Street Cred Magazine - July 2020

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The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2020 - Page 17

Music fashion Film Gadgets holiday education health and fitness

JULY 2020

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Friends Unite For JA

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GRAND THEATRE AWARDED EMERGENCY FUNDING

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l (L to R) Hardish Virk, Jay Singh, Peter Chand, Jaivant Patel,Vicky Price, Ranjit Khutan, Pushpa Alexander, Ram Singh

olverhampton Grand Theatre has been granted a £30,000 funding bid from Arts Council England.

In April 2020 Arts Council England announced a 160 million emergency response package to the Covid-19 pandemic. A proportion of this money was set aside for Non-NPO organisations of which the Grand is one.

Over the last three years the Grand has made huge strives with its Community and Audience Development work and this funding will be used to continue over the next twelve months.

Highlights of previous success include: • The Grand collaborated with every secondary school in Wolverhampton over 2018 and

2019.

• Developed the first South Asian Ambassador group and increased South Asian Audiences by 20%.

• The first theatre in Midlands to deliver a full programme of work for patrons living with Dementia.

• Worked with community groups including, Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline, Breast Cancer Support Group Wolverhampton and the Refugee & Migrant Centre and The Teenage Cancer Trust.

Consultant Hardish Virk has been working with the Grand for the last eighteen months predominantly leading the South Asian Ambassador group and now, thanks to the funding will continue into 2021. He said, "The debate around diversity, inclusion, access and equality is nothing new to the arts sector, but what is satisfying is when an arts organisation commits to strategic development and change.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre has demonstrated over the last 18 months a cross-departmental commitment to developing South

Asian audiences (who make up a high percentage of the local ethnic population but historically has not been reflected in the theatres' audiences).

This has included a process of setting up an ambassadors' group; addressing representation on the board, staff and in the programming; developing local and regional partners; community outreach work; audience development campaigns; cultural awareness training and mentoring for existing staff.”

He continued to say, “There has already been significant organisational development in terms of learning, representation and partnerships plus an increase in South Asian audiences but we recognise that sustainable change and development requires longterm investment.

Grand Theatre Associate Director of Development and Communications, Vicky Price said, “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this funding from the Arts Council. The work carried out by the dedicated Grand Theatre team has created a huge sense of pride and accomplishment.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Sitting In Limbo – A Story Beyond The Windrush Scandal

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ritten by Stephen S. Thompson, this hard-hitting BBC factbased drama, inspired by the ‘Windrush Scandal’, ‘Sitting In Limbo’ followed the traumatic and emotion-filled experiences of Anthony Bryan, who was wrongfully detained by the UK Home Office and threatened with deportation.

With a powerful cat - led by Birmingham-born actor Patrick Robinson and Nadine Marshall - this was the shocking story highlighting just one of the hundreds of stories about people who were wrongfully detained, and then deported in too many cases, by the UK government,

having been in Britain; working and paying taxes, plus so many other relevant contributions, and then the long and too-often wronged path Jamaican-born British citizen Bryan follows; from his working life in the UK, his arrest, custodial spell, through to his wrongful imprisonment.

As a member of the Commonwealth and under the British Nationality Act 1948, he, and the hundreds of others in his situation, had a legal right to be granted full settlement in the country without citizenship documents.

But, having lived in the UK for some 50-years, Anthony still found himself subject to the UK government’s so-called

‘hostile environment’, which was introduced by the then Home Secretary Theresa May. During his long and ‘emotionallyexpensive’ journey to clarification of his obvious legitimacy, he loses his job and unable to claim any benefits, is forcibly removed from his home and detained as an illegal immigrant.

“The government is living ‘fast and loose’ with their deportation tactics”, Bryan’s barrister said when the case was heard in court.

But after sitting in limbo for 5-weeks in detention, and a lastminute intervention by his legal team, he was not deported.

“Even the judge criticised them (the Home Office)” Anthony’s son said.

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In light of the environment which has developed worldwide, following the brutal murder of George Floyd in the US, it’s the institutionalised racism that is

cutting deeper for too many for no other reason than not looking the same.

‘Sitting In Limbo’ proved to be just a ‘smortiss-board’ of what

has always – and, sadly - still is overwhelmingly prominent in today’s world.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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Grammy to drop ‘urban’ from award category

l Sushant Singh Rajput

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Bollywood mourn death of superstar Sushant Singh Rajput

he Grammys are set to stop using the word “urban” to describe music of Black origin in its awards category.

The prize for the ‘Best Urban Contemporary Album’ will now be renamed ‘Best Progressive R&B Album’ amongst other changes.

The Recording Academy said that the changes had to be made to ensure that its awards were “inclusive and that it reflected

the current state of the music industry”.

The move follows Republic Records saying that it would no longer use the word ‘urban’ to describe its department and music genre.

Chief Awards Officer, Bill Freimuth, said: “As a peer-driven and peer-voted awards, members of the music community are directly involved in the growth and preservation of the Grammy process.

“Each year we receive a number of rule change proposals from artists, producers and songwriters asking us to reevaluate our process to better reflect the current state of the music industry and how it’s evolved over the past 12 months.

On television, HBO Max, has taken off the classic film, ‘Gone with the Wind’ following calls for it to be removed.

The US streaming service said that the film, made in 1939,

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was “a product of its time” and depicted “ethnic and racial prejudices that were wrong then and wrong today”.

Set during and after the American Civil War, the film has long been attacked for its depiction of slavery.

Ironically, one of its stars, Hattie McDaniel, became the first Black actor to be nominated for, and win, an Academy Award for her role as the domestic servant, Mammy.

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aid to be one of the biggest stars in Bollywood, one of its best known and shining light, Sushant Singh Rajput, was found dead in his apartment in Mumbai, in India.

Mumbai police announced the tragic news before saying that they believed that his took own life Best known for his role in ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, where he played the legendary cricketer, the 34-year-old Bihar-born star was also well-known as being popular for his TV work.

The actor’s last film was

‘Chhichhore’, which was released in 2019.

His former manager, Disha Salian, 28, died in the recent past days after falling from the 14th floor of a Mumbai building.

In an Instagram story following her passing Rajpul wrote; ‘It’s such devastating news. My deepest condolences to Disha’s family and friends. May your soul rest in peace.’

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi was among the many people who paid tribute calling him “a bright young actor gone too soon”.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Streisand and West investing in future of Gianni Floyd Singer and actor Barbara Streisand has made George Floyd’s six-year-old daughter a stockholder in Disney.

Gianni Floyd posted a picture of her new shares on Instagram, thanking Streisand in the caption.

“Thank You Barbara Streisand for my package, I am now a Disney Stockholder thanks to you”, she wrote.

Shares in Disney are currently valued at around $115 (£92). Before the coronavirus pandemic, they traded as high as $150 (£120).

It is not clear how many shares Streisand purchased for Gianni, whose father was murdered whilst in police custody, after an officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds – his death sparking worldwide protests for an end to racism and demands for police reform.

Hip-Hop mogul Kanye West has also provided financial support for the schoolgirl having launched a college fund to cover the cost of her tuition.

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PRIDE 2020 TO TAKE TO STREETS OF BIRMINGHAM

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,000 digital billboards across the UK - donated

by Clear Channel - will be taken over with photographic images created by and featuring members of the LGBTQ+ community celebrating Pride from their homes Every summer, towns and cities across the UK including Birmingham are filled with LGBTQ+ people celebrating Pride, but this year that wasn’t going to happen - until now.

New grassroots campaign Pride Inside will see queer people take over digital outdoor screens in all four nations of the UK with stunning images of what Pride means to them to ensure their continued visibility this Pride month.

The initiative - the brainchild of writer, performer and drag star Ginger Johnson - is

supported by Out of Home media and infrastructure company Clear Channel, which has donated 1,000 digital billboards the length of the country from Glasgow to Southampton, including iconic Storm sites on Lambeth Palace Road and Hammersmith Tower in London.

The campaign aims to represent the full spectrum of the diverse LGBTQ+ community, with more than 120 queer contributors and photographers teaming up to create images from their homes or local public spaces, all socially distanced of course.

They include the lead singer of a Belfast queer punk band - together with her pet rat, a Newcastle drag king, an NHS nurse in south London, original members of the Gay Liberation Front and an award-winning

engineer who came to the UK as a refugee and went on to named one of the BBC’s top 100 influential women in the world.

The images will appear from Monday June 15 for two weeks, with a potential reach of around 10 million people.

Pride Inside hopes the campaign will inspire other queer people across the UK to carry on the Pride celebrations at home and create their own images, posting them online under the #PrideInsideUK hashtag.

A specially designed website will feature resources to allow people to learn more about Pride, those taking part in Pride Inside and how they can engage with each other.

Sewing machines flying off the shelves as #BigCommunitySew grips the nation Surging demand for sewing machines has seen many stockists sell out across the UK, as thousands of people have joined the #BigCommunitySew in a national effort to provide everyone with face coverings.

From Monday it will be compulsory to wear a face covering on public transport, and volunteer sewers across the country have been stepping

up their efforts to ensure communities are prepared.

The fashion designer and founder of the #BigCommunitySew, Patrick Grant, who is better known as a judge on BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee, estimated that over 350,000 face coverings had been made. Paying tribute to the sewing community, he said they had become a “volunteering powerhouse” and wasn’t

surprised that sewing machines were now in short supply.

“You can’t buy one for love nor money,” he said. “For thousands of people, sewing has gone from being a hobby to an essential service. Sewing machinists have been looking after the NHS, providing hundreds of thousands of scrubs, and now they’re doing the same for the wider community in making face coverings.

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AVICII Invector Encore Edition To Hit the Switch!

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he critically acclaimed rhythm game, AVICII Invector comes to Nintendo Switch September 8th on what would have been the powerhouse performer’s 31st Birthday.

In August, avid fans will be able to jump into the critically acclaimed action with a free demo, available on the Nintendo eShop.

All new tracks to debut on Nintendo™ Switch will be available to purchase as downloadable

content for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Created by Hello There Games, in partnership with Wired Productions Ltd., and supported by AVICII Music, AVICII Invector Encore Edition continues the vision set out

by AVICII himself, fusing music with gameplay to give players a new way to experience the artists legacy.

In the spirit of celebrating AVICII’s music, AVICII’s friends and family has completed the project started by the Swedish

DJ himself as AVICII Invector Encore Edition takes players on a pulsating adventure, soaring through stunning environments with the precision and skill to master all difficulties. Tim Bergling’s vision for experiencing his music will see players turn up, tune-in and fully immerse themselves in an audio/ visual dimension of serenely zen visualscapes.

Both the Wired Productions and Hello There Games teams are music fans through and through,

and recognise its ability to make a lasting impact on the world stage.

As such, all music royalties will support The Tim Bergling Foundation, which advocates for the recognition of suicide as a global health emergency and promotes removing the stigma attached to the discussion of mental health issues.

AVICII Invector is available now for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and releases as the Encore Edition on September 8th 2020 for Nintendo Switch and PS4 in physical retail.

New safety measures in place as Cadbury World prepares to reopen

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adbury World, the much-loved family tourist attraction, has announced a raft of new measures to help guests enjoy their visit safely and maintain social distancing, as the team prepares to reopen after the COVID-19 lockdown.

The planned changes include reducing the number of visitors admitted each day and asking all guests to pre-book tickets. On arrival, everyone will also have their temperature checked before entering the attraction.

Visitors will still be able to enjoy the full self-guided tour of Cadbury World, which now includes social distancing circles laid out on the floor, helping everyone to stay a safe distance apart. Hand sanitising stations have also been installed in each zone.

Guests will be able to take a magical journey through Beanville on the Cadabra ride, seeing the talented chocolatiers in action before drawing their name in chocolate in the Have A Go zone. Famous Cadbury

characters, including Freddo and the Caramel Bunny, will also return to meet and greet guests.

Cadbury World also plans to extend its opening hours on weekends and during the school holidays to help spread visitors out throughout each day.

Gerrard Baldwin, general manager at Cadbury World, commented: “The health and safety of our guests and employees is our number one priority and the whole team has been working incredibly hard over the past three months to introduce our new safety measures, from enhanced cleaning to social distancing guidance.

“We’re delighted to hear the government’s latest announcement which now provides the certainty for us to plan for our opening date.

We look forward to being able to announce that very soon and start welcoming visitors back safely to our chocolatey world.”

For more information about Cadbury World, please visit www.cadburyworld.co.uk.

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Stormzy pledges £10m to fight racial inequality

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l Stormzy (Frank Schwichtenberg, CC BY-SA 4.0) usic superstar, Stormzy has made a pledge in the form of £10 million to organisations, charities and movements in the UK who are tackling racial inequality, justice reform and Black empowerment.

The internationally-renowned multi-award winning grime star said that he will make his donation over the next 10 years.

He said: “We have to fight against the odds of a racist system that is stacked against us and is designed for us to fail from before we are even born”.

The Croydon-born artist, who is of Ghanaian parents, said that he was making the donation to fight racial inequality because “the uncomfortable truth that our country continuously fails to recognise and admit, is that

Black people in the UK have been at a constant disadvantage in every aspect of life – simply due to the colour of our skin.

“I’m lucky enough to be in the position I’m in and I’ve heard people often dismiss the idea of racism existing in Britain by saying ‘If the country is so racist how have you become a success?!’ and I reject that with this: I am not the UK’s shining example of what supposedly happens when a Black person works hard.

“There are millions of us. We are not far and few. We have to fight against the odds of a racist system stacked against us and designed for us to fail from before we are even born.

He has also funded Black British students at Cambridge University.

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Dennis Lloyd shares video for new single from debut album

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ulti-platinum international artist Dennis Lloyd shares the animated video for his new single; ‘Alien’ that was released via Arista Records, the first track off his forthcoming debut album.

Directed by Yoav Aluf at Plonter Animation Studios, the video tells a story about an alien who crashes on earth and meets a young boy who helps him search for his lost dog.

Despite the alien initially being reluctant to trust the boy, the two form a strong bond throughout their journey together.

The video’s message is that regardless of our backgrounds, we’re all looking for the same things in life: to feel loved, safe

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and to have a place we can call home.

Lloyd stated: “This was the first song I wrote after returning home from tour. At some point on the road you can lose track of where you are, waking up in a new city or country each day, to new people, cultures and foods.

In a way I felt like an alien on a spaceship, exploring the world.”

Born and raised in Tel Aviv, in Israel, Lloyd released his debut EP, “Exident”, last year. The lead single, ‘Never Go Back’ landed on Spotify’s sought-after playlist, Today’s Top Hits, on day one of its release.

TIME Magazine praised ‘Never Go Back’ as an “equally alluring follow up” to Lloyd’s global smash, ‘Nevermind.’

In addition, Forbes proclaimed,

“Lloyd creatively blends the elements of pop, R&B, rock and reggae, breaking global boundaries in addition to crossing them.”

Lloyd travelled the world on the sold-out Never Go Back Tour, with highlights including show-stopping sets at Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, New York City’s Governors Ball and Dover, DE’s Firefly Festival.

Last autumn, he embarked on the sold-out Never Go Back Tour: Part III, which spanned across 16 European countries.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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ive Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company, have announced Utilita Live From The Drive-In – a series of live drive-in concerts situated across 12 venues in the U.K. Live Nation is reimagining the live music experience during a time of social distancing by allowing fans to enjoy concerts in a one-of-a-kind drive-in setting from their own private individual viewing zones next to their cars.

Designed to comply with all official guidelines, Utilita Live From The Drive-In will deliver the U.K.’s premier drive-in experience featuring a series of music concerts, theatre performances, comedy shows and family experiences this Summer.

Utilita Live From The DriveIn will see some of the biggest names in U.K. music perform live on stage backed by a full concert production that audiences can experience from the comfort of their designated area, with each vehicle appropriately distanced from one another.

‘Utilita Live From The DriveIn’ will also offer carefully curated family events for kids of all ages from West End theatre

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Live Nation UK Announces Summer Concert Series

extravaganzas to interactive science shows, fun live music and DJs and some very wellknown TV stars and characters from children television – more to be announced and added to the schedule.

Utilita Live From The DriveIn confirmed live performances with more to be announced already include: Ash, Beverley Knight, Bjorn Again, Brainiac

Live, Brand New Heavies, Camp Bestival Live, Cream Classical Ibiza, Dizzee Rascal, Embrace, Gary Numan, Jack Savoretti, Kaiser Chiefs, Lightning Seeds, Nathan Dawe, Reggae Roast Vs Gentleman's Dub Club, Russell Watson, Sheku and Isata KannehMason, Sigala, Skindred, The Snuts, The Streets, The Zutons and Tony Hadley.

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erformances by Bounty Killer, Busy Signal, Skip Marley, Beenie Man, Christopher Martin, Lila Ike, Sister Nancy, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, and music by Max Glazer Federation Sound provided the focal point for the #FriendsUniteForJA Benefit Concert that aimed at raising vital funds to help communities impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in Jamaica.

The 60 minute virtual benefit concert, sponsored by JetBlue, Caribbean Food Delights, GraceKennedy, Caribbean Producers Jamaica, Sanmerna and First Global Bank pulled out all the stops to support the star-studded worthwhile event.

Streamed and broadcasted to millions of viewers in the USA, Canada, the UK and around the world, on multiple platforms, the event, hosted by DJ Khaled and Record Producer, Busta Rhymes was set up to raise funds for children and families and also aid communities on the island who are affected by the pandemic.

While the recorded death rates have been contained in the Caribbean island, the fallout of the quarantine still persisted despite the government’s efforts as the coronavirus crisis continue to create unique challenges that have led to job losses and school closures, which in turn, directly affects food instability and impacts on already vulnerable communities.

And, despite the massive efforts by the government, healthcare workers and the county’s citizens, Jamaica remains in great need of external support for its population – especially the more vulnerable groups.

President of the AFJ (American Friends of Jamaica) said: “The AFJ’s #FriendsUniteForJA Virtual Benefit Concert was a call to action for those who love Jamaica and want to help the most vulnerable communities on the island who have been most impacted by Covid-19.

“The work of the AFJ is always focused on supporting the people of Jamaica and we ask all who are Friends of Jamaica to join us and to donate what they can.”

Executive Director of the AFJ said, “Covid-19 has affected the livelihood of many across Jamaica and requires collaborative effort if the country is to restore its standing.

“We come together as Jamaicans and Friends of Jamaica in a spirit of Unity and Solidarity.”

The event provided an opportunity to tell the Covid story from Jamaica’s perspective with a heartening representation of human resiliency as attendees were able to view the broadcast in a dedicated chat room with friends - which began 30mins before the telecast - with each chat room containing 10 participants in an exclusive experience similar to a zoom chat format that included special guests and celebrity drop-ins.

Following the initial broadcast, the #FriendsUniteForJA Benefit Concert is available on YouTube to continue encouraging organisations and individuals to contribute to fundraising for food insecurity, education and economic impact programs in Jamaica.

The show was restreamed live on VP Records, Tuff Gong International, HYPE TV and Swish TV/The Phoenix YouTube channels, Jamaicans Inspired, Reggae Britannia Twitter & Instagram and other media platforms.

Donate to this worthy cause at afjdonate.org

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Todrick Hosts Global Pride

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he fabulous, multifaceted Todrick Hall has captured the current situation in his own inimitable style with his COVID-19 themed anthem ‘Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs’ and the ‘Quarantine Queen’ EP. His profile has since exploded, resulting in him being chosen as the iconic cover star of Billboard’s

Pride 2020 issue, headlining HBO’s first ever digital Pride and appearing on numerous landmark TV shows including The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Todrick Hall had another big week, which culminated with him hosting Global Pride for YouTube via his channel.

He performed on the main stage as part of an all-star line-up that

features artists over 24 hours such as Adam Lambert and Melissa Etheridge, while the event will also feature videos from over 500 Pride organisations from all over the world.

It has been estimated that an international audience of up to 3 billion people visited Todrick’s channel throughout the course of the event.

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Facebook Awards Funding To Academic Partnership

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acebook has awarded funding to a team of academics from the City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI) at the University of Birmingham, the School of Geographical Sciences at the University of Bristol, and the Alan Turing Institute, to undertake datadriven research focusing on how the ongoing digital revolution affects regional economic growth and the industrial landscape, and

which businesses and places reap higher benefits from digitalisation in the UK. Digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things, enable innovation and promote economic development, creating new opportunities for industry sectors and regions.

However, these technologies can also lead to significant socio-economic and geographical divides, with many areas unable to access the benefits and opportunities these technologies provide.

The research team, using data to uncover the extent and scope of the digital divide, will work extensively with .uk domain datasets taken from the Internet Archive, a publicly available digital library, preserving the public web.

Complementing this data, micro-data from the Business Structure Database, a live register of firms registered for VAT and/or Pay As You Earn (PAYE) in the UK, and data from the UK Innovation Survey will be used to provide

a comprehensive analysis of how the digital footprint varies across the UK, by sector and geography.

Lead-researcher, Professor Raquel Ortega-Argiles from the University of Birmingham, states, “The Digital Economy is now part of the fabric of people’s lives, and our reliance on it has only grown since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This further highlights technology’s capacity to disrupt, either to support the levelling up agenda for regional economies, or to strengthen the divisive growth paths.

“This research will inform how the UK can address and rebalance these regional inequalities.”

Metroidvania Fans Get Your Wallets Ready

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ith one of the first consoles I owned being a SNES and one of the most memorable games from that console being Super Metroid, when I first saw Outbuddies DX my younger self jumped for joy.

From the superb audio soundscape, to the perfect pixel art, Outbuddies DX brings everything that MetroidVania fans could want in a game.

Set deep in the Ocean and infested with hostile Lovecraftian creatures and lethal environmental hazards, players must dash, dodge, and blast through Bahlam, a danger-filled sunken fortress of the Old Gods.

By deploying the Buddy unit to manipulate and scout the surroundings through hacking, scanning and telekinesis, the players will discover ancient weapon systems and gear upgrades to battle through a gigantic sunken labyrinth.

Outbuddies DX offers a nonlinear gear-based progression system for both combat and level-layouts. Selecting weapons from the four-tier upgradeable system, as well as split-second reflexes and memorisation of attack patterns are essential for players to stand a chance against an onslaught of unforgiving bosses and to escape Bahlam’s hostile maze.

Outbuddies’ praised atmosphere is supported by OGRE’s thematic soundtrack written as an ode to the 16-

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bit Megadrive/Genesis era.

Based on the feedback from corespeedrunners and Metroid-enthusiasts since the game‘s PC release, Outbuddies DX now offers vastly improved visuals and a variety of new features added to the well-received original.

Outbuddies’ local co-op mode allows a second player to control Buddy with an expanded tool set.

The only slight drawback personally is the inability to change your controls. While this may not seem like a dealbreaker for many people, the control scheme for Outbuddies is complicated at best, and confusing at worst.

However, once you’ve got your head around the button combinations and sometimes unforgiving mechanics, the game opens up to reveal a very polished game with some incredible waves of nostalgia at every turn.

From the nod to Metroid’s “portal doors” that you open with a shot, and some with charged shots or missiles, as well as bombs and all the usual tropes, Outbuddies DX is an entertaining and fun trip through Bahlam.

Outbuddies DX is now available on Steam, GOG, Humble, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. We reviewed it on the Nintendo Switch, which is currently £14.99 at time of writing.

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Birmingham Botanical Gardens Re-opens B irmingham Botanical Gardens, the historic, heritage attraction, is to re-open its doors this week for the first time since closing in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The independent charity which runs and maintains the 15 acres of grounds with lawns, seasonal borders and Grade II listed glasshouses introduced a safe, phased re-opening from June 17th, to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.

James Wheeler, chief executive of the Gardens, which is located in Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, said all visitors must book an allocated slot online, which will help to restrict numbers entering and to avoid queues, in accordance with Government advice and best practice.

“We are so pleased to be able to announce the re-opening of the Gardens, in line with Government advice, so that

our members and visitors can enjoy our wide open spaces and tranquil environment while maintaining all-important social distancing,” he said.

Last month, the Gardens announced it had received a lifeline £47,500 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Emergency Fund to help it meet its running costs after closing on March 24 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The closure meant the charity received no revenue from entry fees, weddings and conferences.

When it opens its doors, the gardens, glasshouses, shops and plant sales will be open, although the tea room and children’s playground will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

The Gardens will be open daily from 10am until 6pm, subject to change, and to ensure there is effective social distancing, everyone must book a time slot in advance.

ENTERTAINMENT

Now is the time to Play At Home with Escape Hunt

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scape Hunt, the global provider of immersive entertainment experiences, has released a brand-new game in its ‘Play At Home’ collection.

‘Level Up’ is a one-hour experience suitable for one to six players aged eight and over. The game can be played within households or via video chat, so it is perfect for friends, family members or colleagues looking to connect and have some fun while still social distancing.

In Level Up, players have discovered a mysterious old console from the 1980s and must play their way through the retro game levels to beat the computer and shut it down before a dangerous virus hiding in the software escapes.

Downloads cost £14.99 per game at https://bit.ly/3elj9Y6, so get your favourite gamers together and step into the digital world in this race to save yourselves and uncover the dark secrets of the Seiyako Technologies videogame empire.

Since opening in 2013, Escape Hunt has expanded rapidly, opening nearly 50 locations across 27 countries around the world and entertaining thousands who have enjoyed their current games.

Escape Hunting involves teammates losing themselves in incredible new worlds, taking on pulse-racing missions and facing exciting challenges created by the Escape Hunt Studios team. Groups must work together to follow a series of fiendishly clever clues and complete their mission before their time is up.

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Why E10 Eco Fuel Could Damage Classic Cars A Hagerty UK investigation into the imminent introduction of E10 fuel has highlighted the risks it poses to hundreds of thousands of owners of classic cars, modern cars and motorcycles alike.

Experts warn that the introduction of E10 is the most significant threat to old cars since the switch from leaded to unleaded fuel.

Four-star fuel was banned in Britain from 2000, on environmental grounds. It’s for similar concerns over air pollution and CO2 emissions that E10 will soon be dispensed by the nation’s petrol pumps.

The Government has targeted 2050 as the year that Britain

will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to a net zero. By introducing E10 fuel it is claimed CO2 emissions could be reduced by 750,000 tonnes per year.

That’s the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road.

Although many cars run E5 without significant problems, doubling the amount of ethanol in the fuel can cause a variety of issues in older cars.

Ethanol is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water from the atmosphere.

This can lead to condensation in fuel tanks, fuel lines and carburettors and cause corrosion in brass, copper, lead, tin and zinc components.

INTRODUCING THE NEW ‘BUSINESS CLASS’ HOME OFFICE

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ith home working looking set to stay, GlamperRV, the bespoke luxury motorhome brand, is launching a new ‘business class’ home office the GlamperRV Business Line - which can also be used as a mobile office hotel, and on post lockdown weekends away or adventurous touring holidays.

Offering an ultimate home office space without the need to move house, the GlamperRV Business Line motorhome will enable business people to travel to meetings while avoiding hotels, restaurants and additional shared facilities.

Full business class facilities include a large central desk, LED lighting, bathroom, multiple USB charging points, mobile wifi, Nespresso coffee machine,

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large fridge freezer, blackout blinds and plug sockets without the need for an electric hook up, courtesy of a powerful in-built inverter.

Measuring 7.39m long and 2.33m wide, the GlamperRV Business Line also comes with full kitchen facilities, separate bedroom with double bed and en-suite shower room, additional drop-down double bed and a large garage space for bikes or other storage.

Customable options range from large flat screens to living space air conditioning and exterior gas points so you can fire up the BBQ at the end of the working day.

Out of hours, the GlamperRV Business Line will sleep up to four people, along with seating for four to five around its large central desk.

Says GlamperRV managing

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director Lucy Caillé: “Working from home looks set to become the ‘new normal’ for many business people as a result of COVID-19. Finding the right long-term solution for home working is now high on the agenda for many people - along with a safer overnight option for when we do need to travel to meetings and work away from home post lockdown, without the need to share facilities or stay in a hotel.

“It’s also an ideal solution for those who will need to return to work-away commuting a few days a week at business class standards. Thousands of pubs, farms and even vineyards across the country in addition to the more traditional campsites already offer overnight parking for RV campers.”

The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2020 - Page 29

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MOTORS

Celebrating 25TH ANNIVERSARY M OF HISTORIC LE MANS WIN cLaren Automotive is celebrating one of McLaren’s greatest motorsport achievements – victory on its first attempt in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – with a special edition 720S coupé. Just 16 of this Le Mans edition will be available in Europe, from a total of 50 worldwide.

The 720S Le Mans has been created to mark 25 years since McLaren F1 GTR #59 won the world-famous endurance race. Driven by JJ Lehto, Yannick Dalmas and Masanori Sekiya, the car took the chequered flag on June 18, 1995. Three other McLaren F1 GTRs finished in the top five, with victory at Le Mans also ensuring McLaren a place in motorsport history as winners of the French 24-hour classic, the Formula 1 World Championship and the Indianapolis 500.

Taking the 720S supercar to a new level of exclusivity, each of the Le Mans edition cars carries a dedication plate featuring a ‘McLaren 25 Anniversary Le Mans’ logo. The VIN of each car will begin with 298, in recognition of the number of laps completed by the race-winning F1 GTR – one more than its closest rival.

2nd Place For Aston Martin In Le Mans 24 Virtual The FIA World Endurance GTE Championship leaders Aston Martin Racing secured a dramatic runner-up spot in the GTE class of the first ever Le Mans 24 Virtual, the spectacular official online simulation of the event of the world’s most famous endurance race.

Having qualified fifth on Friday, the four-man crew of the #95 Aston Martin Vantage GTE ‘Dane Train’ comprising of GTE Pro points leader Nicki Thiim (DEN), fellow Aston Martin Racing driver Richard Westbrook, Lasse Sørensen and sim-racing ace Manuel Biancolilla (I) held their nerve in a fiercely-contested battle with old real-world foes Porsche and Corvette to rise up to P2 in the final hours of the race.

Thiim made a fantastic start with a triple stint that ensured the car was in the hunt from the off. Staying on the lead lap for much of the race thanks to strong stints by Westbrook and Biancolilla. Sørensen – the brother of Thiim’s teammate Marco - fittingly took the chequered flag having produced a scintillating triple-stint through the night and ensured the #95 was in a position to capitalise as others fell by the wayside.

Ducati Starts Production Of The Superleggera V4 The first Superleggera V4 has come off the Borgo Panigale production line (click here for the video).

This is the #001 of the 500 units scheduled in a limited and numbered series; the only motorcycle in the world approved for road use with a frame, swingarm and carbon fibre rims, is finally available.

A masterpiece of mechanical engineering, technique and "made in Italy" design, which sets a new benchmark in terms of performance, style and attention to detail.

The exclusivity of the materials and technical solutions adopted on the Superleggera V4 are also reflected in the maximum number of motorcycles envisaged: 500 numbered units accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

The progressive numbering of the motorcycles (XXX/500), coinciding with the chassis number, is shown on the steering

head, and on the ignition key.

The uniqueness of the Superleggera V4 project is underlined by the experiences that Ducati together with Ducati Corse have exclusively reserved for the owners of the motorcycle: the "Superbike Experience" the possibility for all fans who purchase a Superleggera V4 to be able to try out the Panigale V4 R that takes part in the SBK World Championship on track at Mugello.

Even more incredible and exclusive is the opportunity - limited to 30 owners of the Superleggera V4 - to purchase access to the "MotoGP Experience", thus realizing the dream of every sports motorcycle enthusiast.

For the first time it will be possible to ride the Desmosedici GP on the circuit, followed directly by Ducati Corse technicians. Both “Experiences” have been confirmed for 2021.

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Page 30 - The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2020

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Piera Van de Wiel releases ‘Used’ to end violence against women

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reakout musician Piera Van de Wiel has captured the attention of the United Nations to raise awareness of the increase in domestic violence due to Covid-19 quarantine through her breakout new single ‘Used’.

In the song’s impactful lyrics, Piera sheds light on the dark reality of domestic violence by giving women around the world the voice they deserve. She is passionate about social impact and understands how music can be used as a vehicle to increase awareness of global causes.

‘Used’ is an emotional rollercoaster of how people can feel so safe when they let your barriers down, only to feel used, abused and taken for granted. However, it ends with a lasting positive message of strength and hope.

Piera Van de Wiel’s song ‘Used’ is available through all the normal channels. All proceeds from her new song are going to the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women.

This aims to prevent violence against women and girls by empowering groups especially at risk of violence, including adolescent girls and indigenous or ethnic minority women, and by engaging strategically with boys and men as well as traditional and faithbased leaders to prevent violence.

A singer-songwriter and actor passionate about social impact and storytelling, Piera is the founder of ‘Stronger with Music’, a collective that promotes the importance of music and mental health and music and social impact.

She has worked and performed with various organisations globally, including the Barefoot College International, Applaud Our Kids Foundation at 54 Below, the Aspire Artemis Foundation.

Poera has sung at the United Nations headquarters in New York for International Women's Day, sponsored by the Mission of Djibouti, and at other UN-sponsored events around the world.

Five Major Reveals at The Guerrilla Collective Award-winning game publisher, Headup, has surprised global indie fans with five major reveals in the first two days of the Guerrilla Collective Event.

On the first day Headup revealed a world premiere of the upcoming roguelike card game RPG Cardaclysm, developed by Elder Games.

Another surprise was the release date announcement and kick-off pre-order for the wild-west top-down shooter, Colt Canyon for PC, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on June 16. You can pre-order this action-fueled pixel art gem now with a discount!

Last but not Least, two console games, the SHMUP Rigid Force Redux and the true Metroivania gem Outbuddies DX, were officially released alongside the event for Nintendo Switch and Xbox One. Yes, you can grab and start playing them immediately!

On the second day, Headup will reveal a world premier of the unique adventure game

Lost At Sea, currently in development by the criticallyacclaimed creators of The Inner World franchise and the studio behind the 2020 IGF honorable mention Minute Of Islands, Studio Fizbin.

Lost At Sea is a game about life. It’s about the journey we all take and the monster we all face. What are the most important moments in your life?

Set on a beautiful island, you will fight death and fear to remember the moments that connect us all and make life worth living for every one of us.

Cardaclysm: Shards of the Four is a procedurally generated collectable card game mixed with action RPG elements that let’s you face the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in epic card battles!

Collect creature and spell cards throughout your journey and unleash their power if anyone opposes you!

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2020 - Page 31

BIG DAVE’S SAFE PAGE

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It’s Time To Ask: Is The World Listening?

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oday I am very proud to announce I am now the new Brand Ambassador for the Phoenix Newspaper and its sister paper the Phoenix Africa.

I am both honoured and proud to have the opportunity to write my page for both the newspapers, which have a huge global audience which stretches across the Commonwealth, Africa and beyond.

Which I and many others consider to be the most positive, diverse newsprint in the UK, across the Commonwealth and now across the African Continent.

When I write my page for the Phoenix Newspaper, I don’t consider the colour of the skin of my readers, nor do I consider individual religions, race, gender, age, or sexuality to be important as I write for you as my friends.

The world is in pain and we all need to come together to heal the hurt and close the wounds that biggotory causes.

Only then we will start to see a change in our society and our communities that we live in.

The death of George Floyd no one doubts was both horrific and

unnecessary and the officers in question will no doubt be held to account for their actions or lack of intervention in this case by due legal process.

Many have felt outraged and the public expression of

both anger and grief have seen riots and protests across the globe and not just centred in the USA but also here in the UK. It is more important than ever that we all and especially the decision makers

learn to communicate and realise that 90% of communication is the ability to listen and 10% to talk, not the other way round.

As Big Dave says, we

should all Talk, Talk, Talk, and now we must Listen, Listen, Listen. We should learn to respect one another as life is too short.

If there is one thing that we should learn

from this pandemic, wiping down surfaces with bleach, detergents and washing your hands with soap is all necessary and we need to take the time afforded to us to wipe the hatred out of our hearts and learn to respect one another.

Because remember there are two viruses affecting the world.

Both of which take lives and cause much anguish, pain and heartache in equal measures. One of which is the Coronavirus, the other is bigotry.

There is one race, the Human Race, there is one blood, Red Blood, all life is precious.

No one’s life is more important than the next and there is one lesson we should all learn that life is too short, so get hatred out of your heart.

Let us build Safe, Positive Relationships and bring our Communities together.

So let our voices be so loud every bigot in the world hears it and listens to the message that life is too short so let us try to be kind, compassionate and understanding of each other.

So wake up World and start to LISTEN. Stay Safe, Stay Strong, Spread The Love.

Big Dave is a huge opportunity waiting to become a solution.

The visibility of social enterprise is only going to increase as part of a mature forward looking economy so that the country is full of optimism, opportunity and a sense of purpose and achievement.

Having ambition, passion, enterprise, and innovation lie at the heart of the Big Dave ethos.

The idea is to introduce a social engaging character that will symbolise and galvanise the country with the idea of the Strength Of Britain.

This will be for everyone to get behind the character that represents a force for good and inspiration, so that Big Dave the character and Big Dave the person, become one and that they stand together as social

champions and friends to all.

This exciting new concept has to be truly ambitious having innovation and enterprise as the engine that drives this program forward in a competitive global culture, putting young people first working together as teams, partners and most importantly as friends.

Our mission statement is ‘ We all need to be caring and cared for and to look after one another.

We all should consider the needs of others, to reject totally the quite unacceptable association with negative behaviours and to do our best in life.

We should live our life in a way that is honourable and acceptable for ourselves and the communities that we live in.

Send your stories in to newsdesk@thephoenixnewspaper.com

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Page 32 - The Phoenix Newspaper - July 2020

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Elle Mambetoy Presents New Fashion Collection

New Single From JP Saxe

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oronto-born, critically acclaimed singersongwriter JP Saxe, today releases his latest single, ‘Hey Stupid, I Love You”, from his forthcoming project out later this year.

The track was written by JP and Scott Harris (Shawn Mendes) and produced by Ojivolta.

JP explains: “I’ve recently figured out that when someone asks you for more love, it’s easier just to give it to them, than to convince them they don’t need it.

Also, after a few songs that feel a lot like who I am alone at 3am at my piano, grueling and emotional, this one feels more like me at 3pm, and it feels like the way I love – rambling, and dorky but ultimately sincere.

That’s what we wanted the video to feel like, and shooting it with long distance lenses all

outside made for a real silly (and sunburnt) day.”

The new single follows the success of JP’s duet with Julia Michaels, titled “If The World Was Ending” which reached number 14 in the Official UK charts and remained in the Top 40 for 12 weeks.

Despite being released in October 2019, “If The World Was Ending” continued to strike a powerful chord at the peak of the pandemic.

To help support the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in its global response to COVID-19, JP and Julia tapped Alessia Cara, H.E.R, Keith Urban, Sam Smith and more for a special charity video, with all proceeds donated to Doctors Without Borders.

F

ashion designer Elle Mambetov was recently released from a UK prison after serving two years before the U.S. government intervened to free her.

Her unbelievable journey shows how a successful African American woman can go from the catwalk to the confines of a prison, and what she did when she discovered she was a victim of fraud at the hands of her own friend.

A London Fashion Week designer at the age of 26, Elle was born and raised in Texas to a single mother. Her identity as Black Muslim woman has been inspired by her travels - which have taken her all over the world and back. She has built brands in foreign lands, done business deals with former British Prime Minister David Cameron, and secured partnership deals with Toni & Guy and Evian.

After being the victim of fraud at the hands of one of her own friends, Elle has now returned to America with both an incredible

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story and striking new fashion line with Los Angeles set as her home base.

She has revealed her luxury womenswear line Elle B. Zhou in a jawdropping online virtual presentation with the help of supermodel Shahad Salman.

Previously featured in Vogue, ELLE, and Harper's Bazaar, Elle is poised to change the perception of modest fashion into something truly unique and sophisticated with the launch and virtual presentation of her luxury womenswear brand.

"This collection is my brain, heart and soul stretching to collide two worlds of fashionable existence,” Elle said.

“Representative of my own journey into dressing modestly; each cropped top, short sleeved shirt, and pair of trousers have been re-positioned to fit within this new world as I seek to redefine modest fashion."

See Elle's presentation of her virtual collection for yourself at ellebmambet.com.

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