selection of their quotes:

Prime Minister David Cameron “It’s often said that curry is Britain’s national dish and it’s easy to see why. It’s not just the flavour served up in the thousands of the curry restaurants across the country, it is the welcome too. Those who work in the curry industry enliven Britain’s high streets, boost local economies and contribute to local communities.”

Jenny Bond “I have driven 220 miles through the floods of Devon to be here tonight at the most prestigious awards in the curry industry.”

Chris Grayling MP “This ceremony goes from strength to strength each year. It is a fantastic occasion to celebrate new restaurants and rising stars of the future.”

Enam Ali MBE, the pioneering founder of the British Curry Awards as well as many innovative restaurants, presented the ceremony last week in the presence of many special guests from politics and entertainment

The Winners • Best Delivery Restaurant/Take-away by Justeat.com – MUSHTAQS (Hamilton, Lanarkshire) • Best Restaurant Scotland - TAJ INDIAN (Prestwick) • Best Restaurant North East - AAGRAH (Leeds) • Best Spice Restaurant North West - INDIAN OCEAN (Ashton-u-Lyne) • Best Spice Restaurant Midlands – ITIHAAS (Birmingham)

• Best Newcomer Restaurant Midlands - FIVE RIVERS A LA CARTE (Walsall) • Best Restaurant Wales - RASOI INDIAN KITCHEN (Swansea) • Best Restaurant South East - HAWELI INDIAN RESTAURANT (Twyford, Berkshire) • Best Newcomer Restaurant South East - SHAMPAN 4 THE SPINNING WHEEL (Westerham, Kent) • Best Restaurant South West - SPICE LODGE (Cheltenham) • Best Restaurant South West - THE MINT ROOM (Yeovil, Somerset) • Best Restaurant Central London & City - BOMBAY PALACE (Paddington) • Best Newcomer Restaurant Central London & City – CHAKRA (Notting Hill) • Best Restaurant London Suburbs - CHAK 89 (Surrey) • Best in Casual Dining - THE CHILLI PICKLE (Brighton, East Sussex) • Special Inspiration Award - Dipna Anand of Brilliant Restaurant - Female Chef

‘It’s often said that curry is Britain’s national dish and it’s easy to see why. It’s not just the flavour served up in the thousands of the curry restaurants across the country, it is the welcome too’