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Deepika Puts on a Fierce Face

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The latest teaser trailer for xXx: The Return of Xander has just been released with an amazing celebrity line up, including the likes of Vin Diesel, Samuel L Jackson, and our very own Deepika Padukone.

It’s Padukone’s first foray into Hollywood and whilst most are sceptical of the starlet’s future, many are praising her for breaking out of the Bollywood shell. The Indian beauty shows off her fierce and aggressive side in this action blockbuster and surprisingly looks as if she is doing her own stunts!

Playing a huntress called ‘Serena’, Padukone definitely looks the part as she makes her entrance wearing a black leather jacket and leather boots. Not to mention the sizzling scene between her and Hollywood heart-throb Vin Diesel, in which we can hear her embrace her natural accent. Fans are anxiously waiting for this sequels release, which will be in January 2017.

The newest xXx instalment feature an allstar multi-ethnic cast: mixed race Vin Diesel, martial artist star Donnie Yen, AfricanAmerican Samuel L Jackson, BulgarianCanadian Nina Dobrev, our Indian Deepika of course, and Kris Wu, former member of Korean mega-boyband EXO. The two minute trailer reveals an explosive plotline in which Vin Diesel, xXx, is hired to retrieve a device controlling military satellites. Deepika Padukone, an initial baddy, soon realises they share a common goal and the two, along with a whole host of crude and cool characters, work together to defeat the villains.

Samuel L Jackson thankfully dumbs it down for us: “kick some ass, get the girl, and try to look dope while doing it.”

United States gets Trumped Entire globe shocked as Donald Trump voted in as US President

A

fter a cataclysmic campaign that saw FBI investigations, sexual assault claims, smears and vitriol galore and a media frenzy focused on two insanely polarising characters, America has finally decided on its new 45th President: Donald Trump.

The world watched on tenterhooks as state by state revealed its votes, with many around the world watching live regardless of time zones. Then the unbelievable news broke, political outcast Trump really had won the presidency. The billionaire businessman is set to take the Presidency from current President Obama in January 2017, meaning Obama has just two months of clean up before handing over power.

Trump won with 289 votes against Hillary’s 218 and has a senate majority with 51 Republican seats. Despite a smart, clean and thoroughly un-

Trump like acceptance speech where he even congratulated Clinton, the markets shook upon news of the presidency with the US dollar tanking, UK and European markets falling and the Asian markets taking a hit.

Americans themselves seem to be quaking in their boots, evidenced by the fact that the Canadian immigration website crashed in the wake of the election. They might be across the pond, but it’s no exaggeration that everything that occurs in America has a knock on effect on the rest of the globe- perhaps most especially on the UK. The UK and the US have long enjoyed a long and amicable friendship. We speak the same language, we share the same faces, and our policies on everything from economics to climate change to wars in the Continued on Page 2

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Justin Bieber Asks 'Obnoxious' Birmingham Fans to Stop Screaming - PG 32 Trump Invites Bollywood Celebs to Mega US Concert- But Who’s Attending?

Turn to Page 32

The Return of Xander has just been released with an amazing celebrity line up

Navin Kundra Breaks into Mainstream

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Brum Top Destination for London Leavers - PG 16

Karan Puts National Pride Before Pakistani Actors - PG 34

Andy Murray Becomes World No.1 - PG 47

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NEWS Continued from Front Page Middle East are more often than not closely aligned. Though this might not be the case for long.

Trump has denied climate change, attributing it to a ‘Chinese hoax’ and is adamant about anti-Islamic immigration, something Theresa May said was “divisive, unhelpful and wrong.”

So how will Trump and Theresa fair as leaders of the anglo-west?

One can’t forget how then US and UK leaders George W Bush and Tony Blair stormed into Iraq together searching for those famed weapons of mass destruction. But what occurred on our side of the sea was mass fallout as millions accused Blair of ponying up to Bush for a wild goose chase. Now Blair is facing the brunt of the consequences, with The Chilcot inquiry ringing decision makers- Blair included- left and right.

Next came US golden boy Barack Obama and ex-Prime Minister David Cameron. Whilst Obama was introduced Obamacare, found and killed Osama Bin Laden and solidified his legacy

as one of the most popular US presidents in recent years, Cameron unfortunately took another path, slashing budgets, opening up the gateway for Brexit and introducing a divide in US-UK relations. Obama notoriously said that Cameron had been "distracted by a range of other things” which led to the Libya crisis.

Now America is on stage yet again as Donald Trump, hotel business man, Miss World obsessive, potential builder of walls, takes centre stage as the world’s most powerful man. But what does this tell us about the state of politics, in the UK as well?

It’s hard to ignore the parallels between the US election and Brexit.

Nicola Sturgeon recently revealed how when David Cameron first proposed Brexit and she warned him that it might happen, he told her “don’t be silly.” No one could have predicted how Brexit went, not even the Brexit campaigners and voters themselves (many of whom immediately expressed regret and it was more of a protest vote than anything.) But the same angry, disenfranchised

Trump claimed he will “bind the wounds of division”

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"We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence." voters who voted for Brexit are much like those who voted for Donald. They felt ignored, sidelined, that things would never change without a shake up.

Remain promised no shake ups.

Hillary promised no shake ups.

Trump himself referred to himself as ‘Mr Brexit’- he knows very well he is a protest vote against political stagnation. It’s not necessarily that they voted for Brexit and Trump, but more so that they voted against a continuum of the current state of political affairs.

And seeing as the majority of both US and UK peoples are misinformed of politics, they felt they had no other way to seize that chance.

But what about the minorities?

After Brexit, there was an explosion of racism and antiIslamic sentiment.

Eerily mirroring it, there has been news of increasingly random and sporadic attacks on muslims in America.

Trump famously promised that he would stop any immigration of Muslim peoples into America, as well as force the Mexicans to build

a wall to keep their own people out, as well as refer to women as pigs and admitting to using his fame to get away with sexual harassment.

Understandably, 58% of white Americans voted for Trump.

A shocking 8% of black people voted for Trump, with 88% voting Clinton. 65% of Asians voted for Clinton and 29%, a surprisingly high figure, voted for Trump. So what does the next four years have in store for American minorities?

In his winning speech, Trump claimed he will “bind the wounds of division”- many of which he has had a hand in inflicting.

Despite conflicting on numerous areas, including the Middle East, handling of minorities and Russia, PM Theresa May has congratulated Trump on winning and said “We are, and will remain, strong and close partners on trade, security and defence.

"I look forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump, building on these ties to ensure the security and prosperity of our nations in the years ahead."

German Markets Staying for Longer The highly anticipated German Markets will be making a return on Thursday 17th of November and has made the pleasant surprise announcement that they will be staying for longer than usual, until 29th December.

Birmingham’s German Markets are the largest outdoor Christmas market around in the UK and therefore makes on average £400 million from the 5.5 million visitors that we get yearly from it.

The first ever German market in Birmingham took place in 1997 and only had 10 stalls. It was meant to be a one off event, but due to the success of the markets, since then it has only further expanded and now become a yearly event that many people look forward to visiting.

As well as this, the Big Wheel and outdoor ice rink will be back in Centenary Square and will be here until 8th January 2017.

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Anni Dewani Case Key Witness Found Hanged Shrien Dewani’s gay lover, Leopold Leisser had been found hanged at his flat in Mosely.

Leisser was a key witness in the trial of murdered Anni Dewani and told the Court how he and Mr Dewani had engaged in sexual activity before the wedding. Admitting to being a prostitute, he disclosed how Mr Dewani paid him £400 per session and met each other after Mr Dewani contacted Leisser on his website.

A police investigation taking place revealed that Leisser was

• Anni Dewani

suffering stress due to having been involved in the ongoing court case. While Mr Dewani had actually been cleared of the murder charge, three other men were jailed for life for the kidnap and murder of Anni Dewani.

The court case resulted in Leissers website being shut down and therefore in him losing a total of £5,000 a month. Birmingham and Solihull coroner, Miss Elisabeth Bussey-Jones released a verdict that Leisser had indeed committed suicide.

NEWS

Day of Action Unites City Communities comes together to help make our streets a cleaner and safer place.

Tolkien church at risk The church where JRR Tolkien, one of the world’s greatest writers and one of the greatest minds to come out of Birmingham, is at risk of neglect, decay and inappropriate development.

The church was added to The Heritage at Risk Register, a compilation of vulnerable heritage sites ran by the campaign group Historic England. The Birmingham Oratory, where the renowned author who penned The Lord of the Rings is based in Edgbaston and is one of 42 sites in the West Midlands to join the list.

The oratory was founded in 1848, Maryvale by

John Henry Newman and moved to Edgbaston in 1852. After Newman’s death, the original oratory was replaced by an even larger building as a memorial to him.

Birmingham’s Moseley Road Baths, built back in 1907 in Balsall Heath, a popular site in the second city and is also on the list, though campaigners and conservationists are working to preserve the building.

Rhodri Evans, of Heritage Risk, says: “Across the region, many historic sites are at risk of being lost but the good news is that we have removed 51 sites.

“Historic England continues to invest grant aid and to dedicate time and expertise working with owners, developers and communities to find solutions to rescue precious sites so people can continue to enjoy them and the stories they tell about our past.”

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N

ovember 9th proved to be the day that the residents of the city of Birmingham all came together to show how local leader leadership, local service delivery models, as well as the waste strategy and partnership working can help and contribute towards having cleaner and more hygienic streets for our city.

This took place due to the data that was collected in the Environmental Quality Survey. As result of the data, 10 different wards were used to target and tackle many of the deep rooted issues that were mentioned in report. Various activities and initiatives were designed to help with the matter and to help fix some of the

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groups and partner organisations that are already doing great things in their local areas – and shape what we do to address the needs of our communities in a sustainable way.

“Behaviour change is a key element of this. Through this day of action we have looked at local issues related to litter and street cleansing and demonstrated how we can achieve positive change.

“The series of events at locations right across Birmingham will hopefully act as a demonstration of what we are trying to achieve with improved local leadership.

We know one size doesn’t fit all and will do everything we can to come up with local solutions to local challenges.”

"If we are to deliver on a better Birmingham for our citizens, we need to work much more closely with groups and partner organisations that are already doing great things in their local areas" problems highlighted.

The results based in the statistics were made up from an inspection into 70 different locations with the city’s 40 wards.

The survey usually would have been done annually, however starting this year, will now be taking place 3 times per year.

The day was full of many different people volunteering to help out, including a number of community groups, various departments of Birmingham City Council, as well as the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner.

Councillor Tony Kennedy, one of the 4 Assistants leaders of Birmingham City Council said, “If we are to deliver on a better Birmingham for our citizens, we need to work much more closely with

Some of the other events taking place on the day and ideas that were getting implemented included a community clear-up taking place in Bordesley Green Ward. Brandwood worked in partnership alongside Amey to get rid of graffiti.

The decision of Communal bins getting introduced for houses took place, as it was something that had previously successfully worked in pilot schemes in other areas of the city which had a high density population.

The WM Police and Crime commissioner emphasized that streets which are more looked after tend to be safer for all people, so having these new ideas tested out and implemented will hopefully result in our city becoming a safer place for everyone.

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Brummy Kids to Get Inspired with Donated Sports Kit

Birmingham has been bitten by the sporting bug yet again in the gear up for BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2016.

BBC Get Inspired, in association with Birmingham City Council, Sport Birmingham, BBC WM and BBC Birmingham, have launched sports kit donations for Brummy youth, giving them a chance to get into sport and adopt a more active lifestyle.

The Reclaim Sport Kit collection project will be putting up over 20 donation bins in schools, supermarkets and public areas.

Donated kits will go to community organisations in deprived areas of Brum.

These will then give kids the

opportunity to get involved with sports, helping promote an active lifestyle as well as develop social and physical skills.

Kindly kit donators will be able to share their story with the public on BBC WM or online using the hashtag #HaveMyKit. Katharine Merry, an Olympian sprinter, said ““This is a brilliant idea which everyone in the city can part be of and help lots of local children get active.

We all have sports equipment and gear that we no longer use! I hope the idea will be picked up on a national scale once everyone has seen how successful it is in Birmingham.”

Project leader for Get Inspired, Sharon Fuller, said: “This really is a chance for the people of Birmingham to give back to the wider community and help the next generation enjoy the benefits of sport.

Whether it’s a football top, pair of trainers, rugby ball or a hockey stick no donation is too small. We want the people of Birmingham to take this opportunity to rummage through their wardrobe, get rid of those unused items they’ve had for years and donate to this fantastic cause.”

You can find a full list of the collection bins in your local area on the BBC Get Inspired website atbbc.co.uk/ getinspired

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The latest teaser trailer for xXx: The Return of Xander has just been released with an amazing celebrity line up, including the likes of Vin Diesel, Samuel L Jackson, and our very own Deepika Padukone.

It’s Padukone’s first foray into Hollywood and whilst most are sceptical of the starlet’s future, many are praising her for breaking out of the Bollywood shell. The Indian beauty shows off her fierce and aggressive side in this action blockbuster and surprisingly looks as if she is doing her own stunts!

Playing a huntress called ‘Serena’, Padukone definitely looks the part as she makes her entrance wearing a black leather jacket and leather boots. Not to mention the sizzling scene between her and Hollywood heart-throb Vin Diesel, in which we can hear her embrace her natural accent. Fans are anxiously waiting for this sequels release, which will be in January 2017.

The newest xXx instalment feature an allstar multi-ethnic cast: mixed race Vin Diesel, martial artist star Donnie Yen, AfricanAmerican Samuel L Jackson, BulgarianCanadian Nina Dobrev, our Indian Deepika of course, and Kris Wu, former member of Korean mega-boyband EXO. The two minute trailer reveals an explosive plotline in which Vin Diesel, xXx, is hired to retrieve a device controlling military satellites. Deepika Padukone, an initial baddy, soon realises they share a common goal and the two, along with a whole host of crude and cool characters, work together to defeat the villains.

Samuel L Jackson thankfully dumbs it down for us: “kick some ass, get the girl, and try to look dope while doing it.”

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Deepika Puts on a Fierce Face

YOUR MONTHLY SHOWBIZ FIX!

Justin Bieber Asks 'Obnoxious' Birmingham Fans to Stop Screaming - PG 32

The Return of Xander has just been released with an amazing celebrity line up

Trump Invites Bollywood Celebs to Mega US Concert- But Who’s Attending?

Turn to Page 32

Navin Kundra Breaks into Mainstream

Birmingham Musical Heritage Celebrated

A Birmingham based urban art company, City of colours, who have the city’s biggest collection of street art, are now staging an exhibition to highlight our citys musical heritage.

The 10 month long running project aims to focus on Birmingham’s deep reggae roots and involved youth under the age of 16 in helping them raise awareness of music from Birmingham as well as also breaking down any negative perceptions that they may have.

After speaking to the group of teens, City of Colours found that 89% of them were unable

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to name a single musician from Birmingham. The group then researched into and produced street art murals about their research into Birmingham’s musical roots, especially focusing on music of black and Asian roots.

A final exhibition at the Muthers Studio in Digbeth will display artwork that includes vinyl collages, a lyrical installation and a timeline of Birmingham musical heritage.

This will take place on Thursday, 17 November from 7pm at Muthers Studio, and is free to attend.

Hospital Halal Not up to Standard?

S

andwell General Hospital is currently deciding whether to change its supplier of halal food over concerns that the food might not be up to standard. There was a clash of board room members at the West Bromwich based hospital, with some bosses being accused of indecisiveness and not doing enough to ensure halal food was good enough and with satisfactory options.

Waseem Zaffar first raised the issue a year ago and said he was unhappy about a lack of progress regarding the halal options menu. Since then there has been a lack of progress in getting the food options for Muslim patients improved. Part of the difficulty lies in the fact that many suppliers in the Midlands provide halal ingredients but not ready made meals. Cooking meals in-house would add to costs and require hospital kitchen upgrades and changes.

As such, trust bosses are currently said to be looking into “all options” for sourcing food. They have since struck a deal to source local milk and fish, saving a reported £40,000.

Zaffar said: "I am very disappointed with the response this trust has taken.

"We all agreed we would do what we can to create an environment as whole as possible for all our patients.

"We provide halal food but the standard doesn't provide a homely environment we want to provide. I apologise for sounding irate but I don't see any movement from 12 months ago."

Mister Khan Teaches Children the Right Way to Eat Custard Creams

The infamous Mr Khan turned up to Yardley primary School last week to entertain some of the students in his own funny way. The hilarious community leader surprised the students by joining them in their assembly, in which the children had the opportunity to ask Mr Khan questions about what it was like for him when he went to school.

Mr Khan then proceeded to show

the children the best way to eat a custard cream, which he comically pulled apart and licked the inside of, before saying that he would then give it to his son in law as he would have no idea that something was wrong with it.

Leaving the children in tears of laughter, the Head teacher Gaynor Moore commented, ‘"Yardley Primary School is very proud that

the incredibly successful Adil Ray is a former pupil. Our pupils were thrilled to see Mr Khan. It was the most entertaining assembly ever according to Year 5 and 6 pupils and staff!"

Mr Khan, who is played by Adil Ray from the BBC, will be awarded an OBE for his services to broadcasting on Friday 11th November.

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

The Great Balti Brexit Betrayal

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Love Thy Neighbour Unless You’re A Brummy A

• Photography Credit: Nigel Mykura

Rarely goes a day without a Brexit headline making the political weather. Yesterday, like buses, three headlines arrived at the same time. Unfortunately for the middle one, the first and third demanded all the media’s attention. Boris Johnson suggested the UK would make a ‘Titanic success’ of Brexit whilst collecting the award for most inappropriate metaphor. And later, the High Court found against the Government, ruling Parliament must be given a vote in triggering Article 50.

The ignored story was the betrayal Indian Restauranteurs expressed in being told there would be no extra chefs flying in from India. This was a promise, made by the Leave camp, which now lies in pieces like a shared poppadom.

Are the restauranteurs to be blamed for trusting special interest groups? No more than those who voted Leave expecting the NHS to be given an extra £350 Million a week. A Lamb Jalfrazi was ordered but curried mutton was served.

I sympathise with the restauranteurs. They provide a service for which there is considerable demand. And in doing so, create jobs, support the economy and keep alive a high street losing ground to online sales.

Should Indian restaurants attract and train British born chefs? Yes of course but the challenges shared by business owners is the industry demands long and unsociable hours.

Retaining the right people is not easy.

In a perfect world, local chefs would prepare locally sourced ingredients picked by British farm labourers. We do not live in a perfect world, it’s Great Britain not Perfect Britain.

Despite being a nation that has benefitted and become dependent on immigrant labour, we can change, we can become more self reliant. It just isn’t going to happen within the two year period after triggering Article 50.

Parliament will support a democratic result on EU membership, I just hope our trade negotiators don’t encounter an iceberg in making a Titanic success of it.

JAS SANSI TWITTER: @jassansi FACEBOOK: fb.com/jassansi

Study reveals Birmingham has the highest number of neighbourly disputes in the entire country.

T

he families of the victims and survivors of the Birmingham pub bombings are set to receive a human rights award for the Justice4the21 campaign.

Liberty, a rights organisation, is recognising the campaign for its successful lobby to get the inquest into the Birmingham bombs exploded back in 1974 reopened. 180 people were injured in the blast and 21 people killed.

Justice4the21 funded legal aid itself in order to lobby for new investigation.

Birmingham Coroner Louise Hunt ruled in their favour, opening the case back up again as there is a “wealth of information

that still has not been heard.”

The awards will take place at the Royal Court Theatre in London. Julie Hambleton will join other members of the campaign to collect the ‘Long Walk Award.’ Julie, whose sister was killed in the bombings, said: "We have faced many challenges, we have fought of our own volition, of our own time, money and we have invested all of our emotional energy into bringing about a resumed inquest for our loved ones.

"It is very moving for us.

It is hard to put into words how we feel, but we do what we do for those who aren't here to fight for justice themselves. If we don't do it then no one is going to do it for them."

ccording to a study by Coop Insurance, Birmingham officially make the worst neighbours in the UK. A survey revealed that Brum has the most nextdoor neighbour disputes of any other city.

A quarter of Brummies have been embroiled in neighbourly spats in the last year alone and a whopping 1 in 8 from Brum city have even moved just to escape their nuisance neighbours!

The Co-op study also shows that 44% of disputes remain unresolved, leading to simmering resentment and grudges between households.

A survey of 2000 people showed that these neighbourly feuds revolve around everything from noise to parking, pets to kids and even messy gardens.

James Hillon from Co-op Insurance says: “The research shows as a nation we’re at risk of losing the community spirit we once prided ourselves on.

“Communities are valuable as they allow people to interact with each other, share experiences and develop valued relationships.

Without communities, we’re in danger of living isolated lives.

“As our lives become ever busier and we spend more time engaged with technology- TV, the internet and social media- it seems we are becoming ever more distant from our closest neighbours.

“As a nation we need come together, lose the British stiff upper lip and engage with our neighbours, who in time may become friends.”

Liberty Award for Birmingham Pub Bombing Victim’s Families

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NOVEMBER 2016

Brexit update boosts Midlands businesses

By Mark Finucane, regional development director for the Midlands at specialist lender Together Theresa May’s recent announcement has attracted the attention of the world. In one of her first significant updates regarding Britain’s plans to exit the EU, she announced that the triggering of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty will take place by the end of March 2017 at the latest, with Britain becoming a ‘sovereign and independent state’ again in the spring of next year.

This, coupled with the Government’s plans for the ‘Midland Engine’ announced last December, is great news for Birmingham and the Midlands, as this project is boosted by increased confidence from the Brexit update.

The uncertainty caused by Brexit has been seen as the destabilising factor, particularly for the property market, causing some property investors and SMEs to adopt a ‘wait and see’ approach.

However, we have in fact had strong indications that the market hasn’t been as affected by the referendum as some had feared, and this announcement has helped further by clarifying the roadmap.

RICS (The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) members have forecast that house prices will

increase by 3.3 per cent a year for the next five years and the Nationwide House Price Index confirmed a 0.3% increase in house prices in September.

This confidence boosting news couldn’t have come at a better time for the ‘Midland Engine’. The project for the central region, similar to the concept of the neighbouring Northern Powerhouse, is a Government initiative to give the region another economic boost.

Nationally, May has made significant pledges to reduce the focus on London and the South, and ensure that, as a country, we aren’t controlled by one city. With Birmingham being the UK’s second largest city, it’s evident that it will benefit from her plans.

All of this means that it’s a great time to invest in the region. Whether you’re planning a property investment or a business expansion, the Midlands is a thriving hot spot.

For further information contact Mark Finucane on 0121 396 1453, email mark.finucane@ togethermoney.com or visit www.togethermoney. com/midlands

Mark Finucane, regional development director for the Midlands at Together

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Motorbiking Gang Terrorises Solihull 10

NOVEMBER 2016

NEWS

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Birmingham Reunites Child Refugees with their Families

200 Masked Bike Riders Cause Mayhem in Solihull

A

gang of up to 200 bikers caused panic in Solihull when they descended upon the roads, jumping red lights, speeding, weaving through traffic and attempting dangerous stunts.

It was alleged that fireworks were thrown at motorists and a police van was even attacked. Almost 100 of the masked riders swarmed on the van, trying to kick off wing mirrors and smash windows, fleeing when police back up arrived. A group of bikers even obstructed a fire engine trying to attend to an emergency. Seven people have been arrested and ten bikes seizes, including scramblers, mini-motos and mopeds.

A number of the bikes are believed to have been

stolen.

One biker crashed with a car, and according to West Midlands Police, the rider was also riding without registration or lights.

The motorcycle mayhem, known as Halloween Ride Out, was warned by the anonymous biking group in mid-October in the run up to Halloween. Chief Inspector Jack Hadley said: "This wasn't a rally of bike enthusiasts…this was loutish, criminal behaviour.

"Bikers were riding without lights, at speed, dangerously, pulling wheelies in the street, and mounting pavements.

"It is very difficult to plan for outbursts like this: it's not a conventional, planned event and we saw small groups of bikers speeding off in all directions."

Birmingham has welcomed in fifty child refugees with family links to the city. The refugees were taken in as part of the Government’s Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme, established back in 2015.

Councillor Waseem Zaffar, Cabinet Member for Transparency, Openness and Equality at Birmingham City Council, said: “We are on standby to support the Home Office in bringing children under the Dublin III regulation, which relates to children who already have family links in the UK. We have welcomed a number of children today with family links in the city.

“We are also signed up and are actively working to support children coming to the UK under the Lord Dubs agreement and have signed up to the National Transfer Scheme.

“Anyone who has seen reports of the desperate situation in Calais – and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria and elsewhere – knows we have a moral duty to help refugee children who have suffered immense hardships that no child should go through.

Birmingham, as a City of Sanctuary, has a proud history of sheltering people who are fleeing for their lives and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure those coming here are settled and can start a new life here.”

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NOVEMBER 2016

Shruthi UK celebrates birth centenary of Queen of Carnatic Music

Penny Appeal charity runners take on the Great Birmingham Run

A

A rare concert was held in Birmingham marked the birth centenary of one of India’s pioneering vocalists won rapturous applause from guests.

Glowing tributes were paid to Dr MS Subbulakshmi, known as the Queen of Carnatic music.

The event, themed, ‘a musical tribute to the queen of Carnatic music’ was organised

by Shruthi UK, the Midlandbased South Asian arts and culture organisation. Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan FRSA, founder and artistic director of Shruthi UK, said the event “would not have been possible without the support of dedicated volunteers and organisations. This event, I feel, provided a platform to share our history and rich south Indian cultural heritage.”

The event coincided with the culmination of Navaratri.

Attended by around 100 representatives from public and private sector organisations, the event featured speeches, thematic presentations, a stage performance and light refreshments.

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team from international humanitarian charity Penny Appeal gathered together this month to take part in Great Birmingham Run, helping orphans every step of the way by raising money to open an orphanage in Asia.

As part of #TeamOrange – the name given to the charity’s volunteers and fundraisers – they laced up their running shoes and navigated the city’s streets for 13.1 miles on Sunday 16th October, and for some of them it’s their first time tackling the distance.

Led by Haroon ‘The Mota-vator’ Mota, Midlands Fundraising Manager at Penny Appeal’s Birmingham base on Ladypool Road, the team had an impressive turnout, with nearly 30 people following his lead.

Together, they have raised £17,000 so far to open a new orphanage in Pakistan, which will become home to 10 vulnerable orphans and give them all they need for a brighter future.

Haroon said: “It was a fantastic day, full of energy

and determination.

The team did exceptionally well to complete the 13.1 mile distance, a great achievement, especially for the majority who were participating in a race for the first time. It’s always a great atmosphere to race in Birmingham and doing it to support children in poverty makes it even more special.

On the day, #TeamOrange volunteers also formed a cheer station at mile 11, with the Penny Appeal charity bus, handing out 6000 oranges to help fuel and encourage the 20,000 participants.

“Everyone is welcome to join the #TeamOrange family, and we’re already recruiting for the Great Birmingham 10k which takes place on 30 April 2017 and also next year’s inaugural Birmingham International Marathon.” Haroon added.

“We have all sorts of challenges and activities coming up and there really is something for everyone, so if you can’t run for the bus then maybe you could host a bake sale or try a sponsored silence!”

If you’d like to be part of #TeamOrange and help

Fundraisers help orphans ‘every step of the way’

transform lives, contact Haroon at haroon.mota@ pennyappeal.org.

Under the challenge banner of ‘Half Marathons for Homes’, Penny Appeal participants have already undergone the Robin Hood Half Marathon in Nottingham on 25th September and will complete the Leicester Half Marathon on 23rd October.

Donations can be made to the group fundraising page at: https://www.justgiving.com/ teams/halfmarathon4homes Money raised from all three events will go on to support a new orphanage as part of Penny Appeal’s OrphanKind programme.

Under the scheme, orphans receive a comprehensive education, clothing, healthcare and nutritious food, all in a safe home with a dedicated foster mother. Find out more and sponsor an orphan for just 50p a day at www. pennyappeal.org or by calling 03000 11 11 11.

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NOVEMBER 2016

Are you a Working Woman? Check out the Birmingham Gender Pay Gap

Newly published statistics reveal that men in Birmingham earn an average of 17% more than their female counterparts.

Although this figure is less than the nationwide average (23%), it’s still a cause of concern for the female brummy workforce.

Data shows that Brummy males earn an extra £1.78 an hour on average, equating to £12.17 an hour compared to women’s £10.39 an hour.

According to experts, one of the reasons for the difference is part time and full time employment. 82% of men work full time jobs, whereas only 59% of women work full time.

A shocking 41% of women in Brum work part-time. Due to maternity and child care, women are usually forced into part-time work as they juggle familial expectations. Worse yet, these part-time jobs are usually sorely low paid.

The head of policy and insight at the Fawcett Society, Jemima Olchawski, said: "The moral case for gender equality should be enough alone to motivate us to speed up the pace of change."

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Birmingham is the L Top Destination for Disillusioned Londoners

NEWS

ast year, over 6000 people left the England capital for the second city of Birmingham.

According to the latest migration statistics Birmingham was the favourite destination, which Brighton, Thurrok and Epping Forest following on behind.

Birmingham has seen booming growth and interest in recent years in the business and creative sectors, as well as heavy investment into infrastructure. Just last month, Birmingham was billed as Britain’s Most Enterprising City, beating out London and rival Manchester.

Emma Gray, the marketing director for Visit Birmingham, said: "People may have older perceptions of Birmingham and have not seen how it has transformed over the past 10 years," she said.

"Businesses both internationally and domestically are looking for opportunities outside the capital."

"They know that by being located in a central place like Birmingham they have the best of both worlds, they can get back to friends and family, and because they are in the middle of the country they can explore more."

Despite the opinion some may have of it, Birmingham is perhaps the most eclectic and unique place in England.

It’s also the most multicultural as well as having cheap, affordable housing and good schools. The average London house price is £484,716 whilst the average Brum house is just £162,184.

Birmingham is the youngest city on average, having the highest population of under 30s and university students.

The city has seen an influx of young professionals due to low property prices and high standard of life.

• Birmingham's high life and unique architecture is one of the draws of the city

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Please Grandma, not another jumper What to ask Grandma for this Christmas It’s finally November & I’m about show you my ultimate Christmas wish-list. So I like to be prepared? Shoot me! There are two kinds of people when it comes to Christmas; people with no souls or people that love Santa. I’m definitely the latter, when it comes to Christmas gifts; I like to be prepared in advance – a proven way to avoid opening another grandma jumper on Christmas day! So, what am I asking for this year?

It’s Christmas morning and you’re running down to open your presents, the snow’s untouched outside (who am I kidding, this is Britain, it’s most definitely raining) what outfit are you imagining?

If it’s not a pair of pyjamas, you’re not doing Christmas right. Pyjamas on Christmas day are a necessity, just like butter on toast. As Christmas to me is all about eating & napping, pyjamas make it to the top spot on my wish-list. With so many great brands, I’m pretty spoilt for choice, so I’ve decided to add my favourites , my top 3 are: Cyberjammies, Yawn London and star favourite; PJ Salvage!

What’s the best way to bring in the New Year?

Holiday! Post-Christmas, when the lights come down & the tree’s put away, the cold suddenly doesn’t make us want to get cozy anymore, I know I say as a Brit, I can handle the cold, but I’m going to be honest, my body automatically rejects it once Christmas is over & I start dreaming of beaches.

This one’s on the list as a just-in-case gift, you know, just in case I end up on a beach in the sunshine in January, swimwear

will be essential and my top brand picks this year are: Watercult, Melissa Odabash and Paolita!

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Like the saying goes, ‘leave the best till last’ well, for me, that’s lingerie. What you wear underneath matters, I don’t know about you, but I feel like Wonder Woman when I end up wearing a matching set of lingerie, even if I’m the only one that knows.

It’s like I have my life together, it makes me feel sexy, confident and simply amazing about my body, I couldn’t limit myself to a single brand though because of the number of them that I’m in love with so here’s my top three: Lise Charmel, Mimi Holliday and Chantelle Paris, Le Mystere!

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Birmingham Sports Hub Receives Queen’s Award

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voluntary group operating in Birmingham has been awarded with one of the highest honours in the UK, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, for their outstanding contribution to their community.

The group manages a Sports Hub called Holford Drive Community Sports, for the community and by the community, offering services to disadvantaged

Brummies, and regularly attracts up to 800 young people a week who can learn and develop themselves via sport.

Lincoln Moses MBE (the HDCSH chairman), Keith John and Diane Sawyers Trustees, who manage HDCSH, journeyed down to Buckingham Palace where they were able to meet Her Majesty alongside other award winners.

HDCSH soon When it’swill

officially receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Birmingham come Summer.

Moses said: "I am not by nature an excitable person. On the contrary, life's oscillations have left me pretty cynical.

But I'm so excited about being at the genesis of Holford drive community sports hub revolution and transforming the lifestyle of disadvantage people from with the area.”

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The Dreaded “M” Word Written by: Neelam Heera @cystersbham Cysters Birmingham

It’s an unavoidable fact that women go through menopause.

It's difficult, full of anxiety and distress. Some menopausal changes can be exuberated by treatments for illnesses such as cancer. So what is “The Menopause?”

In simple terms Menopause is when a women’s periods stop and her ovaries lose the reproductive function. Usually women go through this change after the age of 40. The ability to produce an egg each month is associated with the release of Oestrogen. This hormone stimulates female characteristics at puberty and during a women’s reproductive cycle.

With age, the “storage” of the ovulation eggs are decreased and conceivability diminishes.

Each woman is different so there are many different symptoms.

Hot flushes are the most common symptom, typically occurring for 3 in 4 women.

Other symptoms include night sweats, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, irritated skin, more frequent urinary incontinence, more frequent urinary tract infections, low mood and a reduced interest in sex, though these symptoms vary in severity and duration.

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3 – Sleep Well: Improve your sleep by using herbal remedies such as lavender sprays around your room.

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5 – Stop smoking! Women who smoke have an earlier menopause than non-smokers.

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NEWS

WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM

Read the full interview on our website: www.theasiantoday.com

SAY ARTS with Abid Khan!

W

e sat down with Abid Khan, director of Sayarts.com, a company dedicated to the promotion of Sufi and Qawwali music in the UK. Abid gives his insight into the changing landscape of Asian music and how he got his company off the ground.

Sayarts has multiple upcoming tours come 2017, including Faiz Ali Faiz, Professor Abdul Rauf Roofi, Asif Ali Khan Santoo Khan, Shahbaz Fayyaz Qawal, Imran Ali and Faryad Ali.

Tell me about Sayarts.com, what do they do?

Sayarts.com is an international promotions company that promotes Sufi music, mostly around Qawwali and nasheeds.

However this year we branched out to include a comedy tour from Pakistan and from next year, we aim to expand into other genres and move into artist management.

Why did you decide to bring Qawwali to the UK? I decided I wanted something different from the conventional job. I wanted to leave my mark in the industry. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan did great work but after he died, Qawwali died down. I thought I could get involved in Qawwali and since then, I’ve introduced Rahat Fateh Ali Khan into the UK and many others artists to help revive qawwali.

How is Qawwali changing over time?

There’s a lot of experimentation going on. Bally Sagoo remixed many qawaalis and introduced youngsters to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and now Rahat sings for mainstream movies and Bollywood, creating a new audience for Qawwali. In 2015, Faiz Ali Faiz sold out Barbican Centre with an 80% English audience. It’s appreciated by mainstream audiences, even whether they understand it or not. It is recognised by world class ‘world music’ organisations such as WOMEX and WOMAD who often program qawwali acts, and is popular around the world.

What made you first decide to get into qawwali promoting?

Growing up in Handsworth, it’s very diverse in terms of culture and religion. So many artists from this area have made it in the industry, for example Sukshinder Shindha (Music Producer), Danny Choranji (DCS, Radio and TV personality), Raj Baddhan (Sabras Radio Station Manager), and Saj Sahota (Internal Music).

I mean Handsworth has talent.

That’s how I got into it, I saw people working in Bhangra and Bollywood and I wanted to do something different too. There’s no competition in what I do but I’ve invested a lot of time, money and effort, without receiving funding.

You recently won Committed to the Scene at the Pakistani Music and Media Awards 2016, how was that?

It was quite humbling to be recognised and appreciated for my 15 plus years of

MBCC Awards Celebrates Society’s Unsung Heroes

T

he 8th October saw the Midlands business and community charity awards took place in Copthorne Hotel, Brierley Hill. The awards were designed to recognise and reward selfless individuals in society as well as bring together businesses and communities to assist a variety of charities.

Celebrating the unsung heroes, awards included Volunteer of the Year, Carer of the Year and Community Fundraise of the Year. It was a great turn out, with businesses, charities, community leaders, volunteers and high profile Midlanders turning out in support of the event.

Some of the charities benefitting from the event include The Buddy Bag Foundation, Breast Cancer Now, Compton Hospice, The Olive Circle Foundation and Whizz Kids.

promoting qawwali. I dedicated it to my late father who passed away this year.

List of Winners Volunteer of the Year Jag Poselay Best Business Start-Up Edwin Ladd Community Unsung Hero George Francis Employee of The Year Jerome Beaumont Networker Gem- Going The Extra Mile Abid Khan Business Charitable Fundraiser of the Year Thomas McGeever Carer of the Year Sonia Parnell Community Fundraiser of the Year Kulbir Nagra Emergency Services Hero Hanif Ullah Lifetime Achievement Mohammed Zaf Survivor of Crime Debbie Singh

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THE ASIAN TODAY

EDUCATION

EDUCATION

The Wonder of Learning Written By: Ambreen Khan

SELF CONFIDENCE Fewer people are as confident in their abilities as they should be, and because of this, the need to build self confidence exists with each of us. Many Students lack in confidence also and therefore level of attainment do not reflect their true potential. The need to build self-confidence cannot be minimized for it is the cement that binds each of us as an individual person.

If we do not have self confidence, we cannot believe enough in ourselves to attempt even the most menial task.

In developing self confidence, a person needs to identify those skills with which he or she are proficient or better in order to build upon those skills.

That assignment you have been waiting for has finally been handed over to you. Yet, for some reason, you find yourself literally struggling to accomplish the task. You just can’t seem to be able to get the work done. You keep spinning your wheels and making no progress. You are stuck.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking and the deadline is fast approaching. The more you try to focus on the task at hand, the more anxious and stressed out you get.

It’s not that you don’t feel motivated, you do and it’s not that the work isn’t exciting or is something that you don’t want…it is! You are aware of how important the task is and that it needs to get done as

The importance of developing self-confidence through skills in which you are already proficient in is so that you can prevent the potential frustration that accompanies learning or when becoming proficient in a skill in which you are weak.

Developing self confidence is not an overnight process, but it is without a doubt one that is important to your well-being. Without self confidence, you will have difficulties in school, work, and life as an entirety. The analogy to this most of us learned is that if you don’t have confidence in yourself, no one else will. For example, if you are applying for a job, and the recruiter asks you why they should hire you above anyone else, you need confidence in yourself to answer that with pride and dignity.

None of us are proficient in every aspect or life, but we CAN build on those in which we have the most proficiency. Take an A Level Math student, So what if you can’t do calculus – maybe you are excellent in statistical mathematics.

soon as possible. However, every time you try to work on it, you become confused, your eyes glaze over and your mind goes blank.

You start second guessing yourself and questioning your competence. You even begin to wish for external reassurance that you are doing the right thing!

Suddenly, this exciting opportunity seems like a bad idea and you feel like kicking yourself in the foot for accepting the assignment.

You want to begin developing self confidence in that skill by recognizing that you have the knowledge and expertise that it takes to learn it completely and apply it to your schoolwork or job schedule. Stop looking at the skills in which you lack proficiency and build on those you do well, and you will soon have the self confidence you need in order to develop weaker areas and succeed in life and career. The importance and value of teaching students and our children how to develop their confidence is Key to long term success and priceless.

For further support email: info@wonderoflearning.co.uk

West Midlands’ GCSE’s Scores ‘Deeply Disturbing’ Compared to London T

he latest government figures show that children in the north perform worse in their GCSE’s than those in the South. Data from this year’s courses showed that 66.5% of pupils in the outer London catchment area scored A*-C in English and Maths. 65.5 of South East children scored the same, and 64.7% of inner London children.

Up north however, it’s a different story. Only 59.9%

of kids in the West Midlands achieved A*-C at GCSE. These are the worst scores in the England.

Angela Rayner, Labour’s shadow secretary, said this was ‘deeply disturbing’ and said: "Many children are performing well and we should celebrate the teachers and schools working tirelessly to help children get good grades.

"However it is deeply concerning that children in

the North and the Midlands still appear to be lagging behind their southern peers.

"The difference in geography should not mean a difference in attainment - Government plans for more grammar schools will do absolutely nothing to address this.

"We need to be supporting excellent teaching and leadership in all our schools right across the country to drive up standards, and

concentrating on making sure all children are given the opportunity to fulfil their potential, not just a lucky few."

Nick Gibb, School Standards Minister, said the data will “help parents identify how well the schools in their local area are performing - ensuring they have the best information available to make that important decision on the right secondary school for their child.”

South & City College Open Day W

hat next? Are you thinking about your next step?

Thinking about going to college? Interested in University Level Courses? Considering earning whilst you learn on an Apprenticeship?

Whatever your next step, South and City College Birmingham can help. We are the highest performing general further education college in Birmingham for 16-18 year olds.

South and City College Birmingham offers students and adult learners, full-time, part-time and apprenticeship courses from level 1, right up to university level in a wide range of subjects. We have campuses across Birmingham, all within easy access, so you should never be too far away from college.

South & City College Birmingham

is committed to ensuring students have the relevant skills, qualifications and experience required for their future, whether that is to find a job or to continue in education at college or university.

There are many benefits of studying at South & College Birmingham: • A wide range of courses and facilities at all our campuses, studying full or part time.

• Lower tuition costs and smaller class sizes for university level courses.

• Apprenticeships and Higher Apprenticeships in various sectors.

The college has excellent facilities which we includes a purpose built construction campus, hair and beauty salons which are open to the public, music and sound recording rooms,

an industry standard auditorium and much, much more!

South and City College Birmingham can help you get the skills you need to get ahead!

Think Big, We Do! Interested? Then come along to one of our next Open Evenings. We have a dedicated Apprenticeship Open Evening on 10 November at our Digbeth campus, 4pm – 7pm and a general Open Evening for ALL our courses on Thursday 24 November 2016, 4pm – 7pm.

Visit our website www.sccb.ac.uk for full information on all the courses we offer, details on our apprenticeship schemes and to find out which campus to visit for our open evenings.

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ocial media marketing is at the top of the list in daily activities for businesses.

Whatever the industry, size of business, there is no doubt about it , companies are increasingly harnessing the power of social media to target their audience, generate new leads, brand awareness and to keep their products in the minds of their existing customer base.

The digital activity of the UK population in Jan 2016, registered a staggering 38.00 million, Active Social Media Users out of 64 Million people and this trend is increasing year on year. (Source: We Are Social) . With over 80% companies reporting an increase in traffic to websites

just through social activities alone.

The overall feedback from business owners from research indicates that with so many social media platforms to choose from, the increase in noise from social media activity, this has led many businesses struggling to understand which platforms are going to be bringing ROI to their business. Headz Up Business hosts an annual conference, a dedicated day on Social Media Marketing to address this problem and the challenges facing businesses in today’s digital arena.

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The prestigious awards was held at the Vox Conference Centre and kicked off with a drinks reception followed by the awards ceremony and three course meal. The black tie event saw all the prominent and leading figures in the Asian wedding industry in attendance, as well as industry expert judges.

The venue was a picture of opulence with guests, winners, hosts and judges dressed to the nines. The hosts for the glitz filled evening were dynamic duo Sunny and Shay, of BBC WM 95.6, who kept the night going with effortless wit and chemistry.

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The winners were all presented with their awards up on stage with professional photo opportunities on hand for everyone. The night was captured by the official photographer Bindi of Silver Fox Pictures, with the entire event specially filmed by B4U, soon to be shown on television.

Big thanks to our headline sponsor East End as well as our other sponsors RDH Solicitors, NFU Mutual, Superkart Challenge, Crush Cocktails, Pout Perfect Photobooth, Golden Events. Thank you also to our supporting partners: B4U Music our television partner, DESIblitz our online partner, Raaj FM our radio partner and Kush Magazine our print partner.

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Sadia Saeed on her New Feature Film W ‘Arifa’ e sat down with Pakistaniborn writer and director, Sadia Saeed. Known for her sharp wit, Sadia’s latest movie stars hit comedian Shazia Mirza and centres around protagonist Arifa who

brave. People talk about arranged marriages etc but there are more subtle ways we’re held back. There needs to be more collaborations between women. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others for advice, help, collaborations. Don’t be afraid of rejections, just keep pushing on.

Arifa is essentially about a father daughter relationship and a young woman who, estranged from her father and being a young Pakistani woman, finds complications when she meets a stranger in a café. The story parallels her and her father and the relationship with this man. It’s a comedy drama that’s more subtle with its humour.

What’s Shazia Mirza like to work with?

Unlike her stage persona, she’s very focused. She’s just really great and reliable, rehearsals are always fun. I would definitely work with her again.

Would you say it relates to the Asian audience quite well?

It’s representative of Asian audiences. I’m from a Pakistani background and I’ve drawn a lot from my personal experiences. When you write something a lot of people tend to see themselves in their writing. I’ve written from an immigrant point of view and I think it will be relatable for diverse audience.

Do you think the diversity element is particularly helpful, given it’s such a hot topic?

Considering it’s a comedy, was it hard balancing the seriousness and lightness?

It’s a dark comedy and can be quite polarising. But I think you have to laugh at your own situations otherwise you go crazy. Some things can be quite traumatic at the time then years later it becomes funny.

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ANDY MURRAY BECOMES WORLD NO.1 - PG 47

Leicester Thieves Threatened Singh Shopkeeper with Bogus Knives and Guns

What has the experience of Arifa been like for you?

What would you say is the main message of the movie?

Forgiveness, understanding and kindness. There’s a lot of anger in the film and we’ve demonstrated it in a funny way so there’s humour and anger rolled into one, but when you watch it, you’ll realise that getting anger doesn’t solve the situation. There’s a lot of uncomfortable moments where you’ll laugh because of how uncomfortable it is. We have a kickstarter running and there are so many projects going on because people don’t want to work in the mainstream companies where the focus is on celebrities and there’s not much heart, they don’t engage as much. We have less than 24 days to pick up funds on our Kickstarter to help promote Arifa.

What advice would you give other upcoming Asian females in art industry?

Don’t be afraid to get in touch with people you don’t know whether it’s through social media or websites or emails. I’m willing to engage

with people to discuss ideas and collaborate and I think women need to be more

To Read the full interview or to read other interviews visit our website: www.theasiantoday.com

27

reaches a crisis in her life when the escalation of her feelings for intriguing but capricious 'professional' gamer, Riccardo De Luca, coincides with the sudden reappearance of her estranged father.

Tell us about the film.

Yes, absolutely it’s a hot topic. There’s so much debate around it, people saying it shouldn’t be happening, that people shouldn’t have special treatment. There’s a lot of debate around politic correctness. It’s interesting times. Arifa should resonate particularly with young men and women from Asian backgrounds. It’s ultimately an immigrant story about someone who came from Pakistan, someone who was in a leadership position and is now struggling like a fish out of water.

NOVEMBER 2016

There’s been a lot of blood sweat and tears. One the first day on set we had a very tight schedule and by the end of the day, I was in tears. It’s a very hectic and fast spaced environment. There’s people getting angry and frustrated, things going wrong. We managed to finish and we used some of the most fantastic equipment. We used a camera lens that provides the most beautiful look. It looks a lot bigger budget than it is.

What do you have planned for the future?

I tend to make films that are quite close to me personally.

I’ve been working on Arifa for

four years and the only reason I was able to work on it so long was because it was so close to my heart. The relationship between a father and daughter is such an important and intriguing one that has many ups and downs. I’m looking for my next topic that will keep me motivated for another four years.

Sarabjit Singh has become a local hero after defending his shop from two would-be thieves. Steven Watkins, 23, and another man approached the shop at 6am and told Sarabjit “Give us all your money.”

The other then said, “I have a knife and a gun.”

Sarabjit called for help and grabbed a bottle in selfdefence as the thieves grabbed the till- worth £400- off the counter and ran, with Sarabjit chasing after them until they disappeared from view. The till was eventually found in a back garden, badly damaged, with half its contents missing.

Judge Robert Brown said: You threatened this shopkeeper saying you had a knife and a gun.

"Although you didn't possess those weapons your victim wasn't to know that and the threat must have seemed very real to him on hearing those words."

Knight adds that the defendants were prolific in their criminal offences and dishonesty. Watkins has over 50 offences on his record, including arson and thefts.

According to Paul Crampin, mitigating, the sentenced had stolen the money in order to fuel their drinking and drug addictions. He added that Watkins showed remorse and was shocked by his own behaviour.

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NOVEMBER 2016

THE ASIAN TODAY READ MORE NATIONAL NEWS ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM

NATIONAL

Parliament Get The Final Accept or Reject Vote on Brexit "The best place to start would be for the Government to commit to a debate and a vote in the House of Commons ..."

The "Scourge on Social Mobility" aka Unpaid Internships Might Soon be Banned This Friday will see MP’s debate over whether unpaid internships should be banned, with interns receiving the minimum wage instead.

Tory MP Alec Shelbrook, the bill’s sponsor, term unpaid internships a "scourge on social mobility" as they unfairly favour the better off graduates who can afford to work for free.

Graduates from lowerincome families are meanwhile forced into paid work that’s outside of their field, such as retail, giving them non-relevant experience and hence putting them in a less favourable position when it comes to applying for jobs in their desired field.

The National Minimum Wage (Workplace Internships) Bill means that all interns, with the exception of school aged children, apprentices and

full-time university and college students, will be paid the minimum wage. When asked whether the bill would stop employers from hiring interns, Shelbrooke said: "There are a number of businesses such as KMPG, Ernst & Young and Pimlico Plumbers that already offer paid internships, showing that there really is no excuse for profit-making companies not to pay their workforce."

Speaking to ITV’s Peston on Sunday, Government minister Damian Hinds said: "In the media, in fashion, in these very sought-after occupations, these unpaid internships aren't actually accessible to everybody.

"It's important for social mobility that everybody has a crack at getting into the particularly competitive industries."

A fight of powers may be on the line as Parliament gets decisive say on Brexit

P

arliament MP’s and their peers will be given a vote on whether to accept or reject the final Brexit contract, putting a spanner in the works of the UK’s exit of the EU. The reveal of the finalising vote caused a temporary surge in the British pound against the dollar in the exchange market. James Eadie QC told the High Court that Parliament would need to agree upon the final Brexit deal, with the spokeswoman of

Creepy Clown Craze Reports of scary looking clowns stalking the public have increased so much that McDonalds mascot, Ronald McDonald, is said to be keeping a low profile. The fast food chain said they were being “thoughtful in respect to Ronald McDonald's participation in community events” in response to the “current climate around clown sightings in communities.”

There have been sightings of people dressed as creepy looking clowns across America who are deliberately scaring

the public, they are said to carry weapons and even chase people down. So far no attacks or harm to the public have been reported.

The mass panic has caused police to step in to calm the situation.

Stemming first from the US, the craze has now spread to the UK with sightings of clowns roaming the streets terrifying the public.

Supt Mark Pannone of Cumbria Police stated that in one evening they dealt with

NATIONAL

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19 incidents of clowns scaring people. North Yorkshire Police received at least 8 reports on October 10th from members of the public complaining of, “young people dressed up as clowns, jumping out at them or chasing after them.”

Twitter has used the hashtag #killerclowns since the hysteria began.

Assistant Chief Constable Catherine Hankinson of Greater Manchester Police has given the following advice, “The safety of people is our

Theresa May calling this an ‘accurate reflection’ of the law. During the highly contentious Brexit vote, which had the eyes of the world on the UK, Britain voted 52% to leave with 69% of the districts having a majority leave.

This Parliamentary vote now raises the possibility that Brexit could be halted, ‘softened’ or lead to Britain leaving without any deals of any kind. Some expert leaders have also raised the point that there is nothing in Article 50 that means

the UK can’t withdraw its declaration to leave the EU either. However government lawyers insist May has the full right to power ahead with Brexit regardless of Parliamentary vote using her Royal Prerogative.

A senior pro-EU Conservative MP has called the verdict a “victory for all those who believe in the right of Parliament to represents the interests of our constituents.”

Mr Carmichael has also shown his approval, the

upmost priority; we want people to feel safe going about their daily lives.

“It’s important to stress that noone has been physically harmed and I want to reassure people that we take reports of this nature extremely seriously.

“But if you do see any individuals dressed as clowns, you should try and keep calm and report the incident to authorities.”

Aside from McDonalds’ famous mascot, many people who work in the clown profession have revealed their dismay that the creep clown trend is ruining their business. Rob Bowker, spokesman for the UK-based Clowns International said, “This is nothing

Open Britain supporter saying: “It’s an encouraging sign that the Government has agreed to give Parliament a say on the final terms of Brexit. But there must be a role of Parliament before the end of the negotiations.

“The best place to start would be for the Government to commit to a debate and a vote in the House of Commons on the Government’s principles for the upcoming negotiations before they trigger Article 50.”

to do with clowning, it’s to do with people hijacking a costume and for some sinister reason trying to scare people.”

“These idiots are undoubtedly affecting people’s awareness of clowns and undoing a lot of good,” “My fear is that hospitals will say, ‘Oh, we can’t have clowns in because the children are getting scared,’ or stuff like that. And then all that work that’s been done over the years will be undone.”

To report an incident contact 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. In an emergency dial 999.

INTERNATIONAL

THE ASIAN TODAY

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INTERNATIONAL

WILDLIFE EXISTENCE CUT BY 58% IN JUST 40 YEARS.

E

Global Wildlife at a Loss

very 2 years the Zoo Society of London releases reports of different animals to check for any changes.

The latest issue, published on 27th October 2016, tells us that there is a 58% decline in vertebrate animals.

Using the LPI (Living Planet Index), they created a database and had recorded that there was a fast declining population of vertebrate animals.

The results were recorded between 1970 and 2012 and showed there was a 2% drop every year.

The LPI database also explains which threats and dangers are the reasons of the loss. These were narrowed down to loss of environment, development of land,

India Ignores China and Lets Dalai Lama into Territorially Disputed Land India may have sparked the wrath of the Dragon by allowing the Dalai Lama, public enemy to China, into the conflict awash state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu himself invited the Tibetan monk to the state so that he could visit Tawang, a small district within the state. The area is a historical part of Tibet and under claim by both China and Taiwan. Arunachal Pradesh itself is said to belong to China, according to the super state.

Next door neighbours India and China have long held tensions over the region, with China making no secret as per its wish to annex the area and envelop it. However the people of Arunachal Pradesh, despite having a large Buddhist population and the biggest Buddhist temple in Asia (Tawang), are proud nationalists and fiercely patriotic towards India.

Vikas Swarup, an external affairs spokesperson for India, said: "The Dalai Lama is a revered spiritual figure.

He has a sizeable following among Buddhists in Arunachal Pradesh, who would like to seek his blessings. He has visited the state in the past as well and we see nothing unusual if he visits

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13-year-old Girl Dies After 68 Day Jainism Fast

as well as mining and transportation.

Animals which live in the freshwater populations are mainly affected by breakdown of their land.

This leaves them having to live in unacceptable conditions. Between 1970 and 2012 the freshwater population has reduced by a total of 31%.

Fish, plankton and turtles are threatened by hunting and poaching. This, along with loss of their marine land resulted in a decline of 29% between 1970 and 2012.

The data shown in ZSL’s report doesn’t show this decline stopping or slowing down and has predicted that if changes aren’t made, wildlife could be cut down by as much as 67% by 2020.

A 13-year-old girl in Hyderabad has died after undertaking a 68-day-long Jainism fastJainism being one of the world’s most ancient religions.

It is reported that Aradhana Samdariya was surviving on only boiled water and after ending her fast, died two days later. Police are investigating Aradhana’s parents after a child rights organisation filed a complaint. However her parents insist she willingly partook in the fast. It is alleged the parents have been booked under culpable homicide and the Juvenile Justice Act. Social media exploded over news of the death with many doubting the fast was voluntary. Activist Achyut Rao told BBC Hindi: "The entire nation should be ashamed that such a practice still exists. Her father's guru advised the family that if she fasted for 68 days, his business would be profitable."

This isn’t the first time Jainism has come under fire for its harmful practises.

Controversy periodically sparks over the ‘santhara,’ a fast in which the Jain forgoes food and drink in preparation for death.

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By permitting the Dalai Lama into Arunachal, India are not only showing favour to one of China’s most popular enemies, but allowing said enemy into territory China considers its own.

It is not the first such time an instance like this has happened however. China also opposed the visit of US ambassador Richard Verma to the state, insisting America should refrain from getting involved in China-India affairs. China had warned that by doing so, India threatened to “damage the hard earned peace and tranquillity of the China-India border region.”

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HEALTH COLUMN MELANIE PATEL, DIABETES SPECIALIST NURSE AT HEARTLANDS HOSPITAL, DISCUSSES LIVING WITH DIABETES. World Diabetes Day is celebrated on 14 November every year and aims to raise awareness of the condition.

Did you know around 3.5 million people are diagnosed with diabetes in the UK? Birmingham has the highest rate of diabetes in the country affecting nearly one in 10 people in some parts of the city (source: Health and Social Care Information Centre). British and South Asians in particular are more prone to having the disease.

So what is diabetes? It is a long term condition where blood sugar levels become too high.

Normally the amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin. In those that have diabetes, the body is unable to break down glucose into energy.

This is because there is either not enough insulin to move the glucose or because the insulin that is there does not work properly.

Genetic factors, ethnicity, age as well as obesity influence how likely you are to develop diabetes, which can have serious health consequences including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and foot ulcers. With early diagnosis and treatment, the risk of developing these complications can be reduced.

There are two main types you need to know about – Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

In both cases the symptoms are similar and will include an increased desire to drink as a result of being frequently thirsty, feeling very tired, blurred vision, losing weight and needing to urinate a lot, especially at night. If you think you have symptoms of diabetes, it is important to get medical advice.

Type 1 diabetes can develop very quickly, in a matter of days or weeks. Where Type 1 is present, the body is attacking and destroying insulin supplies. Insulin producing cells are destroyed too, which results in there being no insulin produced.

To keep your glucose levels normal, you will need regular insulin treatment. This mainly comes in the form of insulin injections which can either be given with a syringe or an injection pen.

Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1. The body either does not produce the required amount of insulin or the body’s cells simply do not respond to the insulin, resulting in insulin resistance.

Treating Type 2 diabetes is usually achieved through lifestyle choices, such as regular monitoring of blood glucose as well as having a healthy and balanced diet. This is a

progressive form of the disease and may eventually result in the need for medication – usually in tablet form. Some people will also need injectable treatments.

To help reduce the risk of diabetes, try to avoid eating junk food as well as high sugar foods.

High fat and sugar foods can lead to diabetes as well as obesity.

Having fresh fruit and vegetables will make a difference. The second way you can prevent the disease is by exercising regularly. Studies have shown the more outdoor activities you do; the more likely it is that the disease will decrease.

Reducing the amount of time you sit down can also minimise your risk of developing diabetes.

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.

NEWS

Over Three Million Indian Debit Cards ‘Compromised’ Amid Security Breach A t least 3.2 million debit cards are feared to have been compromised, prompting multiple major Indian banks to take additional safety measures.

Customers have been asked to change their security codes, block or replace their debit cards altogether.

Others have complained of large amounts of money disappearing from their accounts. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which controls Indian retail payment systems, has confirmed in a statement that there is a "possible compromise at one of the payment switch provider's systems.”

It is thought the breach is due to malware afflicting the ATM network.

India is already very electronic payment shy, with only 10 digital transactions per capita compared to 163 in Brazil or 429 in Sweden. This new breach will only worsen fears and further hamper the reputation of debit cards.

Indian banks have digital security implementations, but Mohil Bahl, Head of Forensic Services at KPMG India says: "But they are not as robust in constantly monitoring and updating

their security measures. This breach could have happened in anywhere in the world. Banking and financial services sector is particularly vulnerable.''

All affected banks have been alerted by card networks that a total card base of about 3.2 million could have been possibly compromised.”

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Deepika Puts on a Fierce Face The latest teaser trailer for xXx: The Return of Xander has just been released with an amazing celebrity line up, including the likes of Vin Diesel, Samuel L Jackson, and our very own Deepika Padukone.

It’s Padukone’s first foray into Hollywood and whilst most are sceptical of the starlet’s future, many are praising her for breaking out of the Bollywood shell. The Indian beauty shows off her fierce and aggressive side in this action blockbuster and surprisingly looks as if she is doing her own stunts!

Playing a huntress called ‘Serena’, Padukone definitely looks the part as she makes her entrance wearing a black leather jacket and leather boots. Not to mention the sizzling scene between her and Hollywood heart-throb Vin Diesel, in which we can hear her embrace her natural accent. Fans are anxiously waiting for this sequels release, which will be in January 2017.

The newest xXx instalment feature an allstar multi-ethnic cast: mixed race Vin Diesel, martial artist star Donnie Yen, AfricanAmerican Samuel L Jackson, BulgarianCanadian Nina Dobrev, our Indian Deepika of course, and Kris Wu, former member of Korean mega-boyband EXO. The two minute trailer reveals an explosive plotline in which Vin Diesel, xXx, is hired to retrieve a device controlling military satellites. Deepika Padukone, an initial baddy, soon realises they share a common goal and the two, along with a whole host of crude and cool characters, work together to defeat the villains.

Samuel L Jackson thankfully dumbs it down for us: “kick some ass, get the girl, and try to look dope while doing it.”

The Return of Xander has just been released with an amazing celebrity line up

NOVEMBER 2016

DESI DESI XPRESS

ALOT MORE GOSSIP, NEWS & INTERVIEWS INSIDE

Justin Bieber Asks 'Obnoxious' Birmingham Fans to Stop Screaming - PG 32 Trump Invites Bollywood Celebs to Mega US Concert- But Who’s Attending?

Turn to Page 32

Navin Kundra Breaks into Mainstream

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Justin Bieber Asks 'Obnoxious' Birmingham Fans to Stop Screaming The pop prince, misfit and icon Justin Bieber is currently in England for his Purpose World Tour and performed in the second city Birmingham yesterday.

However the concert didn’t go exactly as planned as at one point, Bieber stopped his adoring beliebers and asked the

‘obnoxious’ Brummies to put a zipper on it.

The chart topping singer said; “Just try to show me you love me in a different way. The screaming is just so obnoxious and I get it, it’s been in our blood and it’s been grand, you go to a concert and scream and stuff but if we

could just scream after the songs- the screaming is awesome, it’s fine- and then we take a chill pill for a second and listen to me speak. Because I don’t feel like I’m being heard sometimes.”

The ‘Sorry’ singer, known just as much for his antics as his music, was performing

Trump Invites Bollywood Celebs to Mega US ConcertBut Who’s Attending?

In his latest gambit for popularity, Donald Trump is to hold a huge concert in the US and in order to secure the asian vote and prove his cultural tolerance, he’s invited Bollywood and Indian film stars. However not everyone is too keen on the invite, one such being movie star Illeana D’Cruz.

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“Bollywood is known worldwide and the stars are very popular and hence it is nice. But if you are asking me if I support Donald Trump? I don’t.”

She added that “Whenever I take up any kind of endorsement or any kind of event, I do so with a lot of background research.”

Contrary to D’cruz, some stars have taken up the invite and are set to perform at the New

Jersey concert. These include: Mallaika Arora, Prabhu Deva, Shriya Saran, Akhil Akkineni and Ram Charan.

Whether they’re actual supporters of Trump and his campaign or are just using the (literal) platform to extend their reach, is unknown. Trump will be delivering a speech at an American Republican Hindu Coalition on October 15th where he will be appealing to Asians and Indians in order to garner support.

Funds raised at the speech will go towards Kashmiri and Bangladeshi terror victims.

at the Barclaycard Arena and added that though he missed his friends and family, he had his fans for company. His mini outburst left many fans confused, with dozens taking to twitter to voice their grievances with the telling off and other’s supporting the singer.

AGELESS BEAUTY GRACES THE COVER OF HARPERS BAZAR

“Just try to show me you love me in a different way

Ageing seems a thing of the past in the world of Bollywood, especially when it comes to Aishwarya Rai Bachan. Gracing this month’s cover of Harpers Bazaar magazine, Ash has us falling head over heels as always. While she may have turned 43 recently, her features show no trace of this. Looking as naturally stunning now as did 10 years ago does make us wonder what beauty secrets she must use. Either that or she just keeps getting better with age.

Adorning a Manish Malhotra dress with an embellished neckpiece, the chic Bollywood Queen looks nothing short of royalty.

Aishwarya Birmingham Stops Time Navin Kundra Breaks into Mainstream Top 20 Urban Club Charts with ‘Tear It Up’ British Asian singing sensation Navin Kundra broke into the mainstream Urban Top 20 Charts with his first English single, ‘Tear It Up’. The official charts, published in ‘Music Week,’ reveal that Navin’s single peaked at Number 16- a huge achievement given Ariana Grande was number 15 and Beyonce number 17.

Although an independent and unsigned artist, Navin is now brushing shoulders with the likes of The Weeknd and Jason Derulo in the club charts.

“This is definitely one of my proudest moments,” he said. “We have been working hard to come up with material that really stands out on an international level and now I’m on top of Beyonce! That’s pretty nuts!” Source: Music Week.

(2016). Urban Club Charts.

To celebrate, Navin treated his fans by releasing the music video for ‘Tear It Up’. It features striking sets, including David Beckham's Haig Club and evocative dancers.

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Christmas Comes Early as UK gets Early Star Wars Rogue One Release

Chai Wallah turned Model Wallah after Strikingly Handsome Picture goes Viral A young, unknown Pakistani chai wallah has had his lifeturned around by a single photograph. When Jiah Ali first requested a cup of tea from the young Islamabadi, the photographer was stunned by the young man’s striking good looks, particularly his piercing blue eyes.

The tea maker, Arshad Khan, is just eighteen years old. His photograph, showing his skilful tea pouring skills to beat, was captioned with “Hot-tea- you can catch him at itwar bazaar” and instantly rocketed him

to fame. With his well-defined features, thick locks of hair and stylish blue shirt to match his eyes, it’s no wonder the teen has caught such attention.

Arshad has now signed a modelling contract with fitin.pk, an online Pakistani store.

Fitin.pk said: “Arshad #chaiwala will be working for Fitin as a model.”

“Chai wala is no more chai wala now he is fashion wala!”

‘Force 2’ Explosiveness Toned Down for John

The trailer of ‘Force 2’ may involve high-voltage stunts, the perfect fix for action junkies, but director Abhinay Deo tells us it is a few notches below what was originally planned. Exactly a year ago, John Abraham’s knee injury on set forced him to undergo surgery and got Deo worried about both, his wellbeing and completing the film’s shoot in time.

Says Deo, “He had to kick open a door for a scene, but hit it too hard and hurt himself. Initially, we thought it wasn’t too serious, but soon, it became a cause of concern. John started developing blood clots and we rushed him to a hospital [in Budapest] where things were taken care of. We commenced filming soon after, but it just made things worse.”

John had to be taken to the hospital again, where a minor surgery was performed on his knee. “I was really scared for John. I was also worried about how we would shoot the remaining action sequences. So, we decided to tone it down; we didn’t want to take any more chances,” adds Deo. With John on rest for almost two weeks, shooting came to a grinding halt. “But, he recovered quite fast. Once he was back on the sets, he was raring to go. After undergoing three surgeries, I thought it would be difficult for him to do action scenes, but he pulled it off effortlessly, like nothing had happened,” Deo recalls.

UK movie goers, sci-fan fans and Star Wars obsessives are in full rejoice as it has been revealed that the upcoming Star Wars Rogue One will be screened across the UK a full day before the US. The highly anticipated spin off from the mega franchise Star

Wars, arguably one of the best cinematic series of all time, will be released on December 15th.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens also opened in the UK before the US and now Rogue One is set to give us something to smile about.

The standalone film stars Felicity Jones as main character Jyn Erso, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Jiang Wen, and Forest Whitaker. The diverse cast has been highly praised as has the choice to feature another female protagonist. The original Star Wars movies saw only two main female characters who were side-lined into romantic roles, but the new Star Wars hits seem to be breaking away from such stereotypes.

Disney CEO Bob Iger called the film “an experiment of sorts.” An origin story for beloved bounty hunter Han Solo from the original series is also in the works.

Sonakshi Sinha recreates Sridevi’s magic in iconic Kaate Nahin Kat Te In the voice of Neha Kakkar, O Janiya from Force 2 features Sonakshi Sinha showing her sizzling side with her moves.

The makers of Force 2 released a new song video titled O Janiya, which is a remake of Sridevi’s iconic song Kaante Nahin Kat Te from Mr India.

The song video features Sonakshi Sinha dancing on the tune of the revised track as John Abraham gazes at her moves. While the original track was much popular, O Janiya has been made using EDM music.

Beauty & the Beast Becoming a Reality

The highly anticipated live action remake of Beauty & the Beast has had Disney lovers of all ages on the edge of their seats for months. After keeping everything under wraps and leaving fans to imagine how Emma Watson may look in the well-known yellow dress, Disney has finally released some pictures. Showing Watson, looking just like the animated princess in her ball gown,

we are given a glimpse of her stood next to the Beast, who is played by Dan Stevens.

Seeing as Cinderella’s live action remake was such a big hit in 2015, we are certain that it won’t be long before we’ll see a flurry of women and young girls resembling the Disney Princess in a golden gown.

Beauty & the Beast is set to hit UK cinemas in March 2017.

BY: HUSNA

BOLLYWOOD

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Channa Mereya Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Bulleya

Ai Dil Hai Mushkil

Kala Chashma Baar Baar Dekho

Nashe Si Chadh Gayi Befikre

Jag Ghoomeya Sultan

Tere Sang Yaara Rustom

Ishq Mubarak Tum Bin 2

Baby Ko Bass Pasand Hai Sultan

Bolo Har Har Har Shiyaay

Janaan Janaan

BHANGRA

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Love Controller

Zack Knight (feat. Dayne S)

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Mickey Singh

Do you Know Diljit Dosanjh

Chahat

Zack Knight

Wonderland Zora Randhwa

Ijazat

Raashi Sood Feat Manni Sandhu

Teri Wait

Kaur-b Feat Desi Crew

Salute

Jassi Sidhu feat. Dr. Zeus & Fateh

Shikaar

Jazzy B, Amrit Maan & Kaur B

One Touch

Garry Sandhu and Roach Killa

UK ARTISTS

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BomBae

Fuse ODG, Zack Knight & Badshah

Shout out to my Ex Little Mix

Blood, Sweat & Tears BTS

Thinking About You Hardwell ft Jay Sean

Go Off M.I.A

Starboy

The Weeknd

24K Magic Bruno Mars

The Greatest

Sia ft Kendrick Lamar

My Way

Calvin Harris

So Good

Louisa Johnson

34 DESI XPRESS NOVEMBER 2016

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Manchester’s Bollywood Masterclass Privileged To Have Jacqueline Fernandez’ Support The beautiful Jacqueline Fernandez will be flying into Manchester next week, on the 20th, as part of her first masterclass. She will be the guest of honour for makeup guru Shaan Muttahil, who is well known in the beauty industry and has over 32k followers on Instagram Shaan will be taking centre stage along with his model for the event, Jacqueline, to help promote Manchester’s new make up app, BE GLAM. The focus of the app being similar to Uber, in the sense that you are able to book a freelance artist in the area, to come to your house to do your make up when needed.

This is definitely a step in the right direction for make up lovers around the world, as being able to view different artists and to be able to so easily contact

and book them, is a very convenient and efficient way to get things done.

Make up master classes are a common thing in the beauty industry, made famous to help display new ideas and techniques to a wide audience. A competition will also be taking place during the event for make up artists, that will be judged by the ever beautiful Jacqueline.

This will give a platform for freelance artists to join the app and become more recognised, as well as having the chance to win £1000 on the day of the event.

Jacqueline Fernandez will be used as a model, giving Shaan a chance to recreate some of her most desired make up looks.

For more information on the event and to secure a seat visit: www.beglam. co.uk

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO VUE CINEMA, STAR CITY!

HIP HOP 3-60 Black Music From Every Angle @punchrecords | @bassfestival | #BassMusicFestival

BASS FESTIVAL RETURNS to BIRMINGHAM this November with a theme based around HIP HOP 360. Featuring legendary artists who shaped the sound of a generation, HIP HOP 360 celebrates every aspect of street level Black music culture. Running from 10th to 28th NOVEMBER 2016 at venues across BIRMINGHAM. Confirmed artists include:

DJ Jazzy Jeff, Rodney P, Slick Rick, Robert Glasper, Diamond D, Large Professor, DJ Bobbito & Stretch Armstrong showing a very special film, DJ Semtex, Ty with many more still to be announced. Watch out for very unexpected events in surprising spaces across the city.

BASS 16 - HIP HOP 360 will be PUNCH’s eleventh annual BASS festival. Last year’s events

and performances were attended by over 30k people.

PUNCH’s CEO AMMO TALWAR said; “HIP HOP is a beautifully complex culture of music and language, art and fashion which is in every way the voice of the youth & accessible to ordinary people. HIP HOP 360 will allow people to explore this culture from every angle.”

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

The Asian Today has teamed up with VUE cinemas to offer ONE lucky reader the chance to get their hands on a pair of tickets to watch Rock On 2 at VUE Star City!

All you have to do is e-mail your ANSWER, name, FULL ADDRESS details and contact number to competitions@theasiantoday.com before the closing date to be in with a chance of winning!

Which FEMALE star plays the lead in ROCK ON 2?

A). Karisma Kapoor B). Kareena Kapoor C). Shraddha Kapoor Closing date 30th Nov 2016 Terms and Conditions: All entrants must put their FULL NAME, ADDRESS,CONTACT NUMBER and EMAIL ADDRESS when entering the competition.

Any winner selected without a FULL address will be disqualified • Winner will only be allowed to watch any screening of ROCK ON 2 with their tickets • Winner will be notified by e-mail by Asian Today.

Top Bollywood director Karan Johar has finally broken his silence regarding the highly heated issue of Bollywood and Pakistan. After the Kashmir aftermath, a slew of nationalists called out Pakistan for banning Bollywood movies despite Pakistani actors finding success and big bucks in Bollywood.

It has led to dozens calling for the banning of Pakistani actors in Hindi cinema, something multiple directors and casters have been forced to adhere to in order to please the public’s furor.

Top dog Karan Johar has kept quiet on the issuehis Diwali feature Ae Dil Hai Mushkil features controversial Pakistani Fawad Khan- but has finally admitted he will be sticking to the ban as well. As for why he kept quiet for so long, he says it was out of a “deep sense of hurt and…pain that I felt

because a few people actually felt that I am antinational.”

Johar, 44, says in his statement: "I need to say this and say this with strength that my country comes first. I have always felt that the best way to express your patriotism is to spread love and that's all I have ever tried to do through my work and cinema. When I shot my film, 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' in September to December last year, the climate was completely different, the circumstances were completely different. There were efforts made by our government for peaceful relations with the neighbouring country and I respected those efforts then.

I respect and understand the sentiments today as well. I understand the sentiments because I feel

Zayn Malik Leads British Asian Stars in Support for ‘Give A Girl A Future’ Appeal

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LAKEERAN

Lakeeran produced by Wonderland Amusement Parks Pvt. Ltd is a Punjabi romantic drama starring Harman Virk and Yuvika Chaudhary in lead roles with Gurinder Rai, Shivendra Mahal, B.N. Sharma, Nirmal Rishi in pivotal roles. The film that seems like a simple romantic story at first takes an unexpected turn that would have the audiences clutching

their seats and experiencing a whirlwind of emotional drama. The story brings back the lost charm of old school romance and the importance of the sense of belonging.

The movie is shot in the spectacular country of Portugal and the beautiful Punjab. The movie is further scattered with short situational songs shot amidst the vibrant colours of Punjab. The love song ‘Nimma Nimma’ has been picturised in Kashmir bringing out the beauty of heaven on earth for the audiences to enjoy.

The cinematography is by Nazir Khan, Anshul Chobey, João Monge.

Music produced

by Dr. Zeus, Santosh Kataria, with 7 melodious songs; including two short folk songs on the plight of destiny, composed

by Arif Lohar, the versatile album promises music for all tastes. The songs are sung by popular names like Zora Randhawa and Fateh; and the traditional music lovers are catered with songs by Nachhatar Gill, Jaspinder Narula and Feroz Khan.

There is no denying that Lakeeran is one of the most stylishly made films of Punjabi cinema. Harman Virk makes a amazing debut. The director leaves no stone unturned to showcase Harman’s acting talent and physique, Harman definitely manages to impress.

The creative head of the movie has made an elegant movie and many scenes leave a strong impact on the viewer.

The music is completely in sync with the mood of the film, Nazir Khan has beautifully captured locations in Europe and Punjab.

Lakeeran is a beautifully presented sweet love story, watch it for an amazing and impressive debut by Harman Virk, who puts his heart and soul into the movie Lakeeran is the kind of story that Stays with you. So grab your tickets and immerse yourself in the world of Lakeeran.

Pride Before Pakistani Actors the same. Going forward, I would like to say that of course I would not engage with talent from our neighbouring countries given the circumstance.

But with that same energy, I would want you to know that over 300 Indian people in my crew have put their blood, sweat and tears in my film and I don't think it is fair to them to face any sort of turbulence.

I respect the Indian army, I salute the Indian army for everything they do to protect us. I respect them with all my heart and I say I condemn any form of terrorism and especially the terrorism that possess threat to the people in my country and me.

I just hope all of you understand the situation we are in and respect the fact that we love and respect our country over and above anything else."

British pop star Zayn Malik has joined a host of leading Asian celebrities in supporting the British Asian Trust’s first public appeal, ‘Give a Girl a Future’. The British Asian Trust, one of the Prince of Wales’ charities, has launched the appeal to raise vital funds to support girls in South Asia, by giving them the skills and opportunities they need to secure a sustainable livelihood.

Celebrities chose International Day of the Girl (11th October) to show their support for ‘Give a Girl a Future’ in force, using social media to drive traffic, awareness and essentially donations to the British Asian Trust, the UK’s leading organization for British Asian philanthropy. Joining Zayn Malik were TV stars Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ star Anita Rani, chart-topping British

producer Naughty Boy and other leading British Asian stars such as director Gurinder Chadha, actress Preeya Kalidas, and Eastenders star Nitin Ganatra, who also participated in a live interview on the BBC Asian Network to talk about the charity appeal earlier in the day.

Funds raised before 7th December during the Trust’s ‘Give a Girl a Future’ appeal will see every £1 donated matched by the UK Government.

Matched donations from the UK Government will support girls, women and their families across Pakistan in livelihood projects. The campaign, which launched last month, will engage with the British Asian Trust’s key supporters and ambassadors in a series of events and digital activity over the course of three months.

Speaking of the appeal International

Development Secretary, Priti Patel, said: “By matching and effectively doubling the British public’s generous donations to the British Asian Trust’s ‘Give a Girl a Future’ appeal, the UK is helping as many as 50,000 women and girls develop the business skills they need to secure steady jobs. We can reduce an entire generation’s dependency on aid as we enable young women in Pakistan to earn their own living and work towards a better future for them and their families.”

Zayn Malik, a British Asian Trust ambassador, used Twitter and Facebook to request text donations for the appeal, whilst others such as Sanjeev Bhaskar, Anita Rani, Nihal Arthanayake and Naughty Boy are featured in a video appeal for the campaign.

DX ITSY BITSYS Deepika’s Questionable EMA Attire

Manish Gajjar Hindi Film Adviser for Vue Cinemas

BOLLYWOOD MOVIE OF THE MONTH

ROCK ON 2!

Director: Shujaat Saudagar Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Shraddha Kapoor, Prachi Desai This month saw the esteemed MTV EMAs take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Among the guests was our very own beloved Piku who showed up on the red carpet in…something less opulent than we would have expected. Deepika made heads turn with a long khaki skirt, a large waist belt, an even larger black pointed bra and huge curtain-tassle-like earrings. At least her face and hair were picture perfect.

Saif Ali Khan on Baby Name Blunders Bollywood’s Jodi Number 1 Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are expected their first baby together, sending fans and the press into a whirlwind of imaginary baby clothes, baby gifs and baby names. However in a recent comment, Saif said: “I want to let everyone know that we have not yet had our child and we still don’t know the sex of the child.

We will not be having our child in London and the name of the child will definitely not be called ‘Saifeena.’”

Homegrown YouTube Joins BBC Asian Network YouTube Sensation Parle Patel, better known as ‘Planet Parle’ has recently joined the BBC Asian Network. Parle now has his own show on the radio network, which has one of the largest number of listeners in the UK, that he will be hosting between 10pm and 12am.

Parle commented: “I feel honoured, excited and thrilled to join my favourite Asian radio station. Growing up listening to the Asian Network makes it all the more exciting. I look forward to contributing to the world of radio as a presenter – something I’ve dreamed of doing since I was 10!”

Parle currently has over 35,000 YouTube subscribers and his videos centre on the everyday life of typical Gujurati families

Seven years on from the original film the sequel follows the trials and tribulations of a band of musicians who have now mentally grown up and evolved with their musical experience.

Binding the storyline together is the musical band Magik and its three band members, Aditya, Joe and KD. The three battle their own internal demons and strive to bring forth the genius of the younger generation through new sounds and tunes which could go on to become the melody of a new India.

Rock On 2, the sequel to India's first cult rock film follows up from where the first film ended.

It stresses on how music doesn't have any cultural barriers and unites people for greater glory.

Rock On 2 is a bromance seeing lead stars Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal and Purab Kohli all continuing with their roles from the original film.

The film also stars lead actress Shraddha Kapoor whose character makes a significant impact on the band when she joins them.

Shraddha’s love for singing has come true with Rock On 2.

She has recorded a total of three songs for the movie under the watchful eyes of the music maestros ShankarEhsaan-Loy who also rendered the musical score for the original film. Shraddha received training with singer-vocal coach Samantha Edwards and this has helped her with her singing.

So far all the songs from this film have found their way on top of the musical charts.

Meanwhile Prachi Desai who appeared in the original is seen playing the wife of Farhan Aktar although not much is known about her role.

The film has been shot in Meghalaya capital Shillong, which is often referred to as India’s rock capital. On the whole Rock On 2 is predicted to be a mega hit with audiences this month.

This is due to its rocking music, a selection of Bollywood’s best stars and a great story which follows on from its prequel.

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Dear Bollywood, Please

Stay out of Politics E

motions run seventy years deep in the hearts of Indians and Pakistanis, so much so that the anguish has now spilt into the film industry.

The killing in Kashmir of 17 Indian soldiers by alleged Pakistani separatists is the cause of aggression, resulting in the banning of Pakistani actors, singers and technicians from India and the boycott of Bollywood films in Pakistan.

Whilst some may argue that cinema is one of the strongest forms of dialogue that can go a long way in shaping public opinion and spreading a message of peace, when it comes to patriotism nothing means more than ‘Jai hind’ and ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. But

SPECIAL FEATURE

Khadijah Ahmed @ksahmedd If left unsolved, the dispute will only continue.

No corner goes untouched by the strong sense of patriotism on either side, whether its cricket, fashion or Bollywood. Fawad Khan rose to stardom after starring in Bollywood made Khoobsurat. Interestingly, I recently read two very direct open letters confronting the issue, one by an Indian journalist and the other by a Pakistani writer. Indian journalist Soumyadipa Banerjee also known as

“Art is above politics and we should use it as a means to bring people together. if Bollywood can surpass borders when it comes to art and cinema, then why can’t politics?

The Kashmir conflict has led t loss of on either side and is a great loss for humanity.

From it’s conception in 1947, when Maharajah Hari Singh decided for the region to remain neutral as the majority of the population was Muslim and he himself was a Hindu, until now where Kashmir has become the world’s most militarized zone, is a reminder that both sides have failed to co-exist,

the ‘Bollywod journalist’ requested Fawad Khan to return to Pakistan. He says: “Sorry Fawad, cultural exchanges cannot happen over dead bodies of our soldiers. We cannot shake hands with your country when their hands are covered in blood of our own countrymen."

Soumyadipa Banjree repeatedly mentions the amount of money India has invested in Fawad. He says “We have given you more money in two years than what you could have

EMA’s Epic Extravaganza

Rotterdam was home to the 2016 MTV European Music Awards, hosted by none

other than Bebe Rexha. While a couple of the big artist winners weren’t actually attending the awards, such as Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, we were overjoyed to see who the live acts were. Great names such as DNCE, The Weeknd and Bruno Mars rocked the stage with their epic performances.

This particular award show was in tribute to the one and only late Prince. So in MTV fashion, the awards were made in the colour purple, to honour what an influence he was to music.

Many people were pleasantly surprised to see Green Day perform their new single and to see them win the Global Icon Prize, for their contribution to music. In celebration of this they performed their most famous song, American Idiot, which only further excited and pumped up the audience.

Winners List 2016

Best song Justin Bieber - Sorry Best female - Lady Gaga Best male - Shawn Mendes Best video - The Weeknd ft Daft Punk - Starboy Best live act - Twenty One Pilots Best new act - Zara Larsson Best pop act - Fifth Harmony Best rock act - Coldplay Best UK and Ireland act - Little Mix Best push - DNCE Best look - Lady Gaga Best world stage - Martin Garrix Best electronic - Martin Garrix Best hip hop Act - Drake Best fans - Justin Bieber Global icon - Green Day

possibly earned in Pakistan in 10 years.”

Unsurprisingly, Pakistani writer Asif Nawaz responded with an open letter titled 'Dear India, our actors don’t need Bollywood to become stars.’

He says “India didn’t make Fawad Khan a superstar; it roped him in because he was one already, and marketed the product where the demand was brewing already.’

Both letters expressed a deep sense of loyalty to their nation, the constant use of ‘our nation’, ‘your country’, ‘our land’, ‘your people’, reinforced a strong ‘us and ‘them’ narrative. Although Bajree doesn’t represent the consensus of the 1.311 billion Indians and Nawaz, the 190 million Pakistanis, they both highlight an underlying theme: nationalism. This is the crux of the issue which lead to the banning of Pakistani actors form India and the boycott of Bollywood from Pakistan, and is the unfair result of what happens when Bollywood mixes with politics.

The banning of actors won’t stop the blood which continues to drench the land; it will only prove to be a loss for the film industry in both countries.

Bollywood producer Rahul Aggarwal has quit his job at the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association following the ban of Pakistani actors. He says “art is above politics and we should use it as a means to bring people together.”

Bollywood actor Salman Khan also condemned the decision: “They are artistes not terrorists. It’s the government who gives them permits and visas.”

Sadly, art doesn’t seem to surpass the brutal reality of politics. Bollywood is the world’s most prolific cinema factory, producing

1,000 films annually, double that of Hollywood, and now with cultural exchange from Pakistan, it has admitted huge success.

Actors such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar and singers such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam and Adnan Sami are amongst the great Pakistani talents that have made a huge space in Indian hearts by being an extraordinary part of the Bollywood industry.

Many Indian actors have also flown to Pakistan to act in their drama serials such as Shewtea Tiwari, Alyy Khan and Sara Khan, who is currently shooting a new drama serial ‘Yeh kaisi Mohabbat Hai’ in Pakistan, plus many more.

Pakistani drama serials are favoured over Indian drama serials, and believe it or not, most Indians would agree! By her own admission, Shobhita Dutt, an Indian journalist blogs about the “15 Reasons Why Pakistani TV Serials Are Better Than Indian Ones.” By the same token, Bollywood films are by far better than Pakistani films, in fact Indian film industry and its stars have the biggest fan following in Pakistan than in any other part of the world. This only goes to show that both industries recognise the demand in the market and use it to their advantage, whether its Pakistani actors in Indian films or Indian actors in Pakistani films, business is business.

So dear Bollywood, please stay out of politics. It’s time to stop playing the blame game with those who aren’t even part of it. Let us enjoy the great films which you have and continue to create, if not for the sake of cultural exchange, bridging gaps or offering a hand in friendship, then do it for the sake of art, for the sake of your fans and mostly importantly for the sake of your business.

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HEALTH

HEALTH

37 NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 XPRESS 45

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Eating For ********************************************************************* *****************************************************************

Managing HOWBIZ SHOWBIZ SHOWBIZ SHOWBIZ SHOWBIZ SHOWBIZ SHOWBIZ SHOWBIZ Diabetes

www.mitamistry.co.uk

30 Seconds Chat with Doctors Enough to Trigger Weight Loss S 1

By: Mita Mistry

tudy shows that having a short thirty second talk with doctors or GP’s about weight can be enough to get patients to immediately start shedding the pounds. The research, published by Lancet and complied by University of Oxford researchers found that the chat was non-offensive to patients and that some patients lost an incredible 10% of their body weight after being convinced to try a free weightloss programme.

Researchers add that if all doctors did the same, there

could be a huge effect.

Currently, the NHS is under huge stress by the amount of obese, diabetic and at risk patients coming in and out who disregard the severity of their illnesses.

2728 severely overweight people were part of the trial. They attended appointments with their GP’s for unrelated ailments when the doctors prompted a discussion about their weight. Half of them were offered a free place on weight-loss programmes. After a year, a quarter of them had shed 10% of their body fat.

Amazingly, those

not offered the support still ended up slimming down too, losing an average of 2.2lb.

University of Oxford Professor and GP Paul Aveyard told the BBC: "The impact is pretty substantial given the effort - 30 seconds - that went into it. If we were year-on-year to knock 2.4kg off the heaviest people in society, then that would have a very big effect in health terms.

"This should be added into the repertoire of things we all attend to in appointments like flu jabs, blood pressure and stopping smoking."

World Mental Health Day 2016 The Annual Day to Raise Awareness of Mental Health Issues Worldwide

O

riginating from The World Federation for Mental Health, World Mental Health Day is recognised every year October 10th. The day raises awareness and addresses issues on mental health around the world. Each year is accompanied by a specific theme, 2016 will address the theme of “Dignity in Mental Health-Psychological & Mental Health First Aid

for All.” This aims to fulfil the goal of destigmatising mental health so that people are confident in handling the taboo, isolation and discrimination that people with mental health must face.

Various activities you can take part in to raise awareness include ‘Tea and Talk’ where you invite friends and family over for tea and cakes and ask them to make a donation to the

Mental Health Foundation.

Mental health is a pressing issue in the UK, suicide is the most common cause of death in the country for men aged 20-49 years old. Suicide and selfharm is linked to mental health. More alarmingly, 10% of young people and children have mental health problems.

Visit wfmh.com to read more about the annual day and mental health.

“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

Training in mindful eating and diabetes self-management facilitate improvement in dietary intake, modest weight loss, and glycemic control. The availability of effective treatments gives patients with diabetes choices in meeting their self-care needs.

Mindful eating offers promise as an effective approach for weight management and glycemic control in people with diabetes. Diabetes selfmanagement education (DSME) is an essential component of effective self-care.

2

Patients in a lowincome community health center with Type 2 diabetes (N = 81) taking a oneday education workshop as part of their diabetes medical management were randomly assigned either to education alone or to a combination of education and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Both groups were taught how to manage their diabetes, but those in the ACT condition also learned to apply acceptance and mindfulness skills to difficult diabetes-related thoughts and feelings. Compared with patients who received education alone, after 3 months those in the ACT condition were more likely to use these coping strategies, to report better diabetes self-care, and to have glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) values in the target range. Mediational analyses indicated that changes in acceptance coping and self-management behavior mediated the impact of treatment on changes in HbA1C. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

3

Body Perfect Personal Training ensures you get the optimum workout experience and we are dedicated in helping you achieve your results.

WEBSITE: WWW.BODYPERFECTPT.COM TWITTER: DALDHALIWALPT FACEBOOK: /DAL DHALIWAL

@mitamistry

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.

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

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

Mindful eating may be an effective intervention for increasing awareness of hunger and satiety cues, improving eating regulation and dietary patterns, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and promoting weight loss.

Diabetes self-management education (DSME), which addresses knowledge, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations for improving food choices, also may be an effective intervention for diabetes self-care.

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NOVEMBER 2016

Fashion & Beauty Correspondent: Sara Khan Twitter: @sarakblog

FASHION & BEAUTY

Facebook: /sarakblog website: www.sarakblog.com

Winter Wedding Fashion Trends T

his season the elite fashion designers in Mumbai and Lahore showcased their signature bridal and party creations at the coveted Lakme Winter/Festive 2016 and PFDC L’Oreal Paris Bridal Week.

The collections beautifully

showcased the beauty of the modern day independent woman wanting more than the traditional bridal outfit.

The designers not only created masterpieces of fashion art but practical fashion trends ideal for the British bridal scene.

The trends featured intricate

handwork and embroideries over contemporary cuts and muted pastel tones such as ivory, jade, powder blush. And fabrics such as tulle, chiffon, organza have been used to create luxurious ensembles perfect for any modern winter bride, bridesmaid or party guest.

The makeup also had a touch

of modern fashion week oozing class and touches of demure with smokey eyes; mid-parted slick back hair with pink or red lipstick.

And not forgetting to mention the accessories, which combined traditional jewellery trends with 21st century floral embroidered gowns.

Green-Tea Glory

T

his season brings harsh weather and along with that our skin is affected, left feeling dry and flaky. While the usual fix would be to drink more water, we find that in Winter we tend to neglect drinking cold water and prefer hot drinks.

A great way to help get refreshing skin, is drinking green tea.

Here is a quick little recipe that you can whip up from the comfort of your own kitchen: • 1 spoon of green tea leaves, • 2 cups of water • Half a spoon of cinnamon • Handful of Mint Leaves • Pure Honey Bring the water and tea leaves to a bubbling boil.

Add the mint leaves along with cinnamon and leave it for 3 minutes on a low simmer. Pour it into you cup and add honey according to how you prefer the sweetness.

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39

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.

Hair No More!

•

•

If you like to pluck your eyebrows at home yourself, remember that a little goes a long way. Overdoing them can result in you looking like you’re concerned 24/7!

Facial hair removal creams can be great, especially for those who have a low pain threshold. Make sure to moisturise afterwards so you don’t break out in spots.

•

Waxing your upper lip at home may seem like the easiest way to go hairless without having to leave the house.

However, read all instructions and make sure not to wax over the same spots twice as you could rip off or tear the top layer of your skin. This could leave you with scarring on your face, which from far away could resemble a moustache (been there, done that)!

Start Sexercising! The Health Benefits of Sex for Women

Autumn Fave’s to 'Leaf' You Looking Glamorous W

aking up in the dark, it is now easy to tell that Summer is over and Autumn has settled in. Just because the Sun and warmth may be hiding away, that doesn’t mean that you need to hide indoors also.

Here are some of our favourite bold beauty buys that’ll help you shine through the gloomy days:

Kat Von D had blessed us all when she announced that she’d be soon launching her make up collection in the UK. The ‘Everlasting’ liquid lipstick comes in a variety of 26 beautiful shades. They dry matte, so no more worrying about hair sticking to our lips in the wind!

Urban Decay must’ve decided to bring the glow themselves this Autumn when they decided to release Naked Illuminator Trio, which consists of three shimmering powders for face and body. Including a double sided brush, the three powders, Pyrite, Oasis and Twilight all have different undertones so that you don’t have to buy three separate highlighters.

Nyx Ever since Nyx arrived to the UK, their items have been flying off of Boots shelves. Especially their Full Throttle Shadow Palettes, which are eyeshadow quads with colours that compliment each other.

We are absoloutly in love with Color Riot, Daring Damsel and Easy On The Eyes, all which have gorgeous colours perfect for Autumn!

Brownie to Blondie While many hair salons prefer to steer clear of using a large amount of bleach on hair, it still is the most effective way to lighten hair. Sometimes you can be left with a ginger tint as well.

Rule 1: You need to accept that it is impossible to go from a dark colour to blonde in one sitting.

This is because your hair goes through a lightening process and therefore goes through different shade stages. This is why you will need purple shampoo

on hand. Seeing as purple is the opposite colour to orange on the colourwheel, it cancels out any orange untertones and will leave you with a nice ashy brown colour. Be careful not to leave it on for too long!

Rule 2: Love your hair.

Condition and nourish it as it will be fragile after getting bleached. We recommend a hair mask once a week.

It may take time to get the shade you hope for, but you will get there eventually!

Of course sex is fun, I’m sure most of you will agree - but did you know that a good sex life can provide specific health benefits? Studies have linked sex and better loving with better living. Let’s talk Sex and some of the benefits for health for women.

Sex may Improve Your Heart Health Did you know sex is also good for the heart. It raises the heart rate and blood flow. In Dr Ebanks study- published in the ‘Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health’ researchers found that having sex twice or more a week reduced the risk of fatal heart attack by half. While the study results were focused on men, Dr Ebanks suspects similar effects for women too.

Sex Burns Calories Studies show that Sex burns between 75 and 150 calories per half-hour. It is comparable to other physical activities such as; yoga (114 calories per halfhour), dancing (129 calories per half-hour) or walking (153 calories per half-hour).

Sex may also help to keep your muscles lean While engaging in sex we are releasing and contracting all the muscles within the body, such as our core muscles, arms, butt, legs. Obviously some positions have better toning benefits than others. As long as you’re putting some effort into it you will be burning calories. Experimenting with different positions is the key word here.

Sex Can Help You Get a Better Night’s Sleep Sex may also help you get a better night’s sleep. A recent study revealed that people having frequent sex often report that they handle stress better.

The relaxation that typically follows orgasm for women and ejaculation or orgasm for men maybe one of the few times people actually allow themselves to completely relax.

Note: Ladies do not take it personal if your guy starts snoring after a romp between the sheets. That intense relaxation you feel right after climax due to an oxytocin rush can actually make you doze off faster.

Better Self-Esteem At the University of Texas researchers found that boosting self-esteem was one of 237 reasons people have sex. It also shown that those who already have good self-esteem say they sometimes have sex to feel even better. Fantastic sex begins with self-esteem. It can make you feel very good about yourself – If the sex is loving, connected, and what you want, it can increase your self-esteem even more so.

Of course, you don’t have to have lots of sex to feel good about yourself. Your self-esteem is all about you – not someone else. But if you’re already feeling good about yourself, a great sex life may help you feel even better!

It Can Improve Your Mental Health Having sex is definitely pleasurable on a physical level, but chemically it has been suggested to elevate mood and reduce depression and beat anxiety – It can help you feel happier. Psychologically, sex improves one’s mental health by building intimacy and reducing stress.

Sex May Give You Healthier Skin Having sex releases a key compound in the body that is good for all kinds of things including improving your complexion. It can boost the immune system, give you healthier skin and even help healing - Happy Sexercising!

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

40

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FOOD & TR

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

Ms Delicious & All Things Food Last month we were lucky enough to meet Spanish Chef Omar Allibhoy, the chef and owner behind Tapas Revolution at Grand Central, who was in town promoting his second cookbook ‘Spanish Made Simple’.

Spanish food is no longer the preserve of summer holidays, as Omar’s Spanish Made Simple makes it incredibly easy to create authentic Spanish flavours at home.

The book introduces home-cooked meals that are widely enjoyed across Spain – from the hot Andalucía to the cooler Galicia, passing through historic Castilla and all the Mediterranean coast.

The recipes are foods which Omar grew up with, cooks every day and are suitable

‘Bombay Brexit’ win the Curry King of Birmingham!

Charitable food frenzy saw teams cook up curries to be judged

for all sorts of occasions, quick mid-week suppers, easy weekend lunches, evening gatherings and of course some signature tapas.

Omar, who has worked for both Ferran Adrià and Gordon Ramsay, says his philosophy is simple: you can cook without fuss and still eat like a king. “The dishes I grew up with have left an indelible mark on my heart”, says Omar, “my aim is to convince everyone to add some of my favourites to their weekly repertoire at home.”

Try lemon and honey chicken wings, Moorish marinated lamb cutlets, mushroom gratin with ham mayonnaise, seafood paella, finished with lemon and olive oil cookies. You won’t be disappointed.

T

he inaugural Curry King of Birmingham took place on the 14th October at the ICC. Presented

by Love Brum, one of Birmingham’s most wellknown charities, this unique day of fundraising and food centred around Birmingham’s most beloved food: curry.

Guests at the event worked together with those on their table to contribute to ‘a curry fit for a King (or Queen).’

Together, they created a recipe using a variety of meats, vegetables, herbs and spices and got to name the dish. The recipe was then cooked up by a chef right then and there to be judged. Judges included local chefs, including award-winning Lasan chef, Aktar Islam, as well as food bloggers and writers.

Lobster Peninsula set to open in Birmingham’s Futurist Cinema Lobster Peninsula is Birmingham’s answer to coastal cuisine; drawing upon inspiration from the finest coastlines around the world.

The emphasis is on fresh lobster, lobster dishes and BIG lobster platters. The menu and the experience has been designed to give customers the sights, sounds and flavours of the coast.

The team have taken over and re-invigorated the old Futurist Cinema on John Bright Street and created a Mediterranean influenced style of restaurant and it is very much evident in the Spanish tiling on the bar. The venue will incorporate a private lounge, bar, separate restaurant, a spacious nightclub as well as a balcony bar where diners can

FOOD

enjoy cocktails. The upmarket venue will serve delectable sharing seafood platters of lobster, crab, creole fish, prawns, calamari, mussels, a catch of the day dish and also steak and chicken dishes.

Lobster Peninsula will be a welcome addition to John Bright Street alongside its new neighbours The Stable, Turtle Bay, Cherry Reds and Brewdog.

Indico A fabulous new dining experience has descended into the suburban delights of Shirley Solihull. Visitors to the Parkgate Shopping Centre on Stratford Road will be able to delight in the culinary joys of Indian street food and the vibrancy of the sub continent.

The new venue is reminiscent of a movie scene from Monsoon Wedding, the walls are adorned with Bollywood style pop art, street art and the ceiling is covered with a multitude of colourful umbrellas. In the corner is the open kitchen in sunshine yellow made in the style of

a wagon, set over two floors with a mezzanine level and bar area seating 140, it really is a feast for the senses.

The menu has been inspired by authentic street food of India you will be able to enjoy dishes such as gol gappa (puffed hollow pastry rounds filled with seasoned potatoes and chilled mint flavoured water), and pav bhaji (a typical Mumbai style anytime meal, a spicy blend of mashed vegetables with light battered toasted bun). You can also enjoy traditional favourites such as samosas, bhel puri and kebabs.

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

I just had a pizza from Pizza Haq w: www.pizzahaq.co.uk t: 0121 707 1122

a: 1729 Coventry Road Yardley, Birmingham, B26 1DT

They judged the dish on everything from taste to appearance, creativity to name. The tables were even quizzed on curry which also contributed towards the overall score.

Vision 4 Print were crowned as the Curry Kings for their dish ‘Bombay Brexit’. As well as receiving the fabulous silver balti bowl trophy, the curry kings won a tour of Birmingham’s East End Foods factory followed by a dinner hosted by, Director, Dr Jason Wouhra. Their winning dish will soon be featured on the menu at Pushkar Bar and Restaurant for a full year.

The competition wasn’t the only fun though.

The event also featured a luxurious champagne reception, a 3 course banquet professionally cooked by the ICC (which won Birmingham’s Venue of the Year), a silent auction for charity, photography, an after party and even more.

Speaking at the launch of Curry King, Aktar Islam commented: “I am so excited to be part of Curry King of Birmingham; the concept is something new and exciting for the city. It’s great that LoveBrum has thought outside of the box and rather than holding your typical black tie do, they’ve embraced some local culture to bring together food lovers to raise money for great causes. I’m absolutely delighted to have been asked to be a judge.”

Better yet, the Curry King of Birmingham event raised £20,000 – enough to fund 10 local projects in Brum!

Autumn Days Out with the Family

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TRAVEL

RAVEL

Top 5 Travel

Gadgets

NOVEMBER 2016

41

Whether you’re travelling from Birmingham to London, or England to Spain, having some form of gadgets are a necessity for travel. So we have condensed it down to 5 must have gadgets, that’ll make your journey an enjoyable one.

Satellite Device

1.

As simple as it sounds, this is a device that will help you with getting from A to B. Some of them will even be so helpful that they will give you alternate route options so that you can pick the easiest choice for yourself. Advanced gadgets can also make you aware mid route if an accident has taken place and will tell you if there are any faster routes available.

Portable Battery Pack

2.

W

hile some people prefer staying indoors on a windy Saturday morning, many of us quite enjoy the crisp air of Autumn.

As long as you’re dressed in your cosy jumpers and boots, why not grab a cup of hot chocolate and go for a stroll in the local park?

Here are a couple of great places to visit this Autumn with your family and friends:

We all know that there is nothing worse than being stuck on a 3 hour journey with no form of social media being able to help occupy you. A portable battery pack will help you with being able to charge up your phone and even a camera or laptop.

If you like a touch of vintage, you are certainly in for a treat! Kept the same as it was in the 18th Century, these 10 acre walled gardens are a splendid place to visit for some peace and quiet. Not to mention the fun holly maze this would be a great day out for the kids. Don’t forget to wave at the sphinx!

3.

Selfies are the most popular way of taking pictures in this generation and while it may be easy to do during the day, the thing it lacks is a real flash on the front camera.

That is where the Lumee Case comes in handy. Having a side button which triggers LED lighting, it makes for perfect selfie lighting in the dark.

The Birmingham Botanical Garden & Glass Houses Situated in Edgbaston, the Botanicals has a lot to offer, including seasonal walks to make sure that that the ‘Plants of the Month’ are part of the route.

As well as this, the Botanical Gardens always have events taking place such as the Magical Lantern Festival which will be taking place on 25th November.

Giant lanterns imported from China will be lighting up the garden with the likes of Santa, penguins and even snow men!

Wireless Headphones

4.

Getting tangled in headphones can be one of the most frustrating things ever. Especially when being in a confined space with other people. This is when having wireless headphones can come in handy. Not having to be concerned about getting everything tangled and being able to keep your phone at a further distance is a modern delight.

Kindle

5.

Located in Mosely, this beautiful park consists of 5 tennis courts, a mini golf course and even has a fair taking place for children during the weekends.

There is the choice of walking alongside the lake also, which people like to ride pedal boats on. The trek itself has both a 2 and 5km walking route and is a great opportunity to explore this park and have a fun outing.

Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens Trust

Lumee Case

It’s so easy to get lost in a book when on a journey and they help pass time.

That’s where a Kindle would become your best friend. Having as many books as you please all on one device, without the hassle of having to carry them all. Some devices even have Internet access so you can download new e-books as you go along.

Cannon Hill Park

Specialists in

LOW COST FLIGHTS TO PAKISTAN!

• 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.

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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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BUSINESS

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43

BUSINESS Sport

Hundreds of Pounds Go Missing from Tesco Bank Accounts

MURRAY BECOMES WORLD NO.1 TURN TO PG 47 TO READ THE FULL STORY

Sunny & Shay

Tesco Bank customers have been made victim by malicious fraudsters

T

esco Bank current account holders have been targeted by fraudsters, with something losing up to hundreds of pounds.

According to the bank, the antifraud systems had picked up on “suspicious activity” on customer accounts and said some cards had been immediately blocked as a precaution. It is thought that less than 10,000 customers have been affected, but those that have been

have lost up to hundreds worth of pounds.

Alan Baxter, just one of the many Tesco Bank users affected, said he lost £600. He added: "Tesco said they couldn't offer me emergency funds but would offer £25 as a goodwill gesture.

I've got food and petrol to pay for.

I have a delivery of coal coming tomorrow for our coal-fired heater and I won't be able to pay."

Many customers took to twitter

to voice their complaints, both about the fraudsters and Tesco Bank themselves for their handling of the incident. One user tweeted: “£600 missing from 2 accounts. 2 hour queue and no answers as to why. Being handled appallingly.”

In accordance with The Financial Conduct Authority, the bank must refund any unauthorised payments immediately unless the customers was at fault.

Major M&S Overhaul Walkers and Birds Eye’s Sees Mass Shop Closure Brexit Price Bump

C

hief Executive Steve Rowe of Marks and Spencer is expected to announce the major closure of M&S shops in the coming years as part of a reorganisation of the company’s UK structure.

There is no indication which shops are set to close, though the numbers for those facing the chop are in the “low dozens,” with some predicting at least 30 will go. Food stuffs, as the more successful product, are set to replace many clothing outlets. This August saw more than 500 jobs axed as a way to reduce costs. M&S

shops is Castle Bromwich and Shirley were also closed down last year.

It’s possible not all of that affected shops will close, but possibly just be relocated or downsized. Either way, thousands of jobs face being terminated, including those in European and Chinese stores. The most at risk are smaller branches on poorly performing town high streets.

Analysts have predicted that M&S suffered a 3.9% drop in sales after clothing sales plunged by 8.9% between January and Marchthe worst M&S figures in over ten years.

Brexit takes two more victims, Britain beloved crisp-maker and fish finger-maker Walkers and Birds Eye. The pound was notoriously taken down a peg or two by the surprise referendum, leaving many companies scrambling to raise prices so they can enjoy the same level of profits.

Walkers and Birds Eye

are the latest companies to increase prices, with Walkers saying it was making "selective cost price changes across our portfolio" due to "fluctuating foreign exchange rates.” A spokesperson told the Press Association that a 32g bag costing 50p is to increase to 55p, and the larger bag to go from 75p to 80p.

As we Proceed...

It’s that time of year where we prepare for celebrations and festivities.

Diwali, Halloween, Christmas, New Years is all around the corner and it’s in this month Sunny and I both appreciate that as important as work is it’s more important to take time out to spend with loved ones. For us family has been and always will be paramount but we understand that not everyone can be with biological family members and sometimes friends become family. The key at this time of year is to remember to spend time which is the most valuable

commodity that we have.

We can get caught up with spending money on gifts, new outfits or even parties. As important as these are, over the years we’ve realised the most simplest thing like a phone call or a text means a lot more than a gift. So, whilst we get ready to enjoy the samosas and get the fireworks ready if there is a person who pops into mind as you read this article who you’ve not touched base with in a while then pick up the phone and give them a call – you never know it could be their first chat of the day!

Also, watch the antics of Sunny and Shay unfold in their online comedy series 'As We Proceed on Youtube' @SunnyandShay

/TheSunnyandShay

Listen to Sunny & Shay every Mon-Thurs: 2pm to 4pm on BBC WM 95.6FM and every Sunday on BBC London 94.9FM at 6PM

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NOVEMBER 2016

THE ASIAN TODAY

PROPERTY

Halifax shows House Price Increase The latest data from Halifax shows that house prices rose 1.4pc in October, the largest rise since March 2016. Halfiax’s index reported falls in July and August with a slight rise of just 0.3pc in September.

The average price of a house now sits at £217,411. Year-onyear growth in the quarter to the end of October was down by 0.6pc compared to the previous period, dropping from 5.8pc to 5.2pc. January and March showed a growth rate of 10pc, meaning this quarter has sorely underperformed. In accordance with Brexit, house prices have significantly fallen in value.

The increase in monthly prices was attributed to increased buyer demand, falling mortgages and a record lack of houses on the market.

A housing economist at Halifax, Martin Ellis, said: "This

Halifax point to house prices stagnating in the third quarter.

That echoes the broad picture outlined by other indices that, while house price growth slowed in the wake of the referendum result, there is no evidence of any substantial fall in values."

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expected slowdown [in house price growth] appears to have been largely due to mounting affordability pressures, which have increasingly constrained housing demand."

An expert from Capital Economics said: "Data from

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he next auction being held by Pennycuick Collins is being held at the Birmingham City Football Club on the 14th December at 11am.

Auctions are a superb way of selling a wide variety of property as the transaction is secured as soon as the auctioneer’s gavel falls. The December auction is the last Pennycuick Collins auction of 2016 and will, as usual be held in the Legends Lounge at Birmingham City Football Club.

There is still time to include lots for sale and have them included in the December catalogue Samuel Moxon of Pennycuick Collins said: “Once again our partnership with Network Auctions

is enabling us to provide clients with the combination of local knowledge and expertise and national exposure which is proving to be a winning formula and we expect another successful sale.”

The auction on 14th December will once again have a live Twitter feed giving updates and the results as they happen. Pennycuick Collins can be followed on Twitter as @PennycuickColl With bidding in the room, via telephone and proxy ,no stone is left unturned in ensuring that buyers can bid and purchase.

Alan Herbert, Partner at Pennycuick Collins added: “2016 has seen auction numbers significantly increase on previous years and Pennycuick Collins

along with Network Auctions have sold over £30 million of property so far this year across their Birmingham and London sale rooms. This clearly proves that auctions provide an ideal way of disposing of a wide variety of property, particularly in situations where transparency and speed of sale are important.”

Pennycuick Collins are already inviting lots for the next auction which will be held in Birmingham on March 15th and Samuel Moxon of Pennycuick Collins will be pleased to advise on what is involved. Samuel Moxon can be contacted on 0121 456 1700 or by email on sam.moxon@pennycuick. co.uk or at the Pennycuick Collins website at www. pennycuick.co.uk

Tesla’s Launches Solar Powered Tiles

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Tesla, the technological giant responsible for much of the world’s latest energy innovations, has unveiled an innovative new range of solar powered tiles. The new product will be a hit among climate aware buyers and homeowners looking to update their rooves.

The tiles comes in four separates styles, Textured Glass, Slate Glass, Tuscan Glass and Smooth Glass, offering both style and solar savviness.

According to Tesla, the tiles can power a standard sized home as well as provide spare storable power in case of bleak weather. Additionally, due to the toughness of the glass, the tiles are more durable than typical roof tiles and are alleged to be able to outlast the lifecycle of their mainstream

counterparts.

However, as with most solar powered and Tesla products, it’s the price that may prove the catch.

University professor and solar researcher David Fenning told CNN Money: "It's been a tough field to enter into with essentially no success stories. The challenge with solar comes down to cost. You want to be squeezing out every 0.1% in efficiency."

Elon Musk, technological wonderboy and CEO of Tesla, ensured buyers would save money compared to those who buy normal tiles and have to pay electric bills on top. However, in order to actually use the solar powered tiles, you need to buy a battery to store the power- namely the Powerwall 2 battery costing $5,500.

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Honda Civic 2017

Motorway Catches 1000 Speeders Weekly.

NEW FAMILY CAR FEATURES EXTRA TECH AND THREE DIFFERENT ENGINES

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he new Honda Civic is to be launched in 2017, and we’ve got the lowdown on everything you need to know. The 10th generation Civic is noticeably larger than its predecessors, but is also lower and longer too.

The seats on the present Civic that are able to split and fold to maximise space capabilities are unfortunately not included in the new design, but that shouldn’t present too much trouble as the new Civic still features a lot of roomy interior space. A family orientated car, there’s plenty of kicking room for the kids- and exactly 478 litres of storage space in the boot

– more than enough for the wife’s luggage and the family dog too.

The new control centre has a touch based infotainment system that cleans up the dashboard and gives the front interior a more slick and stylish appearance.

The new Civic will have three different engines, two petrol based and one diesel. The entry-level petrol is 1.0 litres with 127bph.

There is a more powerful option in the form of a 1.5 litre petrol engine with 180bph. Thirdly, there is the diesel engine which is 1.6 litres and will have better fuel economy and lower CO2

emissions.

The Honda Civic will likely have three models: SE, SR and EX. The SE model coms with dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, automatic lights, automatic wipers and parking sensors. It is thought the new model will also have a panoramic sunroof and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, meaning drivers can control their smartphones via the car. The sports version will have a central twin exhaust as well as the usual safety equipment; automatic city braking, blind spot assistance systems and traffic sign recognition.

From 2010-2011 a total of 2023 penalties were issued to people on a stretch on the M1, M25 and M6.

Those very motorways since then have upgraded their services to Smart motorways, meaning that the hard shoulder and different speed limits are being used to manage the traffic flow.

Last year it was reported that 52, 516 penalties were issued on those same stretches. This shows a vast difference in the number of charges and is a result of the Smart motorway upgrade. While many people think that this could be a way to make money, the Government have assured the public that this was simply to improve capacity.

UK Car Crimes Soar The worst cities to own a car in were branded as being Bradford, Manchester and London. So much to the extent that 1 in 3 people in London have experienced some form of vandalism being done to their car at least once in their lifetime.

The information was all collected through official police data in which it stated that as much as 33% of Londoners have suffered car vandalism. Leeds and Glasgow had 13% of their residents having experienced car vandalism.

While 33% seems like a high percentage, London was beaten by Manchester which had 192 crimes taking place for every 10,000 vehicles that were registered.

Driving In Icy Conditions With days getting shorter, many of us are waking up in the dark and also returning home from work in the dark. This means that we are prone to accidents taking place, especially with winter weather. Here are some tips to help you keep safe at all times: • Try to stay in a higher gear at all times so that you have more control of your car in case you have to stop suddenly.

•

Avoid using the brakes if you can, as this would lock the wheels and your car could slide out of control.

• In foggy or snowy weather, keep your headlights on full beam so that other drivers on the road will be able to see you.

Most importantly, take some extra time for your journeys. Leave earlier when going to appointments or work as the traffic can be unpredictable.

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NOVEMBER 2016

FIFA Bans the Poppy on Remembrance Day

Anaesh Patel WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM

SPORTS

Winner of the National Spin Cricket Tournament

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Fifa has come under fire for the controversial refusal of English and Scottish players to wear armbands featuring the poppy.

The poppy is a highly political symbol used to commemorate fallen soldiers. England and Scotland are set to meet on November 11th, otherwise known as Remembrance Day, hence the wish to wear

the poppy. However FIFA has long since had a ban on any political, religious or commercial messages.

PM Theresa May spoke out on the issue, saying “our football players want to recognise and respect those who have given their lives for our safety and security I think it is absolutely right they should be able to do so."

Britains Olympic Medallist Banned

naesh Patel, Walsall cricketer, has done himself, his family and the West Midlands proud by winning the National Cricket Spin Competition at the esteemed Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

Anaesh, from Walsall, span his way to the top and is just one of three to have bagged an all-expenses paid trip for a one week long scholarship in Mumbai. The competition was sponsored by Southhall Travel and the Club Cricket Conference. As part of the competition Anaesh and the other cricketing hopefuls were made to undergo assessment by England Test Cricketer Kabir Ali and Jigger Naik, Leicestershire CC. The scholarship will see the 21-year-old Maths graduate mentored in honing his cricket talents.

Anaesh said: “I am over the moon to have won the award, especially as it was a National competition. I am really looking forward to visiting India and gaining further experience on subcontinent pitches.

“I would like to thank to my bowling coach Kevin Lyons (Glamorgan CCC) and batting coach Ron Headley (WI Test Cricketer) for the many hours they have spent developing my bowling/ batting skills. I would also like to thank Cardiff Cricket Club for giving me the opportunity to play in the South Wales Premier League. It goes without saying that without the support of my parents this victory would not have been possible.”

How did you first get into cricket?

I first got introduced to cricket as a 5-year-old watching cricket on TV with my cricket crazy Dad. He also took me to see a couple of World Cup Games in 1999 and I loved watching Tendulkar bat and Warne bowl. I also started to play cricket in the house with a plastic bat and tennis ball which usually ended up in damaging some of the house ornaments.

(Mum was not a happy bunny).

I also started to spin the ball in the house and that was my first introduction to spin bowling.

Initially I wanted to be a

batsman but soon noticed that I could turn the ball so I was encouraged to bowl leg spin and never looked back. I realised that leg spin conjures up magic and is very enchanting to watch. It can make a batsmen look foolish when they go down charging down the track and the ball spins away from them. The legspinner has several options to fox a batsmen but requires a lot hard work to master the different types of deliveries. I can bowl the googly, top spinner, flipper and stock ball.

What was it like to win the coveted scholarship out of the entire nation?

When I heard that I had won the competition, I was speechless. I just couldn’t believe it that I had won. It was totally surreal and I’m really looking forward to going to India. I was so happy for my parents because all the support

and the money they had spent on my cricket had been worth it and I had made them proud. All those early morning runs in those cold wintery months and cricket training sessions over the last 15 years had paid off.

How was the training under Kabir Ali? Olympic medallist Louis Smith has been suspended for two months by British Gymnastics over a controversial video in which the lauded gymnast appeared to mock Islam.

In the video, Smith, 27, films Luke Carson, a retired gymnast, mocking praying muslims, whilst laughing himself. Ever since the scandal broke, Smith has been lambasted for his callous actions, with many calling for his suspension from British Gymnastics, the official governing body for UK gymnastics.

Smith, who won bronze at London 2012 and silver for pommel horse at Rio 2016, has since apologised however British Gymnastics have now approved his suspension. Jane Allen, chief executive of British Gymnastics, said: "It is regrettable that following a historic summer of achievement, the organisation

finds itself in this difficult position with two high-profile members in breach of our standards of conduct.

"As the custodians of the integrity and values of the sport, we have had no choice but to act responsibly.

"Whilst both individuals showed remorse following the incident, we hope in the future they use their profile to have a positive impact on sport and communities.”

It is not the first time Smith has come under fire however.

In June, he posted a picture of a sixteen year old American gymnast, which British Gymnastics said was “unbefitting to a participant.”

He had previously questioned a judge for losing in pommel to Max Whitlock at the British Championships. His suspension is therefore a “cumulative penalty” that takes into account of all his past breaches.

It was great to talk to an England cricketer because the knowledge he offered me to improve my game was invaluable, especially on field placings, bowling googly and where to

pitch the ball. I also learnt a lot about the importance of mental strength. Just by listening to Kabir improved my bowling by 10%-15%. I am very grateful to Kabir for helping me.

Could you see yourself having a career in cricket?

Why not, hopefully I will always keep challenging myself to achieve the next level. I am 100% committed to what I do.

I am currently studying for MSc in Risk Management as my back up plan. I am fairly confident that if I keep up with my current training schedule, an opportunity will arrive and when it does, I will grab it with both of

my hands.

The most important thing is the support I have received from my parents, family, friends and my coaching staff. They have all been incredible! What I do know is that with leg-spin once mastered, the success is there for the taking. Hopefully it will open new doors for me especially in ‘International Cricket.’

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM

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NOVEMBER 2016

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Murray is the first Briton to ever become Top Seed

Andy Murray World No.1 A

ndy Murray has been confirmed as the world’s number one tennis player after beating out American rival John Isner 6-3-6-7 (4-7) 6-4, clinching his first Paris Master’s title in the same bat. Murray had a bit of help in the form of Milos Raonic who was forced to withdraw from the Paris Masters semi-final due to a leg injury.

It was a slippery start to begin with as Murray double-faulted on the first point of the game. Isner’s performance was impressive in his own right, putting pressure on

Murray through the match using his light footedness and deftness to create two break points.

The game eventually reached a tie-break with Isner snatching break points left and right until Murray clawed his way back and forced a break at 5-4, then used a quickfire backhand to land the third set and seal the win, and with it, the world number one title.

Isner said: "Well done to Andy Murray for the title and getting to number one in the world. What an incredible achievement. Every single week I am in the same locker room as you, and see how hard you

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work, you deserve it."

Murray is the first Briton to be named number one since the computerised rankings were from created back in 1973. It’s been an incredible year for the 29 year old who added his second Olympic and Wimbledon titles to his name, boosting his name up the rankings.

Murray was also voted BBC Sports Personality for a second time this year and also celebrated the birth of his first child, Sophia.

Now after securing his spot as top seed, Murray will now be heading to the World Tour Finals to end the season.

ATP Singles Rankings 1. Andy Murray (GB) 2. Novak Djokovic (Ser) 3. Stan Wawrinka (Swi) 4. Milos Raonic (Can) 5. Kei Nishikori (Jpn) 6. Gael Monfils (Fra) 7. Marin Cilic (Cro) 8. Rafael Nadal (Spa) 9. Dominic Thiem (Aut)

MURRAY IS THE FIRST BRITON TO BE NAMED NUMBER ONE SINCE THE COMPUTERISED RANKINGS

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