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Two Kapoors - PG 33
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ROACH KILLA
THE YYZ PROJECT
The Boy with the Top Knot - PG
32
Roach Killa, the Canadian desi rapper and music maker, recently released the YYZ project alongside Blitzkrieg. The project consists three brand new tracks of of different genres as well as a monologue and three music videos. Although their names are now widely recognised throughout the Asian music scene,
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Tell us about your new venture could relate to. the YYZ Project. What change in the Canadian YYZ is actually the area code music scene have you witnessed? for Toronto airport, it was chosen For starters there’s more youth because we came from Toronto, involved in the scene as there’s Canada. When we were coming more resources. We had no up the scene wasn’t active, it was internet growing up or YouTube far behind the UK Asian scene. or We social media. Now kids don’t had to leave Toronto in order sit to be and watch MTV or BritAsia, successful in our careers. Before they look at their timeline. It’s allowed we came about no one really kids to connect and for music recognise Toronto so we had to to put go viral. it on the map. You’re also featuring on the What was it like working with upcoming Prabh Gill single, Blitzkrieg? what can your fans expect from We came from the same city this release? and have over 1000 songs Prabh hit me up and told me recorded together. The reason we there’s a track I want to do decided to do this project was with you. I told him I don’t work because we’re both Canadian on the and artist’s brand but on the merits wanted to give something back of the song. He sent me the song to the fans without charge, hence and I liked it and we flew out why it’s a free download. It’s three to Vancouver to shoot the music different songs and three different video, filmed by Gifty who videos and it was released directs on the all of Honey Singh’s videos. 30th June because July 1st We was had a blast, there was fun Canada Day. and chemistry on the shoot and Tell us about the three different I’m very excited for when it comes tracks. out. Heartbroken recently broke They are all different, one is 10m views, what was that like? influenced by Bollywood where we rap in Hindi called Kala Gora. Amazing. We always knew The the song was special but it song ‘Can’t stop me now’ is wasn’t over a Drake and Nicki Minaj beat. until the public heard it that I knew We wanted to deliver something how special. Sometimes you’re different but give the Toronto confused but have to go with flavour. The third song Hold your gut feeling. The song had You has gone out as a single and actually been leaked four years was decided to drive the project. ago but I just left it, knowing I In your opinion, why do many would eventually come back to it. South Asian Canadian artists Because it was leaked, I wanted to struggle to find success? bring something new and special 10 years ago there was so me and Gary experimented resources or infrastructures and decided to get a female in singer place to promote your music on it. We could bring on the on usual a national level. Canada is names or bring in someone huge, new, it takes three days to drive completely out of left field then from Toronto to the west coast for decided on Naseebo Lal. example. Canada itself is a Any final comments? new country. Asians have been A huge thank you to the whole in the UK for generations now but UK industry for supporting in me, Canada, we were still fresh especially as I came from the on the scene and community. The outside. Thank you to the fans community was built by the without whom I would be nothing. elders and not directed towards the My only advice to others out youth there so the Asian youth became more is that whatever you’re doing, be connected to the UK and the UK original and be yourself. Only asian music scene. The music you was understand your goal, believe cool with a western touch that in we yourself and your dreams.
Local ABCC Executive Appointed to Grenfell Task Force
Bazmee - PG 32
Shakrukh Khan's Gift for Salman
PG 30
Jagga Jasoos - PG 30
INSIDE THIS ISSUE NEWS ROUND UP
HOMELESS HEROES PG 2
Aftab Chughtai selected to take a leading role
Aftab Chughtai of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) has been selected to take a leading role in the Grenfell Recovery Taskforce, where he will work with others to ensure the victims and others affected by the tragic fire get the right support. The executive committee member, who has been on the ABCC for the past ten years, was appointed by the Government as one of a four-member
team to oversee the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s longterm recovery plan. The burning of the Grenfell Tower saw 80 people lose their life and hundreds of others injured and displaced after the high rise caught fire on June 14th. It received worldwide coverage for weeks in the aftermath and stirred a serious look into how councils operate accommodation, particularly with
COVENTRY STUDENT HELPS FLEEING FAMALIES PG 16
Continued on page 2
EID MUBARAK FROM THE ASIAN TODAY TEAM
5 REASONS WHY WE LOVE JAGGA JASOOS PG 22
AUGUST 2017
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THE TEAM
Here’s to the Homeless Heroes! NEWS
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The Asian Today interviews Javed Iqbal on his inspiring charity that feeds, clothes and shelters the homeless The Asian Today interviews Javed Iqbal on his inspiring charity that feeds, clothes and shelters the homeless It is no secret that Birmingham is facing a serious homeless situation, with rates soaring year upon year. In just one year, rough sleeping in Birmingham jumped up by over 50% and with more and more cuts to services, a reduction to benefits and more people falling below the poverty line, it seems this issue can only worsen. Thankfully, the homeless community in Birmingham has seen help in the form of Homeless Heroes, a dedicated charity created by Javed Iqbal that serves to feed the homeless as well as deliver medical care, socialising, and more. Due to its inspiring, forthright attitude and commitment to helping the most vulnerable in society, Homeless Heroes was recently recognised for his ‘Great and Valuable Services to the Community’ and awarded with the High Sheriff of West Midlands Award. He has also won the Highest Achiever Community Award at the WMP Diamond Awards and the Outstanding Community Achievement Award from the BYSA Chairman’s Awards.
1. When and why was Homeless Heroes first set up? The feeding the homeless project started in November 2014 when my daughter saw a homeless man and asked if we could buy him a hot drink. We then realised there was more than one homeless person on the streets, so we decided to bring tea, sandwiches, biscuits and drinks from home. Soon I had my family and friends involved, making sandwiches, pasta, rice, and soup. Then the journey began. 2. What kind of things do you offer homeless people? We currently provide one hot meal a day, 4 days a week, but are raising funds to expand to 7 days. We provide biryanai, lamb curry, pasta, hot pies, tea, biscuits, cakes, drinks and many other refreshments as well as First Aid, haircuts, providing a homely atmosphere, giving motivation and even a friendly chat, help and guidance. We also provide medical advice through junior doctors via medical surgeries.
Over the years we have had some special cases, for example numerous times a mother and a child were made homeless due to domestic violence, and as a society we intervened and found them emergency accommodation, dry clothing, sleeping bags and sanitary wear. 3. What kind of stories have you heard from the service users? Some of the stories have been horrific. A three year old child and her mother were left on the streets due to domestic violence, ex-servicemen were made homeless because of medical conditions such as severe stress due to war trauma. Families losing loved ones and finding it hard to cope, eventually turning towards alcoholism and losing their homes. Marriage splitups and mental health issues, drug abuse of lethal killer drugs like Mamba. During winter, it’s the most difficult time for the homeless. There are sometimes territorial issues. Some of our young
regular users lost their lives due to harsh winter conditions and drugs. 4. What kind of support have you received off the community? The community has been involved, but not as much as we would like them to. The majority of the support came from our Facebook followers, friends and family, especially during Ramadan. They supported us enormously with donations, and as a result we have been able to sustain the services during the full 30 days of Ramadan. We have had many amazing volunteers who have come on board to see what we do and offered their help and support. We have also had members of other faiths, as far as America, who have come and helped out with the day to day running of the kitchens. 5. What can the average person do to help? An average person can help with many things e.g. their time to volunteer, donating basic items such tissues,
Javed Iqbal with his daughter Muskaan Javed
gloves, drinks, water, dry food such as tea, sugar, coffee, biscuits, crisps etc. One thing that we have just recently launched is the £5 a month standing order to help us provide the service 7 days a week. For every 200 donators giving £5 a month, we can offer an extra day per week of service. We would like to encourage the community to sign up to our £5 a month standing order. Request smaller to larger companies to come forward at times of great need, such as engineers to service/fix our freezers, gas, plumbing and electrical suppliers, tradesmen to help with roof leaks and build shelters, and wholesalers to offer their assistance in running specific projects. 6. How do you think we can help remove the stigma of homelessness? Homelessness is said to be 2 pay cheques away, and it
could happen to anyone. We must not forget that these unfortunate people are also humans and require the same respect and service as any other person irrespective of faith, colour and gender as reflected in our moto “Every life matters”. We have recently started the awareness campaign through social media and are currently getting views in excess of 10,000 per post, and this helps us promote our work to bring communities together and educate the communities to eradicate the hate factor, leading to more united communities. The project has also been successful in educating children on how to be great citizens, highlighting other people’s hardships and teaching them to be thankful for what they have, thus leading them to be more charitable later on in life.
Aftab Chughtai Apointed to the Grenfell Recovery Taskforce
EDITORS Ifraz Ahmed Anita Chumber
JOURNALISTS Sheena Ramchurn Kesser Hussain Siddharth Kumar
SALES Anita Chumber Simon Keatle
CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Ley
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CONTRIBUTORS Anita Champaneri Manish Gujjar Sunny Malik Mita Mistry Sara Khan Manish Patel Kam Chopra Manish Patel Jas Sansi Qasim Majid South & City College
Continued from front page regards to safety, tenant management, housing and fire prevention. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said the task force will aid the RBKC in developing and putting into action a plan to ensure the victims are adequately provided for and supported. The task members were chosen for their long track record and positive experience in community engagement and local projects. Aftab said of his election: “I am pleased to be
GRAPHIC/WEB Daniel Webb
DO YOU S NEW HAVE A ? STORY H TOUC GET IN TODAY! US H IT W Untitled-1 1
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appointed to the Grenfell Recovery Taskforce which will have a vital role ensuring that the right support and plans are in place to help the local community move on from this terrible tragedy. “Getting the relations between the local community and Council right in key and I hope to use the experience in community engagement in the West Midlands to make a real difference in Kensington and Chelsea. I look forward to working with my fellow taskforce members and the Council and starting this important work.”
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Leicester's Night of Festivals AUGUST 2017
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South Asia Marks India-Pakistan Independence 70th Anniversary P
roduced by ArtReach, Night of Festivals South Asia will mark the 70th Anniversary of India and Pakistan’s independence showcasing internationally acclaimed musicians and artists with heritage from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the UK. The six day festival (part of Leicester City Festival) presents exclusive collaborations and exciting new work from both local community and internationally acclaimed artists across music, visual art, performance and dance. Highlights include Visual Artist Nayan Kulkarni, celebrated percussionist Sandeep Raval, Dance From The Sonia Sabri Company, Singer Samia Malik, UK pop and bhangra singer Iffi K, Dr Das (Asian Dub Foundation), Outdoor Cinema, Holi Colour “Flash Mobs”, The
International Kite Project, Bandish Projekt , Dj Bobby Friction and more. Night of Festivals South Asia is part of a series of festivals produced by Leicester based arts organisation ArtReach. David Hill, ArtReach Director said “ArtReach is hugely excited about the opportunity to create a special Night of Festivals focusing on the amazing art and culture from and influenced by South Asia. The project brings together the contemporary and the traditional, with innovative fusion work and shared platforms for artists from different cultures.” Wissam Khodur, Executive Producer, Night of Festivals South Asia, said “I have been proud to witness the amazing culture and diversity within Leicester - a city which has such strong connections to the subcontinent with a high
number of diaspora living here. It is a privilege to work with such talent from within the arts community both from South Asia and locally, and to produce another Night of Festivals marking the 70th independence of India and Pakistan.” Councillor Piara Singh Clair MBE, Assistant City Mayor, said “We are delighted to support this special edition of Night of Festivals. This year's celebrations are very important to Leicester and it is most fitting that these will be launching our annual City Festival.” Programme Highlights include: Live Music Stage Tues 15 – Fri 18 August (5.30pm-11pm) Sat 19 August (11am – 11pm) Live stage in Humberstone Gate will mark Indian Independence Day (in collaboration with the Gujarat Hindu Association) with performances from the Bollywood Brass Band; Raza; Bapi Das Paul, Dhol Enforcement Agency; Iffy K; Aki Nawaz; Samia Malik (Qawwali Freedom Project); Circus Raj; 4x4 Bhangra; the Sonia Sabri Company; Sandeep Raval; Hamid Ali Naqeeb Qawwali; Shama Rahman and Reggae Rajahs. There will also be special stage performances from the Indian Centre for Classical Dance, Nupur Arts, Swar
Music and the Pakistan Youth and Community Centre. Chai Walla Café Wed 16 (2pm-5.30pm) Thurs 17/ Fri 18/Sat 19 August (11am5.30pm) Chai Walla Café provides a free cup of masala tea, snacks and a reflective space for those with direct experience of independence to record their stories. There will be an accompanying workshop programme, plus an extraordinary new installation by international artist Nayan Kulkarni in the ISKCON building (former
bank) on Granby St. Outdoor Cinema, in partnership with Inspirate Friday 18 August (8.30pm – 11pm) An outdoor cinema in Jubilee Square will present a film from Indian cinema and preceding this the International Kite Project will give the first opportunity for audience members to fly a digital kite across projected landscapes of South Asia on the Big Screen. “Little India” Street arts and performance Saturday 19 August (11am – 5.30pm) A final day of streets arts
and performance will bring Leicester City Centre to life, imitating the energy and bustle of an Indian market with Holi colour “flash mobs” and Harminder the life size, pedal powered Indian elephant, dancers and community performers animating Leicester High Street, offering entertainment for the whole family. For more information please see www. nightoffestivals.com Follow the conversation @NofFestivalsand #NOFSouthAsia
Touring the UK in a traditional 'Three Musketeers' Sentenced Tuk-tuk A 77-YEAR-OLD man from Wigston is setting off on a three-week challenge to tour the cardinal points of England, Scotland and Wales in a genuine Indian tuk-tuk. Steve Gibbs started his journey from Specsavers in Bell Street with support from the store and staff. He will be raising funds for the Healing Little Hearts (HLH) charity, a cause he feels very strongly about. HLH provides free heart surgery to babies and children that need it most, and operates in India, Africa and Malaysia. Steve’s daughter works with HLH and he has always been keen to support the charity. But since having a pacemaker fitted, he feels it is his time to give something back. The tuk-tuk has a maximum speed of around 40 mph, so completing the 3,000-mile challenge in 21 days will involve more than
(Left to right) Naweed Ali, Khobaib Hussain and Mohibur Rahman
six hours of driving every day. Specsavers store director, Kay Chotai, says: ‘Steve’s spirit is amazing. We have supported him in his charitable efforts before, but this is on another scale altogether. The HLH cause is something very close to our hearts, and the work they do is truly amazing, so the whole team is right behind Steve on his challenge. We were delighted to wave him off on the morning of 17 July, and
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are expecting an emotional “welcome back” on Sunday 6 August.’ HLH has saved the lives of 971 babies since 2007, which is almost 100 life-saving operations every year. Most of these have been in India, where the charity started operating in 2007. Every two minutes, a baby that requires heart surgery is born in India, but the resources and specialism only exists in a few places, usually in private hospitals, which are out of reach by those who need the help the most. Kay continues: ‘Steve’s challenge is for such a good cause, we urge everyone to visit his fundraising page and give what you can.’
Naweed Ali, 29, Khobaib Hussain, 25, and Mohibur Rehman, 33, who refer to themselves as ‘The Three Musketeers’, were all sentenced to life, with a minimum of 20 years in prison. 38-year-old Tahir Aziz, who was the only one of the four present in court during the announcement, was also sentenced to life but with a minimum of 15 years behind bars as a result of his lesser part in the plot. The men were also found guilty of terrorist offences on Wednesday. The group, who all denied involvement in terrorist activity, were described by police as being “dangerous” and planning a “mass
casualty attack”. They were caught following an operation by counterterrorism police in which a fake courier firm, called Hero Couriers, was set up. The firm hired both Hussain and Ali, who were being monitored by the authorities, as drivers in August last year. Upon arrival for his first shift, Ali’s black Seat Leon was searched after it was left at a Birmingham depot. Inside, MI5 officers found a partially-constructed pipe bomb and a meat cleaver with the word “kafir” (Arabic for non-believer) scratched into it. An imitation handgun, latex gloves and industrial tape were also recovered from the vehicle. The men claimed that the
evidence was planted by their boss “Vincent”, who was in fact an undercover MI5 officer. The officer, who gave evidence anonymously, was cross-examined for 12 days and repeatedly denied any involvement. Neighbours Ali and Hussain had been jailed previously for terrorism offences. In 2011, the pair travelled to Pakistan in an attempt to attend an Al-Qaeda training camp. Both were arrested and convicted upon return to the UK and plead guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist attacks. The jury heard of how the men had participated in extremist social media groups and viewed violent material online.
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A Spiritual Master of our time Whether you are an experienced meditator or just a beginner, Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj can help you take the next step in your spiritual growth.
Meditate for Inner Peace Friday 1st September 2017 at 7:00pm Symphony Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA Doors open one hour before programme
Attain Spiritual Consciousness Saturday 2nd September 2017 at 4:00pm Followed by Initiation (in-depth instructions for Meditation on the Inner Light and Sound) Symphony Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA Doors open one hour before programme
Please register at the event or online at: www.eventsosuk.org For any enquiries please email: info@scienceofspirituality.org.uk
Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj provides spiritual guidance for our spiritual journey through the technique of meditation. It is a journey of love and light which one can experience through practicing meditation. Learn this simple yet powerful meditation technique for spiritual upliftment. “In meditation we can have access to a love that can bring relief to the pains and sorrows of life.� - Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj
The Science of Spirituality is a worldwide spiritual organisation dedicated to transforming lives through meditation under the guidance of Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj. For more information about Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj please visit www.sos.org Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj will also be visiting London on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th September 2017.
FREE PUBLIC TALK - ALL ARE WELCOME
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‘Bearded Boyz’ step in to clear bin backlog following strike deadlock
Pic by: Richard Swingler
A
group of Birmingham Muslims, known as the ‘Bearded Broz’, have taken it upon themselves to clean the streets in response to the ongoing Birmingham bin strike. More than a dozen men from the local community volunteered to clear the backlog of bin bags, clearing four truckloads of rubbish to Tyseley tip and pledging to do more this weekend. Naveed Sadiq, spokesman for the Broz, said the team could no longer wait and decided something needed to
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be done. “The rubbish has been piled up like pyramids on the road and we’re not happy with the response of our councillors. We could not leave it with the stench if this strike is going to go on. So, we decided to do something ourselves. Naveed went on to say that the volunteers are looking to expand on their initial cleanup of six Small Heath streets and have had requests from across Birmingham. The group has appealed to the council and local community
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to loan them the vehicles to be able to continue their work. “The response has been overwhelming, we are now getting requests from other streets and neighbourhoods.” “We’re all volunteers, nobody’s getting paid, because we want to help our community. As Muslims we feel it’s very important to do that. You can be a Muslim, you can be a Brummie you can be British and you can be proud to be from where you are”, added another Bearded Bro.
“We’re here, we’re positive, we’re contributing. All these guys have taken time out, some have come straight from work.” “If you’ve got vehicles, you’ve got a van get in touch with us and let’s clean up Birmingham.” The council is currently working on a ward to ward basis in its attempt to clear the backlog. Unite Assistant General Secretary Howard Beckett was brought in last week to help negotiations which have been ongoing since June 30 and are currently deadlocked.
Accusations Fly After Man Pulls off Woman’s Hijab
Police are investigating an incident in which a man verbally abused, spat at and attempted to pull off a woman’s hijab. The victim, whose twitter is under the name Aniso Abdulkadir, was waiting for a tube at Baker Street, central London, when she was approached by the man and his girlfriend. She tweeted, "This man at Baker Street station forcefully attempted to pull my hijab off and when I instinctively grabbed ahold of my scarf he hit me. “He proceeded to verbally abuse my friends and I, pinning one of them against the wall and spitting in her face." The attack, which occurred on a Saturday morning had been retweeted over 24,000 times by Sunday afternoon. Aniso also shared an image of the man via
social media in an effort to find him. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the British Transport Police has said it is being investigated as a hate crime and stated: "Behaviour like this is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This incident has been reported to us and we're investigating." However recent Twitter events unfolded soon afterwards when Aniso’s brother, whose twitter name is @mrjammyjamjar3, revealed he obtained the attacker and his girlfriend’s phone number and address and had urged them to turn themselves into police. He also revealed that the attackers girlfriend, a black woman, had accused the muslim women of being the racist ones, in particular for their being an interracial couple.
Preet Kaur Gill Chosen For Home Affairs Select Committee T
he influential Home Affairs Select Committee consists of 11 Members of Parliament, drawn from the three largest political parties and looks at the work of the Home Office and its associated public bodies. The new Chair of the Home Affairs Committee is Yvette Cooper MP. In the last few days Preet Kaur Gill, the first Sikh woman MP and newly elected Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, has not only been elected the Chair of the APPG for British Sikhs, but she has also been confirmed as a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee. The Committee chooses its own subjects of inquiry and seeks written and oral evidence from a wide range of relevant groups and
individuals. At the end of an inquiry the Committee will often produce a report setting out its findings and making recommendations to the Government. The Government must respond to each of the report’s recommendations within two months of publication. Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation (UK) said: “We are delighted Preet has been chosen for the Home Affairs Select Committee. This committee deals with important matters such as asylum, hate crime, countering extremism, child sexual exploitation and grooming. She will have an opportunity to question the Home Secretary and senior officials at the Home Office and influence their thinking in these and other areas.”
Bootcamp Media celebrates 5th birthday On 27th July 2017, Internet marketing and web design agency, Bootcamp Media, held a business networking event that sold out almost instantly and gave them chance to celebrate a very important milestone. Coinciding with the Birmingham agency’s fifth birthday, the networking lunch was attended by over eighty-five local businesses. The venue was the stunning Zen Metro Thai restaurant - an award winning location that provided an inspirational backdrop for the event. Designed to get local businesses talking to one another away from the confines of the office, Bootcamp Media’s Phoenix Lunch was the latest in a series of monthly gettogethers held at Zen Metro. Bootcamp Media director, Jamil Shabir, was delighted with the turnout. “We wanted to do something significant for our fifth birthday,” he explained. “But, rather than celebrate with a cake in the office, we thought we’d
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put on an event for local businesses and give them the chance to make new connections. The fact it sold out so quickly shows there’s a real thirst for this kind of gathering in Birmingham.” In an age of digital communication, in-person networking events often play second fiddle to group discussion boards on services such as LinkedIn, but the Bootcamp Media event proved people still have a thirst for conducting business and exploring new opportunities face-to-face. “The feedback we received was fantastic,” continued Jamil. “The business community in Birmingham is thriving, and we knew that by getting a bunch of people in a room together, we’d be able to facilitate some great new relationships.” To find out more about Bootcamp Media and how they can help your business with search engine optimisation, web design and digital marketing, visit https://www.bootcampmedia. co.uk/ or call 0121 630 2350.
with sold-out network event
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Jamil Shabir (centre) of Bootcamp Media with Anita Champaneri & Simon Bateman
Mark Linton, Kasim Choudhary, Qasim Majid & Ifraz Ahmed
60 Year Old Marathon Runner R
unning a half marathon tends to be on the bucket list of most people but few actually get around to it. It’s better late than never and one Birmingham grandad will attest to that. Jay Bansal plans to celebrate his 60th birthday by participating in the currently 7,500 strong Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run. Alongside his son, Raj, who will be running in the Birmingham International Marathon on the same day, Jay is hoping to raise £2,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society, a charity close to his heart following the death of his father-in-law, Kundan Singh Bahra, who suffered with Dementia. “My father-in-law had dementia for several years and passed away last December,” said Jay, who works as a contracts manager at architectural ironmongers Branch BMN. “We decided as a family that we wanted to do something to raise money and awareness and try to help others.” October 15th, when the events take place, will mark a culmination of a year long effort of Jay’s family. “My son and daughter, who have been the driving force behind this initiative, suggested we do a series of events throughout the whole year. “Little did I know their idea of events was to start
Marathon Runners: Jay Bansal with his son Raj
running! “So the whole family; my wife, my son, and my daughter and I ran the Great Birmingham 10k and we’ve since done various other 10k runs, half marathons, marathon and other running and cycling events. “And for ‘the big one’, on my 60th birthday I’m going to be doing the Great Birmingham Run as a treat!. “There’s no chance of
breakfast in bed for my birthday; those days are long gone! Jay doesn’t want to take all the glory though, saying that his children were his inspiration. “I must say that my wife and I have been the ‘support act’ to the efforts and endeavours of our son and daughter who have been amazing! “We set a fundraising
target of £2,000 for the end of the year but would really like to hit £5,000 and we’re optimistic we can do that. “We think it is such a fantastic cause and that’s why the family are doing what they’re doing and I could not be prouder of them.” Jay’s son Raj will be celebrating his own landmark 30th birthday in October and the Birmingham
International Marathon will be the end product of a lot of hard work for the events manager. “Up until June last year I’d only ever done a couple of half marathons and that was a long time ago. I’ve never enjoyed the training “But last year my wife and I decided that we should try to get fit and lose a bit of weight. We knew we were getting lazy!
“So after seeing my mum, dad and sister taking part in Parkruns on Saturday mornings we went along with them and really enjoyed it. “We went again, and again, and really, really enjoyed it! I got the bug. “Soon after, I signed up for the Birmingham International Marathon and the running bug carried on from there.” Raj explained that as tiring as his preparation had been, the cause for which he was running continued to inspire him. “Because we’re raising money for charity and something that is really close to us, it kicks us on when we’re not in the mood for training. “However hard I’m finding doing a bit of running, there are people living with dementia who have it 1,000 times worse. Knowing this is what pushes me along.” The Birmingham International Marathon will start in Perry Barr at the Alexander Stadium and is sold out. However, Jay’s Simplyhealth Great Birmingham half-marathon run, which starts on Jennens Road in the City Centre, is still open to entrants, and participants will gain access to an exclusive entry window for next year’s Birmingham International Marathon. Both runs share the same finishing line, the Curzon Street Rail building near Millennium Point.
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AUGUST 2017
UK’s first muslim to celebrate his gay marriage NEWS
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Four weeks in jail for abusive carer
Midland Born Jahed Choudhury is the UK’s first muslim to celebrate his gay marriage
In a shocking incident, a care worker sprayed an aerosol in the face of a 78-year-old woman. Betty Boylan, a 78-year-old with dementia, was being cared for by Susan Draper. After finding suspicious bruises on Boylan’s body, Boylan’s family installed CCTV cameras around her home. When checking the recordings, they saw Draper take an Impulse body spray and spray it 30cm away into the face of Boylan. Draper, from Kingstanding,
initially denied it but was found guilty of an illtreatment offence and given four weeks in jail. Boylan’s family said “The sentence is a message to all carers who abuse the elderly to let them know what to expect.” Sadly, it’s not the first time Boylan has been abused at the hands of so called carer. Her previous carer, Bina Begum, was also given a 12-months community order after she admitted to ill treating and neglecting Boylan. www.desixpress.co.uk
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Named ‘Desi Beat’, the show started late last month with a view to showcase the best of local Asian culture. Desi Beat will showcase UK’s most exotic and preferred trends in food and lifestyle. Celebrity host Raj Ghai will embark upon a fascinating journey of the finest destinations known for their cuisine, apparel and accessories and impeccable travel experiences across the United Kingdom in his truly ‘Desi’ and unmatched style. From the most authentic 'lehenga' to the spiciest 'Indian Curry', every Sunday, Raj will unravel a new mystery that a new destination presents – its wide array of local & international Desi trends – in his inimitable style. In Raj’s own words, “If it’s made it to my list, it’s a MUST visit!” On the launch of the show, Govind Shahi, Business Head, IndiaCast Media, Europe, says “COLORS TV has been a frontrunner in differentiated content, admired by South Asian
audiences across the UK. As a network, we offer broadcast channels such as Rishtey that offers a wide variety of entertainment
for the entire f a m i l y, a n d News18 India, the world’s window to India. It gives me great pleasure to announce the launch of our new local production, Desi Beat on our flagship channel, COLORS. Extensive research was carried out to deduce our viewers’ areas of interests. Desi Beat has been conceptualised and developed to suit preferences of Desi television audiences in the UK. The promos of the show have already gained remarkable
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Jahed met his partner Sean Rogan back in 2015 outside of an Asda. The 24-year-old had just come out of hospital following a drug overdose and was crying on a public bench. Jahed said their first meeting, "was outside Asda of all places. He came up to me and asked if I was OK. I thought he was my guardian angel. I had been crying privately to myself, although I was screaming inside." Jahed had suffered at the hands of his school and local community for being gay. He recounted, "I knew I was gay at about six or seven, but I was taught it was wrong so I just kept it hidden.” Taunting at school included name-calling and even
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having rubbish bins tipped over him. It is not uncommon gay muslims, and even Sikhs and Hindus, to be ostracised from their local communities. News of Jahed’s marriage has since caused a storm among Muslim communities, with many asking if being Muslim and gay is even compatible. There are those who believe that by expressing their true gay selves, they are going against the God they claim to believe in, whilst others argue that God made them and that Muslims should be free to love who they wish in accordance with changing times. As for Jahed, on top of the on-going school bullying, it was his own community that was yet another source of pain and anger. He was assaulted by fellow Muslims in the street, calling ‘pig’, ‘harum’ and ‘fag.’ He was even turned away from his local mosque. Jahed added, “My family... think it's a disease and can be cured, some of my family still call it a phase. I want to say to all people going through the same thing that's it's okay - we're going to show the whole world that you can be gay and Muslim." However it wasn’t too long ago that Jahed himself
was questioning whether it was right to commit to his true feelings. "I did anything to try and change how I felt,” he said. "I prayed, I read the Koran and went to pilgrimage." “I thought it was wrong and was being told Satan had got to me.” Jahed left the UK and moved abroad for a few years in order to get a fresh start. He made new friends, took medication and asked Muslim teachers pray for him. When it proved futile, mental health took its grip. He officially came out in 2012 and had support from his mother and other family members, but it was still one of the most trying periods in
his life. Until he met Rogan. Upon meeting outside the Asda, Rogan took Jahed to the cinema to cheer him up. It led to a friendship and later, an even stronger bond. The two were wed two years later at the Walsall Register Office. The two both wore traditional Muslim wedding attire. In order to encourage and support other gay muslins, Jahed, who suffers from PTSD from his struggles, set up a Youtube channel and so far his Coming Out Story has been viewed over five thousand times. "My religion will never change. God's in my heart. My mother tells me 'God made you like this - you have love for God'."
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Midland’s to get Bicester Village Like Shopping Store
It’s official – Birmingham has 17 of Britain’s best green spaces The Midlands may be set to get its own version of Oxford’s Bicester Village. Called the Mill Green Designer Outlet Village, the shopping outlet aims to bring major designer brands to the region including the likes of Nike, Boss, Jack Wills, Diesel, Lacoste, Ralph Lauren and more. The department area will be situated in Cannock and will cover an area bigger than six football pitches. The project was first green lit back in 2015 and it will start construction in 2018, aiming to be completed in 2019. Set beside the scenic Mill Green Nature Reserve, it will boast up to 130 designer stores and restaurants and entertainment venues. Over £110million has
been invested in Mill Green Designer Outlet Village, including from developers U+I and Rioja Developments. The managing director of Rioja Developments, Giles Membrey, said: “Mill Green Designer Outlet Village will create an exciting new upmarket retail destination for the West Midlands. We are looking forward to progressing our plans for the development, which will deliver an attractive new outlet shopping centre, offering a choice of well-known fashion and lifestyle brands at discount prices.” It is expected to have a yearly footfall of three million and is predicted to create 1200 jobs.
Kings Norton Park wins Green Flag status for the first time this year, while 14 other Birmingham parks have retained theirs. Sutton Coldfield Crematorium and Kings Norton Cemetery have also retained their Green Flag status. The accolade, awarded by Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities. Councillor Lisa Trickett, cabinet member for clean streets, recycling and environment at Birmingham City Council, said: “I am delighted that so many
of Birmingham’s green spaces have yet again been recognised for their exceptionally high standards with these prestigious Green Flag awards – including Kings Norton Park, which now brings the number of Green Flag parks in Birmingham up to 15. “Our parks and green spaces are part of what makes our city so great and are essential to our quality of life, whether they are encouraging people to get active, fit and healthy, or simply providing a peaceful space for quiet reflection and remembrance. “These awards are a testament to the hard work of our officers, community groups and volunteers, who all play a vital role in keeping our green spaces well maintained for the benefit of
all who use them.” This year’s winners (all have retained existing Green Flag status unless otherwise stated): •Aston Park •Cannon Hill Park •Castle Vale Centre Park •Cotteridge Park •Eastside Park •Handsworth Park •Kings Heath Park •Kings Norton Cemetery
•Kings Norton Park (firsttime winner this year) •Lickey Hills Country Park •Newhall Valley Country Park •Perry Hall Park •Selly Oak Park •Sunset and Moonlit Parks •Sutton Coldfield Crematorium •Victoria Common •Ward End Park
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Murdered Abroad, Drive By Shooting Daughter Witnesses Father’s Death 12
AUGUST 2017
Birmingham family’s holiday tragedy sees nephew kill uncle over money
Murdered: Baldev Kainth
A nephew who killed his Birmingham uncle whilst on holiday abroad has finally been jailed. Baldev Kainth was enjoying a family holiday in Italy last August when his nephew, Gaurav Kainth, attacked him with a metal bar over an argument about money. The attack was witnessed by Baldev’s seven year old daughter, Riya, who screamed 'Mummy,
somebody has killed daddy!' and ran to her mother, Ranjit Kaur. Baldev was immediately rushed to hospital but died from his injuries. Ranjit revealed: "My family's lives were totally devastated when our beloved husband and father was so cruelly taken from us. By murdering him his killer has destroyed our world." "What is even worse is that at the age of seven Riya
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witnessed her father being murdered. "She saw everything when her father was struck by a metal bar and came running into me screaming, 'Mummy, somebody has killed daddy!' This was a family holiday and we thought his nephew was going to sit down and talk with Baldev about their disagreements. "But my husband didn't stand a chance. As soon as he saw him he struck him over the head with an iron bar. I want to ask him why did he have to kill him? I need to know." Riya is still feeling the effects of witnessing her father’s harrowing death, with Ranjit adding that she still wakes up in the middle of the night after nightmares. "She comes home from school sad because all of the other children have been talking about their dads. This has deeply affected her and she misses him terribly.” Gaurav, 21, who was arrested by Italian police, has been sentenced to fourteen years in prison.
Calls were made to police after just after 11.30pm on Tuesday after a car drove past Cyclone Club and fired a gun, hitting a window of the lap dancing establishment. A spokesman from West Midlands Police said, “Police were called to the Cyclone Club on Broad Street just after 11.30pm last night (11 July) after a shot was fired through a window from a passing vehicle. “No-one was injured and officers are fast tracking CCTV enquiries.” Broad Street, one of the busiest places in Birmingham and the centre of nightlight with copious bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs, would have been packed the night of the
Birmingham is to welcome an outdoor film and food event that will pair 14 screenings with the very best in street food. The pop up air cinema event will take place across six weekends at Regency Wharf. Some of the pairings includeThe Shawshank Redemption and Rub Smokehouse (which inludes delectable food served on a prison tray), The Goonies and Digbeth Dining Club Street Food, Ratatouille and Baked in Brick, The Big Lebowski and Original Patty Men and many more. The street food traders will be providing food thematically in line with their movie and the event will see deck chairs, a giant screen, headsets, blankets and more. Titled Rum Runner Yard, tickets are currently going for £15 a ticket, £8 for children.
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Acorns welcomes Bhai JAS SANSI The Thinking Man's Mouthpiece
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AUGUST 2017
Sahib Bhai (Dr) Mohinder Singh OBE KSG to Hospice
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.
Recharge All Batteries
I am surrounded by inanimate objects that can be plugged in and recharged; iPhone, lap top and cameras. I envy their ability to return to 100% in a couple of hours. As schools break up for summer, teachers and support staff can look forward to some well deserved rest before taking charge of our young again in September.
Bhai Sahib, Bhai (Dr) Mohinder Singh OBE KSG’s VIP visited the Acorns Children’s Hospice on 19th July 2017, has underlined the importance of support across the entire community for the city’s local children’s hospice charity. Bhai Sahib, an internationally renowned ambassador of the Sikh faith, visited Acorns in Birmingham, based in Selly Oak, for a tour of the facilities and to see first-hand the charity’s work providing care for life-limited and life-threatened children and young people and support for their families. He met and spoke to families, from across
Bhai Sahib expressed how invaluable the support of local community was, to help the charity continue its work, which in the past year has seen it care over 270 children and around 360 families, including those who are bereaved at Acorns in Birmingham. In 2012, Bhai Sahib – who is Chairman of the Birmingham-based Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, or GNNSJ - was created a Knight by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, in recognition of his dedicated work on RomanSikh relations and strong commitment to promoting peace and harmony among
different religious and ethnic communities, about how they and their children have been supported by Acorns. He spoke at length to members of the Asian Mum’s group, a group of bereaved mothers supported by Acorns.
all. Bhai Sahib, said: “The visit has been inspiring. To be shown first-hand the provision Acorns offers in palliative care for young people from across all our communities in Birmingham
Four Asian men are being hunted by police after they carjacked an Audi with a terrified mother and baby still inside. The woman had stopped the Audi RS6 at a set of traffic lights on Lode Lane, Solihull, at 6pm when she was accosted by four men who jumped out of the car behind her. They demanded she get out the vehicle but the woman refused, saying her baby was in the back seat. The men then let her take the baby out the car, however as she got into the back seat to get the child, one of the men quickly jumped in the driver’s seat and gunned the car down Seven Star Road with the mother and baby still in the back. He quickly stopped on a
side road and the mother and baby escaped onto the pavement before the car thief sped off again. The four men are Asian, one is 5’10 and has a stocky build, with facial stubble and was wearing a navy blue tracksuit. The Audi RS6 has blacked out windows. Detective Sergeant Stew Lewis from the Force CID said: “There were a lot of people in the area when the robbery took place and I would ask them to get in touch if they haven’t done so already. “Luckily the woman and her baby were not hurt but the woman is very shaken by what happened.” If you have information on this crime, don’t hesitate to call police on 101 quoting 20SH/155401P/17.
The Prime Minister is on a walking holiday in Switzerland, I imagine it is something she has looked forward to for a while. It’s important we recharge our batteries, to rest, reflect and spend some quality time, off line with our family and friends. This is the first summer in many years, I will not be flying off on holiday. It’s something I, like many others, look forward to all year round, but not this year. It’s a pity, I’ve never needed plugging in and recharging like I do right now. At any time of the day, if I sit or lie down undisturbed, I find myself falling asleep. If that isn’t the mark of a person who needs a break, I don’t know what is. Modern life is tiring. We are wired in to what is happening around us from the moment the alarm clock wakes us to the moment we fall asleep 17 hours later. Forget to mute your phone at night and alerts from your network in other time zones will disturb your slumber.
The great thing about humans, when we are allowed to recharge, we don’t return to 100%, we go beyond that point. Enjoy the summer, rest and see you at 110% soon. JAS SANSI TWITTER: @jassansi FACEBOOK: fb.com/jassansi
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Meet “Badrinath Ki Dulhania”! An EXCLUSIVE interview with Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt
Full interview turn to page 34
Viceroy House
Releasing in the UK on 3rd March
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Mirchi Music Awards This seasons music awards are in full swing with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil grabbing the majority gongs. The film has been a runaway success musically, bagging wins left, right and centre amidst numerous awards shows. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil took home five awards at the Mirchi Music Awards 2017, Album of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Music Composer of the Year and Make It Large Award for director Karan Johar.
Arjit Singh who lended his vocals to the movie and accepted the Male Vocalist of the Year said, “I am very fortunate that I get good songs. Above all, my songs are being well accepted. I would like to give all the credit to the music directors and the producers.” Other winners at the awards included Sarbjit, which won Best Raag Inspired Song, accepted by Meherbaan. Jonita Ghandhi won Female Vocalist of the Year for her song Gilehryiaan in Amir Khan’s knockout
movie Dangal. Upcoming Composer of the Year was awarded to Tanishk Bagchi for Bolna from the film Kapoor and Sons whilst Upcoming Male Vocalist of the Year award went to duo Sarwar Khan and Sartaz Khan Barna for their song Haanikarak Baapu, also from Dangal. Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan added fun to the music festivities by performing tracks Badri Ki Dulhania and Tamma Tamma Again from their upcoming film.
Mahershala Ali Becomes First Muslim to Win an Oscar To read the full story turn to page 33
Rani Mukerji returns to acting with Hichki
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and the West Midlands is inspiring and makes you truly appreciate the work Acorns the charity is doing. I was very moved by the stories of the bereaved mothers that I spoke to, but also very inspired to hear how well supported they feel by each other, and by Acorns. “Acorns provides the vision and quality of care that these children deserve. It’s very uplifting to see how tirelessly Acorns work for children and young people, and for their families. I will be working with our teams to see how we can collaborate more with the work undertaken. There is a responsibility on all of us to see how we could support the charity to provide the service it does”. Toby Porter, Acorns’ Chief Executive, said: “We were honoured to host this visit, and delighted to show Bhai Sahib the services we provide both in the hospice
and in the community. It was a great opportunity to talk about the work we do, not just in the hospice but also in the community as we support local families with the many challenges they face every single day “40% of the children who Acorns in Birmingham currently support are from a (Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic) BAME background, diversity and inclusion are really important to us and we are proud that our Asian Mum’s group have been running for 25 years”. Acorns relies on fundraising to raise nearly £10 million per year needed to provide the range of specialist medical and psychosocial services the children and their families rely on, in the hospice and the community. To find out more about Acorns and how you can support the charity’s work, visit www.acorns.org.uk
Carjackers Steal Audi With Mother and Baby Inside
Take a lesson from the inanimate objects that surround you. They refuse to operate when in need of a recharge. We are only human and it’s important we surrender to the fact we can’t operate like Duracell bunnies.
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Coventry Student helps families fleeing ISIS while studying for a law degree 16
AUGUST 2017
A university student from Iraq is helping thousands of survivors who fled extremism under ISIS – all while studying for a degree in Coventry. Zinah Mohammed began collecting and distributing life-saving donations of food and warm clothing to thousands of Syrian refugees who fled their homes for safe camps across Iraq in 2013. The 26-year-old set up the Shine Together charity team, and with support from 20 young volunteers, has since sent lorry loads of food and clothes to displaced families, providing nappies, milk supplies and medical treatment to camps. Her efforts saw her chosen as one of 54 international delegates through the Prince’s Trust International Leadership programme – a year-long scheme for young people with the potential to make positive change in their communities. Zinah explained that it was after being forced to leave her own home and watching the devastating effects of war that she decided to use her experiences to help.
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Birmingham Children Centres Get the Axe
26 of the 70 children’s centres in Birmingham are set to close, prompting over a hundred people to Birmingham Council House to protest. According to Brigid Jones, a cabinet member at the council who is in charge of children’s services, these changes will improve services for children. "Rather than different centres and different professionals picking up on
And after seeing more and more people fleeing ISIS, the Iraqi national said she won’t give up despite being 3,000 miles away studying for an International Business Law master’s. She said: “It started with Facebook campaigns so we could send blankets and
warm clothes and it just grew. Every weekend I would be organising collections and getting businesses on board to make donations. Since I’ve been in Coventry it hasn’t stopped. We have helped pay for two surgeries for a 14-year-old Syrian boy who suffered severe facial
a concern and recording them on different systems, we are to going to have one system across all of the city.” The move would see establishments such as churches, mosques, nurseries and even GP surgeries be used to deliver children’s services instead, with Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust taking over the running of contracts.
burns in an explosion, and are now waiting for the third. “This is not about nationality or ethnicity – we are all humans…Things are getting worse. One of the camps I helped in 2013 had 35,000 people in, now this number has grown and four or five more have been set up.”
15-Year-Old Maths Putting the spark into mentoring Student Graduates University National Grid employee awarded for work mentoring young Birmingham volunteer
A remarkable student, who just turned 15 last month, has gained a firstclass Honours BSc degree in Mathematics from the University of Leicester. The maths prodigy is the youngest person to ever graduate from the university. Yasha Asley was just 12
when he started the threeyear undergraduate degree. The teenager said: “Right from my primary school days, I wanted to start my university education early. I love absolutely everything about mathematics and I would like to continue studying.”
“I was overjoyed when every year I was awarded the certificate for the Best Student In The Year after I scored the highest exam marks. I look forward to continuing my education here at Leicester by embarking on a PhD in Mathematics in September.” “Eventually, I would like to become a research mathematician here so that I can continue to enjoy my love of mathematics.” On his graduation, Yasha added: “It was a mixture of emotions- but mostly happy.” Yasha’s father, Moussa, who accompanied his son for the ceremony, said: “I am so proud of him - I have waited years for this day. I always knew he could do it.” Professor Jeremy Levesley, who taught Yasha, said: “It has been a great pleasure to work with Yasha over the last three years. He has proven to be one of the best students we have ever had here, so it is great that he is staying with us to do a PhD. On a personal note, I think he is a great bloke, and will go on to do really interesting things.”
Property Transformation Manager Lizzie Jones has won the City Year UK West Midlands Bridge Builder Award for 2017. Lizzie had been mentoring 22 year-old Coventry University student Samaira Amin, supporting her as she volunteered in Bordesley Village Primary School with youth social action charity City Year UK. Lizzie said: “The most important part for me has been having the pleasure of hopefully playing a small part in Samaira’s journey through life. As a Bridge
Builder I’ve been able to explore Samaira’s career development goals alongside helping her plan for life after City Year. Samaira said: “Lizzie was a great support this year in developing my career plan and she has helped me realise the potential in me to achieve my goals. Lizzie has got me a lot of contacts to help me get some experience and find out what I would enjoy, and she is always inspiring me to take up opportunities.” The Bridge Builder Award recognises supporters
who have volunteered to mentor the charity’s young volunteers. The support includes mock interviews, CV workshops and assistance in deciding their next steps. City Year UK engages young people aged 18 to 25 to serve full-time in schools in disadvantaged communities for a year. The young people are supported to build on their key skills and attributes including confidence, resilience and leadership through tackling some of the UK’s most pressing social issues and supporting pupils to achieve their potential.
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Court Fine for Rogue Electric Shop 18
AUGUST 2017
A Wolverhampton shop which sold dangerous tumble dryers and a microwave covered in bird poo has been fined £1,000 with costs of £2,622. Harbans Lal, the owner of East and West Aid, of Moor Street South, Blakenhall, appeared before Wolverhampton Magistrates today (THURS JULY 20). Lal, aged 54, of Regent Road, Penn, pleaded guilty to breaching consumer protection and unfair trading
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regulations. The company itself, also a registered charity, faced an identical charge and pleaded guilty. Lal was fined £200 and ordered to pay £2,622. When officerscarried out safety checks on the shop’s items, they found various unsafe products including cookers with missing panels, faulty plugs, and a dented microwave covered in bird poo with a door that did not close. They also found nine tumble dryers of a type which causes house fires if not modified. As expected, they were unmodified. After receiving advice from Trading Standards, the company claimed it had started to carry out safety checks on items, but when officers conducted a random test, they found a fridge plug with no clamp and exposed wires. The council stated Lal was fully aware of their safety obligations, but chose to sell dangerous items anyway. Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council’s
cabinet member for city environment, said: “This company has flagrantly ignored laws which exist to keep people safe. They have
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sold dangerous items which could have caused fires and they made up the results of safety tests to make a quick buck.”
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Birmingham Hospital Isolates Autistic Man for 11 Hours
Adam Nasralla’s mother claim the ordeal left her son with PTSD
A young man with autism was restrained by nine members of staff at a Birmingham hospital, which his mother claims has left him ‘traumatised.’ Adam Nasralla, 20, was staying at the private hospital Wast Hills when he suddenly ‘went into crisis.’ His mother, Jill, explained to BBC Victoria Derbyshire: “One weekend he went into absolute crisis. I got a call saying they could no longer manage him. "That morning they had rang the police and wanted Adam to be arrested for assaulting staff. By the evening they'd called the police again and told them he was culpable and had the capacity to make decisions, and they arrested him this time. "He was handcuffed,
placed in the cage in the police van. He went alone and had the restraint belt and spit hood. Adam must have been absolutely terrified." Adam was moved to the hospital when he was nineteen, a move which caused to him to ‘deteriorate.’ However the hospital had removed his autism diagnosis without informing Jill. After his outburst, nine members of staff restrained the young man and he was handcuffed, put in a spit hood and locked in a police cell for eleven hours with restraints still in place. No solicitors or visitors were allowed to visit him. According to Jill, Adam has been left with PTSD and that the hospital "hasn't even said sorry."
West Bromwich Killers Given 90 Years
Three Asian men calculated drive-by shooting of father over stolen watch. Three killers who gunned down a man in a drive by shooting in West Bromwich have been jailed for almost 90 years. Father Carl Campbell was in his cars sitting at traffic lights when he was ambushed by teenage gunman Mohammed Humza. Humza was aided by accomplices Vikesh Chauhan, 24, and Jaspal Rai, 24. They pulled up in a stolen Audi Q5 and Humza unleashed bullets on Campbell’s Ford Fiesta. One bullet hit off the dashboard and ricocheted into Campbell’s head. The others went through the windshield, one hit a wing mirror and one hit a wall. It is believed Campbell was targeted by the young killers for having stolen a diamond
encrusted watch. After fleeing in the stolen vehicle, the killers dumped the car in a different area of West Bromwich. However an unarmed police officer then spotted Humza and Chauhan and quickly arrested them. A Smith and Wesson revolver was found in nearby gardens, as was a sheathed knife and gloves. DNA and fingerprint evidence was used to link the killers to the murder weapon. Rai tried to escape to Belgium but was quickly deported back to the UK after spending 37 days in Brussels custody. Jailing them, Judge Charles Haddon-Cave said the “revenge attack” was carefully planned and that all three of men were “all in it together.” Humza had played the role of shooter, Rai the lookout and Chauhan the driver. Prosecutor Michael
Victim: Carl Campbell
Burrows QC said, “This was a planned attack, with a fully loaded gun. A stolen car was used with false number plates and they wore gloves and targeted and tailed a Ford Fiesta car, which Carl Campbell was a passenger in. “This was a gross breach of public order where a gun was fired five times in a busy street, in broad daylight, in front of innocent members of the public. “There is a background of dealing drugs and evidence this was a revenge attack in relation to the theft of a watch.” Humza was jailed for 28.5 years whilst Rai and Chauhan were both given 30 years.
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Library of Birmingham gets stamp of approval
Library celebrated alongside contemporary architecture in the UK
The Library of Birmingham has been included in a set of new Special Stamps issued by Royal Mail that celebrate 10 iconic buildings in the UK. Designed by Francine Houben, of the Dutch architectural practice Mecanoo, the Library of Birmingham has been
designed to be a “people’s palace” – a grand structure that celebrates the importance of learning but which also “promotes the informal” and “seduces people into coming in”. Houben believes that libraries are “the cathedrals of nowadays” and “the most important public buildings”.
Cllr Ian Ward, Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “The fact that the Library of Birmingham is included in this series of stamps seals the city’s national and international reputation – Birmingham is now officially first class! “The Library of Birmingham has become
an iconic part of the city’s skyline and it attracts visitors from around the city, the UK and the world who come to see our Shakespeare collection, beautiful terraces and admire its architecture. I’m thrilled Royal Mail recognise it as a landmark building.” Francine Houben, Founding Architect of Mecanoo, said: "Our dream was to create a People's Palace: inviting, welcoming, and inspiring for all ages and backgrounds. Where visitors embark on a journey of discovery, moving from one floor to the next through a sequence of rotundas. The repeating circles of the facade create a continuously changing world of light, shadows and reflections inside the building. To have a building on a UK stamp is a great honour for a Dutch architect." Philip Parker, Stamp Strategy Manager, Royal Mail, said: “These new stamps celebrate visionary buildings…the stamps capture the distinctive lines and shapes of the structures that have become famous landmarks.
A researcher at Queen’s University Belfast has discovered a way to convert dirty aluminium foil into a biofuel catalyst, a revelation that could help combat global waste and energy problems. In the UK alone, around 20,000 tonnes of aluminium foil packaging is wasted a year - enough to stretch to the moon and back. Most of this is landfilled or incinerated as the grease and oils would damage any recycling equipment. However, Ahmed Osman, an Early Career Researcher from Queen’s University’s School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, has worked with engineers at the university to create an innovative crystallisation method which obtains 100% pure single crystals of aluminium salts from the contaminated foil. This is the starting material for the preparation of alumina catalyst. Usually, to produce this type of alumina it would have to come from bauxite ore, which is mined in Africa but causes huge environmental damage. Osman’s solution is far more environmentally-
friendly, effective and cheaper than the commercial catalyst. The catalyst can also be used as an absorbent, in electronic device fabrication, as a cutting tool material or even as an alternative for surgical material for implants. Osman commented: “I have always been inspired by Chemistry and I believe
that catalysis especially can make the world a better place. One day I took a walk through our laboratories at Queen’s and found lots of Aluminium foil waste so I did a little digging and after speaking to my colleagues, I ran my experiment and was astonished by the ultrapure single crystals – I didn’t
expect it to be 100% pure. “This breakthrough is significant as not only is the alumina more pure than its commercial counterpart, it could also reduce the amount of aluminium foil going to landfill while also sidestepping the environmental damage associated with mining bauxite.”
Ahmed Osman Turns Dirty Tinfoil Into Biofuel Catalyst
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A Guide To Raksha Bandhan Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that celebrates the bond of sisters and brothers and remind one another how important they are too eachother. It's a time of giving gifts, prayers & showing affection & love to siblings. Here’s everything you need to know. What is Raksha Bandhan? The words ‘raksha bandhan’ in Sanskrit roughly mean ‘bond of protection’. Celebrated by family members, brothers and sisters. Can also be celebrated by close friends, who are considered to be part of the family structure also celebrate Raksha Bandhan.
When is Raksha Bandhan? It depends – this year it is Monday 7th August but the date varies because it is traditionally celebrated on the full moon day (Shravan Poornima) in Shrawan, the fourth month of the Hindu lunisolar Nepali calendar. How do people celebrate Raksha Bandhan? Sisters tie a sacred thread, called a rakhi, their brother’s wrist. The rakhi represents a sister’s love and prayers for her brother, and the brother’s promise to protect her. Brothers and sisters often exchange gifts – anything from cards, clothes and money to computer games. Who celebrates it? It is celebrated by Hindus across the world. It is especially a big deal in India, Mauritius and Nepal. Non religious people also celebrate Raksha Bandhan. What’s the history behind it? Several Hindu legends have mentioned it in the sacred thread. In the Indra, king of the Hindu gods, the thread was pivotal in winning back his home when a demon king invaded. In the legend, Lord Vishnu tell's Indra’s wife Sachi to tie a sacred thread round Indra’s wrist. This act helped him reclaim Amaravati (the home of the gods). How did it end up being about brothers and sisters? Raksha Bandhan celebrations were encouraged by writer Rabindranath Tagore as a patriotic act against British rule in Bengal. Tagore used the ceremony as a way of getting boys and girls involved in the freedom movement. Now it is generally just an act of sibling love – a way of wishing a brother longevity and a promise that a sister will get her brother’s support.
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Bank of Baroda Celebrates 110th Foundation Day
Mr Sanjaya Agarwal the new Chief Executive, Bank of Baroda and Mr Dhimant Trivedi former Chief Executive, Bank of Baroda along with colleagues at their head office in City Road celebrating their 110th Foundation Day
Bank of Baroda celebrated its 110th Foundation Day on 20th July, 2017. Foundation Day is celebrated across the globe, 5431 Indian Branches and 107 Foreign Office scattered in 6 continents. Bank of Baroda, named as India’s International bank is one of the largest banks in India on account of excellent international presence and tremendous share of global business in its 10 Trillion Balance Sheet. Bank of Baroda UK Territory also celebrated the 110th Foundation Day with same enthusiasm across network of 10 Branches and Group control Office. BOB currently offers a range of wholesale and retail banking services to its clients in India and across overseas locations. It has been authorised as a branch in the UK since 1957 and was one of the first Indian banks to
open a branch in the UK. The Bank currently has a network of 10 branches in the UK spread across London and the Midlands. It caters to a strong customer base of over 50k customers predominantly Indian Diaspora. Bank of Baroda is having almost all the products in its kitty as other banks in UK are providing some of them are Contactless Debit card, SMS Alerts, Online Remittance to India. BOB has decided to set up a locally incorporated Subsidiary through which to deliver its Retail & SME banking services. The Bank is planning to carve out retail & SME business in UK in the form of a 100% owned subsidiary, which will give boost to the retail business of the Bank. We look forward for continuing support and ensure the best services to the next generations of our customers.
Mayor of Brent, Councillor Bhagwanji Chohan with Deputy Chief Executive Bank of Baroda Mr PJ Bhaliya along with his colleagues and clients at their Wembley Branch celebrating the 110th Foundation day
Mr. S.M. Chakraborty, Consul & Public Information Officer, Consulate General of India along with Birmingham Bank of Baroda colleagues and clients celebrating the 110th Foundation day
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Princess Eugenie Rejected from Uni
Why some GCSE Students could be Failing Exams Because they are Visual Spatial Learners
Until They Realised She was Royal
It has been revealed that Princess Eugenie was initially rejected from University after her application failed to impress admissions offices- that is until they realised she was a Royal. The Royal family member graduated in 2012 with a 2:1 degree in BA honours degree in English literature, history of art and politics from Newcastle University. However her application was initially regarded as “not good enough” and her application was discarded. Upon realising they were dealing a Princess, the university were “horrified” and quickly offered her a different degree. Dr Martin Farr, a senior history lecturer at Newcastle, told an anti-monarchist campaign group: “We had at Newcastle University one of the Queen's granddaughters, Princess Eugenie. And a friend of mine who is Italian was the admissions officer for BA English literature and
received one application for the undergraduate degree that was not good enough and so discarded it.” The admissions officer “had not noticed that Princess Eugenie of York from Sandringham may have had more significance for the institution than another applicant” due to his “being
Italian.” The professor continued: “Apparently the university was horrified that she had been rejected before she was offered a place with us for another degree.” A spokesman from the University stated: "The University will not comment on an individual student's
position as this information is confidential. “In general if an applicant does not have the actual or predicted grades to meet the requirements for a particular programme, it is common practice for them to be considered for alternative programmes.”
Roam Further with South and City College Birmingham and Bournville College
This summer brings exciting change to Birmingham as our two colleges merge to provide a huge selection of courses delivered at a campus on your doorstep. Along with 20 brand new courses, the two colleges will provide full and part time courses, A Levels, Apprenticeships, and University courses at 6 locations across the city. We are pleased to announce our new University Centres at Bournville and Digbeth locations with lower tuition costs, smaller class sizes and free mini ipads* (Criteria applies) Our University Courses are endorsed by a number of local universities,
including Birmingham City University, Newman University, University College Birmingham and Wolverhampton University. You can benefit from a university qualification in a supportive local environment. We are committed to ensuring you have the relevant skills, qualifications and experience for your future career. You can choose from many subject areas including childcare, automotive, construction, music, sport and many more. We have a course and a level to suit your needs. Both colleges have excellent facilities including a purpose built construction campus, hair and beauty
salons open to the public, music and sound recording suites, an industry standard auditorium, a training restaurant and much much more! We can help you get the skills you need to get ahead! Interested? Enrolment for our university level courses runs from 17 August. Enrolment for all our other courses including
Apprenticeships runs from 23 August. 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 all the dates and times for you to come and enrol on a course. Alternatively, get in touch with us at hello@ southandcity.com or call us on 0800 111 6311.
Many Visual Learners could be disadvantaged in our schools as it is my firm believe that most C/D borderline students may very well fall into the category of Visual Learners. So, what it Visual Spatial learning. The simplest explanation of a visual-spatial learner is that they generally think in pictures, rather than in words. They also tend to learn holistically, instead of sequentially, or in parts. The visualspatial learner can easily see the big picture of things, but might miss out on the details. The following characteristics will help in the identification of gifted visual spatial learners. However it should be noted that not all gifted visual spatial learners will match all these characteristics. • Likes complex ideas and tasks and does well on them, yet often fails at simple things • Is physically sensitive, often has acute hearing and intense reactions to loud noises. • Poor listening skills, often seems not to be listening • Has difficulty finishing tasks/school work • Has poor handwriting or difficulty keeping in the lines or grips the pen very hard and presses on the paper when writing • Loves Lego, puzzles, jigsaws, computer games, television, making things • Likes art and/or music • Has a poor sense of time • Is extremely sensitive to criticism • Is emotionally very sensitive • Has difficulty with spelling/times tables • Can remember the way somewhere after going there only once • Has a vivid imagination and/or disturbing dreams • Is distractible • Can be disorganised High Intelligence Taking in to consideration the characteristics of Spatial Visual learners, the children I see are still of well above average intelligence and are often identified as such by their parents using a checklist of early childhood characteristics. When high intelligence is coupled with an auditory sequential processing difficulty, these two exceptionalities tend to mask one another so that neither the giftedness nor the difficulty is readily apparent. Their learning difficulty depresses these students’ IQ and achievement scores and as they are frequently not identified as gifted, their educational needs in this area are not met. Their high intelligence enables them to compensate well enough for their weaknesses to maintain year level expectations and so their learning difficulty goes undetected. They are in a “Catch 22” situation where their giftedness and their learning difficulty cancel each other out and they are perceived as average. In addition, some IQ tests put so much emphasis on processing speed that the IQ of a gifted child with a learning difficulty is likely to be effected and so the result is an under-estimate of the child’s intelligence. These children struggle to achieve and with each passing year the struggle gets harder until finally they give up. When this happens, these students are caught up in a spiralling web of underachievement and failure, believe they are stupid, lose all motivation, and hate school. Teachers then often assume that the student doesn't care or is being lazy, and, in response, these students often develop behaviour problems. Meanwhile, the whole cycle creates a very deep affect in the student's self-esteem. Ambreen Khan, Founder, The Wonder of Learning Email: info@wonderoflearning.co.uk
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#BrumAwards2017 Saturday 7th October 2017 @ Edgbaston Stadium For nominations, tickets, sponsorship details & more information, please visit: www.birminghamawards.co.uk 0121 667 E: info@birminghamawards.co.uk T: 0121 3143945 4821
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Birmingham Awards 2017 The beating heart of Birmingham Birmingham is a vibrant city which showcases the best of all industries and individuals, working together for a more successful city. The Birmingham Awards are a unique opportunity to highlight and recognise the ongoing contributions of its citizens. Opportunity, inspiration and endless prospects - the future of Britain’s second city has never looked so optimistic. With record years of investment and development, Birmingham has become a top place to live, work and play. It’s now time to recognise the unsung heroes that make the city the gem that it is. This event is exclusive to all groups and businesses within the Birmingham postcodes.
NOMINATIONS OPEN
Award Categories The award categories selected are representative of various areas which demonstrate the vibrant spirit of the city. The categories include:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Restaurant of the Year Bar/Pub of the Year National Retailer of the Year Independent Retailer of the Year Art & Culture Award Business of the Year Small Business of the Year Businessman of the Year Businesswoman of the year Community Initiative / Charity / Volunteer Excellence in Media Award Sporting Initiative Young Achiever Venue of the Year Social Enterprise Blogger of the Year Contribution to Education Lifetime Achievement Award Innovation in Technology Award Best use of Social Media / Marketing Campaign • Best Apprenticeship Award • Professional of the Year
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It was the very first Education Awardson Friday,07th July 17 and what a night it was!
Education establishments, industry and business came together in one room to celebrate what’s great about the education sector. It was fantastic to share a room with 400 people that, together had one common goal: To skill today’s children, for tomorrow. On the night 16 awards were given out with one special commendation. : Educational Supporter of the year Aston University Headteacher/ Principal Dean of the Year Lowell Williams Teahcer / Lecturer of the Year Marc Rowe – Peterbrook School Transforming Lives through partnerships Chris Meah – School of
code Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative Envison UK Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community Standing ovation – Anthony Daulphin Most Innovative Teacher of the Year Sally Alexander Kimichi School Outstanding Support for Students Modasar Rasul Aston University Debbie Shaw Peterbrook school highly commended Outstanding Primary School Hockley Heath Academy Outstanding International School University Of Birmingham Most Innovative Contribution to Business – Education
Collaboration David Chapman Aston University Engineering Academy Entrepreneurial Education Establishment of the Year PJEA Dudley Further Education College of the Year Steven Nash Open study College University of the Year Universtiy Of Birmingham Lifetime Achievement David Prescott- Principal Examiner Cambridge assessment Proactive Educational Provider of an Apprenticeship Programme Creative alliance The venue was gorgeous, as you'd expect for the 'Oscars of the Education Sector', it was draped in black and purple, and sparkled beautifully as tiny lights shone in the background. Organiser Jas Rohel, pulled out all the stops in a bid for a fantastic night, and that it was! Jas arranged for a choir performance by Standing Ovation and Alston Primary followed by stunning classical music performances by children at Leigh Perry Music School. Master Magician Chris Priest later followed, and the guests were in awe at the end of night as the awards were closed by
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an incredible performance by undercover waiters who stole the show with a beautiful rendition of Nessun Dorma. The evening was presented by Comedian Patrick Monahan and naughty school boy Raj. The hosts brought a hue of comedy and entertainment throughout the night, whilst recognising the unsung heroes among us. There were speeches from Andy Street, Mayor of Birmingham who said "There is nothing more important than education and skills"and pledged his commitment to the education sector. He also thanked Jas and the sponsors for making the event possible. Paul Faulkner, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce and Julian Beer, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Birmingham City University shared gratitude and thanks towards the event, with Paul describing the event as "an event that feels as though it should have lasted forever". Congratulations to all the winners of the night and also, to all the nominations. We are already excited for the Education Awards 2018 and hope to see you there! So, who’s in? You can nominate www.education-awards. co.uk For further information please email info@education-awards.co.uk
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Nakuul Mehta, Star TV Tackling Ben Nevis will bring thirst relief to many actor supports Public Health England’s Be Clear on Cancer Campaign
T
he Consulate of Pakistan, Birmingham, in partnership with Wakefield based humanitarian charity Penny Appeal, has organised Azadi Ben Nevis Climb, taking place on 26 and 27 August, just one of many events planned to commemorate the 70th Independence Day. “We have organised this climbing expedition to celebrate 70 years of
Pakistan’s Independence, and this is a fantastic opportunity for you to get directly involved in helping fellow Pakistanis back home,” said Syed Ahmed Maroof, Consul General of Pakistan. “Places are available for this thrilling expedition which will help transform thousands of lives by raising funds to provide clean drinking water in parts of
Pakistan through Penny Appeal’s Thirst Relief campaign.” It is hoped seventy intrepid people will set off, together with Penny Appeal Fundraising Manager Haroon Mota, to climb the mountain which is 1,345 meters above sea level and the highest mountain in the British Isles. Located in Scotland, close to the town of Fort William, Ben Nevis attracts a large number of climbers and mountaineers from around the world annually. “Penny Appeal’s Thirst Relief Project is installing wells in countries across Africa and Asia to give communities reliable access to clean water. This means they can drink, wash, make wudu, grow crops and water their animals safely,” said Fundraising Manager Haroon Mota. “This is why we’re calling on people to climb Ben Nevis to build a well.” Joining the team will be the Hon Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Mr John Crabtree OBE and Deputy Lieutenant Nasir Awan. Would you like to take part? To sec ure a place, a booking fee is required of £50 immediately, followed by a commitment to raise a minimum of £300, that must be raised before the day of the trek. For further information visit www.justgiving.com/ BenNevis 70 or contact Haroon.mota@pennyappeal. org Tel: 0771 424 9215
Diabetes.co.uk’s CEO Arjun Panesar Finalist for GG2 Leadership Awards A
rjun Panesar, CEO of the patient forum Diabetes.co.uk has been listed as a finalist in the GG2 Leadership Awards. In its 19th year, the awards are the biggest celebration of ethnic minority talent in Britain. The GG2 Leadership Awards programme is a unique platform celebrating a multicultural Britain and recognising talent, while offering organisations a better understanding, reach and penetration into the black, Asian and ethnic communities. The awards invite heroes who have made a significant contribution and impacted on the lives of others. In March this year, Arjun was selected by The Sunday Times to join the Maserati List 2017, recognising entrepreneurs who are generously giving their time and resource to support the next generation of young entrepreneurs. Arjun joined Diabetes. co.uk in 2010 as a Director specialising in CTO and Conversion. Since assuming this role he has grown the market-leading Diabetes. co.uk community to over 3.6
million page impressions with 2.2 million UV per month and over 475,000 members. Diabetes.co.uk is Europe's largest diabetes community with members from over 200 countries. In 2016 the team at Diabetes.co.uk also won the Lloyds Bank National Business Award for Positive Social Impact. Diabetes. co.uk is the world’s largest and fastest-growing community website and forum for people with diabetes. In 2015, Diabetes.co.uk launched the online 10week Low Carb Program offering free diet and lifestyle education to people diagnosed and living with type 2 diabetes. So far over 201,000 people have downloaded the program (also available as a mobile app) which shows people how to lose weight, reduce their HbA1c, become active and in some cases reverse type 2 diabetes. This programme saves the NHS millions of pounds by reduced requirements for medication and the prevention of diabetes related complications
N
akuul Mehta, Star TV Actor supports Public Health England’s (PHE) national ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ awareness campaign which prompts people with symptoms of some of the leading causes of death in England to see their doctor. Lung cancer, heart disease and lung disease cause more than 150,000 deaths in England each year. Early diagnosis can save lives and improve the quality of life of
those living with conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), a common form of lung disease that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Nakuul Mehta, STAR TV Actor, comments: “Knowing the signs of these diseases is important for our community. If you get out of breath doing everyday tasks you used to be able to do or you’ve had a persistent
cough for 3 weeks or more, it could be a sign of lung disease, heart disease, or even cancer. Finding it early makes it more treatable and could save your life. So don’t ignore it, I urge you to please tell your doctor.” The campaign is prompting anyone with these symptoms to see their GP and also calls on people to look out for each other and encourage friends and family to act.
Birmingham saw a whirl of colours and flavours during July as hundreds upon hundreds of Hindus and other members of the community came out to celebrate Rathayatra. Rathayatra combines two Sanskrit words: Ratha (chariot) and Yatra (journey). The festival centres around bringing the Hindu Lord Krishna to worshippers as opposed to observers going to the temple. Crowds gathered in the city centre with banners, a huge decorated chariot pulled by people, music, food, games and more to celebrate the traditional carnival. Rathayatra has been celebrated in Birmingham for seventeen years now and is observed
in hundreds of cities the world over. The festival in Birmingham was organised by the international Society
for Krishna Consciousness. It featured traditional Indian dance, market stalls, dance, live instruments and music.
Birmingham Celebrates Rathayatra
which can lead to hospital admissions, amputation etc. Arjun is responsible for launching DiabetesPA, the universal diabetes healthcare app created with the help of 20,000 members of Diabetes. co.uk. The app is a simple, practical and free way for people to monitor every aspect of their diabetes, in many ways your very own diabetes personal assistant.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Two Kapoors - PG 33
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ROACH KILLA
THE YYZ PROJECT
Roach Killa, the Canadian desi rapper and music maker, recently released the YYZ project alongside Blitzkrieg. The project consists of three brand new tracks of different genres as well as a monologue and three music videos. Although their names are now widely recognised throughout the Asian music scene,
Tell us about your new venture the YYZ Project. YYZ is actually the area code for Toronto airport, it was chosen because we came from Toronto, Canada. When we were coming up the scene wasn’t active, it was far behind the UK Asian scene. We had to leave Toronto in order to be successful in our careers. Before we came about no one really recognise Toronto so we had to put it on the map. What was it like working with Blitzkrieg? We came from the same city and have over 1000 songs recorded together. The reason we decided to do this project was because we’re both Canadian and wanted to give something back to the fans without charge, hence why it’s a free download. It’s three different songs and three different videos and it was released on the 30th June because July 1st was Canada Day. Tell us about the three different tracks. They are all different, one is influenced by Bollywood where we rap in Hindi called Kala Gora. The song ‘Can’t stop me now’ is over a Drake and Nicki Minaj beat. We wanted to deliver something different but give the Toronto flavour. The third song Hold You has gone out as a single and was decided to drive the project. In your opinion, why do many South Asian Canadian artists struggle to find success? 10 years ago there was resources or infrastructures in place to promote your music on a national level. Canada is huge, it takes three days to drive from Toronto to the west coast for example. Canada itself is a new country. Asians have been in the UK for generations now but in Canada, we were still fresh on the scene and community. The community was built by the elders and not directed towards the youth so the Asian youth became more connected to the UK and the UK asian music scene. The music was cool with a western touch that we
could relate to. What change in the Canadian music scene have you witnessed? For starters there’s more youth involved in the scene as there’s more resources. We had no internet growing up or YouTube or social media. Now kids don’t sit and watch MTV or BritAsia, they look at their timeline. It’s allowed kids to connect and for music to go viral. You’re also featuring on the upcoming Prabh Gill single, what can your fans expect from this release? Prabh hit me up and told me there’s a track I want to do with you. I told him I don’t work on the artist’s brand but on the merits of the song. He sent me the song and I liked it and we flew out to Vancouver to shoot the music video, filmed by Gifty who directs all of Honey Singh’s videos. We had a blast, there was fun and chemistry on the shoot and I’m very excited for when it comes out. Heartbroken recently broke 10m views, what was that like? Amazing. We always knew the song was special but it wasn’t until the public heard it that I knew how special. Sometimes you’re confused but have to go with your gut feeling. The song had actually been leaked four years ago but I just left it, knowing I would eventually come back to it. Because it was leaked, I wanted to bring something new and special so me and Gary experimented and decided to get a female singer on it. We could bring on the usual names or bring in someone new, completely out of left field then decided on Naseebo Lal. Any final comments? A huge thank you to the whole UK industry for supporting me, especially as I came from the outside. Thank you to the fans without whom I would be nothing. My only advice to others out there is that whatever you’re doing, be original and be yourself. Only you understand your goal, believe in yourself and your dreams.
The Boy with the Top Knot - PG 32
Bazmee - PG 32
Shakrukh Khan's Gift for Salman
PG 30
Jagga Jasoos - PG 30
30
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5
Reasons We Love Jagga Jasoos
Directed by Anurag Basu (Barfi!, Life in a… Metro), the film stars two of India’s leading stars, Ranbir Kapoor (Barfi!, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani) and Katrina Kaif (Rajneeti), who embark on a quest to uncover the mysterious disappearance of Jagga’s father. We list out 5 reasons to watch the magical adventure in a theatre near you when it opens on 14th July.
1
Ranbir-Anurag’s hit combo: The last time Ranbir and filmmaker Anurag collaborated for Barfi!, they gave Bollywood fans something to cherish for a lifetime. If Ranbir’s stellar performance in Barfi! won the hearts of fans and critics alike, Anurag’s style of storytelling too hit the right chord. And after a gap of five years, Ranbir and Anurag are coming together with yet another interesting project, and we cannot wait any longer.
3
Musical: Jagga Jasoos steers away from the normal Bollywood formula as it ventures into the musical genre. Featuring as many as 29 songs, this Broadway style musical will have audiences around the globe laughing, crying and singing along as they join the suited pair to uncover the truth in amongst a safari of exotic creatures, mystery and uncertainty. The film’s soundtrack has already been lauded by fans and critics alike. It features acclaimed singer Arjit Singh bringing the lyrics of Amitabh Bhattacharya and Neelesh Misra to life, accompanied with music by Pritam, the songs and visuals have further contributed to the buzz surrounding the film.
4
Visual treat: If you have seen the trailer and songs of Jagga Jasoos, you already know that the film is nothing like we have ever seen in Bollywood. Be it the picturesque locales or the amazing animation, Jagga Jasoos promises to take you on a fantasy trip. Filmed widely in South Africa, Thailand and India, Jagga Jasoos will offer the complete Disney package – a curious and surreal story yet offering quirky and magical captivity, a complete sensory experience of breath-taking visuals.
2
Ranbir and Katrina’s amazing on-screen chemistry: The trailer also gives us a glimpse into Ranbir-Katrina’s on-screen chemistry which is too endearing, to say the least. In their quest to reach the bottom of what truly happened to Prof Baagchi, Jagga’s father, they are seen fighting goons, wheeling through roads, matching each other’s dance steps in an impeccably synchronized way and even braving a leopard, which is hard to ignore in the trailer.
5
Ranbir’s debut production: After completing a decade in Bollywood, Ranbir has expanded his horizons behind the scenes in the film industry. With Anurag Basu’s Jagga Jasoos, he has ventured into production with his production house Pictureshuru Productions.
& SRK Team Shahrukh Khan's special First Time gift for Salman Khan
What did you get your BFF for their last birthday? A watch? Some gig tickets? Certainly not a luxury car. However that’s just what Shah Rukh Khan gifted his foe-turned-friend Salman Khan.
Although it is unknown what make and model the car, we can be sure it was at least sporting a hefty price tag. The gift was given as a way for Shah Rukh Khan to express his thanks for his actor
friend for allowing him to star in the upcoming Anand L Rai film. Salman Khan had previously stated he wasn’t keen on featuring cameos in his movies but would make an exception for Bolly-
wood’s biggest name, Shah Rukh Khan. SRK is expected to play the role of a dwarf and will feature in a song for the upcoming comedy. A source revealed: “When Salman Khan came to shoot for the song, Shah Rukh surprised him by gifting him a brand new, luxurious car. The car is newly launched and no one owns this mean machine currently. Salman was shocked as he wasn’t expecting this at all. “But because he had managed his dates and agreed to shoot for the song on such a short notice, SRK wanted to gift him something to show his love and appreciation.” SRK also featured in Tubelight. In a recent interview, Salman said, “When I called him and I told him that there is a small role in Tubelight which I would like you to do it, before completing my sentence, Shahrukh said, ‘I will do it’. That’s how he made his entry into the movie.”
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AKSHAY KUMAR’S
EK PREM KATHA WITH A REVOLUTIONARY TWIST
International megastar Akshay Kumar took another step towards his goal of monumental social change in India, as he released
the much-anticipated trailer for his upcoming film ‘TOILET: EK PREM KATHA’ - and it’s an instant hit! The trailer has appeared to have set a new benchmark in Bollywood, riding on a moral and social higher ground on a fabric beyond the usual drama and dance – a film which portrays a man’s struggle to bring about a revolution for his love. A love story with a satirical message that is set against the backdrop of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to improve sanitation across India, ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ (‘Clean India Movement’), TOILET: EK PREM KATHA is the latest statement of intent from Akshay
Imtiaz Ali e h t r o F p U m
Kumar in his bid to galvanise modernisation and equality in his home country. The film tackles the fundamental need to provide households across the nation with a functioning toilet to reduce open defecation in public, which is intricately linked to issues of women safety. In the trailer, superstar Akshay Kumar emerges as a dominant figure, trying to initiate grassroots change as he battles both society and bureaucracy. He nails the message in the trailer when he is seen saying “Shahjahan ne apni biwi ke liye Taj Mahal banwa diya, hum apni biwi ke liye sandaas na bana paye”, which roughly translates to “Shahjahan had built the Taj Mahal for his wife, but I couldn’t build a toilet for my wife”. Filmmaker Karan Johar tweeted; “Can’t wait to watch this exceptionally relevant and entertaining film”. Meanwhile Anil Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, Sidharth Malhotra, Bipasha Basu, Sidharth Malhotra, John Abraham and Sonam Kapoor also jumped at the chance to get behind it . Judging by the impassioned reaction across social and international media, TOILET: EK PREM KATHA is already set to be a ground-breaking contribution towards highlighting the problems associated with open-air defecation through the world-binding tool of cinema.
Ministerial Press Advisor Musician Having found success with his debut record, ‘Morning In Brixton’, which was played extensively across the US college underground radio network, earning him a record deal in the US, British Bengali indie-pop singer-songwriter Pallab Sarker is back with his endearing follow up single, ‘Not Gonna Fall In Love
With You’. Inspired by the likes of Damien Rice, Elliot Smith, Jeff Buckley and Tracy Chapman, Pallab borrows elements from these iconic songwriters in order to form his individual style that proves him to be a charismatic poet for the modern age.
Tripet Garielle New Romantic Single
‘Kamli’
Tripet Garielle recognised for her soulful voice has been making strides into the Bollywood music by rendering hits like the upbeat, urban-flavoured ‘Aa Vee Jaa’ and ‘Saathiya’ with ‘Wo Pal’ being her career-defining track that released in 2015. The new single ‘Kamli’ is produced by one of the world’s most renowned Dubai-based music composers Atif Ali who has worked with the likes of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Pritam, Salim – Suleiman and many more. “I am really excited to share ritish born Bollywood the news that my new single singer Tripet Garielle has ‘Kamli’ is out now! It’s got a heavy some good news in store Bollywood flavour and it makes for her fans as she announces me fall in love every time. With the release of her brand new ‘Kamli’ I want to take my listeners single ‘Kamli’. The song oozes into another world where they with passion and would be a see, touch and feel the emotion of treat for the romantics. ‘Kamli’ love. And I know for certain my that released on 6th July 2017 fans are waiting for this song and via Zee Music on all major when they hear it, they will love digital platforms including iTunes, it. I literally had butterflies when Amazon, Spotify and Apple Music I recorded ‘Kamli’. I feel it first, is surely going to be the love track and then I record it,” says Tripet of the year. Garielle.
B
Referred as ‘Voice of Love’, Tripet draws her inspiration from western singers Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey. But her greatest musical influences are Lata Mangeshkar and Shreya Ghoshal when it comes to singing in the language of Bollywood. “Just because I’m born and brought up in the west doesn’t mean I don’t belong in the east. Singing in Hindi is not just a dream but a desire to achieve my dreams to sing in a language I cannot speak but I admire so much,” reveals Tripet Garielle. Crossing over multiple genres such as Dance, Acoustic, Ambient Lounge, Romantic, and Sufi Rock, Tripet has managed to garner a strong fan base in a short span of time. Now with six singles and four music videos to her credit, she is also preparing to launch her Debut Album later this year. For now, get ready to beat the heat this summer with the soulful voice of Tripet Garielle in her latest single ‘Kamli’.
THE BY: ASIAN TODAY HUSNA
BY: HUSNA
BOLLYWOOD BOLLYWOOD
01. 01. 02. 02. 03. 03. 04. 04. 05. 05. 06. 06. 07. 07. 08. 08. 09. 09. 10. 10.
RadioChashma Kala KalaBaar Chashma Baar Tubelight Dekho Baar Baar Dekho
Phir Bhi Tere Sang Tumko YaareChaahunga TereGirlfriend Sang Yaare Rustom Half Rustom
Channa Mereya Gani Gani Mani Ae DilSandhu Hai Mushkil & Akhil Mani Sandhu & Akhil
TheGhoomeya Jag Humma Song JagJaanu Ghoomeya Sultan OK Sultan
Ik Vaari Tu Rendhe Aa Tu Rendhe Tindy Raabta & Rixx and Sudesh Kumari Tindy & Rixx and Sudesh Kumari
Gulabi Retro Mix Woman Woman Noor Shide Boss ft Zack Knight Shide Boss ft Zack Knight
Maana Peat PeKe Booty Hum Yaar Nahin Peat PeJatt Booty A Meri Flying Pyaari Bindu A Flying Jatt
Humsafar Suit Suit Randhawa Guru Badrinath Ki Dulhania Guru Randhawa
Main Tu HaiTera Boyfriend Tu Hai Daro Mohenjo Raabta Mohenjo Daro
Karke dua Dishoom Dishoom Sau Luv Shuv TarahPyar Ke Vyar Sau Tarah Ke
BHANGRA BHANGRA
01. 01. 02. 02. 03. 03. 04. 04. 05. 05. 06. 06. 07. 07. 08. 08. 09. 09. 10. 10.
Do You Love Me Gabbroo Gabbroo Jassie Jay Sean Gill ft. Preet Hundal Jassie Gill ft. Preet Hundal
Makhna Akhil Akhil Teri Kami Gurdas Maan Teri Kami
Bollywood Ashok Prince, Medley Tru-Skool Ashok Time Pt 5 Zack 4 YaPrince, Knight Mind Tru-Skool Time 4 Ya Mind
Oye Oye PBN & Raj Bains PBNAkh & Raj Bains Billi Tasha Tah Billi Akh
GeneralSandhu Manni Manni Sandhu Welcome Zack Knight To The Future Welcome To The Future
Phone Tere Bina Tere Bina Monty Mickey &Singh Waris, Ginni Kapoor Monty & Waris, Ginni Kapoor
Bamb Jatt Skoda Skoda Ranjit Amrit Maan Bawa feat ft. Bhinda Jasmine Aujla Sandlas Ranjit Bawa ft. Bhinda Aujla
Come Ikk Vaari My Hor WaySoch Lae Ikk Vaari Hor Soch Lae Harish Mumzy Verma Stranger Harish Verma
Laembadgini Kulwinder Billa Kulwinder Billa Kulwinder Diljit Dosanjh Billa Kulwinder Billa
Cry For Selfi e Boliyan Me SelfiKnight eSingh Boliyan Malkit Zack ft. Dj Vix Malkit Singh ft. Dj Vix
UK UK ARTISTS ARTISTS
Filmmaker Imtiaz Ali stars Shah Rukh Khan in one of his movies for the first time, in the highly anticipated Jab Harry Met Sejal, alongside Anushka Sharma. On working with SRK, Ali said: “He is the most gracious, funny, passionate person, filmmaker friend that one can hope for. It's his kindness that the film has turned out so well. I'm happy that I got a chance to work with The Shah Rukh Khan. I hope I've been able to justify the huge talent and resource that the man is.” Khan even compared Ali’s flair for love stories to the late Yash Chopra. Ali commented: “To be compared to Mr. Yash Chopra is both a matter of unbelievable pride and a little embarrassment and humiliation because in my own eyes I stand nowhere close to him… Just my name taken in the same sentence as Yash Chopra will make my family very proud.”
01. British Indian singer-songwriter 01. 02. 02. Jash Newest Release 03. 03. 04. 04. 05. 05. 06. 06. 07. 07. 08. 08. 09. 09. 10. 10.
British Indian singersongwriter Jash has teamed up with the production/ songwriting duo of Robbie McDade and Karl Michael, aka Empty Pockets (James Arthur, The Chainsmokers and The Vamps), on latest release – “Now You’re Gone”. The song follows the success of his previous single, “Parachute, with “Now You’re Gone” already receiving national radio play via BBC Introducing. Drifting effortlessly away from his traditional blend
of boyband pop meets tropical house and into the realms of deep house and commercial dance, the track demonstrates Jash’s versatility as an artist. Jash wrapped up a music video in Madrid to accompany the single, exploring sun-soaked streets to the soundtrack of his infectious house hit. Following its release, all of the proceeds from sales will go to victims of the terror attack in London and Manchester.
Liar Liar One Dance GE2017 One DrakeDance Captain feat SKAWizkid and Kyla Drake feat Wizkid and Kyla
Despacito (Remix) Cold Water Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee Cold Water Major Lazer and Justin Beiber ft Justin Beiber Major Lazer and Justin Beiber
StripGood Too that Down Too Good Drake Liam Payne feat Rihanna feat Quavo Drake feat Rihanna
Shape This is of what Youyou came for This isHarris what you came for Calvin Ed Sheeran feat Rihanna Calvin Harris feat Rihanna
Swalla Heathens Heathens Twenty Jason Derulo, One Pilots Nicki Minaj Twenty One Pilots
Mama Closer Closer Chainsmokers Jonas Blue featfeat William Halsey Singe Chainsmokers feat Halsey
Mask Off Perfect Strangers Perfect Jonas Future BlueStrangers feat JP Cooper Jonas Blue feat JP Cooper
Something Just Like This Tears Tears Clean The Chainsmokers, Bandit feat Louisa Coldplay Johnson Clean Bandit feat Louisa Johnson
Humble This Girl This Girl Kungs Kendrick Vs Lamar Cooking on 3 Burners Kungs Vs Cooking on 3 Burners
CiaoDon't We AdiosTalk Anymore We Don't Anymore Charlie Anne-Marie PuthTalk feat Selena Gomez Charlie Puth feat Selena Gomez
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Celebreties Condemn Attacks Bazmee explores After the recent terrorist attack on pilgrims, a number of prominent Bollywood names have come out to condemn the attack. The Amarnath Yatra attack saw seven people killed when a bus carrying 56 travellers was targeted by militants who opened fire on the pilgrims. Many celebrities took to social media to express their outrage. Shah Rukh Khan tweeted: “Saddening to see innocent lives being taken. Prayers for the victims & may God give strength to the families of the #AmarnathYatra pilgrims,” Akshay tweeted, “Attack on innocent #AmarnathYatra pilgrims is a low of another level! Angry and sad…prayers for all those affected.” Nineteen people were injured during the shooting and the attack is being called one of the worst to rock Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. The bus was returning from a visit to a Holy Shrine and had
England’s hidden spots for Mubarakan
Mahesh Bhatt
reached Gujurat when the attack occurred. As the bus was not part of the official Yatra tour, it was not given police protection and was hence vulnerable. Mahesh Bhatt called for Indians to unite together, saying: “A tragic night! Time for the nation to stand together and defeat the sinister designs of the terrorists to divide us.” Indu Sarkar director
Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted, “My prayers are with #AmarnathYatra attack victims & their families. This disgusting act of cowardice is beyond any reason of any kind.” Huma Qureshi said: For years Kashmiri Muslims have helped Hindu brothers undertake Amarnath Yatra. Shame on terrorists. We will not let hate win #UnitedWeStand.”
#UnitedWeStand
Introducing Hotel Salvation
A
nees Bazmee claims his forthcoming directorial venture Mubarakan is the first Hindi film to have been shot in the “beautifully looking neighbourhood” of Weybridge in England. While a lot of movies have showcased Indian Punjabis in England, a majority of them were shot in Southall and Birmingham as they have a huge Indian population. However, Bazmee chose a typical British neigh-
bourhood like Weybridge for Mubarakan, a family entertainer about two Punjabi families and two big fat Indian weddings. Bazmee said in a statement: “Sometimes, some shootings create so much of inconvenience for the locals who are staying there that next time when someone goes there asking permission for a shoot, they immediately shut their doors. We are the first Hindi film who have shot
in such locations and I can assure you that next time, when a Bollywood film goes there, they would be welcomed with open arms”. The film stars Arjun Kapoor in a double role as Karan and Charan with two distinctive looks. His uncle and actor-producer Anil Kapoor portrays the role of Kartar Singh. Ileana D’Cruz and Athiya Shetty also star in the movie playing the love interests of Arjun Kapoor.
The Boy With The Topknot First look image released of BBC Two drama The Boy With The Topknot with Sacha Dhawan as Sathnam Sanghera Hotel Salvation, the international award-winning first feature from up-and-coming young director Shubhashish Bhutiani, is a charming, life-affirming drama set in contemporary India that tackles some of life’s most serious matters with a light and often joyous touch. Released in cinemas UKwide by the BFI on 25 August 2017, it is one of the highlights of the BFI’s current India on Film season (running April to December). This gently humorous film follows the ordeal of Rajiv, an over-worked, middle-aged son, forced to accompany his 77 year old father, Daya, who is seeking salvation in the holy city of Varanasi. Renowned actors Adil Hussain (Life of Pi), Lalit Behl
(Titli) and Geetanjali Kulkarni (Court) lead the well-chosen cast with outstanding performances. While rooted in Indian values and culture, Hotel Salvation transcends borders with its themes of family ties and intergenerational relationships, revelations and finding peace and contentment during the later stages of life. Aged just 25, director Shubhashish Bhutiani is part of a new wave of exciting young Indian directors and is tipped as a talent to watch. This, his first full-length feature, creatively made and beautifully shot on a low-budget, follows his short film, Kush, a Venice Film Festival prize winner in 2013. Shubhashish said: “After such warm responses from all around the world and in India, I can’t wait
to see how the audience in the UK reacts to the film.” Hotel Salvation has already won ten Indian and international film awards including Best Film at the 2017 New York Indian Film Festival, and the Prix Enrico Fulchignoni at last year’s Venice Film Festival (an award given by the International Council of Film and Television at UNESCO to the Venice film that best represents the values of peace and human rights.) It is now a strong contender to be India’s Academy Award entry in 2018. Warmly regarded by critics who have caught it at festivals (and likened by some to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel), Hotel Salvation is an uplifting film about life, family love and freedom that cannot fail to resonate deeply with its audience.
The Boy With The Topknot is based on the critically acclaimed memoirs of journalist Sathnam Sanghera. Born to Punjabi parents in the West Midlands, the book is his account of his childhood in 1980s Wolverhampton, and facing up to a bunch of painful
family secrets and truths in his twenties - not least that his father and sister had suffered from schizophrenia and that he was going to defy expectations of an arranged marriage. It is a humorous, touching and emotional story of a second-generation Indian
growing up in Britain and how he juggles his family, love life and career. Sacha Dhawan (Sherlock, Iron Fist) plays the title role of Sathnam Sanghera, with Joanna Vanderham (The GoBetween, Man In An Orange Shirt) playing the role of his girlfriend Laura. Anupam Kher (Bend It Like Beckham, Silver Linings Playbook) and Deepti Naval (Lion) star as Sathnam’s parents, with Kiran Sonia Sawar (Murdered By My Father) and Sam Otto (Collateral) as their younger selves. Further casting includes Jaz Deol (Viceroy’s House), Vineeta Rishi (Line Of Duty), Kriss Dosanjh (This Is England) and Manpreet Bambra (Wizards Vs. Aliens). The drama is directed by Lynsey Miller.
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Two Kapoors talk working together for Mubarakan The makers have released a amazing. Now, we share the new making of video of Chabond friendship, mentor. There is a cha-Bhatija Jodi. This is the first casualness between us two, which time real like Chacha–Bhatija Anil without this film wouldn’t have Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor will be happened. I am happy and proud seen on screen together and the that I have been able to hold my duo just rules the screen with their own, perform with him.” bromance. When Arjun “Arjun really was speaking to “Arjun really likes Anil. likes Anil. He the crew about He loves and respects loves and Mubarakan, respects him. him. They were super Anil comes from They were super behind and together,” together,” said holds him tight. Anees Bazmee. While this is the Anil reveals it was his idea to cutest moment the two shared get Arjun on board, “Anees was on camera, Anil whispers in on board then I was confident that Arjun’s ears, “Say something nice I can call up my nephew Arjun.” about me”, which makes Arjun During the video, we see Anil burst in laughter. Well, the video pulling Arjun’s leg and vice-versa. has surely given us moments to Arjun agrees that now the two cherish, and we hope the film does share a friend-like bond, which the same. would not have been possible With such a multi starrer cast, if they weren’t working on this the film is all set to take the audifilm. Talking about his experience ence on a comic trip. of working with Anil Kapoor, Mubarakan released in cinemas the young Kapoor said, “It was on 28th July 2017.
Poster Boys Promise Fun and Quirks Galore It was quite an afternoon filled with bonhomie to remember as the Bollywood Poster Boys, aka Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Shreyas Talpade launched the trailer of their light hearted drama Poster Boys. The first look poster saw the trio in a new avatar, which firmly established the funny bone of the flick and generated tremendous curiosity value. Seen at the trailer launch were brothers Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, debut director Shreyas Talpade and Dharmendra who came to give his blessings for the film. The trailer of the film received a grand encore and was played twice to the chants of 'repeats' from the media fraternity present there. The trailer witnesses a never seen before avatar of Sunny, Bobby's shudh Hindi accent and it also clearly depicts a topic which needs to be spoken about in India. The Marathi version of Poster Boys was a winner at the box office and was one of the biggest openers of Marathi cinema in 2014. The original film was produced by Shreyas Talpade in which he also had powerful cameo. With the official remake of Poster Boys, he also makes his directorial debut. Poster Boys is a story inspired by a real life incident about three ordinary men who found their pictures on a vasectomy poster. Presented by Dharmendra and Sony Pictures Networks Productions and produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions, Sunny Sounds and Affluence Movies, Poster Boys is slated to release on 8 September 2017.
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Politics at London Pride S
adiq Khan has praised the Pride celebrations in London as the "best antidote" to recent horrors with around one million estimated to have watched the parade. The Mayor of London said this year's Pride was the biggest ever, and had helped people to overcome the recent terror attacks and Grenfell Tower fire. More than 26,000 turned out for the gathering, where the parade snaked along a 1.4-mile route through the capital. Emergency service members who helped in the aftermath of Grenfell and the Manchester and London attacks were chosen to launch the march on Saturday afternoon. Speaking to the crowd, Mr Khan said: "We've had a horrible last few weeks. We've had terror, we've had tragedy. You know what the best antidote to sorrow, the best antidote to sadness, to bereavement, to hatred, is: Pride In London. He was defiant that there would be no backtracking on LGBT rights after the Conservatives struck a deal with Northern Ireland's DUP to prop up a government. To huge applause, he said: "You
Lord Mayor of London Sadiq Khan with Kiran Rai
(the Government) may have done a deal with the DUP but there will be no backtracking on LGBT+ rights. There will be no backtracking on women's rights." A rainbow flag was projected on to the Palace of Westminster for the first time as part of the celebrations. During the celebrations, a video message of Prime Minister Theresa May was projected, to some boos. In it, she said
the UK "will continue to stand up for human rights, directly challenging, at the highest political levels, governments that criminalise homosexuality or practice violence and discrimination against LGBT+ people". She added: "And here at home too, we must continue to stand up for true equality and respect for everyone, right across our United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Lord Fowler,
Teenage Suicide
Commited Suicide: Dagmara Przybysz, 16
T
he community of Cornwall has been rocked with shock after a Polish teenager commited suicide in a school bathroom. Dagmara Przybysz, 16, was found hanging in the toilets at Pool Academy in Pool, Cornwall at 2.15pm. The young girl had faced severe bullying by fellow pupils at the school and the day before her death, had punched a wall out of anger and injured
her hand. She and her sister were the first Polish students to attend the school. Her friends and boyfriends all attended a separate school to her. The day before her suicide, Dagmara had told her uncle, Tomasz Dobek, that she had taken pills. Dagmara’s father, Jedrzej, said Dobek had told him of the phone call. "She did not want to tell me the reason for her upset. Later
NATIONAL
she said she had problems at school which I would not understand." Dagmara’s father had sent her to school, adding they would have a serious discussion about her problems when she returned. He said, "My wife and I kept wondering whether we should have kept Dagmara home that day but there was no physical sign that she had taken any tablets, otherwise we would have taken her to hospital." Jedrzej waited outside the school afterwards to collect her when his wife, Eweline, called saying the police were at their home and that Dagmara was dead. Ewelina said she was aware her daughter was facing bullying but admitted she didn’t know exactly what was said. "This incident occurred only a few days before Dagmara passed away,” she said. “I don't know whether these incidents were racist in nature; however, I can say that on several occasions she overheard comments such as 'stupid Pole'." Dagmara’s boyfriend, Lewis Simpson, said Dagmara had visited him the
Speaker of the House of Lords, said: "Homosexuality is still illegal in over 70 countries around the world, including many in the Commonwealth. None of this will be solved by a march, or a display of lights in Westminster. But these acts will demonstrate to those who are being persecuted or abused that they are supported. The lights are a symbol of our support."
community of Cornwall has been rocked day before her suicide. Her arm was in a sling due to her punching the wall, though she told him it was because of a PE related injury. "(She said) she sat outside the changing room and heard girls saying horrible things about her because she had taken PE so seriously. She said her tutor was there and did not speak up for her.” On the same day, Dagmara had asked him "What would you do if I killed myself?" but Lewis had not thought she was serious. He told the coroner Dr Emma Carlyon that she had heard racist comments at her school, including go back to your own country.” Dagmara was an aspiring photographer and had won a place to study photography at Truro College before her tragic death.
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Asian trio sentenced for defrauding Home Office of EU funds On 21st July 2017 three fraudsters were sentenced for conspiracy to defraud after stealing more than £1.1 million of public money from the Home Office in an EU immigration funding fraud. Mohammed Muj Meah Chaudhari, 38, from Birmingham was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and banned from being a director of a company for ten years. His sister Suraiya Alam, 44, was sentenced to 12 months, suspended for two years and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Their colleague Victoria Sherrey, 66, from Kidderminster was sentenced to two years, suspended for two years and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work. Sherrey and Alam were also disqualified from being a director of a company for five years. The trio committed their fraud by claiming that their firms, Inspire Futures Ltd and Accent on Training Ltd were helping with the social, cultural and economic integration of hundreds of foreign nationals into the UK. The three were able to fraudulently claim grants of £546,132 for Inspire Futures Ltd and £584,102 for Accent on Training Ltd EU, most of which was spent on a luxury Bentley car, lavish holidays to
Chaudhari: Jailed for 7 Years
Dubai and numerous pieces of gold jewellery. Between 2011 to 2014, the trio applied for several grants from the same fund. However, information received by the Home Office officials managing the fund in 2014 showed that as part of its bi-annual returns, Inspire Futures had submitted false invoices and payroll claims. An audit found various invoices and payslips with typographical errors. Detective Sergeant Simon Russen of the City of London Police’s Fraud Team said: “These fraudsters have stolen significant amounts of public money which should have been used to support vulnerable people. Motivated purely by greed, they designed a complex scam to fund a luxury lifestyle built on deceit.”
Poetry, music and more celebrates diverse community
Tara Theatre marked the start of an ambition to create theatre by and for its local communities with Earlsfield Stories (28th July). Eight local Earlsfield residents recounted the stories of their own families, loves and luck that brought them to Earlsfield. The diverse stories included Guyanese Joseph who arrived in the 60s and now pursues music, Sue who was the last signature on Sadiq Khan’s nomination as an MP, and Canadian born Gabriel who worked in a Luncheon Club “serving up to 900 meals a day” to the elderly. Their unique Earlsfield Stories was presented by actors to illuminate the fabulous variety of life.
Tara also welcomed renowned poet Daljit Nagra for an evening of poetry and discussion (26th July). Joining Daljit were three of Britain's iconic contemporary poets: Queen's Gold Medal winners Imtiaz Dharker and John Agard and Cholmondeley prize winner Grace Nichols. Reflecting on Britain and the Empire, Daljit, Grace, Imtiaz and John read from their poems and lead in a discussion with the audience. A one-off evening of playreadings (27th July) reflected on the Indo-Brit relationship, including one of the earliest surviving classical plays from India, and more plays from India, Britain and Pakistan illuminating the Indo-Brit relationship.
THE ASIAN TODAY
In a historically defining moment, a member of the Dalits may soon become President
I
is fellow ‘Dalit’ Meira Kumar, nominated by the opposition party. The Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said their battle was “one of ideologies” and that “The president should be a person pursuing
an ideology under which everybody should be equal for him. And when there is a clash of ideologies, I think our candidate is the best.” Dalits has historically suffered severe persecution in India due to beliefs that
they are impure, however today, Dalits make up a large portion of the electorate and hence, are a key factor in elections. Furthermore, winning their support promotes Modi’s vision of a united Hinduism and united India.
Austria It was clear the challenges faced by Sikhs in each country were different and required different strategies. This led to an agreed action that named individuals in around a dozen countries will produce a first draft of a standard position paper on the situation in each country. These position papers should set out: • the specific challenges faced by Sikhs; • dealing with hate
crime, 9/11, terrorism and mistaken identity; • what individual Sikhs and the local communities can do • relevant public organisations to develop relationships with Harpal Singh Cheema, the President of Dal Khalsa, spoke about the political situation in Punjab and touched upon the developing World Sikh Parliament. The Sikh Federation (UK) proposed a number of actions at country level linked to support for the right to self-determination and political campaign for establishing a Sikh homeland, Khalistan. These focused around developing links with: • well respected nationalist movements with credibility e.g Scottish National Party; • three of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council • politicians and political parties on the right to Sikh self-determination and independence.
European Parliament Meeting To Safeguard Sikh Identity
Sikh representatives from across Europe met at the European Parliament and agreed a number of actions aimed at safeguarding the Sikh identity in Europe. The conference specifically touched upon the Kirpan, the World Sikh Parliament and the campaign to establish a Sikh homeland. To aid discussions and develop a strategy, countries across Europe were divided into four categories: • countries with
well-established Sikh communities but where individual cases of discrimination remain e.g. UK • countries with secular policies where Sikhs experience significant difficulties in schools and the workplace e.g. France • countries with growing Sikh communities where the majority faith has a important role e.g. Italy • countries with right-wing governments e.g.
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INTERNATIONAL
Dalit Posed to Become Indian President n a historically defining moment, a member of the Dalits may soon become President. Ram Nath Kovind, the governor of Bihar, is a member of the Untouchables or Dalits, the poorest and lowest caste of India’s gruelling caste system and the most oppressed. Kovind was nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Over 1000 Indian members of Parliament voted in a secret nationwide ballot to decide the next President. India currently has a system in which the country has both a Prime Minister and President, with the President being the first citizen of the nation, having far reaching powers particularly over the army, but is largely a ceremonial position as the Prime Minister exercises powers and controls the government. The one Kovind must beat
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INTERNATIONAL
Indian State Has Eyes Set on Own Flag Indian Government opposes idea as going against unity The Southern Indian state of Karnataka is investigating whether or not it can have its own flag. The ‘Kannada’ flag, though unofficial, has been used in the state since the 1960s. The red and yellow striped flag can be commonly seen strung up around the region and is popularly used by activists. It is also paraded on November 1st, the anniversary of when the state was first formed. Now the Karnataka government has set up a panel to decide whether making the unofficial flag official could happen. The panel is made up of academics and bureaucrats who will investigate the legality and possible designs for the flag. Needless to say, many others have found issue with the proposal. The BJP government rejected their first demand, saying it would go "against the unity and integrity of the country.”
Unity is one of the core messages and values paraded by the BJP party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A home ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying, "We are one nation, one flag. Legally there is no provision either for providing or prohibiting a separate flag for any state.” Right now, only Jammu and Kashmir have their own individual flag, though the state also has special status. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "Is there any provision in the constitution prohibiting a state from having its own flag? Has the BJP come across any such provision in the constitution? Let them say that they do not want a flag for Karnataka.”
ISIS Teenage Mother Surrenders
A teenage girl captured whilst fighting for ISIS in Iraq was found to have a baby boy with her. Linda Wenzel surrendered whilst in the tunnels of Mosul, a favourite for Islamic State militants. Her child was found to be heavily malnourished. Wenzel was just one of twenty young women arrested. Wenzel left her family home a year ago after having been radicalised
online. She then flew to Istanbul and from there to Mosul where she has been fighting as a sniper for Isis. The sixteen year old from Germany was arrested by Iraqi Special Forces and now faces either deportation back to Germany or trial in Iraq. German prosecutor Lorenz Haase says “she might be expelled or, because she is a minor missing in Germany, she could be handed over.”
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AUGUST 2017
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EDUCATION
FASH How to Wear White Right 5. 2.
It can be effortlessly chic if pulled off right, downright disastrous if done wrong, either way white is a classic staple of elegance, glamour and sophistication. Here’s how to rock it right:
Ensemnbles
Trousers
White clothing paired with cool metallics makes for a simple yet rock’n’roll, modern feel. Pair your whites with rose golds and silvers for the perfect look. You will feel like a million dollars.
White trousers are perfect if you want to look and feel fresh, modern and in control. Opt for flared white trousers instead of dated white jeans and pair them with funky wedges or block heels
3. 1.
4.
If you’re on a budget or are simply looking to revamp your outfits with some vintage glam, then it might be worth considering raiding your mom’s old closet for some inspiration or must have pieces. So what should you be looking for?
desi_couture
southasian_lifestyle
harleenkaur.us
Southasiaglam
Geometrics
This summer is all about geometrics, shapes and cut outs. Pair your unique whites with other statement pieces such as large, flashy bling, some rocking red stilettos, or quirky accessorises like hats, hoop earrings or a bold lip.
When it comes to white dresses, one word: transparency. You don’t want it (in certain areas…unless you do, you little tiger.) Ensure to wear appropriate underwear and perhaps safety shorts if you’re rocking a white dress or skirt
Mom’s The Word!
If you’re struggling for ideas, instagram is a great source for ideas, inspiration and creativity. Below, we’ve listed some accounts to follow to get those creative fashion juices flowing.
Skirts
White skirts are fun and feminine and can be paired with bright, fun, eclectic tops and heels to create quirky day or night looks.
Undies
Desi Instagram Inspiration
1.
Off the Shoulder
Off the shoulder pieces have come back into fashion with a vengeance this summer with everybody rocking shoulder popping crop tops, jumpers and dresses. They were all the rage back in the 70s and are particularly popular when in the form of a maxi dress or seductive sweater. 2.
Overalls
That’s right, everyone’s gone hopping mad for dungarees these days. The uber 70s inspired look creates a bold and dynamic look with a fun and youthful appeal.
3.
High waisted jeans
Move over skinny jeans, we’re all about the high waist now! High waisted jeans are one of the most staple items of today’s fashion, accentuating the shape of the waist and hips and elongating the leg. See if you can squeeze into your mom’s 80s pai 4.
Flared Jeans
Once mercilessly mocked, flared jeans appear to be making a comeback. Pair flared jeans with elegant, smart shirts and strappy heels for a refreshing look that’s cool for the summer. 5.
Suede
Give your outfit that unique tweak with a suede skirt or pair of shorts. The browner and more patterned better if you want to go full 70s!
Michael Kors Beats Rival Auctioneers for Jimmy Choo
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HION & BEAUTY The Enthralling Story of a 91-yearold- Beauty Pageant Queen When do you think you’ll stop dabbling in makeup and beauty? When you hit 60? 70? 80? For Krystyna Farley, 91, she shows no signs of slowing down. The American beauty pageant queen spent the last year as Ms Connecticut Senior America. The timeless beauty grew up in Poland as a child but was forced to flee aged fourteen when world was two broke out. "In 1940 there was a knock on the door,” she said. Her family, consisting of her mother, father and four siblings, were seized by Russian military and Ukrainian police and forced into cattle trains heading for the Ural mountains. "The train had no windows," Krystyna said. "There was a
F
hole for the bathroom and there was a coal stove in the corner, and that was about it. There were about 60 people in each carriage and all we had to eat was bread." They were put to work in a Labour camp where she suffered and starved for two long years until Germany attacked Russia in 1941, prompting Russia to release thousands upon thousands of prisoners such as the Farleys. Everyone apart from father Andzrej, who joined the Polish Army in Exile, piled into a boat headed for Uzbek. Upon landing, Krystyna was then sent to a Persian orphanage with three of her four siblings. That was the last they ever saw of their mother and eldest sister. After a terrible bout of pneumonia, Krystyna sent her siblings to join the cadets or an orphanage in Africa, then herself enlisted in the Polish Army in Exile. She explained, "I wanted to be in the army to drive a car. That
ashion lovers bid adieu to the end of an era as Jimmy Choo was auctioned off to Michael Kors for approximately £900m. The British luxury designer labels, most noted for their high class bags and shoes, was sold to the American company for £896m. Jimmy Choo was first established in Hackney, 1996, by the Malaysian shoemaker Jimmy Choo. His designs blew up in the fashion sphere after Carrie Bradshaw
was my own stupidity - you see if you're young, you're stupid." But instead of becoming a driver, she was sent to work as a nurse’s aide in Iraq where she was reunited with her father and later stationed with him in Jerusalen. "That was a very nice feeling, but you see, if you're young you really just think about food and money, not family," Krystyna said. "So I came to my father and I just said, 'Pops, do you have some money?' And I looked in his pocket and he had plenty, so I took some because we just wanted to buy ourselves makeup and stuff like that." After the war, Krystyna settled in England and reunited with her whole family, bar mother who had died of malaria, and eldest sister who remained in Uzbekistan. Krystyna married and had three children whom she taught to dance. Eventually her
f r o m Sex in the City swanned about in the elegant stilettos from episode to episode. Jimmy Choo now operates in 150 stores worldwide, but has recently been acquired by Michael Kors. It is the fourth time Jimmy Choo has changed hands and the move is believed to help solidify Michael Kors’ reputability. Chief executive of Michael Kors, John Idol, said: “Jimmy Choo is known worldwide for its glamorous and fashion-forward footwear. The company is a leader in setting fashion trends. Its innovative designs and exceptional craftsmanship resonate with trendsetters globally.” It is hoped their expertise will help
dance troupe was invited to perform at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. She then took her four children to America where she found a job as a dental hygienist and remarried to the love of her life. It was in her later life that she fell into the beauty crowd and entered Ms Connecticut Senior America competition at aged 70. Although she came second, Krystyna had no intention of giving up and tried again and again until on her third time lucky, she won the crown. "You have to have a regular dress, you have to have a talent, then you have a gown, and you have to talk about your philosophy of life," she explains. "I have three or four different talents - I can read poetry, I can dance, I can do Carmen Miranda and my philosophy of life is to love everybody and be good to everybody." "You have to love people and be with people, because if you don't have people around you, you're a dead pigeon." In 2017, Krystyna handed over her crown to a new Ms Senior Connecticut, a woman in her sixties. Now, turning 92, Krystyna thinks it might be time to finally sit back and relax after a long life of tumultuous ups and down, and believes it’s time to move on for good, "No more pageants for me." Though the sharp as ever grandmother candidly adds, "Right now I'm dressed, I have earrings on - I'm always ready for something to happen.”
Jimmy Choo reach that final hurdle and become a billion dollar brand. 2016 was a bad year for a plethora of luxury brands as Asia’s economy slumped. Jimmy Choo achieved sales of only £364m last year. Jonathan Buxton, from Cavendish Corporate Finance, explained: “Jimmy Choo is a widely popular footwear brand but like so many upmarket brands, it has been facing declining sales due to discounting in department stores and customer preferences moving away from conspicuous labels. “For Michael Kors, this deal presents an opportunity to enter the high-end of the luxury market, to increase sales and to diversify away from its own brand.”
Why Your Phone is Ruining Your Skin Everyone knows that the sun, pollution and other environmental factors can damage your skin but there is one huge, glaring facet of 21st century life that’s also to blame: your beloved phone! Below, we detail the ways your phone is harming your skin:
BACTERIA The surface of your phone is an ocean of bacteria. Bacteria from your fingers, from your cheek, ear and hair, bacteria from the atmosphere and dust from the air all collect, breed and thrive on smartphone surfaces. Ensure you regularly clean your screen with gentle monitor wipes and opt for earpieces or headphone to have conversations through.
BLUE LIGHT The light from phones falls in between UV rays and infrared rays and as such has an effect on pigmentation and hence the dreaded hyperpigmentation. In addition, some studies suggest blue light promotes free radicals which damage the skin and cause premature aging.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION Another effect of the blue light is that is keeps you awake no matter how late or dark it is. The light of the phone tricks your brain into thinking it is daylight, making it much harder to sleep. And when you can’t sleep, you go on your phone, creating an endless loop. Sleep is just as important as food and air for human health, but for the skin, lack of sleep causes dark circles, dehydration, dull, sallow skin and premature aging.
WRINKLES Staring down at your phone for prolonged periods of time can cause wrinkles to form around the chin and neck. As the neck is one of the first signs of aging, it is important you protect this area with anti-aging creams and try to look at your phone face on. Try propping your elbow up on an armchair and using your phone that way.
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AUGUST 2017
THE ASIAN TODAY PR supremo and food blogger Anita Champaneri brings her blog Ms Delicious PR and all things food to The Asian Today, bringing all the news from hot restaurants to cool bars and everything in between. www.msdeliciouspr.blogspot.com
There is always something delicious happenning in the city and this August is no exception with a smattering of new openings in Brum
FOOD & T
The Halal Food Festival is back this August! Zone and a Man Vs Food competition open to visitors. Waleed Jahangir, London Halal Food Festival Show Director, said “The Muslim Halal market is booming and during the Holy month of Ramadan, supermarkets estimated to make around £70 million from Halal food offerings alone. “British Muslims are the most diverse in the world; they have bigger households, they spend more, eat out more often and cook in more volume – which is estimated annually to be worth a
Anita Champaneri. Foodie and MD of Delicious PR tells us more
Boston Tea Party Everyone loves a party and it seems Brummies especially love the Boston Tea Party, who have now opened their third place in Edgbaston just opposite El Borracho. Their new home is in the recently renovated Calthorpe estate property, which was previously a bank and office building. It looks great inside and the property features a fantastic double height ceiling, an orangery and a spiral staircase. With a main room and counter for customers to enjoy a great range of luxury cakes, coffee and sandwiches, there is also be a quieter place for those who want to read and work using the free wifi while getting their daily caffeine intake! It’s not all about the tea here, I didn’t know that Boston Tea Party requires all its baristas to gain a Speciality Coffee Association certificate which is internationally recognised, and they also have a ‘better coffee’ pledge to use better beans, flavour, milk, ethical trade and of course their baristas!
T
he London Halal Food Festival returns this year and is set to become the biggest showcase in Europe for Halal Food. Taking place on 19th and 20th August, at London’s historic Tobacco Dock, the festival is the only one of its kind and attracts visitors from across the UK who want to discover new and exciting international Halal cuisines. An estimated 18,000 people will attend with around three tonnes of meat and
poultry consumed as people spend close to half a million pounds trying out Halal burgers, freshly prepared dishes, culinary delights and alcohol-free cocktails, before finishing off with treats in a dedicated dessert section. There will also be live performances from celebrity chefs in a special cookery theatre, including a live demonstration from MasterChef Champion Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed. Other highlights include a dedicated Italian Halal
Comeback Cod!
Canal House Another recent renovation in the city is the James Brindley pub on the back of Bridge Street. It has been vacant for over seven years but now the company behind The Botanist is opening a brand new bar called the Canal House overlooking the water on the 14th of August. The old James Brindley pub was built in the name of one of the master canal engineers of the 18th century. A spokeswoman for the Canal House said: “ The 21st Century establishment will honour the life, work and spirit of the 18th Century icon. Step into Brindley’s legendary residence, begin a discovery of old meets new and relive the stories of days gone by; relax in Brindley’s brew room, study, lounge and drawing room to name a few.’ The website says the food menu will be revealed soon and includes cocktails that will be ‘pioneered to precision’, live music and brewery-fresh beer. We’re sure the wait will be worth it!
Speakeasy We love secret concept bars and a newone has opened underneath The Liquor store on Colmore Row. The prohibition style bar Speakeasy, can only be accessed by calling a number and using giving a password to a member of staff. Information about this new bar is hard to find as the owner has declined to be named and the team is using a secretive approach to add to the prohibition era feel. It is reported to have a members club like feel, but you won’t need a membership to get in, just a password! How intriguing. Perhaps coinciding with the hit BBC show Peaky Blinders, the 1920s era has seen a boost in popularity lately, so hopefully Speakeasy will be a success. Get more food news on twitter @deliciouspr and on the web : www.msdeliciouspr.blogspot.com
FOOD & TRAVEL
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Fish lovers everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief after the Marine Stewardship Council certified North Sea cod again. Cod will now be able to be sold in supermarkets once again after a successful cod recovery programme saw the North Sea fish “brought back from the brink.” Approximately 70,000 tonnes of cod is eaten in the UK alone each year, just over 1kg of cod per person. However ten years back, the nation was warned that the North Sea had been overfished to the point of near total depletion. In particular, the cod stocks had tumbled from 270,000 in the 1970s to a mere 44,000 by 2006. Now, a collaborative effort has seen cod populations make a resurgence and rise to 167,711 tonnes, meaning they
are now able to be sold again. Shops and restaurants selling cod will now carry a blue tick indicating that their cod is sustainable and traceable. Similarly, English and Scottish fishing boats will be able to carry the blue tick after passing an independent sustainability assessment. The MSC’s Toby Middleton said: "Thanks to a collaborative, cross-industry effort, one of our most iconic fish has been brought back from the brink. "Modified fishing gear, catch controls, well-managed fishing practices - all these steps have come together to revive a species that was in severe decline." Other species in severe decline which are to be avoided include seabass, seabream, clams, eel, shark and whitebait.
whopping £10 billion. That’s why we’re seeing more and more brands reaching out to Muslim consumers and the London Halal Food festival is a fantastic opportunity for both businesses and consumers to come together and learn more about each other.” The festival was recently placed in the top five of London Food Festivals to look forward to in 2017 by lastminute.com and with over 100 exhibitors, it’s set to be a great weekend of food and fun for all the family.
MasterChef Champion: Saliha Mahmood-Ahmed
Natco Donate £13k to Charity Natco Select (specialists in Asian and African groceries) have completed a major new charity campaign where 100% of all sales from both our shops in St Matthews and Oadby during May and June 2017 will be donated to four charities: Women’s Aid Leicestershire, Islamic Relief East Africa Crisis Appeal, Leicester City of Sanctuary and Eva Organisation for Women. Sales at Natco Select during May and June totalled £13,228.90 and will be divided equally between the charities. Commenting on the campaign, Managing Director Luke Pagarani said: “It is quite common for businesses to run charity schemes where some percentage of profits is donated to charity but we wanted to be much bolder and really put our money where our mouth is so for this campaign we committed that every pound and every penny spent in our stores in May and June would be donated to charity, 100% of sales revenue, not just the profits. “To choose the charities to partner with, we picked great Leicester-based charities
supporting refugees, women facing up to violence, and also the urgent need for aid for East Africa facing the worst drought and famine for decades. Thanks to all our customers without whom it would not have been possible to raise these funds.” Shali Bullough, Deputy Coordinator at Leicester City of Sanctuary says ‘We are delighted to be included in this campaign and think it is most generous of Natco Select to make 100% of their sales for two months from their shops available to these worthwhile charities. We will be very pleased to use these funds to support our activities benefiting asylum seekers and refugees. Thank you Natco Select!’
TRAVEL
Travelling to the US without a visa written by Josh Hobson
Travelling to the US isn't as difficult as one might think. Citizens from 38 countries are able to effortlessly enter the US without a visa, but instead, travel with an ESTA. ESTA or Electronic System for Travel Authorization is an electronic resource that is embedded into your passport electronically, once it has been granted to the applicant. The application process takes around 30 minutes. Within that time, you can
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FOOD & TRAVEL
complete the application form and be granted authorization to travel. Much quicker than travelling to an embassy, not to mention a number of forms that you need to fill out for a visa. The ESTA is for tourists and those that have business to attend to within the US. Also, anybody that has a connecting flight in the US needs to have an ESTA, too. If you're looking to study or work in the US, you will have to obtain a visa, as ESTA's do not permit such activities.
Once an ESTA has been approved, the holder can travel to the US as often as they please for up to 90 days per visit. All persons intending to travel to the US require an electronic passport if they're using ESTA. That goes for children, too. All children will require their own ESTA, too. The cost of the ESTA is $14. So if you're heading over to the US, don't forget to apply for your ESTA. For more information visit www.estaform.org
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Udaipur voted among Top 15 Cities for Tourists T
he Indian city of Udaipur has beaten scores of other international tourist hotspots to be named in the world's top 15 cities in a new poll of tourists, the only South Asian city to be so. The heritage-city built by the Maharanas of Mewar in the 16th century ranks higher than Barcelona and is the only city in India and South Asia to make the list. As part of the 2017 World’s Best Awards survey, readers of Travel & Leisure magazine were asked to rank the 'best cities in the world' based on sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value. Udaipur made the final cut in 14th place, ahead of other major Indian tourist destinations including Mumbai and Delhi. Its inclusion follows past success in 2009 when Udaipur topped the same poll and was voted as the ‘best city in the world to visit’. Known as both the City of Lakes and the Venice of the East, Udaipur occupies
a stunning location on the banks of Lake Pichola in south Rajasthan. Known for its breathtaking scenery, majestic palaces, worldclass museums and luxury hotels, Udaipur is steeped in history, having been home to successive generations of Maharanas of Mewar. Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur is the 76th Custodian of the House of Mewar and the Chairman and Managing Trustee of Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), which manages Udaipur's leading visitor attraction, the City Palace Museum. Shriji said: "Udaipur is a jewel in India's heritage crown, highlighted by the fact that so many visitors are coming to City Palace Museum every year now to enjoy a truly authentic heritage experience. The City Palace dates back to 1559 and has been home to 23 successive Maharanas of Mewar, the world’s oldest serving royal dynasty. The 2017 Travel & Leisure
magazine poll of The World's Top 15 Cities was headed by San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Full list: 1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico | Score: 92.12 2. Charleston, South Carolina | Score: 91.54 3. Chiang Mai, Thailand | Score: 91.40 4. Kyoto, Japan | Score: 91.13 5. Florence, Italy | Score: 90.75 6. Oaxaca, Mexico | Score: 90.41 7. Hoi An, Vietnam | Score: 90.31 8. Cape Town, South Africa | Score: 90.24 9. Ubud, Indonesia | Score: 90.13 10. Luang Prabang, Laos | Score: 90.10 11. Santa Fe, New Mexico | Score: 89.94 12. Rome, Italy | Score: 89.73 13. Siem Reap, Cambodia | Score: 89.57 14. Udaipur, India | Score: 89.54 15. Barcelona, Spain | Score: 89.52
HS2 To Cost Double Official Figure
According to the Department for Transport (DfT), the HS2 will be the most expensive railway in the world, costing a staggering £403m per mile. The analysis came from Michael Byng, who created the method for pricing projects for Network Rail. Byng estimates that HS2 will cost double the government’s official figure and 15x more than France’s TVF. When factoring in the extra lines to Manchester and Leeds, HS2 could cost an eye-watering £104bn in its entirety. The first section of track, stretching from Euston to Old Oak Common will cost £8bn alone. Byng told The Sunday Times: “HS2 has not questioned the figure, or my methodology, nor have they come up with any structured
Specialists in
estimate of their own. A couple of days later I got a call from the DfT saying ‘Look, if 6.6 miles is going to cost us £8.25bn, what chance have we got of getting to Birmingham?’ I said: ‘I’ll work it out for you.’
Meanwhile, HS2 have said they are “confident we will deliver the project on time and on budget”. Similarly, DfT said “We are keeping a tough grip on costs and the project is on time and on budget.”
LOW COST FLIGHTS TO PAKISTAN!
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THE ASIAN TODAY 5 Strategies to Love Yourself www.mitamistry.co.uk By: Mita Mistry
Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul. ~Marcus Aurelius
@mitamistry Is it possible that truly loving yourself can heal challenges? What if you looked in the mirror and didn't see any flaws or remember past wounds that put a limit on this love? Imagine how liberating it must feel to have the permission to be free... Learning to love yourself is an adventurous journey like learning a new skill or travelling to old or new places where you can explore unfamiliar and familiar territory but still discover something new. It’s easy to tell some one just “love yourself” but how do you actually do it? In the last column, loving yourself was shown as having a deep appreciation of who you are, it’s not a feeling you have to conjure up but more an emphasis on “What can I do to nurture myself?” Here are five strategies to help;
1. Acceptance Start accepting yourself just as you are, stop negative criticism of yourself or self-blame for past situations. The past cannot be changed, you did the best you could but you can change the way you think now. Accept negative patterns and lovingly release them. To do this, the trick is to catch pesky thoughts when they start to surface and let them go with kindness. Often clients find it useful to visualize them being thrown into a dustbin, put a lid on them firmly too, refuse to criticize you. 2. Forgive & Forget Forgive yourself for seemingly past mistakes. You are constantly growing, evolving and changing to a newer version with more awareness or understanding than before to make different choices. Give yourself credit for taking steps to improve your life, see how this lifts you up. 3. Inner bonding with your “Peaceful Sweet Spot” Everyone needs an inner sanctuary they can visit where they can truly just be without the pressures of the external world. Find this place and make time to connect with yourself daily, it is here that you will find peace. If you can’t find this place or you are going through emotional turmoil talk to a therapist or trusted confidant who can help you discover it. Many of my clients focus on a mental image like a mountain or lake, something that makes them still, try this. 4. Compassion & Patience For yourself Treat yourself as you would someone you really loved. You can start by mindfully following your breath to be present in your body, compassionately embrace all feelings unpleasant and pleasant ones. Ask yourself, "What am I doing or thinking that is causing painful feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, jealousy, anger, emptiness or loneliness?" Allow the answer to come from within. Be brave, don't be afraid to seek help in overcoming this. 5. Nourish Your Inner Child Take a step back to reflect, recall memories from your childhood that gave you joy. Bring them into your life now, explore new ways to have fun with everything you do. Don't be afraid to express your joy of living. Smile, belly laugh, make the most of each moment, you won’t regret it. Once you start this journey of self-love check in with yourself, see if your pain, sadness, anger or guilt is healing. If not don't give up, keep going until the truth unfolds. Over time, you will discover that loving yourself improves everything in your life because loving actions bring you peace, joy and a deep sense of intrinsic worth.
HEALTH
EDUCATION
Written by: Neelam Heera @cystersbham
Cysters Birmingham
Libido! Vagina! Sex! Menopause! Women! Yes, you can say those words out loud and nothing bad will happen! So why the big commotion over these words? Well read on.... Recently, Facebook blocked an advert for a Menopause Support Workshop. Why? Because they took issue with the word “Libido” and categorised the workshop as an “adult product” – strangely the word wasn’t used in the ad itself. The workshop was a bid to help women with their hormones changes and provide them with an understanding of what is happening to their bodies during this time. Menopause affects over 50% of the popular and their family members. The word libido itself is a medical term. Facebooks move to ban this advert doesn’t come as a surprise they also ban pictures of women breast feeding, interestingly; you
are still able to view breasts in different contexts on the social media site. This is turn confirms the ideology that women’s health and body shaming is still rife. The refusal and lack of usage of the correct names of medical conditions and basic anatomy only address to the gender inequalities, women all face today. It perpetuates body shaming, by diminishing the seriousness of the issue. These words are not obscene and should be used openly. The rules on sex, relationships and intimate health have changed, and so have the rules for talking about it. We need to become more open, less guilty and take advantage of strong friends to open up these channels of communication.
How about instead of remaining quiet and allowing intimate health to continue to be “locker room talk” – let’s open the doors to have an open discussion. The National Institution for Clinical excellence state 1 in 2 women will suffer with a reproductive health issue in their lifetime. Clearly, women will have to discuss this issue with someone at some point. Why stigmatise the subject area? Genuine intimate / reproductive health rights and knowledge will only be achieved when society ensures that young girls and women have access to all information and basic services. It will only be achieved when there is true understanding of its link to mental health. It will only
be achieved when women can make decision about reproductive health with this knowledge and support. It will only be achieved when the double stands of giants like Facebook accept that the condition as normal and openly declare their support of the same. These are all areas of legitimate discussion. So, do you want to be part of #ReproductiveRevolution and join our #Cysterhood ! Join us as we plan to bring the changes needed to bring gender equality and reproductive health to the forefront Drop us a message or connect with us! Twitter: @cystersbham Facebook: Cysters – Women’s Support and Awareness Group Website and Email: www. cysters.co.uk and info@ cysters.co.uk
University of Warwick researchers are to improve the lives of India’s millions of psychosis sufferers. The National Institute of Health Research’s (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit has awarded the University’s Warwick Medical School £1.5 million to work with this highly vulnerable and disadvantaged group. The award will be used to improve their health, wellbeing and functioning. In India, psychosis is a leading cause of disability and affects between seven and eight million people. Without adequate treatment and support, many of them languish in long stay hospitals for years in appalling conditions or
drift into homelessness and destitution. The research award aims to identify sufferers early and ensure that they regain their health and wellbeing. Professor Swaran Singh, leading the project, said: “Early treatment of firstepisode and untreated psychosis is key to reducing burden of disability for this neglected group.” The three-year project will lead to evidence-informed interventions relevant to India, such as culturally appropriate interventions for families, raising standards of care, and using digital technologies to overcome infrastructure problems. Professor Singh said they will “deliver measurable
individual, family and societal gains by alleviating suffering, enhancing recovery, preventing social exclusion, and reducing emotional and financial burden on families.”
The University of Warwick is also receiving £5,686,767 from the NIHR Global Health Research Unit to find better ways of delivering healthcare to slum dwellers.
£1.5 million grant awarded to tackle psychosis in India
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TECH TALK WITH QASIM MAJID
BUSINESS
WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM
Qasim Majid is a technology entrepreneur and the CEO and founder of Wow Zone – a digital marketing agency. He has been in the digital industry for 20 years.
@cas_majid
How to win at mobile… Over the past years the use of mobile devices for carrying out day to day tasks has become the norm. From obvious things such as surfing the web, to more complex actions such banking, booking a restaurant or connecting with friends and family via social networks. Its true to say, we now live in a society which is ‘mobile first’. So, the question is, how can businesses take advantage of this and make sure they are not leaving money on the table. Its fair to say as the CEO of a digital marketing agency, we are constantly educating, reinforcing and darn right banging the drum that business owners should put mobile or smart device usage at the heart of their marketing strategy. Some quick statistics show why mobile is now dominant; A massive 86% of Twitter users access it from a smart phone device, Facebook numbers are growing too, 68% of all profiles are now viewed via mobile It’s now vitally important that business owners, understand that you should make marketing information easy to access and readable on both smart phone or desk top. The key here is convenience and ease of use for your potential prospects. Whether it’s an index finger, a thumb or a click of a mouse you have make sure you provide the right user experience. It is no longer a nice to have, its the default position. If the statistics I shared earlier haven’t convinced you then hopefully this will get your attention… Recently Google announced its Mobile First Index Update, it basically means Mobile optimisation is going to be a key ranking factor. If you’re mobile experience is no good, guess what, you’ll lose search position both on paid and organic ! Here are three things you can do straight away to make sure your business wins in the mobile space: 1. Test your user experience on all devices - think about it for a visitors perspective, can your content be easily read and/or consumed. 2. Have a compelling headline, does it grab the attention of the website visitor to draw them in wanting more. 3. Short paragraphs – keep your paragraphs short and succinct, many users skim read and want to get the info quickly, they don’t want to be scrolling for miles down your page. If you follow the three simple rules above, you’ll start winning in the mobile space, you should start to see enquiries go up and you’ll enjoy a lower bounce rate (visitors spending more time on your page). But remember, as stated in point 1, you must test, test and keeping testing…
@Wow_Zone /WowZoneLtd www.wow-zone.com
BUSINESS
Constantine Law launches in Birmingham Leading London firm, Constantine Law has just announced plans to open a hub in Birmingham’s Colmore District this summer. Partner John Hayes has headhunted Omer Simjee, a leading employment and business immigration lawyer in the West Midlands, to lead the business in the West Midlands. Omer is a leading employment and business immigration lawyer in the West Midlands, and has joined Constantine Law as its fifth senior employment lawyer as part of the rapid expansion of this challenger law firm. At the launch at Hotel du Vin, Omer said, “Constantine Law has re-engineered the way that legal services are
delivered. Our approach enables us to provide our expert employment and business immigration lawyers at 60% of the cost of traditional firms. We achieve this by being, like our clients, highly entrepreneurial: we work to a lean business model, which delivers a smarter, more responsive service to our clients. The strategy is to shake up the legal market in the West Midlands by delivering high-quality advice at a price that the region’s businesses will recognise as being exceptional value. “We eliminate most of the fixed costs that force many firms to increase their rates. Our lawyers work to an agile working model, using a host of cloud based solutions: both for case management
and managing our internal business processes. All essential services (marketing/ IT) are outsourced to experts, and in Birmingham we utilise shared, executive meeting space. Most importantly, we pass our cost savings on to our clients by reducing our rates. How many lawyers out there can say that their firms do that?”
As employment lawyers we often advise clients on how to make their workplaces leaner and more competitive. At Constantine Law we practice what we preach. The official launch of the new Birmingham hub of Constantine Law was held at Hotel du Vin on Monday 10th July with leading SME’s.
Government Fund of £225m to Tackle Pollution
Councils urged to strategise on how to target own pollution problems The Government has launched a new initiative to tackle air pollution, backed by a £225m fund. As part of it, the A38, A452 and Great Charles Street Queensway will be targeted for intervention as some of the most heavily trafficked roads. Andy Street, the Metro Mayor of the Midlands said, “We will look in more detail at the opportunities the Air Quality Plan presents and work with local authorities in the West Midlands to decide how we should act. This will have to include plans for the specific routes identified by the Secretary of State. “Today’s announcement makes it even more
important that across the West Midlands we continue to invest in rail, Metro, buses and cycling to give a clean, reliable alternative to cars. “However, in the longer term, this challenge presents our region with a unique opportunity.” Environment Secretary Michael Gove intends for councils to take the initiative with pollution measures, making use of the fund as they see fit. He said, “If local authority areas can come up with scrappage schemes that are value for money and appropriately targeted then we certainly have no ideological or theological objection to them, and I will work with any particular
A Butler Well Served
local authority area that believes a scrappage scheme would be effective and value for money.”
PROPERTY
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rand new PropTech The Urban Collective is on a mission to revolutionise the rental market and finally put tenants’ needs first. Today it launches a brand-new property search appUrbanCo that promises to be the most convenient and enjoyable way for tenants to find a new home that’s perfect for their lifestyle. According to The Urban Collective’s research, a third of renters find the process even more painful and time consuming when renting as a group. The Urban Collective’s interactive UrbanCo app streamlines the process of renting for couples, groups and families by allowing collaborative chat, comment, share links, images and video to organise thoughts and feedback in one place – making it much easier, quicker and less painful to find and agree on the perfect property. The app also offers the first comprehensive, lifestyle-
based listings service with properties curated based on their proximity to things such as gyms and hospitals or commuting options, rather than simply price and location. The UrbanCo app is focussed on London listings at launch, but will soon roll out nationwide, and is free to download on iOS. For renters who want to cut the average of 40 or more hours it takes to find a rental property down to just 10, The Urban Collective has also launched its ‘Sherpa’ service – the UK’s first ‘enhanced’ letting search experience catering to busy professionals and families, or those moving into London from other cities in the country or overseas. The aptly named service takes the hard work out of renting by providing tenants with local experts who conduct lifestyle-driven searches on behalf of their clients. They scour listings, directly contact agents, view properties in selected cases
communities in Leeds but over the years. It now owns more than 1,200 properties for tenants from all communities and all ethnic backgrounds. Ali Akbor, chief executive of Unity Homes and Enterprise, paid tribute to Unity staff
West Mids and Birmingham Enjoying Higher House Prices
House prices are expected to rise even further in Birmingham and the West Midlands. This is despite the rate of average price growth of homes across the UK falling since last year. Solihull has the highest rate of growth, up 8% from last year and bringing the average home to £266,337. Houses in Birmingham are up 6.1% with the average now £168,651. Even homes in outlier conurbations such as Walsall have seen a rise in house prices, with the average house price of homes in Walsall reaching over £150,000 for the first time.
and share a curated shortlist of properties so their clients can keep viewings to a minimum and save valuable time. The Urban Collective was set up after married-couple Cofounders Mayank Mathur and Valerie Vigouroux became fed up with the rental market and felt confident there was a better way. Together they partnered with Octavian Pop, the only lettings agent they worked with during their personal
rental property search who really understood the challenges that tenants face. The Urban Collective is the only PropTech service that has been built to be 100% focussed on tenant customer service from the ground up. Unlike other platforms and services that rely on fees from the landlords to sustain themselves, The Urban Collective’s business model doesn’t rely on commissions from landlords, ensuring that the tenant is always the number one priority.
BME-Led Housing Associations Celebrates 30th Anniversary One of the country’s foremost BME-led housing associations has celebrated its 30th anniversary. Unity Homes and Enterprise was established in 1987 with the objective of addressing the needs of black and minority ethnic
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New App ‘Urbanco’ Makes Renting Quick and Painless B
AUGUST 2017
and board members past and present. He said: “Unity’s founders deserve immense credit for stepping forward to establish the organisation at a time when there were huge inequalities in housing. “Thanks to their efforts, the vision of a succession of board members and the professionalism and dedication of our staff over the last 30 years, Unity is now rightly regarded as one of the country’s most successful and forward-thinking BMEled housing associations. “We are strong in our belief that the revitalisation of communities is not just about providing high quality affordable homes, but also
stimulating social and economic regeneration. I am particularly proud of the fact that we have expanded our work to help people into employment and support enterprise. “Community housing associations such as Unity really do make a difference. We hope to make that difference for many years to come.” Shruti Bhargava has been chair of Unity Homes and Enterprise since 2015. She added: “I am privileged to lead a talented and diverse board who, like me, have a deep appreciation for the hard-working and dedicated staff at Unity who collectively deliver such remarkable results.
New Protection for Homebuyers
In order to protect home owners against constantly fluctuating house prices, the government is going to introduce new measures to ‘help make sure leasehold works in the best interests of homebuyers.’ Concerns have been mounting over rising sales of leasehold properties that can often leave buyers with drastic ground rents and service charges, some of which can end up costing them thousands a year. The government will now be banning leaseholds on the majority on new house sales. Sajid Javid, the Tory Communities Secretary, said: "It's clear that far too many new houses are being built and sold as leaseholds, exploiting home buyers with unfair agreements and spiralling ground rents…Our proposed changes will help make sure leasehold works in the best interests of homebuyers now and in the future."
Landlord Barrister Breaches Property Law A Birmingham barrister and landlord was fined £4740 for breaching regulations at a three storey house. Lewis Perry, a landlord from Erdington, was fined by Birmingham Magistrates Court for not having an HMO licence and for breaching multiple regulations, including those intended to protect tenants from fire. There were no mains powered interlinked fire alarms nor heat detectors in the kitchens as well as a lack of fire doors or emergency lighting to the escape route. The 39-year-old plead guilty and was hit with a fine of £3,500, full costs of £1120 and a victim surcharge of £120. Cllr Peter Griffiths, a cabinet member for housing and homes, said: “As a barrister working with landlords and tenants, Perry should have been aware of his legal responsibilities to license and install fire precautions. I am glad that we have been able to bring this landlord to justice through our specialist work on rogue landlords.”
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New Rolls-Royce Unveiled
R
olls-Royce has uncovered with their brand new Phantom, its eight generation. Being the most technologically advanced and evolved with its new looks is non other than a luxury. The new aluminium structure is said to be a lot lighter and tauter in comparison to previous Rolls-Royce cars, this improves the driving giving a more relaxed feel and ride. Another novel factor is the cameras pick up information
of the road ahead adjusting to what it see’s, employing the effortless drive alone with their latest driving assistance system. Its newest designed V12 engine with its twin turbocharge means the car drives with more power even on lower revs. Its doubled glazed windows and sound insulation make this luxury motor the most silent car in the world. Other desirable factors of the car are: collision warned, night vision, latest
entertainment system and active cruise control. RollsRoyce does not stop giving with their luxury motor car. As if the exterior of the car is any less aesthetically pleasing, the famous grills are higher on this eight generation Rolls-Royce, the sprit of ecstasy also sits higher, the lights are advanced with a cuttingedge laser light that beams to over 600 metres. The interior cabins build with nothing less than the finest materials, high gloss wood
panels, with a finish of simplicity. The platform Roll-Royce is generally very unique rather than using a platform as other mass-market cars would. They have used their platform to create a car that can be made and altered individually to the owner. This manifesto will be a basis for Rolls-Royces future cars. With the car costing from around ÂŁ400,000, there have been speculations when the car will be available to order, but no confirmed information has been disclosed.
the British Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver equalled the tally of Scot Jim Clark and Frenchman Alain
Prost with his fourth home win in a row to add to his first win for McLaren in 2008. Hamilton's victory cut his
deficit to Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel to just one point in the championship as the German suffered a front-left tyre failure when running third with two laps to go, dropping to seventh. The same problem had hit Vettel's team-mate Kimi Raikkonen the lap before, costing the Finn an almost certain second place, promoting Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas to a Mercedes one-two. Raikkonen recovered to finish third. Following the podiums celebrations, Hamilton went down to see the crowd, surfing on their outstretched hands and high-fiving as he ran past the adoring throng. "The support has been incredible this weekend," he said. "I am so proud I could do this for you all. Now the plan is to win the championship." The drama all unfolded behind Hamilton, whose 57th career victory was among the most straightforward, on a weekend where he started 20 points behind Vettel and
Lewis Hamilton Wins F1 Glory L
ewis Hamilton took a dominant victory at Silverstone to tie the all-time record of five career wins in
needed everything to go his way to succeed. The 32-year-old converted pole position - earned with a spectacular lap on Saturday afternoon - into a first-corner lead and simply drove off into the distance. Hamilton was 1.6 seconds clear after the first lap before the race was neutralised by a safety car following a collision between the Toro Rosso drivers. After the restart on lap five, Hamilton edged clear, building a 3.1-second lead after 12 laps and five seconds after 18, before he began to cut loose as the pit stops approached. Suddenly Hamilton was lapping a second faster than Raikkonen, pulling out five seconds behind Raikkonen made his pit stop on lap 24, Mercedes calling Hamilton in for his stop on the next lap. Hamilton returned to the track with a 10-second lead over Raikkonen and cruised to the flag as attention now turned to the battle for the remaining podium positions. Bottas was on an inverted tyre strategy, starting on the
soft tyre from ninth place after a five-place penalty for changing his gearbox. He ran long on his first stint, battling past the cars in front of him and up into fifth place by lap five and then not stopping until lap 32 and rejoined 4.2 seconds behind Vettel with 18 laps to go. Bottas was soon setting fastest laps and was on Vettel's tail by lap 42. A first attempt to pass around the outside of Stowe ended with Vettel forcing him wide, but the Ferrari driver then locked a wheel into the tight Vale corner, damaging a front tyre. Bottas swept by on the Hangar Straight a lap later and set off after Raikkonen. It looked as if the Ferrari driver would hang on until his tyre lost its tread on lap 48, Vettel's going the same way a lap later. Vettel in the early laps of the race had had a tense fight with Red Bull's Max Verstappen, the two banging wheels out of Stowe corner, Vettel forcing the Dutchman wide and the having the favour returned. Verstappen hung on but was passed at the pit stops, and achieved fourth place.
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Spain's Garbine Muguruza Wins Wimbledon 2017 Ladies
The 23-year-old saved two set points and won the last nine games in a 7-5 6-0 victory under the Centre Court roof. Muguruza denied the 37-year-old a first major title for nine years, which would have made her the oldest female Grand Slam champion in the Open era. It is 14th seed Muguruza's second Grand Slam title after her French Open triumph over Serena Williams in 2016. "I had the hardest match today against Venus," said Muguruza. "She's such an incredible player. I grew up watching her play - sorry," she added, to the watching American. "I feel incredible to be able to play her here. Of course I'm nervous because I always dreamed about winning it, but I was composed." Having lost to Serena Williams in the 2015 final, Muguruza becomes the second Spanish woman to win the Wimbledon singles title after her coach, Conchita Martinez. She is also the first woman to beat both Williams sisters in
Grand Slam finals. A close contest was forecast, and for 40 minutes it proved impossible to separate the two finalists as their impressive serves dominated, but the last nine games went to Muguruza. Williams had opened the match with an ace, and Muguruza with a double fault, with Williams holding a narrow edge. A first break point disappeared into the net at 3-2 before Muguruza
missed her chance with a wayward forehand return in the following game. Her first serve let her down and gave Williams two set points, but she succumbed in a gripping 20-stroke rally, and then sent a return long. Williams forehand deserted her, four errors in a row, helping Muguruza to clinch the first break at 6-5, and a brilliant backhand lob helped her secure the set. Williams double faulted to drop serve
at the start of the second set and, moving sluggishly, steered a volley into the tramlines to fall 3-0 down. While the former champion faded, Muguruza accelerated towards the finish line, breaking for a fourth time in succession and powering to three match points on serve. The first two slipped by but not the third, which required the confirmation of HawkEye before Muguruza hit the turf in celebration.
Pakistani Business Helps Build World’s Strongest Man
Together, friends Mo Chaudry and Strongman Eddie Hall made history
In a world of racial tension, terrorist attacks and a country divided over Brexit - two men; a British Asian Muslim and working class mechanic from Stoke - came together to take on the world and won. He’s the charismatic entrepreneur whose classic rags-to-riches story made him one of Britain’s wealthiest Asian businessmen, with a fortune estimated at £80 million. His sporting partner is a former mechanic who worked at a dairy in Shropshire but knew that he’d be unable to achieve his dreams there. But
together, Mo Chaudry and Eddie Hall took on and beat the world. Eddie, with his friend, sponsor and mentor Mo by his side, has become the 2017 World’s Strongest Man. After a few near misses between 2012 and 2015, Eddie earned a bronze in the global competition in 2016. This May, he went one better, winning it outright. He also became the first man in history to deadlift half a ton – lifting a World Record mass of 500kg. Mo’s story is equally as remarkable. He arrived in England as an eight-year-
old in 1969 and was bullied, racially abused and isolated. Given his experiences, Mo could have easily been forgiven for taking another path in life and one to which many young British Muslim men find themselves in today, a loss of identity and sense of connection to the country they were born in. That harsh treatment spurred him on to make a success of his life. Mo had a personal connection with strongmen too. His father had been a strongman who’d managed to buy his way out of the Pakistani Army in order to move to the UK. “I grew up on these stories and feats of strength,” Mo explained. When Eddie joined and started using M Club Spa and Fitness, owned by Mo, the two began plotting to dominate the world. Mo said, “Three years ago, we had an amazing meeting. Eddie is a local hero and he was talking about becoming the World’s Strongest Man. “Then I asked him if he was going to do it? He said he couldn’t unless he devoted
himself to it full time. He needed to become the UK’s first professional, full-time strongman.” Mo decided there and then to sponsor him. He took care of the commercial side of Eddie’s bid and became his manager, mentor and adviser. Mo attracted additional sponsors and set Eddie on a path to breaking the World Record and becoming the World’s Strongest Man. “When he won, he told me that I’d played a big part and without me it wouldn’t have happened. It’s changed his life. It’s a wonderful feeling to inspire, motivate and support someone with so much talent as Eddie.” Now the duo are looking at TV deals, lucrative contracts and more as Eddie celebrates his success. “There’s a major book deal, we’re off to America to be interviewed on CBS in front of 25 million viewers and there’s interest from all over the world. The world is our oyster. I’m just proud to have been part of Eddie’s story and to have helped him on his way.”
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Lukaku To Create ‘Own History’ at Man U
Romelu Lukaku, 24, caused quite the stir this July when he signed to the Red Devils for £75m. Now, Lukaku says he wants to create his ‘own history’ whilst at Manchester United. The Belgium player said "I can't say I'm the complete package. "There is a lot of work to be done and I'm delighted that there is as it means I can become even better than I am." Last season, Lukaku scored 25 Premier League goals for Everton and is the first foreign player to score 80 Premier League goals before turning 24. Jose Mourinho was asked to compare Lukaku to Drogba, to which the Portugese explained, "I don't compare, I don't compare at all. One has his history and one is still in the beginning of his history." Striker Lukaku added, "Drogba is more of a hold-up player, a target man. I prefer to have ball to feet and run in behind. "I'm Romelu Lukaku, I want to create my own history."
India beat Kazakhstan to win FIBA Women's Asia Cup
The Indian women's basketball team beat Kazakhstan 75-73 in a close contest to climb to Division A of the FIBA Asia Cup 2017. In the Division B final between two undefeated teams, India and Kazakhstan, it was the Indian team that came out victorious. India are now promoted to Division A for the next edition of the FIBA Women's Asia Cup. Kazakhstan held the size advantage over the Indian team and this was punctuated by the play of Kazakh centre Nadezhda Kondrakova. She scored from inside and outside to begin the game. For India, the scoring came from a balanced team effort. Shireen was aggressive on her drives to the basket, while guards Paul Durai and Raspreet created space to knock down their jumpers. "All the hard work over the past 5 months paid off," said India star Limaye after the thrilling victory. Basketball Federation of India president K Govindaraj has announced a cash prize of Rs 10,00,000 for the Indian squad.
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Mo Farah Makes History Winning the 10,000m gold at the World Athletics Championships H
e has done it, Mo Farah has made history by winning the 10,000m title for the third time in a
row. Mo Farah had the London stadium buzzing once again after beating off his collective rivals to win the 10,000 metres gold. The capacity crown at the London stadium cheered on their favourite, similar to when he won at the
olympics 5 years ago. Late in the race Farah almost took a tumble twice, it was an epic contest to the finish, but as always with his trademark finish, he pulled away to take the lead and win. With this gold medal, Farah has won 6 gold medals in his career so far. For Farah this is his final track challenge, which has tested him to his limit unlike before.
Silver was taken by Uganda's Joshua Chaptegei and third position was won by Paul Tanui of Kenya. Farah was just 49.51 seconds off his personal best, coming in at 26 minutes as he crossed the winning line. It does show that Farah was under pressure, as his rival threw everthing at him. The atmosphere in the stadium felt like a throwback to the amazing night at the olympics five years ago, the stadium awash with excitement and union jacks.
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AUGUST 2017
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