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WOMEN ONLY MOSQUES
Divided Opinion on Proposals for Female Mosque
P
lans for Britain’s first femaleonly mosque have been revealed. The mosque, which will be run and attended by women, only, will see them try to break away from traditional cultural practices, establishing their own principles and responsibilities. Announcing the news at the annual Daughters of Eve Conference, the Muslim Women’s Council has put forward proposals to create the mosque where they seek to play a larger role in their religion. The idea also includes women leading prayers and introducing female imams. Chief Executive of the Bradfordbased Muslim Women’s Council, Bana Gora, explained that their Continued on page 3
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Big John's Launches Birmingham Mela
“
THE TEAM
“
LOCAL NEWS
This is a special event and close to our hearts.
EDITORS
Ifraz Ahmed Anita Chumber
SENIOR JOURNALIST Hifzha Shaheen
•
THE TEAM: The Big John's team excited to be organising the 'Big John's Birmingham Mela'
SALES Anita Chumber
CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Ley
DISTRIBUTION Door Drop Solutions
CONTRIBUTORS Anita Champaneri Manish Gujjar Sunny Malik Mita Mistry Sara Khan Sunny and Shay Dal Dhaliwal Mark Hands Manish Patel Kam Chopra Suri Singh Mohammed Zafran Manish Patel Cricket Association South & City College Jas Sansi Rav Deol Amrit Matharu
GRAPHIC/WEB D. Patel Raz Zubdah
M
ela mayhem is set to hit the Midlands as the launch of one of the country's biggest events took place. Now in its 15th year, Birmingham Mela is one of the most popular fixtures in the city’s diverse events calendar, attracting tens of thousands of people to Cannon Hill Park. The free family event returns again this year and to launch it, there was dhol drummers and dancers performing in Victoria Square, providing a taste of the vibrant, colourful celebrations. It created a promo of what attendees could look forward to and was held at the Lord Mayor’s Suite at the Council House, in Victoria Square, where the date of the event was given, 16 August 2015, announced by this year’s sponsor, Big John’s. Speaking after the launch, Kasim Choudhry from Big Johns commented, “Big Johns are honoured to be given the opportunity this year to be
the proud organisers of the Birmingham Mela. The event has been running for 14 years and this is the second time we are involved, not only in the sponsorship but in the organisation of the event. This is a special event and close to our hearts. It gives us an opportunity to put back in to Birmingham what Birmingham has given to us. Birmingham is a vibrant, cosmopolitan, multicultural conurbation with lots to offer to people from all backgrounds. This event is an opportunity for us to celebrate all the good things about Birmingham. “Historically known as the Eid Mela, the event has been rebranded the Birmingham Mela making it an all-inclusive event uniting all different communities within the City. We would like to thank Birmingham City Council for giving us the opportunity to organise this prestigious event. We feel that it is events like this which make Birmingham a
special place. It allows the city to celebrate its vast array of culture and diversity. We would also like to thank our partners Toyota, Pepsi, KTC, Saka water and Brunei Halal for their generosity and support in assisting us to piece this event together. "There will be over 100 stalls with a selection of food, fashion, arts and crafts. A main stage showcasing some of the biggest UK Asian artists as well as international artists. A fashion show with some of the best designer wear from around the sub-continent, will also be showcased. As well as a funfair there will be a whole area dedicated to sporting activities such as traditional South Asian Kabaddi to fast lane cricket bowling."
• BROTHERS: John and Bob Saddiq (of Big John's) will be organising this years Big John's Birmingham Mela and adding their magic to the huge event
IN THIS MONTH:
2001 General Pervez Musharraf dismisses the President and names himself in the post.
2002 UK and USA urge citizens to leave India and Pakistan to avoid being caught up in war.
2009 Sheikh Hasina flies to USA to recieve medical treatment.
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NEWS Continued from front page intention was “not to be divisive, nor to go against the values and principles of Islam.” Speaking to The Asian Today, she said, “Muslim women have been marginalised for many decades by mosques in the UK which are male dominated patriarchal spaces. Rather than complain, we decided to do something about it.” “We’ve carried out an audit of local mosques focussing on services provided to women; above all access was the biggest problem. Our results highlight that in majority of mosques women’s representation on governance structures was non- existent, on committees and boards, segregated spaces that are dated and unwelcoming. “The alienation that women feel has profound consequences for younger generations who are taught that Islam treats both men and women as spiritual equals yet the practice within mosques contradicts the principles.” The scheme, entitled Bradford Mosque Project, follows a year-long effort to find a suitable facility to host the development. Shaz Manir, CEO of the Amirah Foundation, a women’s charity, said she welcomed the news. She told The Asian Today, “Islam liberated women from the shackles of inequality, 1500 years ago. For the first time in history, women were
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DRESSING UP OF A KING
Janan Teams Up With Amir Khan T
• Bana Gora, CEO of the Bradford-based Muslim Woman's Council alleviated in status, able to inherit and given key positions in building society. Today, however, in modern times, women are not given key positions. Muslim women do not find themselves on the board at mosques committees. Many mosques do not even provide a prayer hall for women. I welcome that women are setting up women only mosques.” Qari Sajjad from a Sheffield mosque opposed the idea. He said, “Females have the right to attend masajid’s, they do not have the right of having a masjid only based on their gender. These issues need to be addressed.” However, public opinion on the idea is split. Salma Din said, “Women are not obligated to pray in congregation, they cannot be Imams. In fact, the best place for them to pray is in their homes, not that this means a ban from our mosques! Not sure how this can be called a mosque.” Nashmya Imtiaz added, “Not to a debate but if a
woman cannot give adhan how is it a mosque? It can be an 'Islamic centre' for women but a mosque per se, is questionable.” Whilst Thamina Hashmi said, “There are some towns in the UK where there are mosques on every corner, but not a single one allows women to enter...some women have to travel to another City/town to offer Eid salah...it's sad and shocking, our community is so backwards in so many ways.” Both Bana and the Muslim Women’s Council should look at the recent all-women’s mosque opened in Los Angeles, where the success of female-led Friday prayers has doubled. In an age where men sometimes struggle to run mosques, a female-led mosque can go either way. However, most importantly, it is vital that we don’t cause more segregation within our communities, especially in a place which should involve the whole community, men, women and children.
he UK’s leading South Asian fashion retailer, Janan Luxury Fashion has proudly teamed up with welterweight boxing ace Amir Khan The British boxing star and former World Champion from Bolton has attracted leading brands from around the world in the past such as Reebok, Maxi Nutrition and JD Sports. Janan Luxury Fashion is the only South Asian fashion house to team up with the boxing sensation who famously wore their traditional tailor-made sherwani when he married Faryal Makhdoom in 2013. Launched in 2011 to offer a unique shopping experience and selling the elite of South Asian fashion and jewellery, Janan Luxury Fashion is today regarded as the leading South Asian fashion house in the UK often attracting celebrities from across the globe. Janan memorably provided the former world boxing champion, Khan, his wedding attire when he married Faryal Makhdoom at a lavish ceremony in New York. True to Amir’s Pakistani roots, the wedding was full of the traditional series of events, including the joyous dholki event; which amongst the singing and dancing also included adorning Amir’s house with an array of fairy lights. On the wedding day, Khan was dressed in Janan’s
intricately embroidered sherwani. His best men wore Janan’s bestselling kurtas and the ladies of the family looked amazing in their stunning outfits, proudly designed by the team at Janan. Khan’s association with Janan was cemented when he developed a close friendship with the owners as he visited the fashion house on a regular basis. Like Khan’s amazing rise in the boxing world since his professional debut in 2005.
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Janan’s rise has been equally impressive and they are now on the verge of opening six branches across the country. Offering a truly unique experience for its customers and offering a diverse and electric mix of South Asian attire for the whole family, Janan also provides an inhouse dining experience at the award-winning Café Janan. “From everyone at J. Junaid Jamshed by Janan, we wish Amir Khan the best of luck.”
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JUNE 2015
6 YEARS FOR COVENTRY TEENAGER Intended to Travel to Syria for Terrorism A Coventry man, intent on martyring himself while fighting alongside friends in Syria, has been sentenced to six years in prison at the Old Bailey. Zakariya Ashiq, from Foleshill, was also found guilty of preparing for terrorist acts and assisting others to prepare for terrorism yesterday following a weeklong trial. The judge, Charles Wild QC, told the unemployed 20 year old he knew perfectly well what Islamic State – the group he aspired to join – were doing and had become a “fanatic” who wanted to martyr himself. Ashiq failed in his attempt to join Islamic State last November and was arrested by officers from the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit when he returned to the UK. The court heard that he had made other attempts to enter Syria and may have been successful in May 2014. Already there were two of his friends, Ali Kalantar and Mohammed Ismail and their friend Rashid Amani - all also from Coventry. Kalantar and Amani have since been reported killed in the fighting. Evidence found on Ashiq's
phone included numerous WhatsApp recordings sent to his friends describing the intense efforts he was making to join them and asking for their help in getting him across the border. Ashiq had deleted the messages but forensic investigators recovered them. The jury was played these recordings. In one the defendant was heard to say, "The second I get a chance I am doing Martyrdom,” and, “there is no life without Jihad.” The judge told Ashiq he will also have an extend period of an extra four years on licence. Detective Chief Superintendent Sue Southern, head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit said, “This sentence sends a strong message to any young man planning of becoming a foreign fighter. “We continue to urge families to come forward and work with us to stop young people before they commit offences which we then have to investigate and bring before the courts. “We must all work together to counter the poisonous narrative that takes hold of these young people – whether it is coming from the Internet or from friendship groups."
NEWS
WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM
ORGAN DONATION CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED Aimed to Raise Awareness Among Asian Community
A
new initiative which plans to educate the Asian community about the importance of organ donation has been launched by an awardwinning nurse. Angela Ditchfield, who is a Specialist Organ Donation Nurse at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, recently received the Mary Seacole Leadership Award 2014 for her work alongside the black and minority ethnic communities. Producing a video aimed at the local communities of Blackburn, with the help of community group One Voice, aims to create awareness of the condition within local communities. The short film, called
It’s About Time, will be launched in June and features students from Blackburn. Angela Ditchfield said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to begin to raise awareness about organ donation within the local BME community and to ensure that everyone understands the impact that organ donation can have on a community. “Through my work as specialist nurse, I have seen how organ transplantation can have a huge and life changing impact on people’s lives. “The campaign is a fantastic channel to spread that message to the local community of Blackburn and Darwen.” Zaffer Khan from One Voice said, “We
Aqilah Mohamed and Sairah Elahi who took part in the filming of
• the organ donation project are very proud to work alongside NHS Health Education England and East Lancashire NHS Hospitals Trust in producing a campaign to raise awareness of organ donation in the BME community in Blackburn and Darwen."
The short film, called It’s About Time, will be launched in June and features students from Blackburn.
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HAJJ SCAMS
5
They were swimming in an area where there should have been lifeguards but there weren’t any.
Two Men Die on Malta Holiday
British Muslims booking trips to Mecca this September to celebrate Hajj are being warned about the threat of fraudsters trying to con them with bogus travel packages. The City of London Police have launched a national campaign targeted at keeping people out of the clutches of fraudsters as they search for the best deals to take them to Saudi Arabia for what for many will be a once in a life-time trip. The focus is on local engagement, with officers from forces across the country, speaking to Muslim community leaders and distributing Hajj fraud prevention leaflets in residential areas and local mosques. The campaign is being supported by the Council of British Hajjis, Get Safe Online, ABTA, ATOL and Trading Standards who will all be raising awareness via
social media. Each year up to 25,000 British Muslims travel for Hajj spending around £125 million on their pilgrimages. Unfortunately a significant number who have paid for tour packages for themselves and their family have arrived in Saudi Arabia to discover their accommodation is either very low quality or does not even exist, while others have found their whole trip is a scam set up by illegal travel operators that have disappeared with their money. Last year 87 people reported to Action Fraud that they had fallen victim to Hajj fraud, with the total losses running to £237,995. But the Council of British Hajjis and the City of London Police believe the true scale of this criminality is much greater, with many people feeling too ashamed to report to authorities what has happened to them.
Tributes have been paid to a Birmingham pair who died whilst on holiday in Malta after a swimming accident. The Foreign Office confirmed the deaths of Mohammad Kamran Shabir and Lyace Ali. Their friend, Hussain Ahmed, survived the incident and returned home with the bodies of his friends. The three friends had studied dentistry at the University of Birmingham with the trip to Malta being their first break together. They went on to set up their first dental practice in 2005. Devastated dad Mohammed Shabir, from Acocks Green, has now spoken of the loss of his son, who was known as Kamran. He said, “We can’t believe it. We’ll never believe it. How could it happen? “They went for a long weekend. They were friends, business partners and brothers. There’s crying.” Police officer in Malta say the three had gotten into
difficulties whilst swimming at the Blue Lagoon. One was airlifted to hospital while the other was taken by boat but they were both later declared dead. Mr Ahmed, 35, had also got into trouble in the water but had been rescued. Mr Shabir said he had heard his son had been taken to hospital around 3 . 3 0 p m . Kamran's wife had been at h o m e watching t h e i r wedding film with a friend. An hour later, the family was told he had died. His funeral was held in Small Heath. Dad-of-four Mr Shabir said, “If anyone says anything to me, I’m OK for five minutes and then I
• TRAGEDY: Lyace Ali, Kamran Shabir and Hussain Ahmed will go back to the same situation. I’m worried about my daughter-in-law.” Mr Shabir was married to Mehwish, 25, and the couple had recently returned from Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, to mark their fifth wedding anniversary, with her parents.
His sister-in-law Sairah Jahangir, 27, questioned safety measures at the holiday resort. “They were swimming in an area where there should have been lifeguards but there weren’t any. The only thing that’s getting the family through is our faith and belief that he’s in heaven.”
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BUYERS HOME IN ON HARVILLS GRANGE AT BUSY LAUNCH EVENT A successful launch weekend saw buyers snap up the latest homes released by developer Lovell at its Harvills Grange development in West Bromwich. A number of reservations were taken during the launch of phases two and three of this contemporary development located in a plum spot for Midlands commuters. Visitors also gave a fantastic reception to Lovell’s two brand-new show homes – the Scotswood and Ringwood house styles - and new sales and marketing suite. Stylish, modern development “The reaction to the launch and to our inspirational show homes, the first show properties to open at Harvills Grange, has been extremely positive,” says Lovell field sales manager Julie Bowen. “It’s been great to show visitors round and receive such enthusiastic feedback for this stylish and modern development and the lifestyle it offers, as well as the superb finishing and build-quality of our new homes.” Lovell’s newly released two-, three- and four-bedroom homes at Harvills Grange include the perfect property for every buyer, from young professionals and couples to families and downsizers. A major bonus for
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Helping Hands Plus – take the strain out of moving For homebuyers with a property to sell, Lovell is also offering its innovative Helping Hands Plus scheme on selected homes at Harvills Grange. This new initiative takes the stress out of the buying and selling process by putting homebuyers in touch with a home purchase company who will look at purchasing their existing property at market value*, providing a guaranteed buyer and taking away much of the uncertainty involved in moving. The good news is that you can also combine Helping Hands Plus with a Government-backed Equity Loan – which means you’ll only need a five per cent deposit to secure your brand-new home. Harvills Grange is in an ideal location for anyone commuting across the Midlands with the A41 Black Country New Road less than a mile away and providing direct access to the M5 and M6. West Bromwich itself also has excellent shopping and leisure facilities with the town centre having benefited from a major regeneration in recent years.
The new Harvills Grange sales and marketing suite on Dial Lane, West Bromwich B70 0EQ is open on Monday from 11am to 5pm and on Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. For more information, please contact the Lovell sales team on: 0121 222 8044 or visit lovellnewhomes.co.uk
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YOUTH CHAMPION FOR BIRMINGHAM ANNOUNCED Birmingham City Council has announced its first ever Youth Champion to make sure young people in the city have their voices heard. The councillor taking up the role will be named shortly, with their responsibilities being to listen to and engage with young people on a wide range of issues. Councillor Penny Holbrook, cabinet member for skills, learning and culture, said: “Birmingham is one of the youngest cities in Europe. "We know we need to be better at listening to what young people need and want, which is why I’m absolutely delighted to announce that the council has decided to select a Youth Champion. “This person will work with me to make sure that we really do listen to what
“This person will work with me to make sure that we really do listen to what young people have to say."
NEWS
BORDESLEY GREEN MURDER Man Named as Zafran Nawaz
D
etectives investigating the suspected murder of a man in Birmingham are urging anyone who may have seen his car in the last two days to contact police. The man, who has been named as Zafran Nawaz, was found in a shed at a property on Carlton Road in Bordesley Green at around
11.30pm on Friday 22 May, by Police who were conducting a missing person’s inquiry. The 34-year-old from the Yardley area was reported missing at lunchtime on 21 May. His family have been informed of developments. Officers are now appealing to anyone who may have seen his car – a white Toyota
Yaris registration FM64 PHU – in and around Carlton Road in the last two days. The car was found about a mile away in Adderley Road on 22 May and anyone with information about how it ended up there is also urged to call police. Detective Inspector Warren Hines said, “We are currently treating his death as suspicious and we took swift action to arrest 11 people at the scene – who we believe were known to the man - on suspicion of his murder. A post-mortem examination has found Mr Nawaz died as a result of multiple stab wounds. “Officers remain at the property in Carlton Road
• COUNCILLOR: Penny Holbrooke
young people have to say – not just about the future of the council, but their city too.
• VICTIM: Zafran Nawaz
while forensic examinations are carried out and we will also be conducting houseto-house inquiries in the area. The 11 people being questioned over the man’s death are: five men aged 45, 33, 28, 24 and 23 and four women aged 50, 41, 25 and 19; and two boys, both aged 15. It has also emerged that four men and a youth were jailed for a total in 2011 for attacking Mr Nawaz’s father. Dil Nawaz, then aged 66, was beated with cricket bats and golf clubs after a car driven by his son overturned in Bordesley Green, on August 1, 2010. Speaking after the sentencing, Mr Nawaz, who also had two nephews with him in the car, said he feared he and his relatives would all die. “My nephews ran away but my father was so disorientated, he couldn’t move,” he said. Blood was already pouring from his head and they just set upon him. Two of them attacked me as well. I was terrified. I thought we were going to die.”
• MOURNING: Friends and family lay flowers in Zafran's memory
MORE NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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HEARTBROKEN MOTHER’S DESPERATE PLEA A Appeal to Return Keepsake of Late Son
heartbroken mother has made a desperate plea after thieves stole her sentimental keepsakes belonging to her late son. Hardev Singh described the pain she felt after finding out that a safe containing the precious souvenirs, belonging to her late son Vijay, were stolen from the family home. According to the family, a baby bracelet, his passport and both his birth and death certificates along and a hospital tag were kept in a
safe which were taken. Vijay was 13 when he was found hanged at home in 1996. Mrs Singh said, "A lot of documents were also taken, but the other items were important to me because they belonged to my son. We have kept these things for so long and they're not worth much to anyone else, but to me, they’re priceless. I just feel so empty." His mother spoke openly how the former Stretford High School pupil had been
a promising sportsman and harboured dreams of becoming the first Indian Premier League footballer. She also spoke about how her son had been bullied before he died. An inquest into Vijay’s death recorded an open verdict on his death in October 1997. Passports belonging to Mrs Singh’s children, Gurditt, 23, Rajpreet, 17, Preet Kaur, 18 and Gurvijay, 13, were also in the safe, along with her
late mother’s passport, an old family passport and some jewellery. Mrs Singh was expecting her youngest son Gurvijay when Vijay died. Mrs Singh, who shares the family home with her children and husband Jagtar, said, "I have been looking in parks and alleyways just in case these things have been left somewhere. I'm just hoping someone finds these little things and brings them back to us."
NEWS
• HEARTBROKEN: Hardev Singh & Son Vijay
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Karis Sheikh Follows Dad into Crime Fighting Career
A
father-and-son duo have teamed up to form an exclusive club within the West Midlands Police force. Karis Sheikh, who gave up
working in IT recruitment to follow his father Farooq's footsteps and pursue a career in public service, must spend the initial 18-months of his career being coached by a
seasoned officer. In a twist of fate, the 25-year-old's mentor, PC Kam Samra, worked under the guidance of Karis’ dad Farooq in the early portion of his career in crime fighting. Karis said, “I applied after hearing all the positives from my dad about police work, plus I was unhappy doing a 9-5, rooted at a desk and on the phone and email all day. “I’m looking forward to mixing in communities I’ll be serving, understanding people’s needs and responding to emergencies… and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to driving my first blue light run! I’d like to work in response,
it’s a fast-paced environment that suits me, and down the line maybe specialise in traffic or firearms. “I’m learning a lot from Kam and it’s strange to think some of his advice would initially have been passed on by my dad years earlier.” Farooq, who has 22 years of experience working in the police force, is an Inspector in the ‘Positive Action’ team, which an initiative which aims to increase the representation within the force of black and minority ethnic groups. He said, “I joined the police when I was 25 and Karis was two-years-old…so all his life he’s been surrounded by police culture.”
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DRUG RING SMASHED Residents Take Stance Against Street Dealers M
embers of a friendsand-family drugs ring smashed by West Midlands Police have been jailed for a total of almost 30 years in a victory for residents fed up with street dealing near their homes. Officers in Sandwell carried out a series of raids last September in response to suspicions over kerbside cash exchanges reported by Neighbourhood Watch members in West Bromwich, Stone Cross and Wednesbury. Handsworth brothers Zafar and Badar Iqbal, from Taverners Green, and brothers Usman and Itsham
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Chohan from Westminster Road, plus cousin Jabran Chohan from Selston Road, Aston, were arrested during dawn raids on 16 September. Two days later detectives moved in to apprehend drug runners Salam Mohammed (39) from Foleshill Road, Coventry, and 47-year-old Balvinder Heer from Grestone Avenue in Handsworth. Ringleader Harras Khan, from Crompton Road in Handsworth, was on bail at the time of the warrants having been arrested on May 22 from a car that sped away from police in West Bromwich. A bag containing drugs was
JAILED: (left to right): (top) Itsham Chohan, Jabran Bhazad Chohan, Usman Chohan. (middle) Hamza Sufi, Balvinder Singh Heer, Badar Iqbal, Zafar Iqbal. (bottom) Harras Khan, Raja Mujtaba Lodhi, Salam Mohammed.
later found protruding from 21-year-old Khan’s backside during a strip search, while a tub of Vaseline and £1,000 in cash was seized from the car. At Birmingham Crown Court last week (14-15 May) Khan was jailed for six years; Zafar (21) and 23-year-old Badar Iqbal handed 27-month and 40-month sentences, while Usman (20), Itsham (18) and 25-year-old Jabran Chohan were imprisoned for 30, 36 and 28 months respectively. Mohammed and Heer were given 30- and 32-month prison terms, while serving Birmingham prisoner Hamza Sufi (23) was jailed for another three years and 18-year-old Mujtaba Lodhi from Hutton Road, Handsworth, got 18-months for his role in the drug network. Itsham and Usman Chohan denied being involved but were found guilty of conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine – the other eight men admitted the same offence. Detective Sergeant Wayne Dudley, said: “This group were polluting the streets of Sandwell with their drug dealing…the value of their empire is hard to estimate but in December 2013 one of the drugs phones they used received around 22,000 calls and texts.
“Local residents decided enough was enough and reported their concerns to us. And from the start of 2013 we routinely intercepted members of the gang as they cruised the region in hire cars, disrupted their activity, and gradually built up a picture of their drug dealing. That culminated with a series of coordinated raids and arrests last September. “I’d like to thank the public for the information they provided which led to these convictions – and I’d urge anyone else who suspects drug dealing in their neighbourhood to follow their lead and also contact their local police so they can take action.” North Sandwell Police Inspector Akeel Najib, added: "We have spent a long time gathering intelligence on these men so naturally we are pleased with the jail sentences. However, we’re not complacent and our blitz on dealers continues. "Drugs can have a huge negative impact on communities and residents are affected not only by the drug dealing and use itself but also by the associated anti-social behaviour that often occurs." Anyone affected by drug crime is urged to call their police on 101. Alternatively people can leave information anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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DIVERSITY CELEBRATED School Marks Cultural Day A Walsall school has celebrated diversity by showcasing and promoting cultural, racial and religious tolerance. Parents were invited to Charles Coddy Walker Academy for a World Cultures Day, which was in conjunction with the United Nation’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. Arriving in traditional dresses and bringing in food from their own cultures for guests to sample, the reception and Early Years classrooms
were transformed into a micro-world for children. The event was concluded with a master class in Bhangra dancing from teacher Nadeem Bashir. Headteacher Lisa Chambers said, "Being able to experience different cultures in such a fun and accessible way will help our children to appreciate and respect the cultural backgrounds of their classmates and will inspire them to learn more about the wide world that surrounds them."
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Mother Gives Birth in Car
BACKSEAT BABY!
• BABY Huzaifa with Father Zabir Hussain
A
father was left holding his baby when his wife gave birth to their fourth child – in the backseat of their car whilst on the way to the hospital. Zabir Hussain was driving his wife, Madia, to Birmingham’s City Hospital after she went into labour at their home. The hospital was just 10 minutes from their home in Smethwick. Zabir was driving the couples Mercedes E-Class, when their
• BABY Huzaifa brother Eesaa & sisters Aliyah & Amina baby boy, Huzaifah, arrived on route. However, the calm father received advice over the phone by the hospital on how to look after his wife and newborn. “It all happened so quickly,” said Zabir. “My wife was having pains at home, and so we got into the car to go to hospital. But it became obvious quite quickly that she wasn’t going to make it. “I was on the phone to the hospital, and
SEARCH CONTINUES FOR
JASPAL GILL
• BABY Huzaifa
Police are growing increasingly concerned for the safety of a Dutch teenager missing at the time of print since the early hours of 19 May. Jaspal Gill , who has been missing twice before, was last seen at her home on Gregory Avenue, Finham at around 12.30am and was reported missing just over an hour later. The girl, who attends Tile Hill school, is described as Asian, around 5’6" tall, of medium build and with long straight black hair. It is not known what clothes she was wearing when she left.
West Midlands Police Issue Appeal for Teenager
they said I could pull over and wait for an ambulance or keep driving and they would be waiting for us. They were instructing me on the phone what to do. “I knew I had to stay calm and get my wife to the hospital as quickly as possible. I was a bit panicked, but it was a magical moment really. “There is no feeling in the world like it. We were shocked because the baby wasn’t due
for another few weeks, so at first we thought it might be a false alarm. “We certainly didn’t expect him to arrive during the journey!” Huzaifah, who weighed a healthy 7lbs 9oz, joins big sisters Amina, 10, Aliyah, nine and brother Eesaa. “It was a lot quicker than any of my other pregnancies,” said mum, Madia. “I was a little bit panicked, but I wasn’t scared. I knew that I was in good hands with my husband.”
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PASSPORT PANTS SMUGGLER JAILED SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS
RANJIT POWER DISAPPEARANCE
A
Family Pay Tribute to Hotel Owner
n air steward who tried to smuggle fake passports into the UK by hiding them in his underpants has been sentenced to five years. Shaukat Ali Cheema, a senior air steward for Pakistan International Airlines, had 26 passports, 37 biodata passport pages and 13 driving licences hidden in his briefs when Border Force
officers arrested him as he passed through the customs channel at Birmingham Airport on 22 March 2015. The documents were concealed within special pockets and compartments sewn into the pants. The investigation was passed to the National Crime Agency's Border Policing Command, who charged Cheema with seven counts
POST OFFICE ROBBERY
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of possessing false identity documents with improper intention. Cheema, who had 40 years service with the airline, pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court. Dawn Cartwright, from the National Crime Agency's Border Policing Command, said: "The passports and driving licences that Cheema attempted to smuggle in his pants were intended for people across Europe and beyond: Italy, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Pakistan. "Fake documents are a serious concern for law enforcement. Those driving licences could have ended up in the hands of people who weren't qualified, or safe, to drive. And more generally, fake and fraudulently The men, aged between 18 and 25, were dressed in balaclavas and hoodies. A member of staff was stabbed a number of times in the leg but his injuries are not life threatening. It happened at about 8.40 this morning at the post office in Church Road. Chief Inspector Julian Harper, Force Incident Manager, said “We’re asking people to come forward if they saw anything suspicious in the area around that time to give us a call on 101 with any information."
• SMUGGLER: Shaukat Ali Cheema obtained documents helps criminals to avoid law enforcement detection and carry on in their criminality. We continue to work together with Border Force to make sure those who try to make life easy for criminals are intercepted and brought to justice."
T
he family of missing Wo l v e r h a m p t o n businessman, who was murdered whilst on a business trip to India, have spoken about their heartbreak. Ranjit Singh Power, who was the owner of the Ramada Park Hall Hotel, had not been heard from since he landed for a business trip in India on May 7. His family were offering a five-figure reward for any information about Mr Power. His children, Emma (26) and Gian (23) told of their
• DISAPPEARED: Ranjit Power utter devastation in losing the “the most loving, caring son, brother, father, uncle and grandfather.” Pouring her heart out, daughter Emma described how she felt like “the luckiest daughter alive to have been able to call him my Dad.” She said, “No matter how old you are you will always be my little girl' were the words I heard from my dad on endless occasions followed by one of his trademark bear hugs. “My father's love was immense, and I cannot put into words how much I will miss my father. No matter how many times we clashed because of our similar personalities, dad was always there for me. I wish I had the chance to thank him for the strength he has instilled in me over the years. “I am so proud of the his sheer determination over the years. He was a strong, proud man. My father will be so sorely missed. I will keep his memory alive and tell his
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granddaughter everyday what a kind warm hearted man her Nanaji was.” Son Gian expressed his pain in losing his “best friend, teacher and leader.” “The lessons my dad has taught me over the last 23 years will remain with me forever. The relationship we had was like no other. From China to Canada and everywhere in between we travelled together, we laughed, talked and those memories will never leave me. “There was nothing my dad did not know about my life. A strong willed man, my father has instilled his determination and drive within me. I will continue to live in his legacy, work hard and always help others and know he is with me every step of the way.” A man from the Jalandhar area of Punjab has confessed to the murder of Mr Power. Sukhdev Singh, a taxi driver, admitted to killing the hotel owner. Rosie Jones, Foreign Office spokeswoman, confirmed the death of a British national in India. “We are in touch with the local authorities and are awaiting further information. We are providing consular assistance to the family.”
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT SUPERINTENDENT
BASIT JAVID
Tell us about yourself? Currently I am Superintendent of local policing at Birmingham East Local Policing Unit, I have the West Midlands Police lead for Engagement, a member of Board of Governors at Sandwell College and a member of the Learners, Quality and Curriculum Committee. I was the least likely candidate to be a cop. I grew up between Rochdale, Bristol and Pakistan. I went to eleven schools in eleven years. Three weeks after my 17th birthday, I joined the Royal Navy as a helicopter engineer. I learnt more about myself in that first year than in the previous 17 years of my life. You get very confident about your own abilities, because you have to make life changing decisions everyday. I didn’t know anyone else who had joined the military and in the 6 years of being in the Royal Navy I had never seen another Pakistani-Muslim officer. That is very different to today’s day and age. It’s a very clear career path. There is a lot of variety. After leaving the military I joined the police service at Avon and Somerset, at the age of 22. The beauty of policing is that you come to work with an idea and you can guarantee that it will change. Every single day, things will happen. My family have always been very supportive.
which match the demographic of East Birmingham – from different ethnicities and religions. What we have done in the past is that the police have set the agenda and we just go from there. It should be independent of the police, advising the police and it should be a group from the community.
How do you intend to implement it? The IAG will be setting the agenda about the issue. The issue will come through their own contacts. It allows the police service to be more representative of the community. My view after 21 years of policing is that if we don’t reflect the community we serve, we will not have the best opportunity to gain the public’s confidence. It is a real challenge. At the moment, West Midlands Police does not reflect the community of the West Midlands. About 9% is only BME.
Tell us about an on-going local policing initiative
“
It is a real challenge. At the moment, West Midlands Police does not reflect the community of the West Midlands. About 9% is only BME
Public engagement is the key. Having the community involved in what we do is more important than ever. Public services use the term "hard to reach" - I don't believe any community is hard to reach. Whatever you have to do, you should do it in the right way. Being the Superintendent for East Birmingham, we look across communities to see how we engage through social media, face-to-face and over the Internet. Social media like Twitter is good to tap in to a completely new group of people. If for instance we create a web chat - people will engage with us that never have before. We have streamed out some of our local meetings. But face-to-face is really important. It's important that all areas of Birmingham have local policing; every area has a dedicated team or sergeant, PC or PCSO's. Very often people don't know who their local cops are. But now what we have done is all this information is available online. The public can see when their local police officers are available and how to contact them.
What is The Independant Advisory Group The concept of IAG is to tap into issues that are more relevant on a more local level, more strategic issues such as stop and search, counter-terrorism, guns and gangs, CSE, all of these things that hit the national headlines. It is about picking people from the local community and working alongside them. It’s about gaining their trust. We will pick around 20 people
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Edgbaston Stadium Supplier Testimonials Edgbaston Stadium are proud to have provided a wedding venue for over 100 weddings since the new Pavilion Stand opened in July 2010.
Our team at Edgbaston Stadium, the County Ground, pride ourselves on the weddings and events we facilitate here at the Stadium. Working alongside suppliers is really important to us and having a strong relationship with suppliers is a must! Below are some of the testimonials we have received from suppliers in the last few months; “Always a pleasure working at Edgbaston Stadium, from the number of high scale of events we have performed at here, all of the onsite team have been co-operative with us in order to fulfil maximum potential for customer satisfaction.” AJD – Kudos Music "It is always a pleasure working and hosting an event at Edgbaston Stadium, the staff are courteous and are always willing to go the extra mile in order to make sure top quality service is ensured. The venue is modern and has all the up to date facilities to make working there a hassle free process, we highly recommend Edgbaston Cricket Ground to all of our prospective clients for quality as well as service" Manpreet Doal, Director, Crush Cocktail Bars Edgbaston Stadium is a dream location for the Maz Events team; the space is vast, ceilings high and the ability to create stunning settings is endless. In the many years of working there we’ve created some magical settings for brides and grooms. There are so many advantages to Edgbaston such as its capacity, its central location, proximity to the motorways and
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excellent facilities – together these make Edgbaston Cricket Club one of our top suggestions for clients wanting venues. The venue works really well for all sorts of events; traditional Indian weddings, grand receptions, Muslim weddings and walima’s as well as other celebrations. It’s always important for us to work at venues that make it operationally easy to work there. The staff at Edgbaston are professional, experienced and really accommodating making the suppliers’ jobs easy to deliver a great event. We always look forward to our next event at Edgbaston Cricket Club. Rita, Owner, Maz Events All staff at Johal catering enjoy working alongside Edgbaston Stadium. The professionalism alongside high quality of service provided by the in house friendly staff allows our functions to run smoothly. We really enjoy working alongside this venue and look forward to many more catering events in the future." Johal Catering To find out more about our weddings and self-catered events please contact Navneet Mangat 0121 446 3632 or navneetmangat@edgbaston.com
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RAMADHAN“
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In Association with Ghamkol Sharif Mosque (Birmingham)
The Month of Mercy
F
ast approaching is the holy month of Ramadhan, a blessed month, full of gifts and blessings. Ramadhan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is distinguished from all other months by a number of virtues. Fasting has been prescribed in this holy month. Muslims all over the world fast from dawn till dusk, ensuring not a morsel of food or a sip of water is consumed during daylight. The Holy Qur’an was revealed in this month. A special prayer has been placed in the night known as the tarawih p r a y e r , where the
complete Qur’an is recited over the month. A night has been placed in this month better than a thousand months known as ‘laylatul qadr’ or ‘the night of Power’. These are but some of the virtues of the holy month of Ramadhan. The messenger of Allah, upon him be peace and abundant salutations, said: ‘There has come to you Ramadhan, a blessed month in which fasting has been prescribed for you, the doors of Heaven are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. In it there is a night better than a thousand nights. Whoever then does not acquire its goodness is surely deprived.’ A very special virtue of
this month is forgiveness of all past sins, for those fasting in the day and standing in the night to worship, seeking the pleasure and reward of Allah. Ramadhan brings hopes to those lost in despair. Ramadhan is a time for reflection. Ramadhan allows us to connect to our spiritual existence, an existence that is overpowered in a world dictated by materialistic objectives, lusts and desires. Fasting, reciting the Holy Qur’an, giving in charity, helping the needy, praying are all nourishment for the soul. Ramadhan allows us to look deep within ourselves and rejuvenate our connection with Allah. Ramadhan brings families together and strengthens the relationships we cherish. Twice a day, at suhur (pre dawn meal) and at iftar (post sunset), the whole
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A time for reflection, Ramadhan allows us to connect to our spiritual existence, an existence that is overpowered in a world dictated by materialistic objectives, lusts and desires.
family comes together and share food. Every suhur and iftar feels like an annual festival. These times are ever so more blessed for these being times of the acceptance of supplications. The central objective of Ramadhan and fasting in particular is to become pious and be more Godconscious. Fasting has been prescribed for us as it had been prescribed for nations before us, and is from the favours of Allah upon us. It is important to prepare
yourself for receiving Ramadhan. A person will truly benefit from this month of mercy if one understands its rank and
greets this blessed month with love and yearning. May Allah allow us to benefit from and honour this blessed month.
Written by Shaykh Mohammed Yaseen - Education Coordinator, Ghamkol Sharif Education Centre
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Mother Left Furious After Council Blunder
TWINS SEPARATE PRIMARY PLACES
• SEPERATED: Daawud and Ibrahim Rassol
T
he mother of two Birmingham twins has spoken about their devastation after they were given a spot in two different schools. Daawud and Ibrahim Rassol, who have never spent a day apart, were offered a space at Whitecrest Primary School and Ferndale Primary. Sumaya Rassol has spoken about how Sandwell Council has had a mix up over the two applications. Speaking of how she will be unable to make the journey to two separate schools, she said, “I phoned the council immediately and they claimed that although
they had two files, they were both under Ibrahim’s name, and they admitted there must have been some kind of clerical error,” “I am 100 per cent certain that I submitted an application for both of the boys. I am very meticulous, especially when it comes to something so important. I double and triple checked the applications.” “To say we are furious is an understatement. “We brought our house specifically because of its close proximity to Whitecrest and that’s where we had out heart set on the
boys going. It is a one-form entry school and I know it is always oversubscribed, but I was assured there would be a place for both boys.” Cabinet member for children’s services, Simon Hackett, said, “We have gone back and checked our records. Unfortunately they show Mrs Rassool applied twice – but for the same twin. She did not apply for a place for her other son. “As a result, we merged the same application form for one son because it was not apparent he was a twin. “By the time we became aware of the situation all the places had been offered at Whitecrest School. “We have offered the family two places at Ferndale School, which is the closest school with two places available, but they have refused. “While there is a closing date for appeals, which this year was 15 May, we do continue to accept appeal requests through to September and I believe Mr and Mrs Rassool are now appealing.” Mrs Rassol has said she plans to appeal.
DREAM COME TRUE Delight for Arsenal Fan
A
football fan has expressed his delight after winning a competition to play at the stadium of his supported team. Devoted Arsenal FC fan Kareem Hameed has won the chance to enter his own team into the Europcar Cup Five-aside tournament, which takes place at the Emirates Stadium in London. He will even prepare for the game in the official changing rooms – like his Arsenal heroes – and receive a pre-match briefing in the dug-out. The 18-year-old, "I've been an Arsenal fan since I was a kid, so to get an opportunity to play on the same pitch as my football idols is a dream come true. "I was completely gobsmacked when I received the news that I was getting to
play at Emirates Stadium.I feel like the luckiest person in the world." Supporters were invited to tweet an image of themselves in their Arsenal shirt with the hashtag '#EuropcarCup' in order for a chance to win. Kareem has already selected his team of friends and family to join his squad for the day. He believes they have what it takes to be crowned the inaugural Europcar Cup champions. Kareem, who studies business full-time at Aston University, added, "I would say we have an excellent chance of lifting the trophy on the day. We have been putting in plenty of practice in the lead-up to the event to make sure that we will gel as a team.
JUNE 2015
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LEGAL COLUMN ABOLISHING TAX CREDITS: HOW THE UNIVERSAL CREDIT COULD AFFECT ME
M
any will be blissfully unaware that a new Universal Credit was introduced by the government in 2012 as part of its welfare reforms. It replaces seven of the means tested benefits including child and working tax credits. It has already been introduced in different parts of the country and now the Tories have obtained a majority it is going to be phased out across to all parts of the country by 2017.
@mhandsfamilylaw
• LEGAL - Mark Hands
£12bn in welfare savings I very much suspect its introduction will mean, in one way or the other, some form of cut to the amount of financial help you receive.
Why is a family solicitor telling me this? Good point. Well, there is more… Presently any child or spousal maintenance payments from an exspouse are not taken into account when calculating tax credits. They are completely ignored. A claimant therefore receives his or her maximum entitlement in tax credits. Whilst child maintenance will continue to be ignored, the calculation of the Universal Credit will take into account any spousal maintenance a claimant is receiving. It will deduct spousal maintenance in a pound for pound way from any Universal Credit calculation. So let’s say a claimant is receiving the Universal
Credit of £900 p/m and spousal maintenance of £400 p/m. Under the ‘old’ rules they would receive £1,300 p/m. Under the new Universal Credit the spousal maintenance will be deducted and a claimant will receive just £900 (being £400p/m in maintenance and £500 for the Universal Credit (£900 - £400)). This is a significant development. Tax credits are very often taken into account when looking at maintenance for an ex-spouse. Many hard working people rely heavily on tax credits as a way of financially supporting their family. This is even more relevant in single parent families after a separation.
What are the implications? It is now more important than ever that we make sure the impact of the Universal Credit is factored into any settlement. It may mean that Husband’s (and it usually is gents) pick up the governments tab. The law will not change. A family court is still going to want to ensure the financial needs of any children and the Wife are met. The court will need to undertake a close examination of whether it is affordable to a Husband to bridge the gap created by the Universal Credit. I believe there will be a greater onus placed on the Wife, in cases where
FAITH HILLS BRING PEACE
SALAAM SHALOM SHANTI PEACE T
What does this mean for me? It will mean that if you receive tax credits (or other means tested benefits) you will receive just the Universal Credit. Given that the government needs to find
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it is not affordable to the Husband, to maximise income from employment. One thing for sure is that this is going to create a headache for all family ractitioners and judges. In many cases it could significantly alter the approach taken and the outcome. I also predict future disputes arising from orders already made and which were based on an understanding that any spousal maintenance award would be supported by tax credits. The award may now not be satisfactory when the universal Credit is introduced.
he Shri Ventakeswara Balaji Temple, Tividale is based on a 25 acre site. The site gardens have 7 faith hills each dedicated to Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. This faith hill philosophy is the brain child of Dr Narayan Rao, Chairman of the Temple. Dr Rao says the purpose is so that visitors and devotees will understand that we take interfaith seriously and that no one religion is superior than another and this is important in these times. His vision has been supported by his fellow Trustees, Dr S. Rajah and Mr Ramana Rao. Raaj Shamji, a management accountant by trade, and part time Asian Toastmaster and a lover of interfaith has been appointed by the Trustees to deliver his second project at the Temple after the successful Parsi Hill Project where the Zoroastrian Community was brought to the Temple with chief guests Lord Karan Bilimoria and Kashmira Cooke (Freddie Mercury’s sister) present to unveil a Farohar (Zoroastrian symbol) made and sponsored
by Tata Steel. Raaj is very grateful for the opportunity and loves being a volunteer as this unique and beautiful site. The new project is to bring together both Jewish and Muslim communities together to dedicate their respective hills with a monument and to be unveiled by key members of the Muslim and Jewish community. Raaj confidently said that he wants to create such a buzz that this project should attract the likes of Alan Sugar and boxer Amir Khan. The project is fittingly called “Salaam Shalom Shanti Peace”. Raaj commented just like any project of magnitude it faces challenges but in the main the response from all communities has been positive and is trilled of the Lord Lieutenant Paul Sabapathy CBE support who said "The 'Salaam Shalom Shanti Peace' faith hill project will bring people from both Jewish and Muslim faiths to the Balaji Hindu Temple to celebrate a day of peace and love" The monuments on the hills will be constructed by local Black Country artist Luke
• FAITH HILLS: Judaism faith hill at the temple site
This faith hill philosophy is the brain child of Dr Narayan Rao, Chairman of the Temple
• FAITH HILLS: Dr Narayan Rao with Raaj Shamji Perry who has a family history in steel work for more than 250 years. Raaj mentioned that it is so important that the local Black Country community are an integral part of the temple community. The project’s working group consists of local Jewish and Muslim members and they are working to draw interest from Imams, Rabbi’s and businesses with the aim to deliver a prestigious event
this autumn. Although religion forms the core of this project, it is very much a community cohesion project for lasting peace and understanding. It’s a project that is interfaith in action rather than interfaith for the sake of interfaith and tea drinking. Dedicated websites: w w w. j e w i s h h i l l u k . wordpress.com/ w w w. i s l a m i c h i l l u k . wordpress.com
• L-R Temple Trustee Dr S. Rajah, Artist Luke Perry & Waheed Saleem -
Chairman of the Lunar Society, working together to determine the final monument design for the Islamic Hill
CHARITY ALE FESTIVAL A SUCCESS RECORD CROWD COMES TO ANNUAL EVENT
L
ions Club of Coventry Godiva held their first Beer Festival on Saturday 9th May 2015 in collaboration with Daimler Green Centre.
The Festival was very well attended with 12 different ales available from local breweries. The ales were appreciated by all who
attended. The Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor Mrs Hazel Noonan attended the event and spent considerable time talking to organisers and visitors. She was also given a tour of the Daimler Green venue which was opened by The Mayor in May 2014. The Festival was organised as a joint charity fundraiser. The Lions' nomination was towards The Coronary Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham and Daimler Green's nomination was towards the Sikh Union Prosthetic Limb Project, India. A Grand total of one thousand and six hundred pounds was raised on the day and will be shared by the two nominated charities. Northampton Punjabi Association also supported the event with a 'hot dog'
stand serving traditionally flavoured and spicy pork sausages in a bread roll. Lions president Abbi Kundi stated, “We are so encouraged by the turnout, I am going to propose to my committee to make this festival an annual event”. An even bigger turnout is expected next year, thus raising more funds for charity. Daimler Green and Godiva Lions thank all their sponsors, supporters and team members for their ongoing support and enthusiasm.
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HEALTH COLUMN LIVING WITH HAY FEVER Doctors call it “seasonal allergic rhinitis”, but most of us know it as hay fever. It’s an allergy usually experienced in the summer months and mainly caused by grass pollen. Up to one in five people living in the United Kingdom have hay fever. Symptoms will differ from person to person and in most cases they will be mild. For some though, having hay fever can make summer a misery and can significantly affect concentration at work and at school. Hay fever can feel like a really bad cold, and symptoms can include: • Itchy and runny nose and eyes • Blocked nose and sneezing • An itchy throat • Headaches • Tiredness or irritability
If your symptoms are proving to be troublesome, see your GP who can prescribe medications such as antihistamine tablets or nose sprays, steroid nose sprays and anti-allergy eye drops. The majority of people respond well to these treatments and many of them are also available to buy without prescription. If you have severe hay fever and these treatments aren’t working, your GP may refer you to an allergy clinic for further assessment and see if you are suitable for pollen immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a treatment that “re-trains” the immune system to develop tolerance to pollen. This type of therapy has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms and
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IMMIGRATION BLOCK IS 'CHILD ABUSE' Father's Bid to Bring Home Wife and Son is Blocked
• DR AARNOUD HUISSOON, consultant immunologist at Heartlands Hospital
can be given to you as an injection into your skin or a tablet that dissolves under your tongue. Pollen is difficult to avoid but here are some tips to reduce your symptoms when the pollen count is high: • Before you go to bed, wash your hair so that any pollen in your hair does not get on the pillow. • Wearing wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen getting into the eyes. • Do not smoke or let other people smoke inside your house. Smoking and breathing in other people’s smoke will irritate the lining of your nose, eyes, throat and airways, which can make your symptoms worse. • Stay indoors when pollen count is high and keep windows and doors shut in the house. • If you are going outdoors, avoid walking in grassy areas, particularly in the early morning and evening when the pollen count is at its highest.
For more advice on how to treat hay fever and about immunotherapy, visit the NHS Choices website:
www.nhs.uk Are you on Twitter? To find out what is going on around our hospitals, and for latest news and updates follow us @heartofengland. Join our conversation today! Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust staff provides general and specialist hospital care across Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospitals, Good Hope Hospital and Birmingham Chest Clinic. The Trust also provides community health services across the borough of Solihull. The Trust employs more than 10,000 members of staff, making it one of the top five employers in the Midlands.
A Birmingham man whose bid to bring his wife and young son to England was blocked by the government has likened the ban to “child abuse”. Mohammed Fiaz, from Kings Heath, who was originally permitted by
an immigration judge to call his young family from Pakistan, has launched a three-year campaign to bring his wife and four-year-old son to Birmingham after the decision was successfully appealed against by the Home Office.
“The block on my son joining his brothers and sisters in Kings Heath is like some kind of child abuse."
The warehouse worker has appealed at Birmingham's Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber to have the ban lifted. Fiaz, who divorced his first wife with whom he had five children in 2010, remarried in the same year to his second wife. A year later, his son was born. Mr Neville Smart, representing the Home
BHANGRA DANCERS ENTERTAIN TIGERS
Gabhru Panjab De Performed at Halftime for Leicester Tigers •
Office, has suggested that confusion arose regarding Fiaz's domestic situation which a previous judge had ruled in his favour. Deputy Judge John McCarthy has said that a decision would be made at a later date after further evidence was considered. Fiaz, who has said he is unable to take up permanent employment as he has to care for his five children following the divorce, said after the hearing: “I have not seen my wife and our son for 15 months. “The block on my son joining his brothers and sisters in Kings Heath is like some kind of child abuse. “My wife and son should not be prevented from joining us.”
DANCE GROUP: West Midlands-based ‘Gabhru Panjab De Bhangra Dancers’ (GPD)
To make this programme a reality, Leicester Tigers need your votes. Google Nach Nach Tigers and click on the Aviva Community Fund link to vote for the programme.
D
ance group from West Midlands ‘Gabhru Panjab De Bhangra Dancers’ (GPD) were invited to perform in front of a crowd of 24,000 at the Leicester Tigers vs. Northampton Saints game and launch the Leicester Tigers Foundation’s new ‘Nach Nach Tigers’ program on Saturday 16th May 2015 at Welford Road stadium. GPD entertained the fans during the pre-match, walking Leicester Tigers onto the pitch and performance during the half time. Gabhru Panjab De, the winners of the UK Bhangra Awards 2014 as the ‘Best Dance Group’ is UK’s most respected Bhangra dance group, they have been dominating the entertainment industry since 1988 through Bhangra music and dance, leaving audiences
wowed and completely spellbound. GPD Manager/Vice-Chair, Aki Sandhu said, “This was a highly anticipated final home match game of the year for Leicester Tigers and the league leaders Northampton Saints. It was an honour for Gabhru’s to perform at the Stadium, the atmosphere was amazing and electrifying! GPD have been at the forefront of Bhangra for the last 27years and growing from strength to strength.” Leicester Tigers beat Northampton Saints 22-14 to secure a play-off away to Bath. Saturday's game was a sell-out and live coverage of the match was shown on BT Sport 1. Scott Clark, Tigers Foundation Trustees said -"We're very excited to have Gabhru Panjab De dancers
leading our entertainment on the most important game of the season to get the fans energized ahead of kick off and at half time. GPD’s energy is also going into promoting the new Nach Nach Tigers Inner City Leicester program that the Leicester Tigers Foundation are aiming to launch in September 2015 through the Aviva Community Fund. Nach Nach Tigers will see music, rugby and dance fuse to promote healthy living, sports participation, and give inner city communities the chance to come together at the home of the Leicester Tigers." GPD Chairperson, Bindi Sandhu said, “Gabhru Panjab De Bhangra Dancers continue breaking down dance barriers, our dancers, singers and musicians thoroughly
enjoyed entertaining the Tigers fans and launching the Leicester Tigers Foundation’s new ‘Nach Nach Tigers’ program at Saturdays game. The aim of the program is to run structured Bhangra dance and music workshops at Schools across Leicester with an introduction to Rugby also at each school. Today GPD are considered as the ambassadors of Bhangra in UK, with numerous performances around the world and many accolades to show for our hard work and dedication. "GPD look forward to working with the Leicester Tigers Foundation in delivering the Nach Nach Tigers programme to help bridge the gap between the Indian community and professional rugby in Leicester city.”
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JUNE 2015
MIDLANDS MILLIONAIRES REVEALED The entrepreneurial spirit from the Midlands was recognised and celebrated at the Asian Business Awards ceremony which also took place on the night as well as the announcement the Asian Rich List.
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Fast Growth Business:
This year’s Top 10 wealthiest Asians across the Midlands region are:
Lord Swraj & Angad Paul Caparo Group (£725m)
The Winners of this years's Asian Business Awards Midlands Are:
Dr Nik Kotecha Chief Executive Officer MORNINGSIDE PHARMACEUTICALS
Asian Business of the Year:
International Business Award:
T
he ongoing annual battle of the Midlands’ Asian millionaires this year saw Ranjit Boparan of 2 Sisters Food Group maintain his position at the top of the money mountain ahead of Steel tycoon Lord Swraj Paul for the third consecutive year. Ranjit Boparan, of 2 Sisters Food Group, now acknowledged as the country’s second largest food production company, is in fact the only official Asian billionaire in the Midlands. Despite a challenging year
“
guns’ are making their mark in the Midlands, with two of the millionaires being under 40 and 16 being aged between 40 and 50. The Midlands millionaires are in fact significantly younger (54.4 cf 60) than those featured in the national Asian rich list, with the youngest entrepreneur on the list this year being Kavi Jundu, with his West Bromwich based cardboard box manufacturing company Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of AMG and one of a panel of four experts
The list shows the remarkable resilience and diversity of Asian businesses in the UK
Hasmukh, Kamlesh & Sailesh
HKS RETAIL
Manufacturer of the Year:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ranjit & Baljinder Boparan Boparan Holdings (£1.35bn)
“
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Charan Dass Sohal
ORBIT INTERNATIONAL
Restaurant of the Year:
for the business, his wealth is valued at £1.35billion, an overall increase in net worth of £50 million, and representing just over a quarter of the overall net worth of the 51 millionaires on this year’s list. With the entry point for this year’s list being set at £12 million, one would expect many of the business owners to be first generation immigrants that have worked hard to build their fortunes – however interestingly, the list shows that the ‘young
who has examined British Asian wealth over the last year for the Asian Rich List, said: "The list shows the remarkable resilience and diversity of Asian businesses in the UK. Despite the challenges of the general economy many business leaders in the community have seen opportunity and potential and moved quickly to capitalise. It is an inspiring picture and one that should energise entrepreneurs everywhere.
Anil Aggarwal Barker Shoes Ltd (£370m)
Abdul Rashid & Aziz Tayub Crown Crest Group (£200m) Shiraz Tejani LPC (£150m)
Tony Deep Wouhra East End Foods (£85m) Anup, Nitin & Pankaj Sodha Lexon (UK) Ltd (£82m) Paul Bassi Bond Wolfe (£80m) Abdul Ali Mahomed Euro Packaging (£75m) Palminder & Engrez Sanghera SEP Properties (£75m)
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SPECIAL FATHER'S DAY FEATURE
GAURAV’S NEW LEASE OF LIFE Sunny Bains Sits Down with The Asian Today To Talk Family Life
I
t was a day to forget for parents Sunny and Gurprit Bains, a day which forever changed the course of their lives. On a lukewarm spring day, and after a referral to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, the family were left devastated after being told that their two-year-old son, Gaurav, was suffering from a rare blood disorder called Monosomy 7. Looking back at that time, dad Sunny, said it was a very surreal moment. “I remember when the doctor told us, I was lost for words. Thinking it’s a mistake and there is no way my son could potentially have leukaemia. This is something you read about in the papers, not something you expect to happen to your own child.” Spending most of their time at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Gaurav needed an urgent stem cell operation which would stop him developing an aggressive form of childhood leukaemia. The family were given more misery when their blood failed to match Gaurav’s – which meant they had to turn to the national database. Having a shortage of Asian donors the family were unable to find a match on the register. Sunny and Gurprit launched an appeal for more bone marrow donors and in an unprecedented move saw over 8,000 people join the bone marrow register, an increase of 1200%, according to statistics released by charities Anthony Nolan and Delete Blood Cancer. “It was so overwhelming. We felt down and out, ready to give up. We even spoke about things like having to plan for Gaurav's funeral. But at a time when we needed it most, our friends, family, and strangers from all over came to give us support in so many ways. I can honestly say it’s because of every one of those people we found hope and faith when we needed it most. “I knew I had to keep it together for the sake of my family. I always knew I could not afford to let myself crumble as that wouldn’t help Gurprit or the kids. To the outside (and that includes my family) I always kept a brave face and always tried to stay cheerful and confident for the kids and Gurprit so they had someone to lean on. I’ve never really admitted this before, but deep down I was a mess and crumbling inside. So many times I wanted to let it all out but knew I couldn’t. “Gurprit and I had many heart to heart chats all the time in the early hours when the kids would be asleep. I know her support helped so much and I could not have got through it without her. Through this entire nightmare she became my strength and I feel we are closer than ever. “We now go to hospital less and less and Gaurav is becoming more and more active all the time. It honestly is like he has a new lease of life. “The journey since the Bone marrow transplant has seen many ups and downs. Sometimes it felt like 1 step forward then
2 steps back. But that step forward is something we always held onto for hope. Gaurav has had to learn things like walking and crawling all over again as he was so weak he could not do it at first. Now we are beginning to see more positive steps forward than backwards and pray that it continues. “I love being a father. Kiran is so creative, cheeky and smart. I love finding little notes she leaves around the house telling us how much she loves us (and sometimes how we are mean because she doesn’t get what she wants) “The best thing about being Gaurav's dad I suppose I'd say is being able to be there to help him learn new things all the time and seeing him become more and more strong on his own. He is the type of boy if he falls down; he dusts himself off, gets up and tries again until he does it. I love that so much about him. His laugh is infectious and when I make him laugh that is the best feeling in the world. I love them, both in their own way. “When Gaurav is older and looks back at this time in his life, I would always want him to know how so many people came together to help him. I want him to know what a wonderfully amazing thing he has done in raising awareness about blood cancer and how his lovely cheeky looks and personality has helped save many other lives because people registered as a stem cell donor and became a match for others who needed it."
He is the type of boy if he falls down; he dusts himself off, gets up and tries again until he does it. I love that so much about him.
•
DURING CHEMOTHERAPY: Gaurav was suffering from a rare blood disorder called Monosomy 7
• FATHER AND SON: Sunny Bains with two-year-old Gaurav
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SUPER
SURPRISE FOR SIKH SAMARITAN A
Sikh man, who won the hearts of millions of people when he broke strict religious protocol by taking off his turban to cradle a young boy who had been hit by a car, has been rewarded for his kindness. 22-year-old Harman Singh became an internet sensation after an image of him embracing the head of 5-year-old Daejon Pahia went viral prompting a local news channel to visit him. The news channel discovered that Mr Singh slept on a mattress on the floor, plastic garden chairs and a table in his lounge. The newspaper contacted a local furniture business, who agreed to supply Mr Singh with secret furniture. Harman, who is an international student studying business in Auckland, was overwhelmed with the out pouring of generosity saying, “thank you I'm very happy” before being reduced to tears. “It was 'the biggest surprise of my life'. My father passed away last year. If he could see me right now - he would be proud of me,' he said. Looking back at the incident, he said that he did not think twice about helping Daejon. “I wasn't
HARMAN SINGH GIVEN GENEROUS GIFT BY COMMUNITY
thinking about the turban. I was thinking about the accident and I just thought. He needs something on his head because he's bleeding. That's my job - to help. And I think anyone else would have done the same as me." "I am not a hero," he said. "I just wanted to get there for him and help the little boy." "I was only doing what I had to and trying to be a decent member of the community,' he said. 'Thanks to all who messages, calls... thanks all the worldwide Facebook members who messaged me. I think I just did my job
nothing else.' Harman has since been to visit little Daejon. “'I am just so happy to see him - he is such a very brave guy,' 'He is doing well and is stable, but he was so shy when I would enter the room. Shiralee Pahia, Daejon’s mother, also praised Harman’s actions. “I just really want to thank him because I know it's against his religion to take that kind of stuff off so I just really want to thank him because if it wasn't for him my son wouldn't be here,' 'I was just shocked, I just went into my own little world, I didn't say anything
to anybody, I was just pulling my head together."
SANDWELL & BIRMINGHAM MELA Dates Announced for Popular Event T
he popular Sandwell & Birmingham Mela is back for 2015 - and will be held on the weekend of Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July in Victoria Park, Smethwick. After the huge success of last year’s Mela, which attracted more than 120,000 people, big plans are under way as the two-day festival celebrates its fifth year. Following a successful partnership in 2014, Lebara has committed to support the event for a second year, this time as title sponsor. The Lebara Sandwell & Birmingham Mela has become one of the largest cultural celebrations in the UK, showcasing South Asian culture and talent on an international stage. The festival promises to be a weekend extravaganza
combining music, dance, sport, food, shows and a funfair. With a mix of international artists, community arts and cultural groups, the event will be a celebration of culture over nine different ‘zones’, including a massive Mela carnival. Danny Singh, chair of Lebara Sandwell & Birmingham Mela, said, “After the overwhelming success of last year’s Mela, we look forward to taking Lebara Sandwell & Birmingham Mela 2015 to the next level with the support of our title sponsor. "Set in the heart of the community, this event has something for everyone. So get the weekend of 25 and 26 July 2015 in your diary now.” Sandwell Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper
said, “The Mela is always a real highlight of the calendar, bringing together community events and international stars and open to everyone with a feast of entertainment, food and activities. "It draws people from all over the country and this fifth annual Mela promises to be a fantastic spectacle in the heart of Smethwick.” Yoganathan Ratheesan, chairman and CEO of Lebara, added, "At Lebara we are passionate about embracing culture and diversity. "The spirit of Mela is all about bringing families and communities together to celebrate the richness of South Asian culture, so we are delighted to continue our partnership, and we’re looking forward to an even more spectacular event this year."
NEWS
DONOR JOY FOR RAJ
Successful Appeal Sees Match Found
A
matching blood stem cell donor has finally been found for Raj Singh Bhuller. Raj, who is from Slough, has acute myeloid leukaemia and requires a blood stem cell donation to get better and will now receive blood stem cells from the matching donor in the next few weeks. Delete Blood Cancer has been working with his family for months in appealing to the public to find a matching donor for him, and for all those in need of a blood stem cell donation. The appeal was directed at those who shared Raj’s South Asian background in particular, as those with a similar background are most
likely to provide the best suitable match for him. With only four per cent of those registered to be on standby to donate some of their blood stem cells in the UK having an Asian background, the appeal aimed to increase this statistic. Raj, who is 51 years-old and married with two sons, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia on Christmas Eve 2014. He has said that the diagnosis has turned his and his family’s world upside down. Speaking about a matching donor being found for Raj, his family has said: “We want to thank every single last one of you for the love, support and prayers you have provided on every step of Raj's journey so far.
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EDUCATION
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STUDENTS REWARDED FOR THEIR SUCCESS
COLLEGE NETWORK CREATING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH InBusiness
Birmingham Post, Media students have provided technical support for high profile functions for the IAB at major venues, Motor Vehicle students have worked on cars provided
• STUDENTS: SCCB Fashion Students with their 'creation' for the Bull in the Bull Ring.
opens many doors for South and City College students helping to shape the future workforce of the region. Companies from all sectors of industry meet at the various Networking events organised by the College InBusiness Team and from the many conversations at those B2B functions student projects are borne. Working together with our business partners delivers at all levels in many different ways. Our Music students have played at Awards Dinner receptions for the
by Toyota, Fashion students have designed hats for major tennis tournaments at the Priory, which included ‘dressing the Bull’ in the Bull Ring, Photography students have attended design shows in London for MG and the list goes on and on….. Not only does the College InBusiness Network create work experience opportunities for young people, it offers ‘real life’ projects that will help sharpen the skillsets of students – setting them up for their future careers.
If you would like to get your business or organisation involved with the South and City College InBusiness Network and help drive opportunities for your company AND provide career platforms for our College Students please contact Steve or Dawn at steve.dourass@sccb.ac.uk and dawn.edwards@sccb.ac.uk
www.sccb.ac.uk Tel: 0800 111 6311 @southandcitycol
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EDUCATION
ABBEY’S ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
The South and City College InBusiness Network continues to create opportunities for the businesses and organisations within its membership and crucially
JUNE 2015
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bbey College Birmingham students were recognised for their incredible academic success at a prestigious award ceremony held at the Priory Rooms in Birmingham. Teachers nominated the top students who showed outstanding achievements in their studies and as the students took to centre stage to receive their awards they were also presented with a certificate and some students with a trophy. Special guest, The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Shafique Shah, was in attendance and presented the talented students with their awards. Upper sixth student Hassan Latif, (18), from Handsworth Wood, Birmingham received an award and a trophy for outstanding Upper Sixth student of the year and an academic award in Mathematics. GCSE student Callum Takhar, (14), from Monmouth Road, Warley Woods, received three awards for outstanding GCSE student of the year, effort award in GCSE Business Studies and an effort award in GCSE English. Hassan said: “I was so surprised and honoured to win these awards. It was a fantastic event and it was a pleasure to share it with my classmates. It is a memory and an achievement that I will take with me on to my next endeavour.” Callum said: “I am thrilled to receive three awards, particularly the outstanding GCSE student award as I work really hard and take my studies seriously. I can’t believe my hard work has been recognised and I am privileged to be at Abbey College Birmingham.” Stephen Robinson, Principal at Abbey College Birmingham, said: “The students have worked incredibly hard this year so I am thrilled they were given the chance to be recognised for their efforts. “I’m proud of all our award winners and it is a pleasure to be able to reward with prizes some of our most hardworking students for their effort and achievements. Students at Abbey College Birmingham aim high and the College makes every effort to support them to achieve their aspirations.” Abbey College Birmingham is a vibrant, independent sixth form college right in the heart of the city centre in Saint
Paul's Square offering GCSE and A-Level courses as well as an International Business Foundation Programme. With its clear focus on subjects leading to opportunities in Business, Medicine, Science and Engineering, Abbey College Birmingham shares the specialisms and expertise of its home city and is therefore uniquely-placed to offer students the very best preparation for university courses and career paths in these fields. The College maintains active links with universities and career providers in the city, and is well-known and highly-regarded for the excellence of its academic provision.
Thinking about going to COLLEGE next year? Interested in HIGHER EDUCATION? Want to find out what APPRENTICESHIPS are available to you? Come along to South and City College Birmingham’s OPEN DAY event this SATURDAY 6TH JUNE, 10am – 1pm.
Running across all of our campuses, our Open Day is a chance for you to see the college’s exceptional facilities, meet the tutors who teach the courses and try have-a-go activities to give you a sample of life at South and City, Birmingham. South and City College, Birmingham is a vocational college which offers students and adult learners part-time, full-time and apprenticeship courses from level 1 to higher education in a wide range of subjects. We currently provide courses and training to around 13,000 students and have multiple campuses and centres across Birmingham. Committed to ensuring students have the relevant skills, qualifications and experience required for their future, whether that is to seek employment or continue their education at college or university, the college has excellent facilities which we continue to invest in. This includes a purpose built construction centre, hair and beauty salons which are open to the public, a fine dining restaurant run by students, music and sound recording rooms, an industry standard auditorium and much more.
Interested? For further information about our Open Day and to check which campus you should visit, please visit http://www.sccb.ac.uk/about-us/open-days Alternatively, get in touch with us at hello@ southandcity.com or call us on 0800 111 6311
Coventry University Group Board of Governors Vacancies From September 2015 Coventry University will have a number of vacancies on its Board of Governors and the Board of Directors of its subsidiary companies. We are seeking innovative and dynamic individuals who will share in the University’s vision and help us deliver our ambitions, with skills, experience and expertise in the following areas: • Corporate finance/banking/ general financial management • Estates/property management • Research and development • Information technology • Business development • Human resources/recruitment • Customer services • Further education
We are proud of the rich diversity of our student body and hope to make appointments that reflect this diversification. Candidates should ideally have previous experience of working at a non-executive level or strategically within organisations. If you are interested please send your CV, together with a brief statement of what you can bring to the role. The closing date is
Monday 15th June 2015
Contact: E: matthew.challoner@coventry.ac.uk T: 024 7688 7030 For more information visit: www.coventry.ac.uk/board-of-governors
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JUNE 2015
EDUCATION
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OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT Al Burhan Grammar School Continues Progress
A
Birmingham school has been celebrating after being judged as ‘Outstanding.” Creating the right working atmosphere is vital for teenagers who are getting ready to sit their GCSEs, the Al Burhan Grammar School is doing just that. The Independent Girls School in Tyseley has just
been ranked as one of the top 100 schools in the country in the GCSE league tables published last month. Speaking with Headteacher Dr Mohammad Nasrullah, they are also over the moon when Ofsted ranked the AlBurhan Grammar School as outstanding. Inspectors not only praised the hard-work and dedication from the staff to educating
pupils at the school but also said the pupils 'perseverance, resilience and attitude to learning were exemplary.' The report was published on late November and praised Headteacher the staff for their commitment “to students achieving their very best academically and flourishing in their personal development.” With students travelling
"The proportion of students gaining five or more passes at GCSE grades A* to C, including English and Maths, in 2014 was very high when compared to the national figure." LEAD OFSTED INSPECTOR
from all over the West Midlands to study at Al Burhan Grammar School, the school has grown rapidly, owing to its popularity with parents. The school currently has 105 “selfdisciplined” and “work ethic mature” girls on its roll. Ofsted inspectors also noted the excellent improvement and progress which pupils make, with one inspector stating, “Teachers have high expectations of students’ achievement and typically expect students to make at least one GCSE grade progress across each school year, which is well above the average rate of progress seen nationally." Lead inspector, Jacqueline Wordsworth, said: “the
proportion of students gaining five or more passes at GCSE grades A* to C, including English and Maths, in 2014 was very high when compared to the national figure. This has been the case for a number of years.” She added, “Students who have special educational needs receive highly effective support enabling them to make outstanding progress and achieve well. All students have equal access to the curriculum.” The report said the school has, through its citizenship programme, successfully instilled, “the values underlying modern British society. "Students are taught
what it means to be law abiding and have a sound knowledge of the role of public institutions, such as the work of Parliament and the judiciary.” Admission for the 2015/16 academic year is now open. But don't just take our word for it, why not get in touch with Al-Burhan Grammar School today on 0121 440 5454 or visit www.alburhan. org.uk
The pupils 'perseverance, resilience and attitude to learning were exemplary'.
ADMISSION FOR THE 2015/16 ACADEMIC YEAR IS NOW OPEN Contact Al-Burhan Grammar School on 0121 440 5454 or visit www.alburhan.org.uk
EDUCATION
JUNE 2015
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37
100s of courses & apprenticeships – get the job you want!
OPEN DAY 6 JUNE
APPRENTICESHIPSTIVE & ENGINE BUSINESS | SPORT | MUSIC | CATERING & HOSPITALITY | MUSIC | FASHION | GAMES DEVELOPMENT HAIR & BEAUTY | HEALTH & SOCAL CARE | MEDIA | CONSTRUCTION RAPHY | PUBLIC SERVICES L | MOTOR VEHICLE 10-1PM |RETAI ALL CAMPUSES Have-a-go activities, apprenticeship vacancies, talk to tutors and get advice on the best option for you. Please ensure you go to the right campus for your desired subject – check our website for more details.
0800 111 6311 | www.southandcity.com /southandcitycollege
@southandcitycol
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SURI SINGH ON HOW OUR OBJECTIVES HAVE BECOME DILUTED
T
he society we live in today has witnessed some serious change over the last decade. What we do, how we live and how we make our decisions are no longer simple tasks. The rich, poor and middle class are no longer only established through appearance. I'm confident this millennium will see the death of many known cliques. The lines that once split us are now merging but what impact does this have on us as a society? Aspiration, greed, desires and dreams are in a different league now. The 'New money' crowds have found an avenue of flaunting their
exaggerated lifestyles to a global audience thanks to the likes of Instagram. Ironically this applies to the 'No money' crowds equally as much - who are constantly reinventing themselves to achieve some level of stature in their own heads. Remember in primary school when you would stand up to an audience of parents and teachers and with passion and vigour tell them what you wanted to be in life - "I want to be a pilot and fly around the world". Well the focus has shifted now with 'life' being replaced by weeks, or even days in some people's cases. What do I mean? I mean a lot of
Suri Singh, born and raised Londoner and media head who once lived the dream in Bollywood. One time Associate Editor of a National lifestyle magazine, giving you his perspective on all things relevant.
people want to be everything all at once. Their desires change week in week out. Their objectives are diluted. Blurred. So ask yourself this - who exactly are you? We all know someone who is exceptionally popular and living a ‘First Class’ lifestyle online, but in reality they are very much ‘Average Economy’. Seeking recognition for something that doesn’t actually impact your life. There is the norm, and then there are the exceptions – or perhaps the other way round. Either way its up to you to be who you want to be – and not who other people want you to be. Today’s news
is yesterdays history. When a natural disaster takes place the world takes to their phones to hash tag ‘Pray for…’, I do it too. It’s a way of showing connection, and awareness of life outside of our everyday surrounding. But does it make a difference. Is acknowledgment enough when we can really do more? Of course we can do more, but why don’t we? Our life gets in the way. What is important to one person isn’t to another – but universally our emotions are the same, simply translated into a different language. For example I love you in French is Je t’aime. It feels the same, it sounds different. Be sure
“
BLURRED LINES“
A lot of people want to be everything all at once. Their desires change week in week out. Their objectives are diluted. Blurred.
of yourself, without seeking validation from the likes on your pictures. Commit to do better. Be better. Become your vision. I don’t have a specific message – the title of this piece is a reflection on its content. It’s all a bit blurred. What I want to get across is that we are living in a time with the world has more than everything to offer. We just need to decide what it is that we want – piece by piece. A less diluted vision gives us clearer goals. Set your goals big, avoid distractions, climb the hurdles and do not give up – however stay focused on your goals because it’s so easy to lose sight of
The Male Brain Share his world on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @aboycalledsuri
something you were once so passionate about at the cost of something fickle. Write it down. Commit to it. Make it happen.
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INSIDE INSIDE
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NO.1 FOR ASIAN ENTERTAINMENT
ZACK KNIGHT'S GOT NAKHRE
AISHWARYA
AT CANNES PG. 40
ANUPAM KHER
MAKES HOLLYWOOD APPEARANCE
PG. 41
British-Asian Singing Sensation Talks to DesiXpress After scoring yet another number 1 on the Asian music charts, Zack Knight has a lot to celebrate. His latest song, Nakhre, has been an instant hit with audiences. “It kind of came about the same way the song “Dheere” came about, I was never planning on being the actual singer on the song. For a few years I was making songs and putting “dummy vocals” down for the intended singers as I only really wanted to concentrate on western
music at the time. But then I ended up being the artist on Dheere after the song has been sent to T-series and they offered me the opportunity to remix more of their catalogue. I was working with a talented band called Dewaan and one of the members happen to come over and asked me to work on a song for them. I remember hearing it back and thinking this song would be perfect for them, not even considering myself in the equation. This was nearly 2 years ago from
today.” But he doesn’t really give himself enough credit. “I write and produce all my own music with some help on this song from my cousin to translate some of the words into Punjabi. I have had successful singles before but this one really mattered being my own composition. I was criticised initially for following the remix route but the release of Nakhre has proved that I can’t be put in a box.
Continued on Page 43
HARBHAJAN MANN INTERWIEW PG. 42
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ASH'S JAZBAA REVEALED! The once Queen of Bollywood is finally set to make her return as the l o n g - awaited poster to her movie, Jazbaa, was revealed. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has not been in a movie since being cast in Guzaarish back in 2010. The movie was revealed at the recent Cannes Film Festival by director Sanjay Gupta. Jazbaa is the Hindi remake of the 2007 South Korean movie Seven Days, and tells the story of a lawyer forced to help a convicted killer. It also stars Irrfan Khan, Anupam Kher, Shabana Azmi, Jackie Shroff, Atul Kulkarni, Abhimanya Singh, Chandan Roy Sanyal and Siddhant Kapoor. Produced by Essel Vision, White Feather Films and Viking Entertainment, it will be released on October 9th.
Promo Poster to Comeback Movie Released
ALL ABOARD THE SUPERWOMAN PLANE
UK
Added to Lilly Singh Tour
YouTube sensation, Superwoman’s Unicorn Island World Tour will be stopping in the UK. After releasing her second track with Humble the Poet, Lilly Singh, recently announced her tour, which kicks off in India. “In a jam-packed night filled with laughter, music, dance, and plenty of surprises, Lilly will give you the inside scoop on how to navigate life’s turbulence by finding happiness and beauty in the world around you, and within yourself. A select number of firstclass ticket holders will get priority boarding, and a VIP meet-and-greet with Superwoman.” The UK Tour includes: London, Manchester and Birmingham. For more information, visit: lillysinghtour.com.
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BOLLYWOOD TO BHANGRA: Asian Entertainment Lowdown
B
ollywood stars graced the red carpet at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Celebrities included at the 2015 event were Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Sonam Kapoor and Mallika Sherawat. Bollywood star Katrina Kaif did not disappoint her fans when she posed for pictures at her red carpet debut at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival. The red-headed actress donned a stunning black offshoulder gown by Oscar de la Renta when she arrived for the opening ceremony and wore her sleek auburn hair sideswept. The 31-year-old, who is attending the film festival as a L'Oreal Paris brand ambassador, walked the red carpet with Oscar-winner Julianne Moore. The Bang Bang! Star, who is currently busy filming for Fitoor and Jagga Jasoos, will be shooting for L'Oreal Paris with the Hollywood actress, winner of the Best Actress Award at the Cannes International Film Festival 2014. The two, who also took a selfie together at the event, spoke for some time about the number of films Katrina has starred in and how she learned Hindi for Bollywood. Before the big event, Katrina, who has emphasised that she wants to enjoy the event without worrying about her looks, was clad in a black and white ensemble.
LADIES IN
RED
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WHO WORE IT
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TOP10 WITH KAMAL CHOPRA
ANUPAM KHER Veteran Actor Makes Hollywood Appearance Veteran actor Anupam Kher will feature in Netflix's series Sense8, a fictional American drama centred on eight strangers from eight different parts of the world. The show explores how they're connected through one thing which allows them to form a very distinctive relationship.
AGENT D BOLLYWOO AT CANNES CHOPRA
The elated actor, who used Twitter to share the action-packed and thrilling trailer set against a backdrop of gripping mystery, tweeted: “Presenting the sensational trailer of Wachowskys @ sense8 for #Netflix. Happy to part of this terrific project.” Viewers can catch all twelve episodes of the show on Netflix on June 5.
Priyanka's New FBI Role In Quantico
KAM CHOPRA
BOLLYWOOD 1 Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan - Roy 2 Jee Karda - Badlapur 3 Tu Hai Ke Nahi - Roy 4 Khamoshiyan - Title 5 Sooraj Dooba Hai - Roy 6 Katra Katra - Title 7
Phatte Tak Nachna - Dolly Ki Doli
8 Jeena Jeena - Badlapur 9 Tu Har Lamha - Khamoshiyan 10 Superman - Tevar
BHANGRA 1
Team PBN - Jatti Nachdi
2
Zack Knight - Nakhre
3
DJ Raj (Ft Harry)- Freshy
4
Diljit Dosanjh - Jatt Fire Karda
5
Harbhajan Maan (Tigerstyle) - Husn
6
Jenny Johal - Narma
7
TAB - Pretty Baby
8
Jay Kadn - Dil Nai Lagda
9
Ranjit Bawa - Yaari Chandigarh
10 Preet Harpal - Law
UK 1
Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars – Uptown
Hozier – Take me to church Fergie – L.A. Love (La La) 4 Meghan Trainor – Lips are movin 2 3
5 6 7 8 9 10
Kanye West, Rihanna & Paul McCartney – Four Five Seconds Phillip George – Wish you were mine Karen Harding – Say Something Ed Sheeran – Thinking out loud Olly Murs & Demi Lovato – Up Avicii – The Nights
@desixpress Priyanka Chopra has finished shooting the pilot episode of her new American television show, 'Quantico'. She is the first Indian actress to play a lead role in a US drama series and her debut performance will see her take on the role of Alex Parrish, a half-Caucasian and half-Indian FBI trainee with a haunting past. The show follows a diverse group
of recruits and their training at the FBI Quantico Base. Regarding her role, PC said: "I am constantly looking for new challenges that push the boundaries of my creativity and talent. "I have had an amazing experience shooting the pilot episode with them. I can't wait to get back on set to see where the writers lead us."
NA MALOOM AFRAAD, has been released in the UK, after a successful run in cinema’s across Pakistan. Three down-at-heel men devise a scheme to make them rich in this acclaimed comedy-thriller. Farhan (Fahad Mustafa), Moon (Mohsin Abbas Haider) and Shakeel (Javed Shaikh) are three poor souls who haven't had a lot of luck in life. But together, their devise a plan that they hope will bring them success and riches. This feature film debut from Nabeel Qureshi has been a smash hit in Pakistan, and won Best Supporting Actor, Best Actor, Best Debut and Best Editing trophies at this year's Tribune's Film Awards. It currently stands as the country's fourth highest grossing film ever. It has also been applauded by critics with one calling the movie, "an all-out, tongue-in-cheek, cleverly-crafted entertainer that leaves you pining for more movies of the same variety.”
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THE TRUTH IS OUT! Masood Confronts Shabnam
About Baby Secret
EastEnders fans got the shock of their lives as they see the fall out of Shabnam Masood’s baby drama. After celebrating her engagement with Fiancée Kush, Shabnam is confronted by dad, Masood.
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A SERENE DREAM WITH SERENA
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Quick Fire Questions
India or the UK? – India is where my heart will always be City or Countryside? – I grew up surrounded by jungles – definitely Countryside and the Outdoors! Urban Asian or RnB? – difficult to choose – my whole ethos is one of fusing sounds
Rishi Rich has delivered yet another amazing singer and songwriter in the form of Serena. South Indian born Serena Kern, who currently is having a highflying career as a lawyer in a top London firm, somehow still finds time to do her daily voice exercises. Serena is from Tamil Nadu and is half-Swiss. Consuming various genres of music, it wasn't until she got to university and began singing at open mic sessions that she discovered how in love with music she really was. Sitting down with DesiXpress, she talks music, her journey and the future. Your new single Dream tell us about the song and where did the idea come from? I flew to Atlanta to work with Rishi on this EP and the idea for Dream came to us when we were in his studio. Rishi was playing with some ideas and the sounds he was coming up with were really bubbly and vibrant and that is when the idea of Dream came about. The sounds conjured up memories of my teenage years and the song is a throwback to when I was a teenager. Tell us your journey with Rishi Rich and what is he like to work with? Rishi is obviously very talented (but I don't need to tell anyone that!). As a person, he is just a really nice, down to earth kind of guy. As an artist, it is so important to find a producer who is encouraging and supportive, and Rishi is just great that way!
put up little plays for my family when I was a child). I became more serious about music when I started university and this was when I started writing and recording my own songs. The reception was very good and I was invited to collaborate with a producer in south India on a few tracks. I was encouraged by this and from here music started to take on a life of its own and I have eventually found myself working with Rishi Rich! What is it like going from a high profiled job to the music industry? There are many overlaps between being a lawyer and being a musician. As a lawyer you learn to be careful and concise with language and words and as a songwriter, this is very important too. I have developed various skills in each job that I put to use in the other!
Tell us about your journey and how did you get into music?
How do you manage to balance life as lawyer and a singer?
Music has always been a passion. It started out as something I enjoyed doing at home (I used to
I always say that music is something that just comes naturally and is a real passion of
Comedy or Thriller? – Thriller… until I get too scared to watch…at which point I will switch channels to watch a Comedy!
mine. I don't really think about music as something I have to make time for or put in my diary as it is something I am always thinking about...it is an intrinsic part of my personality.
Sweet or Sour? – Definitely Sour! I’m half Swiss but have never been a fan of chocolate. We have a garden at home with an apple tree and one day a friend of ours observed me picking all the green apples and leaving the ripe ones. He thought I was colour blind!
You write your own lyrics where do you get the inspiration from? The lyrics usually emanate from an emotion I am feeling. For example, when I wrote Dream, the lyrics were inspired by the emotion that Rishi's music was conjuring up. I take inspiration from the little things in life, the moments I feel would be lost forever unless I captured them somehow. Growing up who did you enjoy listening to and who has inspired you? Growing up, I was blessed to be exposed to a variety of music and sounds, from south Indian Kollywood to Bollywood film songs as well as an array of music my father used to bring me from his travels overseas. As a child you tend to absorb everything and, to this day, consciously and unconsciously all these sounds come together in my music.
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You have worked with Rishi Richi is there anyone else you would look at working with? Working with Rishi has been amazing and we have really bonded well. You can work with the best in any filed, but if there is no connection and you are not able to bond, the outcome will never be great. Rishi and I work so well together and our working styles are so similar- both of us
“
What is the next for Serena?
The lyrics usually emanate from an emotion I am feeling
Rishi and I have been working on promoting Dream, but at the same time are excited about what we have created so far and want to test the waters with more new sounds and ideas. With Rishi at
the helm, I want to explore the unchartered territories in music, creating sounds that are fresh and yet have wide commercial appeal.
are perfectionists but at the same time are ruthlessly efficient! I want to explore further where our relationship will take us!
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A PIONEERING PUNJABI MOVIE
Harbhajan Mann Promotes Gadaar H
arbhajan Mann has been scaling the UK last month promoting his latest movie, Gadaar – The Traitor. The movie, a slick emotional-uspense thriller, is a film with special effects that have never been seen in Punjabi Cinema When asked, by DesiXpress, whether her preferred singing to acting, he replied, “That’s a tough question. First, it was Punjabi cinema. You have a script and you then you find that character. Any film I sign, I want to be able to play that character as Harbhajan Mann. Whilst playing the character I don’t want to be seen as Harbhajan Mann - I want to be seen as the character of that movie. But if I choose one - it would have to be singing. Singing is my first love. “The film I feel stands out from the run of the mill movies. The movie is coming up well and am really excited to about its release.” Collaborating with music maestros Tigerstyle, Harbhajan Mann’s Husn is one song from the soundtrack which stands out. Talking to DesiXpress, the
producers said, “There’s been a conversation with Harbajan to collaborate for sometime. The lyricist that we have been working with since last year put forward this track and after developing the concept he became interested in it.” “Just looking from the trailer you can tell that it has been shot at a very high level and it really is something very unique. It’s a step forward for Punjabi cinema.” Director, Amitoj Mann said, “I am happy that there is a concern for bringing well made Punjabi films in front of audiences. I welcome the idea of Corporatizing Punjabi Film Industry. The initiative by Unisys Infosolutions will go a long way in making Punjabi Cinema a well respected Industry in India.” Fans are in for a treat as the movie has been called a pioneer for the Punjabi cinema. After the release of movies such as Punjab 1984, Chaar Sahibzaade and Eh Janam Tumhare Lekhe, Gaddar
seems to be heading the same way. The soundtrack seems to be a hit with audiences after Husn, which featured Tigerstyle, garnered one million views on YouTube alone. Other songs which feature on the soundtrack include Yadaan, Wagde Daryawan Nu and the title song, Gadaar.
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Ek Hazaron Mein
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KARAn tacker HOSTS THE
VOICE INDIA
T
alent show, The Voice, will be having its much anticipated launch in India this month. With judges Sunidhi Chauhan, Himesh Reshammiya, Mika Singh and Shaan and hosted by Karan Tacker, the show is expected to be a hit. After leaving the hit drama, Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, he went on to become a contestant on Jhalak Dikhla Ja 7. He has now landed the role of hosting the first ever The Voice India. Sitting down with Anita Chumber, Karan spoke about the show, what viewers should expect and finding inspiration with Pitbull. Congratulations on becoming the host of The Voice India, why did you choose to take up the role? Talent show, The Voice, will be having its much anticipated launch in India this month. With judges Sunidhi Chauhan, Himesh Reshammiya, Mika Singh and Shaan and hosted by Karan Tacker, the show is expected to be a hit. After leaving the hit drama, Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai, he went on to become a contestant on Jhalak Dikhla Ja 7. He has now landed the role of hosting the first ever The Voice India. Sitting down with Anita Chumber, Karan spoke about the show, what viewers should expect and finding inspiration with Pitbull.
The Voice (India) will air June 6 on &TV
What do you expect from the show? The show is really vibrant. The set is brilliant. The whole idea of pressing a button when you like a voice is really exiting – I don’t think India has seen anything like this before. It will connect the audience. As a host I will be able to see the contestants before the coaches – its very differential. Here nothing materialistic matters. Their age, gender or their stories – none of it matters. Have you worked with the judges, Sunidhi Chauhan, Himesh Reshammiya, Mika Singh and Shaan, before? This is the first time I have worked with them, but I have met them before whilst hosting red carpet events. I know Mika from previous projects and he’s got a kind spirit and a very big heart. This is the first time I have met Sunidhi. They are all absolutely brilliant in the fields that they are in and I just feel humbled to be amongst them.
EAST MEETS WEST
Shazia Mirza Headlines Comedy Show Birmingham born Shazia Mirza will be amusing guests as part of a gala evening of entertainment reflecting her home city’s rich cultural diversity. An exciting program will invite guests to celebrate the wide mix of cultures that live alongside each other in Birmingham through a showcase of food, fashion, music, dancing and comedy. The fundraiser will take place on Saturday 6th June at the
CSN International Exhibition and Conference Centre on Highgate Road in Birmingham. The event, which is called, East Meets West, will be in aid of Acorns Hospice. Louise Arnold from Acorns, commented, “We are delighted that Shazia has agreed to support us. She’ll make a great headline act for what promises to be a fantastic evening of entertainment.
Recently we read a story that you have taken inspiration from Pitbull, tell us about it? I like Pitbull – he is a very chilled out guy. I just love the guy’s energy and I like that about him. I am the kind of guy that is on his feet. So I was able to connect with the guy.
How is it like on set? Busy. On the set we have 105 contestants and the coaches are having a blast with them. Every time they pick someone – the way they end up bouncing is quite funny. If you were a contestant on the show, which coach would you want to be picked by?
What should viewers expect? There will be a range of great talent and contestants will be coming from a variety of backgrounds. You have great coaches who are all having a crazy time on set. The way they fight for a contestant is very cute. The contestants are left speechless because it’s a very pivotal moment when you know people of that status are fighting for you. But the cheery on the top is that they get to see me!
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I would be grateful to be picked by any of the four! Looking at the international series, which is your favourite? I think season seven of the US version that was pretty brilliant.
Teaming up with producer Khiza, Zack thinks this is exactly the kind of confidence which he needs to keep going. “I think Khiza being in the industry for as long as he has given me that extra confidence to let the music speak for itself and at the same time push me above and beyond my limits. I was unaware that I can work so hard and put out so much music in such a short space of time until he pressed me to stay on top of things. But there are many which are unaware of Zack’s past life on the Brit-Asian scene. “My true supporters will know I got into the Brit-Asian scene many years ago under a different name, Zee Kay. I released a number of records where I toured the UK and Europe. I was also studying at the time and had to step out but noticed dozens of new artists appear at a time where there was literally no one who made R’n’b other than Jay Sean and Raghav. “What I’ve realised being in the music industry on and off for the past 6/7 years is that I have no idea what the future holds. I can only plan towards it but with everything that happened in my life up till now, I could have never predicated this. To think I would be singing in Hindi or Punjabi and be touring the globe when it was just yesterday that we put some music out. That just shows how quickly things can change overnight! “The next song I put out is an original but with a sweet Indian sample in the hook, I can’t say what it is but that has to be my favourite. Mohammed Irfan and Arijit Singh are definitely my favourite singers right now!”
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With Manish Gajjar Hindi Film Adviser for Vue Cinemas
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DIRECTOR-PRODUCER-ACTOR
FARHAN AKHTAR
BOLLYWOOD MOVIE OF THE MONTH
DIL DHADAKNE DO
TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW VENTURE DIL DHADAKNE DO
Director: Zoya Akhtar Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Ranveer Singh, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah
The film is directed by his sister, Zoya Akhtar, and sees Farhan acting in the film as well as producing it under Excel Entertainment.
BY: SUNNY MALIK
ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT @sunnymalik
Dil Dhadakne Do also stars Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shefali Shah and Anushka Sharma. The film releases in UK cinemas on 5th June 2015. Speaking to The Asian Today, Farhan talks about the movie and much more...
One of the most popular Delhi couple Kamal and Neelam Mehra are entering their 30th year of marriage. This is an occasion that calls for a lavish celebration in their circles. So they decide to invite close family and friends on a 10 day European cruise. Once on board, their personal lives start to unfold. Whilst Kamal is heading for bankruptcy Neelam is barely on talking terms with her husband. Meanwhile their business savvy daughter Ayesha is sick of her marriage and wants a divorce. Their son Kabir who is supposed to take over the family business and hopefully save the company by marrying the only daughter of the wealthy Sood family starts having second thoughts when it comes to commitment. So will this dysfunctional Punjabi family be able to survive the choppy waters of the wild seas? It’s for you to find out in this rather delectable Bollywood satire. Multi-talented Priyanka Chopra plays the character of Ayesha Mehra who is the sister of Kabir Mehra (Ranveer Singh). Priyanka will also be making a debut as a playback singer in this film. She will be singing a duet opposite Farhan Akhtar. On the whole Dil Dhadakne Do is a multi-starrer and a wholesome Bollywood entertainer consisting of some eccentric dialogues and ear pleasing music. Predicted to be this year’s biggest Bollywood box office money spinner expect Dil Dhadakne Do to have a mass appeal with its Bollywood audience.
actors almost constantly on the cruise. Additionally, we had over seventy crew members. We were a huge contingent of people moving around in many different locations. It was logistically very difficult to do. We also worked with people who brought the right energy and felt like the core team. Nobody felt that they were doing anybody a favour by being there. That truly helped because the energy was very positive around everything that we did.
How has the experience been of being a part of Dil Dhadakne Do as a producer and an actor? It’s been an amazing journey. I am a huge admirer of the way the Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti write movies. The films both have directed, always had really wellwritten scripts with well-written characters. It was fun to play a character again in a Zoya Akhtar movie. As a producer, Ritesh Sidhwani and I know that making a movie with Zoya will be a fun, engaging and interesting experience. It’s been hard to cast actors in the projects whenever you and Zoya have collaborated together… I must tell you, that is a part and parcel of film-making. It doesn’t only happen to Zoya. Any director you speak to, will tell you the exact same story. It has happened to me too. It happened to me while I was making Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya. At the end of the day, every film has its own destiny. There is no retrospect thinking into what if someone else was playing a certain character. You just go with the best that you get. Maybe Zoya didn’t get the cast that she wanted when she started the
film but she usually ends up with a really good set of actors. Dil Dhadakne Do is more focused on the Mehra family and you play a supporting character… Even during the making of Zindagi Na Milegi Doobara, I didn’t think of any expectations viewers will have from my performance in the film. We do everything in the best interest of the film. That really is my focus. I completely agree with you that the film predominantly focuses on the Mehra family and I play a supporting part. I am very happy with the role that I am playing and it’s very important in the context of Priyanka Chopra’s subplot in the movie. There is also a key moment in the film that occurs between Priyanka, Rahul Bose and myself in the film. When Zoya narrated the film to me, that scene resonated very strongly with me. I felt very connected to the script and I just wanted to do it regardless of how big my part was. Whatever people think about the film or a character when they watch it can’t be predicted. Sometimes we do a film just about one character and nobody really
cares. That’s happened too (laughs). How do you decide whether a role is right for you or not? It’s difficult to explain. I don’t think it’s a logical process. Everyone has an instinct and that tells a person why something is better than something else. As an actor, it’s a creative instinct that you have. There are many factors though like the environment, your mood at the time when you were offered a film, the experience you had on your most recent film and many others. However, they are all on a subconscious level. There is an emotional reaction to the narration when you hear it and there is a voice inside you which tells you “Wow, this is it!” or it may say “You aren’t feeling this. Let it pass”. If you really have to stop and think about it and convince yourself, I feel that is very difficult. It may work for others but I don’t think I could do it. As a producer, was it quite difficult logistically to film all over Europe? The film is widespread all over Europe and filming on the cruise comes with its own set of rules. We had a cast of over twenty
At the Indian Box Office, films based in India are doing better now than films set abroad. Do you feel Dil Dhadakne Do will appeal to the masses in India? I feel that if it’s a good story and if it connects with people, then everything else doesn’t matter. It has to resonate with people on an emotional level. If that happens, then the location doesn’t matter. Of course, the location should make sense. You can’t just shoot any movie on the Mediterranean Sea because it’s a great location. It’s the people in the film, their dilemmas and problems that makes people eventually like a film or not. These terms ‘NRI Films’ were not put forward by the film industry. They were used by trade people because they had to categorise films to market them. We don’t think of movies like that. What’s next for you? People have been demanding Don 3… Yes, they have. To be honest, at the moment my hands are full. We have Dil Dhadakne Do now and then we have another production Bangistan releasing in July. I also start filming for Rock On 2 in August. We also have a production called Wazir starring Amitabh Bachchan due to release post October sometime on a good weekend. There are a lot of things happening at the moment for me and I don’t have the mental space to make decisions of what I am going to do next after all these things at the moment. Direction is truly a part of who I am. I enjoy directing. I am just really enjoying the scripts that I am getting at the moment. I wouldn’t say no to good scripts just because I should be getting back to direction.
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DRAMA
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THRILLER
BOLLYWOOD MOVIES
DIL DHADAKNE DO
Dil Dhadakne Do’ narrates the story of Kamal Mehra (Anil Kapoor) and his wife Neelam (Shefali Shah), one of the most Starring: Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shah, popular couples in Delhi society, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, who decide to celebrate their forthcoming 30th wedding Anushka Sharma, Farhan Akhtar, anniversary by planning a lavish Rahul Bose & Zarian Wahab 10–day cruise of Europe for their closest family and friends. Once on the ship, their picture-perfect lives start to unravel. Kamal is heading for bankruptcy and he and wife Neelam cannot tolerate being around each other. Their business savvy daughter, Ayesha (Priyanka Chopra) is sick of her marriage and wants a divorce, which leads to tensions with her husband and in-laws, who have also come along on the cruise. Completing the familial plotline is son Kabir (Ranveer Singh), who is slated to take over the family business and hopefully save the company by marrying the only daughter of the wealthy Sood family; but ever the dreamer, Kabir starts to have other ideas. He falls in love with an entertainer onboard the ship and realises he is not cut out for business after all.
Releasing 5th June 2015
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HORROR
COMEDY
ROMANCE
HOLLYWOOD MOVIES
MINIONS
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin, Michael Keaton and Steve Coogan
The story of Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's Minions begins at the dawn of time. Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. Continuously unsuccessful at keeping these masters-from T. rex to Napoleon-the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression. But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he-alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob-ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow. The trio embarks upon a thrilling journey that ultimately leads them to their next potential master, Scarlet Overkill (Academy Award® winner Sandra Bullock), the world's first-ever female super-villain. They travel from frigid Antarctica to 1960s New York City, ending in mod London, where they must face their biggest challenge to date: saving all of Minionkind...from annihilation.
Releasing 26th June 2015
SHE'S JURASSIC WORLD ANY BODY CAN DANCE 2 FUNNY THAT WAY After bringing to the audiences, India’s first 3D Dance Starring: Varun Dhawan, Film; ABCD Any Body Can Dance, Disney India and ace Shraddha Kapoor, Choreographer turned Director Remo D’Souza are back with its spectacular sequel, ABCD 2. The second chapter promises to be Prabhudheva even bigger in scale with current heartthrobs Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead and the inimitable dancing Star Prabhudheva reprising his role of Vishnu Sir. The story traces the journey of an Indian dance troupe, a motley assortment of boys and girls who come from the backstreets of a Mumbai suburb; their rise to fame, sudden downfall and then their heroic attempt to seek vindication by regaining their lost glory and pride. Will they be able to achieve success at the biggest International platform? Will they make their beloved Vishnu Sir proud, who is himself struggling with his not so perfect past? ABCD 2 is a grand 3D Dance Film which travels to the vibrant city of Las Vegas and is a bittersweet journey of love, friendship, betrayal, honor and redemption With stunning international locales, foot-tapping Releasing music, sizzling performances, ABCD 2 stars youth 19th June sensations Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor 2015 in the lead. The actors will be seen grooving with Prabhudheva and the ace choreographer Remo D’Souza will be directing them. The film is based on the real life struggle of a Mumbai based dance troupe who go on to win the World Hip-Hop dance championship.
Releasing 2nd June 2015
HUMARI ADHORI KAHANI Starring: Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan and Rajkumar Rao
A woman develops a budding romance with a hotel magnate, until her past comes back to haunt her. Balan plays a woman who is married to one man but in love with another. Rao plays her abusive husband and Hashmi plays her lover. Hamari Adhuri Kahani has all the trademarks of a good Mohit Suri film -- dramatic scenes, melodious music and melodramatic dialogues and a love story at the heart of the film. Hamari Adhuri Kahani has been written by Mahesh Bhatt and is based on the love story of his parents, Nanabhai Bhatt, Shirin Mohammad Ali and his stepmother.
Starring: Chris Pratt, Judy Greer and Ty Simpkins
Twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park (1993), Isla Nublar now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World, as originally envisioned by John Hammond. After 10 years of operation and visitor rates declining, in order to fulfil a Releasing corporate mandate, a new attraction is created to re11th June spark visitor's interest, which 2015 backfires horribly.
Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Imogen Poots, Quentin Tarantino
MR HOLMES Starring: Ian Mckellen, Laura Linney & hiroyuki Sanada
An aged, retired Sherlock Holmes looks back on his life, and grapples with an unsolved case involving a beautiful woman. The story is set in 1947, following a longretired Holmes living in a Sussex village with his housekeeper and rising detective son. But then he finds himself haunted by an unsolved 50-year old case. Holmes memory isn't what it used to be, so he only remembers fragments of the case: a confrontation with an angry, a secret bond with his beautiful but unstable wife.
Releasing 26th June 2015
ing Releas e u 9th J n 2015
A married Broadway director falls for a prostitute-turned-actress and works to help her advance her career.
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DATE: 6th June 2015 VENUE: The Drum (Birmingham)
BOTOWN – THE SOUL OF BOLLYWOOD
One of the most exciting and engaging music acts of the last few years, Botown is an eightpiece band that has given lovers of Bollywood and Soul music a brand new groove. This concert will feature favourite Bollywood classics from legends like RD Burman, Kishore Kumar, AR Rahman, Asha Bhosle and Amitabh Bachchan – all fused into the Soul greats like Ray Charles, James Brown and Aretha Franklin. Enjoy an evening of classic Bollywood, Soul and funky grooves guaranteed to have you up dancing and singing along.
Witness the colour, energy and sheer exuberance of Bollywood as a new musical explodes onto the West End stage this May direct from sell out performances in Mumbai. Beyond Bollywood takes audiences on a truly authentic cultural tour of India capturing
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM – THE MUSICAL DATE: 15th May – 24th October 2015 VENUE: Phoenix Theatre
Director of the original hit film, Gurinder Chadha will direct Bend It Like Beckham. The original score is an East-West fusion of Bhangra and soaring melodies with music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart and orchestrations by Howard Goodall and pioneer of British Bhangra sound, Kuljit Bhamra. Bend It Like Beckham is a joyous new British musical
MARRIAGE
DATE: 2nd June 13th June 2015 ORGANISATION: Rifco Arts
show? Written, choreographed and directed by Rajeev Goswami, with lyrics by Irfan Siddiqui and featuring an original score by Salim-Sulaiman, the very best of Bollywood's creative talent bring this spectacular event to life for 60 performances only.
DATE: 1st–27th June 2015 VENUE: London Palladium
THE DERANGED
Rishi and Sona have agreed to get married in the traditional way and the whirlwind wedding circus is on the move with or without them. Their frenzied families go into overdrive to ensure this is the most elaborate wedding ever seen but hidden amongst the show off dance numbers and sparkling saris, a forbidden love story starts to unfold. As the ice sculpture melts and missing Ladoos continue to cause mayhem, the young couple's cold feet threaten to enter the wedding mandap. Does tradition have any value in our modern lives? Does love have anything to do with getting married?
the fire, heat and desire of Indian dance. Shaily Shergill leaves behind her home to journey to India in the hope of fulfilling her mother's dying wish, to revive her family's failing theatre. But will her sacrifices pay off and can she stage the ultimate
THE SIEGE The Siege is inspired by real life testimonies from a group of fighters, now exiled across Europe. It has been developed and devised by The Freedom Theatre, a unique ensemble based in Jenin Refugee camp who lived under occupation their whole lives. It is directed by Artistic Director, Nabil Al-Raee and British director, Zoe Lafferty. This will be the first time the company has toured to the UK. May 2002. Spring in Bethlehem. A group of armed men seek sanctuary in one of the world’s holiest sites as the Israeli army closes in with helicopters, tanks and snipers. Along with the fighters are some 200 priests, nuns and civilians. The siege lasts for 39 days, paralyzing the centre of Bethlehem and keeping tens of thousands
comedy. Featuring an original score with an Indian kick, it brings a unique cultural fusion of musical theatre to the stage for the first time. This reimagining of the muchloved hit film sees generations, cultures and communities brought together in this joyous and uplifting story about bending the rules and scoring that deciding goal.
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PAUL SINHA & GEIN'S FAMILY GIFTSHOP
You might know him as one of quiz gurus or Chasers on ITV's tea-time quiz The Chase, but long before he became a walking, talking encyclopaedia, Paul was earning his living as one of the country's top comedians. A nominee for the highest accolade in live comedy at the Edinburgh Festival, Paul is also a popular booking on BBC Radio 4.
DATE: 18th June 2015 VENUE: MAC (Birmingham)
AN INDIAN SUMMER An annual, experiential East Midlands event, An Indian Summer is an exploration of India’s roots and culture: a celebration of old and new, tradition and technology, education and entertainment. Based at and using the incredible resources of Leicester’s Phoenix Square, “An Indian Summer”, uses film, workshops, music, food & drink, dance, photo galleries and educational exhibitions and installations to tell India’s endlessly fascinating story. With both like-minded organisations and individual volunteers working together, “An Indian Summer” truly is an event to remember.
DATE: 19th–28th June 2015 VENUE: Phoenix Square (Leicester)
INDIAN ART WEEK DATE: 6th-13th June 2015 WEBSITE: www.artsforindia.org
DATE: 4th–6th June 2015 VENUE: The REP (Birmingham)
under curfew. Inside the Church of Nativity the besieged are hungry and weakening. While the world is watching, the fighters are faced with the
question of whether to struggle to the end or to surrender. No matter what they choose, they will have to leave their families and their homeland behind forever.
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Indian Art Week London in 2014 brings together art dealers, auction houses, galleries, museums, private collectors, and hotels in London
to celebrate & raise awareness about Indian Arts and up and coming artists. Events include the UK Bollywood premiere of NH10.
NEWS
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SHOWBIZ SHOWBIZ SHOWBIZ We're really happy to join the team atSHOWBIZ Asian Today. Sunny and I were a part of the Channel SHOWBIZ 4 series ‘The Family’ which aired in 2009 and documented our Indian wedding along with the events that led up to it. Something that we get asked regularly is, ‘What is it like living with an extended family?’ We’ve been together for over 11 years and had our registry wedding 10 years ago and in this column we will be sharing our experiences and will give you advice or tips that have worked for us. If you have a question email us on: editorial@theasiantoday.com with the subject line as - Sunny & Shay Question.
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NIGHTS OUT...........
ollywood diva Nargis B Fakhri has made her first foray into Hollywood with action-comedy film, Spy, also starring Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, Miranda Hart, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney and Jude Law. The sultry actress plays a negative role in the film and has a major action sequence with actress McCarthy in the movie. Born in New York to Pakistani and Czesh parents, Nargis made her Bollywood debut opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Rockstar and was most recently seen in Main Tera Hero with Varun Dhawan. Speaking to The Asian Today before she wowed fans and the paparazzi at the London premiere of the film, Fakhri said, "I love London, especially when the weather is nice. It's really close to Mumbai too as it's only eighthours on a flight compared to sixteen-hours to New York or even twenty-four-hours to Los Angeles." Directed by Paul Feig, Spy came to Nargis when she met the film-maker in LA. "It was quite surprising that he knew about Bollywood and Indian cinema. He knew about the work that I had done. We were having a meal when he mentioned to me that he will be starting a movie and there is a role that he felt I was perfect for. He asked me whether I would have time for it. I said yes immediately," said Fakhri. Nargis isn't the first Indian actor to feature in a mainstream Hollywood film. The Indian press often ridicules actors, such as Anil Kapoor in Mission Impossible 4, about their blink-and-miss appearances. Nargis isn't worried about it though. "I realised that Hollywood and Bollywood are very separate things. They don't get each other. They have a different way of doing things. I am born in New York City and was exposed to American cinema from a young age. You don't get judged for having small part in a film. It doesn't work the way in Bollywood. You have to work there with the big guys." "It's a big deal for me to be on-screen for this movie even just for a few minutes," stated Nargis. 20th Century Fox releases SPY in UK cinemas on 5th June 2015.
I am starting this article followed by my esteemed husband Sunny’s thoughts as I have lot to say! This weekend I am going away with 10 of my girlfriend’s for a spa weekend to celebrate a landmark birthday for all of us (as ladies I will not reveal our age) and when a family friend found out they turned to Sunny and said, ‘how can you allow that?’ This has been said to Sunny before and it never seizes to amaze me! Why would my husband allow me to do anything? In fact, why should he? I am an independent grown woman just as he is an independent grown man and we are equals as husband and wife. Gone are the days o f when women were expected to have no lives, stay at home and be submissive to their husbands who were their Gods. Now, there is nothing wrong if this is the life you want and have chosen but the truth is for many of us it is not the life we lead. If your husband wants to spend a day or perhaps a night out with his friends there is nothing wrong with that just as there is nothing wrong if you want to see your friends. It’s all about being in a healthy loving relationship. Sunny and I have always maintained that we are two individuals who have different friends and hobbies but that is definitely not a bad thing. In fact, having variety and different interests has always ensured that our relationship stays fresh and never boring. Whether it’s me spending time with my friends or family and Sunny heading to the cinema to see that latest horror film (I hate those) as long as we are not lying to each other then neither of us has to ask for permission and quite frankly never will. As I’m happy when Sunny is happy just as much as he is happy when I am. Trust is the key to every relationship and being joined to the hip 24/7 is certainly not!
SHAY
Shay and I agree completely on this point. There are 9 years between us and when we first got together I always wanted her to have her own circle of friends as it’s important to have your own interests. I have never wanted Shay to look back on her life and think I didn’t do this or didn’t go there. That’s not to say we don’t do things together – of course we do in fact we are together a lot as she’s my best friend but when it comes down to me going out with my mates including my best friend, who is female, I have never asked Shay for permission and shouldn’t have to. It comes down to trust – if tomorrow Shay questions me about something then she can but I know when it’s someone else stirring or planting something in her head. This is when you answer the question and ask ‘where is this coming from?’ instead of going on the defensive. You will both soon realise it’s a third party interfering where they shouldn’t. The most important element if you are innocent and have nothing to worry about is then never apologise – guilty people apologise. No-one should ever get between you and your partner as the paramount aspect to a living in relationship is Trust. If you don’t have that then my friends you don’t have a relationship.
SUNNY
Trust is the key to every relationship and being joined to the hip 24/7 is certainly not! Listen to Sunny and Shay every Monday to Thursday 2pm to 4pm on BBC WM 95.6FM and every Sunday on BBC London 94.9FM at 6pm. Listen back on www.bbc.co.uk/sunnyandshaywm and www.bbc.co.uk/sunnyandshay Also, watch the antics of Sunny and Shay unfold in their online comedy series ‘As We Proceed’ on /TheSunnyandShay or follow them on @SunnyandShay LISTEN IN TO SUNNY & SHAY
JUNE 2015
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BIRMINGHAM UNITES JAS SANSI ce thpie Mou 's Man The Thinking 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.
A
political wit stated ahead of the recent General Election, there are more pandas in Scotland than Tory MPs. Edinburgh Zoo houses two of the adorable creatures. Scotland has just one Tory MP. If you sympathise with the Conservative position north of the border, consider my own community, the Sikhs. There is as much chance sighting the Loch Ness Monster as there is seeing a Sikh MP in The Commons. We have all the taxation but none of the representation. Regretfully, there are no Sikh MPs in the House of Commons. I was genuinely saddened to see Paul Uppal lose his seat in Wolverhampton South West. Paul had his parliamentary photograph taken in my office ahead of a successful 2010 election. I even lent him the tie he wore in the picture. What’s the solution for
greater representation? I wish I knew. As a community, Sikhs appear to favour commerce over politics. Here in the Midlands where I’m tapping out this article, it’s no surprise the first self made billionaire, Ranjit Boparan is a Sikh, whereas the first Asian cabinet member, Sajid Javid is a Muslim. I sponsored a Sikh fringe event at the 2014 Conservative Conference in Birmingham. The objective; to lobby for an Independent Inquiry into revelations of Conservative involvement in Operation Blue Star. Paul Uppal and Lord Whitby both spoke, neither could offer a commitment to such an inquiry. I tried, I failed, but I did try. Its important Sikhs engage with the political process. You don’t have to harbour an aspiration of becoming an MP in order to engage, but if you do, I have a tie you would be very welcome to borrow.
Jas Sansi Proud to Sponsor the Birmingham Chambers of Commerce Business Breakfast 10 June 2015 Details at: http://www.birmingham-chamber.com/BCCG/Events/ EventDetails.aspx?event=4427Jas Sansi P H O T O G R A P H Y A: Elmbank Studio | 26 Elmbank Grove | Birmingham | B20 1JTP: +44(0) 121 358 6481M: +44(0) 793 083 7505 E: sansi1@btinternet.com T: @jassansi W: facebook.com/jassansi L: linkedin.com/in/jassansi Now shooting with Hasselblad - Bringing the World's Best Camera System to Birmingham
PRIMARY GRADUATIONS PUPILS CELEBRATE DRESSED IN STYLE
Young boys and girls from four primary schools celebrated their improved confidence skills and successful completion of the Mosaic Primary School mentoring programme with a prestigious graduation ceremony, held at Trinity University. 40 pupils, aged between 7 and 11, were welcomed to the venue to celebrate their completion of the mentoring programme. The four schools that attended the event included three from Bradford – Lapage Primary School & Nursery, Fagley Primary School and Frizinghall Primary School and Gledhow Primary school in Leeds. Pupils who took part in the programme spoke at the event
about the positive experience in front of influential business leaders, mentors, teachers and parents. Tamarind Wilson-Flint, Founder of PR agency Lucre UK and inspirational speaker was a keynote speaker at the event. Humira Asif – mother of Muzeeba Asif (9) from Lapage Primary School who participated in the programme, said, “The programme was excellent and inspiring. My favourite part was the children being confident at the end of it. I really, really enjoyed it and found myself laughing a lot, which was great. I think me and my daughter have a better relationship as a result of the programme, not that it was bad before, it’s just even better now.”
AGAINST EXTREMISM
Oxford Foundation Organises Multi Faith Event B
i r m i n g h a m ’ s Communities United Against Extremism at an event held at St Francis Hall Multi Faith Chaplaincy. The event encapsulated readings, reflections and prayers by a diverse range of senior faith representatives.
this national initiative “is to affirm the core teachings of all our traditions-the teachings of love, compassion, peace, understanding and respect for each other as opposed to the ugliness of violence, division and hatred advocated by extremist of all persuasions-
• UNITED : Faiths Leaders From Across Birmingham The event was interspersed with silence and music from the choir at the University of Birmingham, Broadway Academy Singing Ensemble, Council of Sikh Gurdwaras and Birmingham’s own internationally acclaimed nasheed group, Aa’shiq Al Rasul. The Communities United Against Extremism Service was initially launched in Oxford by The Oxford Foundation and now has rolled on to become a national initiative where the latest Service was held in Birmingham. Imam Monawar Hussain, founder of The Oxford Foundation stated that the idea underpinning
religious and secular. He went on to state that “we will defeat violent extremism through our unity and through firmly holding on to and living out these core teachings.” The victims of violent extremism were also in attendance at the Service. This included Mike Hains, the brother of David Haines who lost his life in Syria by a brutal act of inhumanity by the self-declared “Islamic State,” Muhammad Nawaz, who lost one of his sons in the Peshawar Attack and the other son who is being treated for his injuries at a UK hospital; and Tariq Jahan who is a father of one of the
three young men who lost their lives during the 2011 riots. The significance of the Service was to first show that for the families whose loved ones have been killed or are being held hostage by the terrorist group the self-declared “Islamic State” are not on their own. By the diverse communities of Birmingham coming together demonstrated that so many of us from across the city and the country have the families and the hostages in our thoughts and prayers. The Service was graced by the presence of many senior representatives from the Muslim Faith and other traditions along with key Civic leaders from Birmingham such as Paul Sabapathy CBE-Her Majesty’s LordLieutenant for the West Midlands and the new Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Ray Hassall who both gave key note speeches emphasising how this initiative should spur us all to greater heights of working together to promote peace, harmony, mutual respect and making Birmingham and the world a better and more peaceful place for all. The Service acknowledged the courage and support of key Muslim Faith and Civic leaders from Birmingham who have endorsed the 24 points outlined in The Open
• UNITED : Tariq Jahan Letter to the leader, fighters and supporters of the selfdeclared “Islamic State,” and who have made a commitment to disseminating these 24 points to their respective communities through sermons and teachings in mosques and madrasahs. The Service was received very favourably by all those in attendance enabling them to reflect and gain solace from the core teachings of the various faith traditions and was concluded by Tariq Jahan leading a Pledge for Peace to stand united against all forms of violent extremism and do all we can to promote understanding, respect and mutual love for all who reside in the city of Birmingham.
SADIQ KHAN IN LONDON MAYORAL BID Comes After Rushanara Ali Declares Labour Deputy Bid A
Labour MP has launched his bid to become Mayor of London, criticising Boris Johnson for being “a red carpet mayor”. Sadiq Khan, • LABOUR MP : Rushanara Ali former shadow justice secretary, announced his campaign to run London, saying that he wanted to be seen as “Mr London”. The Tooting MP, who is the fifth Labour name to put his name forward in the race to be Boris Johnson's successor next year, said: “For the last eight years you’ve seen a red carpet mayor, somebody who is fantastic going to openings, great with a flute of champagne in his hands.” “I’d rather roll up my sleeves and fight for all Londoners.” The son of a No 44 London bus driver, he added, “I want to be seen as Mr London — • LABOUR MP : Sadiq Khan - running for London Lord Mayor as an exemplar of the best of London. A working class boy
done good.” Sadiq Khan, who ran a legal practice before entering Parliament, said, “For someone like me, a Londoner born and raised here, being the Mayor of London is the best job in politics." In addition to this, Bethnal Green and Bow MP, Rushanara Ali, has announced her intention to run for Labour’s deputy leadership. Currently the shadow education minister said she has the support from both Tristram Hunt and Keith Vaz. "I think we have an important voice within the party and outside so that we can show how we ... rebuild trust so that we can build a coalition, unite people so that we can win. "We faced a massive defeat this time, building on the last one. We have got to be radical, we have got to take risks, we have got to be bold, not only in our ideas, which have to come from the people who rejected us as much as the people who supported us." Angela Eagle, Tom Watson, Stella Creasy, Ben Bradshaw and Caroline Flint have already put their names forward.
JUNE 2015
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HEALTH
Health
THE ASIAN TODAY
BLOOD DONORS NEEDED FOR NEW DONOR CENTRE N
HS Blood and Transplant is appealing for more than 1,000 people to become new blood donors at the new Nottingham donor centre. The city has high numbers of young people, and black and Asian people, and we particularly need more people from these communities to give blood.
The centre in Trinity Square is bigger, better and more modern to help provide an even better service to donors. Holly Mason, NHSBT’s Deputy Regional Marketing Manager, said: “We’d love people to donate for the first time and then spread the word on social media that they are one of the #Nottingham1000.
“We need people to start giving blood over the next year to help ensure there is the right amount of blood at the right time to meet demand from hospitals both in Nottinghamshire and around the country. “We’ve invested in Nottingham because while we have a loyal donor base and sessions have always been popular, the city has the potential to achieve more. We will have increased capacity and because the percentage of people giving blood in the area is below the national average, we know we can grow our donor base. “Nottingham is a vibrant, growing city, with a strong student population, which makes it a great place to recruit the donors of the future.” Pierce Fitzsimmons, aged 11, from Broxtowe in Nottingham, needed blood transfusions after being born
with the rare bone marrow disorder Diamond Blackfan Anaemia, which affects less than 10 out of every million babies born in the UK. He had life saving transfusions every month until he had a bone marrow transplant from his sister. Mum Kerry, 43, said: “The doctors told me that without transfusions Pierce would not be here. I am so grateful that people give blood and I’d love to see more people do that in Nottingham.” Mum Kathryn Hollingsworth from Gedling is backing the call for more than 1,000 extra people to become donors. She needed eight and a half units – around eight pints of blood - after her placenta became stuck during the birth of her daughter Georgia. Her husband was told it was ‘touch and go’ whether she would survive. “I am so grateful that I
Appeals for People to Come Forward have been able to see my daughters grow up and watch every little milestone,” said the 44-year-old. The donor centre is in the heart of the city, close to public transport, and there is discounted car parking available in the council run car park next door. The interior is spacious and colourful with Wi-Fi and TVs and you can make appointments over your phone with easy to use Apps. New donors can still enjoy the traditional free refreshments including tea, coffee and biscuits. Trinity Square opened to donations on May 19 and replaces the old donor centre in Castle Quay.
KERALA AYURVEDA SPA CLINIC [Sparkhill] Tel: 0121 777 7007 | info@keralaayurvedaspaclinic.com
KERALA AYURVEDA SPA CLINIC
www.ayurvedakeralaspaclinic.com 719 Stratford Road, Sparkhill, Birmingham, B11 4DN
Diabetes Campaign Wins National Award
A health education team that includes a senior academic and researcher in pharmacy practice Dr Mahendra Patel has received a major national award for its work in raising awareness of diabetes among UK Asians. A specially-produced Bollywood-style movie has been among the wide variety of campaigning material that helped to spread the message. At the 2015 British Medical Journal Awards, the trophy for Diabetes Team of the Year went to a specialist group from the South Asian Health Foundation. Dr Patel is a member of the team and joined three of his colleagues to collect the prize at a London ceremony. During 2014, the SAHF’s diabetes campaigners delivered 11 grassroots education campaigns to a diversity of South Asian communities in seven UK cities where diabetes is known to be most prevalent. This schedule – plus a portfolio of other work – helped to secure the BMJ award.
OPENING TIMES: 10:00AM - 8:00PM Separate section for ladies with female staff only & male with male staff only
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Free Initial Consultations based on the Tridosha Theory by Qualified Vaidyars (BAMS) from India, free BP and Pulse checks are taken during the consultation. Our clinic is keen to work with primary health care providers to progress our clients towards well-being.
We have therapists who are qualified and trained to offer Aromatherapy, Natural Colon cleansing, Hopi Candling, Hot Stone Massage, Reflexology and Swedish Massage.
We offer Yoga and Meditation Classes to complete the body treatments with that mind and spirit balance which is so complete.
BEAUTY SALON: Book in for those special summer glow massages now
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DIETARY ADVICE We give dietary advice tailored to individual needs.
Offering natural beauty therapies as part of our holistic service where our clients come to get that extra treatment to look extra special. Including Body Scrubs, Manicures / Predicures, Facials and variety of Skin Care therapies.
PAIN CONTROL CLINIC
Offering Pain Control Treatments for Body Aches & Pains, one of the treatments we use is Marma Abhyangam to relieve back pain, stiffness and sports injuries, it also stimulates various bodily organs and systems
Treat yourselves to our
AUTHENTIC SHAHNAZ GOLD AND DIAMOND FACIALS for that SPECIAL OCCASION
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THE ASIAN TODAY Author: Sara Khan Twitter: @sarakblog Facebook: /sarakblog website: www.sarakblog.com
FASHION & BEAUTY
FASHIO
BEST DRESSED CELEBS
Hi! Im Rav Deol and I would like to welcome you to my brand new beauty column! I am a busy full-time Mum of one, a professional beautician, hair and make-up artist, a professional mehndi artist for the last 18 years and…a solicitor to boot! I think that’s as diverse as it gets!
FB: /RavDeolMehndi Email: info@ravdeol.com IG: /ravdeolthequeenwithinyou Tel: 07506336877
PERFECT THE BROW GROWTH
I love to see how fashion and beauty trends evolve over time and we often see styles that we thought were truly dead and buried make a raving comeback, even sequins have been classified as cool again this Spring courtesy of Saint Laurent! One trend, however, I personally hope never makes a comeback is that of emaciated eyebrows, plucked to within a millimetre of their lives. I for one, therefore, love the high definition brows of today that have kicked those malnourished facial scribbles into (hopefully permanent) oblivion! Re-shaping, re-growing or recreating, let’s talk eyebrows!
• AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN
C
annes Film Festival took place in France recently and for those of you wondering, Cannes Film Festival is not only known for films but fashion too. Every year Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities step out in style on the red carpet to strut their stuff in front of the world’s paparazzi. As always the Bollywood celebs fashion were the talking point! As a result at The Asian Today we felt it was an ideal opportunity to do a best-dressed celebs feature this month - with our tips to looking as stunning so you can give it a go for Eid, Diwali or special occasion such as, a wedding! Aishwarya Rai Bachchan didn't let us down with her bespoke two-piece jumpsuit by Indian fashion extraordinaire Sabyasachi
• KATRINA KAIF Mukherji. She must have a great team as she always on trend and on this occasion she wasn't afraid to step out in something different, the 2-piece floral dress. The signature brown waist belt with tiger silhouette as seen in Sabyasachi’s latest collection featured in India fashion week. We specially loved the fact Aishwarya Rai Bachchan decided to wear an Indian designer’s collection whilst in France and demonstrate the versatility of modern Indian fashion. South Asian fashion definitely brings a unique fashion vision and spark to the western fashion world. Plus we hope it shows you South Asian's in the UK the typical Salwar Kameez is not your only option. Katrina Kaif looked dazzling in a tailored Elie
• DIANE KRUGER Saab gown. It was a great choice as Cannes Film Festival takes place in France yet you could argue it would of been nice to see Katrina Kaif in a fusion fashion spin of Elie Saab's garment. She made a great choice; she's looks stunning and proves you don't need to wear less to look drop dead gorgeous. On the other hand, the gown could have been an Indian blouse cut and tailored lengha. To be on trend she should have draped a luxurious red chiffon over one side of her shoulder and added a tanned belt over the dupatta around her waist. Diane Kruger, a western model and actress looked dazzling in a heavy beaded gown. She would make any Indian designer proud, as the elements in her dress are
typical of South Asian fashion techniques just fused with a western cut. On the back of the garment was matching beads and sequins, which made it subtle and allowed the focus to be on the front panel of the gorgeous dress. The trail is a must for red carpet fashion where for party fashion you could just create a hi-low panel beaded dress. For runway touches just add timeless pieces such as a statement cocktail ring and bracelet on the other wrist. Don't forget to match a plain clutch bag. In this case the dress is too heavy with beads so to keep the focus on the dress just add a plain coloured clutch. Who says you can't look like the celebs on the red carpet runway!
The starting point To reshape eyebrows it is essential to first grow out your eyebrows as fully as your dignity allows. Eyebrows should be left to grow until the desired thickness has been achieved and reshaping can commence. Note to readers: during the re-growth period fight the urge to hibernate, this too shall pass! To tweeze or not to tweeze For brow grooming, I would recommend the services of a professional eyebrow technician. Popular methods of hair removal include tweezing, threading and waxing, of which I prefer threading. Remember it’s absolutely fine to trim your eyebrows to maintain neatness, too. Happy zapping What of those eyebrow hairs that seem to have taken a permanent vacation from the face? Whether you are a happy zapper who has obliterated the majority of eyebrow growth, or have lost growth due to a health related condition and want to know if you can encourage regrowth. Dream creams and concoctions Solutions available over the counter, such as RevitaBrow Advanced Eyebrow Conditioner and RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum, contain botanicals and
peptides and have received considerable attention as well as some positive reviews for promoting re-growth. If you can’t create... replicate! As mentioned previously, eyebrows can take a permanent holiday for a variety of reasons and you may have tried everything but to no avail. Enter the amazingly popular eyebrow fillers such as pomades, powders and pencils. These can be used to alter the appearance of the shape and create the illusion of thickness. Have you any idea how easy it is to get that amazing arch with a few strokes of a brush? Great fillers really ought to form part of any fashionista’s accoutrement and even people with respectable eyebrows often reach for a filler to give the eyebrow what backcombing gives the hair: oomph! Hint of a tint Eyebrow tinting is also a possible option to intensify the colour of your natural eyebrows, kits can be purchased for a self beautifying treat at home. Practice is essential to ensure your eyebrows are looking as natural and amazing as possible. Of course, techniques differ and products depend on preference, hopefully over time you will ascertain what is better suited to you.
Body Perfect Personal Training ensures you get the optimum workout experience and we are dedicated in helping you achieve your results. Your individualised plan will include strategies to overcome obstacles and develop a positive mental attitude which will gear you towards achieving your health and fitness goals.
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Our Personal Training service is available at our prestigious studio situated in the heart of Warwickshire or alternatively try our excellent Online Training service.
“Our mission is to help busy women to feel good, gain confidence, build on their self-esteem and to be the best possible version of themselves.” - Dal Dhaliwal
Body Perfect Personal Training delivers an experience that is unique, personalised and we are 100% committed in helping you reach your goals!
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FASHION & BEAUTY
ON & BEAUTY
THERE’S NOTHING SHE KHAN’T DO!
Noreen Khan Unveils Accessories Range set, she’s already planning her next project. “I have something right up my sleeve but can't talk about it just yet. Plus, Gaby and I are already working on a ready-to-wear
Exactly a year after launching her clothing line, BBC radio DJ, Noreen Khan, has unveiled her eagerlyawaited new business-
statement with her bold and very audacious accessories, but for her it’s about giving her customers what they want. “I just knew I wanted
venture, NK Accessories, adding to her existing clothing line. The launch, which was held at Birmingham’s Bradford Court Business Centre, was attended by a variety of beauty bloggers, media personnel and fashion fanatics. Standing beside her business partner, bespoke designer Gaby Manchanda, Noreen’s collection showcases a new journey for the DJ. Talking to The Asian Today, the daytime radio host said the next step was always going to be accessories. “I've always loved accessories like most women, so I decided to branch out. They compliment my existing label, Noreen Khan Couture.” Commenting on the inspiration behind the collection, she explained the difficulty in sourcing products for her range, “I wanted to offer our customers good quality products, but at affordable prices which included a good range of items too.” Describing the set as “funky” and “vibrant” which include some “quirky clutches, beautiful scarves, fabulous bangles and elegant earrings”, Noreen is making a clear
lots of colour and glamour in my accessories and Gaby and I went from there. For me it's not about celebrities, I'm just happy to see my customers enjoying wearing
collections. I never add anything which I wouldn't wear. So, yeah I think it is unique because it's got a bit of NK in there!” Pictures by Amrit Matharu
“funky” and “vibrant”
the collection. The response has been pretty amazing. I'm still buzzing!” She’s not stopping there. Asked where she would like the brand to go, she replied jubilantly, “Everywhere!” And the future looks ever so bright. From a very successful clothing line to a very responsive accessories
collection for Noreen Khan Couture.” Ultimately, the NK name is getting the attention it deserves, but what was it in the market that she felt was still lacking, and could the Noreen Khan brand fill the void? “I think I inject my personality into my
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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. She will teach you strategies to overcome obstacles and develop a positive mental attitude, and will share with you methods on how you too can follow a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise, correct nutrition and wellbeing.
Are you drinking enough water? Water is essential nutrient to maintain a healthy body, a clear mind, and a good balance within your body tissues. If you are trying to lose weight then water is very important. It helps to boost your metabolism and also helps to keep you fuller and has many other health benefits. However, many people fail to drink enough water. Here are some health benefits of water: Water for weight Loss - Water promotes weight Loss. It removes toxics and by-products of fat, reduces binging and eating intake. Drink a glass of water between meals to keep your stomach full. Water can be seen as a natural appetite suppressant. Not only does water raise your metabolism it also has zero calories! Replace your calorie – sugary laden beverages with water. Stay regular with water - Water benefits the body by promoting and aiding in good digestion. This along with fibre intake is essential for correct digestion. It does this by assisting to dissolve waste and toxin particles – enabling them to pass smoothly through the digestive tract. Therefore water consumption is essential for healthy bowel motion and to prevent constipation. Water boosts your energy - Water increases energy and helps to relieve fatigue. It helps to transport oxygen and essential nutrients to your cells in the body – keeping your energy levels boosted. Feeling fatigued can be a sign of dehydration. 85% of your brain tissue
is water and therefore water intake is essential to improve concentration, alertness, focus and general wellbeing. Water reduces kidney stones - Water will help to eliminate and flush out toxins. It does this by diluting the salts and minerals that form solid crystal type formations known as kidney stones. Therefore it is essential to drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of Kidney stones and Urinary Tract Infections. Healthy Skin - Water helps to nourish your skin. Dehydrated skin can be more prone to fine lines and deeper wrinkles. Water helps to plump up the skin cells – which helps your face to look younger. Drinking water can improve circulation, leaving your face clear, clean and glowing – and improves the skin complexion. It is Mother Nature’s best skin product and best antiaging treatment around! Water boosts the Immune System - Drinking plenty of water can help fight against flu and illness. It is also a natural remedy to relieve and prevent headaches which can often be caused by dehydration.
MORE TIPS: Generally, nutritionists recommend as a guideline to drink at least eight 8 – ounce glasses a day. You may need more water if you exercise or sweat heavily or if the climate/ environment is hot. When you are low on fluids – and dehydrated, the brain triggers the body's thirst mechanism. Sometimes this can get confused with hunger. So stop and think are you hungry or thirsty? More than often your body will require water. Include more fruits and vegetables in your diet. These contain high water content and will add to your hydration. Approximately 20% of our fluid – water intake comes from foods. Get in the habit of carrying water with you when possible - in your car, in your bag, at your desk etc.
YOU CAN TWEET DAL YOUR QUESTIONS TWITTER: @DALDHALIWALPT FIND HER ON FACEBOOK: /DAL DHALIWAL WWW.BODYPERFECTPT.COM
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JUNE 2015
FOOD & TRAVEL
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THE ASIAN TODAY COCKTAIL O'CLOCK
Food & Travel
Shahnaaz Ayub Cooks a Storm with New Show
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. blog:
..guests go head to head for the 'how round is your roti?' challenge.
www.msdeliciouspr.blogspot.com
If you love cocktails you are going to love some of the great new places that are opening up in the city. From The Botanist, Gas Street Social, Marmalade and The Cosy Club there are several more about to hit the cocktail scene. The city has gone cocktail crazy so here is a round-up of the classiest and coolest places to indulge in those cocktails.
ALUNA Aluna cocktail bar has just opened in The Mailbox on the site of The Oriental alongside the canal. The owners have transformed the venue to attract the bar crowd, setting up home against the stylish backdrop of The Mailbox. Specialising in magical cocktails expertly created in a stylishly comfortable haven, the mixologists are pushing the boundaries of cocktail making. The team at Aluna want you to make their home, your home. To make it a place you can make your own, no
matter what the occasion…. To chill, to chat, to celebrate, to cocktail. We’ve had a sneak peak and its looks gorgeous and comfy from vintage décor to ornate mirrors – a real feast for all the senses.
PRAZA The much anticipated Praza by Pushkar launched this Spring on the site of the old Rose Murree on the Hagley Road and promises to be the sassy younger sister of the golden temple that is Pushkar Dining on Broad Street. Owner Rai Singh proving that there ain’t no party like a Pushkar party - complete with a full on Great Gatsby themed party. The restaurant is in this gorgeous Grade II Georgian building and the striking interior is a mix of monochrome and copper but within keeping of its original features. The bar takes up most of the centre of the ground floor with small dining rooms off it, with a
striking Praza sign framed by lightbulbs taking centre stage. The cocktail offering is spot on, the martinis are superb and we had many Black Forest Martnis made with Stolichnaya Chocolate raspberry vodka paired with French black raspberry liqueur and cognac based orange liqueur, fresh strawberry puree and a dash of chocolate sugar syrup.
BOTANIST A truly unique concept has come to Birmingham with the arrival of The Botanist, a most charming and quirky bar/restaurant. Situated on Temple Street just between Colmore Row and New Street, this charming venue is bursting with life and character. The concept is essentially cocktails and food inspired by herbs and garden plants, but its strengths are definitely the drinks offering, with herbaceous and fragrant fruity combinations in abundance across its extensive cocktail list. We dined on a Bank Holiday lunchtime and it took some time to read through the drinks menu - a list of 95 craft beers, short cocktails, long cocktails, mocktails, wines, martinis and gins. Ooh I could go on and on. I dived right in with a pretty Strawberry & Mint Martini made with strawberry puree,
mint, Green Mark Vodka and liquor, lemon and sugar. I like my cocktails the sugary the better and this one hit the spot. One of the highlights of their drinks menu are the Watering Cans pictured above, Peach and Rosemary, White Peach Purée, Lemon Juice, Beefeater Gin for £24.95. It looked so darn cool. They haven’t forgotten about the kids who dine there either. For them you can have the Cherry Cola Drop, a mixed of fruit juices, Pepsi and a sprig of fresh green rosemary, served in a jam jar, which they loved.
Get more food news on twitter @deliciouspr & on the web : www.msdeliciouspr.blogspot.com
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FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD
y profession, she may be a child protection solicitor, but Shahnaaz Ayub has another passion – cooking! A wife and mother of 3, she wanted to share her love with others by publishing her first cookbook, Perfectly Easy Indian Food. The popularity of the book led her to appear as a guest on Islam Channel where she went on to host a cooking show and chat show: For the Love of Food. The show's format comprises of Shahnaaz demonstrating a couple of dishes each week from specific countries. She is joined by guests who assist her with the preparation of the dishes whilst they chat away about career, interests and achievements. Speaking to The Asian Today, she said, “The purpose of the show is designed to demonstrate popular dishes from all over the globe and to introduce viewers to a world of spices, aroma, ideas and techniques that they probably would never have embarked upon before. "The viewers also enjoy the added factor of watching
two celebrities assist me in the kitchen whilst we engage in general, but humorous, banter. “The show ends on a very humorous note when both guests go head to head for the "how round is your roti challenge' where they are required to race against one another to roll out and cook a roti.” Dishes that will be cooked include Chinese, Mediterranean, Italian, Thai and Indian – all with fresh ingredients and very easy to follow instructions. “Hopefully the show appeals to all viewers. The guests are generally well known from this generation as well as the last. The older viewers will hopefully be interested in dishes they never heard of previously or just never endeavoured to cook at home. Regardless of age and experience, if you're interested in cooking, you're always looking for new ideas to expand your repertoire.” Guests have included, Apprentice contestant, Nurun Ahmed, BBC Radio presenter Yasmeen Khan, radio presenter and award-
HALAL PORK
Aldi Apologises for Label Mishap Supermarket chain Aldi has been apologised after selling Indian snacks, which contained pork, under a ‘halal’ certificate. Angry Muslim customers have been left enraged after the blunder, said to have been made by a manager from the manufacturer, Punjab Pakora. One customer, Manahil Khan, said, “This is absolutely outrageous and I am deeply offended by this.
winning community worker Shemiza Rashid, and Desi
"It is demoralising and goes against ones religious morals and scripture.... and I speak on behalf of every Muslim and human that does not deserve to be misled by any sort of false claim of halal food or lies about what we consume." In a statement, Punjab Pakora said, “We have been trying our very best and hardest (to correct the issue) and have contacted different clients involved and have sorted the issue.” A spokesman for Aldi said the company was looking into the incident and offered its apologies.
Rascals star Yasmin Hashim, among others.
The spokesman said: "'Regarding the Punjab Pakora Black Pudding Pakora (Supplied by Punjab Pakora), we have now investigated this matter with the supplier, who has advised that the packaging was incorrectly labelled as Halalcertified and the problem is currently being rectified. "We apologise for any confusion caused by this unfortunate, isolated matter. While this is not a food safety or legal compliance issue, any customers who are not satisfied are welcome to return their purchase to store for a full refund."
FOOD & TRAVEL
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NEW YORK CALLING!
DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN BIRMINGHAM AND NEW YORK
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irmingham Airport and American Airlines have launched direct flights between Birmingham and New York’s JFK Airport. The route will provide nearly 100,000 seats between Birmingham Airport and JFK, and through the American Airlines and British Airways joint business and oneworld airline alliance, will offer a British Airways code share, allowing customers to earn
and redeem BA air miles and Avios points. David Winstanley, Chief Operating Officer for Birmingham Airport said: “We warmly welcome today’s new American Airlines daily service between Birmingham and New York JFK as it provides more choice for people wanting to access this vibrant US destination and has created almost 100,000 extra seats between the two cities.
“American Airlines’ strong route network from JFK also broadens onward connectivity across the Americas and Canada, including nearly hourly connections to LA, San Francisco and Orlando, and international flights down to Buenos Aires, San Paulo and Rio, as well as up to Toronto and Montreal. “This joint business and oneworld alliance with British Airways also means
that we see the return of a British Airways code share to Birmingham, allowing customers to earn and redeem BA air miles and Avios points.” Last year, American tourists spent around £40m in Birmingham and the Midlands exported £4.8bn to North America, giving a trade surplus of £2.9bn; the largest of any UK region. David added: “This service will not only help to build on the region’s success in attracting trading with America, but with so many wonderful places on our doorstep such as Stratford-upAvon, Warwick and the Cotswolds, we’re confident that this new flight will draw in even more tourists and business to the region.” The American Airlines flight will operate daily, arriving from JFK into Birmingham at 0700 local UK time. It will depart for its return leg at 0900, arriving into New York JFK at 1155 local US time. The new flights are available via AA.com and BA.com and through travel agents. The service will be operated by a Boeing 757 aircraft with 16 business and 160 economy seats.
TRAVELLING DURING RAMADAN Living away from home during the month of Ramadan can be quite exhausting. We asked one hotel to describe what guests should be able to expect during the holy month. Each year Atlantis, The Palm, in the Middle East, welcomes international travellers fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan, in a traditional fashion. Fasting guests can also enjoy the exquisite Asateer Ramadan tent, which offers amazing Iftar and Suhour experiences. What is the purpose of Iftar? Iftar is the meal served at sunset during Ramadan, as Muslims break the daily fast. Muslims traditionally first break the fast with dates and either water or a yogurt drink. After Maghreb prayer, they then have a full-course meal, consisting of soup, salad, appetizers and main dishes. The purpose of Iftar is to allow the fasting Muslim people to partake a meal along with family or friends after a day of fast. This practice has been written down in the Quran which Muslim follows every holy month of Ramadan. How is Asateer trying to capture this cultural experience for guests and visitors? Since Asateer opened it has been an icon for Ramadan meals. Asateer is also known as the Atlantis The Palm Ramadan Tent. Asateer not only serves a flavorful and
vast menu for International food with a lot of Ramadan specialties but, it makes each guests feel the solemnness of the place as well as the importance of sharing the meal with family and friends. When a guests enters Asateer, fascination can be seen in there face as the décor and theme suits well with the occasion. What distinct characteristics make up Emirati cuisine? Emirati cuisine has become a modern cosmopolitan cuisine because of the multi-cultural population, but looking from its origin Emirati cuisine is distinctly characterized as the food that is abundant to its location. Before the high rise buildings, hotels, restaurants and malls UAE have centered its cuisine with a lot of meat, grain and poultry. Saffron, cardamom, turmeric and thyme have been a staple ingredient for the Emirati as well.
WHAT TO EXPECT How do Muslims traditionally break their fast at sunset? Muslims traditionally first break the fast with dates and either water or a yogurt drink. After Maghreb prayer, they then have a full-course meal, consisting of soup, salad, appetizers and main dishes. For health reasons, Muslims are advised not to over-eat during iftar or at any other time
guests steps in Asateer, they can already the feel that warm Arabian theme and its hospitality from the entire service and culinary people. Dining in Asateer is also means participating into a
RAIL STRIKES CALLED OFF Would Have Gone Ahead After Talks Broke Down
Planned rail strikes across railways have been cancelled after RMT leadership and their members have come up with revised plans to accept a pay offer from Network Rail. If the strike would have gone ahead, rail passengers would have been affected on Thursday 4 June until Friday 5 June 2015 and Tuesday 9 June until Thursday 11 June 2015. At the time, Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, said, “It is very disappointing that RMT has now rejected a deal delivered through Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration
social gathering with live entertainment and of course the abundance of food around the tent. How does Suhoor differ from Iftar? While Iftar is the meal to break the fast at sunset, Suhoor is a small meal traditionally eaten before dawn during Ramadan; the final meal before the day's fast begins. What is on offer at Asateer during Suhoor? Unlike Iftar, which serves International buffet with a lot
What misconceptions do people have when it comes to Emirati food? The common misconception about Emirati food is that it is less of a flavor which I will not agree. Emirati foods are very rich in flavor without sacrificing the nutritional value of the food, its texture and appearance. What does Asateer offer non-Muslims – in terms of experience, insight, culture etc? As everyone knows, Asateer during Ramadan offers 2 different dining experiences which are the Iftar and Suhour. From the time a
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Service (ACAS) talks that the union’s leadership agreed was a reasonable offer. “Millions of hardworking people will be disrupted by this unnecessary and unreasonable strike action. I condemn it wholeheartedly and urge the union to reconsider.” Statement from the RMT, said, “I am very pleased that the industrial action has been suspended. With ACAS's help, we have had very constuctive talks with the unions over the weekend and I hope they will will be able to agree this deal.
Ramadan specialties, Suhoor serves a la carte and set menu. Food ranges from the traditional mezzeh, mouthwatering seafood and meat grills and flavorful desserts. What is the purpose of Suhoor and what part does it play in Emirati culture? The purpose of Suhoor is primarily to take food and water, while it is still permitted to do so, during the month of Ramadan and, while doing so, to remind ourselves of the restraints that we have to exercise during the day that is about to break.
• We aim to bring you great flight prices, whatever your destination. • We use a variety of airlines to find you the best deal. • We can provide tailor made packages and visa facilities. • We also specialise in Hajj & Umrah Tour packages. Hotel Bookings & Umrah Visa Services also available LOW COST FARES TO: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ethiopia, Lagos, Dar-Es-Salaam, Dubai and many more destinations.
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SON • STUDENT • YOUTUBER
The weather is much better here because I'm from Canada. Canadian weather is known to be extremely horrible. The only thing that's been a little weird is the accent. It's a little odd - but it's unique. You guys say "innit" after literally everything and "bare" a lot.
Tell me about United We Stand - How did you get involved? Basically, the manager of the entire tour reached out to me and purposed the whole tour to me. He told me it was for a charity cause for Syrian mothers and their children. The whole tour is being sponsored by Islamic Help. I always wanted to do a tour. The fact that it was for charity it made it much better. United We Stand consists of five people - I, Mesut Kurtis, Preacher Moss, Harris J and Saif Adam.
It's your first tour with United We Stand - How has it been? It's been amazing. The people of the UK have shown a lot of love. Almost every city has been sold out. The crowd has been amazing. We're looking for the £1 million pound goal. It's been an incredible experience so far.
Your popularity comes through YouTube, where did the inspiration come from? I've been making YouTube videos for five years now. The main popularity of my videos began around seven months ago. I've always been making desi videos. YouTube being banned in Pakistan, content wasn't being reached. That's when I started making videos on Facebook and that's when my popularity exploded. Mothers, fathers, grandparents and whole families come together to watch videos and share them.
Has your videos ever been shared by anyone famous?
There are a lot of youth that follow me. I feel that it is my responsibility to make sure that they are not misguided.
Did you ever think you'd get this type of reaction? No. Not even a fraction of this. When I first started I just made these little videos and thought lets just see how far I can get with them. I am very grateful that I have come this far. It makes me feel happy but I also know that I have a responsibility on my head because there are a lot of youth that follow me. I feel that it is my responsibility to make sure that they are not misguided. I don't use swear words and try to use less girls in my videos. Comedy is on one side but through that you can push out some very positive messages.
Your mother appears in some of your videos. What was the reaction from your parents? I started randomly putting my mother in my videos when I first started. I used to tell her what to say in the videos - her main line being "Hi. I'm mom." She's a very cute person. She looks like a teddy bear in the videos. She has her own personality. After she started coming in my videos, people absolutely loved her. Every where I go, people always ask me about her.
Do you feel, as a Pakistani, you have a responsibility towards changing perceptions about the country? Yes, definitely. A lot of the Pakistani actors and actresses will literally do anything as long as long as money is given to them, and I feel that is the mentality that needs to be changed in the Pakistani industry. One thing I follow by my heart is "whatever God has written in your fate, you will get that. It's your choice whether you make it the halal way or the haram way."
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How has your first trip to the UK been?
ZAID ALI
Shooting to fame through his YouTube videos, depicting the life of Asian families, Zaid Ali has become a household name. The proud Canadian is stopping in the UK for the United We Stand tour, presented by Islamic Help. Zaid spoke to The Asian Today about his videos, the tour and adapting to the British accent.
There's a rumour that you turned down a part in a movie. Yes. It was a Hollywood movie. I turned it down because of the kissing scene in it. That was my first instinct. The person that offered me the role was kinda shocked. I'm really proud of myself and I think my parents are too.
Outside of your videos, what kind of person is Zaid Ali? He is the same person. I just don't do a lot of "Brown vs White" in real life. An average day in my life is really boring. I think of ideas. Get the resources that I need. Film it and post it online. It's all about monitoring after that. I'm the kind of person that likes to stay inside. Even when I'm on tour. I used to like playing basketball and soccer but I gave them up. I'm mostly a one-man team. Shoot, edit and write the scripts myself.
You'be collaborated with Superwoman and Dhoombros - Who has been your favourite? Dhoombros. It's a Pakistani guy thing! We have a stronger bond. We've collaborated three times and it was very fun.
What has been your favourite video? Spider-Man.
Future aspirations? I want to get into Bollywood. I want to become a Bollywood actor in the future but not for the stereotypical movies that Bollywood is know for. I want to star in message movies like Aamir Khan does. He's one of the actors I look up to in the Bollywood industry.
There have been some Bollywood celebrities that have shared my videos like Sonakshi Sinha, Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, Malaika Arora, - so yeah, there have been quite a few.
Has this put extra pressure on your future videos? Not really. It does make me proud that people on a higher level can also relate to these small little comedy videos that I make. It makes them laugh which means that there is something in them.
Who would you want to share your videos to? Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. They're both people whose hard work has inspired me.
I always wanted to do a tour. The fact that it was for charity it made it much better. • UNITED WE STAND: Zaid Ali tours the UK with Mesut Kurtis, Preacher Moss, Harris J and Saif Adam.
The Healing Power of Colour
By: Mita Mistry
www.mitamistry.co.uk
@mitamistry “Rainbows apologise for angry skies.” - Sylvia Voirol
Colour is diverse in everyday life, it guides us from showing when fruit is ripe and ready to eat to red lights in our environment indicating danger. Colour has symbolic significance in many cultures, Asian brides wear red to welcome the flow of passion, abundance and joy. In the West, black is a mark of respect during death. Colour is everywhere but there is far more to it than meets the eye, it is a powerful healer, a language of the soul. Ancient Egpytians (1550 BC) realised that each colour has is own transformational and healing properties. They used specially built solarium rooms with different coloured glasses for sun-light to shine onto the patient to achieve specific therapeutic benefits. In the teachings of sacred Sanskrit, the chakras are wheels of light energy that vibrate at colour frequencies. If you are suffering from a break up, low self esteem or health issues your heart chakra is likely to be affected and can be helped by the soothing affects of green. Green promotes psychological and emotional harmony affecting blood pressure and all conditions of the heart. Spending time in nature or visiualising green are simple ways to help. In Five Element A c u p u n c t u r e , practitioners read the colour of a patient’s complexion and the appearance of body tissues. This is one of the keys to diagnosing the root cause of imbalances. Chromotherapy (colour therapy) believes that colour affects our moods and emotions.
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THE ASIAN TODAY FATHER’S DAY GIFTS It's that time of year again where you shower your father with unconditional love and presents. Not sure what to get? Want a gift that is sentimental, symbolic and luxurious? Well The Asian Today has got you covered.
TECHNOLOGY
PERISCOPE T
Is your Dad a motorhead? This piece of kit is the perfect present as it can not only charge all of his gadgets but even jump-start his car. Oddly, the built-in LED bulb has an SOS mode, flashing out Morse code dots and dashes, for those Dads who always need to be prepared.
The new model might be pricier than the last but it’s the thinnest Kindle ever with the highest resolution screen yet. This isn’t a tablet, though, so don’t buy it thinking you’ll be able to get Dad playing Angry Birds. Its primary function is an e-reader, storing thousands of books.
POWERUP 3.0 Dad can reconnect with his youth, attaching the motor to a paper aeroplane and controlling it from his Android or iOS smartphone. From our tests, the battery lasts for around 20 minutes.
MYSTERY BOX FATHER’S DAY Don’t know what to get Dad this year? Give him the gift of surprise with this box of Father's Day supplies from Firebox. We can't spoil the surprise of what's inside the box. Ideal for the Dad who doesn’t care about specifics, or for the Dad who has everything he could possibly need.
SONY SMARTWATCH 3 A great alternative to the fitness bands that are popular at the moment because it also supplies him with notifications from his phone such as email messages, texts, maps and more. One must-have app is VimoFit, which teams up with his phone to create a personalised work out to follow.
LAUNCHES ANDROID APP
Launch Comes Two Months After iOS Debut
COBRA JUMPACK
KINDLE VOYAGE
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3.2 BILLION USE INTERNET Report Shows Half of World Using the Net According to a new report, nearly half of the world’s population will be using the internet by the end of 2015. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations body, predicts that approximately 3.2 billion people will be online. The population currently stands at 7.2 billion. About 2 billion of those are in the developing world. But just 89 million will be in countries such as Somalia and Nepal. These are part of a group of nations described as “least developed countries” by the United Nations, with a combined population of 940 million. There will also be more than 7 billion mobile device subscriptions, the ITU said. It found that 78 out of 100 people in the US and Europe already use mobile broadband, and 69% of the world has 3G coverage - but only 29% of rural areas are served. Africa lags behind with
just 17.4% mobile broadband penetration. By the end of the year 80% of households in developed countries and 34% of those in developing countries will have internet access in some form, the report continued. The study focused on the growth of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector over the past 15 years. In the year 2000 there were just 400 million internet users worldwide, it said - an eighth of the current figure. "Over the past 15 years the ICT revolution has driven global development in an unprecedented way," said Brahima Sanou, director of the ITU telecommunication development bureau. "ICTs will play an even more significant role in the post 2015 development agenda and in achieving future sustainable development goals as the world moves faster and faster towards a digital society."
witter recently launched its live video streaming app Periscope on Apple and has now announced it will be available on Google's Android platform. Meerkat, which is seen as its rival app, has been available for download on Google's Play store since the beginning of May. Twitter brought Periscope in January of this year. It claims there were more than a million downloads of the Apple version of the app during its first week. Both apps offer a live broadcasting service via mobile phone. Those watching can show their appreciation and send messages which pop up on screen during the stream. Periscope announced the launch in a blog post that said, “When we started Periscope,
we wanted to build the closest thing to teleportation — by providing users with the best way to start or watch a live video broadcast. “As a small startup, our initial launch was limited to just iOS, but we’ve been working really hard to craft an experience that feels special on Android, yet still unmistakably Periscope. "We’re excited to announce the launch of Periscope on Android!” Periscope android engineer Sara Haider said in a blogpost that Android users of the app will be able to return to watch a broadcast where they left off if, for example, an incoming phone call or text message interrupts the feed. Those using it to broadcast will not have to upload a file in order to enable replays.
PROJECT FI NETWORK Google to Roll Out New Network
Google has outlined plans to run its own mobile phone network. The firm will rent voice and data capacity from two existing operators - Sprint and T-Mobile - and use existing wi-fi hotspots, rather than build new infrastructure from scratch. The internet giant have said it will only be offered to Nexus 6 handset owners, however may be offered to other handsets. Google Fiber, the firm's "ultra-fast" broadband service, is already seen as a disruptive force in the US telecoms market. The move has encouraged Comcast and Time Warner Cable to offer their own customers speed boosts without higher prices. However, Fiber's rollout involved Google buying infrastructure built by companies that have collapsed - giving it full control of the service. By contrast, one expert said running a mobile virtual network - which is dependent on rivals' equipment - might limit Project Fi's impact.
"The example of MVNOs in the US and elsewhere suggests that it's hard for their operators to dramatically change the industry because of their nature," said Ian Fogg from the IHS Technology consultancy. "But the past isn't always a guide to the future. Noone would have thought that a handset manufacturer could transform the mobile industry by teaming up with one network - but that's what happened with Apple and AT&T when the iPhone launched. And Google itself has repeatedly shown that it is capable of changing the direction of an industry by entering it."
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THE ASIAN TODAY NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ZAYN MALIK’S IMAGE TACKLES ISIS
• Nurun Ahmed
Former Apprentice Star Rolls Out New Campaign The image of former One Direction star, Zayn Malik, is being used to help deter youngsters joining Islamic State. His image will mainly be used to help as a role model to stop Britishborn girls becoming “jihadi brides” and comes after the disappearance of three schoolgirls from London joined the terrorist group in February. The scheme is the idea of former Apprentice star, Nurun Ahmed who says girls need to understand
that there are more opportunities available in the UK. “The radicals who groom teenage girls tell them groups like IS are their only hope for a future. “We need girls to know this is not true and that there is hope for them in this country. We will give them examples of people they can relate to, like Zayn Malik from One Direction, to help them understand that they have opportunities.” Titled Prevent, Inspire and Engage, the project will be rolled out in east London with Nuran saying it was important that talks are given before school break in the summer with fears that girls will be able to run away more easily after schools break up in July.
HEATWAVE SWEEPS INDIA
Police Appeal Over Airgun Shooting of Toddler
There was blood all over her face and it was dripping on to her clothing.
and crying. “I got some tissues and pressed them to her forehead to stop the bleeding. Then she stopped crying and went faint. I thought she was going to die. “I could see there was something like a bullet in her head. I was panicking. I was screaming and crying and running with the pushchair, but no-one was there.” Labour Councillor for Bowling and Barkerend, Hasaan Khan, said he was working closely with the police to identify the perpetrator. “This is a horrific act and the little child is lucky to be alive. My heart goes out to her family who must be going through the most difficult time of their lives.” Sergeant James Firth, of the Bradford East Area Neighbourhood Team, said, “Extensive inquiries have been carried out into this incident and these are continuing.
• TRAUMATISED: Noorsadia with her family
SHOT IN HER PRAM P
olice are appealing for information after a two-year-old girl was shot in the head with an airgun. The parents of little Noorsadia Akhtar have said that she is “lucky to be alive” after she was implanted with a pellet in her forehead after she was shot at whilst in her pram. She was rushed to hospital where the pellet was removed and is now recovering at home.
Her mother, Noor Nahar, said that she feared this would happen to other families. “I am afraid it will happen to other children. If we don’t catch whoever did this, they will do it again and again.” The incident happened as she was walking to pick up her other daughter, 7-year-old Noor Ankis, from school. The 26-year-old added, “My 12-month-old son, Zunaed Abdullah, was in the
500 DEAD AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB TO 48C
A
• ESCAPING THE HEAT: Man showers to cool down
Jas Sansi's Scribbles
“Anyone who might have information about who was involved is asked to contact the Bradford East Area Neighbourhood Team on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”
Twitter: @Jassansi
heatwave sweeping across India has resulted in the deaths of more than 500 people in the country. The majority of deaths caused by the sweltering conditions, in which temperatures reached 48C in some areas, took place in the southern states of India, with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh being two of the worst-affected. Though both states have been facing heatwave conditions for over a month
pushchair and Noorsadia was sat on the top of it, facing me. “I had not gone very far and was near some trees when I heard a loud bang, like a gun. It seemed to come from an abandoned building about 50 yards away and I turned to look. “When I turned back to the children, Noorsadia was bleeding badly. There was blood all over her face and it was dripping on to her clothing. She was screaming
now, the numbers of those for whom the heat has been fatal has rocketed recently, with 246 people dying in Andhra Pradesh alone as a result of the high temperatures. The neighbouring state of Telangana saw 186 people across 10 different districts dying due to the heatwave, with a number of deaths also being recorded in the north-western state of Rajasthan. Meteorological officials have said the heatwave has been caused by a lack of rain and have warned that the country will continue to face sweltering conditions for a further few days. “No relief” expected for
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Delhi Authorities have advised people to drink plenty of fluids and to remain indoors. P Tulsi Rani, special commissioner of the disaster management department of Andhra Pradesh, said: “The majority of the victims are people who have been exposed to the sun directly, usually aged 50 and above and from the working classes.” He added: “We are asking them to take precautions like using an umbrella, using a cap, taking a huge quantity of liquids like water and buttermilk, and wearing cotton clothing.”
ISLAMIST GROUP BANNED Group Implicated in Murders of Three Bloggers An Islamist group which faces accusations of attacking and killing three bloggers has been banned in Bangladesh. Police in the country called for the outlawing of the militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), after the three secular bloggers were found hacked to death
using sharp weapons. The ABT were implicated within the preliminary investigations into the murders of the three bloggers. The attacks led to large scale protests taking place across the country. Activists have accused authorities within Bangladesh for failing to protect people who voiced criticism of religious bigotry, with secular bloggers in the country increasingly facing death threats.
• PROTESTS: Activists Rally Against Murders
Ansarullah Bangla Team is the sixth group to be banned in Bangladesh.
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JOHN LEWIS SEEKS RETAIL TALENT Applications for more than 500 roles at the new flagship John Lewis shop in Birmingham have opened. The retailer is on the hunt for new staff to fill a variety of positions from sales assistants to stock and catering roles. The successful applicants will join a team of 150 specialist roles across visual merchandising, business protection, admin and maintenance for which recruitment is already underway.
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AWARDS 2015
Set to open in September, the 250,000 sq ft department store will be the anchor tenant of the new £150million Grand Central retail development. One of the largest John Lewis shops outside of London, it is the business’ first full-line shop to open in four years and represents a £35million investment by John Lewis in the city. The recruitment drive forms part of John Lewis’ ongoing commitment to Birmingham.
BARCLAYS OFFERS FREE MENTORING SCHEME Aimed at Local Entrepreneurs West Midlands based entrepreneurs have been given a fantastic opportunity to benefit from free advice and mentoring from the very top of the business world through a new partnership between Startup Direct and Barclays. A group of five entrepreneurs were carefully selected to attend an advisory session at the ‘Barclays Brain Trust’ event at the bank’s
FRINTER: Offers a free
• printing service to students
Snowhill headquarters. During the event, each of the entrepreneurs benefited from their own personal mentoring session with 22 leading Barclays executives, who offered advice on areas such as strategy, finance and marketing. The five local start ups taking part were childrenswear company, Star51; construction website, YouKwoteMe; Solesee, which has developed a foot health checker used in the detection of diabetes; hair extension company The Good Hair Show and Frinter, a free printing service for students. “The entrepreneurs were overwhelmed by the attention to detail paid to their business by the Barclays executives, who focused on particular challenges they faced and how they could be overcome”, said James Pattison from Startup Direct.
WINNERS: Asian Women of
• Achievement 2015
WINNERS LIST
Winners Announced at Annual Event
T
he winners for the 2015 Asian Women of Achievement Awards have been announced after a successful event. Now in its16th year, the event aimed to highlight the often overlooked contribution that Asian women make to sectors including business, sport and culture. Among the special guests at the evening were the Duchess of Gloucester; senior lawyer
BCABA
Black Country Asian Business Association (BCABA) Annual – Awards Dinner
B L A C K C O U N T R Y A S I A N B U S I N E S S A S S O C I AT I O N
BUSINESS AW A R D S
19 June 2015 – 7pm till late
2 0 1 5
Wolverhampton Racecourse Holiday Inn Garden Court, Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton WV6 0PE.
14th Annual Dinner and Awards
We would be delighted to have the pleasure of your company at the 14th Anniversary BCABA Annual Awards Dinner. With a high profile guest speaker, high quality entertainment and an awards ceremony, the evening will prove to be awonderful night celebrating Asian business achievement.
Public Service Award Daman Mullhi, (Director of PR, The UK Sepsis Trust)
The Small Business Specialists
BHATTI & CO CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS - Accounts Preparation - Self Assessment Returns - Tax & VAT Investigations - VAT & Payroll - Book Keeping - Company Formation
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Ninder Johal BCABA Chair tel: 0870 609 4401 www.bcaba.co.uk
Entrepreneur Award Farzana Baduel (Founder of Curzon PR) Media Award Shivvy Jervis (Head of Digital Media, Telefonica)
Professions Award Nicky Jayesinghe, (Head of Professional Policy Division, British Medical Association) Social & Humanitarian Award Parmi Dheensa, (Executive Director, Include Me TOO) Sport Award Annie Zaidi (Youth Engagement Coach, Leicester City Football Club Community Trust) Global Empowerment Award Elif Shafak Young Achiever Award Tanya Datta (Store manager, Marks & Spencer) Community Award University of East London
We are committed to providing a promt, professional & personal service
For further information please contact: ninder.johal@nachural.co.uk
Miriam González Durántez – wife of the former deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg -- and the newly-elected SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh. The awards were founded by Pinky Lilani, who received an OBE in 2007 for her work to celebrate women’s achievements. Pinky said, “What really makes me happy is seeing these women who are hugely talented but are so collaborative, very kind and humble. "They all seem so honoured to be involved.”
RBS AWA Chairman’s Award Jyoti Shah (Consultant Urological Surgeon at Burton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) Arts & Culture Award Sajeela Kershi (Comedian) Business Award Sevasti Wong (Managing Director at Accenture)
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PROPERTY
INCREASING PROPERTY CONFIDENCE Harworth Estates Leases Four Units
H
arworth Estates, the UK property regeneration company wholly owned by Harworth Group plc, has signed four leases at two of its business parks in Yorkshire and Leicestershire, reflecting increased business confidence in the regions. At Riccall Business Park in North Yorkshire, Harworth has leased, Unit C3 - a 1,040 sq ft industrial unit, to Gold Standard Nutrition LLP. The unit, taken on a three-year lease, will act as a storage unit for a cold-store and Unit A6 – a 207 sq ft office, to G&C Packaging Ltd on a two-year lease. At Asfordby Business Park near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, Harworth has leased Unit C3e – a 602 sq ft office, to eSynergy Developments Ltd, which follows the expansion of its existing waste treatment facility at Unit E at the park in December 2014 and Unit C3b – a 210 sq ft office, to JT Fabrications (Leics) Ltd. The four lease agreements follow Harworth’s commencement of more than £1 million of capital expenditure works to improve its business park space across the north of England and the Midlands,
PROPERTY
including upgraded office space and high-quality landscaping. Liz Askam, Property Manager at Harworth Estates, said, “Our vacant stock continues to attract high levels of interest from both existing and new tenants, which is testament to our asset management initiatives which have helped enhance the quality of our business parks portfolio, such as superfast broadband, new estate landscaping and re-roofing works.” Riccall Business Park is a 104-acre development, located south of York, close to the A19 and 20 minutes from the M62. Asfordby Business Park is located to the east of Melton Mowbray and is less than half an hour from the M1. It is also one of the few sites in the Midlands with an on-site rail connection. Units and development land are still available at both parks. Riccall Business Park has existing units to let of up to 65,000 sq ft and can also accommodate new smaller units on a design & build basis. Office and industrial units and development land are still available at Asfordby, with the site capable of accommodating a unit of up to 265,000 sq ft.
LANDLORDS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNSAFE HOMES Rogue landlords in England are raking in £5.6 billion a year for 740,000 unsafe rented homes that fail to meet legal standards, a new study has found. These privately rented homes present a severe threat to tenants' health, according to the report from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) with a host of dangers such as severe damp, rat infestations and the risk of explosions. Overall the study reports that 16% of privately rented homes are physically unsafe, far higher than the 6% in the social rented market, some 8% of privately rented homes have serious damp, 10% pose a risk of a dangerous fall and 6% are excessively cold. "Rogue landlords are putting profits before safety. With a growing private
rental sector, increasing numbers of people are falling prey to landlords who fail to meet decent standards," said Gillian Guy, CAB chief executive. With the cost of buying property rising steeply in many parts of the country, couples with children are now the most common household type in the private rental market and CAB says private renters are woefully under protected and have to navigate through numerous pieces of complex legislation to seek legal redress from landlords. It says that taking court action against a landlord can be long, complicated and expensive. This is compounded by the fact many complaints have to be made to local authorities, which often do not have the capacity to act quickly.
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MUSTANG
Footage to be used in insurance claims
Iconic Car Makes European Debut
"Mustang is definitely more than just a car – it is the heart and soul of Ford."
F
ord has unveiled the new Ford Mustang – the first Mustang ever to go on sale across Europe in 50 years of production. “Ford Mustang inspires passion like no other car,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “The visceral look, sound and performance of Mustang resonate with people, even if they’ve never driven one. Mustang is definitely more than just a car – it is the heart and soul of Ford.” Customers have already ordered more than 2,600 fastback and convertible models since the automotive icon went on sale earlier this year. Famed for powerful performance, the all-new Ford Mustang covers 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in less than five seconds with the 5.0-litre
V8 engine, or in just less than six seconds with the more fuel-efficient 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine. The world’s most-liked vehicle on Facebook (with more than eight million likes), Ford Mustang has made more than 9,000 appearances in television, music and video games, as well as co-starring in films with Hollywood stars Will Smith, Nicholas Cage, Jason Statham, Tom Cruise, and perhaps most memorably Steve McQueen – in cult 1960s movie Bullitt. “The new Mustang is one of the most hotly anticipated cars ever, we are very excited to now give drivers in Europe the opportunity to experience the real thing,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe.
INCREASE IN CLAMPING Drivers Fall Foul of Tax Changes
Available in ten distinctive colours, including exclusive Competition Orange and Triple Yellow, the all-new Ford Mustang evokes the essential character of the iconic car with a contemporary design and classic elements – including the long sculpted hood and short rear deck. The multilayer insulated cloth top ensures the convertible offers a sleek profile when the roof is folded back, and a quiet cabin. Ford’s acclaimed 5.0-litre V8 engine – yielding 418 PS and 524 Nm of torque for Europe – is joined by an all-new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine that brings stateof-the-art technology to Mustang; delivering turbocharged performance with the fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions demanded
by Europe’s car consumers. “This EcoBoost engine delivers where a Mustang driver expects it to with a broad, flat torque curve that pours out when you stand on it for easy passing or hustling down a twisty road,” said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. The Mustang’s 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine uses direct injection, variable cam timing and turbocharging to deliver usable performance. A unique intake manifold and turbocharger housing enable it to deliver the performance Mustang drivers expect, with 314 PS and 434 Nm of torque for Europe. An automatic transmission option features steering wheel-mounted shift paddles that deliver convenience and control for drivers.
A change in road tax rules has resulted in a rise in the number of vehicles being clamped. An increase of 3,000 vehicles a month have been clamped so far this year in comparison to last year, with figures showing that the DVLA has clamped over 25,000 in the first three months of this year alone. The sharp increase is linked to a failure on the part of motorists in their thousands to realise that, since the switch to digital tax discs, the road tax on a used car is cancelled the moment it changes hands.
As a result, the responsibility to immediately purchase road tax falls into the lap of the new owner. However, many motorists unwittingly fall foul of the new rules and fail to pay the tax, thus running the risk of being landed with hefty fines and having their vehicle being clamped. RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: "The automated system the DVLA now uses can identify untaxed vehicles easily; if your car is untaxed you risk being fined, possibly in excess of £1,000, plus the cost of releasing it if clamped or impounded."
The use of video evidence to assist UK motorists in their car insurance claims is becoming increasingly likely. Popularity for the cameras is also on the rise amongst UK drivers, with Market research agency GfK reporting sales of the gadget having mushroomed over the past year by over 900 per cent. The forward-facing video cameras, which are placed on the windscreen of a vehicle, can be installed easily by motorists willing to pay upwards of £50 for the tiny camera. Dashboard camera maker Nextbase, which has been given complete approval from car insurance companies in the UK that evidence from the dash cam will be taken into account in liability cases, has claimed that the footage recorded can increase the efficiency of claims procedures due to the higher dependability of videos as witnesses compared to humans.
RAMPANT ROAD RAGE FOUR IN FIVE UK MOTORISTS VICTIMS OF AGGRESSION Figures from a recent poll have revealed the extent of road rage in Britain, with four in five drivers admitting to having been subjected to aggressive confrontations when out on the road. The research indicates that almost half of victims of road rage have been driven at aggressively by other motorists, with one in 25 stating that their vehicle had been attacked due to conflict on the road. Additionally, at least one in 20 individuals have claimed to have suffered a physical attack in incidents of road rage. Of the total 1,000 UK motorists polled in the Carwow website's survey, a fifth admitted to having gotten out of their vehicles
to face another driver in a confrontation, with a survey from last year indicating that Britain is one of the worst offenders when it comes to road rage on an international level. Results from the poll also showed that almost threequarters of incidents of road rage were as a result of bad driving on the part of other motorists, with a third of adults blaming very slow driving as a primary cause of conflict. To curb the number of road rage incidents on Britain's road, recently introduced Government legislation makes motorists behaving aggressively to other drivers liable to receive on-the-spot fines amounting to £100.
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BARA in Defeat to Italy Team Falls Short on 20-18 Loss
SPORTS
SUPER STU
Mumbai Stuns Chenn
The British Asian Rugby Association (BARA) team, led by rugby league greats Garry Schofield OBE and Ikram Butt, put on a superb show in the first ever White Ribbon Trophy match before losing out 20-18 to a strong Italy team drawn from the cream of the country's burgeoning Revolution League. An Italian penalty just two minutes from time eventually decided what was an absorbing contest from start to finish played out in front of around 500 enthusiastic and curious spectators at the Stadio Tre Fontaine, home of Roma Rugby Club. The BARA team started off strongly, taking advantage of a hesitant Italian defence to take the lead on two minutes. Danny Gill of Kippax Knights touched down in the corner rounding o f f some slick passing
following two quick tap penalties for holding down in front of the posts. The Italians hit back with some powerful running that tested out BARA's defensive capabilities and came close to touching down but for some handling errors. Several outstanding last ditch tackles also helped to keep the Italians out. Garry Schofield commented: "I'm disappointed that we lost. I thought we could have won this game but there's definitely a bright future ahead for Italian rugby league based on this display and I'd mark out several of our players, including Ali Hassan of Saddleworth Rangers and Richard Streets of North Herts Crusaders, for praise." The White Ribbon Campaign aims to end violence by men against women and got the full support of everyone taking part.
W
ith the words of encouragement from England cricketer Moeen Ali still ringing in his ears, it dawned on Easah Suliman that he had the potential to inspire a whole community. The England U n d e r - 1 7 s international is a proud Muslim, and when he was handed the captain’s armband for his country against Faroe Islands back in August 2013 he became the first British Asian to skipper the Young Lions. “Being a BritishPakistani, it doesn’t really happen that often to people in my community. I hope that I’m inspiring people around me and in my area to believe that they can achieve what they want with hard work,” Suliman told TheFA.com. “It’s huge playing for England. It’s a small community where I live in Moseley, but everyone is well excited to see me do
T
he Mumbai Indians were crowned champions of Pepsi IPL 2015 after they registered a resounding victory over the Chennai Super Kings in the title-clash at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Rohit Sharma kept his love affair with the venue after he blitzed his way to a half-century first up and then ended the day lifting the coveted IPL Trophy. After setting CSK a target of 203, the MI bowlers kept striking at regular intervals, took all the opportunities that came their way and restricted their opponents to 161-8 to win by 41 runs. After being put in to bat, MI were pushed on the backfoot in the first over when Faf du Plessis pulled off a sensational run out to dismiss the opener Parthiv Patel. However, the reliable Lendl Simmons and skipper Rohit Sharma snatched the initiative back in spectacular
fashion, attacking the CSK bowlers relentlessly. Both batsmen continued their onslaught and stretched their partnership 119 runs. Simmons brought up his halfcentury off 35 balls in the tenth over, while Rohit reached the milestone in the twelfth over. Kieron Pollard and Ambati Raydudu contributed with cameos in the back end of the innings. Pollard, batting at number four, struck two fours and three sixes in his 18-ball 36 before he was dismissed in the penultimate over of the innings. Rayudu, who walked in to bat after Simmons was dismissed in the thirteenth over, consumed 24 balls for his 36, studded with three hits over the fence, and batted through to the end of the innings. The partnership b e t w e e n
MOEEN TOLD ME I CAN ACHIEVE MY DREAMS well and they are all rooting for me. I’m trying to do it to prove to those younger than me that they can achieve their dreams. “Moeen, who has been playing the recent Test matches for England, is another British Pakistani Muslim from around my area as well. He is a friend of my dad and has spoken to me a few times about it. “He’s given me a lot of advice and encouraged me to keep going and carry on doing what I’m doing. He wants me to show the younger ones around my area that they can
make it in professional sports, it doesn’t matter what culture you are, the opportunities are there and we can achieve our dreams.” As a practising Muslim, Suliman can only eat halal meat, but he says he is getting all the support he needs within the England camp. “One of the main issues when we come away is the food. It can be quite hard when you visit another country, but Dave Tivey [the side’s physical performance coach] has been amazing at sorting it out, along with our team ops Andrew Free. “The only meat that I can’t eat is pork. Any other meat has to be Halal, but fish is
fine too, so I’ve had plenty of options.” “The last Ramadan for me was in June, just when we started p r e season. So I was fasting whilst d o i n g that, but Villa were brilliant in supporting me and managing my workload throughout that.
Easah Suliman Takes Advice From Fellow Brummie
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nai to Win IPL 2015
REVIVING CRICKET WITH THE HELP OF INTERNATIONAL CRICKETERS by International Cricket Association Moghees Sheikh (ICA Chairman) is concerned about the lack of participation in cricket from young people. He is keen to work hard to change this through arranging sessions with high profile names. He has in the past used his cricket links to have Saeed Ajmal attend a coaching session as a guest appearance to the delight of the young cricketers whilst Saqlain Mushtaq was conducting the session. More recently he has arranged former Pakistani all rounder Abdul Razzaq to conduct
Pollard and Rayudu lasted 6.4 overs and added 71 runs to the MI total. MI finished their innings at 202-5. There were a total of 16 boundaries and 12 sixes hit in the innings. The 17th over of the innings was the most productive over of the innings; Rayudu and Pollard plundered Ashish Nehra for 23 runs. There were 12 overs in the innings in which the MI batsmen scored 10 runs or more in the over. CSK had rode on the brilliance of Brendon McCullum and the consistency of their bowlers to get to the final. Unfortunately for MS Dhoni, the wheels came off the bowling attack in the mostcrucial match of the season. Dwayne Bravo picked up two wickets extending his tally of wickets in the season to 26. Ashish Nehra too had a poor day in the office, conceding 41 runs in his four overs. Already reeling under the pressure of having to score more than
ten runs an over from the start of the innings, CSK’s task became more difficult when the opening pair of Dwayne Smith and Michael Hussey struggled to put bat on ball early. The latter perished in the fifth over when he slashed at a wide delivery but holed out to the fielder at point. The MI off-spinner struck for a second time in two overs when he beat Raina with a wide delivery and gave Parthiv Patel the opportunity to pull off a simple stumping. The CSK left-hander, who batted at number three, made 28 and hit three boundaries and a six in his 19-ball stay at the crease. Mitchell McClenaghan was the most successful of the MI bowlers, returning figures of 3 for 25, while Harbhajan Singh was the pick of the bowlers, picking up the wickets of the two dangermen Smith and Raina. Lasith Malinga (2-25) and R Vinay Kumar (1-39) were the other wicket-takers.
CRICKET COMES HOME International Cricket Returns to Pakistan P akistan celebrated the return of international cricket to the country after six years with a hard fought T20 series win over Zimbabwe. But the significance of the series was not in a game of cricket but was in the mere fact that cricket was finally coming home. Having made his international debut in 2009, Umar Akmal summed up the mood perfectly. Speaking to PakPassion, the 24-year-old said it was exciting to be playing in front of his home crowd. “"It will be an amazing feeling,
it would mean so much to me. Cricketers around the world take playing at home in front of their own crowds for granted.” "But unfortunately many of us Pakistani cricketers have never been able to play in our own conditions which is really tough. I know the people of Pakistan are really looking forward to the return of international cricket to Pakistan and so are the players. I thank the Zimbabwe team for embarking on this tour and hope it's the start of international cricket returning permanently to
Pakistan." Unfortunately, the timing is late for Misbah-ul-Haq who retired from ODI’s after the World Cup, however he still hopes to lead the country in test matches. “"I would love to captain Pakistan in Tests at home before I retire. I hope soon some team will visit Pakistan and we will play a Test series here. Even during the matches against Zimbabwe I regretted not being part of the team. "People have proved that cricket is still alive in Pakistan," he said. "The way fans have turned out to watch
matches, despite searing heat and extraordinary security measures, it has strengthened the view that international cricket should be played here. "The people of Pakistan have shown to world that they can't be kept away from cricket. We have given a very strong message to the world," he said. "Zimbabwe is not much popular as compared to other cricketing countries, (and) still the fans have come out in large numbers to support them. It shows how badly we were missing cricket."
a coaching session with Beds Cricket Academy (BCA) in Luton. ICA is now engaging with schools, cricket clubs, academies etc to provide a fantastic opportunity for all cricket lovers to learn from former and current internationally renowned cricketers. If you would like to book an international cricketer for a coaching session or any other type of event feel free to contact ICA as they will be more than happy to help you.
To find out more about International Cricketer's Association you can check out their website: www.icassociation.co.uk and follow them on Twitter: @icassociation
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ZAF'S COLUMN @All4YouthCIC
CONNECTED HISTORIES Muslims In The First World War
• FIRST WORLD WAR : Indians also fought in the War
J
ust over 100 years ago, in 1914, a war in Europe Broke out. It lasted 4 years, ending in 1918. We call it the First World War. The impression sometimes is that that the First World War only happened in Europe – and that it only involved Europeans. We now know that the First World War also involved the other parts of the world – other countries. For Britain, that meant its Empire at the time. This included getting soldiers and other personnel from the Caribbean, from Africa and, especially, from India. It is only more recently that the contributions and sacrifices of peoples from the former Empire has been documented and celebrated. We also know that, in Birmingham and across Britain, there are many Asian’s who descended from those who fought. That they have stories and memories of their ancestors – even medals and certificates. In Birmingham, the Heritage Lottery Funded project Connected Histories: Muslims in the First World War (being run by Xtra Mile West Midlands CIC) has been set up to collect stories of what people know about their ancestors (however little they think they know – we still want to know). The project is working with communities and organisations such as
museums and libraries to help tell that story. We know this history is under-represented. It is time to discuss this more openly. The project is looking for the following: People who are descended from Muslim soldiers who fought in World War One. We would like to hear about your ancestors. It doesn’t matter if you do not know much, we are still interested. We are hoping to do interviews People who might want to volunteer on the project. There are lots of activities that the project would like your support on, including researching, helping with finding people to interview. Helping the project with doing events People who want to participate in a workshop on World War One history and Muslim contributions, including about what the project is doing, what it has found so far, and how we can improve understanding of Muslim contributions in British history The project is also holding a series of events from September through to November. On Saturday, 12th September, the project will hold an event in the community to present about this history and to have a debate about what it means for Muslims in Britain. Event details will be provided shortly. Details about other events will also be provided when we have them.
The project team is: Izzy Mohammed (Project Manager) Jahan Mahmood (Project Researcher) If you are interested, especially, if you have stories about Ancestors who fought, then please contact Izzy Mohammed on izzymiyaghi@yahoo.co.uk or
07932 985 267
SPORTS
First Podium for Zubair Hoque H
ale based Formula 4 racing driver Zubair Hoque has scored his first podium success just months after signing for Sean Walkinshaw Racing (SWR) and making his debut in the 2015 BRDC F4 Championship. The 18-year-old collected the silverware after a dramatic and determined drive in round six of the series staged at the Rockingham Motor Speedway circuit in Northamptonshire. Despite difficult weather conditions and a number of on-track dramas in earlier rounds four and five – including a forced pit stop by Zubair after a puncture caused by contact by a rival competitor – he powered his way through the final race of the weekend to cross the chequered flag in third position. From the start Hoque seriously impressed with a best lap time just 0.006 seconds shy of the fastest in the race. Starting ninth on the grid he nudged into seventh place on the opening run and then leapt into fifth by lap three. Two laps later he spotted his chance to climb even further up the field, pulled away from the pack and made third place his own. He was presented with his trophy by A1GP Champion, Adam Carroll. At the start of the year Zubair switched from HHC Motorsport to join top rated SWR, based in Chipping Norton, as the team’s maiden signing for BRDC’s (British Racing Drivers Club) full season 2015 F4 series. SWR Commercial Manager, Mick Gomme, said, “The promise shown by Zubair throughout testing and in the early rounds of this year’s series has more than delivered on our expectations. “He takes a determined and intelligent approach to each and every race and his reward has been this highly creditable first podium place
RACING AHEAD
just months into his ‘rookie’ season in single seat racing. “He is showing tremendous pace and we expect to see more great results before the end of the series.” After collecting his first F4 trophy, Zubair said: “The Rockingham rounds were eventful and not without various mishaps, but in the third race I managed to get a clean getaway at the start
FOXES SNAP UP UMAR AKMAL L
eicestershire CCC have announce the signing of Pakistan international batsman Umar Akmal for part of the NatWest T20 Blast tournament in 2015. The Foxes’ new signing will play four games in June covering for overseas signing Grant Elliott, who is on New Zealand ODI duty against England next month. The highly talented 24-year-old has a best T20 score of 94 for Pakistan and a terrific overall strike rate of 128.65 in his T20 career. Brother of fellow internationals Kamran and Adnan, Umar has made centuries in Test matches and ODIs and was part of Pakistan’s ICC World Cup squad. Umar said, “This will be my first time playing T20 for a county and I am very excited to be handed this opportunity. The club have put their trust in me so I will give my 100 per cent efforts to repay their faith.” There’s already one exciting date for the diary for fans of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Pakistan as Akmal could face international teammate Shahid Afridi when the Steelbacks visit Grace Road on Friday, June 12.
and kept myself out of trouble over the opening laps. “From there it was all about being consistent and picking off the drivers in front. “I’m pleased with my pace throughout the race and the buzz I got from my first podium place has provided a tremendous motivational boost. “With the great support I am getting from SWR
management and fellow team mates, I’m hoping to learn more and continually improve to secure more top rankings this season.” Zubair started his racing career in karts at the Daytona circuit in Manchester and achieved many notable successes in international events across 13 different countries, before making his move into Formula 4.
Pakistan Batsman to Cover for Grant Elliott
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HIS MAJESTY’S CALLING
AMIR KHAN CALLS MAYWEATHER TO MAKE HIS MOVE
A f t e r b e a t i n g Chris Algieri in a unanimous decision, Boltonborn boxer, Amir ‘King’ Khan, called on Floyd Mayweather’s camp to make a Khan v Mayweather fight happen. Khan had to dig deep to claim his 31st fight in his professional career but was named the winner by judges. The 31-year-old used speed and skill to win again the American and proved that he can still challenge the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Khan came up against a very different Chris Algieri from the boxer who was knocked down six times on the way to a humiliating defeat by Manny Pacquiao a few months ago. The New Yorker was fighting in his hometown and made Khan work for the victory which keeps his dreams of a return to the world title alive. The early rounds were split between Algieri's bigger-looking punches and Khan's speedy
combinations, and although Algieri is not the best of punchers in the world, some of his blows shook Khan. Even though the best of Algieri's work heightened the drama for an animated Premier Boxing Champions crowd in Brooklyn's resplendent Barclays Center, there were times that the New Yorkers roared in It was not quite the statement Khan was seeking to catch the eye of Floyd Mayweather, but it gives the boxer some additional brownie points. Before the fight, Khan said, 'We all want to fight Floyd Mayweather, but when you wait so long for something it can set you back. I did not want to look past Algieri or any other fighter.' “Mayweather is a champion,” Khan said. “So let’s make it happen.” But when he's in all-action fights like this, Khan is certainly good box office. Even the flaws made for a more exciting fight than the Mayweather-Pacquiao anti-climax. Khan praised Algieri 'for coming forward more than I expected and having a good chin.'
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME Annie Zaidi Talks About Issues Surrounding the Beautiful Game
T
he FA recently produced a short film, For the Love of the Game, to inform and inspire girls to get into football. England women’s international Jess Clarke joins Deb Owen from Manchester County FA, referee Rebecca Welsh, coach Annie Zaidi and Sunderland chief executive Margaret Byrne, all highlighted the breadth of opportunities available to women wanting to make a contribution to the game in a range of roles. Annie was the first South Asian and Muslim woman in her region to get a level two coaching certification badge from the Football Association. She is currently working towards her UEFA B license and is coaching the under 11s at Leicester City Girls’ Centre of Excellence. Annie’s aspiration is to become a fully qualified FA tutor and eventually coach elite players of all genders full-time. Having recently won an Asian Women in Achievement in the Sport category, she became the first-ever
Asian woman to reach a level 2 coaching role, certified by the FA. “My proudest moment so far has been coaching at Leicester City Football Club's Centre of Excellence, which many people told me would just be a dream as an Asian Muslim wearing a hijab wasn't an image a professional club would want to promote. There is something special about football the moment the ball touches my soul, it makes me come alive. The training ground is where I belong and feel the safest: there are no barriers or labels, just Coach Annie! “If you walked past me, I look like your average British South Asian Muslim woman, but that's as far as it goes when it comes to identifying me. I may look like your stereotypical Asian Muslim women because my head is covered by a headscarf, but I am a football coach who lives in her training kit, has more trainers than high heels and loves nothing better than watching Match Of The Day instead of going out with her friends and family
“My proudest moment so far has been coaching at Leicester City Football Club's Centre of Excellence" on Saturday night “Being an Asian Muslim woman in a headscarf trying to make it in this industry is the most challenging experience in my life. Not only have I been ostracised from the wider community - which was expected - but sadly I have been ostracised by parts of my own Asian community too, as they saw coaching both men and women as a taboo; some regard me as a bad role model within the Asian community. One thing people don't know about me is that I am a very focused, headstrong determined chic who strives better when people tell me I can't or that I shouldn't, hence my motto being: They can take my ball away from me but they can't take away my passion!”
• COACH : Annie Zaidi
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