April issue 221 by The Asian Today

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APRIL 2017 ISSUE No.221

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Birmingham Food Drive PG 8

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Raaj Shamji - 'So..What's Happening' PG 26

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INSIDE THIS MONTH LOCAL NEWS

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BUSINESS

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THE TEAM EDITORS Ifraz Ahmed Anita Chumber

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SALES Anita Chumber Raj Jogia

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CONTRIBUTORS Anita Champaneri Manish Gujjar Sunny Malik Mita Mistry Sara Khan Manish Patel Kam Chopra Mohammed Zafran Manish Patel Jas Sansi Dal Dhaliwal Vic Younis Husna Anjum South & City College

GRAPHIC/WEB Raz

Brum Muslim Girl Staring Down EDL Member Goes Viral

The EDL rally was condemned by Birmingham oﬃcials

t the start of April, a number of EDL marches were held in Birmingham, denouncing foreigners, immigrants and the ‘non-English.’ However amidst the usual rabble associated with the EDL was one moment perfectly captured on camera of a young Muslim woman staring down with bemusement at a raging EDL supporter. The image immediately went viral and was shared thousands of times on social media, symbolising

Birmingham’s opposition to the far-right. The woman in the image is Saffiyah Khan, a Birmingham woman. She had stepped in to help defend a woman wearing a hijab being harassed by an EDL member. Khan told the BBC, “I don’t like seeing people getting ganged up on in my town.” Even MPs helped share the image, with Birmingham MP Jess Phillips, tweeting, “Who looks like they have power here, the real Brummy on the left or the EDL who migrated for the day to our city and

failed to assimilate?” It was shared over 18,000 times. The EDL rally was attended by over 100 people in Birmingham and saw people from all over the UK travel to Birmingham to take part. It was kept under control by heavy police presence, riot vans and a few counter-protestors. The march was condemned by the Birmingham city council, and Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative leaders. In opposition of the march, the Birmingham central

mosque held a Best of British tea party, featuring tea and cake and plenty of union jacks. 300 people attended, including Local MP Liam Byrne who said the event celebrated “the quiet miracle of a normal life and the things that we love most about our

city and our country.” “Getting together as friends, getting together as neighbours, breaking a bit of Victoria sponge and having a cup of tea, that is a potent, powerful message that we will send to those who seek to divide us.”

#NotInOurName

Birmingham Muslims Unite Against Terrorism Following the horrific terrorist incident in Westminster this week, which resulted in five deaths and injuries to dozens of people, Birmingham’s Muslims have joined forces to condemn the act and unite against terrorism. Over 250 Imams, mosques and Muslim organisations across Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city, have pledged to intensify efforts to combat terrorism, starting today, when they will deliver sermons to tens of thousands of Muslims in the city- condemning Wednesday’s attack in Westminster and calling on them to a rally on Saturday 25 March 2017 at 1pm in Victoria Square, Birmingham. The campaign is organised by Salma Yaqoob, a former councillor in Birmingham,

and Dr Waqar Azmi OBE. Using the Twitter hashtag #notinourname, we will see religious leaders address their congregations highlighting how the Qur’an condemns all forms of terrorism and the responsibility on Muslims to ensure they do all they can to safeguard the lives of all in their communities. Having been claimed by ISIS, the Westminster attack was quickly followed by several arrests in a number of locations, including Birmingham, with reports also claiming that Khalid Masood, the attacker, had himself spent time in the West Midlands. The link to the UK’s second largest city has led to loud opposition from Birmingham’s Muslims that the Westminster terrorist act is antithetical to Islam and

opposes all teachings of the religion. In an open letter counter signatories said: “we in the Muslim community were shocked and saddened by the hatred we saw in the attack at the heart of our democracy. As a community we stand united in condemnation of those who sought to bring fear and division to the UK through this terrorist act. Now more than ever, it is crucial for community and faith leaders from across this diverse city to stand united against hatred and division.” With Friday being a religious day for Muslims and consisting of the Jummah Salah (midday prayer), a particularly significant prayer which brings tens of thousands of Muslims in Birmingham to their local mosques to hear the Khutbah

(sermon), mosques across the city will call on their congregations to protest against terrorists who hijack religion to serve their own political and/ or selfish ends. Commenting on the campaign, Salma Yaqoob, who is rallying Muslims in Birmingham to speak up against the terrorist act, said: “We are horrified by the terrorist act which has led to the tragic loss of innocent lives and injured many others who were going about their daily lives. This act was not in our name. As Muslims, we strongly condemn all forms of terrorism and call on people of all faiths and backgrounds to unite against this evil that threatens our collective peace. No matter how hard they try to divide us, they will fail”.

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irmingham enjoyed a swell of tourists last year, attracting an enormous 39 million visitors in 2016, the highest record to date. The boost in tourism fetched £6.5bn, shattering previous revenue records. The data was revealed by Marketing Birmingham and the tourism research company Global Tourism Solutions. Numbers increased by 2.5% when compared to 2015, with a large bulk of tourists coming from India, America, China and the Netherlands. These were all areas targeted by the tourism industry, a target which has more than met its mark. These key target markets brought in the majority of revenue, helping to support over seventy thousand tourist related jobs in the second city. Other Birmingham events thought to have contributed to the surge include the BBC Good Food Show, Grand Designs Live, Shakespeare’s 400th Anniversary, the Birmingham and Solihull Jazz and Blues Festival, the Conservative Party Conference and the renovations on the Edgbaston Stadium. The leader of Birmingham

Pic by Jas Sansi

City Council, John Clancy, said, “Birmingham’s record visitor figures are ample proof of the growing appeal of its vibrant arts and culture scene, superb restaurants and unbeatable retail offer. More than ever before, the public and private sectors are pulling together to attract investment into Birmingham, with the aim of diversifying and building on the region’s existing compelling offer. The city continues to attract visitors from across the globe, and this in turn is boosting both the Birmingham and regional economy, creating employment opportunities for local people.”

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HIGHLIGHTS Book now 0121 780 3333 www.thsh.co.uk

SUKANYA MONDAY 15 MAY SYMPHONY HALL

Ravi Shankar’s Only Opera: A mythical love story told through music & dance. Taken from the legendary Sanskrit texts of the Mahabharata, the story of Sukanya has been brought to life in this innovative production with music by Indian music legend Ravi Shankar and combines traditional Indian instruments with Western orchestra and singers, conducted by David Murphy. A co-production between The Royal Opera, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Curve. Generous philanthropic support from Arts Council England and the Bagri Foundation

SACRED SOUNDS SATURDAY 22 JULY Men of the 15th Sikhs performing kirtan (devotional songs) in a French barn. Le Sart, 24th July 1915 B/W photo H.D. Girdwood British Library, London, UK/Bridgeman Images BL 3474357

TOWN HALL

Over one million Indians - both combatants and non-combatants - participated in WWI – often displaying great courage. A number of these were Sikhs. Inspired by an evocative photograph of Sikh soldiers performing Gurbani Kirtan or Shabads (Sikh sacred hymns) in a French barn, this special concert performs possible hymns that the soldiers took with them to camp and battlefield. Interspersed by readings of letters between soldiers and their families, the concert showcases their stories through the diverse music of the time, Shabads, recruitment songs and folk songs - including a mother’s lament for a departing son. Featuring: Kirpal Singh Panesar, Keertan Kaur Rehal, Christella Litras, Ravneet Sehra, Prabhjot Singh Gill, Joe Williams and Vijay Venkat. Poetry and images by Imtiaz Dharker, animated by Jack Lockhart. Presented by Alchemy and SAA uk in association with The Network of Sikh Organisations.

SHAPLA SALIQUE SUNDAY 23 JULY TOWN HALL

After a spellbinding sold out performance at the world famous Wilton’s Music Hall, Lalon Queen Shapla Salique and her Jazz band perform live for the very first time in Birmingham. Shapla is one of Britain’s most successful British-Bangladeshi artists. Shapla mixes traditional Bengali music with jazz and funk influences to create what she describes as the perfect blend of east and west. Funded by

Town Hall renovation also funded by

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Pakistani Restaurant brings Luxury in Leicester

A restaurant calling itself the most luxurious in Leicestershire opened on the 10th April. The Tipu Sultan restaurant in Oadby, which has an awardwinning restaurant in Birmingham, describes itself as a "unique fine dining destination” and features stunning décor, lavish furniture and an exquisite yet affordable menu of course. Boasting everything about Pakistani cuisine, Tipu Sultan has everything from meat dishes to vegetarian cooking to the fanciest of mocktails. The setting is certainly something to be admired, with ornate decorations, deep, rich colours, bouquets of flowers and gold framed paintings.

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Birmingham communities come together to feed homeless during EDL visit to city O

n Saturday 8th April, local individuals, charities and organisations came together to provide food, clothes, live music and free haircuts for the homeless in Birmingham. On the day the far-right EDL demonstrate in the city centre, members of Birmingham’s diverse communities came together to show a city united for good, standing against hate and disharmony. Gathering at Carrs Lane Church, volunteers fed and provided essential items to hundreds of homeless and vulnerable individuals as the 6th annual Birmingham Food Drive got underway. Representatives from Muslim organisations joined volunteers from all faiths and none, and partner groups and charities to distribute hot and cold food, clothes, toiletries, sleeping bags and houseware items. Free haircuts were also offered, as well as a basic health check-up service and advice stations providing useful information about accommodation, finances and well-being. The Birmingham Food Drive was organised in partnership with the Amirah Foundation charity, and this year sponsored by the Al-Khair Foundation. Among those attending to lend their assistance were Jess Phillips MP (Birmingham

Pictures Courtesy of Birmingham Food Drive

Yardley), community activist Salma Yaqoob, Mr Birmingham title holder Joshua Williams, Cllr Majid Mahmood (Birmingham Hodge Hill), and actor Vimal Korpal, who compered the event. The event was also supported by The Big Issue Foundation, St Basils, ‘Have a Hart - Help The Homeless’, Midland Langar Seva Society, The Albert Street Project, Artivist, Dubgasm, Let’s Can Hunger UK and Birmingham Homeless Outreach. It is also backed by Birmingham City Council leader John Clancy. Hot food on the day was provided by charity Homeless Heroes and the Shree Geeta Bhawan Temple. Founder of the Birmingham Food Drive, Adam Yosef, said: “The Birmingham Food Drive was launched back in 2012 to bring together all the different individuals and organisations who work with the homeless in the city everyday, to allow them to share the passion and love of what they do to help some of the most vulnerable in our community. “Together, not only do we provide a service and a temporary solution to the very real problem that is a lack of State care and

assistance for rough sleepers and the hungry, but we aim to create solidarity and understanding between everyone we work with; to show that Birmingham pulls together and is united at a grassroots level around social welfare.” Last month, a special fundraising gig was held in Digbeth - organised by Dubgasm and Artivist - which collected a van full of clothes, food and essential items and also raised £200 at the door, which has been donated towards the Birmingham Food Drive. Shaz Manir, CEO of Amirah Foundation, said: “We’re proud to be a part of the Birmingham Food Drive, and to work with all of the organisations from across the city that come together to help the homeless. In the West Midlands, 4,134 people are estimated to be sleeping rough on any one night. “With sponsorship from Al-Khair Foundation, we hope this event gives our homeless friends the essential items, interaction and warmth they need at this difficult time.”

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Local Enterprise Partnership Hires Young Person’s Representative

Sophie Drake

Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership has done a nationwide first and appointed a new board member solely for the representation of young people. Sophie Drake has joined as a non-executive director for the next three years where she will help support other young board members in the private, public and educational sector. The twenty-four year old, who graduated from Birmingham City University, won the communications category at Future Face Awards last year, held by the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. She said: "The fact the LEP has created this pioneering position shows the region and its business community is taking stock of its uniquely youthful profile and the contribution young people

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can and will make to its future success. "The decisions being made about the region's future now will impact the lives, careers and families of our young people - they should have a say in those decisions. "I'm looking forward to listening to the views of my peers, understanding their perspectives and representing their voice on the big issues affecting the region's future." Despite Birmingham having the highest volume of students in the UK, and officially being the youngest city in the UK, opportunities are still sorely few and far between, with Birmingham graduates often having to seek jobs in London and Manchester for work. In addition, the prevalence of poor schools makes it that much harder for young people to get the qualifications they need to get into the best universities. A lack of investment in the city has meant that small and medium businesses have struggled to take off, meaning less growth and less recruitment.

Cadbury Caught in Simultaneous Scandal Chocolate Superpower accused of Halal Chocolate and Easter Erasure

In late March, an unsuspecting Twitter user posted a picture of a ‘Cadbury Halal certificate,' with the caption: “Cadbury proudly displaying their latest new halal certificates, pass it on.” It instantly caused widespread anger and backlash from chocolate lovers around the world, as many demanded to know why Cadbury was now making 'halal chocolate.' Many UK consumers were left confused as to what exactly they were eatingwas there meat in their chocolate? The twitter picture was later revealed to be an image from a newspaper, from an article written years ago, congratulating Cadbury Malaysia on being given official halal status. Numerous theories spilled out of the woodwork with some even boycotting the product until they received an explanation. A spokesman for Mondelez, the company Cadbury is

25 APR - 6 MAY

3 - 4 MAY

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Sadie Newman presents

TO SIR, WITH LOVE By E.R. Braithwaite Adapted by Ayub Khan-Din the writer of East Is East

owned by, said: “In the UK, our chocolate products are suitable for vegetarians and those following a halal diet however, they are not halal certified. As our chocolate products do not contain meat… the only animalrelated products we use in our British chocolate are milk and eggs. “We take care to point it out, if and when our products are suitable for certain sections of society who take an interest in the ingredients and manufacturing process. “Elsewhere in the world, we may label products with any number of certifications based on consumer interest and dietary requirements, and the best place for consumers to find that information is on the product label in that country. However, Cadbury welcomes consumers of all faiths and none.” The halal scandal timing couldn't have been more worse however, as customers were already boycotting the

BETWEEN THE TWO

brand for removing 'Easter' from their easter eggs, an act that appeared to erase the original Christian element from the chocolate treat. Even Prime Minister Theresa May chimed in- whilst on her far more important trip to Saudi Arabia no lessthat dropping the word

Easter would be “absolutely ridiculous.”

30 NOV 2017 - 13 JAN 2018

Birmingham Repertory Theatre presents

By Rochi Rampal and Daniel Tyler

By Dodie Smith Adapted for the stage by Debbie Isitt

Everybody remembers that one special teacher…

When caught between two cultures, where do you belong?

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The Lord Mayor- Cllr Carl Rice & Jade Bennett with Sir Doug Ellis

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Abdoulmanane Ayeva with Steve Dourass & The Lord Mayor

SOUTH & CITY COLLEGE SIR DOUG ELLIS OBE APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS 2017 The annual 'Sir Doug Ellis OBE Apprenticeship Awards' evening was another resounding success for South and City College Birmingham and it's Students

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his spectacular event was held once again at the prestigious Macdonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham City Centre on Friday March 10th. Deputy Principal Sardul Dhesi opened up proceedings with a welcome speech and went on to introduce our 'Master of Ceremonies' for the evening Tom Ross. Tom is an Ambassador for the College and 'ran the show' brilliantly in his normal flamboyant style. Nearly 200 guests were seated in the Horton Suite - with Lord Mayor Cllr Carl Rice, Jason Wouhra of East End Foods

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I Want! I Want! Art & Technology AN ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION NATIONAL PARTNER EXHIBITION AT BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM & ART GALLERY

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Meet Haroon Mota, The Marathon Man! We sit down with the #runningfordad marathon runner as he embarks on his 4-Marathon Challenge! Haroon Mota might just be one of the most inspiring people in the Midlands. The Coventrybased fundraiser is running four 26.2 mile long marathons this April, in Manchester, Paris, Boston (Lincolnshire) and London, totalling 105 miles. As well as training, Haroon has been fundraising in order to raise money for a solar water power centre in Senegal, Africa. We sat down with Haroon to find out how he got in marathon running, what inspires him, and why he runs. How are you preparing for the marathons? I’ve been training since December, running four or five times a week. I train myself. I don’t follow a programme but I prescribe my own training. I studied sport and exercise science at University so I’m quite well versed in terms of what to do and how to train. I run 4-5 times a week, one of those being a long 20 mile or more run on the weekend. Through the week I run shorter, faster more intense runs. Sometimes I run hills, I do yoga once a week, strength and conditioning, it’s not just running. I look after my body as a whole. Part of the training is recovery, stretching, diet and rest. I take what I do quite seriously. Many people take on a challenge and don’t fundraise as hard or train as hard. I’m the total opposite, constantly thinking about my marathons and how else I can fundraise and who else I can approach. My brother got married recently and even on the day of the wedding I ran 23 miles. My calendar over the last four months is full of running schedules, it’s all pencilled in,

everything has to work around my training. What’s it like when you’re actually running the marathon? It’s a lot of effort. Some people don’t realise how difficult it is mentally, not just the marathon itself, but it’s actually harder doing the training. I ran 23 miles at the peak of my training and it took me four hours. When you’re running for 4 hours, 4 hours feels like 10. You’ve got nothing else to think about. Your mind is just flooded and you’ve got to focus so hard to stay positive. So much negativity comes into your head, whether it’s fatigue or tiredness. There’s a voice “you don’t have to do this you can go back to bed,” it’s really difficult mentally. I enjoy the mental aspect of the challenge. You test yourself physically but there a lot of mental strength required. One for the training, one for consistency, making sure you don’t cheat training, and then obviously the marathon itself. 26 miles is no easy feat. You have to draw upon your motivations. I have reasons to run, the charity, the causes, my father, my own drive.

How did you first get into marathon running? It’s a bit of a weird story. I was already into charity and fundraising but never running. I was always keeping fit, I used to do martial arts and kick boxing. When I started working in London in 2012, I used to get out of Euston station and see so many people out on the road running. I live in Coventry and you don’t see that anywhere. I got inspiration seeing them running in the winter or on cold, wet, windy mornings. Later, the teenage cancer trust were recruiting for the 2012 London marathon. It was the year of the Olympics and it was a great cause so I thought why not? I had no running experience and I didn’t realise how enormous the challenge would be. Still, I took it on, trained, and it turned out to be so horrible and exhaustive and so painful. I got to mile 18 and my legs started to cramp. My body wanted to keep going, but I wasn’t equipped. I hadn’t trained enough to get through that distance. I told myself I’d never do it again, I was so sure I’d never run again. The last 7 miles I don’t even

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remember, I was in that much agony, it’s all a blur. My father passed away the following year in a car accident, his life ended instantly. He was a big man in the community, always trying to help others and teaching in the mosque. I wanted to carry on his legacy and do good for him. I made a vow that year that everything I do going forward in fundraising would be in my father’s memory. I decided to run the London marathon again, running for my dad, myself, the cause. Since then, I’ve run over 30 half marathons and I’ve been encouraging people from my community to get involved. People call me the Marathon Man now and when they see me, they ask how my training is going or when the next marathon is. So you’ve done a lot, mountain climbing, 3 peak challenge, what would you say is the hardest physical challenge you’ve done? Running a marathon is always the most difficult. The three peak challenge was an extreme challenge, climbing to Mt Everest base camp, hiking in Peru, these were all hard, but in terms of difficulty, it’s the marathon. You’ve got to train for 4 months. That means waking up on cold mornings, looking out the window, thinking ‘I’ve got to go out there and run 20 miles this weekend.” A few years ago I ran five consecutive half marathons and thought that was the most difficult thing I’d ever do. Now I’m doing four consecutive full marathons. It takes a long time for the body to recover after just one marathon, so it’s going to be difficult to run when I’m already fatigued from the week before. I might have aches or pains, the joints and muscles take a lot of battering. These four marathons are going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Which of the four are you most excited for and which do you think will be the most gruelling? I’m excited for each one for different reasons. Manchester, I’m excited because it’s the first one and I can get started and get it out the way. The second is Paris and my first international marathon. Boston in Lincolnshire will be quite tough. There’s less athletes and less spectators, so I expect to be quite lonely during the race. There’ll be miles and miles where I’m just running on my own. I can’t say I’m excited,

but I’m looking forward to the mental challenge. When you’re running in London, for the entire 26 miles there’s people cheering you on, cheering you by name. I know I won’t get that in Boston. In London, that’s a special one, it a momentous occasion with 40,000 runners. The atmosphere is incredible, you have to be there to see it and feel it. I’m looking forward to that last mile, the 105th mile, and then afterwards when I can put my hands in the air and say, “I did it.” So what’s the cause this time? I hope to build a solar water power centre in Senegal, Africa.

It’s a £20,000 project that will provide water and generate electricity to help transform hundreds of lives, homes, schools and communities. There’s a draught in East Africa that’s affecting millions of lives. In West Africa, water scarce communities struggle to survive. I’m hoping I can fundraise the full £20,000 by the time I finish the last marathon. I’ve raised over £8000 so far, so nearly halfway there. I’m encouraging people to get behind me and support me. I’m asking friends and family, anyone, to sponsor even £1 a mile so altogether its £105. Many people have come forward and done that. Anyone can donate any amount, nothing’s insignificant. It will certainly motivate me to do what I need to do but also achieve the cause in Africa. How can people help support and sponsor you? I’ve got a Just Giving page where I collect donations via the page or text. People can donate any amount. My hashtag is #runningfordad. People can keep up to date with my training and fundraising and I encourage people to share what I’m doing, follow me, like, share, retweet and help me share my story. The more people hear about it, the more people that will donate. Many people have gotten in touch and said they’ve always wanted to do something but never knew what to do, but I’ve inspired them. People might find my story inspiring, so I encourage people to support and get in touch if they want to and discuss how they can do things for their community too.

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What are the Metro Mayor Elections? T

his May will mark the election of the inaugural West Midlands Metro Mayor, the head of the newly established West Midlands Combined Authority which will give powers to local leaders over everything from transport to business to regeneration, in a similar vein to the Mayor of London. The introduction of Metro Mayors was part of the Conservative Party manifesto back in 2015, with plans to devolve national government power to cities and regions, putting power back in the hands of those running our towns and cities. They will differ from Lord Mayors, who are largely ceremonial figures, as they will be actively responsible for the strategic running of the city, the development of the area with regards to health, social issues, housing, transport, education and more, with real decision making power.

Numerous candidates are running for the position, from Labour to Lib Dem to even the Communist Party. However, it is important to note that they have not been appointed by their respective parties and therefore are not dependent on their parties, nor can they be dismissed from them. Another key thing of note is that, depending on who wins, the Police and Crime Commissioner may merge with the Metro Mayor role, if agreed by the commissioner. Appointed by the public, they will be held accountable as such. Metro Mayors will face harsher scrutiny and in addition will not be able to make decisions for the WMCA alone. They will be working with a Deputy Leader chosen from a constituent authority, a political advisor, and the rest of the local authority leaders to run the region.

What do the elections mean for local govt? Metro Mayor elections will now be taking place every four years, with candidates able to stand for re-election as many times as they see fit. Vying to represent Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Dudley, Walsall and Wolverhampton, the candidates have been campaigning to the public, who are set to vote on May 4th 2017.

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The idea of a city mayor was first put forth back in 2012 but was wholly rejected by the public (with only Bristol voting for) as they did not promise any real powers. In fact, some of the public were against the idea of the new Metro Mayor as well, with many arguing that it just adds another level of red tape, bureaucracy and

What will the new mayor be responsible for? we bring you a breakdown of what each candidate is offering- with respect to social issues, economy, transport, technology, environment, local areas, housing, politics, education and healthwith key points and priorities taken directly from their manifestos. complication as the WMCA will act as yet another level of power. However others have praised the move as the Devolution Deal means more power in the hands of the local leaders, those who understand the issues of the area they represent and hence know the best

ways to go about providing solutions. Devolved powers may even increase over time. For this year’s Metro Mayor election, the very first of its kind, there are candidates from the Conservative Party, Labour, Lib Dems, and even Green Party vying for the highly anticipated spot.

West Midlands

Metro Mayor T Elections

MAI N RESPONSI BI LITI ES Navigate the devolution deal

Foster businesses and drive economic progress in the region

Oversee far reaching issues such as transport, housing and education

Use new powers to deliver services as local authority sees ﬁt

he Midlands won't be the only region getting a metro mayor, as devolved powers will be hitting Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City, Sheffield City (postponed for 2018), Tees Valley and the West of England. Other areas are in the midst of convincing the government to allow them devolved powers too, with negotiations still going on across the country. The West Midlands has been given a 30 year investment fund worth £1.1bn to use on education and skills, specifically an adult skills budget, housing and planning with regards to compulsory purchase powers, transport and a consolidated transport budget, local roads network, bus franchising and smart ticketing, as well as health and social care. Other areas still to be finalised include a further devolution of youth justice services, a mental health commission, and the continued progression of the 'Midlands engine' between the West and East Midlands, to further investment and growth. The £1.1bn is the largest fund of any of the new regions, with Great Manchester, Liverpool City and the West of England

getting the second highest funds, worth £900m each. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have been given a £600m fund, whilst Tees Valley has received the smallest budget, $450m. There are large spread fears that the Metro Mayor elections will have a poor turnout. Recent data from a COMRES poll suggested that less than 40% of the public even knew the what the elections were. Currently it is believed the voting system will be of the 'supplementary vote' style, whereby voters are to place a 1 besides their elected candidate and a 2 besides their second preferred contestant. The winner will be the candidate with over 50% of all votes. If none of the candidates register over 50%, then all candidates bar the first two will be eliminated. The second preference votes will be added to the top two candidates vote tallies in order to decide a winner. Despite the West Midlands being a largely Labour voting population, the Metro Mayor election could swing in any direction. Professor John Curtis, one of the UK's top polling analysts, attests that the Conservatives need only a 12% swing in order to win. He told the Sunday Politics: “The West Midlands looks like a draw. And another Labour loss would pile yet more pressure on Jeremy Corbyn."

The Metro Mayor Elections take place

The Candidates FEATURE

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A brief overiew of what each candidate is offering taken from their manifestos UKIP

Conservative Party

Liberal Democrats

Green Party

Labour

PETER DURNELL

ANDY STREET

BEVERLEY NIELSON

JAMES BURN

SION SIMON

Pete Durnell, who has a background in computing, began his political career in 2014 when he stood for counsellor for Bristnall. After coming a close second, he was elected to represent UKIP in Warley during the General Election in 2015.

The former John Lewis director has vowed to tackle crippling transportation fees as well as “restore pride” to the West Midlands.

Beverley Nielsen, the author of Redesigning Manufacturing: Reimagine the business of making in the UK, is an entrepreneur and educator, working as the Executive Director for the Institute of Design and Economic Acceleration at BCU.

James Burns was part of the 2009 Birmingham Living Wage campaign and has focused on investment for the more economically disadvantaged areas of the West Midlands.

Sion Simon MEP has promised to create 8000 apprenticeships to boost youth employment figures in the West Midlands whilst also focusing on jobs and manufacturing.

1. Provide help back into society for those who have simply ‘fallen on hard times’

1. Include faith and community leaders in a Mayor Taskforce on community and integration

1. Promote a culture of zero tolerance of Crimes against the Person…[and] uphold the region’s values as open and tolerant of all backgrounds

1. Highlight the contributions that refugees, asylum seekers, expats and economic migrants have made and continue to make to the West Midlands

1. Oversee development of a more diverse workforce within the creative and cultural sector, especially in leadership roles

2. Concentrate WMCA policies on supporting small and medium sized businesses

2. Guarantee that any supplement to business rates should only be with a vote of businesses in the region

2. Create a £1bn Innovation fund to provide grants to start-ups…business schools, universities and colleges

2. Examine ways greater fiscal freedoms could be used to improve economic performance and competitiveness.

3. Continue to oppose the ‘London commuter belt extension’ (HS2)

3. Support the roll-out of free wifi and charging plugs on trains across the region

2. Within my first 20 days appoint a deputy mayor charged with championing inclusive growth and monitoring the creation of a West Midlands strategy for such growth.

3. Institute a major programme of tram extensions to develop network of destinations

3. Bring buses back into public ownership

4. Ensure WMCA & Metro Mayor activities visible to the public, no secret meetings 5. Incentivise preparation and use of brownfield sites, protect our green belt 6. Focus on converting empty shops and offices into affordable housing 7. Identify and ensure that our colleges provide courses in the key skills local employers need, in particular by increasing vocational training options 8. Mitigate against the threat from the EU’s Europe 2020 – Eurocities program which may will continue well beyond Brexit, with significant economic and operational implications for the WMCA 9. Enable transfer to grammar schools for children between 11 and 13 yrs 10. Ensure ‘ringfenced’ funding for Mental Health becomes truly ringfenced

4. Seek a globally recognised digital or tech company to set up a major operation in the West Midlands 5. Support the creation of green urban spaces in major development, for examples the Duddeston Viaduct Sky Park 6. Work with local authorities to make sure they have Local Plans for the whole area which deliver enough housing and employment land 7. Push Government and councils to release public sector land in the West Midlands, that we can use for housebuilding 8. Call for the Mayor to take over the responsibilities of the Police and Crime Commissioner in 2020 9. Retain graduates who study in the West Midlands or who grew up in the West Midlands with a ‘West Midlands First’ programme 10. Launch a programme of educating the public about mental health

4. Create high craft-led and intermediate technology clusters bringing growth through a new Chamber for Business Growth 5. Use Clean Air Zones and Statutory Air Quality Partnerships to tackle the problems of poor quality which lead to over 4,000 premature deaths a year 6. Incentivise food and car shares, Park Runs and Cycles…enabling local communities to gain street closures by accessing a new Mayor's Charitable fund 7. Campaign to remove the borrowing cap allowing local authorities to access low cost finance to build more homes for rent 8. Push to have the West Midlands Police and Fire Service included within the responsibility of the Mayoral office 9. Incentivise young people to stay a nd work here with free travel and bursaries for under-25s. 10. Put the West Midlands where it should be, at the heart of our country

Thursday 4th May 2017

3. Push for funding for HS2 phase 2

4. Push for more pension funds to be invested in local energy technologies.

4. Establish a tech talent pipeline…with more young people enabled to gain key digital skills and…ensure more girls are supported to develop tech skills

5. Aim to help local authorities to come together to issue Green Bonds to assist with decarbonisation, fund low-carbon infrastructure and support our lowcarbon future

5. Make public buildings available for community-led solar co-operative enterprises, instead of buying our energy from companies based outside the West Midlands

6. Encourage local authorities to use planning powers to protect local parks from development

6. Fast track…the transformation of Wolverhampton City Centre and town centres

7. Explore the possibility of using the new West Midlands Bank to provide access to low cost loans to fund improvements to meet the Decent Homes Standard in the private sector

7. Agree a proper definition of “affordable housing” so that it meets the housing needs of people on low incomes

8. Join other political leaders around the country in lobbying central government to start a national renovation programme

8. Insisting to government that a specific West Midlands Regional Schools Commissioner…be appointed jointly by the Mayor and DFE

9. Work alongside businesses to bring in voluntary targets on BAME and gender apprenticeships

9. Bring together our colleges and universities to create new Technical university partnerships that offer an earn-while-you-learn track to degree qualifications

10. Work to help communities and organisations to become dementia friendly for example, by requiring new transport developments to take people with dementia into account

10. Radically redesign our approach to both the health care and social care of our older people.

For more information please visit:

westministercombinedauthority.org.uk

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NEWS

CELEBRATING VAISAKHI Over 100,000 Sikhs and Hindus to partake in Birmingham festival

Vaisakhi is returning this year on April 13th! The religious festival which commemorates the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Khalsa is expected to be celebrated with even more pomp, splendour and fun than ever as Sikh, Hindu and more communities come together in celebration. With festivals, feasts, prayers and processions, Vaisakhi will be honoured in every corner of the globe, from Mumbai to London. Birmingham will be putting on its annual celebration on April 30th, organised by the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras. It is expected to attract over 100,000 attendees from all over the West Midlands and beyond. Handsworth Park will be throwing an open air festival whilst Birmingham puts on two processions, the Nagar Kirtan Birmingham and the Nagar Kirtan Sandwell. The Nagar Kirtan Birmingham will kick off in the Gurdwara Ramgarhia Sikh Temple in Hockley and makes its way down to Handsworth Park. Meanwhile, the Sandwell procession will start in Gurdwara Baba Sang in Smethwick and then travel to the park. Wolverhampton will also be putting on

Vaisakhi celebrations, with a procession traversing the streets from Guru Nanak Satsang Gurdwara to West Park on May 14th. At Handsworth park, there will be a sports arena for people to get active and involved, a funfair for the kids, live performances of singing, dancing and dhol playing, a youth area and arts and crafts. Gurdwaras all throughout Birmingham and Sandwell will be sharing langar in an effort to bridge gaps between different communities and foster friendships. In the Sikh community, Vaisakhi is revered for being the anniversary of the birth of the religious order of the Khalsa, which was born in 1699. For Hindus, it marks the spring harvest and is a time for purification, giving thanks and bathing in sacred waters, marking when the River Goddess Ganges descended to Earth. For the Bengali community, Vaisakhi is otherwise known as Vaisakhadi. No matter who takes part, from whichever faith, background or ethnicty, they can all expect great fun, food, music and entertainment.

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NEWS

YOUR MONTHLY SHOWBIZ FIX! GOSSIP • INTERVIEWS • MUSIC • MOVIES - & MUCH MORE! TURN TO PAGES 45 - 49

JAS SANSI

The Thinking Man's Mouthpiece Photographer and LoveBrum trustee, Jas Sansi brings a dose of all things Birmingham. With an unprecedented love of the city and its unique diverseness, he brings his 6-foot passion to The Asian Today.

Composed Upon Westminster Bridge

Dan Hannan MEP Talks Brexit and Why Leave Equals Opportunity D

Raaj with Dan Hannan

What are your views on the Midlands region at the moment?

An unseasonal cold chill, unwelcome in late March whistled around me as I wheeled a case into Birmingham New Street Station. I travelled to the capital last weekend to attend the Unite for Europe rally. Unite for Europe was never going to avert the triggering of Article 50, we’re leaving the EU. The decision to unleash constitutional change on a slender victory following a flawed referendum is brave. And by brave, read stupid. I’m not naive, political change in a stable democracy is rarely ignited under a banner. The anti-war protests for Iraq demonstrated that. The memorial flowers blanketing College Green painted a symbol of why Europe needs to be closer, not bickering over the CD collection. The exit from the EU worries me. It’s a brave decision to break away from people who share our values, chiseled from centuries of conflict and engagement. I photographed Theresa May hours before she signed the letter invoking the mechanism to leave. It was bitter sweet shaking the hand that sealed the decision. The PM was in Birmingham to attend a UK-Qatar Trade Conference. Metro Mayor candidate Andy Street met Mrs May to share the region’s post Brexit vision. As an active member of the Business Community here in Birmingham, I fear Brexit will compromise our city at a time when we have momentum in Brum; Devolution, a Metro Mayor, Inward Investment, HS2, Integrated Transport, HSBC and so much more. All secured under the umbrella of EU Membership. It is now the responsibility of those who voted to Exit the EU to contribute to the solution we all need. The 48% didn’t break the vase, the 52% did. It was an honour to stand in solidarity with my fellow Remainers on Saturday. We always said we are better together. JAS SANSI TWITTER: @jassansi FACEBOOK: fb.com/jassansi

I think it’s a region that has so much going for it. What it hasn’t had going for it is good local government, and I think that can change. To be honest, whoever wins the expanded mayoralty- obviously I’m a conservative I hope it will be a conservative candidate- it’s the new devolved powers that make possible the kind of provincial renaissance that we had 150 years ago, but haven’t had since the mid-20th century. I’m optimistic. We talk about China and the USA being in a trade surplus with the region- given Brexit, what is your perspective? You’ve got to think about where your customers are going to be tomorrow, not just where they are today. It is true for the UK, nearly half of our exports go to the EU, but that figure is falling by the minute. That’s

an Hannan MEP was one of many celebrating the Brexit referendum, having been one of the senior members of the Leave campaign. Almost a year on since the vote, Raaj Shamji sat down with Hannan for a discussion on Brexit, the European Union, and where the UK goes now. not just because of a Europe crisis, there are a whole bunch of long term factors that are causing slow growth, whereas the boom is happening everywhere else in the world: in south America, in sub Saharan Africa, in the gulf, in the far east. I can’t think of any other big, wealthy, serious country that has so any global links, links of language, legal system, migration, cultural soft power, people who have studied here then carrying a different view of Britain, what we haven’t had up until now is the ability to sign trade deals with these places and that’s the thing that we’re now going to get. Why do you think 48% of people voted to Remain? I think people are naturally change averse and I think there was a very powerful sense of ‘things are going ok, why risk it?’ and that’s a natural human reaction. My response during the

campaign was that there are changes however we vote. If we stay in, that is a further boost to European integration, more common policies, more bailouts, higher budgets. We’re heading for an uncertain future whatever we do. If we leave, we can mitigate the uncertainties and deal with the challenges ourselves. Recently, the front page of The Guardian was a map of Europe in a jigsaw with the UK taken out and the headline was a step into the unknown. But the whole of history is a series of steps into the unknown, all human progress is a step into the unknown, the industrial revolution was a step into the unknown. I find there has been a slight swing to Leave after the vote, because the terrible things promised by Remain have not happened. We were told leave would cause an immediate downturn but what’s actually happened? We grew faster in the 6 months after the

‘When you had people like Aftaab and Saqib talking about the economics and trade and fairer immigration policy, it was much harder to caricature the vote Leave position.’ L-R: Aftab Chughtai (MBE), Dan Hannan MEP, Saqib Bhatti

vote than in the 6 months before, and finished 2016 as the fastest growing major economy on the planet. You’ve been a MEP and Leave campaigner for a number of years, tell us what were your influences? It was the beginning of the 90s and the EU changed its nature fundamentally with the Maastricht Treaty. The EU was a common market and an association of states getting together to do things. Maastricht made it about more than trade economics, it introduced common policy in defence, immigration, foreign policy, justice and home affairs, culture, it introduced a passport, a driving license, a national holiday, a national anthem, a flag. You could no longer pretend it was just an

association of states, it plainly had ambition to become a political union. Maastricht was the birth of British euroscepticism. It was a tragedy because the EU did have achievements to its name. Free trade was a good thing but they over reached and said we have to have common standards on everything. Free movement of people was a brilliant idea, being able to get a job in another country, but again they overreached, ‘entitlements as an EU citizen can be enforced by court, you’re allowed to claim benefits, you can’t be deported’. The EU went in a direction that made it very hard to follow.

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TUMMY TROUBLES? 22

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New roadshow comes to Birmingham to increase awareness of persistent tummy troubles as possible signs of cancer

new Be Clear on Cancer roadshow has visited a number of places of worship and community organisations across the Midlands, including Bethel Convention Centre & Church, Jamia Masjid Haroonia and Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha Gurdwara and Healthcare Trust to raise awareness that tummy troubles lasting for three weeks or more could be a sign of cancer, but diagnosing it early makes it more treatable. In West Midlands around 30,400 people are diagnosed with cancer each year and around 14,400 people die of the disease. , , The roadshow, which is part of a wider campaign that has been launched by Public Health England in the Midlands, is encouraging anyone suffering from symptoms such as persistent diarrhoea, bloating or discomfort in the tummy area, to see their doctor. These problems can be a sign of a number of different cancers, such as bowel, ovarian or pancreatic. The Be Clear on Cancer roadshow has been touring the Midlands. At the roadshow events, campaign information leaflets have been distributed and trained community ambassadors

have been engaging in conversations with South Asians, Black Africans and Caribbeans about the campaign. Around nine in 10 cases of cancer are diagnosed in people aged 50 or over,1, and the earlier it is diagnosed, the greater the chances of survival. Raising awareness is crucial, as a recent survey in the Midlands shows that only one in six (16%) over 50s would see their GP if they felt bloated for more than three weeks and only one in four (24%) would go to the GP if they had experienced discomfort in the tummy area for over three weeks. Furthermore, the survey found many residents are concerned that they would be wasting their GP’s time if they went to see them about such problems. The Be Clear on Cancer community ambassadors have been encouraging people who may be experiencing persistent tummy troubles to see their GP and explaining that their doctor will want to see them. Bhai Sahib (Dr) Mohinder Singh Ahluwalia KSG OBE. Patron, Nishkam Healthcare Trust Birmingham: “Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing.

It’s a lofty mission. The ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign needs to be supported by one and all in the Midlands who come to know of it. We shouldn’t ignore spreading the word. All men and women, especially those aged 50 or over, need to see their doctor

campaign is a great way to help the community understand that tummy troubles for three weeks or more could be a sign of cancer. We look forward to having a speaker attend our Mosque to further the message.”

quickly if they suffer from prolonged stomach troubles. ‘Human life is like a precious jewel; don’t let it be wasted in exchange for mere cowry seashells’ Raag Gauri Bairaagan, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Ang 156, Guru Granth Sahib Ji

The campaign is also being supported by local celebrities Sameena Ali and Nitin Ganatra: ITV Presenter who lives in the Midlands, Sameena Ali said: “I’m glad this campaign is launching in the area. I never realised that tummy troubles such as diarrhoea, bloating or discomfort in the tummy area, for three weeks or more could be signs of cancer so am keen to raise awareness in my community so others know what to look out for. Being bloated or having diarrhoea isn’t something we usually discuss

Safdar Hussain, Chairman Jamia Masjid Haroonia Birmingham: “The Be Clear on Cancer

with others, and it’s also something we often dismiss or ignore, but don’t be embarrassed or shy about it. Breaking down the barriers of embarrassment could save lives. Tell your doctor if you have any concerns, your doctor will want to see you.” Former Eastenders star, Nitin Ganatra from the Midlands, said: “I'm so pleased to be supporting the Be Clear on Cancer campaign that has come to this area. Cancer is still not openly discussed in the Asian community and this can cause a delay in going to

see the GP so I am keen to raise awareness. Knowing the signs and symptoms of cancer, including the tummy troubles covered by this campaign, could save your life and going to see your GP if you are experiencing them is imperative. If cancer is found at an early stage, it is more likely that it can be treated successfully.” For further information about tummy troubles as possible signs of cancer, please visit nhs.uk/ tummytroubles.

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NEWS

So...What's Happening Our latest Vlog oﬀering - hosted by Raaj Shamji brings you the latest news in the quirkiest way Are you up to date on what’s happening? If not, you need to get on youtube and head to The Asian Today’s channel! The Asian Today has decided to take our news from visual to digital, with a new Youtube series regaling you with the latest community, national, worldwide, entertainment and sports news! Hosted by Raaj Shamji, ‘So…What’s Happening?’ balances serious stories with the funny, lighter side of the news and is delivered in a comical, crafty and curious way, beﬁtting its Shaamji star! With everything from news to skits to weird and wacky humour, ‘So…What’s Happening?’ aims to bring you the news in the most unique way possible. A little more about our star Raaj, Raaj

is a proud Toast Maker and awards show host, having hosted the highly coveted Birmingham Awards. Known for his eclectic style, Raaj delivers the news in his own quirky way, with props, outﬁts and adlibs to leave you in stitches. As well as bringing us the latest news, Raaj conducts interviews for ‘So…What’s Happening?’ the latest one being with Gurinder Chadha, the producer behind the smash hit Viceroy House, and actors Manish Dayal and Huma Qureshi. You can catch ‘So…What’s Happening?’ every other week on the www.youtube.com/user/theasiantoday page. Be sure to like, share and subscribe and keep up with everything happening!

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Bank of England Pressured Banks to Lower Libor Rates Secret recording of Barclay’s manager reveals the Bank of England pressured commercial banks The Bank of England has been dragged into a Libor scandal after BBC Panorama secretly recorded a senior Barclay’s manager and a Libor submitter. The recording shows that the Bank of England pressured banks into pushing down their Libor rates during the 2008 financial crisis. In the recording, the manager says, “"The bottom line is you're going to absolutely hate this... but we've had some very serious pressure from the UK government and the Bank of England about pushing our Libors lower." The submitter then protests, "So I'll push them below a realistic level of where I think I can get money?" The manager then responds, “"The fact of the matter is we've got the Bank of England, all sorts of people involved in the whole thing... I am as reluctant as you are... these guys have just turned around and said just do it." The recording is believed to date back to 29th October 2008 and it has thrown doubt onto the evidence submitted by former Barclays boss Bob Diamond and Paul Tucker, who was the deputy governor of the Bank of England before retiring to the Treasury select committee in 2012. At the time, they said they had only just become aware of such lowballing. The recording was played before Chris Philip MP, a committee member of the Treasury, who said: “It sounds to me like those people giving evidence, particularly Bob Diamond and Paul Tucker were misleading parliament, that is a contempt of parliament, it's a very serious matter and I think we need to urgently summon those individuals back before parliament to explain why it is they appear to have misled MPs. It's extremely serious." However Mr. Diamond objected, telling the BBC; “I never misled parliament. I stand by everything I have said previously."

Why Birmingham is the obvious location for Channel 4’s new home B

irmingham is the obvious location for Channel 4’s new home outside of London, Birmingham City Council leader John Clancy said today. Councillor Clancy has extended an invitation to Culture Secretary Karen Bradley to visit Birmingham “to see for herself the rich pool of talent this city has to offer”. Ms Bradley yesterday announced a period of consultation into moving Channel 4 out of the Capital. Her statement came after the BBC last year confirmed it was moving part of BBC Three to the Mailbox, further enhancing Birmingham’s reputation as a media city. Councillor Clancy said: “Channel 4 has a Government remit to demonstrate ‘innovation, experiment and creativity’, so what better location than Birmingham for a television station at the cutting edge of arts and culture? "Not only is this a phenomenally creative city, we are also a young city - Europe's youngest. We have more under 25s than any other UK core city, with a rich pool of talent available to meet the

demands of training the next generation of media professionals. “Birmingham, with its culturally diverse population and with 108 different languages spoken, is the type of place where Channel 4’s audience lives, making this city a perfect spot for relocation. "Birmingham has an established digital sector. Three of the top ten locations for ecommerce start-ups in the UK are in the West Midlands and Greater Birmingham contains 380 media and broadcast companies. “There are 1,000 students currently studying film, TV, media and animation in the city, while more than a quarter of the UK’s games workforce is based in the region. "Add to that the fact that by 2026, thanks to HS2, London will be just 45 minutes away, and it becomes obvious that Birmingham is a natural choice for Channel 4 “I urge the Culture Secretary to visit Birmingham as soon as possible to see for herself why this city is the perfect location for Channel 4.”

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Reproductive Health Written by: Neelam Heera

@cystersbham I

was recently asked to speak at a conference in London on Reproductive health and I was reminded of a quote which sums up reproductive health perfectly,

"Sexual and reproductive health and rights are universal human rights! They are an indivisible part of the broader human rights and development equation. Their particular power resides in the fact that they deal with the most intimate aspects of our identities as individuals and enable human dignity, which is dependent on control of our bodies, desires and aspirations.” Babatunde Osotimehin – Previously a Minister for Health – Nigeria This quote is by a man, “who gets it!” and I would argue that it is compasses a real understanding women’s rights as well as dignity in the face of a subject typically taboo. Whilst it is assumed by most that sexual and reproductive rights are universal human right it is not practised. Women naturally, due to social pressure and cultural taboos allow waive these rights. Reproductive rights an sexual health are in their very nature two separate entities. The World Health Organisation describes them as, Reproductive health refers to a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing – and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity – in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its

Cysters Birmingham

functions and processes, and across all stages of life. Reproductive health, therefore, implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. Implicit in this is the right to be informed of, and to have access to, safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of fertility regulation, and the right to access health care services to support a safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth, and to provide parents with the best chance of having a healthy infant. Sexual health refers to a state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing related to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. While sexual health is vital for (and therefore a part of) reproductive health, it is important to also consider sexual health in its own right. So why would I argue that both of these are used (wrongly) interchangeably Well for one, how many women openly use to the word “vagina” – (Yes I said it!) the negative connotation of this word makes it harder for women to talk about any issues around reproductive health. I openly hear people using obscenities in their day to day life and this has become the norm. Yet the word Vagina is still

up for debate as a sexualised word, provocative almost. There is a real need for a cultural shift in the way we address women’s reproductive health. Without this women are at risk of allowing these rights to be waived. It is also important that reproductive health organs, such as the vagina aren’t just displaced by popular euphuisms and vague hand gestures. This only adds to the mindset that reproductive health is linked to promiscuity and not important. It devalues the underlying issues of the conversation in the first place. The way reproductive and sexual health is portrayed in the media and in popular culture impacts on self-image, on society’s view of the role of women and girls, and on what is deemed to be socially acceptable treatment of women and girls. There is also some evidence to suggest that the sexualisation of women’s health has an influence on three of the most common mental health problems of girls and women: eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression. So, lets start taking these issues seriously, lets talk about the real issues underpinning the conversation.

Are you ready to join the Reproductive revolution? Join us on our weekly #CystersChat

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Could Ayurveda Be the Key to the NHS Crisis? The 1st and 2nd of April saw a large international congress attended by health leaders, government ministers from around the world and UK MP's held in London in order to address healthcare challenges and posit possible Ayuvedic approaches. Against a backdrop of an NHS in crisis, the event was the largest-ever gathering in the UK of experts in Ayurveda. 300 delegates from 55 countries discussed preventing disease, promoting longevity and alleviating specific conditions with Ayurveda. Ayurveda uses herbal medicine, diet, detoxification, lifestyle, and consciousnessbased approaches to offer a holistic, highly personalised prevention-oriented approach, incorporating diet, exercise, and many other modalities believed to aid in health and wellness. The Congress heard numerous presentations on using Ayurveda to relieve disorders such as Type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and more. In addition, they discussed the Ayurvedic approach to brain health, weight management, genomics and epigenetics. An Early Day Motion tabled in the UK Parliament last October called for the integration of Ayurveda into the NHS, a motion now supported by 30 members of the Houses of Commons and Lords. In March 2017, Brazil passed legislation to make Ayurveda available through the nation’s public health centres.

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UK to Water Down Climate change and illegal wildlife Regulations to taken of civil servant notes reveal Help Trade Photo curtailing of measures to ease African In an effort to incentivise post-Brexit trade, particularly Africa and Latin America, the UK will be reigning in on its climate change and illegal wildlife trading regulations. The revelation was sourced from civil service documents being carried by a senior civil service servant in the Department for International Trade, and were photographed by a passenger on a train. The WWF Director of Advocacy, Trevor Hutchings, said the protection of the environment and the curbing of illegal wildlife trade "must not be open to negotiation.” “The Government promised in its manifesto and in the recent Great Repeal Bill White Paper to leave the environment in a better state for future generations," he said. "These documents - if genuine - fly in the face of these commitments, undermining government credibility." Lib Dem leader, Tim Farron, said: “This Government, not satisfied with delivering the greatest act of economic act of self-harm in history, is now threatening to disregard climate change and threaten the future of our planet. This

and Latin American trade

Muslim Woman Blasted for Ignoring Westminster Attack Victims Releases Statement After a social media onslaught, the woman gave a heartfelt statement explaining her side

leaked document shows that the government is now grubbing around for any idea and any principle it seems is up for sale.” A conference taking place on the 26th April will address the matter of climate change, where Tim Hitchens, the director general of economic and consular affairs at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office explain the reasoning behind the government’s change of environmental

Mayor Sadiq Khan Tackles Knife Crime & Child Sexual Exploitation Mayor Sadiq Khan Tackles Knife Crime and Child Sexual Exploitation Mayor Sadiq Khan introduced his new four-year policing plan for London, where he has stressed the important of keeping children safe. Khan has set out a number of child safety measures which aim to reduce knife crime, child sexual exploitation and increase child protection through the use of increased dedicated officers working with London

NATIONAL

focus. Notes for the conference revealed aspects of his speech: “You have a crucial role to play in posts in implementing our new approach to prosperity against the huge changes stemming from last year’s Brexit vote. “Trade and growth are now priorities for all posts – you will all need to prioritise developing capability in this area. Some economic security-related work like climate change and illegal wildlife trade will be scaled down.” schools and identifying “youth crime hotspots” In addition, there will be a new knife crime strategy which will see strict enforcement of the law on knife carriers and those selling them to children. For children recovering from sexual violence, Khan and NHS England will be setting up “child houses” to provide investigative, medical and emotional support. There will also be new measures to fight violence against women. On a visit to London secondary school, Khan said “Children and young people face risks their parents never could have imagined when they were growing up. “This plan puts forward measures to better protect and safeguard our children, tackle knife crime and gangs, and intervene to stop young people at risk of offending from being drawn into a life of crime.”

During the horrific Westminster attack, a Muslim woman wearing a hijab was photographed walking past victims whilst on her phone. As well know, Islamophobia tends to heighten around terrorist attacks, and this was no different. The picture went viral, circulating through social media as many railed against the girl for what appeared to be a callous and cold reaction to the killings going on around her. Some even suggest she was involved. Now, the young woman has broken her silence and come forwards with an explanation. In a statement to Tell MAMA, an anti-Muslim and anti-hate group, the unnamed woman said: ‘I’m shocked and totally dismayed at how a picture of me is being circulated on social media. To those individuals who have interpreted and commented on what my thoughts were in that horrific and distressful moment, I would like to say, not only have I been devastated by witnessing the aftermath of a shocking and numbing terror attack, I’ve also had to deal with the shock of finding my picture plastered all over social media by those who could not look beyond my attire, who draw conclusions based on hate and xenophobia. ‘My thoughts at that moment were one of sadness, fear, and concern. What the image

does not show is that I had talked to other witnesses to try and find out what was happening, to see if I could be of any help, even though enough people were at the scene tending to the victims. ‘I then decided to call my family to say that I was fine and was making my way home from work, assisting a lady along the way by helping her get to Waterloo station. ‘My thoughts go out to all the victims and their families. I would like to thank Jamie Lorriman, the photographer who took the picture, for speaking to the media in my defence’. Jamie Lorriman, who took the photograph, had been the first to staunchly defend the woman, saying, “‘I saw dozens of people walk past and the woman on the phone had just come from the part of the bridge where most of the victims were struck. ‘That is why she clearly looks mortified and it is obvious that she is in shock. The woman would have seen people under buses – she had just walked past the worst of it. ‘She wasn’t the only one walking past injured people and it looked like she just wanted to get off the bridge as quickly as possible. ‘I took three photographs where you can see the woman and I think she looks distressed in all of them.’

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INTERNATIONAL

THE ASIAN TODAY NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL Saudi Arabia to Build World’s First Entertainment City Expected to be complete by 2020

REHARNA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH:

CORRECTION: We previously posted an interview with Reharna in our last issue but unfortunately used the wrong surname. We would like to apologise and have republished the article with corrections. made.

ABDELKAREEM

An Asian Female Space Engineer!

audi Arabia has revealed plans for an entertainment city on the outer skirts of Riyadh, boasting that it will be 50x the size of Gibraltar, or roughly the same size as Las Vegas. As well as entertainment, the city complex will feature cultural and sport activities, including a Six Flags park and a safari park. The city comes as part of the Vision 2030 plan that was presented in 2016 by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman. The Vision outline plans to diversify the economy and reduce Arabia’s reliance on oil over the next ten years and more. Authorities say they city will hopefully help city dwellers and visitors to "achieve a healthy and harmonious life, and provide more entertainment, joy and fun.” It will be an estimated 334 sq km (129 sq mile) and is set to be complete by 2022, with no estimates yet on how much it will cost the oil giant nation to finance. The city, which will be the first of its kind, will see Saudi Arabia strengthen its position as one of the Middle East’s unique and indulgent countries, adding to attractions such as Riyadh, and helping it to rival the United Arab Emirates in terms of cultural commodities.

Corbyn Plays Syrian Blame Game

eremy Corbyn has warned that a proxy war in Syria may be brewing between the United States and Russia. Corbyn also added that Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, was "encouraging further bombing" by suggesting that America launch extra missile strikes targeting the Syrian regime. The G7 which met in Italy this April brought together leaders to seek a swift and peaceful resolution to the ongoing Syrian crisis which has seen thousands upon thousands of innocent life lost. The destruction of a Syrian airbase brought about accusations levied by Russia and the United States towards one another. Corbyn said "The solution has to be political…Surely we have to get Russia and America around the table together to put pressure on respective parties to this war, because it's in danger of becoming a proxy war between them, in order to have a meaningful and effective ceasefire." "If one side strikes and another side retaliates therein lies the road to something utterly disastrous." He continued to point the finger at Johnson, saying the Foreign Secretary should have held “robust” talks with Russia instead of skipping out on his planned Moscow trip. Johnson told the Sun, "It is time for Putin to face the truth about the tyrant [Assad] he is still propping up."

ow many of us can say we are part of the space industry? Reharna AbdelKareem can proudly assert this, having studied in a field not many Asian women dabble in; Space Engineering. Reharna is the proud alumni of Kingston University and a recent Master’s graduate who has her sights set on the stars. In honour of International Women’s Day, Husna Anjum interviewed Reharna as the full time mother shed light on the fascinating world of Space Engineering and her academic and professional journey so far.

The world is moving very fast and it seems humans are done with exploring a great deal of earth, we’re moving onto other planets. It’s important to be part of that. What does a career as a space engineer involve? The field of space engineering is vast, it comprises of propulsion engineers, trajectory engineers and so forth. So generally, passion and discipline are key. Following that, a tolerance for Mathematics is advisable because there’s a great deal of it to come!

Tell us about your journey towards this profession? I worked very hard for my GCSE exams, it’s probably one of the most academically daunting times of my life. My Nan wanted me to become a doctor so I committed myself to a total of 4 A-Levels; Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology. Unfortunately, I contracted pneumonia and this both physically and emotionally affected my studies. I then came across a course at Kingston University in Aerospace Engineering with Astronautics and Space Technology and instantly knew this was the course for me. It felt right. In 2015 I graduated with a BEng (with honours) in space engineering and this year I graduated with a Masters of Mechanical Engineering.

What is it about this profession that you love? It captures my imagination and allows me to see the world differently. We take for granted the sky above us, we see the stars but very few know why they shine so bright, very few appreciate their true beauty. We know of other planets and finding a solution to explore them through the process of space travel and exploration is simply indescribable.

Space engineering, to me, is a way of exploring the contents of a treasure box that very few people know of. It’s very special. It is rare to see Asians pursuing a career in the space industry, do you want to see more Asian women in this field? Yes, it’d be wonderful to see young ladies of all ethnicities pursue this field! It’s not a field that many women engage with so it’d be great to see that change in the near future.

How can we persuade them to consider it? The world is moving very fast and it seems humans are done with exploring a great deal of earth, we’re moving onto other planets. It’s important to be part of that. I recommend the love of space, mathematics and engineering beginning at a young age for every child.

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The River Ganges is perhaps the most revered spiritual spot for Hindus in India. Over 2500km long, the river flows through numerous mountains, valleys, cities and villages and is believed to have purifying properties, including wiping away dirt and sin, and provides water to 40% of Indian’s population. Sadly this is not reflected in the very waters of the Ganges. Instead, visitors, tourists and non-Indian may be startled to learn that the actual river is brimming with pollution, faeces and even dead bodies. As well as bathing in the water, many hold religious rituals in the water which include sending their dead down the river. These bodies then collect and can be seen washed up on the banks of the river where they decompose or are picked at by dogs and other animals. In addition to dead bodies, there is also a large amount of human waste deposited in the water. Given that it flows through 29 cities and 48 towns, there is a large percentage of human waste and material. Furthermore, over 70 million people bathe, eat, brush their teeth,carry out their laundry and clean their utensils in the Ganges, resulting in food, waste, leaves, clothes and more ending up in the water too. Worryingly, the water in the Ganges has been found to contain bacteria and water-borne diseases, causing dysentery, cholera, hepatitis and diarrhoea. Industrial waste is one of the biggest threats to the Ganges, comprising almost 12% of total

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volume effluent reaching the waters. Although it seems a small percentage, the fact that waste is often toxic and non-biodegradable is a huge concern for health and safety. India has seen many protest come and go for the restoration of the Ganges. In 2011, Swami Nigamananda Saraswati fasted to death due to the illegal mining in Haridwar that contributed to further pollution. So what’s being done to help? There have been multiple initiatives over the years to educate the people and clean up the Ganges, but changing the mind-set of millions of people who believe the river to be pure and hence invulnerable has proven hard. In 2010, the Supreme Court of India began closing and relocating industrial plants and declared the stretch of water between Gaumukh and Uttarkashi and Eco-sensitive Zone. The Ganga Mahasabha is one of the most prolific organisations dedicated to restoring the Ganges. They proposed the National River Ganga Act 2012 which was unfortunately not drafted by the government. However none of these initiatives seemed to stick and the Ganges has seen no significant improvement in that time. Now, the Indian High Court has officially declared the Ganges, as well as the river Yamuna, “living persons with equal rights.” This order, the first of its kind, will see the rivers,

including their tributaries and sister rivers, be declared as: "Legal and living entities having the status of a legal person with all corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a living person." As a result, any harm done to the river would be akin to doing harm to a person. The order aims to ensure the "preservation and conservation of the two rivers and to protect the recognition and faith of society." Justices Alok Singh and Rajiv Sharma rightfully stated, “the extraordinary situation has arisen since the rivers Ganga and Yamuna are losing their very existence." They added, "This situation requires extraordinary measures.” It is hoped that this move, whilst drastic, will be fully effective in ensuring the protection of the river. Hopefully, it will see less people bathing, washing and cleaning in the river, as well as discarding waste, rubbish, corpses and toxic material into the water, by threat of legal action. As well as restoring the water, it hopes to protect the rich wildlife support by the waters. The river is home to some of the most unique aquatic life in the world, including 140 species of fish, 90 species of amphibians and the endangered Ganges River Dolphin, which is currently dwindling in numbers due to cumbersome constructions on the rivers blocking their movements. The order echoes that of New Zealand’s, which mandates that Whanganui River be recognised as a living entity with legal rights and has received the same praise and celebration from the international and environmental community.

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L-R: Zoe Bennett, Zeenat Akbar, Shana Owen, Halima Ali, Lyn Calver & Hira Malik

Seek for Change is a Community Interest Company founded, based in Birmingham, that seeks to provide a platform for all women across all backgrounds. It was co-founded by two women, Zeenat Akbar and Halima Ali, that have actively worked in the community for over 12 years and work in the field of Social Care. Seek for Change registered as a CIC in August 2016 and to date, have ran two 7 week programmes along with outreach services to disadvantaged women. The programmed concluded on the 9th of March, alongside International Women’s Day, and featured an ex Radio BBC Broadcaster. Ray Khan, as guest host and trainer, was present to educate women on ‘Public Speaking.’ The session blew even Khan away as the women came out with more confidence than imaginable,

discussing their journey and how the session gave them the ability to embrace their new journey. Waheed Saleem, Non-Executive Board member of Solihull and Birmingham Mental Health Trust, was present at the graduation and presented the certificates. He stated on twitter, “Very pleased to be attending to see the great work you are doing with vulnerable women. Keep the good work going’. After the event’s success, Zeenat Akbar added, “I am pleased with the ladies, of how

far they have come. Adversity can change people lives, but Seek For Change does not only change lives, but also tries to save lives too. I want to thank our supporters, which are our delivery partners Ambreen, Lyn, Zoe and Aysha, and the Pathways Team, Safaraz Ali and Cathy Kubaik, who believe in our cause. This is Zero Funded but the passion and drive doesn’t stop because the hard work that is put in is a reason for change, the change within women.”

OUR TARGET AUDIENCE Seek for Change works closely with local women from disadvantaged backgrounds to enable them to take advantage of learning and development opportunities that will empower them to develop their potential, and improve the circumstances of themselves and their children.

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EDUCATION

Five West Midlands schools to compete for prestigious award

Five schools from across the West Midlands are set to battle it out to be crowned the region’s most enterprising school as part of a flagship education initiative from Mosaic, the mentoring charity founded by HRH The Prince of Wales and part of The Prince’s

Trust. Teams of pupils from Grace Academy Solihull, Harborne Academy, Hodge Hill College, Kings Heath Boys, and Perry Beeches IV The free School have reached Mosaic’s West Midlands Enterprise Challenge Regional Final,which will be held on

31 March 2017 at the offices of KPMG in Birmingham. Daniella Genas-Ogunbanjo, entrepreneur and social enterprise advocate, will be the event’s keynote speaker. Run annually thanks to the generous support of Apax Foundation and Qatar Charity UK, the Enterprise Challengeis a national competition that aims to inspire knowledge and raise aspirations, confidence, self-efficacy and longterm employability among secondary school pupils from some of the most deprived and disadvantaged communities across the UK. The competition sees pupils compete for six-weeks in an online business game where they must develop, market and sell a new product. The initiative is unique as pupils benefit from being mentored by volunteer business professionals who pass on their knowledge

and skills relating to various aspects of entrepreneurship. The West Midlands final will see the school teams go head-to-head in a Dragons’ Den style event and pitch their business ideas to a prestigious panel of judges including: Varinder Dhaliwal, Managing Director of We-Q Collaborative Intelligence, Katherine Latham, Director, Corporate Finance and Analytics at Jaguar Land Rover, Katy Hanby, Student Attraction and Outreach Officer at KPMG and Nick Venning, former Marketing Director of Global Industries at PwC. Katherine Latham: Director, Corporate Finance and Analytics at Jaguar Land Rover; Varinder Dhaliwal: Managing Director of We-Q Collaborative and Chairman of Mosaic London and South East; Michael Kearns: Senior Manager, Technology Risk Consulting at KPMG; Balvinder Sidhu, ITV Good Morning Britain Presenter; and Nick Venning, former Marketing Director of Global Industries at PWC.

The winning team will progress to the Enterprise Challenge Grand Final in London on 17 May where they will compete against the winning schools from the North West, Yorkshire, Scotland, South East and London, to be crowned national champions. Becky Mitchell, Mosaic’s West Midlands Regional Manager, said: “The standard of teams from across the region was higher than ever this year and proof that the young people, whatever their background, are a source of pride and excitement about the future. But we must also acknowledge that the Enterprise Challenge and Mosaic’s other mentoring programmes are only possible thanks to our amazing volunteer mentors. By giving up a few hours, their generosity and commitment allows us to inspire young people and develop their confidence, employability and selfesteem.” Since 2009, the Enterprise Challenge has helped

unearth a wealth of talent and potential in students from across the UK. In January 2017, five teenagers from Skinners’ Academy in East London celebrated the culmination of an 18-month journey from classroom to boardroom as their winning project from the 2015 Enterprise Challenge, ‘iRoundUp’, became a fullyfledged commercial venture. In partnership with online payment service ParentPay, iRoundUp has since been rolled out to over 6,000 schools and 2 million parents. For more information on becoming a Mosaic mentor, please contact mosaic@ princes-trust.org.uk, 0203 828 9620 or www.mosaicnetwork. co.uk.

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THE ASIAN TODAY ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIGGER THAN YOU THINK.

Coventry University named among world’s elite ‘young’ universities 40

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oventry University has been listed by the Times Higher Education (THE) magazine as one of the world's top 200 young universities. At a launch today at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia, Coventry was ranked globally in the top 200, putting it among an international elite of dynamic, game-changing institutions less than 50 years old. The university is also highlighted as being in the top 50 young universities for ‘Generation Y’ (those with birth years between the 1980s and early 2000s). Coventry University’s vicechancellor, Professor John Latham, said: “Everybody involved with Coventry University should be intensely proud of this achievement as we celebrate 25 years since becoming a university.

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“To me, being a young university means taking on today’s challenges in new ways. Coventry’s focus on teaching, research with impact, employability and promoting global experiences keeps us relevant to employers, students and researchers from all around the world. “Our University and city have undergone a transformation in recent years. I see this latest recognition as further evidence of the hard work, innovation and commitment to excellence which colleagues past and present have put in over two decades. It is great news for our city and region.” Last year Coventry was also named by the THE as one of the world’s top 200 ‘most international’ universities based on its global outlook, teaching and research.

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Music that rings and reminds us of our history

‘Music has enriched my life immeasurably; it has helped me look at life with optimism’ – Chithra Ramakrishnan, Founder & Director, Shruthi UK

The festival, which took place at The Dovehouse Theatre in Solihull and brought together people of all ages and faith and race backgrounds, was organised by Shruthi UK, a South Asian arts organisation based in Solihull. Shruthi UK, which this year celebrates its 12th anniversary, is the brainchild of Chithra Ramakrishnan, who hails from a family of talented musicians and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, (RSA). Sending his good wishes, Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, said: “Heartiest congratulations to the team at Shruthi UK on making the Thyagaraja Festival a highlight of its events calendar. Music of the Singing Saint is rejoiced by those in India and abroad and he is indeed, a pride, among many, of our great

nation. And with the 2017 UK-India Year of Culture, this event is of particular significance, one which makes us all so proud of our cultural roots and ancestral heritage.” Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Carl Rice, said: “Many congratulations to Dr Ramakrishnan and to Shruthi UK for once again hosting this spectacular and popular event to celebrate the life of the South Indian singing saint, Thyagaraja. It’s through such events that we celebrate our respective roots and cultural heritage which enables us to not only learn about each other’s ways of life, but to broaden our knowledge and learning experiences.” The family-friendly event featured a series of vibrant song and dance performances, speeches from

dignitaries, certificate and other presentations and a South Asian vegetarian meal. Honours were also bestowed upon a selected few role models, as part of the annual International Women’s Day, including Professor Nazira Karodia, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton. VIPs included mayoral candidate for the West Midlands Andy Street, new Indian Consul General Dr Aman Puri, the Mayor of Solihull Cllr Mike Robinson and Lady Mayoress Mrs Jenny Robinson. Also, one of the world’s most wellknown gurus of Carnatic music, Guru Vid Shri Neyveli Santhanagopalan – a patron of Shruthi UK’s sister organisation the British Carnatic Choir - was flown in

especially from India to be at this event. Shruthi UK aims to inspire and motivate people from all ages and backgrounds but particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. For example, it has in the past organised workshops for autistic children and young adults, supported by Autism West Midlands and

is currently working with people with dementia in an attempt to help improve their cognitive skills and general well-being through holistic healing through Indian dance. Shruthi UK also works closely with Special Needs schools across the region and beyond. For more information visit: www.shruthiuk.com

Idris Khan A World Within Until 7 May 2017 Floor 3 The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated publication with an essay by Oliver Basciano. It is designed by Herman Lelie in close collaboration with the artist. Special Exhibition Price £37.95 | Signed copy £45

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Idris Khan, Autonomy, 2016, 3 stamped glass sheets, aluminium, black ink, 156 x 140 x 18 cm. Courtesy the Artist and Victoria Miro, London. © Idris Khan

The New Art Gallery Walsall

ellknown and aspiring artists from across England last night showcased their talents as part of a vibrant South Asian music festival. The Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival, which this year coincides with the UK-India Year of Culture, saw aspiring singers, musicians and professional dancers bring to life the songs, rhythms and teachings of Thyagaraja, one of the legendary composers of Indian and Carnatic classical music. Thyagaraja, also known as the singing saint, composed thousands of devotional hymns, most in praise of the Hindu God, Lord Rama, many of which remain popular today.

APRIL 2017

The UK’s leading property investment event announces the complimentary seminar programme at its Midlands show The LI Media portfolio includes: National Landlord Investment Show:

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For exhibiting enquiries, please call +44 (0)20 8656 5075 or email info@landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk

Comprising 11 shows in 2017, it attracted over 21,000 visitors in 2016, a growth of 31% since 2015. Exhibitor numbers have also grown to over 550 annually. www.landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk Landlord Investor Magazine is a subscription-based product available in both print and digital formats with 11 issues each year. It offers advice, features, and news, and helps property professionals keep up to date with essential industry developments. Subscribe at: www.landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk

SEMINAR SPEAKERS There is free parking available at Aston Villa Football Club

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To visit the show and be in with a chance to WIN a stadium tour of Villa Park, Paul Mahoney - Nova Financial

Please visit landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk/midlandsshow

Simon Zutshi Property Investors Network

Richard Browser Editor of Property News

ational Landlord Investment Show is returning to the Midlands for its second show of the year and 44th show to date on Wednesday 19 April at Aston Villa Football Club. As part of the seminar programme, the show will see industry experts presenting over 10+ seminars to discuss current issues that landlords face, covering Brexit, licensing, tax, finance, mortgages and more. Seminar speakers include Michael Morgan - Director of Dispute Resolution who will be presenting on tenancy deposits, Paul Mahoney - Nova Financial – on property investment fundamentals, and Simon Zutshi - property investors network, talking about why 2017 is the investing opportunity of the decade. Richard Bowser, Editor of Property Investor News will present, ‘Property investing in 2017: are you ‘a player’ or just playing and praying?’ Also speaking are The Landlord’s Pension, Shawbrook Bank, Total Landlord Insurance, and Premier Property Education. The seminars are free to attend for visitors and on a first-come, first-served basis. Proudly supported by The Asian Today for the second year running, it is a perfect place to get advice and an in-depth understanding of the investment opportunities available – in both Birmingham and the Midlands. ‘It’s going to be a very stimulating day, with many features, suppliers and seminars

for property professionals, explains Tracey Hanbury, Event Director from LI Media, who have successfully developed and run these events throughout the UK. ‘Our shows offer advice to help seasoned landlords and investors, as well as those considering entering the buy-to-let market. The Midlands 2016 show saw over 500 landlord and investors through the doors. The show this year is on course to be bigger and better this year with 700-800 investors expected to attend. ‘We look forward to welcoming visitors to what will be our 44th show to date, and the Midlands, as a property hotspot, is a prime location to host us again this year. Visitors will be able to source the latest property investment services from renowned brands such as Nethouseprices, Royal Bank of Scotland, State Bank of India, Kind Commercial and Valuation Office Agency. They’re joined by companies such as Shawbrook Bank, Pennycuick Collins, Bedford Insurance Group, Robert Oulsman and Fitzwilliam Capital Partners who offer local or niche buy-to-let services in areas from tax, to mortgages to legal.’ Tenancy Deposit Scheme, who are exhibiting for the third year running, attest to the popularity of the show, ‘National Landlord Investment Show is a really well run event and has gained the popularity it deserves within the industry.’

National Landlord Investment Show is the UK’s leading property exhibition and operates at property hotspots throughout the country. Established in 2013, it has now run 44 shows successfully, providing property investment solutions for over 21,000 seasoned and new investors in the buy-to-let market in the last 12 months.

Complimentary Seminars The two seminar theatres host 10+ speakers throughout the day who have unparalleled experience in the UK and overseas buy-to-let markets. Ever popular, they offer visitors a chance to expand their knowledge, keep up-to-date with developments in the market including Brexit and will feature topics covering the entire spectrum of buy-to-let. This interactive environment is a popular format for visitors, who use it to ask questions, discuss and make new connections.

Networking Opportunities Visitors will also be able to expand their networks at the Morning Networking Event, also at Aston Villa Football Club, starting just before the show doors open at 9.00am on the morning on the show. It’s a fantastic opportunity to expand business networks, both locally and further afield and is also free to attend.

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UK’s leading property investment event 19 April | Aston Villa Football Club | Villa Park | 09:00 – 15:30

Join 1000s of the buy-to-let market to network, learn from property experts and source services from leading suppliers. Other forthcoming shows include Surrey & Berkshire. Visit our website to find out more about the shows around the UK, including London, Sussex, Kent, Manchester & Cardiff.

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19 April 2017, Aston Villa Football Club, Villa Park, Birmingham B6 6HE | FREE PARKING

We’ve lined up leading suppliers so you can source products and services and get advice on the buy-to-let solutions in the market, including:

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Parineeti Chopra Sings

Parineeti Chopra renders her first song 'Maan Ke Hum Yaar Nahin'

Bollywood Entertainment News

City Of Tiny Lights Cast Interview

Releasing in the UK on 7th April Page 48

Riz Ahmed set for success with City of Tiny Lights Riz Ahmed has certainly been making waves as of late and shows no signs of slowing down. The British Asian actor has seen his career take him from strength to strength. He starred in the acclaimed comedy Four Lions and most recently the huge accomplishment that is Rogue One. Now the actor is getting back to basics by starring in the upcoming City of Tiny Lights.

Starring opposite Billy Piper, City of Tiny Lights is based upon the novel of the same name by Patrick Neate. It tells the tale of Detective Tommy Akhtar (Ahmed) who finds a Pakistani business man lying dead in a hotel. Soon, he is embroiled in a dizzying plot involving the MI5, drugs gangs and even terrorists. Directed by Pete Travis, one of the most popular names in the short film circuit, the

film garnered fantastic responses when screened at the BFI Film Festival in October 2016. Thanks to the amount of significant international attention it has gleaned, it appears this British noir thriller will be yet another stepping stone to Riz Ahmedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success. The film also stars James Floyd, Hannah Rae, Danny Webb, and Charlotte Blake and is due out in UK cinemas on 7th April.

BADSHAH Releases Party Anthem To read the full story turn to page 33

Shah Rukh Khan Talks About Loneliness To read the full story turn to page 47

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Rapid Fire Interview with Rizwan & Muazzam of the Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali tour

Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali kicked off their tour of the UK in March, paying tribute to their Uncle, the legendary Pakistani Qawwali singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, on the 20th anniversary since his death. The tour took them through Bristol, Leeds, Gateshead, London and Birmingham. What made you decide to take on this tour, and why now? There is never a set time to take on a tour. It all depends when it’s been offered and if we are available and the terms and conditions are right we do it, but this particular time because it’s organised to tribute our great uncle Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, we could not say no. What changes have you seen when comparing Qawwali/Sufi in your generation to your late Uncle’s? There is not much difference now since our late Uncle’s time because he had already given a new flavour to young generation in his time, which is still popular today. 2017 marks 70 years since the birth of Pakistan, what role do you see Qawwali filling regarding wider race and religious issues? Qawwali music is such a music which has a message of peace and love. Which unites people from all walks of life regardless of religion,race or colour. Its popular with every one and it plays a role of a bridge among nations. Do you think there’s room for Qawwali to grow and take a piece of the Asian music market? Qawwali has always grown in each century and is still growing. Yes there was a slack period but Qawwali craze has started to grow again. In Bollywood, qawwali compositions are being used all the time, which is a very big market of Asian music.

Parineeti Chopra renders her first song Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahin for Meri Pyaar Bindu

Lastly, how do our Brit fans compare to those back in Pakistan/India? Well people in Pakistan/India understand the lyrics more deeply than in the west. So therefore there is a difference in the performance. In Pakistan/India we emphasise on lyrics as people enjoy lyrical improvisations and in the west more musical improvisation, along with lyrics.

Jumprov, UK's Freshest Improv Theatre Company Launched! Jumprov is the UK's First Improv Theatre Company made up of creatives entirely from Black, Asian & Mixed Race backgrounds. The Countdown to our debut show begins! In two months we will launch our completely improvised debut show. The debut show will take place at The Old Joint Stock Theatre located in Birmingham City Centre on Thursday 4th May 2017 at 8PM. Tickets £10+BF via Jumprov.com Audiences will experience a hilarious 90 minute show, made up completely on the spot featuring classic improv games with the Jumprov twist. Sunny Dhap said “Jumprov was born straight out of Birmingham Improv Festival. I was there looking at the audiences, the acts and I noticed it was not

representative of our diverse city. I decided to start my own improv theatre company which will help tackle the continuing issue of under representation in theatre, TV & film” Sunny continued, “Jumprov has created a platform for stories to be told with characters that are free from everyday stereotypes, prejudices faced while living in society and working in this industry. Jumprov also gives a voice and collaborative creative control to the performers and audiences.” Jumprov is made up of seven Birmingham born creatives; they are Sunny Dhap, Jade Samuels, Adaya Henry, David Jackson, Chantal Erraoui, Jay Droch & Marius Turner. See more details below.

Visit: jumprov.com for further info

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Shah Rukh Khan talks Loneliness, Social Media and his Kids

Badshah releases party anthem,

'Mercy' from his debut album O.N.E. If this is what the first song, Mercy sounds like, then Global Superstar Badshah’s album O.N.E is the one Badshah, the runaway success behind many songs over the last few years, is back with a bang on a unique and avant-garde track - ‘MERCY’. With a growing trajectory of fan base on Spotify from key markets like US, UK, Canada and Malaysia, Badshah’s music consistently champions the airwaves. From being the first music video ever to be shot in the O2 Arena, London to the grandeur getting further accelerated by a Boeing in the backdrop, ‘MERCY’ bears the hallmarks and cool vibes that are quintessentially Badshah. The gorgeous dancer and actress Lauren Gotllieb is seen swaying on Badshah’s beats and together they look nothing less than electrifying. The single’s infectious rhythm and electronic influences hint at the album being comprising all of the elements of Badshah’s inimitable style. Released by his label, Sony Music, the song characterises a much-needed

pivot with a modern sound and club pop that is perfectly tailored to the party scene. ‘MERCY’ marks the first release from his forthcoming album O.N.E. “MERCY is something I took really long to create, I needed to get the right sound and mix. The millennials now want new and different music every time, something that sticks with them. I have been able to do that successfully with my last single and I hope this time too my fans give me as much love,” says Badshah. I needed to get the right sound and mix. The millennials now want new and different music every time, something that sticks with them. While the label along with the artist has been working on the album for some time, they collectively believe that, with Badshah, every release is ambitious. “Badshah’s acclaimed hook writing is at its peak on the album O.N.E and ‘MERCY’ is one glittering element of the same. We are following a High Reach strategy using properties and platforms having

high eyeballs and effectiveness for a global reach. The objective is to reach out to everyone and also get new fans hooked onto the song,” says Sanujeet Bhujabal, Marketing Director, Sony Music India. He further adds, “We are extremely excited to release the first of many hits this year by Badshah and together we promise to make it a year of some great dancing and singing!” 2017 began with a bang as Badshah took the stage headlining at BBC Asian Network Live 2017, for the second year in a row captivating international audiences with his performance and reaching out to an estimated one million plus listeners across Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network and over 120,000 viewers on BBC Red Button TV. That’s not all; currently the rapper is the Spotlight Artist on Apple Music’s brand new nationwide marketing campaign in India. O.N.E will be Badshah’s first pop album and will feature six to eight songs. The second single is scheduled

Talented Local wows judges at TeenStar auditions! RIKA from London shot to fame for her song 'Peace for Syria' which received over 800,000 views within a week of upload

RIKA from LONDON has been given the big thumbs up by judges at the TeenStar auditions. Along with other impressive acts, RIKA has made it through to the Regional Finals of the UK’s only singing and dancing competition exclusively for teens and pre-teens. Chandrika Darbari popularly known as RIKA is a rising young Brit-Asian singer and songwriter. She shot to fame with her newly released music video, ‘Peace for Syria’ which went viral on YouTube with over 800,000 views within a week of upload. Now with her selection to the Regional Finals of UK’s TeenStar, she will now be performing in a live showcase in the competition. TeenStar is an exciting national singing and dancing competition searching for the UK’s best teen and pre-teen singers, singer/ songwriters, rappers, dancers and dance groups of all genres and styles.

This year’s India Today Conclave 2017 was graced by the likes of Bollywood legends Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan. The purpose of the event was to shine a light on the great achievements coming out of India, with the actors highlighting the media and creative developments, as well as the lessons they’ve learnt during their own successful careers. Khan delivered a captivating speech and also got into character of his Dear Zindagi doctor role, where he answered interview questions from the three India Today moderators, Koel Puri Rinchet, Padmaja Joshi and Avantika Singh. Regarding success and fame, Khan delivered a poignant and heartfelt message: “The spotlight can be a frightfully lonely place. But accepting the beauty and the gift that comes from being in the spotlight is the only way to go. When people start throwing themselves at you, just make sure you always smell good, brush your teeth, have soft hair. I have a lot of ladies who like to smell me and grab me, so now I have lady bodyguards.” Whether on the big screen, in real life or even social media, Khan’s life has proved to be a whirlwind. He added, “If I were to say ‘shut up’ to someone on social media, I’d get a much louder shut up in my face” and joked, “Speak your mind to yourself in front of the bathroom mirror, or say them out loud in a padded room where your voice doesn’t leave the room.” However he did have some positive things to say about social media. The actor, who has 24million followers on Twitter, said, “The good point about social media is you can put your point across. I do find good-thinking, smart, intelligent people going out there and kind of making a fool of themselves by refuting (rumours). You can’t spend your life explaining things and what you feel and what you mean to people.” On his children, Khan said, “I am planning to give up all (smoking and drinking) and try to be healthier and happier. I don’t want my children to hold that against me that I was not there. I want to be there to give them advice completely out of context and irrelevant. I want to find out about their personal lives when they are hating me for doing so. I want to be cumbersome and troublesome to my children. So I should work towards it and get healthy.”

BY: SHEENA

BOLLYWOOD

01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10.

Badri Ki Dulhania Badri Ki Dulhania

Sahiba Phillauri

Channa Mereya Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

The Break Up Song Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

The Huma Song OK Jaanu

Bulleya

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Nashe Si Chadh Gayi Beﬁkre

Zaalima Raees

Wonderland Lakeeran

Laila Main Laila Raees

BHANGRA

01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10.

General

Zack Knight

Phone

Mickey Singh

Bamb Jatt

Amrit Maan ft. Jasmine Sandlas

Manja Nish

Cheez Badi

Udit Narayan & Neha Kakkar

Love Controller

Zack Knight ft. Dayne S

Do You Know Diljit Dosanjh

Temple

Jasmin Walia

Heartbroken

Roach Killa, G Sandhu & Naseebo Lal

Peg

Sharry Mann & Mista Baaz

UK CHART

01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10.

Passionfruit Drake

Not Today BTS

Shape of You Ed Sheeran

Fine

Taeyeon

Humble

Kendrick Lamar

Mo Bounce Iggy Azalia

It ain't me

Kygo & Selena Gomez

That's What I Like Bruno Mars

Chained to the Rhythm Katy Perry

Paris

The Chainsmokers

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Manish Gajjar Hindi Film Adviser for Vue Cinemas

BOLLYWOOD MOVIE OF THE MONTH

NOOR Director: - Sunhil Sippy Cast: - Sonakshi Sinha, Purab Kohli It’s a modern day take on one of the inhabitants of Mumbai’s fast paced city life. Noor, a 20 something journalist is finding it hard juggling with work pressures, love and personal life on a day to day basis. Noor lives with her father and maid Malti. She works for a local television channel where she is relegated to covering socialite events, bakery openings and other banal fodder. Frustrated, with her job and her life, she is on the lookout for meaning. Be it in the form of an intelligent and handsome man or a story that has some depth and substance. Her somewhat muddled existence is about to change when she comes across an investigative news story. Now she must do her best to fix a situation that she has placed herself in. But does she have the courage to stand by her words? The film takes an amusing look at Noor’s life journey capturing her relationships, ambitions, friendships, choices, infatuations, her lack of confidence and predicaments as she matures proving that sometimes everything you are looking for in life, may very well be sitting right before you! Akira and Force 2 star Sonakshi Sinha portrays the character of the indecisive journalist. The story is based on the novel ‘Karachi - You’re Killing Me!’ written by Pakistani author and journalist Saba Imtiaz. This coming -of- age film is one which every youngster living in a city can relate to. The music of Noor is fast gaining popularity in the charts especially ‘Gulabi 2.0’. It’s been recreated from the highly acclaimed original RD Burman song. This recent version is more groovy and peppy yet has retained the retro feel of the original. There is also another number worth a mention here. The song ‘Move Your Lakk’ sees Sonakshi singing alongside Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh and DJ Badshah. The song highlights the importance of close friendships. Noor releases this month. It’s a bittersweet tale of a single young woman and her misadventures as she tries to make a living in the big metropolis of Mumbai. Whilst Sonakshi headlines the film, she is well supported by co- star Purab Kohli of the Rock On and Airlift fame.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON OUR WEBSITE

Karan Johar Nepotism Revealed, Says ‘True Talent is the Least’ Factor in Stardom

The

debate between Karan Johar and Kangana Ranaut rages on as the topic of Bollywood nepotism was brought up once again. Previously, Kangana had guested on Karan’s chat show, Koffee with Karan, and declared the director the “the flag-bearer of nepotism.” The director denounced such accusations, saying he had never helped his family into Bollywood. However, a video has now surfaced showing Karan admitting the prevalence of nepotism within Bollywood. In a video from 2014, rumoured to be from The Front Row with Anupama Chopra, Karan says: “I picked up a chubby girl, I saw something...And maybe the fact - I can’t lie - maybe the fact that she was Mahesh Bhatt’s daughter also excited me. I don’t know. Right now, I want to say no, but at that point it may have been a very strong fact. If that is nepotism, then definitely, I am guilty. Would I have cast Varun Dhawan had he not been David Dhawan’s son? Because he was David’s son, he was on the sets as an AD (assistant director) and spent enough time for me to understand that he can be a

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movie star. A lot of factors determine movie stardom in our country and I think true talent is the least of them.” The feud first began when Kangana, whilst promoting her new film Rangoon, said to Karan: “In my biopic, if it is ever made, you will play the stereotypical villain. One who is intolerant of outsiders, the flagbearer of nepotism in Bollywood and movie mafia.” Karan allowed her to say her piece then delivered his own thoughts, refuting the claims that he aided nepotism within Bollywood. Karan, who has directed a plethora of Bollywood classics, both new and old, was the son of Yash Johar, so it cannot be denied than an element of nepotism went into his own career. Yet the Bollywood darling denied getting any of his own relatives into the industry and added that he had debuted 13 directors with no ties to B-town. He also hit out at Kangana in a scathing remark: “I am done with Kangana playing the woman and the victim card. You cannot play a victim every time with some sad story to tell. If the industry is that bad, just leave it.” Antonio, who featured in ‘Doctors’, plays Young Lovely in City of Tiny Lights.

Don’t worry if you’re not successful this time round. We’ll be running the vue competition every month!

The Asian Today has teamed up with VUE cinemas to offer ONE lucky reader the chance to get their hands on a pair of tickets to watch NOOR at VUE Star City! All you have to do is e-mail your ANSWER, name, FULL address details and contact number to competitions@theasiantoday.com before the closing date to be in with a chance of winning!

Who plays the role of NOOR? A). Alia Bhatt B). Sonakshi Sinha C). Parineeti Chopra

Good Luck! Closing date: 20th April 2017 Terms and Conditions: All entrants must put their FULL NAME, ADDRESS,CONTACT NUMBER and EMAIL ADDRESS when entering the competition. Any winner selected without a FULL address will be disqualified • Winner will only be allowed to watch any screening of NOOR with their tickets • Winner will be notified by e-mail by Asian Today.

What can we expect from City of Tiny Lights and your character? A: It’s a thriller, it’s very dark and it’s a multicultural representation of England. My character is very popular and quite sharp as well. He’s the leader of the ‘gang.’ What type of thriller are we in for? A: There’s no drugs or terrorism here but the film is about a PI detective who’s trying to uncover a murder mystery. The way it fits in with the youngsters is that the film splits between the past and the present, and the way Riz has to uncover the story is he has to confront issues from his past and that’s when you see the younger characters, that’s where I come in. So this is your first big screen venture, what’s that been like? A: I found it really relaxed and you don’t really get that with TV because it’s constantly ‘go, go go!”’ Doctors, I’ve done twice, and that was the fastest thing I ever had to do, it was two takes and you’re done. Whereas with film you get to rehearse and get into your character and take lots of takes and change it up and improvise. Tell us about your acting background, you’ve done both TV and theatre. A: I love theatre. It’s very different from screen acting which is very nuanced

Antonio, who featured in ‘Doctors’, plays Young Lovely in City of Tiny Lights.

and you don’t give much away, less is more. With theatre the bigger the better, everything you do is this big, grand gesture so it’s nice to have that duality. You mentioned the multicultural aspect of City of Tiny Lights, can you explain a bit more? A: You get to see England for what it really is, where we have all races, all ethnicities. Sometimes you find a lot of films portraying England as like a period drama or with lots of white people talking about the Queen, whereas this film is a true representation of the country that we live in. As an Asian actor, what’s your opinion on minorities in the media? A: I think there’s definitely a lack of minority representation in the media. One of the reasons why I’m so highly aware of it is because when you see a TV programme or a film and it’s got an Asian in it, we say “oh, look at that- oh, a brown person.” The fact that we’re still shocked at seeing ourselves represented in the media proves that there’s still a problem. The percentage is not equal. What’s it like working with Billie Piper and Riz Ahmed? A: Awesome. She works very hard, he works very hard too. It was great seeing them on set because it was like an education really, watching what they do and how much they invest into their characters.

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Catching up with the City of Tiny Lights Cast I

n preparation for the release of the highly anticipated City of Tiny Lights, starring Riz Ahmed and Billie Piper, we sat down with two of the younger British Asian actors in the film, Antonio Aakeel, 21 and Reiss Kershi, 19. The actors, for whom Tiny Lights is their first big screen venture, delve into what we can expect from the upcoming thriller, their acting dreams and their insights into diversity in the media.

Reiss Kershi plays Young Tommy, the young version of Riz Ahmed’s character in the film.

Reiss Kershi plays Young Tommy, the young version of Riz Ahmed’s character in the film. So you’re an upcoming actor, tell us a bit about yourself. R: I was raised just outside London and went to Reigate College. That was where I developed a knack for acting. When I went to college and did my acting course, both the teachers were really helpful and along the way, I got involved with this film. So this is your first proper acting gig? R: Yes, it’s been amazing. I always thought acting would be impossible to pursue so I focused more on filmmaking, hoping I could get into acting after. My mom saw the open casting for this film, it was just for extras. I thought it would be a good opportunity to see how the film set works. When I first auditioned I thought it went awful, I thought I’m never going to get anything. However they saw that I looked a little bit like Riz so they called me back for more auditions with lines and then finally I was up

against people with actual agents who had been to drama school. I had two auditions then a screen test with Antonio. We were originally going for the same role. Riz came and we did a little video with him and I somehow managed to get the part. The great thing is, both me and Antonio managed to get parts. Just from the screen test alone, I built up a good friendship with Antonio. Little did I know we’d actually be working together. Can you tell us a bit about your character? R: He’s a Kenyan-Pakistani that’s into cricket and has a group of friends. They have a tight knit friendship but my character Tommy, and his friend Stuart, both like Shelly, the younger Billie Piper.

YOUNG PEOPLE GET CREATIVE WITH BEST OF BIRMINGHAM’S SOUTH ASIAN CULTURE

DESI MOVES - the awardwinning youth arts participation programme that celebrates streetwise South Asian sounds and styles - returns to Birmingham this summer as part of U TSAV: the Year of South Asian Culture. DESI MOVES 2017 is a season of no-cost music-based training programmes delivered by rising stars from Birmingham’s creative scene, including RAZA HUSSAIN and the NEW DAY FOUNDATION ’s YT. Sessions are running at venues in the city’s local youth venues across the summer, and the programme is building up to live debut performances from DESI MOVES participants at this year’s BIRMINGHAM MELA attended by over 70,000 people.. DESI MOVES 2017 will also feature pop-up events, exhibitions, hands-on creative making opportunities and artistic interventions across the city this summer. PUNCH CEO, AMMO TALWAR MBE said, “Birmingham is home to many vibrant South Asian communities, and one thing that brings the youth together is our music. In the last ten years, London has proved it is the home of GRIME. DESI MOVES will prove that Birmingham is the capital of

DESI. We’ve heard the sound of London E3; this year it’s the turn of Birmingham B20. DESI MOVES 2017 is being produced by Birmingham-based PUNCH RECORDS , producers of last year’s GALLERY 37 youth residency programme. With 300 young people contributing to a showcase performance seen by over 2.5k people, GALLERY 37 was one of the highlights of the city’s year of arts and young people YAY16 . PUNCH -produced youth arts programmes like DESI MOVES are known nationally for their innovation, most recently a winning prestigious national ARQIVA social action bronze award last year. DESI MOVES 2017 gives young people the chance to create and perform, while learning important skills from positive role models. Outcomes include improved self-esteem, communication and social skills, self-confidence and self-discipline. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: SOPHIA JOHNSON, ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR - 0121 224 7444 | SOPHIA@ PUNCH-RECORDS.CO.UK

APRIL 2017

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THE ASIAN TODAY Train Your Brain:

Creativity If there is one thing that make us superior to other human beings, it is our ability to think differently. With billions of neurons making trillions of synaptic connections, our brain is the most amazing thing in the world. Whether you are a business director, scientist, houseperson or a person that so happens to be in this world, your brain is the most powerful asset you possess! The destiny of a man depends on how effectively he uses his brain. All great people, who made a mark in history, have used their brain more effectively than others. How did they do it? Creativity, the ability to find new patterns in the web of billions of neurons, is what makes us different. Everything we remember, every we have thought, and every feeling we experienced is basically a pattern among billions of neurons confined in a three-pound matter in our head. People who made great inventions like Marconi, Steve jobs and those who shattered the publicly accepted limits like Roger Bannister (the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes), thought out of the box, found new patterns in their brain and hence became successful. Every invention that ever happened was because of a person who thought creatively. The word “creativity” means the ability to create, the ability to create new patterns in our brain. The basic caveat to remember is that when it comes to creativity, follow the theme “Use it or Lose it!" The following is a list of 5 simple things you can practice to improve your creativity. 1-Take a new route back to home 2-Cook something new without any guidelines 3-Learn a new language 4-Try a new sport 5-Walk daily for 30 minutes By taking on board some of the tips above, you will boost your creativity and develop your brain into an idea generating machine using its full perceptual range. By Ambreen Khan Director of The Wonder of Learning. Email: info@wonderoflearning.co.uk Twitter: @TheWonderLearn

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HEALTH

NHS to remove cold remedies, gluten-free food and indigestion medication from prescriptions List also includes sunscreen, pain relief and more In a bid to save on funds, the NHS is cracking down on providing prescriptions for “low value” medicines, including cold remedies, gluten-free food and sunscreen. These items, as well as certain types of pain relief and travel vaccines, will no longer be available on the NHS. The decision has been met with controversy, with many arguing that their reliance on such items is not of “low value” at all, especially with regards to pain relief and gluten-free food. Sarah Sleet, of Coeliac UK, said it was disappointing that gluten-free food would now be paid for by the individual, especially given not all shops store gluten-free food. “Research shows that budget and convenience stores, which are relied upon by the most vulnerable such as the elderly, those with disabilities and on

low incomes, have virtually no provision." However others have pointed out that gluten-free food is now widely available in the majority of shops and can be bought online. Local health bosses have stated such items have little clinical value despite costing the NHS a staggering £400 million. NHS Clinical Commissioner are also seeking to remove indigestion and heartburn medicines from the prescription list. Gill Nuttall, of Melanoma UK, also expressed disapproval with the decision, stating: "I speak to melanoma patients every day who are receiving life prolonging treatments in melanoma, some of whom suffer some terrible side effects, including extreme reactions to the sun. Sun screen has a very high clinical value to those patients."

Stroke survivor Jaswant Naker shares his story in a new ACT FAST ﬁlm Think and Act FAST:

Family, friends and strangers are urged to call 999 as soon as they notice any single one of the three key signs of a stroke: Face, Arms, Speech

ublic Health England has released a series of films as part of the national Act FAST campaign, to help raise awareness of the vital role anyone can play when they see someone having a stroke. Jaswant Naker from Ealing is featured in a film sharing his story alongside Emmerdale actor Bhasker Patel describing the common signs of stroke. They are joined by Dr Sreeman Andole who highlights why people need to Act FAST and call 999 if they notice any single one of the three key signs of a stroke: Face, Arms, Speech. Watch the film here Jaswant Naker, stroke survivor said: “It was the quick thinking

of my wife that saved my life. She noticed that my speech became slurred whilst watching TV one evening and insisted that I needed urgent medical help, so I was rushed to Hammersmith hospital. If it wasn’t for my wife I would have ignored the signs and gone to bed to rest, I dread to think what would have happened to me if I had followed my instinct. Three years on and I am well and I value every day of my life. I urge everyone to know and understand the signs of a stroke and to not take any chances with their life. If you or someone you know is experiencing facial weakness, arm weakness or speech problems, call

• Face - has their face fallen on one side? Can they smile? • Arms - can they raise both arms and keep them there? • Speech - is their speech slurred? • Time – to call 999 if you see any single one of these signs of a stroke

999, do not delay. It could save your life, like it did mine.” Stroke is now the fourth largest cause of death in the UK and South Asians are at a higher risk of having a stroke than their white counterparts due to diabetes and high blood pressure being significant factors causing stroke. New statistics reveal that stroke kills over 40,000 people a year and almost two thirds leave hospital with a disability. People are most likely to have a stroke when they are 55 years of age or older, but South Asians are at a greater risk of experiencing a stroke at a younger age.

Research shows that 24% of people would wait to call an ambulance because they wrongly believe that they need to see two or more symptoms of stroke to be sure. Other barriers to dialling 999 include feeling that they need permission to act on behalf of others. Whether you are a stranger in the street, a family member at home or the person themselves – do not ignore the key symptoms, call 999 immediately if you notice even one of the symptoms. Getting appropriate treatment can reduce the amount of brain damage and ensure a better chance of making a good recovery.

TECHNOLOGY

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• Jyotveer Singh, a 35 year old computer programmer from West London a prayer’ immediately notifying the user of compassionate interactions. With so many communities on board the average response time is 10 minutes which is fantastic news considering today 84% of British people say they have felt lonely and 64% know someone is lonely. A recent user analysis highlighted that 100% of AnonCare users felt uplifted by another member, 94% feel the technology has helped improving their mood and 82% feel it has contributed to improving their overall wellbeing. AnonCare users benefited so much that 94% would recommend it to a friend or family member. Whilst most care providers focused on complex and often controversial telehealth technology a new faith inspired App has been developed to help reduce over reliance on healthcare services by creating more inter-dependency within the global community. Jyotveer Singh, Founder of AnonCare said, “My Sikh faith informs me that we are all one large family and if someone is sick, it is

our joint duty to take care of them. “The NHS see over 1 million patients every 36 hours and at the same time volunteers from the Golden Temple (India) are serving over 1.5 million free meals. I feel people of faith and none, good people, have the motivation and desire to help others, without expectation.” In the year to September 2015, there were 779,786 referrals made by GPs to independent providers for outpatient care. AnonCare is designed to assist the NHS thorough active referrals to the global community, who provide emotional assistance to those in need. An AnonCare user commented that AnonCare is “a compassion network changing social interaction. Beats Facebook in terms of purpose and matches it in functionality.” Jyotveer Singh said: “It is fantastic to see when the UK sleeps, another country is awake and available to provide support. A global family united to selflessly serve others.”

Brummy Part-Time Photographer Wins Sony International Photography Award

Tim Cornbill, a part time photographer, took his stunning shot in Berlin, capturing three pedestrians crossing a huge, eye-catching monochromatic structure near the River Spree. The photo, named Oculus, won in the open architecture category and also won the UK national winner category. The Sony World Photography Awards is an international programme that selects the best single photographs from 65 countries, awarding a national winner to each as well as having ten different ‘open’ categories. Cornbill, whose main profession is architecture, was selected from over 105,000 entries.

TECHNOLOGY

The Sikh Mark Zuckerberg supports communities with his technology

With the £8 billion rise in NHS expenditure the health industry is literally struggling to survive. Patient waiting times are getting longer, and there is a significant reduction of time and resource to provide quality, compassionate care for each and every patient. Jyotveer Singh, a 35 year old turbaned computer programmer from West London, has been dubbed the Sikh Mark Zuckerberg after his “Facebook for compassion” has been connecting people to take care of each other. Communities across Britain and beyond are uniting on the ‘AnonCare’ App to support the sick and vulnerable. Support is being made available 24 hours a day, 7 day a week across the globe for those, who as result of a health condition, loss of a job, death of a loved is left feeling lonely and isolated. Through AnonCare, vulnerable people are able to anonymously share concerns and issues, allowing a global community to respond and uplift them. As well as ‘liking’ posts, members can also ‘wish well’ or ‘offer

APRIL 2017

The chairman of the open architecture category, Damien Demolder, said of Oculus: “[It] is a stunning piece of graphic architecture and Tim has done brilliantly to show it off to full effect. "I love the monochromatic colouration that emphasises the architect's careful mix of shapes and lines and the scale we get to understand immediately through Tim's inclusion of the human figures at the bottom of the frame. It all works really very well." On winning, brummy Cornbill said: “"I was astonished when I received the news that I had won the open

architecture category and the UK national award. "I am truly honoured and humbled to receive this accolade. I never thought one of my photographs could make such an impact but it seems this one has. As an architect, I'm passionate about capturing buildings and I'm always on the lookout for photogenic designs. "I was really struck by the sheer scale of this façade and the visual impact of the circle which I hope I've been able to convey in this everyday street scene. I am truly thrilled to have been recognised in the world's largest photography competition.

TECH TALK WITH QASIM MAJID

@cas_majid

SOCIAL MEDIA ETIQUETTE

Time and time again we see social posts which are not only annoying, but make us wonder why they exist. I am a strong advocate of social media for all, but sometimes It’s better to say nothing…especially if you have no social etiquette! This is why we’re giving you 3 tips on how not to do social media: 1) STOP SPAMMING: Personally, if I see this sort of behaviour being exhibited, I’m unliking/ unfollowing that page straight away, as I’m sure most of you would do too! This “spam” can come in many forms, the following are good examples: • Posting way too much (sometimes less is more). • Getting way too “sales-y”. • Tagging every Tom, Dick and Harry you know! Every follower brings new opportunities to the table for your social media, driving people away will ensure they NEVER come back. Think before you post… 2) Deal with trolls effectively: Trolls will be trolls, period. Whether you have encountered them already on your social media journey or you’re still not there yet; your reactions will always be one of two options: • Kill them with kindness! • Block them immediately. A bit of witty banter wouldn’t go amiss either, some brands have done this exceptionally well. Engaging with them won’t kill you, some of them just want attention. NOTE: If a troll is becoming troublesome, and you don’t know what to do, just hit the block button! 3) Controversy is best to avoid This advice is definitely for those starting out. Joining in on controversial topics definitely has its time and place, but if you’re inexperienced you may just say the wrong thing. Your business’ reputation is at stake so if you’re not entirely sure about posting a controversial piece of content, then just leave it! Whilst controversy is good in small doses, some things are often best left unsaid. Take this small case study for example – a mattress company aired an offensive 9/11 commercial and paid the ultimate price. They made an indirect joke about 9/11, stacking up mattresses then showing them come crashing down. To add insult to injury, they called it the “twin towers sale”. Although this video was aired many years ago, and the mattress company is doing a lot of charity work to get rid of the sour taste that the advert left in people’s mouths, people are STILL angry. They have an average rating of 1.2/5 stars on Facebook and, looking at the comments on their page, people still haven’t gotten over their commercial. A user by the name of Jeff Stein commented on their recent charity work activity with: “Unforgiven. Your business made a mockery of so many deaths, including those of my comrades at the Pentagon. I am ashamed that you’re still in business in San Antonio. Sick.” Although this commercial was a long time ago, people are STILL ANGRY. Your reputation is at stake. Be. Careful. Remember, if you heed the advice in this article, you should have no problem avoiding disasters that would damage your reputation profusely. Social Etiquette is immensely important, don’t ruin your business’ name by making a mistake, especially if it could’ve been avoided!

APRIL 2017

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Selfie Awareness for Positive Mental Health

FASHION & BEAUTY

FASHI

www.mitamistry.co.uk By: Mita Mistry

Fashion & Beauty Correspondent: Sara Khan Twitter: @sarakblog Facebook: /sarakblog website: www.sarakblog.com

@mitamistry Over the last few years “selfie obsession” has risen with research estimating daily selfie posts are as high as 93 million from Android devices alone. The sheer popularity of taking selfies led Oxford Dictionaries to claim “selfie” as their nominated word in 2013. Even technology firms support selfies by continually bringing new solutions to market for the perfect selfie. There are smartphones with two cameras instead of one, selfie-driven apps like Snapchat not to mention selfie sticks, the latest being a flying selfie stick for those who think the length of it is stopping them taking better portraits. However, despite the growing popularity for selfies, 2016 has shown some sad truths about this obsession. There have been fatalities of people and endangered animals like a baby dolphin when tourists in Argentina wanted a photo with it to a swan being dragged to the perfect backdrop for a selfie in Macadonia. People have been known to risk their own lives for the sake of adventurous selfies. Russian authorities launched a campaign in 2015, “A cool selfie could cost you your life” after an estimated 100 Russian fatalities and injuries. A male teenager attempted suicide from spending hundreds of hours trying to master the “perfect” selfie and countless people feel worse about body image in search of perfection. So why are people obsessed with selfies? Psychologists say some people may use selfies for selfimprovement or expression, which can be positive, but often people with lower self-esteem are more likely to post selfies than those who don’t. Comments and likes on social media can help boost confidence for those that are isolated, lonely or insecure and charities use them for good causes to raise awareness like the mental health campaign #ItAffectsMe. But the dark side of selfies is the link to “self-obsession” also known as “narcissim”. According to psychologist Peter Gray, narcissim is an inflated sense of self-importance by exaggerating talents and responding to criticism with anger. Narcissism is more widespread today than 30 years ago. Is the selfie partly responsible for this? The antidote for self-obsession is self-awareness as it can help to identify the root cause of addiction and deal with it. But we live in a world where social media is the norm encouraging self-promotion with the danger of leading to selfobsession. Sometimes its good to take a step back and be selfie-aware – are you posting selfies more often than not? Is it self-awareness, selfexpression or self-obsession? The latter can be a sign of an underlying mental or emotional issue. With the rise of depression, mental illness, suicide and isolation, we can help those who may need it by being alert and aware of our selfies and of those around us - just because they look “fine” on the outside does not mean they are on the inside.

The Secrets to Starting Up a Fashion Business

And 3 Fashion Labels to Follow! As a fashion blogger and editor, I've helped many fashion businesses get started and noticed one of the biggest challenges is practical advice on how to start an online clothing business without it being too overwhelming. Whether you're an individual looking to start a business, fashion designer or someone thinking about selling established Indian or Pakistani fashion I've highlighted three most top tips to get you started. Step 1. Image is everything A website is like a shop floor, appearances are everything to shoppers. If it’s not professional, high standard or with friendly service they’re leaving and they will share their bad experience with others. It’s not only about having a website to sell your fashion

clothes but an honest service that cares - being good to not only your customers but also people is critical. I salute BUNO Designs for not only outstanding bespoke everyday modest fashion available via their clean website but exceptional service. Although the sisters behind the business don’t see it as a service but something brands should be doing as minimum, caring for people with fashion as the vehicle to share mission to change the fashion industry for the better. They prove this by being ethical, honest and always go above and beyond even if you aren’t going to buy, rare l know! Now you know why I love them. www. buno-design.com

brand and shoppers like to follow and buy from people.

Step 2. Be unique, don’t be afraid to promote yourself and get out there! Fashion lovers see fashion as a lifestyle, an identity and an element woven into their lives. So personalise your service for your ideal consumer, create those 1-to-1 conversations and make people feel special as if they are a part of your business. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to be yourself and promote yourself – research shows, women don’t feel confident when promoting themselves compared to men but remember you are your

Trousseau Jewels is an astonishing business only because of an inspirational British Asian young lady behind the brand, Urvi Vora-Trousseau. She uses her warm personality, which you can see for yourself at her quarterly fashion events to express beauty with handcrafting unique jewellery pieces and her hard work is paying off as her pieces have been seen on several British celebs including Cheryl Cole. www.facebook.com/ TrousseauJewels Step 3. Get online and connect As I’m sure you’ve heard, social media is powerful,

from Facebook, Instagram to Twitter. Although my expert advice is to start with one such as Instagram as that’s exactly where fashionistas are hanging out. And don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s all about followers but the connections you make using Instagram. Start engaging with people, fashion lovers, and bloggers and commenting on posts – see it as building friendships in business. An online fashion boutique, Viva Luxe do it well as they build relationships with bloggers and fashion editors using my favourite platform for connecting with experts, Twitter. Not only do they just connect but email and even after a year, still stay in touch with fans www.vivaluxe.com.

The best fashion labels are like your favourite designer bag. You’re like your best friend, they're loyal, won't let you down and you wouldn't ever betray them. To be the Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Mulberry of your niche by being your consumer’s best friend get online and start listening and talking to fashionistas.

Visit Sarah's website for further info: www.sarahkblog.com

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FASHION & BEAUTY

ION & BEAUTY

Spring Skincare Alert! Spring has sprung ladies and gentlemen, and with the change in seasons comes a change in skincare routines! So, how should you be changing your routine to cope with the upcoming heat, pollen and environmental pollution? Well for one thing, I hope you’ve all remembered to bang out the Sunscreen without my reminding you! Sun exposure is a

1. Get Cleanser Clever If winter leads to dry skin, it’s only natural that summer should lead to oily skin. Get on top of your oily skin by using a hydrating cleanser, in particular a foaming cleanser. These are less harsh, require less vigorous rubbing and offer an even application due to its large surface area. 2. Exfoliation- Less is more Ensure to exfoliate less during the summer months to protect the natural skin barrier and hence fight off sun sensitivity, dark spots and long-term aging. 3. No More Moisturing Madness! Yes, you’ve just spent the last six months meticulously moisturising every little corner of your face to fight off dry, dull skin- but no more! Embrace the sun, and with it, a lighter moisturiser! Use a light, non-greasy moisturiser to lock in hydration

bigger factor in aging than age, don’t forget! It’s equally important to remember that unless your skin is showing signs of stress (sudden dryness, oiliness, dullness etc) brought on by sudden weather changes, then there’s no need to alter your routine! For everything else, please read on and ﬁnd out how you can help protect your skin this spring:

and keep skin supple and soft. 4. Time to Oil Up! A common myth regarding oiliness is that by removing essential oils, you’ll be cutting down on the production of sebum. However this is false. When you remove oil from your face, you are triggering your skin cells to over produce sebum in order to accommodate the loss, leading to more oiliness! Our tip? Use 2-3 drops of an essential oil every night and pat evenly into the skin. 5. Our Sunscreen Saviour Tanned skin is beautiful. Fair skin is beautiful. What’s not beautiful? Premature aging. Make sure to put on sunscreen when lazing about in the sun to protect yourself from not only UVA and UVB, but acne brought on by aggressive air-con and increased environmental pollution.

Failing to See Results in your Skincare? M

any men and women, despite the money invested, struggle to see visible results from their skincare. This can often be frustrating, demoralising and can cause many people to give up, but one of the reasons for this failure is the simple fact that many don’t allow products the time to work. Skin cells take an average of 28 days to form at the base of the skin and work

its way up to the outer surface (the skin we see). This means that products you use are actually getting to work on the bottom layer of skin- and hence results will take 28 days to show. In addition, some products will often cause a breakout of spots, acne and pimples which sadly results in the immediate dismissal of said item. However it is quite normal for certain

active ingredients to cause a ‘purge,’ aka the sudden and dramatic clean out of already present dirt and bacteria from the skin. After the spots have cleared, the product can then get to work more effectively. One such active ingredients that causes purging- and is unfortunately shunned for this vital actis Vitamin C. In short, be sure to give all your products adequate time to shine!

APRIL 2017

DAL

GET FIT WITH

D H A L I W A L Dal Dhaliwal is UK’s first Indian Female Health and Fitness Coach to launch a private fitness gym. She is also a Health and Fitness TV Presenter. Dal has been working in the wellness Industry since 1998.

In today’s column I share with you my recent interview by the mental health charity Mind - for a campaign highlighting how getting active can support our mental wellbeing: What does getting active mean to you? “Keeping active is essential for good health and wellbeing. Often when people think of activity they think of fitness or strenuous activity. However, activity can be everyday activities you do such as housework, walking, gardening or walking the dog. It's important to start moving participate in activities that will make your heart healthier, keep your muscles, bones and joints strong and improve your balance and coordination. I believe it's important to do something you love - that way you are more likely to stick to it and make it a lifestyle habit - keeping it consistent. Keeping active is beneficial to your mental and physical wellbeing” How/why did you first start getting active? “Between the ages of 10 - 16 years old I was always active in school and participated in the girl’s football team and I was captain of the girl’s hockey team. I have always kept active and remember as a child me and my two younger brothers walked everywhere with my mother. By the age of 16 I was participated in Dance and Aerobics - in the days when Aerobics and step classes were the latest craze! Later on in life, when I became a mum I decided to exercise at home, mainly to lose the excessive weight I gained during pregnancy. It wasn't until 1998 my love for fitness grew and I decided to follow my passion and qualified in a career in fitness”. How did you deal with any knock backs or barriers? “I was not encouraged to pursue my passion for sport or fitness. Culturally it would not have been accepted. However, as I matured

I realised it was important to follow your passion. I enrolled at a local college and trained to be a Personal Trainer and Aerobics instructor. I ignored the negative feedback and cultural barriers I faced. It wasn't easy; I had lots of knock backs. There were times I felt like giving up. My husband supported me 100% and that helped me to stick at it. I was confident that one day people would listen and doors would open. I had to be patient and focus on my dream - which was to help as many people as possible to lead healthier, fitter and happier lifestyles”. How does getting active benefit your own mental wellbeing? “It has helped me become mentally and physically stronger. I always feel I can handle stress and 'a bad day' better when I am active. I have known for many years the benefits of activity on mental wellbeing. When I was a stay at home mum for 7 seven years keeping active gave me more energy to handle the day and demands that being a busy mum brings. It really does help with anxiety, depression and stress. The release of those endorphin’s have an amazing effect on mental wellbeing”. What advice would you give to people who are thinking about becoming active but don't know where to start? “I would say before you embark on anything new make sure you are in good health. If you are unsure go and seek advice from a health professional (your GP). However, if you are in good health then I recommend you start slowly and build up gradually. I highly recommend getting yourself moving and often recommend walking to beginners. The most important thing is to stay motivated and make any activity you choose a habit - a lifestyle commitment”.

YOU CAN TWEET DAL YOUR QUESTIONS TWITTER: @DALDHALIWALPT FIND HER ON FACEBOOK: /DAL DHALIWAL WWW.BODYPERFECTPT.COM

Body Perfect Personal Training ensures you get the optimum workout experience and we are dedicated in helping you achieve your results. Your individualised plan will include strategies to overcome obstacles and develop a positive mental attitude which will gear you towards achieving your health and ﬁtness goals.

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Our Personal Training service is available at our prestigious studio situated in the heart of Warwickshire or alternatively try our excellent Online Training service.

“Our mission is to help busy women to feel good, gain conﬁdence, build on their self-esteem and to be the best possible version of themselves.” - Dal Dhaliwal

Body Perfect Personal Training delivers an experience that is unique, personalised and we are 100% committed in helping you reach your goals!

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APRIL 2017

THE ASIAN TODAY PR supremo and food blogger Anita Champaneri brings her blog Ms Delicious PR and all things food to The Asian Today, bringing all the news from hot restaurants to cool bars and everything in between. www.msdeliciouspr.blogspot.com

Be amazed by Siamais Prepare yourself for the unexpected, as a little bit of Siam magic comes to Brindleyplace. The owners of Aluna cocktail bar have taken over the much loved Thai Edge and transformed it into Siamais. The name Siamais (pronounced Siam-aze) is a clever play on words incorporating twins (Siamese), and Siam (the old name for Thailand) to reflect its dual offerings of drink and food. The look is very 'seedy Bangkok' mixed with the mysticism of the Far East and it’s all going to be brought to life with a little bit of Siamais magic. The mixology experts from Aluna have upped the level of wizardry and created a 60 strong list of cocktails to include cocktails in bamboo glasses and smoking drinks served in teapots. The food will reflect the mystery of Old Siam, against a backdrop that will captivate you. There's no doubt you're going to be amazed by Siamais! www.saimais.com

Izza! Pizza

FOOD & T

A STREET FOOD JOURNEY THROUGH INDIA by Chetna Makan F

ollowing publication of the critically acclaimed The Cardamom Trail in April 2016, Makan’s new book, Chai, Chaat & Chutney: A Street Food Journey Through India is an ode to Chetna’s travels through India and the incredible food she discovered on the way. Proving that she is more than just a baker, Chetna Makan has travelled to the four corners of India – Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai – sampling the varieties of street food on offer. Each area has subtle differences in ingredients and techniques, making the local cuisine completely unique and full of character. In Chai, Chaat & Chutney, Chetna has taken inspiration from the street and created delicious recipes that are simple to cook at home. The result is a completely fresh take on Indian cuisine – try Tamarind Stuffed Chillis and Sticky Bombay Chicken from the South or let your senses venture to the North for Pani Puri and Cardamom & Pistachio Kulfi. “Street food is a huge and

important part of India’s food culture. I love the fact that it is such a leveller – no matter what your background might be, standing at a popular street stall next to the other customers, you are all simply people enjoying the food. Most street food is freshly prepared to order, served very quickly and, best of all, extremely cheap. Not only can you buy snacks and light dishes to keep you going, but you will also find on offer amazing meals, complete with a variety of flavours and components. And, yes – there are also sweets to enjoy!” Chetna’s book takes you on a journey in each chapter to four of the most popular and diverse cities in India. The pages are filled with stunning travel photography and interspersed with personal stories and explanations of the nuances of each area, and each dish. This book firmly positions Chetna as an authority on modern Indian cuisine, as she gently uses everything in her power to bring this simple yet inspirational food to the masses.

CURRY AND COMEDY NIGHT FEEDS HOMELESS

The team at Lasan have launched yet another exciting dining concept in the city. Izza! - pizza eat-and-drinkery - opens this month at the iconic Selfridges Food Hall in the Bullring. It features a stellar line-up of hand-crafted sourdough pizzas, antipasti, cured meats, salads and artisan breads alongside chilled beers, elegant wines and a devilish array of bubbles. Aktar Islam, of the Lasan Group describes the rationale behind the concept: “Izza! is a swish, relaxed place where diners can enjoy simple but well-crafted food made from

the finest ingredients. “People’s love affair with the pizza is stronger than ever, yet we feel it has received little culinary attention and development, especially in Birmingham. We’re determined to take this much-loved food to a higher level and serve the best pizzas in town” The thin-crust pizzas, made of special flour imported from Italy, will be baked in a beechwood-fired oven. They’ll also be using sourdough as it’s not only the traditional way of making bread; it also produces a lighter, fluffier base with a fantastic crust.

Get more food news on twitter @deliciouspr and on the web : www.msdeliciouspr.blogspot.com

FOOD & TRAVEL

n 31st March, comedylovers and curryconnoisseurs gathered at Itihaas’ Comedy Rum-Ball. Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens welcomed 270 guests for an evening of eating, drinking, and entertaining. Hosted by BBC Celebrity MasterChef finalist and comedian, Hardeep Singh Kohli, those in attendance raised the roof and also vital funds for local homeless project Let’s Feed Brum, raising a phenomenal £10,475. The Rum-Ball brought together the best in the business, with Itihaas’ head chef Pavneet Sangwan and Ampersand’s head chef Phil Bradley working with Hardeep to create the bespoke fusion menu. Joined by rum specialist, Alessio Franzese, the four-course meal saw each plate paired with a taster of the special spirit. A menu including salmon and goats’ cheese samosas, duck dosa salad, masala mackerel, and Jaipur mess, was meticulously matched with a measure

of rum to complement the fusion flavours. A charity raffle and auction also ensured that invitees were entertained. The auction’s star prize of a luxury day sailing the Solent aboard the Rum Runner boat was coveted by the crowd, bringing a bid of £1,900. Raj Rana, managing director of Itihaas and cofounder of Let’s Feed Brum, was particularly pleased with the night, saying: “I am absolutely blown away at how successful it was. The other directors and I are truly overwhelmed at the total raised, which has surpassed all our expectations!" Plans are already in place for the third curry and comedy night, expected to take place in September. To get your tickets, keep an eye on the Itihaas website. In the meantime, you can also get behind the Let’s Feed Brum cause by volunteering, donating, or fundraising: just visit the website to find out more.

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APRIL 2017

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FOOD & TRAVEL

TRAVEL

Birmingham may soon be getting its own version of the Oyster card

New Law to Stop Taxis Discriminating Against Wheelchair Passengers

"This is an exciting further chapter in the continued rollout of Swift smart ticketing throughout the West Midlands".

irmingham may soon be getting its own version of the Oyster card. Oyster is the name of the travel pass system that allows Londoners to travel with ease around the city centre and has been praised for its ease of use and efficiency. Now, Birmingham could be set to get its own in the form of Swift. You may have seen a small number of passengers using Swift cards on the bus, but now it is set to become commonplace as the travel card can now be used on local train services. The Swift card is now available for the bus, tram and train, and as such, is widely available to the general commuting public. The card will be accepted on London Midland, Chiltern, Virgin, Arriva and Cross Country train services

running in the West Midlands. It will also work at New Street Station, Snow Hill, Moor Street, University, Five Ways, Coventry and Birmingham International. Currently, only 12,000 are using the nTrain scheme and are being moved onto the Swift scheme. Matt Lewis, the Head of Transport for West Midlands, said: “This is an exciting further chapter in the continued rollout of Swift smart ticketing throughout the West Midlands. “With further great new tickets and functions being introduced in the coming months we have taken the opportunity to update and refresh the brand design to ensure that, in keeping with the new tickets that we continue to rollout, it remains at the cutting edge.”

Private Plane Now Cheaper than Train A

ccording to professional deal hunter Tom Church, it is now cheaper to fly via private plane across the UK than take the train. The startling information was published to latestdeals.co.uk after Church flew via plane from London to Newcastle. The 26-year-old was the solo passenger and paid £67. So how much would the train ticket be? £146. Church booked a flight using the website Wingly which allows customers to book or request flights around the UK

from hobbyist- fully qualified and licensedflyers. As well as costing a tiny slice of the price, flying also cuts heaps down on travel time. Church told the independent, “People should definitely give this a go. If you go onto the website and can't see anything that works for you, you can write a message asking pilots to take you somewhere. The pilots love it because they get to try new routes they don't often choose to do.”

New Driverless Shuttle Test Drive D

riverless vehicles. We hear about them all the time but to date, very little has come to fruition. That could be all set to change with the launch of driverless shuttles. London saw the first test of the driverless shuttle. 100 people travelled in the prototype shuttle around

the city centre on a two mile path near the O2 arena. The shuttle comes with five cameras and three lasers which help navigate roads. The chief executive of Oxbotica, developer of the shuttle, Dr Graeme Smith, said: "The vehicle will see up to 100 metres ahead and if it detects something that it

thinks is in its path, it will come to a nice graceful halt. If it needs to emergency brake if somebody steps right in front, it can do that as well. "It's been designed to be safe and fail-safe specifically in a pedestrianised environment. We look out for pedestrians, cyclists, cats and dogs."

ew laws coming into effect on the 6th April will see it become illegal for wheelchair-accessible private hire taxis and black cabs to refuse entry to wheelchair passengers. Taxi drivers found breaking this law will be hit with a fine of £1000 and have their license either suspended or outright revoked. In addition, they will also face the same measures if caught increasing the fare or failing to assist

wheelchair passengers. The law, which prevents discrimination against wheelchair users, is expected to make travel and transport far easier for sufferers. Transport Minister Andrew Jones stated: “We want to build a country that works for everyone, and part of that is ensuring disabled people have the same access to services and opportunities as anyone else – including when

it comes to travel. People who use wheelchairs are often heavily reliant on taxis and private hire vehicles and this change to the law will mean fair and equal treatment for all.” The law will apply to all taxis and private hire taxis in England, Scotland and Wales, with those unable to provide assistance due to their own medical issues being advised to apply to their licensing authority for exemption.

Any Devices Larger than Phones to be Banned on Middle East-US flights

The US will be barring passengers from eight largely Muslim countries from having any device larger than a phone in their carry-on. Nine airlines from a number of Middle Eastern and North African countries were given 96 hours to implement said ban, beginning 7.00 GMT on

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APRIL 2017

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THE ASIAN TODAY Extending the Olive Business Branch UK Chancellor Phillip Hammond led a troop of British businesses to India where they sought to bring about more trade deals, investment and business opportunities. In the wake of Brexit, there has been more and more talk of India in particular being a favourable ally business wise. Hammond’s party was received with fanfare, despite many still holding a grudge dating back to the Empire. The Observatory of Economic Complexity, last conducted in 2015, found that the UK was hardly a prize in the eyes of India’s trade deals, appearing as only the fifth top nation that India sells to. England will be looking to increase their financial services to India, with Hammond claiming that the UK and the City of London are “perfectly placed” to help India raise the finance it needs to fuel infrastructure and less cashdependent society.

BUSINESS

Could UK Businesses Flourish From Qatar Investment? International Forum Held in Birmingham Explores Business Opportunities

he joint Qatar-UK Business and Investment Forum was held in the Midlands in late March and saw multiple businesses, companies, MPs, academics and more congregate in order to discuss future partnerships. Senior figures such as Trade Secretary Liam Fox attended the international event to highlight investment opportunities and projects. The largest Qatar-UK congress showcased areas in sport, health, cyber security and more which could benefit from and help benefit businesses. Held at the ICC, the event was also attended by the Minister of Finance His Excellency Ali Shareef Al-Emadi. Fox signed a memorandum of understanding, creating a joint economic and trade committee to foster ties. Qatar currently invests £35bn in the UK and is the UK’s

third largest export market in the Middle East. Bilateral trade is estimated at £5bn a year. Liam Fox said: “The Government's Plan for Britain will help us trade beyond Europe and make Britain a leading advocate for free trade across the world, as we build on our relationships with old friends and new allies. "Hosting this event in Birmingham ensures the whole country benefits including the Midlands Engine, creating jobs and supporting cities, towns and communities right across the United Kingdom." He also announced a doubling of UK finance to support trade with Qatar, as well as an additional £2.25bn for UK companies, both public and private, exporting to Qatar.

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APRIL 2017

"Innovative' wine merchants are the Chambers' ﬁrst Business of the Year Award winners

Business of the Year Sponsor: West Midlands Reserve Forces’ Cadets’ Association Loki Wines Ltd Contribution to Community Sponsor: Wesleyan Muslim Women’s Network UK Excellence in Customer Service Sponsor: Birmingham Airport A-Plant Excellence in International Business Sponsor: ARUP Burton and South Derbyshire College Excellence in Manufacturing Sponsor: Pertemps Oldbury UK Ltd & Boughton Engineering Ltd

Pictured (L to R): Paul Kehoe (Chamber president), Phil Innes (Loki Wines), Brigadier Simon Bell (WMRFCA) and Gyles Brandreth

A wine merchant, described as having “one of the most innovative retail models in the UK”, has been named as Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) first Business of the Year. Loki Wines, based in the Great Western Arcade, Birmingham, received the award in front of over 1,200 guests at last night’s GBCC annual dinner and awards at the International Convention Centre. They also won the Excellence in Retail award at an event sponsored by HSBC, Birmingham City University, Birmingham City Council and Elonex. The table sponsors were Velo Birmingham. Loki, which employs six people, were up against strong competition from all of the other sector winners. They clinched the awards with their innovative model in using new technology and allowing customers to try wines before buying. And the multi-award-winning business has invested heavily in ensuring their young staff are expert in wines to a high level, including the Diploma in Wine. When he established Loki Wines in 2012, owner Phil Innes named the business after the Norse god who delighted in causing mischief for other gods. He says they share the same “anti-establishment ethos”. Loki has won 11 major national awards in the past three years and offers customers the experience of trying up to 40 wines by the glass at any one time. The tasting room in their Great Western Arcade base also serves cold meats and cheese to go with the wine. They have used social media heavily to

market their wines and have over 11,000 followers on Twitter and 3,000 on Facebook. The company has expansion plans with new stores in Moseley and Harborne and aims to expand to 10 stores over the next 15 years. Paul Faulkner, chief executive of the GBCC, said: “Loki is an outstanding young business and their enterprise and innovation impressed everyone. They certainly live up to their reputation of having one of the most innovative retails models in the UK. “They have brought in new ideas for selling wine in a relaxed environment and have used new communications platforms to drive a business that is multi-award-winning and has impressive expansion plans. They are also great advocates for Birmingham.” “All of those factors are why we are proud to announce them as the first Business of the Year chosen by the GBCC.” An intensive programme of global activity earned Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) the title of Excellence in International Business. The judges said: “BSDC shows the way in how to work globally. Examples include supporting 1,000 international learners, delivering consult in Suzho (China), a partnership with Beijing Railway Electrification College and a fiveyear contract for managing a college in Saudi Arabia.” They also expanded their internationallycelebrated links with Toyota Manufacturing UK, resulting in substantial investment from Toyoda City, Japan, to the BSDC, including groups of students attending courses at the college.

From the huge number of entries received for the Contribution to the Community category, the judges selected the Muslim Women’s Network UK. Over the past two years they have provided support on a number of issues, working for gender equality. The judges said: “A helpline, research, advocacy, education and campaigning are key support mechanisms provided by this hard-working and growing group.” Oldbury UK Ltd & Boughton Engineering Ltd won the Excellence in Manufacturing award. Their remarkable turnaround came from the depths of the recession and has flourished since acquiring Reynolds Boughton from administration, which resulted in several changes to the fabric of the business and ethos of personnel. Great Escape Cars, winners of the Social Media title in last year’s awards, were victorious in the Excellence in Sales and Marketing category. The specialists in classic car driving experiences and restoration have increased turnover by refining and broadening their offer and capitalising on sales opportunities. The NEC Group’s award for Excellence in People Development is based largely in the principle that they recruit and retain the right people. They have a commitment to learning and development and people form a key pillar of their business strategy.” A-Plant, who hire a wide range of construction and special equipment, won the Excellence in Customer Service Award through their commitment to ensure that customers are dealt with efficiently, with most orders placed for delivery within 24 hours.

Excellence in People Development Sponsor: South and City College Birmingham NEC Group Excellence in Retail Sponsor: Rational FX Loki Wines Excellence in Sales and Marketing Sponsor: Power Minerals Great Escape Cars

The judges were:

Mark Smith (director of enterprise and employability, Birmingham City University), Victoria Lineton (president Future Faces and bid adviser at lawyers Mills & Reeve), Russell Jeans (chief operating office, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce), Axel Wittenberg (chief financial officer, Yazaki Europe Ltd) and Alan Gilmour (head of acquisition and retention at Police Mutual),

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APRIL 2017

THE ASIAN TODAY Transparency Plans for Foreign Buyers of UK property England may be set to introduce the world’s first public register of foreign bodies who own UK property. The move comes amid growing fears over owners of British property hiding behind murky legal loopholes. A huge share of high value London property has recently been snapped up by foreign buyers, with many looking to cash in on London’s global links, luxury properties and corporate skyscraper skylines. However with such investment comes concerns, including illegitimate purchase, corruption and money laundering schemes. The transparency proposal has been welcomed by the public and those in the property and business spheres. Business Minister Margot James said: “This register would be a valuable measure to increase transparency and investor confidence. “The extension of transparency requirements…means we would know who owns and controls UK property wherever they are from.”

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PROPERTY

Landlord Bans ‘Coloureds’ over Curry Smell Banned

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ritain’s biggest buy-to-let landlord has banned so called “coloureds” from renting his properties “because of the curry smell.” In an email to letting agent Evolution Properties, Fergus Wilson ordered: “No coloured people because of the curry smell at the end of the tenancy.” The seventy year old property owner from Kent also banned battered wives from renting his homes, for fear their ex’s return and damage his property. The list also includes those under 18, single adults, those without rent guarantees, those on housing benefits, low income workers, zero hours workers,

plumbers, smokers and those with pets. In 2014, he banned those with the surname ‘Wilson’, lest it give way to identity issues. Wilson, who is worth a staggering £100,000,000 and at one point owned 1000 homes in Maidstone, said, “To be honest, we’re getting overloaded with coloured people. It is a problem with certain types of coloured people — those who consume curry — it sticks to the carpet. “You have to get some chemical thing that takes the smell out. In extreme cases you have to replace the carpet.” Hope Not Hate, the anti-racism group, has decried the ban from Wilson. They said,

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“You simply cannot treat people like this and deny them a place to live due to their skin colour. “If people such as this man continue to choose tenants on the basis of ethnicity he should face the full force of the law.” Although the ban does not break any criminal laws, it is still possible he could be sued in a civil court. Evolution refused to implement the ban, with manager Roy Fever saying: “We would never implement a policy like that…it is up to the landlord who they take on.” Britain’s biggest buy-to-let landlord bans "coloureds".

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a robust, bold and even corporate feel and many will be surprised to learn that it’s the new Jag and not the ubiquitous Audi. On the inside it’s a different story, with perforated leather seats, mood lighting and a touchscreen infotainment display. That being said, the

radio has been criticised for its finicky nature and lack of easy use, with users having to swipe the screen again and again before reaching their radio station. Thankfully when it comes to actually driving, the XE is a knockout, promising a smooth ride, nimble turns and comes with a sport

mode. The engine is a dazzling 3.0L supercharged DOHC 24-valve V-6 that can do 0-60mph in 5.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 155mph. For any modern sport sedan fan, the Jaguar XE offers a reliable, ultra-hightech, quirky and glamorous option.

Happy Birthday Range Rover!

Happy Birthday Range Rover! Range Rover is celebrating its 50th Anniversary since inception in 1967. In order to commemorate decades of being one of the premier car manufacturers, Jaguar created an interactive exhibition tracing the history of the vehicle. Regaling the ‘engineering story,’ the exhibition is based at the Solihull plant in the West Midlands. It details the very first secret ‘Velar’ prototype that was first designed back in the sixties and goes through multiple makes, models, ideas and innovations before landing at the present day.

According to Roger Crathorne, otherwise known as Mr. Land Rover, who has worked at the firm for fifty years and helped make exhibit, said the original aim was “never to build a luxury vehicle” despite its current reputation as a world class luxury car. He added: "Over the 50 years since, the Range Rover has come a long way. We wanted to develop a more comfortable on-road Land Rover that would combine the comfort of the Rover with the Land Rover 4x4 capability to support a growing leisure market." Tickets for the exhibition, which

will run for three days, cost £49. The latest Range Rover model, the Velar, is being built exclusively in Solihull after a £1.5b investment at the manufacturers and is expected to go on sale this summer.

Women Only ‘Pink Taxi’ Launches in Pakistan

Women drivers to provide safe means of transport for growing female workforce. Have you been to Pakistan lately? If so, you might have heard rumours of a fleet of Pink Taxi’s donning the streets. Pink Taxi is a taxi service launching in Karachi, Pakistan on March 30th. The service aims to protect women from harassment by offering women only drivers to women only passengers. The easily identifiable taxi can be hailed in person, by text or via an app. The ingenious idea was the product of Ambreen Sheikh and her husband Zahid Sheikh. Abreen said, “Our pilots (drivers) wear a pink scarf and black coat

as their uniform. They include housewives, young women and students.” A report from the Karachi Urban Resource Centre revealed that most women faced some form of harassment on public transport. As more and more Pakistani women enter the work force, it’s becoming more and more urgent for them to have a safe means of transportation to get in and around the bustling city. Regarding female only transportation, Transport Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said, “Having a mode of public transport catering to them alone can solve many of their transport issues.”

Birmingham Rocked By Armed Car Jackings

26 thefts in 6 months mostly target female drivers Birmingham motorists are being warned after a string of carefully executed car jackings blighted the city. The robberies are believed to be the work of armed teenage gangs. So far, an astounding twenty-six car jackings have taken place in the span of six months. The West Midlands Police have said they will leave “no stone unturned” in catching

the criminals and have set up a specialist team. They also added that they suspect that some teenagers are being coerced into helping with these crimes. The majority of victims are lone female drivers at the work place, home or other suburban area. In one instance, a mother of two was held at gunpoint and forced to leave her BMW parked on her driveway in Handsworth Wood. www.desixpress.co.uk

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PG. 41

Banging the Drum for Local Culture

Named ‘Desi Beat’, the show started late last month with a view to showcase the best of local Asian culture. Desi Beat will showcase UK’s most exotic and preferred trends in food and lifestyle. Celebrity host Raj Ghai will embark upon a fascinating journey of the finest destinations known for their cuisine, apparel and accessories and impeccable travel experiences across the United Kingdom in his truly ‘Desi’ and unmatched style. From the most authentic 'lehenga' to the spiciest 'Indian Curry', every Sunday, Raj will unravel a new mystery that a new destination presents – its wide array of local & international Desi trends – in his inimitable style. In Raj’s own words, “If it’s made it to my list, it’s a MUST visit!” On the launch of the show, Govind Shahi, Business Head, IndiaCast Media, Europe, says “COLORS TV has been a frontrunner in differentiated content, admired by South Asian

audiences across the UK. As a network, we offer broadcast channels such as Rishtey that offers a wide variety of entertainment

for the entire f a m i l y, a n d News18 India, the world’s window to India. It gives me great pleasure to announce the launch of our new local production, Desi Beat on our flagship channel, COLORS. Extensive research was carried out to deduce our viewers’ areas of interests. Desi Beat has been conceptualised

and developed to suit preferences of Desi television audiences in the UK. The promos of the show have already gained remarkable traction on social media, crossing the 5000 views mark in just two days. We hope that our audiences will embrace this fresh and innovative format with open arms.”

DESI BEAT IS PRODUCED BY CUTTING CHAI PRODUCTIONS

PG. 39

SUPER SINGH WORLD'S NEWEST SUPERHERO

Martin Delaney Talks Movies, Hollywood and being a CaucASIAN

DESI BEATS! eading South Asian entertainment channel, COLORS TV have launched a new and unique locally produced show.

APRIL 2015 DESI XPRESS 37

INSIDE

PRIME MINISTER TANDON PG. 38

WHAT'S ON PG. 44

EXCLUSIVELY ON COLORS EVERY SUNDAY AT 7:30PM ON SKY, VIRGIN AND FREESAT.

WWW.DESIXPRESS.CO.UK

SIR MO FARAH SCOOPS TOP AWARD

APRIL 2017

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SPORTS

Sir Mo Farah and Kadeena Cox scoop top awards at the third Lycamobile British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards (BEDSAs)

ir Mo Farah and Kadeena Cox were the big winners at this year's Lycamobile BEDSAs, staged at the Hilton Park Lane, London on Saturday (18th March). They were named Lycamobile Sportsman and Sporting Equals Sportswoman of the Year at a glittering awards show hosted by Sir Lenny Henry. Commenting on his first win at the Bedsas Sir Mo Farah said: “Thank-you to the Lycamobile British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards and a very special thanks to everyone who’s voted for me. It really means a lot to be named as your Sportsman of the Year! And congratulations to my fellow nominees as well. It’s so great to see everyone come together this evening to celebrate the incredible achievements of our diverse sporting communities" Kadeena, expressing here delight in her win, said: "I’m very honoured to have won this award and would like to give a massive thanks to Sporting Equals for all the work they do in BAME communities" The night was also memorable for a Special Lifetime Achievement award given to rugby's most successful dual code rugby player and 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson. A special tribute was made to Muammed Ali by Sky Sports Jonny Nelson and heavyweight fighter David Haye overseen by the awards host Sir Lenny Henry. Chris Hughton, the Brighton and Hove Albion Manager currently leading his team to promotion to the Premier

League was named England Athletics Coach of the Year. Ruqsana Begum, the English professional kickboxer received the UK Sport Inspirational Performance Award with ParaOlympian swimmer Alice Tai winning the Youth Sport Trust Young Sportsperson of the Year award. Arun Kang CEO Sporting Equals commenting on a wonderful evening said: "I would like to congratulate all the winners, they thoroughly deserved their accolades. Sporting Equals organise the BEDSAs as we want to celebrate diversity at both an elite and grassroots level. It was heartwarming to see the delighted faces of the community groups and volunteers who give so much of their time to get communities more active as well as the elite stars who will hopefully inspire the next generation to take the baton" Allirajah Subaskaran, Chairman of Lycamobile, which supports the BEDSAs said: “We are honoured to support the BEDSAs, recognising the impressive collection of sportsmen and women from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds across the UK. Awards such as these are crucial in driving change in the sports sector by increasing participation and diversity at both a national and grassroots level. Congratulations to all the winners on their welldeserved honours.” The Lycamobile BEDSAs are supported by Sport England , UK Sport, The Football Association, The Tennis Foundation, Youth Sport Trust, England Athletics, The British Army, Mind and Spirt of 2012

Table Tennis Teen Anaya Patel Pranks Danny Williams

Danny Williams might be a hotshot on the pitch but the Reading midfielder proved unlucky when facing off against a young teenager from Basingstoke. Anaya Patel, thirteen, is ranked number three in the Under 13 category in England and was invited to play a game of table tennis against the 28-year-old. However given the match was on April 1st, the tennis star decided to play a prank on the

footballer and not reveal her professionalism. In a video of the event, Danny’s painful defeat is visible for all to see, and he goes through a range of emotionsdisbelief, frustration, more disbelief- at one point asking her, “are you a professional or what?” as fellow Reading FC players watch in fascination. Players Liam Moore and Jordan Obita then decided to face off against the medallist and suffered similar defeats. Anaya was the Bronze medallist in the u-12 English Nationals and has plans to represent England one day.

The complete list of winners at the 2017 Lycamobile BEDSAs were as follows: Youth Sport Trust Young Sports Person of the Year Alice Tai British Army Unsung Hero Inderpal Singh Cheema Sport England Community Sports Project of the Year Spring SLR England Athletics Coach of the Year Chris Hughton Spirit of 2012 Connecting Communities Al Madina Centre Mind Wellbeing Award Sonia Smith Tennis Foundation Special Achievement Shapla Sports FA Recognition Award Rashid Abba UK Sport Inspirational Performance Ruqsana Begum Sporting Equals Sportswoman of the Year Kadeena Cox Lycamobile Sportsman of the Year Mo Farah Lifetime Achievement Award Jason Robinson OBE

Local Youth Football Club Gets Own Kit

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Edgbaston bolster capacity for ICC Champions Trophy 2017

ongratulations are in order after a local youth football organisation was gifted an official kit in recognition of their hard work and success. JABS B8 FC is a Birmingham based footclub that gets kids off the street and involved in football as a way to improve their fitness, sociability and confidence. Formed back in 2014 by Mohammed Ali, JABS has since gone from strength

to strength, taking on dozens of young kids and holding matches, tournaments and more. They currently have more than sixty kids signed up (all over the age of eight) whom have been provided with their own kit. The ceremony for the presentation of the kit was attended by Labour MP and Metro Mayor candidate Sion Simon, as well as Liam Byrne MP, local councillors, police members and

parents. The importance of Jabs goes beyond football however as the organisation has been praised for improving kids selfesteem, promoting a healthy lifestyle and fostering leadership, teamwork and motivation in kids that, given their often low-income and inner city background, would find such support systems hard to come by.

ore fans can see the world’s best cricketers in action at Edgbaston Stadium this summer, after Warwickshire County Cricket Club confirmed installation of a temporary stand to increase capacity for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 in June. Edgbaston hosts five of the biggest matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, including Australia v New Zealand, India v Pakistan, Pakistan v South Africa, England v Australia and a semi-final. More than 21,000 tickets are expected to be released at 12pm BST on Wednesday 5 April. Gareth Roberts, Commercial Director at Edgbaston, said: “With such high demand for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, we were keen to secure its return and give even more people the chance to see one of the greatest international cricket tournaments in Birmingham. Steve Elworthy, ICC Champions Trophy Tournament Director, said: “The love of cricket in the midlands always leads to a high demand for tickets, and it’s a real boost to open the doors to over 21,000 more fans to enjoy the unique atmosphere of a ICC global event.” Tickets will be on sale via: www.icc-cricket.com/tickets

Lord Mayor Attends BYSA match

Celebrating 15 years in the game for the local youth football organisation

Anwar Khattak (BEM)with the LORD MAYOR

he Birmingham Lord Mayor recently attended a Birmingham Youth Sports Academy (BYSA) project in early April at the Small Heath Wellbeing Centre to celebrate their 15 years running. The project saw over a hundred and fifty of the BYSA kids taking part in a football match, both indoor and outdoor, on Saturday morning. The kids, aged 7-16, were accompanied by multiple FA qualified volunteers who aided in the matches and kept the children motivated.

Thoroughly impressed with the game as he was, the Mayor was also shocked to learn that none of the players supported home teams such as Birmingham City FC or Aston Villa FC. Despite definite strides in the football field, with local teams such as West Brom defeating football legends Arsenal just last month, it appears there is still more to be done to get local youths supporting local teams and hence improving their chances. The mayor was also pleased to learn that BYSA offers football services to

girls too, with female football held every Sunday at Saltley Wellbeing Centre, accompanied by FA qualified volunteers. There are approximately 40 young girls taking part in the action, forging friendships, building confidence, and getting fit. Headed by Head coach Amina Begum and Ummanaz Ali, the programme has received praise from the community for taking the initiative to encourage girls to get into sport and sicne its inception last year, it has moved from strength to strength.

Perhaps the best thing about the BYSA is that it guides children through more than just football, offering mentoring services, fostering leadership, teamwork, responsibility and even helping them towards work placements and more. The Lord Mayor said he was “delighted to see so many kids having a great time and keeping fit, getting involved” and added that he would one day like to a child from the BYSA or Birmingham play for England or other professional football clubs.

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THE IPL IS BACK FOR ITS

Sensational World-wide Cricket League Kicks oďŹ&#x20AC; April

10TH ANNIVERSARY A

pril 5th saw the start of the highly anticipated Indian Premier League, or IPL, kick off for its 10th year running. The tournament has brought together top international cricketers from the world over for the games which is currently the most attended cricket league in the world, ranking sixth among all types of sport leagues. Eight teams will be facing off in the roundrobin and knockout finals for the chance to be named the IPL Champions. Current champions Sunrisers Hyderabad are the current favourite to win, with major players David

Warner, Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh to their name. Other teams include Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Gujurat Lions, Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rising Pune Supergiants and the Kings XI Punjab. Fans of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s darling Virat Kohli may be shocked to find their captain missing as Kohli will be sitting out for the initial phase of the league. British cricket lovers may be surprised to see a few familiar faces, with numerous home cricket players flying abroad to take part in the league. This includes Ben Stokes who joined Pune for 145 million rupees and Tymal Mills playing for Bangalore

For a full list of teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad Royal Challengers Bangalore Gujarat Lions Delhi Daredevils Mumbai Indians Kings XI Punjab Rising Pune Supergiant Kolkata Knight Riders