The Asian Today Issue 223 June

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STARRING SARTAAJ PG 46

AWARD WINNING HISTORICAL

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Celebrating Ramadan

2017

WHAT WENT ON AT CANNES?

This year’s Cannes Film Festival brought together the film industries of the world for eleven days of glitz and glamour and showcasing of the newest and hottest films.

In attendance were stars from around the world, from Rooney Mara to Deepika Padukone, Joaquin Phoenix to Tiger Shroff. In addition to the star-studded guests were musicians, Rihanna, models such as Kendall Jenner, and other celebrities such as

Sonam Kapoor and Emily Ratajowski. Off the coast of the port was a stunning array of billionaire’s yachts, adding to panache of the event.

Model, actor and interviewer Kiran Rai attended the event where he interviewed everyone from stars and celebs to billionaires to even the Chinese Royal family. Rai said, “I love working with these amazing people and being at Cannes and being

an Indian is fantastic.”

One director showing off his work was the awardwinning director Amar Adatia who showcased ‘Dangerous Game,’ starring Callum Best. Adatia stated, “I love to help people and love to give the chance to young budding actors.”

As usual, there was a list of awards given out to the very best and brightest movies, actors, and more.

The Square won the coveted

BOLLYWOOD RAMBO REMAKE PG 47

Palme d’Or award, a Swedish satirical film by director Ruben Ostlund about a contemporary art museum trying to gain new visitors.

Best actor went to Joaquin Phoenix for his work in You Were Never Really Here. Best actress went to Diane Kruger for for In the Fade whilst Best Director was awarded to Sofia Coppola for The Beguiled.

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"We all stand together and we will always stand up for innocent people"

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fter the recent tragic Manchester attack, it could be all too easy for us to look back on the month of May as one of anguish, fear and terror.

However it has been truly

inspiring to see the after effects of such a tragedy. Although there has been an increase in pockets of racism and islamophobia, one of the first things to go viral on social media was how Salman Abedi, the Muslim killer behind the bombing,

was not representative of all Muslims.

There have been multiple vigils up and down the country, in Birmingham, London, Manchester, Liverpool, and even in America, France and the Middle East, which

brought communities together, whether they be white, black, Muslim, Jewish, non-religious, gay, straight and more, in order to show solidarity not just with the victims of Manchester, but with each other regardless of their background.

Continued on page 2

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Communities comes together to condemn terrorism

SOLIDARITY DIVERSITY UNITY

Continued from front page Religious leaders in Manchester held a vigil led by the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker, and Imam Irfan Chishti of the Manchester Central Mosque.

Their powerful message of defiance resonated within the community, as more people came together

The Mancunian Sikhs provide langar (free food)

to show acceptance and solidarity despite attempts to divide them.

Hundreds also gathered at St. Ann’s Square to mark seven days since the attack which saw 22 people lose their lives at an Ariana Grande concert. The square was filled to brim with flowers and balloons.

In Hyson Green, Nottingham, a vigil awash with candles was held by Reverend Clive Burrows and Dr Musharra Hussain,

Tributes & Vigils for the victims held the community

the Imam at The Karima Institute. Reverend Burrows said: "I wanted to do something physical that was a statement to our community to draw people together. I wanted to do it as quickly as possible because I felt people were starting to experience anger and grief.

"I think it will have a positive effect on the community. We already have a good relationship

with Muslims here. We hold events together every year so that we can come together and talk about our faiths together - we believe it is only by working

together that we can make a difference."

Dr Hussain said, "For Muslims, it is important that they disassociate themselves from this type of criminality. Muslims have to condemn it even louder than everyone else because they do it in our name. We all stand together and we will always stand up for innocent people. I hope this gets the message across that we are not associated with this and these lone wolf terrorists do not represent us."

A vigil was also held in Birmingham, which hundreds of Brummies come out to condemn terrorism and promote unity, tolerance and the indivisibility of the British people. Days after the Manchester bombing was Birmingham Pride, which saw tens of thousands of people from all over the UK flock to the city centre to celebrate not just gay pride, but diversity, inclusivity and peace, sending a stark message to all those out there that the British people, of all colours and ethnicities, stand together.

One Nation, One Love A

riana Grande’s ‘One Love’ concert, which saw her bring thousands together, along with a slew of big name artists, was a smash success in honouring the fallen victims of the Manchester bombing and expressing solidarity in times of need.

The benefit concert featured the 23-year-old pop star herself as well as Justin Beiber, Coldplay, The Black Eyed Peas, Robbie Williams, Little Mix, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Liam Gallagher.

At its peak, the concert drew 14.5 million viewers, making it the most watched TV Show of 2017 so far.

Robbie Williams sang "Manchester, we're strong, we're strong, we're strong/ We're still singing our song, our song, our song” whilst Little Mix said Wings and

J

ust days after the UK’s threat level was reduced from ‘critical’ to ‘severe’ three men drove a rented B&Q truck up and down London Bridge, in an S formation, then proceeded to run up and down Borough Market, stabbing all they came across.

The terrorists killed seven people and injured fifty after they ran into bar after bar,

London Bridge Is Falling Down… …for a number of minutes before swift armed response

Pic credit @ElvisDuranShow Twitter

explained the song was meant to encourage all to "stand together and not let anything bring them down."

Will.I.Am accidentally blurted out the name of the

wrong city, saying "Whassup London!" though he played it off by saying it was attributed to the London Bridge stabbings which occurred the night before.

attacking Saturday night revellers.

The Police have been hailed as heroes after they managed to control the situation with impressive deftness and effectiveness, stopping the attack within eight minutes.

Eight police officers managed to corner the terrorists before unloading an unprecedented fifty bullets into them. Videos recorded

by terrified members of the public show officers bursting into bars and pubs and ordering everybody to get down as low as possible.

Other videos show officers shouting at members of the public to run.

One police officer attempted to take on all three knife-wielding killers with just his truncheon. After being stabbed in the head and legs, he is now recovering

in hospital and has been praised as courageous.

There were numerous tales of everyone from locals to immigrants to youngsters doing whatever they could to save and warn others at their own peril.

One inspiring story follows a Romanian immigrant who saw the three terrorists and threw crates at them.

He managed to keep them in place and battered one over the head with the crate just as police arrived.

Another is a pub bouncer who hurled everything from beer bottles to bar stools at

the killers. A male journalist was stabbed in the neck whilst trying to protect others from being stabbed.

The public came together after the attack to denounce both terrorism and islamophobia, a stark reminder that the British people and its diverse and multicultural community still remains intact. There were numerous vigils and ceremonies marking both the Manchester bombing and London Bridge attacks, both locally, across the UK and across the world.

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Birmingham Man Found Guilty of Train Bomb Plot Train tracked targeted with IED made out of fairy lights and pressure cooker A Birmingham man has been found guilty of hatching a bomb plot to use fairy lights to cause ‘devastation’ to an area of train track linking Birmingham to London.

Zahid Hussain was found guilty by a Birmingham jury of planning to blow up the railway line using a homemade IED made out of fairy lights and a pressure cooker. The device was filled

with shrapnel whilst the fairy lights were used to create ‘improvised lighters.’

The 29-year-old, who lives in Alum Rock, was caught on CCTV climbing down a storm yard near to the West Coast mainline. In the days before his arrest, he made repeat visits to the train track to carry out research.

He was first arrested back in August 2015 but only found guilty in the last

month. The court was told that due to a flaw in his fairy lights mechanism, the bomb would not have gone off but causing ‘devastation’ was his intention.

Police officers found handwritten recipes and instructions for making explosives, books on sabotage and guerrilla warfare, a page on how to derail a train was earmarked, and a modified fairy light and hand-drawn

map of a drainage chamber.

It is thought that he became radicalised by reading certain books and websites.

The head of counter terrorism for the West Midlands, Chief Superintendent Matt Ward, said: "There was no evidence of any intended target or specific attack. But by its very nature, this could have been an extremely dangerous device."

"There was no evidence of any intended target or specific attack. But by its very nature, this could have been an extremely dangerous device."

Bank Holiday Craze at Brum Secret Beach After the reveal a secret manmade beach in Birmingham, huge crowds of sun lovers headed out during the Bank holiday weekend.

The secret beach, at Bosworth Water Park, is a forty minute drive away from Birmingham via the M42, and features clear water perfect for swimming and water sports and golden sand.

The Blue Lagoon Beach was first built back in 2015 and has largely remained a secret until this year when hundreds flocked to the sands at the end of May. In fact, the beach was already full to the brim come 1pm on Saturday, prompting bosses to post on Facebook: “Important information. We are now full for the day. All car parks are full. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

The beach boasts crazy golf, cafes and a pirate adventure playground for kids.

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Brum’s New Lord Mayor Cllr Underwood to Support Dementia and Child Disability Charities Birmingham’s new Lord Mayor, Cllr Anne Underwood, took up office on the 23rd May after the previous Lord Mayor stepped down.

Underwood was first elected as a councillor back in 1982 for Four Oaks Wrd and was the first elected female leader of the Conservative Group in the Council in 1993. She has been an avid supporter and spokesperson for numerous different portfolios, including the Vulnerable Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

She was also a member of Sutton’s Business investment District Board where she worked with council officers and the BID management in order to build ties leading to the BID’s success. Underwood also chaired the Steering Group that eventually led to the successful creation of a Town Council for Sutton Coldfield.

On being made the new Lord Mayor, she said: “I am proud to serve Birmingham as Lord Mayor for this great city. I care deeply about people who suffer with dementia and for that reason, Dementia UK is one of the charities that I will be supporting this year. I will also continue to raise funds for

the Whizz Kidz Charity which provides specially adapted wheelchairs for children with mobility issues.

“I already have a packed diary – my first duty will be to open a new retirement village in Edgbaston on Wednesday, and then I’m opening Pride at the weekend. In June, I’ll be welcoming Brummies to the Lord Mayor’s Show which this year celebrates sport with lots of free sessions and activities throughout the day.”

Tell Mama Combats Spike in Racist Abuse

Manchester Bombing Causes Significant Increase of Islamophobia Tell Mama, one of the UK’s leading anti-discrimination and anti-Islamophobic organisations in the UK, will be hosting a number of surgeries in the coming weeks to combat the sudden spike in racism and violence aimed at Muslims in the wake of the Manchester bombing.

There has been a measurable and significant spike in anti-Muslim hate incidents post the terrorist attack, with both street based and online cases being reported to Tell MAMA. The most significant incident of report was the arson at the Oldham mosque, whereby a man walked into a mosque at 3am- hours after the Manchester attack- and set it alight, terrifying the local Muslim community. Although no one was hurt, the arson was condemned by local people and the police. Hamad Mukhtar Irfani, a committee member at the mosque, said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. It’s a disgrace someone would do this. There is no place for this kind of thing… I know, you know and I hope everyone knows it’s barbaric.”

Meanwhile, the predominant issues at a street level have been rampant abusive statements, graffiti and targeted abuse at visible Muslim men and women. It has been further compounded by the fact that it is now the month of Ramadhan, and as such people are dressing up for prayer in traditional Asian clothing as they visit mosques.

Regarding the Manchester terrorist attack, it is different to the Westminster attack since the

latter caused no significant and major spike in islamophobia. Tell Mama will be working with local communities and those who have suffered race based abuse to prevent social division and prevent the seeds of extremism being sewed into the community.

There will be up to 20 surgeries within the next few months in the West midlands. The first surgery was an exclusive women’s only event facilitated by the director of Tell Mama.

Upcoming Surgeries 1st Friday of the month -32 Farm Road, Sparkbrook, Health Centre, B11 1LS. 4th Friday of the month- 10.30am - Balsall Heath Church Centre 100 Mary Street, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, B12 9JU. 3rd-4th Monday of the month 10am - KIKIT Office, 153 Stratford Road B11 1AH (Sparkbrook) 1st Monday of the month- 10am Balsall Heath Forum - 82-89 St Pauls Road, Balsall Heath, B12 8LS. 2nd Wednesday of the month- 3pm - Coventry Muslim Resource Centre, Red Lane, Coventry, CV6 5EE Birmingham Central Mosque - 180 Belgrave Middleway, Highgate B12 0XS - Time/dates TBC

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Eastside – the real heartbeat of the Creative Industries

How was your Easter holiday – relax much?

Seems like ages ago? If you did, congratulations; but if you work in the creative industries, we don’t really get those nice holidays. Over here in Digbeth, the heartbeat of SME’s are still trolling, scrolling and polling new work whilst others talk about the mid-term hols. Of course, we all know that Eastside has been brochured and rebrochured by local pundits over the past 10 years; it’s been variously pitched as the leisure, the technology, the media, the learning, the government, cultural, digital, regeneration, creative and music quarter. And of course it’s all of these, more and none.

Truth is; there are thousands of people across the City who know what Digbeth’s really about.

Every week hosting the now legendary Digbeth Dining offering a multitude of gifts including great

street food, music that inspires and a safe family atmosphere. Thousands will make the trip over here for the MADE Festival, managed across a multitude of Rainbow venues. Now these are all major events, months in the making, offering the public a spectrum of music, food and entertainment; loads of other cool stuff like pop up shops happen at the Custard Factory running alongside Eastside Gallery, and Minerva Works picking up all things visual, not forgetting the amazing work from City of Colours.

Those vibrant hours are what really represent Birmingham’s claim to be any kind of city of culture; eclectic, authentic and alive. A young, committed, diverse audience supporting our city’s creative economy, not by posturing or posting randomly on a website, but by spending their own money and being there in person to represent.

I read a local press piece mocking one of these events. Myself, I’m proud that these young people are attracted to our city.

While quangocrats and journalists are placing their bets on who should get pushed into the new Metro Mayor spotlight, promoters and punters just get on with it. If we want a creative city we have to cut tomorrow’s cultural leaders some slack and allow creativity room to breath.

Manchester’s Northern Quarter and Shoreditch in East London have been given that breathing space, and are now hotspots for investment.

So what’s really in the DNA of our city – progress

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Punch is asking this question as part of our Desi Moves Project.

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Exhibition Celebrates 100 years of proud military history

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Sikh Soldiers Exhibition Early this May, a new exhibition opened up which reflects on and celebrates 100 years of Sikh history soldiers in the British Army.

The exhibition was opened by 3th Slough Sikh Scouts at The Curve on William Street, Slough, and was attended by over 300 people, including the Mayor of Slough, Cllr Arvind Dhaliwal, several soldiers and a World War Two veteran.

The Legacy of Valour Society, an organisation which highlights the contribution of Sikhs and other Indian soldiers to British Army, organised the launch.

Chairman Inderpal Singh Dhanjal had this to say: "The enthusiasm of the children was really encouraging to see, and the desire to learn more about their shared history. It's what makes all the hard work and planning worthwhile. I'm excited to get this history into the public domain."

The first Sikh regiment was first incorporated into the British Army in 1846.

Scout group leader Nirmal Singh said: “I'm very proud, we didn't get much chance to practice and only had one rehearsal, so I'm really happy."

Britain First Schedule Next Protest After leaders arrested, far-right group plan demonstration

The notorious far right group Britain First has revealed plans to hold their summer protest in Birmingham after their last planned protest was cancelled.

The protest was initially planned after their two leaders, Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen, were arrested in Kent for ‘inciting racial hatred.’ They were bailed and were to appear

back at the police station on June 3rd, when the first protest was planned, but after the cancellation it has now been pushed back to June 24th.

Britain First posted an

announcement to their Facebook page, saying: “Britain First will be protesting in the city of Birmingham, a city described as the ‘epicentre’ of radical Islam! All patriots are welcome, good standards of behaviour apply.”

Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen were in Sparkbrook last month where they carried white crosses and handed out right-leaning propaganda leaflets, and were subsequently pelted with eggs.

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Trinity College London is approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to provide Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) required for British Citizenship, Settlement and visa applications.

SELTs are taken by people who need to show their English language ability for the purpose of obtaining a visa to work, study or settle in the UK. The SELTs Trinity offer are Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) - a 6-minute (A1), 7-minute (A2) or 10-minute (B1) face-to-face conversation with a Trinity examiner.

Candidates receive

/TrinitySELT

provisional results on the same day of their exam and their certificate is usually received within 7 days.

Integrated Skills in English (ISE) - a contemporary fourskills qualification testing reading, writing, speaking and listening, widely recognised

by UK universities.

Candidates receive their results/ certificate usually within 15 working days.

Trinity’s ISE I (B1) SELT is also approved by Transport for London (TfL) for all new applicants and existing private hire drivers applying to renew their licence.

Further information about the SELTs Trinity offer can be found at trinitycollege.com/ SELT or call us on 0333 358 3183.

@Trinity_SELT

Change to English language requirement for A2 Further Leave to Remain (visa extension) The Home Office has announced that, as from 1 May 2017, non-EEA nationals will need to pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) in speaking and listening at A2 level after two-and-a-half years in the UK in order to qualify for further leave to remain on the five-year partner or parent route to settlement.

Trinity’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) Grade 3 (A2) SELT has been approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for this purpose.

Book your Trinity SELT in Birmingham at trinitySELT.co.uk

0333 358 3183

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Unprovoked Attack Kills Asian Taxi Man Homicide team launch murder investigation over callous killing

A taxi controller that was killed in Nechelles has been identified as Rahat Saeed.

Saeed, 37, who works who Embassy cars, was walking outside his office when he was viciously attacked by a customer.

Saeed was taken to hospital but later died on Sunday 4th June.

Police were called to the scene- but arrived the next morning- after receiving reports that an employee had been

knocked unconscious.

The unprovoked attack has left the Nechells community reeling. A murder investigation is now underway.

Jamshad Khan, the manager of the Village Kebab House, was one of the first people on the scene. Khan, 54, said, “It was about 9.30pm, I was coming into my shop and saw a lot of people outside the Village Supermarket next door.

“I went closer and I

saw a guy, he was Asian, maybe I’d seen him once or twice coming into the shop but I didn’t know his name. I realised that he was in a serious condition. I dialed 999 and said I needed the police and ambulance and this person had been assaulted.

“Within 10 mins, the ambulance arrived and he was trying to get up but they tried to give him oxygen but he wasn’t taking it. He was saying ‘I

want to go home’, he said that four, five times. He kept saying it.”

Khan added, “It is terrible. It was over a disagreement, something petty and to kill someone over that is really bad. We are all sad, it’s really sad to see a young guy die.”

Detective Inspector Paul Joyce said: “No arrests have been made as yet but enquiries are moving at a swift pace and I am appealing to anyone who can help the

investigation to get in touch.

“We are still trying to understand what happened but we are led to believe that a customer visited the taxi office in Nechells after being picked up earlier in the evening. There was some sort of disagreement and he became aggressive and assaulted the member of staff.

“We are liaising with the man’s family following their tragic

loss and we are determined to find the man responsible as quickly as possible. We are also liaising with the taxi community to see if they can help supply us with information to identify the suspect.”

Anyone with any information should call West Midlands Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Theresa May Unlikely Black and Asian Soldiers New Champion for Seeking Cold Compensation Minorities Over a thousand claim their cold related injuries were overlooked by the army

Prime Minister Theresa May, up for re-election, has pledged to help tackle the injustices against minorites in the UK, particularly black and Asian people being paid less in the workplace than their white counterparts.

The Conservative Party has pledged to force businesses to disclose how much they pay staff of different races, including pay at different grades, to establish if and by how much minorities are being illegally and unfairly paid less.

A similar system is already in place regarding male and female pay, but this one would take into account the racial factor that often goes into employee wage negotiating, whether consciously or unconsciously.

May said: "The fact that

A series of compensation claims has brought to light what many in the non-white community already knew: blacks and Asians cannot handle the cold to the different ethnic groups are being paid less for doing the same jobs is an injustice which cannot be allowed in twenty-first century Britain.

"My plan will deliver a fairer deal for all workers, by extending rights and protections, guaranteeing rises in the National Living Wage and delivering a strong and stable economy. " www.desixpress.co.uk

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Banging the Drum for Local Culture

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

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

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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.”

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same extent as their white counterparts.

Black and asian Scottish soldiers are seeking compensation after they claim they were let down by army bosses who neglected to take into account their increased vulnerability to the cold. Over one thousands black and Asian soldiers have suffered non-freezing cold injuries (NFCIs) as a result and as such, may be owed compensation.

According to the lawyers acting on their behalf, research shows that black soldiers, for example, were at 30% more risk of suffering an NFCI. However, this issues is largely ignored by the public.

It is currently not believed that people of different races and ethnicities experience the cold differently, despite it being accepted that they experience heat and sun exposure differently.

Ahmed Al-Nahhas, of the

NEWS legal firm Bolt Burdon Kemp, said non-white soldiers were often told to “man up” and get over their symptoms, and he added that the MoD were failing servicemen and women.

“With significant numbers of soldiers from the Commonwealth and frequent low temperatures and wet conditions in the country, the Ministry of Defence must do everything in their power to ensure Scottish Army regiments are provided with adequate equipment and training to prevent cold injuries.

“Black soldiers are 30 percent more likely to suffer cold injuries than their Caucasian counterparts and black servicemen and women suffered 40.1 percent of recorded cold injuries in the British Army.”

Rapist who fled to Pakistan Caught Police apprehended rapist trying to re-enter UK at airport

Amar Mehraj, a rapist that fled to Pakistan, has finally been brought to justice.

It was back in July 2009 that Mehraj, along with four other men, “brutally” gang raped an unconscious seventeen year old girl in Oldbury. The then 29-year-old fled prison by escaping to Pakistan.

However he has now been arrested after being caught returning to the United Kingdom. The attacker was met with a shocking surprise when West Midlands Police were ready and waiting for him at Birmingham Airport in November 2016.

Mehraj has since admitted to the

gang rape and has been sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison.

The three other rapists were jailed in 2010. Detective Constable Mark Timmins said: "This was a sickening crime against a vulnerable young girl, who was plied with alcohol and drugs before being sexually abused.

"Protecting young people from harm is a priority for West Midlands Police and partner agencies and we take reports of sexual offences extremely seriously. This case just goes to show that we will never give up on bringing offenders to justice.

"Thankfully, today, justice has finally caught up with Mehraj."

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New Breast Cancer Centre for Solihull 10

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Muslim Man Offers Free Hugs After Manchester attack, young muslim vloger bringing the public together

Centre will provide one-to-one support for breast cancer sufferers

A

brand new Breast Cancer Haven support centre will be opened up in Solihull later this year, giving breast cancer patients and their families a new place dedicated to helping support them.

Chiel Construction have begun renovating the former three-storey Edwardian guest house in Solihull into a “home from home” support centre.

The charity will provide one-to-one support programme for those in need. It will include such facilities as specialist therapy rooms where users and their families can access personalised and specialist care that covers counselling, acupuncture, massage and professional nutritional advice.

The Breast Cancer Haven’s CEO, Pamela Healy said: “With 2,500 people living within a 35-mile radius of Solihull told every year that they have breast cancer – and no similar service currently

available locally – we need to ensure that more people can benefit from our programme.

“Evidence shows that our service is often life changing for people who are going through the toughest time of their lives. We anticipate that the new centre will provide over 6,670 hours of free therapies to around 750 people with breast cancer in its first year alone.”

Some of the other features of the centre include dropins, welfare and financial guidance, support groups, Welcome days, exercise classes to keep energy and mental levels up, meditation exercises, emotional freedom technique sessions and more.

The committee is quite unique in that it features women who have gone through and overcome cancer themselves. One member, Veronica Morgan, said “This personalised support was missing when I was going through a very difficult time from my breast cancer diagnosis and

throughout my treatments.

“However, I am very pleased that tailored breast cancer support will be available in the West Midlands and delivered by professionals. The diagnosis of breast cancer for me brought psychological turmoil and upset. I believe the facilities provided by the Breast Cancer Haven will change your thought process to ‘try me’ and not ‘why me?’

Let’s get our life back and try Breast Cancer Haven West Midlands.”

As a charity, the centre is welcoming donations as it is estimated to require over £600,000 annually to stay afloat. For those wishing to donate, please contact amanda.elliott@ breastcancerhaven.org.uk or donate by texting ‘HAVN17 £5’ to 70070.

Theresa May’s Visit to Nishkam Primary School

May professes love of Harry Potter and talks education spending cuts

P

rime Minister Theresa May visited a Birmingham school where she talked everything from Harry Potter to West Bromwich Albion.

The Prime Minister visited eight-year-old pupils at the Nishkam Primary School in Handsworth, a largely Sikh and Asian populated school.

She told pupils, whilst discussing their favourite books, that she had read of all the Harry Potter series, adding that “They are all very good.” The pupils then

told her of their love for and admiration of the West Bromwich Albion football club.

After her tour of the school, May said she was impressed by how articulate and knowledgeable the children were. Nishkam, one of Birmingham’s most successful school, was born thanks to the free schools initiative- a scheme May didn’t fail to point out.

However it was hard to ignore the other pressing school matter- that of

funding cuts and a crippling education system that is forcing many Newly Qualified Teachers to quit the profession. It will result in teachers and staff being cut, extra-curricular activities being foregone, and repairs and upgrades being pushed back on the list of priorities.

The Prime Minister said, “At the moment we’re putting record levels of funding into schools in the country,” she said. “But what you are talking about is the school funding formula. “I

To counter Islamophobia after the Manchester bombing, a young muslim man took it upon himself to spread some of the love and positivity by offering free hugs to those who passed him.

The video blogger, Baktash Noori, wore a blindford and headed into Manchester City Centre to hug as many people as he could without knowing their age, race, gender and more. In a video, he is seen hugging a disabled women in a wheelchair, a small girl, an adult man, whilst others gather to watch, record, and join in on the hugging.

Within minutes, a large crowd had gathered around the youth. He carried a sign saying 'I'm Muslim and I trust you. Do you trust me enough for a hug?' Dozens hugged him, voicing that they trusted him completely.

He said, "The first 30 seconds were nerve racking... but once I got that first hug with a lovely comment from that gentleman in my video, it made me feel a whole lot better.

"With every hug, the comments I received were amazing, some were getting all teary and it's not hard to tell by a persons hug and tone of voice how much better their and my day became because of this.

"I did not expect so many people to come and hug me, let alone give me such positive comments, but it was the best thing I've ever done."

Baktash vlogs and uploads videos to his youtube account, Life of Bako, and said he hopes his video will promote unity among the public regardless of race or background. He said: "Being a Muslim living in Manchester, there is always going to be a couple of people that simply struggle to grasp and understand 'religion'. Muslims typically get represented by some as terrorists. Now usually when I see comments like this on social media when a tragic event happens I try and ignore it regardless of how much it gets to me, but after the incident that occurred in Manchester recently, it affected me a lot, so much hate crime and hate comments being shown all across the web and news it just hurts to see it all."

think everybody across the political spectrum accepts that the current way of distributing funding across schools is not fair so we need to find a new way of doing it.

“So we put forward a proposal, we’ve consulted publicly on that and obviously had a lot of responses.

“We will look at those responses and, in due course, decide where to go on this.

But the aim is to produce a fairer system of funding across schools."

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YOUR MONTHLY SHOWBIZ FIX! GOSSIP INTERVIEWS

WHAT WENT ON AT CANNES? This year’s Cannes Film Festival brought together the film industries of the world for eleven days of glitz and glamour and showcasing of the newest and hottest films.

In attendance were stars from around the world, from Rooney Mara to Deepika Padukone, Joaquin Phoenix to Tiger Shroff. In addition to the star-studded guests were musicians, Rihanna, models such as Kendall Jenner, and other celebrities such as

Sonam Kapoor and Emily Ratajowski. Off the coast of the port was a stunning array of billionaire’s yachts, adding to panache of the event.

Model, actor and interviewer Kiran Rai attended the event where he interviewed everyone from stars and celebs to billionaires to even the Chinese Royal family. Rai said, “I love working with these amazing people and being at Cannes and being

an Indian is fantastic.”

One director showing off his work was the awardwinning director Amar Adatia who showcased ‘Dangerous Game,’ starring Callum Best. Adatia stated, “I love to help people and love to give the chance to young budding actors.”

As usual, there was a list of awards given out to the very best and brightest movies, actors, and more.

The Square won the coveted

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Palme d’Or award, a Swedish satirical film by director Ruben Ostlund about a contemporary art museum trying to gain new visitors.

Best actor went to Joaquin Phoenix for his work in You Were Never Really Here. Best actress went to Diane Kruger for for In the Fade whilst Best Director was awarded to Sofia Coppola for The Beguiled.

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

DESI MOVES - the award-winning youth programme celebrating streetwise South Asian sounds and styles - is back this summer as part of UTSAV: the Year of South Asian Culture.

How do young Brummies of South Asian descent feel about the way their city is depicted in the national media? How can they respond creatively when ex-EDL frontman Tommy Robinson and others make a film about the ‘Islamification of Birmingham’ in Sparkbrook? How do they feel about BREXIT? About the opportunity to be creative in Birmingham?

DESI MOVES

launched with two Q&A’s featuring Birmingham’s top GRIME artists; DAPZ ON THE MAP and JAYKAE in Aston and Sparkbrook.

DAPZ ON THE MAP gave a surprise performance of a track from his new EP, ‘Champion Champion’.

BBC-playlisted JAYKAE discussed his online public debate with Tommy Robinson, and when he took all his fans out

for a NANDOs meal after a gig.

DESI MOVES is now moving into a season of nocost music-based creative training programmes, popup events, exhibitions, and hands-on creative making opportunities exploring where South Asian culture meets the street. Dozens of young people have already signed up to free music

workshops at the LIGHTHOUSE in Aston & Concorde in Sparkbrook until the end of June, just in time for live performances at the Birmingham Mela on July 1st and 2nd.

DESI MOVES is being documented by local photographer SAFFIYAH KHAN

DESI MOVES TALENT CORNER & SHORT FILMS AT ZEE SANDWELL & BIRMINGHAM MELA Desi Moves will present brand new music from young students from The Lighthouse and Concord Youth Centres alongside short films hand-picked from local youth, ranging from British Asian, Bollywood and documentaries. This is a special opportunity to see short films that are rarely screened in Birmingham.

The screening includes some of the highlights from Sikhs of Smethwick and five Film Shorts filmed in the UK.

Many of the shorts have a uniquely UK slant, all will be vying to catch the audience's imagination at ZEE Sandwell & Birmingham Mela.

The interactive event will be held at Desi Moves marquee from 12 noon to 7pm, whilst also showcasing some of the very best musical talent - young artists from the Desi Moves outreach project with a headline artist, showcasing emerging South Asian talent to a broader audience. Over

the past few years, Punch Records has supported over 100 local emerging musicians to use the proper channels to showcase their talent and make stronger industry connections.

Danny Singh, Event Director of ZEE Sandwell & Birmingham Mela, said: “We are delighted to partner with Desi Moves once again for 2017. The ZEE Sandwell & Birmingham Mela is always going beyond boundaries to enhance our artistic

programming. Being the UK’s biggest Asian music festival we are proud to be supporting the creative talent from young people and giving them a platform to showcase in front of a 70,000 audience”.

Ammo Talwar CEO of Punch Records, said: “There is fantastic creative talent in Birmingham, this is a chance for us to share their potential with

forming the basis of a unique new touring exhibition.

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. Making great music and art and with all the city’s communities is our response to the EDL and other haters.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: SOPHIA@ PUNCH-RECORDS. CO.UK

The latest creative talent and films to emerge from Desi Moves Project will be showcased at UK’S biggest Asian Music Festival - ZEE Sandwell & Birmingham Mela in Victoria Park Smethwick 1st & 2nd July 2017 a wider audience. Desi Moves Short Film & Talent Corner really does put us in the limelight and rightly so,

there is plenty for us to celebrate.’’

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JUNE 2017

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JAS SANSI The Thinking Man's Mouthpiece

Anti-Slavery Police Raid in Tyseley

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.

80% of Success is Turning Up I can’t understand Theresa May’s refusal to attend the BBC hustings. The format resembles a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link. By the time you read this, we would have found out who g the walk of shame.

A comment made by Jeremy Corbyn made me consider the infinite complexities of Brexit. The Labour leader said EU citizens who have lived here in the UK for many years would be guaranteed their rights and offered UK citizenship.

This offer would be a personal Brexit vote for those considering it. They would be renouncing their EU status and all that entails.

And until we know what Brexit Britain looks like, how do they decide?

The deal Britain needs with the EU; tariff free access to the single market, membership of the customs union, rejecting free movement of people, no longer adhering to the European Court of Justice and no more contributions is a deal undermining the EU. The proposal is not something the EU refuse to accept, it’s an offer they simply cannot entertain.

There lies the complexity of Brexit. We find ourselves in an impossible situation, imagine an expectant mother with medical complications; either the mother survives or the baby survives, but not both. Who gets to decide?

Imagine this election result scenario, a hung parliament producing a Labour-Lib Dem coalition. Responsibility for delivering Brexit ripped from Tory hands. A Conservative opposition, temporarily led by Amber Rudd, simmering in London whilst Boris Johnson lines up his soldiers to secure the party’s leadership ahead of the Conservative party conference in October.

Woody Allen once said ’80% of success is turning up.’ Theresa May’s decision to ignore the BBC hustings sends a clear message to the electorate ‘Vote for me, or else...’

P

olice conducted a raid at the Star Frozen Foods Ltd in Tyseley as part of an antislavery operation. The raid was part of a joint operation between the West Midlands Police, the National Crime Agency, Birmingham City Council and the Gangmasters and Slavery unit. Also present were immigration enforcement officers, the Salvation army and interpreters.

The operation began after receiving reports A Birmingham man has been arrested after 11 partridges were found in his luggage when he was travelling from Pakistan to England last Thursday. Police have detained the man under suspicion of trying to illegally smuggle in the birds into the country at Birmingham Airport.

The birds were found in his luggage at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport in Rawalpindi. Five of the birds were Grey Francolin, which are popular choices for the illegal cock-fighting scene. As a result, a serious probe into bird-fighting has been sparked with concerns that others may be bringing in popular ‘fighting’ birds to the UK. The other birds

that foreign workers, many Latvian, Lithuanian and Romanian, were being exploited on the industrial estate, with some even having to sleep on the site.

The factory is believed to be owned by a Romanian national.

A double decker bus was present on scene to escort victims away, where upon they were questioned and given support afterwards.

Chief Inspector Colin Mattinson said: "[Modern slavery] is a hidden crime were black partridge which are common pets in Pakistan.

One fighting bird can be sold for as high as £1200 in the UK. The man arrested is believe to be from Aston is a frequent flier between Pakistan and England.

Assistant SubInspector Niaz Ahmed, of the Airport Security Force, said: “The owner of the suitcases, a British national originally from the Mirpur area of Pakistan, was asked to go through an extra baggage search. This led my staff to recover the live birds from inside two suitcases. The suspect has been arrested under environmental and wildlife protection laws which prohibit the export of these birds from Pakistan."

that is in plain sight.

Slavery cuts across other parts of crime. This is about criminals exploiting people for financial gain.

"They control housing and payments and often put people in debt on purpose so they can control them. The reason we have seen an increase in reports is because of the increase in community intelligence and an increase in partnership working.

"I would urge people to continue to come forward

about concerns and information they may have.

"We also have to think about the people in lower level services, in areas like food processing, car washes and nail bars. This is not something we can do alone though. We rely on working with our partners and from information we receive from the public.

This information could, for example, relate to signs of poverty and people being picked up very early or dropped off very late."

Bird Fighting Probe in Birmingham wmsp.co.uk

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Cllr Elias Mattu set to become New Mayor of Wolverhampton TO ADVERTISE CALL NOW ON 0121 667 8719

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Cllr Elias Mattu is set to become the 159th Mayor of the City of Wolverhampton at tonight’s (WED MAY 17) full council meeting. Cllr Mattu, who has represented the city’s Graiseley Ward for 17 years, intends to make recognising volunteers his theme for his year in office.

Mattu will take over from outgoing Mayor Cllr Barry Findlay who has been the City of Wolverhampton’s first citizen for the past 12 months.

Mattu, 58, has been deputy mayor for the past year and was previously a senior cabinet member as well as serving on numerous other committees and external bodies. He is passionate about sport and was a power-lifter before becoming a regional coach in the sport and running his own club where he trained five British and one European champions.

He said: “I am delighted to be nominated to become Mayor of the City

of Wolverhampton for the coming year. It will be a great honour and a privilege to serve this great city.

“Wolverhampton has a history going back more than 1,000 years and has never stood still. I moved to Wolverhampton as a child and was brought up here and have lived here ever since.

“My theme for the year is recognising the value of volunteering. Charities and volunteers are doing tremendous work in our city helping the most needy and vulnerable people.

“This is a good time to represent the City of Wolverhampton. There is so much regeneration going on. I will try to promote Wolverhampton over the next 12 months to the best of my ability.”

In line with tradition, Mattu has chosen a selection of charities which he and the Mayoress will raise money for over the year, including: Interfaith Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Sickle Cell

TheAsianToday_270x165_01062017.indd 1

Care Centre, Street Pastors, Wolverhampton Central Youth Theatre and Acorns Children’s Hospice.

Outgoing Mayor and Mayoress Cllr Barry and Mrs Margaret Findlay attended 510 events over the year and have raised more than £20,000 for their chosen charities which were The Samaritans, Help for Heroes and The MS Therapy Centre in Tettenhall.

Cllr Findlay said: “I must thank the thousands of people we have met over these last 12 months who have not only welcomed us, but been so friendly towards myself and Margaret. So, to the people of Wolverhampton, an enormous and sincere thank you.”

JUNE 2017

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Sudden Mass Fish Death at Selly Oak Lake Oxygen levels believed to have tumbled in council run lake Selly Oak residents were left baffled after a mass fish death occurred at a local lake popular with families and fish anglers.

Dozens of dead fish, including prized monster carp, were found eerily floating in the water at Shenley Fields Pool. The Environmental Agency is investigating what caused the sudden deaths, although it is as of yet believed that oxygen levels in the lake must have rapidly dropped, causing the fish to essentially drown.

Contractors have worked to restore levels by pumping oxygen back into the water.

One keen lake goer, Nathan Podmore, aged 27, told the Birmingham Mail: “I am a keen angler and it was devastating to see so many fish floating on the top of the water. Some were 20lb carp…

“I used to fish this water a lot when I was younger and it is a huge shame. Oxygen levels have obviously dropped in the lake but I am not sure what has caused this. It just needs to be sorted as it is such a shame.

22/05/2017 12:57

Protestors Demonstrate outside Keith Vaz Meeting Angry chants outside Labour MP meeting 14

Keith Vaz has found himself in hot water again after a venue he was using for an election event was hounded by demonstrators.

Angry chants surged through the crowds outside the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre. A number of Leicester East candidates, including Sujata Barot, Tory Edward Yi He and Lib Dem Nitesh Dave, also joined the protest to denounce Vaz and other Labour city councillors.

Barot said, “We went along to express how unhappy we are with Labour in this city.

"People were chanting ' V a z Out' and

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'Stop the cuts'.

"Keith is no longer an effective MP in resisting the cuts being carried out by the Labour members of the city council.

"Inside they were saying we were just a bunch of Tories protesting but there were members of the community, the Lib Dem candidate, myself as an independent and the Conservative. There was a wide range of people wanting to say how fed up they were with Keith and Labour in this city."

Keith is currently campaigning to defend a majority of over 80,000. A number of residents were permitted to speak to

Vaz. Mr Vaz's campaign issued a statement via a Labour party spokesman: "The "demonstration" consisted of the Conservative Candidate, one of the Independent candidates and the Liberal Democrat, and some footballers who were playing on Cossington Park who asked to join in but admitted they didn't know what it was about.

"Those outside told those on their way in that this was a demonstration against cuts to Belgrave Library and Rushey Mead Library. Others said it was about Caste

Legislation. The only placard said 'Stop The Cuts'. Any "cuts" are as a result of Government policy.

"Following the end of the meeting the Independent, Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates asked for a meeting with Keith Vaz to raise some issues with him. He was delighted to see them. The three had prior to this entered the building together to use the toilets.

Dharmesh Patel Leader, of Crack Cocain Conspiracy Eight men have been jailed after a conspiracy to smuggle crack cocaine in Kinder eggs.

The Midlands based gang were jailed for a total of over fifty years.

Staffordshire Police detectives were able to piece together information and gather intelligence on the group and stopped a number of vehicles in Cannock between 2014 and 2015. Whilst searching them, they found rocks of crack cocaine hidden inside the popular children’s chocolate Kinder Eggs, which traditionally houses small toys and playthings.

Tens of thousands worth of drugs were seized from the vehicles, along with cash and

other highly valuable items.

The leader of the group was found to be Dharmesh Patel who tried to flee prior to his arrest and discard his belongings, including throwing away parts of his phone and swallowing his SIM card. However he was subsequently caught in Bilston and £42,000 plus a Rolex worth £12,600 was seized from his house.

At the eight men’s sentencing, which saw all of them plead guilty, Judge Mark Eades told them: “Crack cocaine causes untold misery and lives are wrecked. You as a gang have acted to push these drugs and have contributed in large measure to this misery.”

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Two Simultaneous Birmingham Fires Firefighters had a busy end to Bank Holiday weekend after two fires broke out in Birmingham.

One fire broke out in the Saltley area near the rail line whilst the other sparked in Kings Norton. The first fire began at 8pm and required two crews from Ward End and Ladywood to attend the scene.

Meanwhile in Kings Norton, multiple houses were seen on fire. It is thought that the fire was the work of arsonists.

DO YOU HAVE A NEWS STORY? GET IN TOUCH WITH US TODAY!

Coventry Woman Causes £6000 Damage in Racist Attack

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A woman in Coventry has been charged of criminal damage after she caused £6,000 worth of damage to a Coventry store. In addition to causing damages, she also racially aggravated a staff member.

Patricia Garside damaged the till and stock at the shop back in August 2016 and has since plead guilty. The 42-year-old was ordered by magistrates to undertake 80 hours of unpaid work, which was increased to 40 hours

due to the racist nature of her attack. She was also made to pay £686 worth of compensation the victim.

It is not yet known what the particular reason for the attack was, nor the race of the victim.

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16

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Why is this service important?

South Asian and Middle Eastern Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) people may experience a range of issues such as pressures to get married, forced marriage, honour based violence, stigma, homophobia, and transphobia. The lack of understanding around various types of sexuality often stigmatizes individuals from their own communities which can result in isolation, anxiety and stress.

At Birmingham LGBT we offer a safe, supportive, confidential and non-judgmental service where you can talk about your concerns with a dedicated male South Asian sexual health worker conversant in Punjabi and familiar with Hindi and Urdu.

How can this service benefit me?

One of the main benefits of this service is being able to talk to someone from a South Asian background who can listen to any cultural concerns you have in relation to sexual health and wellbeing. We understand that for some people talking to another South Asian person may not be helpful. We also have a diverse sexual health promotion team that offer specific support people that may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans.

South Asian Middle Eastern

Sexual Health Service

Birmingham LGBT also run a meet up called RANG (colour).

This runs once a month usually on the second Sunday of the month from 2pm – 4pm. RANG is a safe, social space where various updates and topics are discussed together and is group led.

What is the role of the South Asian and Middle Eastern Men’s sexual health worker?

The main aim of my role is to look at any perceived, personal and other barriers to sexual health testing to enable South Asian and Middle Eastern MSM to make their own choice to have a sexual health test and/or seek more information around sexual health.

Dan Singh 0121 643 0821

The Bank Holiday weekend saw tens of hundreds pour out into the city centre in order to celebrate Pride, and the LGBTQ+ community.

The two day festival commemorated the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality. As usual, it featured an iconic parade as well as music, entertainment, dancing, fun festive food, and of course plenty of rainbow flags. The parade floated around the shopping centre in Birmingham city before

reaching Hurst Street in the Gay Village.

People from other cities and regions flocked to Birmingham to take part, with some waving flags of solidarity not just for

fans by performing and announcing she was pregnant on stage by showing off her baby bump.

Other singers performing included Jamelia, Gabrielle, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and

Bobbies were on the beat on almost every street and corner, and although they joined in on the fun and even wore the leis, they were a constant reminder of the recent Manchester

alcohol offences.

There were two incidents on the night, one in which a reveller suffered a heart attack and other where a party goer “deteriorated” after using drugs.

homosexuality but for the Manchester victims too.

Stars Basement Jaxx played on Saturday night as well as popstar Dua Lipa.

Charlotte Church surprised

more.

However as well as an atmosphere on love and openness, there was also a high level of tension running throughout the parade.

attack and the possible risk of violence. There were a number of plain clothed officers on patrol and nine people in total were arrested for drug and

Volunteers from St John’s Ambulance were able to save them during the night with their quick thinking and delivery of quick and accurate care.

Take to the Streets with PRIDE

Inspector Lee Bartram said: “Pride is always a great event to police and support. It is such a positive event for the LGBT community and for the city of Birmingham.

“Our aim was to ensure a peaceful, enjoyable event for everyone at the festival and we believe that this was achieved.

“With the volume of people attending over the weekend with tens of thousands of people watching the parade this was a very successful, trouble free event.”

“Our aim was to ensure a peaceful, enjoyable event for everyone at the festival and we believe that this was achieved."

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JUNE 2017

For South Asian and Middle Eastern Men We offer free and confidential sexual health support to men who may identify as gay, bisexual, curious or men who have sex with men.

Contact the Sexual Health Team at the Birmingham LGBT Centre:  blgbt.org/sexual-health |  sexualhealth@blgbt.org |  0121 643 0821

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Break Open A Bottle; It’s Father’s Day! moved.

There is another theory that another American woman, Sonora Smart Dodd, in Washington, created Fathers Day in 1910. She got the idea after hearing a Mothers Day sermon and realised there wasn’t one for fathers.

She and her pastor chose June 9th but sadly, the day was seen as a commercial gimmick by the public and failed to take off.

In 1996, President Lyndon B. Johnson finally agreed to officially designate the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day, and it was made into a national holiday by President Nixon in 1972.

The idea of Fathers Day then spread, until the UK adopted it and now also hold it on the third Sunday of June every day.

Gift Ideas for Dad 1. A large personalised Family photo. No matter who they are, this strikes a chord with all 2. His favourite alcohol; Famous Grouse, Port, Red Wine, Guinness- whatever he likes!

The Big Three B Jobs: We will put employers at the centre of these reforms. We will deal with local skills shortages and ensure that colleges deliver the skills required by local businesses through Skills Advisory Panels and Local Enterprise Partnerships working at a regional and local level.

3. Memorabilia- it can be of anything, his favourite movie, football team, hobby, artist…

4. Tech: if your father is into tech, a new tablet, drone, laptop or accessories such as headphones, wireless keyboards or subwoofers might be just the thing he’s after.

5. A watch - perfect for the stylish father or those just looking to see what time the football is on.

6. Adventure kits: This could include anything from gopros to fishing kits to safe outdoor wear.

7. A luxurious shaving kit to keep the whiskers at bay 8. A Hamper filled with: comfy socks, granite whiskey cubes, aftershave, slippers, cuff links and more 9. Sunglasses. June’s never better for protecting your pops this Summer 10. Trip. Treat your dad to train tickets and a pass to his favourite event: a gig, a tour, a day sightseeing.

Tax: By 2020, we will, as promised, increase the personal allowance to £12,500 and the higher rate to £50,000. We will continue to ensure that local residents can veto high increases in Council Tax via a referendum.

And we will not increase the level of Value Added Tax.

TORYS

M

other’s Day is over and now the world looks forward to Father’s Day. This year, Father’s Day is being held on Sunday 18th June 2017.

On this day, despite different countries having different dates, Fathers are celebrated, recognised and appreciated for their hard work, sacrifice and care.

There are different theories as to how Father’s Day first came to be, though many posit that it has its origins in West Virginia, America, back in July 5th 1908. It is thought that the town off Monogah experienced a mine explosion which led to the deaths of over 350 men, 200 of which were fathers.

A person by the name of Grace Golden Clayton decided to dedicate a special day solely for honouring fathers. July 5th was chosen as it was near to her late father’s birthday too. Unfortunately, there’s another American holiday that takes place in the early days of July…Independence Day. Clayton’s Fathers Day was sorely overlooked in favour of the fireworks, and as such, the date had to be

NEWS

THERESA MAY

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Brexit: We will control immigration and secure the entitlements of EU nationals in Britain and British nationals in the EU. We will

maintain the Common Travel Area and maintain as frictionless a border as possible for people, goods and services between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Health: We will make it a priority in our negotiations with the European Union that the 140,000 staff from EU countries can carry on making their vital contribution to our health and care system.

Housing: We will set up a new homelessness reduction taskforce that will focus on prevention and affordable housing, and we will pilot a Housing First approach to tackle rough sleeping.

Other: Demand all local authorities be commissioners of the highest-quality family support and child protection services, removing these responsibilities from the weakest councils and placing them in trust.

Ensure digital businesses

have access to the best talent from overseas to compete with anywhere in the world. This will be complemented by at least one new institute of technology in the UK, dedicated to worldleading digital skills and developed and run in partnership with the tech industry.

We will educate today’s young people in the harms of the internet and how best to combat them, introducing comprehensive Relationships and Sex Education in all primary and secondary schools.

We will align the future basis for means-testing for domiciliary care with that for residential care, so that people are looked after in the place that is best for them.

This will mean that the value of the family home will be taken into account along with other assets and income, whether care is provided at home, or in a residential or nursing care home.

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Breakdown

our pledge not to extend VAT to food, children’s clothes, books and newspapers, and public transport fares.

benefit for 18 to 21year-olds, which risks putting even more vulnerable young people on our streets.

Other: End the pointless stress of reassessments for people with severe long-term conditions.

We will build on the Development Bank of Wales using more than £10 billion from Labour’s new National Investment Bank.

We will also roll out a Homes Fit for Heroes programme that will insulate the homes of disabled veterans for free.

Brexit: Introduce a ‘presumption of devolution’ where devolved powers transferred from the EU will go straight to the relevant region or nation.

Health: Labour will immediately guarantee the rights of EU staff working in our health and care services. Labour will support NHS whistleblowers to make sure health service staff are able to speak up in support of the best possible standards for patients.

We will again continue to innovate and incentivise local authorities, police forces and probation services to engage effectively with young people at risk of drifting into antisocial or criminal behaviours.

Housing: We will reverse the cruel decision to abolish housing

Jobs: Stamp out abuse of Zero Hours Contracts. We will create a formal right to request a fixed contract and consult on introducing a right to make regular patterns of work contractual after a period of time.

LIB DEM

JEREMY CORBYN

LABOUR

Tax: 5 per cent of taxpayers will be guaranteed no increase in their income tax contributions, and everyone will be protected from any increase in personal National Insurance contributions and VAT. Only the top 5 per cent of earners will be asked to contribute more in tax to help fund our public services.

We renew

19

Tory, Labour and Lib Dem Manifesto Key Points In the run up to the snap General Election, we bring you an array of key points from different areas straight from the horses mouth. Given the relentless nature of the media, it can be hard to keep tracks of who said what and who plans to do what. These key points should help re-align you as to what the Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem, as the thee most popular parties, have planned for me and you.

TIM FARRON

Jobs: Give all workers equal rights from day one, whether part-time or full-time, temporary or permanent so that working conditions are not driven down.

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Tax: Ensure those with the highest incomes and wealth are making a fair contribution. We have identified a series of distortions, loopholes and excessive reliefs that should be removed.

These include reforms to Capital Gains Tax and Dividend Tax relief, and refocusing Entrepreneurs’ Relief.

Brexit: We would guarantee to underwrite funding for British partners in EU-funded projects like Horizon 2020 who would suffer from cancellation of income on Brexit.

Health: Increasing spending on the NHS and social care, using the proceeds of a 1p rise in Income Tax…the revenue will be ringfenced for spending on NHS and social care services in England…

Wales and Northern Ireland.

Housing: New direct spending on

house-building to help build 300,000 homes a year by 2022.

Other: • Continue to champion the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine and invest significant capital resources in infrastructure projects across the North of England and the Midlands.

• Encourage employers to promote employee ownership by giving staff in listed companies with over 250 employees a right to request shares, to be held in trust for the benefit of employees.

• Protect the science budget, including the recent £2 billion increase, by continuing to raise it at least in line with inflation.

• Extend transparency requirements on larger employers to include publishing the number of people paid less than the Living Wage and the ratio between top and median pay.

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NEWS

Woman Unknowingly Marries Torturer, Killed Weeks after Wedding A 37-year-old woman has been murdered in her house in Normanton, Derby.

Police were first called to the home at 9.50pm after receiving calls about a ‘domestic related incident’ on Saturday night. Police entered to find the dead body of Sobhia Tabasim Khan, and subsequently arrested her husband Atual Mustafa, 35.

Mustafa was actually known to police and courts, having been charged with raping, burning and torturing another woman back in 2009. However Sobhia, who had only married Mustafa mere weeks before her death, was unaware of his past convictions. He had previously raped and assaulted a woman before setting her alight in a fourday torture incident. Luckily the woman managed to escape her torturer.

The insidious brute was then convicted on three charges of rape. Judge John Burgess said: “This, with

no exaggeration, was one of the most disturbing cases.

Over a four-day period this defendant tortured this woman and raped her.

Goodness knows what effect it has had on her. Her physical scars may be healing but I suspect her mental scars will never heal.”

He was sentenced to a hospital order, and the Judge stated: “He will not be released until everyone is satisfied it is safe to do so. He will then be subject to review and careful supervision.”

Mustafa has now been charged with his wife’s murder and will appear in court. A female neighbour who lived near the married couple revealed, “Everything was very private. A bit too much I think.

“The blinds were never open. They were always closed. The doors were always closed. They were never seen in the garden, even on the hottest of days. I just thought, ‘how does this person live?'”

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NEWS

Celebrating Ramadan Millions around the world celebrated Ramadan and Eid, whereby Muslims abstained from food, drink, sexual relations, smoking and sinful behaviour from dawn to dusk every day until the end of the fast.

Ramadan began on May 27th whilst this year, Eid will fall on June 25th. Eid, also the first day of Shawwal, celebrates the end of Ramadan in which observers gave up food and drink and their personal vices

to focus on charity work, spirituality and introspection.

Between dawn and dusk, Muslims can go without food and drink for a staggering nineteen hours.

As of right now, Eid is not a publically recognised holiday despite campaigns for it to be recognised as so, but is so in Muslimmajority countries.

Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan with Eid, where they dress in their finest outfits and gather together to

celebrate.

Last year, Birmingham staged an Eid celebration which was attended by an unprecedented 88,000 people and became the largest gathering of Eid celebrators in Europe. The festival, which took place in Small Heath, featured funfair rides, assault courses, sumo suits, laser clay pigeon shooting, mini golf, exotic animals, a bazaar with food, drink, gifts and crafts and tons more.

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Two Boys Hospitalised after Touching Live Wire Youths touched live wire with stick; one fighting for his life Two teenage boys have been hospitalised after they touched live railway tracks with a stick and were “shot through the air.” One boy is fighting for his life.

The two youths were “mucking about” in-between the Bescot Stadium and Tame Bridge Parkway in the West Midlands when they decided to poke the wire. One 15-year-old friend has revealed what happened: “Its a mate of mine and I was supposed to meet him 20 minutes before. He has a broken arm and burns to his arms and face. “He’s got a stick and touched the cable and the electricity just went through him.

“I’ve known him for about four years. My mum rang me and told me there was an air ambulance and I saw it when I got back. The other kid I don’t know very well but he burnt his hands pretty badly.”

Another boy present said, “They were just mucking around and one of them touched the tracks with a stick.

“He went shooting through the air and then his mate tried to come and help him and got burns to his hands as well as he came to his aid.

“One of their mates looked in real shock. We think they are going to be OK, but one of them is in quite a bad way.”

WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM

FEATURE

19-Year-Old Father-to-Be Dies After Jumping into Waterfall A young boy has died after diving into a waterfall at Wain Wath Falls on the River Swale in the Yorkshire Dales.

Dani Khan, 19, was with friends on Friday 26th May during the heatwave when he decided to jump into the waterfall in order to cool off. However the teenager fell into a plunge pool and began to struggle.

His three friends desperately tried to save him, but Khan was under water for a total of fifteen minutes. Rescue teams scrambled to save the boy and he was

airlifted to James Cook Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Despite his young age, Dani Khan was married and was expecting a child with his wife. His friend, Ayaz Ali, heartbreakingly revealed, ‘I’ve known him for five years and would see him literally every day, always creating memories. When I found out he passed away it killed me, it’s like he took my soul with him. It will never be the same without him.

‘Let this be a lesson to everyone that you never know what’s

around the corner – I only spoke to him the night before and he came and gave me my sunglasses that I left with him on the day and said ‘see you tomorrow night Ayaz’.

‘I didn’t think I’d be seeing him on a hospital bed taken away from this world. What’s happened has happened now – all we can do is stay strong in the name of my beautiful brother Dani Khan and be there for his family.’

Police on the hunt for 4 masked men

Canal Square celebrates a year in business

A gang of four masked men are on the run from police after allegedly breaking into Birmingham bank and making off with cash.

The gang were armed with bats which they used in their raid on a Halifax bank branch n Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, at 10 in the morning.

According to police, the four men escaped in a car with an unknown “quantity of cash.”

A woman who witnessed the armed robbery is being treated for shock. Ambulances were called to the scene after the 23-year-old woman fell into shock.

A spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance Service

Birmingham’s newest Punjabi fine dining restaurant took over the square celebrating their 1st birthday last week.

Basking away in Brum’s glorious heat wave, press, bloggers and finance professionals were out in force to enjoy an evening by the canal with fizz, food and Punjabi entertainment.

Serving delightful and playful canapés, such as Chicken Tikka and Mini shell Aloo Channa Chaat followed by a divine main menu that went

spokesman said: “We were called to reports of a 23-year-old female in shock. We sent an ambulance and gave her a check up.

Paramedics treated the lady but did not take her to hospital.”

A spokesperson for the West Midlands Police has put out a message, stating: Four masked men, armed with bats, demanded staff hand over cash. They escaped in a vehicle after stealing a quantity of cash.

“CCTV is being trawled by officers and enquiries are ongoing.

“Anyone witnesses can call officers on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

down a treat, with standout dishes such as Punjabi Pind Wala Murgh and Punjabi Tharee Wala Lamb.

Nothing other than exemplary service and great food was expected and definitely delivered.

Canal Square has been quietly tucked away for a year now perfecting its Punjabi cuisine and excellent service. They were also nominated for Best Curry House at this year’s Midland Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards and it’s easy to see why!

Owner Harvey Bains

said: “It’s a great pleasure to host such a great event celebrating a year in business. The team are ecstatic with how much everyone loved and enjoyed our food and I hope everyone continues to do so.”

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TWO DISTANCES ONE GREAT CITY SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER 2017

NEW MARATHON

NEWS

Jeremy Corbyn Twitter Misfire Jeremy Corbyn appears to have struck a nerve with certain members of the minority population due to a “patronising” message.

It came after the Labour leader tweeted: Only Labour can be trusted to unlock the talent of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people.”

It immediately received a wave of online backlash, with many saying it was patronising, condescending and robbing minorities of their own achievements and ability to lift themselves out of poverty.

MP Sajid David tweeted a dry, “Thanks Jeremy” whilst MP James Cleverly added, “Could he be any more patronising?”

William Adoasi, a black fashion entrepreneur, said I'm FULLY behind labour but this

is a wild statement. It needs context... We are able to unlock our own talent.”

Another user commented, “Did you realise you needed a strange British Socialist chap to unlock your talent Chloé?! How on earth have you managed until now!?

One picture of Jeremy was even edited to say: ‘Only a white man from north London can unlock your talent.

You’d be nothing without me.”

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Young Asian Brum Reaches Anonymous Letter to Islamic Coventry Community Beauty Pageant Finals H

arleen Sidhu, full-time teacher, hopes to make parents and city proud.

A young Asian girl has reached the final stages of Miss Birmingham 2017. Harleen Sidhu has been placed as one out of thousands of girls in the beauty pageant, and is now competing against thirty-one others in the finals.

Harleen is a full-time teacher at an all boys secondary school that graduated with MSc Health Psychology Aston University.

She is also raising money for Miss Birmingham’s chosen charity, Beauty with a Purpose, that helps sick children.

On achieving a place in the finals, Harleen said: “I applied with hope and a little hesitancy to the Miss Birmingham pageant and

was thrilled when I realised that I had made it to the finals "For someone who underwent bullying, anxiety and a huge lack of self confidence, I was able to build myself again through positive experience in voluntary work.

"By working with various communities within Birmingham, I found my self confidence again, as well as a desire to see others succeed.

What struck me the most about the Miss Birmingham pageant was how it uniquely brought together the element of beauty and charity.

"The panel are not just looking for an attractive face or body, but they’re looking for a people person, an ambassador thriving to go out into the city and contribute and raise

Unnamed woman delivered handwritten message of understanding

T

awareness of principal issues.

"As I’m extremely keen to spread the word about lifelong learning and supporting mental health, I felt that this platform provided a fantastic opportunity for my personal and professional experiences to do this and do it well, to make my mum and my city proud."

Over 600 Attend Leicester Schoolgirl Funeral

Girl died after falling from Drayton Manor rapids ride

The funeral of an elevenyear-old Muslim schoolgirl who died after falling from a theme park ride was attended by over six hundred people.

Evha Jannath was on a school trip to Drayton Manor theme park when she tragically died after falling from the Splash Canyon rapids ride. The young girl was immediately taken to hospital where she later died.

It sparked a national outcry as to how the death was allowed to happen. It is thought that the girl stood up to swap seats when she fell from the boat and was sucked under the rapids.

Staffordshire Police are still

investigating the matter and, as of now, the rapids ride at Drayton Manor has been suspended.

At her funeral, which was held in a Muslim prayer hall at Leicester's Saffron Hill Cemetery on May 30th, hundreds of friends, family, school peers and members of the community came together to mourn her loss.

Evha’s Headteacher, of Jameah Girls Academy, Erfana Bora, thanked all those who attended for their love and support and said that many pupils had even visited Evha’s family to give condolences and “say goodbye.”

She stated, "It is overwhelming to see so many

people here today, praying for Evha and showing support for her family.

“As a school, we have been touched by the enormity of support that we have received from the community of Leicester, as well as nationally and globally. We would like to also thank fellow schools in Leicester and Leicester City Council for providing practical help, including counselling for our pupils and staff."

She added, “In Evha's memory, we have closed the school this afternoon. Tomorrow we will resume class but with a heavy heart, knowing that we do so without Evha.

In the coming days, Evha's

he Coventry Islamic community has been touched after receving an anonymous letter from a well-wisher expressing solidarity.

The handwritten letter was given to Nafeesa Bhayat, 29, outside Masjid Al Falah Faith Group and stated that "not all of us white non-Muslim folks are bigoted [sic] and small minded,” referring to the increased incidents of islamophobia and racist violence following the Manchester bombing.

Bhayat was collecting her children when the unnamed woman handed her the letter then gave her a hug before leaving. "She asked if I could give this note to the mosque leaders and said 'I just feel like hugging you all- can I hug you?' and then she gave me a hug and told me she stands with us and not to worry about anything. As she was talking, I almost cried.”

The full letter reads: Dear All People of the Prayer Centre, I am a resident of Sommerset [sic] Road and just wanted you to know that not all of us white non muslim folks are bigotted and small minded.

I know what a beautiful and peaceful religion yours is. I feel compelled to write to you to offer you my love, peace, and solidarity.

In these testing times please stay strong in your beliefs and know that anyone with even a small amount of

Pic by: NAFEESA BHAYAT

intelligence does not equate your peaceful religion with terrorism.

I notice the current air of tension in the UK and people are always looking for a scapegoat, however a lot of us see through the blame game and refuse to be at war with you, our brothers.

According to Bhayat, the Mosque leaders wish to personally thank the woman but she left no contact details, although she is thought to live

near the area. Haroon Mota, 31, who frequently visits the mosque, said the letter had a “very powerful message and it was an overwhelming feeling.”

"Sometimes in our community we're made to feel we should be apologetic, but we shouldn't apologise for people who don't represent us.

"There's so much negative news and headlines about Muslims, it's nice to see that people can see through this."

friends will help the school to establish a fitting tribute to her memory.

"In the meantime, Evah's mum has asked me this morning to keep Evha's name on the school register. I am happy to do so as Evha will always be in our hearts and a part of our school."

The Muslim Burial Council of Leicestershire stated, "We would like to emphasise again that the full facts surrounding Evha's sad passing have yet to be fully established and there is still an ongoing investigation.

"In light of this, we urge people to not speculate, or present as fact, any details surrounding Evha's passing."

Chairman Suleman Nagdi said: "The heart-breaking circumstances of Evha's untimely passing has truly captured the hearts and minds of so many people, right across the diverse communities both in this country and abroad.

"We know how much the loss of Evha has devastated her friends and family and we wish to again extend our sincerest condolences."

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO STAY UPTO DATE WITH THE LATEST NEWS!

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Top governance recognition for CORE Education Trust T

he governing board of Birmingham-based CORE Education Trust, which sponsors Rockwood Academy and Nansen Primary School, has been shortlisted in a major national award that marks outstanding school governance.

The Trust is one of three finalists for the ‘Outstanding governing board in a multi academy trust’ awarded by the National Governance Association (NGA).

The awards are held every two years to celebrate good school governance and provide examples of best practice throughout the school governor and clerking community.

The short listing of CORE Education Trust is particularly remarkable as it is only two years since it took responsibility for two schools at the centre of the so-called Trojan Horse plot. The Trust was founded by CEO, Adrian Packer who guided the schools in the Trust to a successful turnaround. Since then, the board has committed to regularly selfevaluating its structure and performance.

Its development has already been recognised by education watchdog Ofsted in March 2016 which noted governance as one of the Trust’s areas of excellence.

In addition, both Rockwood Academy and Nansen Primary School were both rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted in an incredible and rapid turnaround having previously been deemed ‘inadequate’ and placed in special measures in 2014.

Ofsted inspectors praised the “passion and determination” of CORE Education

Trust’s leadership, adding they had “worked relentlessly and with great resilience”.

Ammo Talwar, Chair of CORE Education Trust, said: “Our journey at CORE has been one of resilience and authentic dialogue with diverse communities. The children in the care of the Trust have had their schools given back to them; their voices are being heard and they are growing up to be proud citizens of Birmingham and Britain.

“Robust governance underpins all that we do; there is accountability, strong leadership and shared expertise.

It’s an honour to be nominated and a great credit to the whole team at CORE who have embraced all the values of Collaboration, Opportunity, Respect and Excellence.”

The awards, which take place at a national ceremony in London on 25 May, reward and celebrate the best of the country’s school governance.

CORE Education Trust continues to grow and strengthen its expertise.

The Trust has recently appointed Emma Leaman to the executive leadership team as Director of Strategy. Emma brings a wealth of expertise and experience from Birmingham

City Council where she has been working as Assistant Director of Education Infrastructure.

DATE SET FOR THE BIG SLEUTH 2017 After months of hibear-nation, Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity and Wild in Art are pleased to announce Birmingham’s The Big Sleuth will launch on Monday 10 July.

The highly anticipated free, 10-week public art trail, named because ‘sleuth’ is a group of bears, will see Bear-mingham engulfed in colour with up to 100, 165cm tall sculptures taking to the region’s streets, parks and open spaces.

Showcasing the artistic and cultural diversity the city has to offer, the family-friendly trail is intended to inspire residents and tourists alike to get active by walking, jogging, running or cycling The Big Sleuth Trail.

Located across the city, with satellite trails in Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Sandwell and at Resorts World, the fantastic spectacle will culminate on Sunday 17 September.

Sally-Ann Wilkinson, Director of Wild in Art, said: “We’re delighted to be announcing the dates of this year’s exciting trail. The Big Sleuth brings together business and creative sectors with schools and local communities to celebrate Birmingham’s rich culture and heritage and will leave lasting memories across the region for generations to come.”

Elinor Eustace, Deputy Director of Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “The Big Sleuth will encourage residents and

families of Birmingham and beyond to see our amazing city in a new light, inspiring us all to become tourists in our own town. We would encourage all to get out and about with friends, families and colleagues to enjoy the free trail and consider getting sponsored to walk, jog, run or cycle it along the way.”

At the end of The Big Sleuth, the giant bears will be sold at auction. The Big Sleuth’s predecessor, The Big Hoot, raised over £500,000 for the charity at auction, and The Big Sleuth aims to do the same. All proceeds will go towards helping the children and young people treated at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

LOCAL

Cas Majid on Board of Governors at Ronald McDonald Qasim Majid, the chief executive of Wow Zone, has been appointed to the board of governors for the Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC), bringing on board his IT and digital expertise.

Chamber patron Doug Wright, the chair of the Ronald McDonald House at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, said: “The Birmingham Board of Governors at the Ronald McDonald House are delighted to announce the appointment of Qasim Majid with immediate effect.

“Qasim will complement the board and bring much needed digital expertise to the board. He is the CEO of Wow Zone who are industry leaders in the provision of digital marketing.”

Ronald McDonald House provides accommodation for families so that they can be with their children whilst they undergo medical treatment. It can accommodate up to 90 families a night and requires £750,000 to cover annual running costs.

Qasim said: “It is a true honour to be appointed to the board of governors at the Ronald McDonalds Charity.

The organisation does incredible and admirable work in accommodating families year-round in what is a great time of need for them.

“It will be my genuine pleasure to assist the organisation in any way I can in order for the brilliant work they do to continue.”

The appointment was made by Chamber patron Doug Wright, who has been with McDonalds for 36 years, employs more than 1200 people across 15 restaurants in the West Midlands and is the winner of the Fred L Turner Golden Arch Award - the highest accolade in McDonald’s global empire.

He is also the chair of the Ronald McDonald House at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, who are supported by world-renowned companies including Coca-Cola GB, Warburtons, Nestle, Lloyds Bank, Wilmott Dixon and Selco Building Society to name a few.

Doug said: “The Birmingham Board of Governors at the Ronald McDonald House are delighted to announce the appointment of Qasim Majid with immediate effect.

“Qasim will complement the board and bring much needed digital expertise to the board. He is the CEO of Wow Zone who are industry leaders in the provision of digital marketing.”

Ronald McDonald House at the Children’s Hospital provides accommodation for families whilst their children undergo medical treatment.

The facility can accommodate 90 families a night and requires £750,000 to cover their annual running costs.

Qasim said: “It is a true honour to be appointed to the board of governors at the Ronald McDonalds Charity.

“The organisation does incredible and admirable work in accommodating families year-round in what is a great time of need for them.

“It will be my genuine pleasure to assist the organisation in any way I can in order for the brilliant work they do to continue.”

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HOTEL DU VIN BIRMINGHAM SUMMER MENU LAUNCH

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Pat Murphy Wright, David Colcumbe, Anita Champaneri, Corabeth Pearsall

Piali Ray (SAMPAD) and Stephen Arnold (Bham City Council)

Dharmesh Rajput (Birmingham Indian Film Festival) and Jenny Wilkes (BBC)

Munpreet Kaur (Nishkam) and Indi Deol (Desi Blitz)

Derek and Daisy Inman and Tony Elvin

Lucy Elvin and Gail Orton

Tony Elvin and David Jupp

Lucy Elvin and Gail Orton

Lord Mayor Carl Rice and Piali Ray (SAMPAD)

Laur Beech and Sue Wright

Caroline Davis (Birmingham Weekender), Sarah Bond (Arts Council England) and Simi Obra (Sampad)

Michaela Vidurovรก and Samuel Bishop

Piali Ray (SAMPAD), Jenny Wilkes (BBC), Caroline Davis

Tony Elvin and Mark Rose

Adventures

Of Sansi SOCIAL SANSI Alev Dervish, Anita Chumber and Sarah Morris

Luke Crane and Nicola Ridler

Jennie Anderson, Tina Francis and Nicola Ridler

Bharat and Anita Champaneri

Adam Andrew Hayes, Anita Champaneri & Taylor Bottrill

Ellie Greenwood & Gemma Hill

Jennie Anderson, Roanna John and Samara Knight

Gov Singh and Sharon Butter

Harvey Bains and Anita Champaneri

Ifraz Ahmed, Alev Dervish, Anita Chumber and Sarah Morris

Jennie Anderson, Tina Francis and Nicola Ridler Michelle Foley, Paul Anderson and Hannah Northam

Vicki Bennett and Parv Gandham

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n recent months Kaputre8 has seen how the changes in the new curriculum are distressing teachers of practical subjects especially such as Design and Technology!

Ultimately it’s all down to how teachers interpret the new specs. Yes, the content that pupils are now required to learn is far broader and encompasses elements of textiles, graphics, resistant materials, product design and good helping of systems and control, but is this a bad thing? It doesn’t mean that every D&T department now needs sewing machines and soldering irons otherwise their pupils will fail, far from it. If anything, the new specs allow for a large amount

of flexibility in terms of outcome and centres can tailor their projects to suit.

However, thankfully, the ageold perceptions will begin to disappear as forwardthinking departments start to churn out working prototypes rather than “innovative tables, chairs and 90o corners” Kapture8 are championing change by producing free content for teachers to use.

They have teamed up with the National STEM Centre to run courses on Assessment and evidence portfolios to support teachers. Schools that have already signed up are already seeing the benefits of the iterative process and creative mindsets being demonstrated in

How White Is Oxford?

everyday classes.

Every school needs to embrace the developments and work out what will help their student to progress and develop critical thinking skills that can be applied to any career. One thing that is for certain is that there has never been a clearer opportunity to exploit the latest technology that our pupils use day in day out to record their work.

There are a multitude of different options available,

Campaigners say not enough diversity at prestigious university

According to an anti-colonial campaign group, Oxford University is not doing enough to make non-European history compulsory.

Rhodes Must Fall Oxford attest the syllabus is still “hugely Eurocentric” and that making one paper on non-European history compulsory was not enough.

However the esteemed university said it is proud that it is diversifying.

It also added that making the paper compulsory was a result that "followed years of discussion" and had nothing to do with the campaign group.

The professor of modern European history at the University of Southampton, Neil Gregor, said there was a "widely acknowledged need to make history less Eurocentric" Many universities have

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Kapture8 – Helping teachers to help students!

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JUNE 2017

slowly been incorporating more and more racially diverse topics. Femi Nylander, from Rhodes Must Fall Oxford, questioned why non-European history had not become compulsory at "the world's supposedly best institution" until 2017.

Kapture8 being one of them, that embrace what is now “everyday technology”.

There’s no doubt that your pupils will be very much used to snapping photos, shooting short video clips, tagging their friends and compiling posts limited to 140 characters, so why not bring that knowledge into the classroom/workshop allowing your pupils to document their work as they go in a modern way?

Why and How do we teach Emotional Intelligence to Younger People?

To start the discussion there are a number tips our coaches use when teaching Emotional Intelligence “We must use as few words as possible” says Student Coach Matthew Bradford “It cannot always be taught to students sitting behind desks in a formal classroom setting” Ambreen Khan, Founder, The Wonder of Learning.

“It is difficult or virtually impossible if there is a lack of trust between the student and the coach” says Senior Coach Nabeela Bashir.

Teaching Emotional Intelligence means we must understand how emotions were created in the first place. Emotions are created by the receiving of inputs in the brain from its five senses and the largest percentage of emotions were received long before we had mastered the skill of language. Hence, words that label actions good or bad are futile, what makes sense is emotions from the person who delivered them, in others words a young baby can read our emotions, hence words do not describe them as they are perceived as three dimensional images within the brain. Understanding this fundamental is essential for us to design reframing strategies.

Using the term reframing, means the change we desire in the output of an emotion in ourselves or others, so teaching Emotional Intelligence we refer to reframing.

Why our brain generates emotions, for we all know that this neurological process started soon after leaving the womb, with the first indications we gave to the outside world was when we received frequent inputs from our mother and father, and as the cones and rods in our eyes started to function we recognised their faces, we gave the only recognition we could and that was an emotional smile.

Our very young have no concept of good or bad, right or wrong correct or incorrect in fact we had no value system within the developing architecture of our brain, all that we could do was to input everything in fact a sponge, this was the birthplace of our emotions.

However from our earliest times we appear to be capable of reading happy and loving emotions in others as well as negative, sad, negatively emotional and cruel ones.

Let us consider an example Why teaching emotional Intelligence with students sat behind desks, may not always work is because in the development of IQ often we require a pen and paper, and nothing is affected if we cannot answer a problem, it is only when our emotions rush in and we feel frustrated (emotion) with our inability to solve it. However when we have an emotional problem it effects our entire body, so why teach this reframing process with half of the body covered up?

In the teaching of emotional intelligence the selection of the teacher is critical for in my experience, few teachers can teach it, having a teaching qualification is not essential to teach emotional Intelligence what is more important is how well the person teaching it understands and recognises their own feelings and emotions, how in control they are with their emotions, how they are able to empathise with others and understand problems others are experiencing. They must be able to create trust in all cases without question. These are the qualities I would look for in selecting the person to teach others about their emotions and feelings.

It is important that we consider the difference between emotional intelligence and academic intelligence.

It is now generally accepted that emotional intelligence as a greater impact on our life success than IQ Ambreen Khan, Founder, The Wonder of Learning Email: info@wonderoflearning.co.uk

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EDUCATION

Exciting new courses starting in September

What next? Thinking about going to college? Interested in University Level Courses?

Considering earning whilst you learn on an Apprenticeship? We have 100s of courses to help you make the right choice. From Construction to Childcare, Business to Beauty and Music to Media. We have something for everyone. The college offers students and adult learners, full-time, part-time and apprenticeship courses in a wide range of subjects.

South & City College and Bournville College are working closely together ahead of our official merger later this summer and have teamed up to offer new courses across a variety of areas, including Criminology, Counselling, Upholstery, Interpreting and more.

Some courses, such as Geography A Level, have been introduced in response to customer demand, whilst others such as the Social Media Diploma are meeting the needs of the industry across the West Midlands.

We have excellent facilities

include a purpose built construction campus, motor vehicle workshops, hair and beauty salons which are open to the public, music and sound recording suites, an industry standard auditorium and much, much more!

We currently provide courses and training to over 13000 students and have campuses across Birmingham, all within easy access, so you should never be too far away from college.

The two colleges are also investing in upgrading and improving facilities, allowing courses demanded by industry to be delivered in industry standard facilities.

To find out more, come along to our Open Days, taking place on Saturday 17 June at Bournville College 10am – 2pm and Wednesday 21 June at South and City College, 4-7pm.

For information on all the courses we offer and our campuses, head to our website www.south@

city.com/openday.

Alternatively, get in touch with us at hello@ southandcity. com or call us on 0800 111 6311.

G20 Could Save Education Funding Campaigners targeting world leader summit to bring education funding back up

Join us at the Education Awards 2017 t Ground

ricke 7 July, Edgbaston C

Book your seat now www.education-awards.co.uk Keynote Speaker: Andy Street

A night to celebrate and reward the most outstanding contributors to the Education Industry

Hosted by comedian Patrick Monahan

Campaigners are gearing up for next month’s G20 summit meeting which they believe will be crucial in gaining desperately needed education funding for the poorest corners of the world.

Aid funding fell between 2009 and 2015, from 10% to 6.9%. According to Unesco, education now receives the same amount of funding as transport.

Barry Johnston, associate director of advocacy at the Malala Fund, said: “Education has been neglected by world leaders and international institutions for too long. There’s a movement in the coming weeks to get G20 leaders to recognise that there’s a problem, there’s a crisis in financing, and acknowledge that if they want to have healthy societies in the future – if they want to have an educated workforce that can meet the challenges of the future – then they’re going to have to start paying to get kids into school. And not just into school, but learning the right stuff.”

In accordance with the sustainable development goals, every child should receive primary and secondary education by 2030 at the latest, but given the severe amount of cuts happening to education across the globe, campaigners worry that is a dream, and not a potential reality.

The G20 is their next big chance to secure increased funding but it relies on G20 world leaders to recognise the need for such funding and take action.

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Abbie Dhaliwal talks University Life 36

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FEATURE

Parents Crowdfunding For School Whiteboards Severe government cuts result in schools not affording own whiteboards, computers

A university goer gives her two cents on first year uni life

Before moving into my university halls, I was very sceptical on how my year would go. I am now half way through my first year at university and I can only speak about the experiences that I’ve been through throughout the past 3 months.

The thing I really love about living in halls is that I never really feel alone because I know my friends are only down the hall or in another flat. I’ve met so many different people and I feel like they are friends for life.

The move into university also means no more relying on parents to make your dinner because you’ve got to do that all yourself.

Sometimes, you will not get along with all your flat mates. Not everyone clicks and gets on. Speak to a close friend or a family member if issues are bothering or stressing you. Move yourself away from these people because you don’t need that negativity surrounding you or toxic people in your life.

Remember every problem has a solution and everything will be fine.

Sometimes you may have an important presentation or you have a 9am lecture and you just want an early night! However, not everyone is considerate about this and the flat could stay noisy until 3am! If this is the case, try headphones or visit a friend from another flat and hopefully their flat won’t be as noisy as yours.

Whenever, you are bored and have nothing to do you can call a few friends over, have a movie night, order a takeaway and just enjoy yourself! There’s also nights out. Night outs can be so much fun and enjoyable.

When you are around all your friends you can have such a laugh. My night outs with my close friends have been so much fun and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

With all that said, enjoy University. In life, you go through different things and you come out of them having learned valuable life lessons

– and you will make some friendships that will last a life time.

Follow and read Abbie’s blog in full here: abbiebeautyfashionadvice.wordpress.com Follow Abbie on Instagram: @abbiedhaliwalx

In a tragic scenario, parents are now crowdfunding for school supplies such as whiteboard.

Numerous appeals have been launched to crowdfunding websites such as kickstarter and JustGiving for essential and basic equipment such as whiteboards and computers. One such appeal is for students at Camelsdale Primary School, which set up their own page to raise money for a new whiteboard.

The information comes via the School Cuts website which publicises the effects of school cuts and resultant failings, a website set up by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and is backed by NAHT, The Education Union (ATL) and the GMB. The website allows users to see how their school is being affected by government cuts. A government spokesperson for the Department of Education said “The government has protected the core schools budget in real terms since 2010, with school funding at its highest level on record at more than £40 bn in 2016-17 – and that is set to rise as pupil numbers rise over the next two years.”

Prime Minister Theresa May said, “The level of funding going into schools is at record level.”

The Tory government has pledged to inject £4bn into education and change the funding formula, which the National Audit Office suggests could result in 9000 schools conversely facing more cuts.

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South and City College Host Inclusive Skills Competition The 16th May saw the Inclusive Skills Competition held at South and City College Green Campus.

The competition involved disabled talented secondary school students who were tasked with showing off their creative IT skills. The regional competition saw the winner advance to the national level of competition.

The competition first came

about when Natspec, Derwin College and the then North Warwickshire and Hinckley College realised there were no competitions for disabled students. Natspec then launched a number of competitions and eventually the Inclusive Skills Competitions was born.

It links schools and businesses and showcases the IT talent of disabled

students and those with learning difficulties. Inclusive Skills even featured at the Skills Show. The competition is open to those of all ages as long as they have reached Level 1 and have recently been in education.

One of the judges at the South and City competition was Anita Chumber, coeditor at The Asian Today, who said:

“I was very privileged to be asked to be a judge by the college and it was inspiring to see so many youngsters, with and without mentors, taking part in the competition. It showed courage and initiative. The work they had to do was quite intense each of them were to a very high standard and all of the students were determined and talented.�

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE STARRING SARTAAJ PG 46

AWARD WINNING HISTORICAL BIOPIC

ANAND RAJ ANAND ON TOUR

Read more on Pg 44

WHAT WENT ON AT CANNES? This year’s Cannes Film Festival brought together the film industries of the world for eleven days of glitz and glamour and showcasing of the newest and hottest films.

In attendance were stars from around the world, from Rooney Mara to Deepika Padukone, Joaquin Phoenix to Tiger Shroff. In addition to the star-studded guests were musicians, Rihanna, models such as Kendall Jenner, and other celebrities such as

Sonam Kapoor and Emily Ratajowski. Off the coast of the port was a stunning array of billionaire’s yachts, adding to panache of the event.

Model, actor and interviewer Kiran Rai attended the event where he interviewed everyone from stars and celebs to billionaires to even the Chinese Royal family. Rai said, “I love working with these amazing people and being at Cannes and being

an Indian is fantastic.”

One director showing off his work was the awardwinning director Amar Adatia who showcased ‘Dangerous Game,’ starring Callum Best. Adatia stated, “I love to help people and love to give the chance to young budding actors.”

As usual, there was a list of awards given out to the very best and brightest movies, actors, and more.

The Square won the coveted

BOLLYWOOD RAMBO REMAKE PG 47

Palme d’Or award, a Swedish satirical film by director Ruben Ostlund about a contemporary art museum trying to gain new visitors.

Best actor went to Joaquin Phoenix for his work in You Were Never Really Here. Best actress went to Diane Kruger for for In the Fade whilst Best Director was awarded to Sofia Coppola for The Beguiled.

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ANAND RAJ ANAND DIL DE DIYA HAI UK CONCERT Pam Suri Productions are delighted to announce Anand Raj Anand’s DIL DE DIYA HAI UK concert on Saturday 25th June 2017 at The Watford Colosseum Rickmansworth Road, Watford WD17 3JN. DIL DE DIYA HAI UK concert marks the start of Pam Suri Productions plans for high profiled UK Bollywood concerts , giving audiences around the UK the opportunity to see some of the most influential artists.

Born in Delhi In 1972, Anand Raj Anand left the family business and travelled to Mumbai to pursue musical career.

In 1995, his first private album "Babu Tiptop" with Time Music became an international hit this was followed by another hit album "Jhanjharia Aise Chhanak Gayi" later used in film Krishn.

In 1996 Anand Raj Anand wrote, composed and sang the songs for the

film Masoom, in the same year the song ‘’Chhota Bachcha Jaan Ke’’ became an instant hit along with Kale Libaas Mein and ‘’Tukur Tukur Dekhte Ho Kya’’. The Hit parade continued with the success of the title track of ‘’Ghoonghat’’. Since then, Anand Raj Anand has been a music director and composer of over 90 films, the lyricist of over 40 soundtracks, and playback singer for over 45 films.

Some of Anand Raj Anand most famous work includes Masoom, Pardesi Babu, Had Kar Di Aapne, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rahta Hai, Kaante, Musafir, Welcome, Shootout at Lokhandwala, Double Dhammal, Singh Saab the Great and Shootout at Wadala. The Kaante

album was a chartbuster of its time, awarded and nominated in most of the prestigious awards.

Official sound track DIL DE DIYA HAI from film Masti is said to be one of the most romantic songs in the Indian film industry.

In 2010 Anand Raj Anand produced the Anthem for Common Wealth Games along with performing in the opening ceremony.

Also featuring in the UK concert is Rekha Sawhney, trained under the powerful guidance of Shaheen Khan in London and Suresh Wadkar in Mumbai, Rekha won UK’s Indian Idol and competed against some of best singers

AsiAn Arts Agency presents A neW cOMMissiOn

in India, as well as being chosen to sing for Andrew Lloyd Webber in his search for Maria from The Sound of Music.

Pam Suri CEO of Pam Suri Productions commented ‘’ we are proud to be hosting Anand Raj Anands UK concert. Anand Raj Anand is undoubtedly one of the most gifted singer, music composer and performer to date.

It is great to bring such musical talent to the UK; we aim to entertain our audience with an evening of Bollywood extravaganza with a mix of music, glamour and dance. Music and entertainment unities people around the

world and we hope this marks the first step in our long-term vision in music events and projects’’ FOR TICKETS PLEASE CALL THE BOX OFFICE ON 01923 571102 OR PAM SURI ON 07950 930797

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UK tOUr — JULy 2017 cutting edge live electronica meets punjabi folk, featuring UK based DJ swami and musicians from punjab Find out more: punjabtronix.co.uk

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PUNJABTRONIX, British-Indian producer DJ Swami and Punjabi musicians, UK Tour PunjabTronix, a new international collaboration between BritishIndianmusic producer DJ Swami and traditional Punjabi folk musicians, will tour the UK this July. As part of Reimagine India 2017, a cultural programme celebrating the 70th anniversary of India's Independence, PunjabTronix is an exciting collaboration between technology and tradition, as live electronica combines with the sounds of the Punjab.

Mixing electronic music with Punjabi dhol drums, vocals and more, the live show features powerful distinct rhythms and traditional melodies alongside live drum machines, synthesiser arpeggios and basslines.

Audiences will hear many famous Punjabi folk songs, including Challa, Heer and Jugni, which have been reimagined for PunjabTronix.

The first took place in India in February 2016 and a final residency will take place in Bristol in July before the artists tour the UK. Tour dates:

13 July 2017 London, Horniman Museum (not full show)

Tell us a little about yourself.

My names DJ Swami and I have a band called Swami.

I’m also a record producer with my brother and we’re known as Simon and Diamond and we created Apache Indian and Stereo Nation, we’re the producers and the songwriters behind that. I also have my own project, Swami, which is experimental with electronic music and Punjabi music. I’ve had some big songs like Desi rocks and sugar lust and I’ve also won the best producer award twice and I’ve produced internationally artists, I’ve worked with Run DMC, produced for Shania twain and more.

How did you first get into music?

I first got into music growing up in Birmingham playing rage and mixing it with Punjabi music. Then I got involved in DJing and when I started out DJing I moved to London, playing in clubs like fabric. I was travelling internationally. I’ve always been involved in playing music as a guitar player, producer and DJ. I got involved in lots of different aspects of music.

Tell us about PunjabTronix I’ve always had an idea of mixing two very different elements, one is very British and is part of my upbringing, which is electronic and dance music, using DJ decks and synthesisers and electronic

16 July 2017 Bristol, Arnolfini 18 July 2017 Norwich Arts Centre 19 July 2017 Cambridge Junction 20 July 2017 London, Rich Mix (full London show) 21 July 2017 Birmingham, Mac 22 July 2017 Nottingham, New Art Exchange Tour information: www.PunjabTronix.co.uk www.asianartsagency.co.uk/ PunjabTronix

We thought we would pick DJ Swami’s brains ourselves to find out what his thoughts on the upcoming tour… sounds. The other side is my roots end my heritage from Punjab, which is traditional folk instruments like the dhol and serengi.

I started working on it as a concept and it got chosen to represent for Reimagine India, which is the 70th anniversary of India’s independence from England. It’s happening this year and it’s a big festival.

Because of that I went to India and stayed in Punjab recording and working with musicians and developing the sound.

We have a tour coming up in July for PunjabTronix. It’s very representative of being British and Punjabi in 2017.

What’s the process behind your musical fusion?

People look at Indian music and see Bollywood, and maybe Punjabi pop and folk. I’m interested in the folk elements and their rawness and heritage and their energy, which works well with the dance and electronic music. Bringing those together is very exciting and different for me. In India there are many people making pop music but the music I’m making is based on musicians improvising live on stage. Audiences will see musicians bouncing off each other and it is different night to night.

What can audiences expect?

The show will cover some traditional songs and stories but in a new context. There will be new interpretations, a new electronic

context, as well as hearing the new progressive desi fusion music that I’m known for. We’ll also have live visuals in time with the music that will following the stories and imagery of the songs. It’s a whole audio and visual experience, it’s not just sitting down at a concert, it’s a cinematic experience as well.

What is the purpose of Reimagine India?

Reimagine India was set up to commission projects which represent the relationship between India and Britain. It reimagines the relationship after 70 years of independence.

PunjabTronix was chosen out of hundreds of project to represent it, alongside 12 others. It’s a progressive, forward thinking project showing British contemporary music mixed with the traditions of India that we grew up with. The way I like to describe PunjabTronix is ‘Technology Meets Tradition,’ where my British experience meets my Punjabi roots.

When and where is

Interview with Shannon K on her New Album, Perpetual

Daughter of renowned Kumar Sanu follows in father’s footsteps She’s fifteen, hugely talented and hungry for success. We sat down with the Indian born, London raised and Los Angeles living teenager to hear about her stellar new album, Perpetual.

For those in the UK still getting to know tell us about yourself My name is Shannon K and I’m a singer I’ve bene singing professionally for 2 years and I did my debut single in London when I was 12. I’ve learned classical from royal music of London. I was born in India and brought up in London and currently I’m in Los Angeles pursuing my career.

What is it like being 15 and having a music career?

It’s actually amazing because all my dreams are coming true and seeing them coming to reality is overwhelming. At the same time it’s a little challenging. There’s so many talented people over here but that’s the point of life, you’ve

got to have challenges.

What can people expect from your album, Perpetual?

I love this album because it’s about mixed emotions and how there never ending. Sometimes you feel like you want people there with you and other times you mourn the people you’ve lost. Emotions are something that will never go away they’ll always be a part of you. There are never-ending emotions, like when you first fell in love or had your first heartbreak or the first time you rebelled in some way.

All these kind of moods and vibes are in this album.

What were the inspirations behind the tracks?

The first song on the album is Pretty Eyes, and that was actually inspired by Justin Bieber.

I really like his eyes. I was sitting on the couch and just watching his videos and his eyes caught my attention and I was like ‘don’t look at me like that!’ then it became a song.

Do you have a song writing process?

I do, but it’s not very ordered because it’s so creative. I don’t consider it as work, it’s a creative process so it just comes to me. Me and my sister Annabel wrote my debut single and she wrote most the songs.

We work together and sit down and come up with melodies as she plays guitar and piano. We sit down together and work on lyrics.

Is there any pressure given that you’re father Kumar Sanu?

There is a lot of pressure because there are people out there who criticise me and compare me to my father, which I sometimes don’t mind but they need to know I’m only 15 and his career is way older than I am. It will obviously take a bit of time to reach up to his achievements. He’s achieved a lot and it would take me years to achieve even one of his achievements. Sometimes I get hurt but there are other people who always encourage me and tell me I’m going to be just like him, I just need to follow in his

footsteps and be down to earth and nice and humble.

Who are some of your musical idols?

The very first musical idol who inspired me was my dad. From him I started to get the knowledge of music and understand what it is and get a lot of skills and tricks from him, so he was the first one. Apart from him, I have four major idols: Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Adele and Ariana Grande.

You’re still taking the first few steps of your career, but do you have any goals in mind?

My goal is just to make good music and showcase my talent and to allow people to hear good music and relate. We’re all united and we can all feel and understand the same things, and we all go through the same situations. I just want to be there for everyone and write good songs with good melodies.

PunjabTronix touring?

The tour is happening 8-23rd July and we’re visiting London, Bristol, Norwich, Birmingham and other venues up north. People can come and see something different and progressive. It wouldn’t only appeal to Indian audiences too because it fuses the sound with electronic music and other western music.

It gives it an openness that makes it accessible for other people.

Any future plans?

PunjabTronix will tour in India and America. I’ve also had a new Swami album coming out entitled Upgrade, and there’ll be a new single released, which follows themes of how I view electronic music and Punjabi music. My music is something I don’t hear other people making so it’s something I really want to share with everybody. www.PunjabTronix.co.uk

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RadioChashma Kala KalaBaar Chashma Baar Tubelight Dekho Baar Baar Dekho

Phir Bhi Tere Sang Tumko YaareChaahunga TereGirlfriend Sang Yaare Rustom Half Rustom

Channa Mereya Gani Gani Mani Ae DilSandhu Hai Mushkil & Akhil Mani Sandhu & Akhil

TheGhoomeya Jag Humma Song JagJaanu Ghoomeya Sultan OK Sultan

Ik Vaari Tu Rendhe Aa Tu Rendhe Tindy Raabta & Rixx and Sudesh Kumari Tindy & Rixx and Sudesh Kumari

Gulabi Retro Mix Woman Woman Noor Shide Boss ft Zack Knight Shide Boss ft Zack Knight

Maana Peat PeKe Booty Hum Yaar Nahin Peat PeJatt Booty A Meri Flying Pyaari Bindu A Flying Jatt

Humsafar Suit Suit Randhawa Guru Badrinath Ki Dulhania Guru Randhawa

Main Tu HaiTera Boyfriend Tu Hai Daro Mohenjo Raabta Mohenjo Daro

Karke dua Dishoom Dishoom Sau Luv Shuv TarahPyar Ke Vyar Sau Tarah Ke

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Do You Love Me Gabbroo Gabbroo Jassie Jay Sean Gill ft. Preet Hundal Jassie Gill ft. Preet Hundal

Makhna Akhil Akhil Teri Kami Gurdas Maan Teri Kami

Bollywood Ashok Prince, Medley Tru-Skool Ashok Time Pt 5 Zack 4 YaPrince, Knight Mind Tru-Skool Time 4 Ya Mind

Oye Oye PBN & Raj Bains PBNAkh & Raj Bains Billi Tasha Tah Billi Akh

GeneralSandhu Manni Manni Sandhu Welcome Zack Knight To The Future Welcome To The Future

Phone Tere Bina Tere Bina Monty Mickey &Singh Waris, Ginni Kapoor Monty & Waris, Ginni Kapoor

Bamb Jatt Skoda Skoda Ranjit Amrit Maan Bawa feat ft. Bhinda Jasmine Aujla Sandlas Ranjit Bawa ft. Bhinda Aujla

Come Ikk Vaari My Hor WaySoch Lae Ikk Vaari Hor Soch Lae Harish Mumzy Verma Stranger Harish Verma

Laembadgini Kulwinder Billa Kulwinder Billa Kulwinder Diljit Dosanjh Billa Kulwinder Billa

Cry For Selfi e Boliyan Me SelfiKnight eSingh Boliyan Malkit Zack ft. Dj Vix Malkit Singh ft. Dj Vix

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Liar Liar One Dance GE2017 One DrakeDance Captain feat SKAWizkid and Kyla Drake feat Wizkid and Kyla

Despacito (Remix) Cold Water Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee Cold Water Major Lazer and Justin Beiber ft Justin Beiber Major Lazer and Justin Beiber

StripGood Too that Down Too Good Drake Liam Payne feat Rihanna feat Quavo Drake feat Rihanna

Shape This is of what Youyou came for This isHarris what you came for Calvin Ed Sheeran feat Rihanna Calvin Harris feat Rihanna

Swalla Heathens Heathens Twenty Jason Derulo, One Pilots Nicki Minaj Twenty One Pilots

Mama Closer Closer Chainsmokers Jonas Blue featfeat William Halsey Singe Chainsmokers feat Halsey

Mask Off Perfect Strangers Perfect Jonas Future BlueStrangers feat JP Cooper Jonas Blue feat JP Cooper

Something Just Like This Tears Tears Clean The Chainsmokers, Bandit feat Louisa Coldplay Johnson Clean Bandit feat Louisa Johnson

Humble This Girl This Girl Kungs Kendrick Vs Lamar Cooking on 3 Burners Kungs Vs Cooking on 3 Burners

CiaoDon't We AdiosTalk Anymore We Don't Anymore Charlie Anne-Marie PuthTalk feat Selena Gomez Charlie Puth feat Selena Gomez

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AWARD-WINNING HISTORICAL BIOPIC ‘THE BLACK PRINCE’ COMES TO 70TH CANNES FILM FESTIVAL WITH TRAILER LAUNCH & EXCLUSIVE SCREENING WITH STARS JASON FLEMYNG & SATINDER SARTAAJ Acclaimed British actor Jason Flemyng and Indian singer-poet Satinder Sartaaj, who makes his acting debut in THE BLACK PRINCE graced the 70th Cannes Film Festival to unveil the film’s first trailer on Saturday 20th May 2017.

THE BLACK PRINCE, a period drama directed

by Hollywood filmmaker Kavi Raz captures the fascinating true stor y of Maharajah Duleep Singh, one of India’s most noble kings, and his relationship with Queen Victoria.

Satinder Sartaaj plays the role of Maharajah Duleep Singh whilst the

cast boasts Flemyng as his foster parent, Amanda Root as Queen Victoria; and Shabana Azmi as the exiled King’s mother.

THE biopic has already won several awards including Best Drama Feature at the LA Film Awards, the Special

Jur y Remi Award at the 50th Annual WorldFest International Film Festival, and the Best Male Debut Award for Satinder Sartaaj at the London Independent Film Festival.

The Black Prince releases internationally in cinemas on 21st July 2017.

KRITI SANON TALKS RAABTA

Raabta has been setting the music charts on fire lately and is one of the most anticipated mystery movies of the year. Set in two different times, this story follows a man and woman as they fall in love in both the past and present, starring Sushant Singh and Kriti Sanon.

We sat down with Kriti to find out about her two intriguing characters, what it was like on set, and how it was working with Sushant.

Tell us about your character, who do you play and what are they like?

I play two characters who belong to two different times. The current character, Saira, is independent, owns a chocolate shop, makes chocolate. She gets nightmares and doesn’t understand why, they’re a big question mark in her life. She’s a little quirky, a little off, end. but with all of You’re playing for laughs as that she’s very Mr Khan so you play quite big enduring and for a studio audience, but you very lovable. certainly don’t with this. It was The great to watch how other people work.

“It was fantastic working with such a young cast. What was really nice was that some of them were big fans of Citizen Khan. A lot of them said he was j u s t like their dad or their uncle.”

Ackley Bridge will hit screens on Channel 4, June 7th at 8pm.

Bye Bye Beard, Hello High School!

Adil Ray has ditched the distinctive beard and hat and green tweed jacket to step into a starkly new different role.

The acclaimed star of Citizen Khan is leaving his comedy chops behind him as he embarks on his first serious acting role in the new drama Ackley Bridge, about two schools- one largely white and the other mostly Asian- which are forced to merge.

Ray will be playing Sadiq Nawaz, a businessman in Yorkshire who is also a school sponsor and Head of the Academy trust. The wealthy school governor is a far cry from the old homely Pakistani codger Ray’s most known for playing. character, On his new the actor said

Citizen Khan star in his first serious dramatic role

Nawaz “does have a tendency to play away – I think he’s a man who’s used to getting what he wants.” One rumoured plotline is that Nawaz gets entangled in a relationship with the head of the school. Ray adds, “It was an opportunity to step out from behind the hat and beard of Mr Khan, and it was a real challenge. I loved it.

“I hadn’t done a straight role before, but then I had never done a sitcom before Citizen K h a n .

I’m quite happy going straight i n at the deep

flashback character is Saibar, a warrior princess that can do anything to protect her land. She’s impulsive and strong headed and knows she’s the most beautiful girl in that territory.

What was it like on set?

I had a great time working on Raabta. We learned horse riding, swimming, scuba diving. For the flashback I had to learn mixed martial arts and hand to hand combat for the chase sequence.

There was a lot of prep that went into refining these two characters.

We show for two months for the current time and we were all in sync and enjoying every scene. Everyone had a say in a lot of things.

As a young actor, what advice would you give to those looking to enter the industry?

You need to enjoy what you’re doing, because it’s something you want to do all your life. Make sure you have great passion for it and a very, very strong belief in yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. When you really

believe in yourself and work hard for your passion, nothing is unachievable. There will be people on your journey who will tr y to put you down or discourage you, but nothing is too big to achieve.

What was it like working with Sushant Singh?

He’s a fantastic actor he’s someone who is like a chameleon because he really gets into the skin of the character he gets into a lot of detail of what his character would be like and he does a lot of homework. He has a ver y strong method of preparation but he also loves improvisations and collaborations and following what the director really wants.

We were really listening to each other and reacting to each other and they were ver y natural and organic.

Whilst shooting we began understanding each other as actors so the chemistr y got better with time.

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Nicki Minaj Secretly Donating to Small Indian Village

Watch Bhaihood come alive in Tubelight track #NaachMeriJaan The second track from the film, Naach Meri Jaan, beautifully captures the loving relationship between the Bisht Brothers - Laxman and Bharat. Watching the bond between the real-life brothers Salman Khan and Sohail Khan will definitely get you to naach (dance) along with them.

Music director Pritam casts his magic again in this highly energetic number shot in Manali. From playing cricket, exercising to doing everything that brothers do, director Kabir Khan has captured the love and affection between the brothers. The actors look absolutely adorable as they dance about in the valley and jump in the air in their knitted sweaters. The cutest scene in the song has got to be

Pop rapper Nicki Minaj surprised fans and critics alike when she posted to Instagram about a small Indian village which she has been secretly donating to.

As it turns out Minaj, 34, has been donating to an unnamed Indian village, via a Pastor, which now boasts a “computer center, tailoring institure, a reading programme and 2 water wells.” In this video she posted along with the message, a man is seen pumping fresh water from a water well whilst surrounded by village people.

The post has since

when Sohail playfully chides Salman Khan and pulls his zip up playing the role of the perfect brother.

The song has been sung by Kamaal Khan, Nakash Aziz, Dev Negi and Tushar Joshi. The lyrics penned by Amitabh Bhattacharya with music composed by Pritam.

And once you watch it, Naach Meri Jaan encourages you to just go out there and a give a tight hug to your sibling.

DR SUBAIG SINGH KANDOLA NEW RELEASE Brit Asia TV World Music Awards -nominated artist Dr Subaig Singh Kandola releases his latest single, ‘’NAIN CHANDRE’’ on 25th May 2017.

Training under vocalist’s teacher, composer and writer Baldev Mastana who has

Stallone Gives Nod to Bollywood Rambo Remake Sylvester Stallone has given a go ahead to the Bollywood remake of Rambo, starring Tiger Shroff.

The new Rambo was unveiled at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, where Director Sir Anand told the press, “"Rambo is a global icon.

He resonates in every part of the world, so it's important to start our campaign at the Mecca of film-making." He added that he was drawn to the remake due to the character of Rambo, a "true blue action hero with a heart.”

Sylvester Stallone had previously posted to Instagram and later tweeted out:

received almost 3 million views, with many praising the Anaconda rapper for her virtuosity and generousness.

Although she did not reveal the name of the village, Minaj said she would release more information on her charity work in the future in case her fans wanted to get involved.

Although it is lesser known, Nicki Minaj (whose real name is Onika Tanya Maraj) is of Indian descent. Her father, Robert Maraj, is of IndoTrinidadian descent whilst her mother Carol Maraj is of Afro-Trinidadian descent. Maraj is a common bastardised form of Maharaj found among Indian descendants living in the Caribbean

“I read recently they are remaking Rambo in India !! ...

Great character…hope they don't wreck it.” “…Good luck Tiger , go fight the good fight, keep punching ,oh , for the Record , I love it when young artists get an opportunity to go for their dreams!”

“I actually get excited in my heart whenever young artists get an rare opportunity to reach for the stars! Eye of the Tiger! I am sure you will put all of your heart and soul into it…Never give up young man!”

Anand stated that Stallone’s endorsement was like “an

endorsement from God" and that there will be none of the singing and dancing that is so characteristic of Bollywood in his remake, adding “that's like blasphemy." He warned fans "It could be controversial like Rambo First Blood was in the 80s. It makes you think, and is about a situation that's prevailing in India and is unique in that way."

Shroff, 27, said the project was "too good to be true" and "In my eyes, Sylvester Stallone will always be Rambo. He's my hero.

I don't want to replace him, but to give a different take on it. They are huge shoes to fill."

’NAIN CHANDRE worked with top singers such as Kuldip Manak, Asha Bhosle, Hans Raj Hans and many more. Baldev Mastana has given the Punjabi industry hits like Nachna Pia

by Kuldip Manak, Ashiqan Di Kahdi Zindgi by Hans Raj Hans and Nachdi Nu

by Balwinder Safri.

“NAIN CHANDRE’’ is another big collaboration with Popsy, the Music Machine, produced by the talented music

entrepreneur Kulbir Kandola and lyrics

by Laddi Gobindpuri is sure to be an international hit under the banner of Mahaveer Records.

This amazing track, again true to Subaig’s love for the rural Punjab life, is surely one to minister to your heart and is available to download on iTunes midnight on Wednesday 24t May 2017 http://abc. digital/nch1

After their successful debut UK tour in 2013, Delhi 2 Dublin are set to play in front of UK audiences again this June.

Delhi 2 Dublin have been mesmerising crowds at top festivals across Canada, the US, Australia, Germany, India and Malaysia, building a loyal worldwide fan base with their incredible electric fusion of Celtic and bhangra roots, mixed with anything from dub reggae to breakbeats to pop or EDM music.

One of Canada’s most buzzed-about bands, Delhi 2 Dublin won Electronic/Dance Artist of the Year 2016 at The 14th Annual Western Canadian Music Awards.

The band’s latest studio release, ‘We’re All Desi’, is their sixth album and their strongest yet, combining the high energy of their signature live shows with a new found studio polish.

Tour dates: 22 June 2017 Hat Factory, Luton 23 June 2017 Norwich Arts Centre 24 June 2017 Arnolfini, Bristol 25 June 2017 Glastonbury Festival (3 shows)

Tubelight’s ‘Radio’ No.1 Trending on Youtube Touted to be the most anticipated song of 2017, Radio saw a Dubai launch by Salman Khan, director Kabir Khan and Sony Music President Shridhar Subramaniam. The first song to be released from the upcoming Salman movie ‘Tubelight’ proved a hit, as within 24 hours the song dominated charts around the world and was No. 1 trending on YouTube.

Director Kabir Khan said, “I knew people in India would love the song but seeing the same response in other countries like Germany, Australia just makes it phenomenal.

Sony Music, global music giant, acquired the music rights of Tubelight, their first acquisition with Salman Khan Films. Music for the film is composed by Pritam, who is known for creating magic with every film he works on.

Tubelight is an entertaining family drama set in 1962 and tells the story of one man’s unshakeable belief in himself and the love for his family.

Produced by Salma Khan and Salman Khan, Tubelight is slated to release in cinemas on 23rd June 2017 for Eid ul-Fitr.

48

JUNE 2017

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Ariana Grande Concert Terror

22 people have been killed after a nail bomb was detonated at an Ariana Grande Concert in Manchester

T

he blast occurred in the foyer of the Manchester Arena as people were exiting, at 22.35pm. It is believed to have been the work of a suicide bomber who died in the blast, although an additional arrest was made outside the arena.

59 people have been injured, many of which are young school aged girls. There are also over 60 children being housed at the Holiday Inn and dozens more

children missing. Six ambulances and a horde of police cars rushed to the area.

Hospitals are still receiving casualties.

The blast was heard up to a mile away and is currently being classed as a terrorist attack. Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said it was "the most horrific incident" Greater Manchester had ever faced and that they are trying to determine whether the lone bomber "was acting alone or as part of a network.”

A second bomb was found in the arena and was detonated in a controlled explosion by the bomb squad. Police are urging anyone with footage to upload it to ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk.

Prime Minister Theresa May has chaired a Cobra committee meeting and is yet to make a Downing Street statement.

Ariana Grande, who was leaving the stage at the time of the blast, has

tweeted: "broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words" Social media has been inundated with pleas for help from parents seeking their missing children using the #MissinginManchester hashtag, and concert goers needing a place to stay, ride home, or phone call to call their loved ones. Facebook has activated a Safety Check for people’s profiles so they can show they are ok.

Who Was Salman Ramadan Abedi - the Manchester Bomber?

22-year-old Salman Ramadan Abedi was named by police as the terrorist behind the Manchester Arena bombing, where a nail bomb was used to kill 22 and injure 59 people after a Ariana Grande concert.

Abedi’s 23-year-old brother was arrested in connection with the bombing, as well as three other men.

Abedi, who was born in London but grew up in Manchester, was born to Libyan parents who had escaped Colonel Gaddafi. Abedi had attended University to study Business but dropped out after two years, after which he began work in a bakery.

It is believed that he had left the UK in recent years but returned in the last few weeks at most.

A former classmate of Abedi told the BBC, “What I realised was he had a short temper but apart from that was a very sound lad.” He added that “he did hang around with the wrong crowd and was very, very gullible.”

"You could tell him anything and he would pretty much fall for it.”

Another classmate revealed that in his later youth, Abedi became "more and more religious" and that he eventually cut ties with classmates.

Amber Rudd stated that Abedi was known to security services and

What else do we know?

The Investigation According to Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Abedi was arrested for minor offences back in 2012, but remained unknown to the deradicalisation organisation Prevent.

Prevent aims to find vulnerable young people susceptible to extremism and prevent them being radicalised. Hopkins said: "Abedi was not known to the Prevent programme, was not on any sort of Prevent agenda.”

Fourteen people have since been arrested, three let go, as part of an investigation to find out whether Abedi was working with a network or alone. One of the brothers of those arrested said he

believes Abedi had to be working with others. He said “[Abedi] does not have it in him, he is not smart enough.”

It is thought Abedi, who frequently visited Libya, was in contact with who helped him build his bomb in under four days. A retired European intelligence officer said, “When Abedi was in the UK, the contacts happened sometimes by phone. If the content of the call was sensitive, he used phones that were disposable, or dispatches were sent from Libya by his contacts to his ‘friend’ - living in Germany or Belgium - who then sent it to Abedi in the UK.” The bombing caused Prime Minister to bump up the UK threat level

to critical, meaning an attack was imminently expected, but this was then downgraded to severe.

Unfortunately this was not enough to prevent the London Bridge Killings.

LONDON BRIDGE – WHO WERE THEY? Days after the threat level was brought back down to severe came the London Bridge attacks, where seven people were killed.

Khuram Butt, Television Star - one is Khuram Butt, 27, the killer who wore an Arsenal t-shirt as he committed horrific violence atop the bridge. Butt was known to both police and MI5 after he attempted to visit Syria, and had links to the 7/7 bomber. It is alleged that he tried to to

fight Jihad in Syria but was talked out of it by his family.

Butt even featured on the Channel 4 documentary The Jihadis Next Door, where he was filmed praying to an ISIS flag.

Despite all this, he was deemed not dangerous and four months later, secured a job working at Westminster station where he had access to train tunnels beneath Parliament.

His friends tried to tip off MI5 after Butt became obsessed with watching hate preachers on Youtube.

He would also offer sweets to local children to get them to listen to him preach. Butt was even banned from his local mosque for being ‘unIslamic.’

as thing currently appear, he was used as a mule for a larger terrorist network- possibly related to ISIS who claimed responsibility for the Manchester bombing- to carry out the attack.

A member of the Muslim community has revealed that a member of the public called and informed the Police Anti-terrorism hotline of Abedi’s extremist views several years ago. The anonymous tipster also said that two of Abedi’s college mates whilst at Salford University had also made calls to the police over fears he was “he was supporting terrorism.”

Rachid Redouane, Killer Chef - the second killer was Rachid Redouane, 30, a Moroccan-Libyan pastry chef who had recently moved to the UK from Dublin, where he lived for five years, and has an 18-month-old daughter.

He was unknown to authorities.

Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach, said: “There are a small number of people in Ireland who are being monitored and observed in respect of radicalisation and matters relevant to that.

In this case, these facts are being checked, but my understanding is that this individual was not a member of that small group.”

Though small, Dublin does have an apparent extremist presence.

Shaykh Dr Umar alQadri, a Muslim imam, said:

“Two years ago, I spoke at an antiradicalisation, antiextremist conference in the EU headquarters in Brussels. I was quite explicit about there being a problem with Ireland, that extremists were using the country as a base to launch attacks elsewhere.”

Youssef Zaghba, Italian Immigrant - the third man was the last to be identified. Zaghba, 22, was arrested last for trying to enter Syria but was allowed into the UK. ISIS videos were found on his phone when it was confiscated by Italian police in March 2017. Italian authorities alerted British officials despite all this, the Moroccan-Italian who lives in Bologna was also not known to police or MI5 and was not a person of interest.

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THE ASIAN TODAY Religion can help mental health www.mitamistry.co.uk By: Mita Mistry

@mitamistry It's meant to be avoided at dinner parties, but what if I told you religion has the power to help mental health by overcoming fears, anxiety or depression? According to research by Theos, the UK’s leading religion and society think tank, faith can have a positive effect on mental health. The research evaluates evidence from 139 studies conducted over 30 years covering the relationship between religion and wellbeing.

So how can religion help?

Hope & Optimism People who remain optimistic about their recovery from a major disease are more likely to stick to medical treatment plans, resulting in better recovery rates.

Feeling Connected & Belonging Our need for belonging to a group and feeling connected is a basic human characteristic.

Religion encourages social activities and lets us connect with something bigger while depersonalising challenges.

Feeling Loved can Boost Selfesteem.

Religion can boost self-worth and when we feel valued, our self-esteem goes up along with our self-worth which is a key ingredient to being able to love yourself.

Meaning & Purpose.

Having a deeper meaning or purpose removes anxiety associated with the fear of survival. Having trust in the journey of life helps many overcome negative thoughts that lead to depressive states. One thing people most is dying, which religion can provide comfort for.

The underlying message here is that religion can help to calm the inner critic, which is often the root of depression.

Classic symptoms include harsh judgments of oneself, feeling unsuccessful, unattractive, poor and not good enough. Religion reminds us we are unique, loved, appreciated and have a purpose.

However, religion isn’t for everyone and in severe mental health cases, qualified help is crucial and should be left to professionals. Historically, religion has led to many conflicts yet also enabled large-scale cooperation. Now research shows it can have a wider beneficial role for mental health and wellbeing when used wisely. But the greatest power that you have is whether you turn to counseling, medication, support groups or God for help, its having faith, and hope in yourself that really matters.

HEALTH

Written by: Neelam Heera @cystersbham Sadly, it is becoming more and more common for women to diagonised with a form of cancer. Luckly, more women are becoming aware of the symptoms and battling against it. Cysters have been working closely with Womb Cancer Support UK and raising vitial awareness of Womb Cancer.

Womb Cancer is the most common gynae cancer, and according to Cancer Research UK 9,324 women were diagonised with womb cancer in 2014 alone. 2,166 of these died as result, within the same year.

Most cases occur in women over 50, however more and more women are being diagnosed at a younger age, some as young as 20. There is very little awareness of this Cancer.

Despite it being the most common gynae cancer and the 4th most common cancer in women, (breast, bowl and lungs being the top 3), there is little research into this type of cancer, so we are not able to accurately confirm why more and more younger women are being effected. Obesity is also a factor within this diagnosis, with 41% of women with

Cysters Birmingham Womb Cancer struggling with obesity. But this still doesn’t explain the other 59%. Womb Cancer is also known as uterine cancer and endometrial cancer.

Symptoms Abnormal vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of womb cancer. Especially if you have been through menopause.

If you have not yet been through the menopause, unusual bleeding may include bleeding between your periods. You should see your GP as soon as possible if you experience any unusual vaginal bleeding.

While it's unlikely to be caused by womb cancer, it's best to be sure.

The bleeding maybe light bleeding accompanied by a watery discharge, which may get heavier over time.

In women who haven't been through the menopause, unusual vaginal bleeding may consist of: - Heavy Periods - Bleeding in between periods Less common symptoms include pain in the lower abdomen (tummy) and pain during sex.

If the womb cancer reaches

a more advanced stage, it may cause additional symptoms. These include: • pain in the back, legs, or pelvis • loss of appetite • tiredness • nausea The bleeding may be the result of several other health conditions, such as: •Endometriosis – where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb is found on the outside of the womb • Fibroids– non-cancerous growths that can develop inside the uterus • A Polyps in the womb lining Other types of gynaecological cancer can also cause unusual vaginal bleeding.

Kaz Molloy from Womb Cancer Support UK offered this this piece of advice for those battling against this condition, "Being diagnosed with cancer changes your life in so many ways. You can never prepare yourself for a cancer diagnosis but how you respond to it will make all the difference. If you can use the experience for good then do so. Seek out those people who can help you get through this.

It is a journey that you do not have to go on alone."

You can find out more about her journey here http:// wombcancersupportuk.

Birmingham Hospital Bed Occupancy Soars Bed Occupancy reach highest levels since records began The first quarter of the year saw Birmingham hospital beds at their busiest. Overnight bed occupancy peaked at a staggering 94.1% in Sandwell and West Birmingham hospitals in between January and March, a huge increase from 87.4% from the same quarter in 2016.

It is also the Trust’s highest rate recorded since records began in 2010.

In the first quarter for 2017, England overnight occupancy peaked at 89%, the same percentage as back in 2016. There are currently 500 less available

HEALTH

beds compared to last year, a fall from 131,561 to 131,060.

According to health experts, occupancy levels should ideally be lower than 85%. Anything higher means increased risks of bed shortages, bed crises and most worryingly, hospital acquired infections such as MRSA. The Emergency Medicine Journal published a study which found that reducing bed occupancy to 90% or lower led to lower death rates and improved waiting times at A&E.

weebly.com/ If you find yourself in need of support and guidance through this, feel free to join our Private Facebook group.

Facebook: Cysters – Support and Awareness Group (ask to join our private Cysters Chat Group!) https://www.facebook.com/ groups/621272884742968/ Twitter: @cystersbham LinkedIn: Cysters – Support and Awareness Group Website: www.cysters.co.uk Or have your say during our Twitter chat, every Tuesday from 7 – 8pm #CystersChat.

And don’t forget, you are beautiful no matter what illness you are suffering.

Love your Cyster, Neelam x

Post-Brexit Influx to cost NHS £1bn

Foreigners set to strain the NHS post-Brexit for medical treatment According to the Nuffield Trust, a health think tank, the NHS could face a startling £1bn Brexit bill thanks to foreign Britons living abroad.

Figures show that the NHS will have to fork out £1bn to treat the tens of thousands of British pensioners who will pop back to the UK for treatment before jetting back off to Spain, France, or other countries.

Right now, the Department of Health spends £500m on a scheme that allows for up to 190,000 pensioners to access free or reduced-cost healthcare whilst still in EU countries.

But after Brexit, this scheme will likely come to an end meaning these pensioners will begin returning to the UK in droves for treatment.

Researcher Mark Dayan adds that there will be a pressing “need for additional staff and hospital beds…

You can’t just turn on a tap and produce these things. They’re limited resources and are already overstretched

in the NHS.” “The impact of staffing shortages, which we already have and could worsen after Brexit if handled badly, are that some places won’t have enough staff to operate safely, or agency staff will have to be brought in at high rate, which will make the NHS’s financial position even worse.”

To properly accommodate all those who

would travel from abroad for medication, the UK would need an extra two complete hospitals. However this won’t be necessary if whoever wins the General Election is able to negotiate a law that allows

foreigners to still be treated abroad.

“The impact of staffing shortages, which we already have and could worsen after Brexit if handled badly.."

Charity Calls for Support TO ADVERTISE CALL NOW ON 0121 667 8719

NEWS

C

harity calling for support and action to increase Fun, Adventures and Friendships to disabled children and young people.

A vision and solutions were shared at the Midlands launch of Include Me TOO’s new project Callum’s Promise which aims to increase Fun, Adventures and Friendships to disabled children and young people. The event was sponsored and supported by Irwin Mitchell in Birmingham and was attended by several

organisations who are getting behind the project and charity’s supporters.

Well Child’s Awards recipient Myles Sketchley and young Ambassador for Strongbones charity attended with his family.

With the support of Strongbones already one of Callum’s Promise’s ‘pinky promise’ has been met by raising funds to support

Surfability to build another inclusive surfing board for disabled children and young people with complex needs.

The inclusive surfing board is expected to be ready in time for the Summer and all parties involved are excited to the opportunity this will bring to so many disabled children and young people to experience surfing and catch ‘their wave’.

Through ‘Callum Promise’ project Include Me TOO aims to support disabled

children and their families with FAB therapy play boxes for those who have no access to specialist sensory toys as well as supporting to create lasting treasured memories through new experiences and adventures whilst still continuing to campaign for the change needed.

Callum’s Promise encourages collaboration and pooling in resources and has

several partners supporting each of the various elements to make a real difference supporting the following promises: Surfability provides disability friendly and adapted surfing for disabled children and young people in Swansea. Callum’s Promise is to raise funds for a second disability friendly adapted surfing board has been successful through the kind support of charity Strongbones, furthermore Callum’s Promise aims to increase access to disabled children and young people to surfing with Surfability.

‘The Department of Ability’ are proud and honoured to have linked up with so many like-minded people for this incredible charity. Include Me TOO essentially is what Dept of Ability are about to it's very core, the hope of a full inclusive society for all children and young people, be it across the media, or to daily practicalities like accessibility, experiences, or attitudes.’ Daniel White (Founder and CEO Dept of Ability) Department of Ability is a vision of Daniel White who is producing the first ever superhero comic with Superheroes disabled children and young

JUNE 2017

people can relate to whilst increasing acceptance in general society. Callum’s Promise is to increase the access to Department of Ability characters and stories to all children and young people increasing friendships and disability acceptance.

Sals Shoes finds new feet for pre loved children shoes globally. Callum’s Promise has joined Sals Shoes as their disability partner to increase footwear to disabled children globally. Furthermore the charity is appealing for preloved piedro boots and similar specialist footwear

live s outside of London.

‘The reality is disabled children and young people have less opportunities to fun experiences, limited chances of making friends and meeting new people, and have limited opportunities to have the support they need to have their adventures.

Friendships are an important part of most of our lives and disabled children and young people want to have choices of things to do, make friends and have places to go as part of their enjoyment and wellbeing.

They want a chance to have

to support disabled children and young people’s feet in the UK. Parallel London delivered the largest disability inclusive family friendly public event in London this September. Callum’s Promise is to support disabled children, young people and their families involvement and attendance to future Parallel London events who

the same opportunities of fun and adventures as their nondisabled peers. Their families also want to have shared experiences of days out and socialising with others without having to experience the barriers to access, inclusion and negative attitudes and assumptions regarding disabilities We are looking forward to working with our partners

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and anyone who wishes to join and support us increasing opportunities for fun, friendships and adventures to disabled children and young people ensuring they too can leave a mark on this world’.

Parmi Dheensa (Include Me TOO Founder and Executive) To get in touch and support a promise and find out how you can get involved you can contact the charity via email im2@includemetoo. org.uk visit the website www. includemetoo.org or contact member of the team on 01902 399888 or 01902 711604

TV in Bedroom Linked to Obesity "While our screens have become flatter, our children have become fatter."

Does your child have a TV in their bedroom? If so, they might be at a higher risk of developing obesity as well as other disorders.

The International Journal of Obesity published a story revealing how children with TV’s in their bedrooms are more likely to be overweight than those without.

The study was conducted by University College London scientists, who analysed data from over 12,000 UK children.

It found that half of the children had TVs in their rooms at age seven.

By age eleven, the girls were 30% more likely to be overweight after investigating their body mass indexes. For boys,

they were a shocking 20% more likely.

Researcher Dr Anja Heilmann, said: "Our study shows there is clear link between having a TV in the bedroom as a young child and being overweight a few years later."

Prof Nick Finer, a consultant endocrinologist and bariatric physician at University College London, said although the study couldn't prove a direct link, that “it is hard not to think that parents concerned about their child's risk of becoming overweight might appropriately consider not putting a TV in their young children's bedrooms."

The study noted, "While our screens have become

flatter, our children have become fatter."

Prof Russell Viner, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "With a third of 11-yearold children in England overweight and almost one in five obese, urgently tackling the childhood obesity epidemic is absolutely vital.

"We know that high levels of screen time expose children to increased risks of being overweight on a number of fronts, creating a damaging combination of a more sedentary lifestyle, increased exposure to junk food advertising, disruption to sleep and poorer ability to regulate eating habits when watching TV."

West Midlanders Have Lower Cancer Rates Cancer on the up but deaths are down

According to new data revealed by the Office for National Statistics, you are less likely to be diagnosed with cancer if you live in the West Midlands.

It follows statistics that

cancer diagnoses in the West Midlands are one of the lowest of England. In 2015, the West Midlands had the second lowest cancer rate for women and third lowest for men. There were 534 cases

of cancer per 100,000 women and 652 cases per 100,000 men.

As such, women are 7.1% less likely to develop cancer, with men 2.4% less likely.

For women in the West Midlands, they are most prone to being diagnosed with breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer, whilst men are more likely to suffer prostate cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer.

Nationwide, cancer rates are worryingly on the up but thankfully, thanks to advances in medicine and technology, it is now faster to detect and hence treat, reducing the number of deaths.

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FASHION & BEAUTY

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

SARA K Boutique Exclusively for The Asian Today www.sarakboutique.com Twitter @sarakboutique Facebook /sarakboutique Instagram /sarak_boutique Be inspired this spring with Sania Maskatiya’s Cruise collection If you're anything like me you flick through magazines and searching on websites or Instagram for inspiration and ideas to make your next masterpiece but sadly, you’re disappointment and compromise with the high street. Although there’s always that one time we are unexpectedly stopped in our search, you're eyeing are dazzled, your heart with delight as we feed our eyes with stunning outfits you can imagine wearing every day, even dress it down for work. Well, that’s exactly what Sania Maskatiya's new collection; Cruise did for me at the recent PDFC Sunsilk Fashion Week and I had to share with you all to show you there is hope for us on the runway.

I’ve picked my three favourite ensembles, which encapsulate the modern fusion fashion at its finest.

The digital floral prints combined with trendy western cuts and stunning long jackets layered on plain blouses make it a must for fashion lovers in Britain. The designer’s signature touch of perfection was exquisitely demonstrated with the modern digital floral print.

Tailoring Tips: Finding Fabric #SS17 Do what I do use runway collections to help you visualise your next outfit, see it as a guideline and even take notes of trends e.g. cuts and fabrics to create your own. For instance, I would have never thought a combination of florals, colours and high-waisted palazzo trousers would work with long jackets yet it's a dazzling everyday outfit

to take you from day to evening. I wouldn't have ever tried it but now from seeing it alive on the runway, I will.

You may not go that a mesh of prints, it just depends on your taste but runway fashion helps to create my own vision.

The key is picking the elements of the collection you like and focus on two pieces, keep the kameez/ blouse plain. Then spend time searching for floral fabrics, satin and silk would give you a lovely sheen. I would highly recommend visiting Italian or British fabric shops in the UK but you won’t find it over night, you have to be patient and invest time in going back and finding the fabric you want.

Next month I will be sharing the best fabric shops to bring your fashion vision to life.

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FASHION & BEAUTY

ION & BEAUTY Like many girls, I enjoy make up and skincare as a way to look nice, present the best side of myself, boost my confidence and take nice pictures for Instagram.

However it cannot be ignored that many young girls, who are getting smartphones and tablets at ever earlier ages and hence access to youtubers, beauty gurus, make up blogs and Instagram models, are being flooded with an unnatural

filter, but it’s likely your eyes have glossed over a whole heap of online adjusting and tweaking that was done in a mobile app. Apps like Perfect 365 allow users to change not just lightness and brightness, but eye size, skin colour, lip size, skin smoothness, nose shape and more.

If ramped up to 11, it can be easy to spot, however many users will only make slight adjustments which allow their faces to look

imperfections before even taking a picture, meaning pictures can be uploaded straight away with no tweaking whilst still looking flawless.

YouTube Filters Perhaps the most shocking and IMPORTANT to be aware of is the secret Youtube filter. One youtube make up vlogger, Wayne Goss, blew this trick into the spotlight when he caught a makeup technician using

Why You Look Just Fine

Many gurus use it whilst claiming their beautiful skin is thanks to an amazing product, their genius skincare routine, their dexterous make up application, and they tell their viewers that they can get the same results.

Meanwhile the extremely powerful real time video manipulation’s results are of course impossible to recreate in real life.

Plastic Surgery Even in the West, plastic surgery is still taboo, however whether you’re pro-plastic-surgery

…and that beautiful girl that inspires you might not

and disingenuous version of beauty, and are being lied to about what is achievable through make up.

There are a number of secret cheats which online beauties use to mask flaws and make their tips seem more effective than they really are. The aim of every guru has always been help teach the millions of young, poor, broke girls sitting at home how to juggle the many facets of makeup. However, what does it mean when these same instructors are employing covert techniques and online trickery to make themselves seem more flawless than they are?

Mobile Apps You might be able to tell when someone’s applied an Instagram

flawless whilst still natural.

Camera Functions Some cameras, though few not many, come with a so called ‘Beauty’ function that blurs

digital trickery on a model to create a flawless face.

For a split second the filter snapped off and Goss caught shadows, freckles, andgasp- normal human skin.

The filter, which he termed ‘living Photoshop,’ increases brightness, creates glowing, smooth, even toned skin and blurs imperfectionsin real time.

BEFORE FILTER

or anti-plastic-surgery, beauty gurus should not be lying about their perfected features to their trusting viewers. Gurus, bloggers, instagrammers, have had all types of surgeries, whether they be small eyelid surgeries, subtle nose jobs, Botox or even jaw shaving.

So what should I do?

Take their looks with a pinch of salt. Employ make up techniques that work for you. Buy skincare products that work well for you. You don’t need realtime beauty filter function surgery, your face is your face, so you’re already the most perfect version of yourself!

Beauty Delivered Right to your Door A new app has launched in Birmingham that allows professional hair styling to be delivered straight to your door.

Blow LTD, a hair and make-up service, a llows users to order professional services on demand and have it come straight to their door. The treatment includes everything from blow dries to manicures to make up, and can be ordered to homes, offices, hotels or more.

Prices start from £30 and appointments can be ordered up until 7pm. Better yet, all of the Blow Ltd workers are professionals and are fully tested, vested and CRB and insurance checked.

The CEO at Blow LTD, Brian Hickley, said: “I am delighted to join the team at Blow LTD at such an exciting time in our evolution. Our refusal to compromise on customer delight and determination to personalise the salon experience have helped to establish Blow LTD as the UK market leader in beauty on demand.

“Having refined the operational model in London, it is now time to kick off our ambitious expansion plans which will allow us to bring expert beauty services to the homes of time poor women in Manchester, Birmingham and in the near future, international cities.”

AFTER FILTER what he called "Living Youtuber Wayne Gross blew osing how Youtube exp by air Photoshop" into the and often go undeclared filters enhance ones features expectations for many e fals - creating distorted and perception of beauty. viewers concerning their own

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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.

Why we need Protein in our diet.

Every cell in the human body contains proteins. Proteins consist of a structure that is made up of amino acids and are the building blocks of life.

The purpose and function of proteins in your diet is to assist the human body in the process of repairing cells, to create new cells, maintain tissues, and synthesize new proteins which are important for the body to perform basic bodily functions - essential for growth and development and human function.

Muscle tissue contains myosin, actin, myoglobin, and a number of other proteins. Hair nails and the skin’s outer layers are made of the protein Keratin. Bones are also made up of protein. The outer layer of the bone structure is hardened with minerals such as calcium, and the inner structure is made up of bone marrow and this all contains protein. Red blood cells contain haemoglobin.

Haemoglobin is a protein compound which transfers oxygen throughout the body.

The clear fluid in blood is called Plasma and this also contains protein and fat. These particles are known as lipoproteins.

Lipoproteins carry cholesterol around and out of the body.

Human cell creation, hair, nails, blood, muscle cells, chromosomes, neurotransmitters and many other parts within the human body require or are made up of protein. Proteins are present in the outer and inner membranes of every living cell.

Therefore, protein makes up an essential part of the human body and its function.

Protein Food Sources Protein is an important nutrient that can be found in animal products and other sources such as; vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Approximately half the protein we consume in our diets goes into creating enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that have a specific role such as; digestion of food and molecule assembly and

division to make new cells and chemical substances within the body. Enzymes carry out these functions by the utilisation of certain vitamins and minerals.

The human body breaks proteins into parts called amino acids.

This process is carried out by digestion. The body requires a number of amino acids in a large amount – this is essential to maintain good health. Amino acids are found in animal sources such as milk, meats, fish, and eggs. You do not need to consume animal products to get protein in your diet. Protein can also be found in vegetables, plant sources , nuts and grains such as; soy, legumes, lentils, beans and some grains (such as wheat germ and quinoa).

Studies show that consuming protein can also help with weight loss. It boosts your metabolic rate and can reduce your appetite.

Protein is much more satiating than both fat and carbs.

How much protein do you need in your diet?

The amount of protein each individual requires depends on your overall calorie needs.

The daily recommended intake of protein for healthy adults is 10% to 35% of your total calorie needs. Children and teens may need different amounts of protein depending on their age.

The requirement of Proteins is significantly increased in people who are physically active, as well as in elderly individuals and those recovering from injuries.

To conclude; the human body breaks proteins into parts called amino acids. Some of these amino acids can be produced by the human body, while we must get others - “essential” amino acids - from our dietary sources.

Protein is vital for the human body, its function and for health.

Dal Dhaliwal – Founder Of Body Perfect Personal Training Studio www.bodyperfectpt.com Twitter @daldhaliwalPT | Facebook: Dal Dhaliwal

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.

WEBSITE: WWW.BODYPERFECTPT.COM TWITTER: DALDHALIWALPT FACEBOOK: /DAL DHALIWAL

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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JUNE 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 The Colmore Food Festival is back again at the end of the month and its bigger and better than ever!

The event kicks off on Friday 30th June with our very own superchef, the Michelin starred Glynn Purnell, making a welcome return to the city’s biggest free-entry food and drink festival.

The Saturday Morning Kitchen regular who describes Birmingham as ‘the centre of the universe’, will help officially launch Colmore Food Festival 2017 before hosting cookery demonstrations on the Kitchen Stage.

The Festival will take place between Friday, June 30th and Saturday, July 1st from 11am7pm.

The annual celebration of Colmore Business District restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels, is now in its seventh year, and each year attracts more than 30,000 visitors.

Each of the taster dishes costs no more than £4, which means visitors can try the different menu options on offer at the 35 stalls without breaking the bank.

Yes you can travel the culinary world all over one weekend!

A lot of our favourites will be hosting a stand: you get to try 10 different wines from Hotel du Vin, and mini plates from Gusto, Chung Ying Central, Asha’s, Zen Metro and many more.

There are so many independents taking part this year such, which is great to see and this is a chance for all

restaurants large and small to stand side by side. Expect great food and entertainment, cooking demos and hopefully sunshine! www.colmorefoodfestival.com That’s not the only foodie treat in town. Foodies Festival will be heading to Cannon Hill Park on Friday 23rd , Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th June 2017. This year, the visual and culinary feast will once again welcome food stalls serving a whole variety of tasty treats.

There will be a plethora of things to do….Feast in the Street Food Avenue; learn to bake in the Cake and Bake Theatre; enjoy afternoon tea in the Vintage Tea Tent; taste wine, champagne and craft beer in the Drinks Theatre; enjoy free yoga classes with yogahaven, buy from local producers in the Artisan Market; enjoy the Childrens Cookery Theatre; live music on the Unsigned Music Awards Stage; enter the Chilli Eating Competition; refreshing cocktails from the Bar Bus and Pimms Teapot!

Dhruv Baker from Masterchef will be there and the winner of the Great British Bake Off 2016, Candice Brown.

You’ll also get to see Birmingham chefs including Brad Carter from Carters of Moseley, Nathan Eades from Simpsons and the lovely James Wong from Chung Ying Garden. So much foodie fun, you’ll be exhausted by the end of the weekend! http://foodiesfestival.com/ birmingham

FOOD & TRAVEL

FOOD & T

HEALTHY RAMADAN TIPS Celebrating Ramadan, whilst rewarding, is no easy feat. It can be hard staying healthy and energised and ensuring

your water level stays up to prevent both physical and mental illness, such as muscle pain and depression.

Sehri Sehri should include a high amount of protein and carbohydrates in order to maximise the amount of energy available for the rest of the day before Iftari. Milk and yoghurt is a great bet for nutrients and healthy gut flora, whilst rice, bread and meat will provide protein and carbohydrates whilst also being filling and tasty.

Iftari Fried food is a popular choice for breaking the fast come evening as it is filling and delicious, such as samosas, bolani, nombu kanji (rice and dhal porridge), though many

also opt for dates which rapidly release energy and chicken cutlets. Another great source of protein can come in the form of eggs, lentils and whole grain foods.

Roza After the fast ends, try and intake as much as eight glasses of water.

Many choose ice cold water as it is more soothing for the throat and stomach.

There are various apps to keep track of the amount of water ingested in order to help regulate water intake.

Here we provide you with a number of tips to stay safe and healthy during this year’s Ramadan

30th June & 1st July, Victoria Square, Birmingham

Free entry · 11am to 7pm Dishes just £4 Live music, entertainment, cooking and cocktail demonstrations Get more food news on twitter @deliciouspr and on the web : www.msdeliciouspr.blogspot.com

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY TO DELICIOUS PR

Delicious PR are thrilled to announce that we are celebrating 10 years in business this summer.

Specialising in the city’s food drink and hospitality sector, the agency will be hosting a series of fun foodie events to mark their Delicious Decade.

MD Anita Champaneri said, “having founded the company after a career as a showbiz producer with ITV and BBC in London, I am fiercely proud that the company is really plugged into the dynamics of my adopted city. It’s been an adventure, and we want to say a big thank you to all our clients, colleagues and hospitality comrades who has been on this fantastic journey with us.”

As well as driving the Midlands Food Drink & Hospitality Awards, Anita is Ambassador for Love Brum, The Birmingham Awards, The Big Art Project, The Birmingham Youth Sports Academy and the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce.

To boot, the agency has been nominated for a Best In Media Award at next month’s British Indian Awards.

The agency will be holding three events this summer to mark our Delicious Decade : The Phoenix Lunch at Siamais, a celebration party at Edgbaston Boutique Hotel and Cocktail Bar and Afternoon Tea at Hotel du Vin.

CHECK OUT OUR 'SO...WHAT'S HAPPENING' VIDEO ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL

TRAVEL

BA Blow Out Leaves 300,000 Stranded

Execs insist jobs cuts and outsourcing 700 to India prior not to blame British Airways has come under fire after 300,000 passengers at Heathrow and Gatwick were left stranded.

Flights leaving the UK were grounded for a total of three days after a severe and ‘catastrophic’ power surge which overwhelmed and hence disabled both the operating system and emergency back-up.

However Alex Cruz, the CEO of British Airways, has insisted that the IT meltdown is not due to job cuts and outsourcing. Back in 2016, British Airways decided to outsource a staggering 700 IT jobs to India. Despite this, the airline said the relocation has no bearing on the unprecedented calamity.

Cruz said, “They have all been local issues

JUNE 2017

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FOOD & TRAVEL

around a local data centre.

We have no evidence whatsoever that there was a cyber-attack of any sort, and there has been no compromise of any passenger data. We will carry out an exhaustive investigation into what caused this incident and ensure it never happens again.”

A BA spokesperson explained: “It was a power supply issue at one of our UK data centres. An exceptional power surge caused physical damage to our infrastructure and many of our operational IT systems failed.

We’re undertaking an investigation to find out the exact circumstances.”

Meanwhile, Mick Rix, from the GMB union, said

Prime Minister Theresa May was first alerted of the job cuts back when she was still Home Secretary.

However this information was never acted on despite “multiple warnings” about security risks. Rix said, “This could have been avoided. BA made hundreds of IT staff redundant in 2016 and outsourced the work to India.”

PR expert Paul Charles, who worked as a Virgin Atlantic communications director, called the incident “serious” and said “Rebuilding [the brand] will come with some very good flight offers and things like upgrades for frequent fliers. Long-term, the brand damage will be high – they have to prove they have robust policies in place.”

Introducing Britain’s Most Eco-Friendly Holiday Spot

Eigg boasts stunning natural landscapes and almost 100% self-generated electricity

L

ike many others, you might be looking for a cheap and local holiday within the UK that’s easy to get to go but offers the same scenic and picturesque offers of Switzerland, Iceland and Prague.

If you want to step it up a notch, you might even be looking for an eco-friendly holiday. If so, look no norther than the Scottish isle of Eigg.

Britain’s most friendly island is one of the most idyllic and beautiful places in Europe, and boasts being one of the world’s most sustainable too.

Eigg features everything from crystal blue waters to a quartz beach to rolling green plains to mountains. You can enjoy stunning views of other nearby islands, such as Laig Bay, Singing Sands, and the one-and-a-half-mile crescent

of the Cleadale cliffs. Eig is a small island, a mere 12 miles in area with a population of a very modest 100. However it also has its own brewery, two museums, a music festival.

The local island people of Eigg, known as Eiggers, recently celebrated nine years of almost 100% self-produced electricity.

They use the first grid in the world to utilise both wind, solar and hydro techniques to power the island. In addition, all of the pylons run underground so as not to disturb the natural beauty of the island.

So how do we get there? Eigg is accessible by rail from London to Fort William. From Fort William, you can get to Eigg via ScotRail (£7 single adult).

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"The local island people of Eigg, known as Eiggers, recently celebrated nine years of almost 100% selfproduced electricity.

They use the first grid in the world to utilise both wind, solar and hydro techniques to power the island. In addition, all of the pylons run underground so as not to disturb the natural beauty of the island."

@benedictbacayon Twitter

New Direct Train From London to Amsterdam!

The Eurostar has recently started offering a direct line from London to Amsterdam which will be available before the end of 2017, right in time for the Christmas markets.

The Dutch capital is one of the most popular European destinations, especially amongst students and hen dos and stag dos, with up to three millions Brits travelling to the capital each year.

Eurostar will be offering two trains a day, with each journey taking just under four hours. Prices are yet to be revealed.

It’s a whole heap more convenient than flying out to Holland which can often

get bogged down with baggage, check in, wait times and delays. Right now, those seeking to travel to Amsterdam need to change over at Brussels first, and it costs £51.50 for a one-way ticket and measures out to just over six hours.

The new trains feature 20% more capacity than the current Eurostar train and also boast Wi-Fi, onboard entertainment and more.

In addition to Amsterdam, Eurostar is working on the final stages of providing UK direct trains to Rotterdam too. Nicolas Petrovic, Eurostar’s chief executive, said, ‘With demand for high-speed rail over plane on

the increase we are gearing up to expand our reach to Amsterdam and Rotterdam.”

"The launch of our new direct service on this high volume route represents a major growth opportunity for our business."

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THE ASIAN TODAY

BUSINESS

BUSINESS

Airline launches two new Birmingham routes Chamber appoints new board members Bmi regional has launched new routes from Birmingham Airport to Gothenburg and Nuremberg.

The Gothenburg and Nuremberg services are the latest in a series of new routes for bmi regional, which also launched Birmingham to Graz in February.

The flights are aimed at both business and leisure travellers based in the Midlands and further afield.

Nuremberg is bmi regional’s seventh destination in Germany.

Bavaria’s second city, it is one of the largest business centres in Germany, with 25,000 companies in the area and a thriving economy.

Although it is best known for its Christmas Market, which draws over a million visitors each year, Nuremberg is a year-round

destination, with beautiful architecture dominated by an imposing gothic style castle and a vast arts and culture scene, with a host of museums dedicated to design, painting and modern art.

Gothenburg, meanwhile, is bmi regional’s fourth destination in Sweden.

It is the location of Scandinavia’s largest port and is a hub for global trade, currently enjoying unprecedented economic growth.

It is a popular mini break destination thanks to its fabulous food, eclectic culture and vibrant nightlife, as well as being the gateway to the stunning coast of West Sweden.

Jochen Schnadt, chief commercial officer from bmi regional, said: “We are delighted to be introducing

these two new flights from Birmingham as part of our ongoing growth strategy to connect key business regions.

“Both Nuremberg and Gothenburg have a great deal to offer both business and leisure customers and, as such, are already proving popular. We’re excited to be bringing the bmi regional level of quality, convenience, service and professionalism to these new routes.”

Fares start from £79 one way for Nuremberg and £89 one way for Gothenburg.

All bmi regional fares include 23kg of hold luggage, allocated seating, complimentary in-flight drinks and snacks and speedy 30 minute checkins.

For more information or to book a flight with bmi regional, call 0330 333 7998

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) has made three new appointments to its board – including a new vice president.

Saqib Bhatti, who has served as president of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce for the last four years, is to become the vice president of Birmingham Chamber.

He will be joined on the board by Steve Allen, head of the Birmingham office of law firm Mills & Reeve, and Liz McKenzie of financial services firm Wesleyan.

Saqib is a director at Younis Bhatti & Co Chartered Accountants. Among other interests, he is also a director of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) with responsibilities for promoting diversity and business support, and joint Secretary General of Muslims for Britain, a non-partisan campaign group set up to engage British Muslims in national debates.

He has also worked with a number of charities in Pakistan and locally, where he is a trustee of the Lord Mayor’s Charity in Birmingham.

Saqib said: “It is a great honour to be the new vice president for the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. I follow in the footsteps of many great people and I look forward to working with the board.

Steve is former winner of the Birmingham Law Society’s ‘International Solicitor of the Year’ award and is also the chairman of the New Yorkheadquartered British American Business Council, which has 22 chapters in the UK, USA and Canada.

Steve said: “I’m delighted to have joined the Chamber board. I particularly look forward to working with its diverse mix of members to explore and develop new markets and opportunities for their businesses.”

Liz is the chief operating officer of financial services firm Wesleyan in Birmingham. She joined Wesleyan in October 2010 as head of corporate planning. She is also chair of DPAS, which was acquired by Wesleyan in 2015. In June 2016, Liz won the IoD West Midlands Director of the Year Award for a Large Business.

She said: “The Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has a long history of putting the needs of local businesses first and giving its members a collective voice both locally and further afield.

“I am delighted to have been appointed to the board and look forward to helping the Chamber deliver its ambitious plans on behalf of members and patrons alike."

Pictured: Paul Faulkner with Saqib Bhatti

Record Birmingham delegation for Chicago conference Birmingham’s delegation to Chicago for the British American Business Council transatlantic conference has been hailed for sending a record number of delegates to the event.

The Birmingham delegation was even larger than any sent by USA-based BABC chapters, and this did not escape the attention of incoming BABC global president Tom Stevens.

He said: “Our great thanks to the incredible Team Birmingham.

While quantitatively you set the historical record for the most delegates to any transatlantic Conference, each of your members was a substantive contributor to the events. I consider myself happily indebted to you for your efforts.”

As far as the Birmingham delegation is concerned, the event was a huge success, particularly where developing trade links and relationships with those overseas was concerned, Delegation member Russell Jeans, chief operating officer at the Chamber, said: “The conference was hugely informative – it was a celebration of transatlantic business. Birmingham did itself proud.”

He pointed that out in terms

of trade with the US alone, the Birmingham delegation had done a good job of not just beating the drum for Brum, but developing new relationships with existing and potential trade partners.

“The USA is the UK’s second largest trading partner, after the European Union. The USA is the UK’s second largest export market, and 2.1 million people are employed as a result of UK companies in the US, or US companies in the UK,” he said.

Among events which the delegation attended while in Chicago was an invitation from Britain’s consul general, Stephen Bridges, to his £10 million penthouse highup on the 62nd floor of a skyscraper, with commanding views of the city on every side.

There was also a Brexit round table, organised by Illinois Chamber of Commerce and attended by many high profile figures from around the world.

Russell said: “Delegates to the round table enjoyed a lively and well-informed debate around the implications of Brexit which without doubt created a number of relationships which BABC will be able to utilise in the months ahead.

“We can all accept that delivery of the opportunities within Brexit will be achieved through close collaboration and co-operation of relationships achieved by events like this.

“The real reality of Brexit will be the relationships people like us create to make it work. It is all about the web of opportunities and lubricating the wheels.”

Pic: Members of the Birmingham delegation in Chicago (from left): Mark Daniels (Browne Jacobson), Gary Burton (HSBC), Russell Jeans (Birmingham Chamber), Julian Beer (BCU), Lauren Hunt (Birmingham Chamber), Paul Faulkner (Birmingham Chamber), Mark Smith (BCU), James Tait (Browne Jacobson)

Communities urged to come together to celebrate Utsav Community groups being are being invited to stage their own celebrations for Utsav, the Year of South Asian Culture, across Birmingham this summer.

Businesses, community and cultural groups are invited to attend a special briefing event at the Library of Birmingham next week (31 May 2017).

This year marks an important milestone in South Asian history – the 70th anniversary of the UK’s friendship with the Indian subcontinent – but it also presents a great opportunity for communities across the city to come together.

The community briefing - which takes place at 6pm on Wednesday, 31 May - will provide information on how groups can get involved in the celebrations by staging their own street party or event during August. The event will also feature

performances from arts groups supporting Utsav.

Piali Ray OBE, director of Sampad, said: “Utsav 2017 is an open invitation for people across Birmingham to connect with the Year of

South Asian Culture and celebrate our city’s rich diversity.

“Sampad is proud to be joining hands with partners, communities and people from all walks of life to

share, discover and enjoy the rich tapestry of cultures that exists in every street and neighbourhood of our ambitious world city.”

Our city’s greatest strength is the energy, creativity and diversity of its people and this year in particular presents a real chance to celebrate the contribution of South Asian culture to Birmingham’s past, present and future.

Utsav, which means festival / celebration, was launched in January and features a wide variety of events throughout the year, including the Birmingham Indian Film Festival, Nowka Bais dragon boat races, Big John’s Birmingham Mela and Birmingham Weekender.

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PROPERTY

PROPERTY

Now Cheaper to Rent than Buy in British Cities A

ccording to new data released by property website Zoopla, it is now cheaper to rent a property in a British city as opposed to buying one.

Zoopla analysed the monthly cost of renting a two-bedroomed home, compared to servicing a mortgage, in the country’s 50 largest cities and found that the places where it is cheaper to rent than buy has risen by 14% since October 2016.

The average monthly rental payment on a two-bedroom home is currently £690, £47 less per month than average mortgage repayments which sits at £737. Back in October, it was more cost effective for home seekers to buy in 60% of British cities.

It suggests that house prices may approaching a peak, most notably

in London and areas of the South East where properties are generally of a higher value.

It is thought that buy prices have risen due to a number of factors, including low interest rates and government schemes to help people with housing deposits.

Lawrence Hall, a spokesperson for Zoopla, explain: “It is important to remember that whilst renters may be better off in the short to medium term in some areas of the country, buying a property is a long-term investment.

“With most buyers opting for mortgage terms of 25 years, buyers are likely to be better off overall compared to those who choose to rent.”

“It is important to remember that whilst renters may be better off in the short to medium term in some areas of the country, buying a property is a long-term investment.

New data suggests house prices are approaching a peak

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Can Kia Picanto Own the City Streets?

May 2017 welcomed to the world the birth of the Kia Picanto.

The small, lightweight city car costs just £9,450 and weights 936kg, working out to £1.01 per 100g. It comes in a range of colours, trim and engine combos, allowing buyers to pick and mix what type of car they want.

It boasts a boot of 250 litres, five doors, a longer wheelbase leading to better passenger room, and even twin exhausts.

The shape of the car is generally the same at the last few Kia outputs, although it has a slightly more rugged, angular and shaved appearance. The interior is a stylish and modern black with a neatly arranged dashboard.

The new model features electric and tinted windows, remote locking, AUX and USB ports for the radio, an adjustable steering column, automatic headlights, hill start, six airbags and stability control.

The top version, costing £13,950, comes with a

satnav, infotainment system, faux leather seats, a sunroof, reverse camera, alloy wheels, sports front, rear bumpers, side sills and heaps more.

There are nine different versions based on two engines, the Kia Picanto 1, 2, 3, GTLine and GT-Line S. The engines, more efficient than previous makes, include a 66bhp three-cyclinder petrol engine, putting out 101g/km of emissions, and a 1.25litre developing 83bhp, emitting 106g/km.

So refined are the engines that they’re barely audible unless when accelerating.

Perhaps best yet is that it comes with a seven year warranty and is expected to be a hit with both the young and old.

All Porsche Models to Now Boast Sat Nav and Connectivity In great news for motorists, the Porsche Sat Nav will now be a standard feature for all UK models.

From June 2017, every Porsche sold in the UK will boast its highly acclaimed Sat Nav and Porsche connect services. All 2018 Porsche cars will feature the Porsche Connect technology which allows users to use Wi-Fi and access music streaming.

Right now, the Porsche

Connect services includes real time traffic updates, online searching, fuel prices information, parking information and Connect Portal which is used for managing personal data.

It also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

However, as expected, prices for these high tech new suave Porsches will increase too.

Are you guilty of the number one annoying driving habit?

According to a poll of over 20,000 AA members, tailgating is seen as the most annoying and irritating bad driving habit.

Out of all the annoying habits out there: people talking on the phone whilst driving, middle lane hogging, driving too slowly, too quickly, cutting in at the last second, not indicating, overtaking on the inside and tailgating, tailgating was seen as by far the worst motoring sin.

Talking on the phone was the second most annoying, followed by middle lane hogging.

In 2013, tailgating was made illegal as part of a crackdown on poor driving habits, which allowed officers to issue tickets for the bad habit as careless driving.

Nationally, around 8,000

tickets are issued for careless driving, with 55,000 being ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt.

AA roads policy spokesperson Jack Cousens said: “Tailgating and hogging the middle lane is not only annoying but dangerous.

“Unfortunately, the number of specialist traffic officers has been cut since 2005, which has meant the police powers introduced three-and-ahalf years ago have had a limited impact.

“The behaviour of other drivers can affect your own driving, so it is best to stay calm and focus on what you are doing. Getting frustrated with the actions of others could mean you make just as big an error.”

Labour and Conservative Plans for Motoring

Conservatives: Theresa May drew widespread criticism for her bold and somewhat unrealistic plan to make “almost all cars and vans electric by 2050.” On top of that, she will be investing £600m in low-emission vehicles by 2020 plus changing MOT regulations to require cars be zero emissions.

Given the strangely green touch, the Conservatives still took a £400,000 donation from an off-shore based oil firm. The Conservative manifesto claims it will “ensure that the sector continues to play a critical role in our economy and

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energy supply, supporting further investment in the UK’s natural resources.”

They also plan to remove the Severn Bridge toll on the M4, as well as funding £40bn to improve the UK’s roads.

Labour: Labour’s manifesto includes the line to “encourage and enable people to get out of their cars, for better health and a cleaner environment.”

What that means for how we get about going to work, school and everything else, has been left out. They also aim to “improve road works at known bottlenecks” and also seek to abolish the M4 toll.

They will also seek to reintroduce road safety targets and work towards a “transport network with zero deaths” – lofty goals indeed.

Regarding going green, they also plan to retrofit

diesel engines with filters to reduce their emissions and increase the amount of bike lanes to reduce congestion.

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Arsenal Renews Santi Cazorla Contract Despite Injury

SPORTS

PICS FROM BYSA END OF SEASON AWARDS

After eight operations, fans worried for Spanish player

The Spanish footballer Santi Cazorla has confirmed that he renewed his Arsenal contract earlier in the season despite his ongoing injury issues.

Cazorla revealed he has undergone surgery a total of eight times after he contracted an infection from a past surgery.

However despite the seriousness of his injuries, Arsenal still extended his contract for one more year.

The footballer said: “[Arsenal] were very good to me, they renewed me before my operation, the manager talked to me and gave me peace of mind. It’s been a difficult season, since I have not

played since November. I’ve been through surgery eight times.

‘I had the last one yesterday, and hopefully everything will go well. Since November, I have had complications. There was bacteria in the operating room and I suffered an infection in a bone.

The scar did not close and I had a skin graft.’

Cazorla has thanked Arsene Wenger for his faith. The 32-yearold enjoyed a bright start to the season but was brought out in October when he was substituted in the second half of a Champions league match against Ludogorets, which saw Arsenal win 6-0.

Hassan (under 16's coach) and team

Pic Cedit: Fanny Schertzer

Unveiling Birmingham’s First International Marathon!

In hugely exciting news, Birmingham is launching its own Marathon.

The inaugural Birmingham international Marathon is a 26.2m long course that snakes through the streets of Birmingham, stretching from Alexander Stadium and finishing at Millennium Point, passing a multitude of iconic Brummy landmarks such as Villa Park, Selfridges, the Edgbaston Cricket Ground and Cannon Hill Park.

It has attracted some 8000 participants from around the country and is billed to be one of the top six marathons in the UK. Everyone from experienced marathon runners to newbies just starting out have expressed interest in the race. One of the first time runners is Shah Begum, Aston, who took up running two years back.

She told the Birmingham Mail: “If anybody’s thinking about entering, but hasn’t committed, my advice to them would be ‘just do it’.

Amina Begum (Head Coach) and Shakeel Hussain (Head Coach)

8000 people expected to take part in run “Once you’ve signed up, you have a target to aim for and it becomes more and more exciting, especially when you follow people on social media who are on the same journey as you.

“I want to run my first marathon in my home city.

I want to get across that finish line and say, ‘I ran my first 26.2-mile distance in Birmingham, where I grew up’.

“Also, the recent 10k reminded me just how much support you get in Birmingham. Along the

Under 14's Team

entire route, you’ve got people clapping and cheering you on. The crowds are brilliant in this city.”

To find more information or to sign up, visit: www.greatrun.org

Tiger Woods Asleep at the Wheel

L-R Gulzaman Khan, Iqbal Khattak, Nazir Awan, Anwar Khattak, Bakthyar Hussain and Umer Shireen

Pro golfer charged with DUI insists bad reaction to medication Golfing champion Tiger Woods has let down fans once again after being caught asleep at the wheel by police.

The ex-number one golfer in the world was found in his Mercedes by police who woke him up in the early hours of the morning, the engine still running. Woods has insisted alcohol was not

involved, and has blamed falling asleep at the wheel on "an unexpected reaction to prescribed medication.”

Woods is currently recovering from back surgery- his fourth operation- and is expected be out of play until October.

However he has since been charged with Driving under the Influence. The police

report states: "Woods had extremely slow and slurred speech” and that he was "cooperative" but "confused.”

His breathalyser showed he “blew zeroes” but that he was “unable to walk alone.”

He failed all but a single roadside test, including the walk and turn test.

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Abid Salim & Mo Nawaz

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SPORTS

India take honours in INDIAN CRICKET CAPTAIN VIRAT KOHLI BATS FOR CHARITY AT FUNDRAISING GALA DINNER IN LONDON Edgbaston Fans Trophy The Virat Kohli Charity Ball to be held on Monday, 5th June 2017 at the HAC Ground The Virat Kohli Foundation, an organisation headed by India’s cricket captain and one of the most dominant batsmen in international cricket, will host the Virat Kohli Charity Ball, on Monday, 5th June 2017 at the iconic HAC Ground, London.

Touted to be one of the biggest charitysport events of 2017, The Virat Kohli Charity Ball will raise vital funds for charitable causes, for the empowerment of the underprivileged in India.

Coinciding as it does with Kohli leading the Indian team in the UK this Summer for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, the star-studded night will bring together some of the greatest names in the game, both past and present, and many other renowned personalities.

The event will comprise a VIP champagne reception, surprise star appearances and world-class entertainment interspersed with a lavish three-course gourmet cuisine.

There will also be a live auction where the guests will be able to bid for luxury products and cricket memorabilia close to the heart of the star batsman and his contemporaries.

Speaking about the event in London, Virat Kohli says: “I am honoured and excited that London will be the first international city to host my Foundation’s Charity

Ball, in aid of the charitable causes that I hold dear to my heart. The event is a manifestation of my dream to bring about a transformative change in many lives by supporting the underprivileged sections of society. I look forward to joining hands with the public in London to raise a substantial amount.”

Owing to the high calibre venture, tickets for The Virat Kohli Charity Ball will be sold at a first-come-first-serve basis, with prices ranging from £1,950 to £2,750 for a table of ten, depending upon the table tier.

For ticket and sponsorship enquiries, contact: +44(0)7949 254 623 viratkohli@ sterlingmedia.co.uk

Fan Friendly Game sees India success Fans of the Indian cricket team took early bragging rights ahead of next month’s ICC Champions Trophy by defeating a team of Pakistan fans in a series of games for the Edgbaston Fans Trophy.

Played inside the Edgbaston Cricket Centre, the Edgbaston Fans Trophy was a partnership event between Warwickshire County Cricket Club, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the National Asian Cricket Council (NACC) and Attock Cricket Club.

The event was also part of the Nissan Trophy Tour, which gave the players and spectators in attendance a chance to see the ICC Champions Trophy and ICC Women’s World Cup up close as part of a five-day tour of Birmingham.

Neil Snowball, Chief Executive of Warwickshire CCC, said: “This year’s Edgbaston Fans Trophy is a terrific way to celebrate the ICC Champions Trophy and the five-marquee games here in Birmingham, particularly India versus Pakistan on Sunday 4 June.

“Whilst there is a great rivalry between both teams, tonight’s games were played in the true spirit of cricket, which highlighted just how sport can bring together people of all

backgrounds and beliefs.

Mohammed Arif, ECB National Growth Manager for Diverse Communities, said: “The Edgbaston Fans Trophy match was a great example how to engage with true fans who have followed India and Pakistan around the world through cricket.”

Gulfraz Riaz, Chairman of the National Asian Cricket Council, said: “The Edgbaston Fans Trophy has been a great platform to bring together recreational cricketers from across the country to celebrate the game and build new friendships.

“Tonight has been a great showcase for these competitions with some great cricket on show for the spectators in attendance.”

Interview with Wrestling Legend Shak Khan (Raja Sony Palwan) Interview with Wrestling Legend Shak Khan (Raja Sony Palwan) How did you first get into wrestling?

I came from Pakistan, a village called Sochani, near Dadyal. I left when I was 12 and moved to Blackpool by the seaside. On a Sunday I used to go watch the wrestling at the Tower, where they held fortnightly shows featuring British wrestling stars.

One of them was Dave Duran, a local wrestler who was also wrestling overseas. I was just infatuated in this sport, where there were hundreds of people cheering you on and you get treated like a rock star and fly off to other counties and get paid for it.

One day I was leaving school and I saw a poster of Dave Duran adverting his next bout, then went back the next day and met him. He was a massive mountain of a man. He looked like a very angry Burt Reynolds. I told him “I want to be like you.” He looked me up and down said I’m not ready for it. I had followed martial arts all my life and was always getting into fights so I thought I was ready for it. I trained judo for two years and thought ‘if I can

do judo, I can definitely do wrestling.’

I went back to the ring when I was sixteen.

Hundreds were at this venue. I wanted to show the promoter and Dave how tough I was. I’d been to judo, I’d taken knocks and hits. Dave and I got in the ring and I cockily thought “this won’t take long.” And I was right, it didn’t take long. He absolutely murdered me.

He picked me up and threw me out the ring. The entire crowd was laughing and the show was over.

I thought it looked so easy on TV, I thought it was all acting, but I was so bruised and limping and couldn’t walk. Dave shouted at me saying: “it’s people like you that watch wrestling on TV and think it’s easy. This is our jobs and lives, we’ve got wives and kids that we do this for.” But he also told me “if you want to get better, then come back.”

I went crying home but for the next few weeks I’d be in the ring with Dave Duran and all he did was murder me. After a month of training, I went back and got in the ring with him.

When the bell went, I went

for him and picked him up over my shoulder and threw him out the ring. The crowd just erupted. After that bout, where they saw my massive improvement, I was invited onto Dave’s team. He told me, “We have families and mortgages.

We have to win every fight, we need a good team that know how to fight otherwise we’re paying out our own pocket.”

I started training with them and learned how to take punches and how to take peoples’ legs. For the next season, I wore a gold jacket, a turban as a gimmick, and wrestling boots. I was named the Kashmir Kid. I did ten full seasons at the Pleasure beach and have never lost a fight there.

You’ve been a professional wrestler for over twenty years, what’s been your proudest achievement yet?

Winning my world title belt. I’ve won a few belts.

I wrestled all over the UK and people were interested because I was different, I was Pakistani and wore a turban and spoke the language. My first international tour was in 1998, in Dubai. I was 21 or

22, and I wrestled there in front of 20,000 people and won my first belt.

What are some things people might not know about wresting?

Because we watch sports in the comfort of our homes, it’s easy to say “go on, that didn’t hurt,” but it’s not until you get into a ring and have to get physical that you realise how different it is. In the ring, there are iron steel girders beneath you, the corner post has metal hooks. People have died in wrestling rings from injuries so anyone that says it’s easy, I would invite them into the ring anytime and see if they last a round.

You now have your own Wrestling school. What prompted you to do this?

When I started wrestling, I didn’t have anywhere to learn unless the ring was put up on the weekend.

But there was nowhere to properly learn. I opened my wrestling school, the E.C.W. Wrestling Gym, in early 2017. It has a full size ring and a massive area where people learn how to grapple. The response has been great and I’ve already got a lot of students involved. If you really

want to do something in life, you can achieve it if you work very hard. With lots of dedication and determination you’ll get there. That’s my outlook. If you want it, get it. There’s no such thing as no.

You’ll soon be facing off against Dave Duran. How are you preparing for that?

We’ve never wrestled each other in a match apart from when he destroyed me when I was 16. It’s a match that’s never been seen before and we’re doing it for charity.

We’re going to Azad, Kashmir, in October for press conferences and to see what their stadium is like. Then we go back in April next year for the actual fight at Dadyal Stadium. We’re expecting 20,000 people for our student vs master fight.

Dave is definitely the toughest man on the British circuit today and he has this reputation of being a real tough nut, a hard man to wrestle. To have a real fight with him is devastating, he can

break your arms and legs no problem. He’s about 18 stone and much stronger than me. It’s going to be the biggest fight in Azad’s history of sport.

But the fight is actually for charity. Because wrestling has been good to me and given me a good lifestyle, I want to give something back to my community. When I go to Pakistan and wrestle Dave in April, I’m going to be doing a collection there.

Whatever it is, 1 rupee, 50 rupees, every person will make a donation at my fight. Every penny will go to the Insaniah Foundation for the homeless, poor and orphaned children of Pakistan.

For any businesses with links to Dadyal or Azad, Kashmir, that would like to sponsor Shak Khan’s prized April fight, please contact shakkhan2008@ hotmail.com.

Additionally, for anyone learning to wrestle, with accommodation provided, contact shakkhan2008@hotmail. com.

BYSA Celebrates 15 Years TO ADVERTISE CALL NOW ON 0121 667 8719

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with a Charity Dinner & End of Season Awards Ceremony

Birmingham Youth Sports Academy celebrated its 15th Year at their Annual charity dinner event at the Holiday Inn hotel on Friday 12th May 2017.

Once again the event was a sell out and attracted sponsors and new faces, with over 400 guests in attendance. The BYSA had an action packed night including a 3 course meal, after dinner speakers, entertainment, an auction, raffle and awards.

Distinguished guests from all over the professional, public, business, media and voluntary sectors attended, with celebrities such as Jason Macateer, Steve Staunton, Gary Shaw, Mark Walters, Kash Gill, Kev Orkian, Zamaan Magician, the Socharo dancers and the lovely Noreen Khan as the compere for the evening.

The evening was a huge success, with many impressed to see the great work being done within the Birmingham area of Small Heath and surrounding areas. The BYSA is a voluntary grassroots football organisation that helps kidsno matter age, size, race, ability- in everything from sport to mentoring, providing a safe area to play sports but also taking them on educational classes and trips.

The BYSA played a documentary video on the night which showed their 15 year journey. It was an

The BYSA Team

emotional and powerful watch, showcasing all the hard work put in by the volunteers who work over 10 hours a week to run the project. It showed the children playing competitive football, recreational football, being educated in classroom settings, talking with high class mentors and more.

Over the past several years the BYSA has depended on its sponsors and donations and having these charity dinners has made the project successful. Since 2002, they have gone from strength to strength and every year the BYSA puts on a great show for its guests. Through word of mouth and an active social media network, the BYSA has picked up more followers

Majid Salim (Chair of BYSA) handing the Chairman's Award to Javid Iqbal

and supporters through the years.

The main part of the event was the auction for the charity to continue its hard work and keep pushing its volunteers to deliver their sessions. The thousands of pounds that were raised on the night will be used to fund many core projects for the boys and girls of the community.

The BYSA Chairman’s Award 2017 went to the Homeless Heroes project, which delivers food and shelter for the homeless in the city centre, and was picked up by Mr Javed Iqbal, chairman. This organisation offers many days and hours of their voluntary service in providing help and support

for the community. Mr Majid Salim (BYSA chairman) and Mr Amer Awan (BYSA vice-chairman) attended the Homeless Heroes project along with other organisations.

The event was sponsored

by Big Johns, Aman Prestige, John Pye & sons, NA consulting, Riverdale insurance, Kingsland business recovery, Awan International and long-time serving sponsor K Legal solicitors.

For parents, children or anyone else eager to find out how to join or volunteer you can get in touch on 07890 695 284 and follow the BYSA on social media.

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Ummanaz Ali & Amina Begum with the girls team

Birmingham Youth Sports Academy celebrating 15 years of voluntary contribution to community sports but it doesn’t stop there, the 2017 end of seasons awards dinner was held at Ziryabs Buffet in Alum Rock, Birmingham where over 200 people attended the awards dinner with the current team players and their parents.

The BYSA awarded under 12’s, 14’s, 16’s and the girls at the dinner. The event was mixed with a high volume of female parents that attended to show their support for the BYSA girls project which has celebrated its first year and has gone from strength to strength.

The evening consisted of kids, parents, sponsors, distinguished guests and our ambassadors. Celebrating the top kids that performed over the season 2016/2017 at the central Warwickshire youth football league and winning the League shield cup final (Under 14’s) and our Under 12’s finishing 4th in the division and our under 16’s finished joint 2nd.

The awards ceremony commenced with Bakthyar Hussain who hosted the event and what a fantastic job he did. Starting off with Shakeel Hussain (Manager of Under 12’s team) awards his players as follows: Top goal scorer – Saeed Khattak, Managers player – Waqas Ali, Clubman – Ridwan Ali, Star Award – Zakir Islam & Most improved – Zak Boukhemici.

Followed on by Riaz Ul-haq Khan (Manager of Under 14’s) awards his players as follows: Top goal scorer – Fuseani Sani Nartor, Managers player – Harisulah Jan, Most improved – Hamza Hameed, Clubman – Isah Shahid & Star award – Yousuf Khan.

Followed on by Hassan (Manager of Under 16’s) awards his players as follows: Top goal scorer – Emannuel Marcu, Managers player – Fernando Schian, Most improved – Noor Agha, Clubman – Ionut Paun & Star Award – Mansur Ibrahim.

Followed on by Amina Begum (Head girls coach) with Ummanaz Ali (Assistant girls coach) awarded 5 girls with outstanding achievement awards and then a treat to the girls that started the girls project in the winter and still maintain to regularly attended and therefore the Amina and Ummanaz decided to give medals to them all ages ranging from 6-12 years old. This was a big surprise to have so many females attend with their child and showing the girl power at the event what a great turn out and successful project.

Thereafter Mr Anwar Khattak (BEM) was asked to give out the remaining awards to the hard work by all managers and coaches that have put so much time into the BYSA teams and project and awarded them in style saying a few words on each individual as follows: Shakeel Hussain, Bakthyar Hussain, Riaz Ul-ha Khan, Umar Shireen, Aminah Begum, Ummanaz Ali, Abid Salim and Hassan. All names that were called out had the pleasure of our sponsors and ambassadors awarding them and saying a few words on stage about the BYSA. Furthermore, after the awards presentation, it followed by a great three course meal and drinks. The Raffle was the amazing moment of the night where the children could only purchase a raffle ticket for a chance of winning some great high profile memorabilia and therefore one prize for each age group was raffled off letting a child win from each team a prize to remember.

The BYSA was awarded the Lord Mayor Award on the May 23rd for the hard work they offer the community. BYSA head female coach Amina Begum attended the Council House in Birmingham city centre to accept the award.

Finally, BYSA like to thank everyone that attended and made the event a success a big thank you to DJ Manj from Saqi Roadshow, Waqar Qureshi from Kings Media and Ziryabs Buffet for letting the BYSA hold its end of seasons awards dinner local for the community to attend. We hope to see you all next year.

Amina Begum receiving the Lord Mayors Award on behalf of BYSA

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England and Birmingham Victorious Unbeaten Century of Joe Root nabs victory

T

he Champions Trophy is now underway and will see the biggest and best teams from around the world compete for victory at the Oval.

It kicked off with England heading off against Bangladesh and saw England steal an easy win.

Captain Joe Root achieved 133 not out whilst Alex Hales scored 95, allowing England to reach their target of 306 with 16 balls still left over.

England’s next match will see them face off against New Zealand, after which, if all goes well for the bookies favourite, they will advance to the Semi-Final.

Bangladesh now need to beat Australia in order to not be eliminated altogether, a battle of underdogs which should prove to be a thrilling watch.

In the England v Bangladesh game, Root managed to get an unbeaten century, lifting hopes that England might be the one to win the Champions this year if things continue as are. Tamin Iqbal hit 128 for

Bangladesh in the 305-5 whilst Liam Plunkett took 4-59.

Ben Stokes bowled seven overs, despite having been made to take a pre-match fitness test due to a worrying knee injury. Similarly, there were injury fears over Chris Woakes who suffered a side problem mid match, whilst Root hurt his calf.

Speaking on Test Match Special, Ex-England Captain Alec Stewart said: "Whatever you throw at Joe Root, he proves that he can do it.

People say he isn't a power hitter or whatever but he hits sixes.

"He has mastered Test cricket, 50-over and Twenty20 cricket. Whenever England need him he scores runs. He plays safe shots and scores at a run a ball. That is all you can ask. I don't see his injury being a problem at all. The real concern is Chris Woakes."

Meanwhile India completely thrashed Pakistan at their match at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground. India seized an easy 124-run victory in the Group

B opener on 4th June which saw dozens of dismayed Pakistan fans.

Kohli was especially on point during the match, achieving an unbeaten 81.

India is now on level with South Africa as the top teams of Group B. Their second match will see them go up against Sri Lanka on 8th June.

Kolhi said: "With the bat and the ball we were right up there, 9 out of 10. In the field we were 6 out of 10. If we tune that up to 8 or 9, we will be a very strong side in the tournament. I think this was a very complete performance starting the tournament.”

Imran Khan said Pakistan’s defeat was “painful.” He tweeted, “As a sportsman I know winning & losing are part of the game but it's painful to watch Pak being thrashed by India without putting up a fight.”

“Unless Pak cricket structure is totally revamped/reformed, despite an abundance of talent the gap between Pak & India will keep increasing.”

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