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Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt has been released from prison earlier than anticipated read more inside - page 24
PROMOTING EDUCATION, DIVERSITY & INTEGRATION
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Be honest, Is it difficult working with your brother? Do you still squabble? Jas: Everyone always asks us that, but no, not that much. Everyone has slight disagreements, but we just get on with it really.
JAS AND DEEPS ARE SET TO PUMP UP THE DANCE FLOOR
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GOSSIP • INTERVIEWS • MUSIC • MOVIES - & MUCH MORE! TURN TO PAGES 23-27
Breaking a Sweat for Brum-Run
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MAHARAJAS MAKE SOME NOISE
So the dhol is obviously a big part of your life, what other instruments do you like to play?
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aharajas a.k.a. brothers Jas and Deeps are set to pump up the dance floor with their new music production. The brand new track ‘Giddeh Vich’ is set alight by the vocals of one of Punjab’s finest talents, Aman Sandhu and features rapper HMC, who is no stranger to the Asian music scene, with huge hits from ‘Soni Lagdi’ to ‘Sukshinder Shinda.’ The two London based brothers, born and raised in Ilford, began their musical journey DJ’ing for parties before setting up one of UKs most reputable road-shows. Set to make their first venture into the music industry, the duo speaks to The Asian Today about their journey so far.
n light of International Women’s day, inspiring Mum-of-two, Naseem Akhtar is pushing Birmingham locals to get active a bid to get them breaking a sweat for the Run Birmingham project. The influential local-lady is leading the project, in association with the Birmingham City Council’s, Wellbeing Service, England Athletics, Great Run Company and Sport Birmingham. “Run Birmingham is aiming to get 5,000 people running from all different communities,” Naseem explains. “We want the Great Birmingham Run 10K and half marathon entrants to reflect the city. We had runners
Run Birmingham is aiming to get 5,000 people running from all different communities
What have you tried to play that you’ve completely flopped at? Jas: Fguitar for me! Deeps: I don’t think I’ve ever completely flopped at anything, maybe if I tried playing a violin that wouldn’t work! Were percussionists really, our hand falls into percussion.
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Where did you get the inspiration for Giddeh Vich? Deeps: A lot of it has got to do with when we started DJ’ing in the early 2000’s music was going through a huge change. This style of music went away a little bit, if you remember music from that time it was totally different to what people are releasing now. Jas: We thought let’s do something a bit old school, the Bhangra-garage vibe disappeared a little bit and you don’t hear it that much anymore. What we listen to is a heavy influence, as garage is one of my favourite genres.
Jas: For me it is definitely dhol, I had an amazing journey playing the dhol; it took me to amazing venues with amazing audiences. Deeps: When you play one instrument, you want to try them all, we’ll try and play anything, but it takes devotion and practice. You’ve got to put the time, effort and dedication into it. Has music always been a big part of your life? Deeps: At a young age, we were passed on a tabla from my grandfather, we started taking lessons and from there it picked up. We started performing and we eventually picked up the dhol. Jas: We’ve spent time on it and we’ve put most our lives into the instrument, and generally into music and performing. Before we knew it, we were in the DJ line so the next step just made sense for us to come in with our debut single.
complete the half marathon last year who had struggled to walk to the bus stop eight months earlier. Since then lots of women in our community have been inspired to try running and are taking part in weekly training sessions. We will be going out into all the communities to introduce everyone to the benefits of running." Last year’s Great Birmingham Run saw Akhtar joined by her team of 37 fighting-fit ladies from the Saheli Woman’s Group in Balsall Heath. Established in 1998, the Saheli Women’s group, which is funded by the Wellbeing Service and Birmingham City Council, brings together Asian women of all faiths, who meet weekly to exercise. Continued on Page 3
Inspiring Mum-of-two, Naseem Akhtar is pushing Birmingham locals to get active a bid to get them breaking a sweat for the Run Birmingham project
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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2016
BREAKING BARRIERS
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arch 8th marks the a n n u a l International Wo m e n’ s Day. The internationally recognised campaign celebrates and acknowledges the achievement of women. This years theme #PledgeforParity, is asking people to help bridge the gender by raising their voices. In every corner of the UK there are brave women and girls who have taken on the fight for equality. Hifzha Shaheen looks into the inspirational British Asian women who are pledging for parity and are helping other women to find their potential. This International Women’s Day, we celebrate them.
10 INSPIRATIONAL BRITISH ASIAN WOMEN
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THE TEAM EDITORS Ifraz Ahmed Anita Chumber
JOURNALISTS Zaima Khaliq Zubdah Tun Nisa
SALES Anita Chumber David Ley
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi
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Priti Patel MP
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Nadiya Hussain
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Naz Shah MP
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Shaista Gohir MBE
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Known for being the first Muslim woman on a Government ministerial cabinet, Baroness Warsi has broken every glass ceiling placed above her. Starting her career as a lawyer, she stood as a Parliamentary candidate in her hometown the following year. In 2007 she was elevated to the House of Lords aged 36, making her the youngest peer in Parliament. She was also appointed as Chairman of the Conservative Party – the first Asian to chair a major British political party. Outspoken and challenging on the issues that many people seek to avoid, she has become an interesting and distinct voice on topics previously considered taboo.
The first ever Prime Minister’s UK India Diaspora Champion, Priti Patel is making waves across the political scene. The daughter of Indian Gujarati parents who fled Uganda for London in the 1970s, was appointed employment minister just days after last year's election, a move that confirmed her status as a rising star of the Conservative Party. The top Tory right-winger was fast-tracked into public life thanks to David Cameron's A-list scheme. The initiative was designed to 'change the face' of the Conservative Party by making some local associations select more women, ethnic minorities and/or disabled candidates.
The nation’s newest treasure, Nadiya won the country’s heart after winning the latest series of the BBC’s Great British Bake Off. Since then, she has become a columnist for The Times newspaper, signed two publishing deals, a reporter for the One Show and is regular guest presenter on ITV’s Loose Women. Her inspirational and very moving winning speech on GBBO allowed the programme to become the most watched television show of 2015. Being only a handful of women on screen who wear hijab’s, she has been a testament to her British Muslim identity.
During the 2015 General Election, the eyes of the country were fixated on one constituency – that of Bradford West. Leading up to the election, the favourite, Labour’s Naz Shah, shared a very personal story to the world. In one viral interview, she spoke about being forced into marriage at 16, her mother murdering her stepfather and domestic violence abuse from her husband. However, all through that, Naz beat the odds to become a mother of three, a disability rights advocate, a Samaritans volunteer, chairs a mental health charity and is now the Labour MP for Bradford West.
Known as the Muslim Feminist, Shaista Gohir isn’t afraid to voice her own opinions and has hit the headlines for doing so. A leading Muslim women's rights activist in Britain and the Chair of the Muslim Women's Network UK (MWNUK), her ground breaking work on a number of issues has caused ripples across the country. In 2009, she was included in the Muslim Women Power list and was named the most influential Muslim women in Britain. In the same year she also won the Asian Woman of Achievement Award in the Social and Humanitarian Category.
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An ex-TV journalist, Shivvy Jervis has been named one of 34 women 'changing the face of tech in the UK', received a Britain’s Asian Women of Achievement award, been a finalist at the First Women, Women of the Future awards and voted one of 10 female future leaders for London. Currently the Head of Digital Content for the world's third largest telecommunications company, Telefonica, Shivvy is an entrepreneur leading Britain to a new digital age. Her ideas and creativity have been praised by world leaders, including the head of the World Economic Forum and the creator of TED Talks.
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A ground breaking football coach, Annie Zaidi has broken many barriers in what is seen as a “man’s world.” She was recently awarded the Helen Rollason Prize for Inspiration at the prestigious Sky’s Sportswomen of the Year Awards. Annie is the only female Muslim football coach in the East Midlands. She has overcome many years of racial and sexist abuse to pursue her goals. She is currently coaching the under 11s at the Leicester City Girls’ Centre of Excellence.
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Rimla’s exponential rise in position and authority within the sports industry is unparalleled for a woman of her background. She is the first Asian and Muslim woman to be elected a member of the FA Council and a member of the FA Inclusion Advisory Board. She has been used to breaking stereotypes over the past decade or so. She was part of a team that set up the Muslim Women's Sports Foundation, aiming to raise awareness of the issues Muslim face in sport.
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Businesswoman, radio presenter, vlogger, events speaker, and sports fan, Noreen Khan has many titles – but the one that sticks these days is ‘ROLE MODEL.’ Her imagination and constant engagement with her audience has made her into a household name. Her passion and enjoyment in what she does is evident. After breaking into the media industry, she has gone on to design her own clothing line and has recently launched her own YouTube channel in which she tackles issues facing British Asians and offers them advice. It’s safe to say, we don’t think she’ll be stopping anytime soon
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Currently starring as Rana on the popular soap, Coronation Street, Bhavna Limbachia is the latest South Asian to grace our television screen. Her recent stint on the BBC’s Cuffs and a solid performance on awardwinning Citizen Khan landed her a ‘dream role’ and the newest resident on the Weatherfield street. Her warm personality and confident attire have made her one to watch as she breaks out of the clichéd roles given to most Asian characters.
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Birmingham Wholesaler Pledges Support to the Armed Forces
HOW YOU CAN JOIN IN: To find out more about Run Birmingham go to www.runbirmingham.com To enter to 10K run go to: www.greatrun.org/great-birmingham-10k Continued from Front Page Naseem Akhtar, project manager of the fantastic initiative, set up the running group after being approached by the council, as well as identifying a need within the community. Before joining the group, several of the members suffered from health problems including obesity and many of the women had never exercised regularly before.
Group member Balvinder Kaur, a 47-year-old mother of two, said: “At the time I joined the group I knew that a lifestyle change was needed, as I suffered from arthritis, asthma and obesity. “At first it was so difficult, a lot of tears were shed, but with the support from the other girls it gradually got easier.” Run Birmingham is an extension of Birmingham’s Active Parks scheme to provide a range of beginner
running courses, social running networks, club activities and organised events with available community based help and advice. Birmingham City Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “Running is free, you can do it anywhere and it can do wonders for your physical and mental health. There are lots of wonderful places to run in Birmingham, including our beautiful parks and the canal
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Mr Awan felt that it was important to sign the Armed Forces Covenant because he values the work that our Armed Forces do, as well as their families who support them. This is understood first hand as Mr Awan’s father was in the Royal Indian Air Force, prior to the partition, and then in the Pakistan Air Force and remembers what it was like when he was away on duty. The next steps for Awan International is to increase their support by providing jobs and training to Armed Forces personnel and their families. They are also keen to support the Armed Forces charitable work recognising the role the Armed Forces play in protecting our nation and our families. To find out more about the Corporate Covenant please contact West Midland RFCA’s Employer Engagement Team on 0121 427 5221 ext: 242 or wmempspasst@rfca.mod.uk
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network.” “Run Birmingham will cater for everyone, from the nervous novice through to more serious runners who want to participate in major events. I have no doubt this initiative will build on the success of the Great Birmingham Run and the Great Birmingham 10K.” Now Naseem is urging men and women of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds in Brum to pull up their sports socks and get running!
Nazir Awan, Managing Director of Awan International and Colonel Maybery, Deputy Commander from 11th Signal & West Midlands Brigade have co-signed the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging Awan International’s Support at their wholesale and distribution business in Hockley, Birmingham. The Armed Forces Covenant is a voluntary pledge from businesses who wish to demonstrate their support for the Armed Forces community. Awan International is a family run wholesale distributor of market leading brands. They originally established a name in business in the mid 1970’s and use their vast experience and knowledge within the industry to expand their business. They are big supporters of local charities and believe in giving back to the community.
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I have never seen that much blood.
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heavily pregnant woman who was stabbed in public has thanked those “fearless” individuals who risked their lives to ensure her safety and that of her unborn daughter. The 40-year-old was left in critical condition in Sutton Coldfield town centre in the broad daylight attack, which is believed to have been carried out by her ex-partner. The victim, reportedly from Sutton, was understood to have been more than eight months pregnant at the time of the attack. • Happier Times - Babur Karamat Raja and Natalie Queiroz
14th-17th April 2016 @ The NEC Passersby rushed to the expectant mother’s assistance, including HMP Birmingham officer Daniel Birch, 26, and Christian Blundell, 17. Two of the individuals who attempted to intervene suffered minor injuries from the attack, according to police. The new mum is said to be in a stable condition by detectives, having been flown to the hospital following the incident. Her
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LOCAL OPTICIANS WORKER HONOURED WITH TOP AWARD
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To enter simply email your answer along with your full name, age and contact number to: competitions@theasiantoday.com Closing date: 6th April 2016. Winners will be contacted on 7th April 2016. TERMS & CONDITIONS: You must be 18+ to enter • Tickets should be claimed by: 12 April 2016, 3PM • Children under 16 go free if accompanied by a ticket holding adult • The tickets are valid for entry on one day of the exhibition which takes place from 14-17 April 2016 at the NEC Birmingham
• Opticians Worker Jeet Saimbi Honoured
• Natalie Queiroz, 40, victim of the knife attack
new baby, who was delivered safely by emergency C-section, “continues to do well” according to officers. The assailant, Babur Karamat Raja was charged with two counts of attempted murder. In a statement issued after the sentencing, the victim’s family said: “We’d all like to express our heartfelt thanks to everybody who helped her on Friday afternoon. “Your fearlessness and selfless actions saved both their lives and we are overwhelming grateful to you all.” A former neighbour said: “She must have been close to her due date, as she posted on Facebook two weeks ago that she was at Good Hope Hospital and I knew she was eight months pregnant then. “I don’t know what the baby girl is called, I just know the woman and her daughter are still in hospital. “I bet she didn’t think she would spend Mother’s Day in this situation.” Christian Blundell, a drama student at Birmingham Ormiston Academy, explained how he and his friends hurried to the aid of the victim. They provided the victim with drinks and napkins from a nearby McDonalds. He said: “It’s all a massive shock. “I have never seen that much blood. “You don’t know what you are thinking until it happens – your mind goes blank. “It’s fight or flight, you help or run away. “I couldn’t not help. “She was in really bad pain, we couldn’t just stand there.”
A dedicated employee at Scrivens Opticians & Hearing Care has been recognised for her enthusiasm and devotion to duty. Jeet Saimbi, professonal services and training director in the company’s Birminghambased head office, was honoured with the company’s top accolade. The opticians worker from Solihull received praise for her skills and dedication when she was presented the Sasha Georgevic Award, given in memory of the company’s late chairman whose sons
Nicholas Georgevic and Mark Georgevic are present company chairman and director respectively. Chairman Nicholas Georgevic said: “Jeet sets an incredible example to everyone in terms of her professionalism and devotion to duty. She is always very positive, a terrific team leader and meets every challenge she is given.” Speaking of her award, Jeet said: “I do a job I love and I never expected such an honour. I’m very grateful and I’d like to thank colleagues who put my name forward.”
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Mum 40-year-old woman left in critical condition in broad daylight knife attack
£40,000 Reward Offered For Arson Attack Information
• Zahid Khan
A multi-millionaire whose tyre-fitting business was the target of an arson attack has increased the reward on offer to £40,000. Zahid Khan had originally put the price of information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or group behind the arson attack at £25,000. The 29-year-old businessman has made the move after police were unable to make any arrests three weeks after the incident. Arsonists struck the Sparkhillbased Bulls and Horses Auto Centre in Stratford Road in the early hours of a February morning, leading to £100,000 in
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damages and the destruction of important business documents. He said: “This was a cowardly act. I say to the people responsible don’t be so cowardly man up and face me. I want to know who is responsible for these attacks on my business. “That is why I am increasing the reward from £25,000 to £40,000. If anyone does have any information about who may be responsible please contact police. Whoever did this to me needs to be brought to justice.” People with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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MARCH 2016
SHAMMAS REHMAN TO SERVE ONLY 6 MONTHS IN PRISON Driver Shammas Rehman will serve just 6 months in jail for the fatal crash that resulted in the death of pregnant mom-oftwo Tahira Parveen. Parveen, 30, who was expecting her third child, was returning after taking her daughter to her first day of nursery, when she was struck by Rehman’s vehicle on Heybarnes Road in Small Heath. The unsuspecting mother was pinned against a wall, which collapsed on top of her resulting in her death. Zubair Hussain, husband of the late Mrs Parveen expressed anger at the sentence adding: “When a mother’s life is taken away, it leads to a huge vacuum that is difficult to fill, especially in this case. “My children will always carry the psychological burden of this terrible tragedy. “My faith, family and friends have enabled me to be strong in what is still a devastating tragedy.” 23-year-old Shammas rehman was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was due to face trial last month, but his guilty plea to the charge of causing death by careless driving was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service The court heard how Rehman had intended to drive the BMW to London after borrowing the car from a family friend who owned a car hire business. Christopher Hotten QC, defending, added Rehman was unfamiliar with the borrowed car as it more powerful then the vehicle he owned, as well as being a rear-wheel drive. Witnesses at the scene of the crash explained how he lost control of the car which then careened off the road, colliding with the young mother. Birmingham Crown Court also heard the BMW would have failed an MoT test due to a fault with its Dynamic Stability Control system. Rehman had spotted the warning light, but dismissed it, adjusting his driving to compensate the fault. Giving the final verdict, Judge Francis Laird told the 23-yearold: “You lost control and careered into wholly innocent pedestrians. “The consequences of your behaviour have been catastrophic. “The impact on the families has been devastating. “It is beyond belief how families can cope with such tragedy. “I have read letters from yourself, your father and others. “The combination of these documents paint a picture of a young man who is decent, lawabiding and sensitive. “I accept your remorse is not based on the predicament you are in here today, but it’s because of a genuine and deep-seated sadness for what happened. “You appear to be genuinely very sorry for what happened.”
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Birmingham City Council has joined forces with two city charities
Feeding the Homeless
"Midland Langar Seva Society is one of a number of amazing organisations helping the homeless in Birmingham and I'm proud of the way our city comes together to help people who have fallen on hard times. The volunteers are a credit to the city."
B
irmingham City Council has joined forces with two city charities to help improve the lives of hundreds of homeless people. From 22 February Midland Langar Seva Society (MLSS) will be offering a hot meal service for homeless people from the Digbeth headquarters of SIFA Fireside. The service, from 6.30-8pm, will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sikh charity MLSS has been providing free hot food every weekday evening in Birmingham City Centre for almost two years. The current service operates outdoors at the junction of Moor Street Queensway and Albert Street, meaning those attending have little or no protection against potential crime or exploitation. Now, with demand increasing, MLSS will operate from SIFA’s Allcock Street premises in Digbeth. The indoor service is initially a Birmingham City Council funded pilot scheme and once demand is assessed, organisers hope to offer additional services such as housing and crisis support, mental health and substance misuse services. MLSS volunteer and adviser Dr Sukhdev Singh said: "A number of people now rely on our service as their main source of nutrition, so I am pleased and proud to have helped MLSS and SIFA come together in an unprecedented collaboration to help
Evening Feed Service in collaboration with Sifa Fireside, Midland Langar Seva Society and Birmingham City Council
feed the homeless and poor in Birmingham." SIFA Fireside Chief Executive Cath Gilliver added: "We’ve been working with Midland Langar Seva for a while now and very much appreciate the support they provide for people who are homeless or otherwise vulnerable, so this new project is a natural extension of that, and we’re delighted that the Council is supporting our partnership." The new initiative was initially suggested by Cllr Narinder Kaur
Kooner who saw the potential to partner a daytime service offered by SIFA Fireside with the evening service offered by MLSS. Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Cllr Paulette Hamilton, who was happy to support, said: “Midland Langar Seva Society already provides a real lifeline to many people and once the new service is established at SIFA, our aim is to provide additional support for people who might otherwise find it difficult to access health and
housing services. “This is a perfect example of how partners working across the city can come together to improve the lives of vulnerable people in Birmingham.” Cllr Kaur Kooner added: "Midland Langar Seva Society is one of a number of amazing organisations helping the homeless in Birmingham and I'm proud of the way our city comes together to help people who have fallen on hard times. The volunteers are a credit to the city."
30K Crash-For-Cash Fails Elaborate scam leaves Birmingham gang of five with suspended jail terms
A Birmingham gang of five has been caught out by police following an elaborate crashfor-cash scam. Ringleader Mohammed Munir staged a road traffic accident with the assistance of accomplices, claiming £30,000 in insurance payments after facing difficulty in affording repayments on his Mercedes The group of five men were arrested after suspicions were raised at RSA, with whom 28-year-old Munir was registered. The insurance company soon discovered the supposed recovery company involved in the incident had not been contacted by Munir. Following sentencing, the group has received suspended jail terms and have been ordered to pay
£10,800 in compensation. RSA had been contacted by Munir to place his claim, with Maqsood Ahmed of Halesowen also contacting the company to claim his Citroen had crashed into the Mercedes parked in Lea Hall Road, Stechford. The pair claimed that both vehicles had been recovered by Road Accident Help, who supposedly charged the two men ‘excessively high’ storage fees. Personal injury claims were also made for Khalid and Kashif Mahmood, who were said to have been passengers in the Citroen, for whom the RSA submitted £8,000. City of London fraud police became involved in the case following raised suspicions when engineers examined the two cars. Following their arrests in January 2014, Munir’s phone was examined to uncover
messages concerning the crash-for-cash scam. Naveed Mohammed, a partner in Road Accident Help, was interviewed in connection with the case. Though he told police he had been contacted by Ahmed and Munir requesting their vehicles be recovered, there were no records of the calls. All five men pleaded guilty to their involvement and were charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. John Beadle, UK Head of Financial Crime and Counter Fraud at RSA, said: “This case once again demonstrates the serious consequences of fraud and the increasing severity of custodial sentences delivered to fraudsters. “I hope this serves as a successful deterrent to anyone considering committing fraud.”
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g. Donations can still be made to the MesmerEyez sponsored the #TeamOrange runners, contributing £7,000 towards their fundraisin /Teams/CovHalf16. iving.com www.justg page: team JustGiving #TeamOrange #TeamMesmerEyez runners via their
Charity runners raise over £43k for refugees A
Penny Appeal team, including The Apprentice stars, hit the streets to support people fleeing conflict
SHARMEEN MAKES A SPLASH AT THE OSCARS TURN TO PAGE 26
CLOSING ITS
DOORS “Running Coventry’s Half Marathon was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life! But I could not have got through it if it wasn't for all the support from my family and friends. Thank you to everyone who donated too, your donations are going to make a big difference by providing refugees with life essential resources.” - Samera Rehman
A GP practice facing turbulent times is set to close at the end of this month following news that its only doctor is soon to retire. Dubbed “inadequate” by health watchdogs, the Coventry-based Wyken Medical Centre will close its doors to patients on March 31. The 2,000 patients currently registered at the surgery are being requested to join another doctors’ surgery as soon as possible to avoid any further inconvenience. Dr Hemendra Pandya announced his retirement by way of a three months’ notice given to NHS England on January 1 of this year, having served a term of 20 years at the Wyken centre. Kiran Patel, medical director for NHS England (West Midlands), said: “Dr Pandya has served patients in the Wyken area in Coventry for many years and will be greatly missed by those who have received his care. We would like to wish him all the very best for the future. “The practice has written to all of Dr Pandya’s patients to give notice of the closure and to ask them to register with a new doctor. “The letter includes contact details for all GP practices in the area that are accepting new patients. “These practices are aware that new patients will be approaching them to register. “It is really important that patients register with a new doctor as soon as possible – particularly patients who have long-term health conditions such as diabetes or need regular medication.”
Find out about the campaign and donate at www.pennyappeal.org/appeal/run-for-their-lives or by calling 03000 11 11 11. To join #TeamOrange or find out about upcoming challenges and volunteer activities, visit www.pennyappeal.org/appeal/team-orange-volunteers.
Fake Taxi Driver Sentenced
A 53-year-old man has been sentenced after police found him impersonating a licensed private hire vehicle. Babu Elahi has received a suspended jail sentence after he was found touting for passengers on Birmingham’s busy Broad Street. The unemployed 53-year-old’s Volkswagen Passat was seen to display door stickers and bumper plates, suggesting it was licensed taxi.
However, when patrolling police approached the suspicious vehicle in late October last year, Mr Elahi was seen to be speeding off with two passengers in tow. The Aston local was said to have driven through no entry signs and as well as breaking the speed limit in a bid to escape a patrol car and was later arrested outside Ladywood Police Station. He initially claimed to have left his taxi ID badge at home, but later
checks showed that his vehicle was not registered as a private hire car and the council taxi plate displayed on his vehicle was said to belong to his brother. Elahi claimed he had driven a friend to new street on only one occasion, but Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras showed his Passat was regularly seen at the busy Birmingham location on weekends. Babu later admitted to counts of dangerous driving, fraud by false representation, and driving without the relevant insurance at Birmingham Crown Court. The Bogus Taxi-man was given a four-year jail term as well as being suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work in the community, and banned from driving for 12 months.
team of 75 runners from international humanitarian charity Penny Appeal hit the streets of Coventry this weekend, pounding the pavements for over 13 miles to raise money to support refugees. They took part in Coventry’s Half Marathon and far exceeded their fundraising targets, bringing in a massive £43,255.01 towards Penny Appeal’s Refugee Emergency campaign. The money will go on to provide vital aid to those fleeing conflict, with the charity’s teams on the ground in places like Lebanon, Syria and Greece, delivering things such as nutritious food, warm clothes and hygiene kits. Among the fundraising runners were Mergim Butaja and David Stevenson, former contestants on BBC’s The Apprentice. Mergim, whose family fled from war-torn Kosovo when he was just seven years old, said the challenge was a way of showing solidarity with those in desperate need. He said: “Despite the setbacks during training and a few muscular pains at the start I was determined to finish the race. Jog, sprint, walk, hop, roll or crawl – I was going to finish! “One thing that got me through was the positive mental mindset, which is so crucial in all aspects of life. Penny Appeal is a charity so close to my heart, and to raise money to help refugees, whose struggles I know for myself, was an honour.” Haroon Mota, Midlands Fundraising Manager for Penny Appeal, added: "Signing up is one thing but to commit to fundraising and training through the winter, then turning up on race day, takes a huge amount of courage and determination. I’m so proud of everyone!”
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Four Gaza Universities rebuilt by a Manchester based Charity Human Appeal, a Manchesterbased humanitarian aid charity, has completed a project where they rebuilt four Gaza universities. The three-month project saw Human Appeal plough £227,000 worth of donation into rebuilding the higher education facilities that will benefit 52,608 university students in the Palestinian territory. Al Azhar University, the Islamic University of Gaza (the IUG), the University College of Applied Science (the UCAS) and Al Aqsa University were all either directly or indirectly by the 2014 conflict with Israel and Human Appeal set out to help start the recovery of Gaza’s crippled higher education system. Al Azhar University suffered significant bomb damage during what was known as ‘Operation Protective Edge’, by Israeli forces. To help repair the destruction, Human Appeal undertook complete repairs, renovation and reconstruction of the university’s main campus building and provided educational essentials for Al Azhar’s students. At the IUG, Human Appeal provided financial support for students who became unable to pay their fees due to the economic destruction caused by the 2014 war. As well as this Human Appeal, provided the Islamic University of Gaza labs with laptops and upgrading the existing IT facilities for engineering students. UCAS University – which is the biggest applied science higher education facility in Palestine - also received structural repairs to its damaged buildings from Human Appeal, as well as donations in the form of lab equipment, computers, LCDs and smart board. At Al Aqsa University the charity, based in the Withington area of Greater Manchester, provided three ICT labs with desktop computers, printers and LCD projectors.
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21st century connectivity
• HS2: Celebrating Solihull (left to right): Martin Clarke (NEC), Bob Sleigh (Leader, Solihull Council), Caroline Spelman (MP for Meriden), Andy Cole (general manager, Touchwood), Paul Kehoe (chief executive, Birmingham Airport), Paul Faulkner (chief executive, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce) and John Callaghan (principal, Solihull College & University Centre).
H
S2 will give Solihull “21st century connectivity”, Caroline Spelman told a gathering of business leaders in the borough last night. The MP for Meriden was among key speakers at a Solihull Chamber of Commerce “Solihull
So Successful” dinner at Solihull College and University Centre. She told business leaders: “HS2 will act as a major draw for job creation and community success and will give Solihull 21st century connectivity.” She also praised Solihull for the
leadership provided by its Council and added: “The borough has strong leadership and this is the key to its success. Local leaders are right to explore new ideas. “The £500 million regeneration of North Solihull has transformed the lives of people who live there and
one indicator is rising educational attainment.” Ms Spelman spoke of the investment that Solihull had attracted, including the Genting Arena at the NEC which was chosen “above all other locations because of strong transport links”. Bob Sleigh, leader of Solihull Council, also highlighted the advantages of having the HS2 interchange on Solihull’s doorstep. “We will be the first people in the UK to feel the benefits of HS2 and we are proud to be its first station.” Coun Sleigh, who has been elected chairman of the shadow board for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), also outlined the plans that Solihull has to create a Garden City, which will embrace the HS2 interchange. He explained why the creation of the WMCA and co-operation with the Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership was so important. Paul Kehoe, chief executive of Birmingham Airport, said the success of the region “comes down to leadership”. He added: “The council is to be congratulated for taking some difficult decisions, around issues like the Combined Authority, and the bold plans for Garden City.” Other speakers included Martin Clarke, the NEC’s marketing director, and Andy Cole, general manager of Touchwood. A presentation was made to Jane Jackson, who is stepping down as director of Solihull Chamber, to take up a new role at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce headquarters in Edgbaston. She will be succeeded by Joan Smith.
SHAMMAS REHMAN TO SERVE ONLY 6 MONTHS IN PRISON Driver Shammas Rehman will serve just 6 months in jail for the fatal crash that resulted in the death of pregnant mom-of-two Tahira Parveen. Parveen, 30, who was expecting her third child, was returning after taking her daughter to her first day of nursery, when she was struck by Rehman’s vehicle on Heybarnes Road in Small Heath. The unsuspecting mother was pinned against a wall, which collapsed on top of her resulting in her death. Zubair Hussain, husband of the late Mrs Parveen expressed anger at the sentence adding:
“When a mother’s life is taken away, it leads to a huge vacuum that is difficult to fill, especially in this case. “My children will always carry the psychological burden of this terrible tragedy. “My faith, family and friends have enabled me to be strong in what is still a devastating tragedy.” 23-year-old Shammas rehman was initially charged with causing death by dangerous driving and was due to face trial last month, but his guilty plea to the charge of causing death by careless driving was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service.
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Five West Midlands Schools Set To Battle For Prestigious Award
Five schools from across the West Midlands are set to battle it out to be crowned as the region’s most enterprising school as part of a flagship education initiative driven by Mosaic, HRH The Prince of Wales’ mentoring charity. Teams of pupils from King’s Heath Boys, Grace Academy Darlaston, St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, Grace Academy Solihull and Grace Academy Coventry have already beaten off competition from 17 other schools in the region to reach the West Midlands Regional Final of Mosaic’s 2016 Enterprise Challenge competition on 8 March 2016. The final will see the teams go head-tohead in a Dragons’ Den style event in front of a prestigious panel of judges including Sultan Choudhury, CEO of Al Rayan Bank, Uzair Bawany, Managing Partner of Fairway Search Partners and Lucy Fairclough, Associate Director at KPMG. The winning team will then progress to the Enterprise Challenge Grand Final in London on 4 May 2016 where they will compete against the winning schools from the North West, South East, Yorkshire, Scotland and London itself, to be crowned national champions. Run annually, the Enterprise Challenge is a national competition that aims to inspire knowledge, raise aspirations, confidence, self-efficacy and long-term employability among secondary school pupils from some of the most deprived communities across the UK. The team crowned national champion on 4 May will receive a prize of £2,500 for their school and a further £500 to invest in developing their business idea and making it a commercial reality.
Tribute Paid to “Doting” Grandad NEWS
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ABDULLAH KHAN, 85, WAS KNOCKED DOWN IN A COLLISION OUTSIDE THE BULLRING
Police have launched an appeal for witnesses to come forward following a fatal car accident which left a ‘doting’ grandfather dead in Birmingham’s city centre. Abdullah Khan was struck down by a Peugeot 206 whilst crossing Park Street, outside the Bullring Shopping Centre. The 85-year-old received serious head, pelvic and arm injuries and was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital but died two days after the accident. Devastated by their loss, Abdullah’s family have paid tribute to him and have requested anyone with information regarding the incident to get in contact to aid the investigation. Abdullah’s family said:
“He was a doting husband, father and grandfather and will be sorely missed by all of his family. “We ask that anyone who knows or saw anything of the collision to contact the police.’’ The driver of the car was spoken to at the scene of the accident. The 32-yearold man is continuing to aid the police with their investigation. PC Claire Byrne, from West Midlands Police Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of Mr Khan at this tragic time. “We know that other people were around the area at the time of the collision and would urge anyone with information to contact the police on 101 and ask for PC Byrne at the Collision Investigation Unit.”
• Abdullah Khan was involved in a fatal RTC
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? Written By: Sejal Sehmi www.sejalsehmi.com twitter: @sejal_thefilm
O
n a chilly Sunday morning, my alarm goes off much earlier than it should do. The self-inflicted hangover post the wedding of the year, that of my best friend, has decided to surface rather rapidly. I quickly glance at my hands where the colour of the henna is surprisingly deep, yet the small and slightly visible gaps of where the pattern is fading prompts a sigh for a moment as that niggling question, which most Asian parents are always thinking, appears at the back of my mind “will it ever be my turn.?” That moment lasted 5 seconds, being single is the least of my concerns because in a few hours I would be making my way to the BBC studio to join a panel for International Women’s day with BBC Radio London’s Sunny and Shay. As a city worker, who writes features for South Asian magazines on social issues impacting British Indian women, and attempting to also document these experiences, it was a privilege to be able to speak on the same platform with Asian Woman Achievement winner Daman Kaur Mullhi, children’s book author Shweta Aggarwal and folk singer Kelly Oliver.
Sitting amongst these inspiring women alongside the lovely Sunny and Shay, we instantly warmed to each other yet were aware that we all wanted to know the answer to one question – when and how will the gender divide finally close? Within the public eye and reach, celebrating women’s successes through mainstream media and networking is certainly one avenue of acknowledging the achievements of such motivating women. But are women encouraging each other or celebrating themselves enough? Are we too modest in our successes? South Asian women in particular, have traditionally been raised in a culture, whereby they are often moulded into multiple roles, the wife, mother and homemaker, hence it’s often expected that multitasking is a pre-requisite as a personality trait. Whilst this trend is being diluted through generations, certainly from my own experience within social circles, personal and professional achievements can be almost dismissed because unless I have a ring on my finger, it’s assumed my life isn’t actually complete! (And yes that includes
some of my married friends who suddenly have all the wisdom in the world!) Is it easier to criticise women who are breaking the mould or striving for equality as a means of hiding our own insecurity or lack of encouragement from our own families. As spectators, we applaud the likes of Hilary Clinton or Malala as role models, but how much are we encouraging or even acknowledging the inspiring women within our own homes? What about those women who have sacrificed their dreams and aspirations without batting an eyelid for the sake of family and loved ones So for this International Women’s Day, I’ve decided to bring my inspiration closer to home, where the accomplishments of these women, is nothing short of moving. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to screen my documentary, The Evolution of the British Indian Woman as part of Kingston Connection’s Story festival. These films were an insight into their personal journeys, not just from India to the UK, but their continuing paths here in London. They shared their joys, sadness and how they overcame obstacles and found strength within their communities and above all, how they had evolved as British Indian women. The journey of the Indian woman, my grandmother often told me, would be met
with the expectation to be moulded into multiple roles, thus the preparation for these responsibilities, during her childhood, was installed in a woman’s mind from the moment she was aware of her own being. Now, at 82, and having lived here in the UK with her children and now grandchildren, for over thirty years, her tired eyes tell a different story. My mother too, was commended for her selfmotivation and aspiration to build an independent life in a foreign country. Defying social norms with an inter-caste marriage, her acceptance of letting go of relations that would never heal filled the audience with empathy, many who agreed, that this issue still exists for many British Asians in this country. Pushing the boundaries of her own strength, she received immense praise for her infinite efforts in wanting to give her own daughters the best start in life. An individual’s past experiences often reflect the decisions they make today, and the emotional thread that interweaves within each of these generations from both my grandmother and my mum, is that of the importance of selfidentity. So for this International Women’s Day ladies, celebrate the wonderful women that you all are, as you are! We all have something to contribute!
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HINDUS COMMEND DUDLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS DISCOVERING “OTHER” FAITHS
Construction to start on major new centre for disabled people in Selly Oak To find out more about the TouchBase Pears centre, or to donate to the project visit: www.letsbuildtouchbase.org
Hindus have commended schoolchildren in Dudley (West Midlands, England) celebrating and learning about “other” faiths for three days, calling it a step in the positive direction Hosted by Sledmere Primary School, this Faith City event was joined by children of five other area primary schools and discovered more about Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism with a high-level engagement and interest, and included asking challenging questions by intrigued children, reports suggest. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that thus opening-up the Dudley primary schoolchildren to major world religions would make them well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It also made a good business sense to know the beliefs of “others” in a global community. Moreover, students should have knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society. Zed, who is President of
Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that objectively deciphering Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism; to schoolchildren of increasingly diverse, plural and multicultural Dudley would widen their horizons. This multi-faith dialogue on religion would bring more mutual understanding and trust and loyalty in the community and all primary schools of United Kingdom should indulge in such exercises. Rajan Zed points out: Religion is complex. Religion is powerful. Religion is much more than our own particular tradition. There are interconnections and interdependencies between religions and there are differences. If we dig deeper, we shall find that we have more in common than in conflict. The event host, Sledmere Primary School in Dudley, calls itself “a fully inclusive school" with the tagline "Be The Best You Can Be", promotes "open, respectful conversations" and challenges "All forms of racism and prejudice".
O
n Friday, in Selly Oak, national deafblind charity, Sense, will hold a ground-breaking ceremony to launch construction of a new major centre for disabled people. The TouchBase Pears centre, which is due to launch in summer 2017, will provide vital services to help disabled people in the West Midlands lead more independent lives. Birmingham City Council Leader, John Clancy, will be joined by Sense Chief Executive Gill Morbey, and champions of the project to mark the official start of the build. The deafblind ‘champions’ have contributed to the planning of
the project, and at the event will bury a commemorative time-capsule, which highlights visions of what they hope the world will be like for disabled people in the future. Announced in December by the charity’s Patron, HRH the Princess Royal, the project is estimated to take 18 months to complete and is a key part of the regeneration of Selly Oak. In addition to creating over 130 jobs in the local area, it will also provide a welcoming hub for wider community services, such as a café, arts and performance area, sensory garden and gallery.
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Every element of the centres fullyaccessible design has been developed in consultation with children and adults with a wide range of disabilities to ensure it fully meets their needs. Sense will use the centre to run a number of specialist services, supporting people with sensory impairments to learn new skills, build their confidence, develop communication skills and take part in community-based activities. The cost of construction is expected to total £14 million, and the charity has a fundraising target of £5 million. £1.4 million has already been raised from trusts and foundations.
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THE ASIAN TODAY Cheating Watches Warning Teachers raise concerns about digital watches covertly displaying notes during exams
Teachers are raising concerns about the easy availability of “cheating watches” which offer students an unfair advantage during exams. The digital watches, currently being sold online, can hold data readily accessible whilst an exam is taking place and are marketed as being "perfect for covertly viewing exam notes directly on your wrist". Able to display anything from text files, images or video, the watches include an “emergency button” to quickly switch from the hidden data to a conventional digital clock face. However, a deputy head teacher from Bath has warned that should the hidden market continue to flourish, stressed students could easily be tempted into cheating. Deputy head Joe Sidders of Monkyon Combe Senior School in Bath, has described the rise of these cheat
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watches as being a “nightmare to administer”, and hopes that exam boards will take a tough stance on the use of these watches. He added that he hopes businesses would be challenged in making such devices available. Such watches, whether of the Smart variety or digital ones containing concealed content, are banned under rules prohibiting the use of electronic devices during exams. The Joint Council for Qualifications, speaking on behalf of exam boards, said, "A candidate found in possession of anything used for cheating - like these watches would be reported to the awarding organisation whose examination was affected. "This could result in the student being disqualified from the exam and the overall qualification."
Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RJ
JOIN OUR BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND HELP TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH LEARNING Over 2,200 students choose to study A levels at Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth 1 College and your expertise can support the College achieve its ambition for excellence. As a governor your insight, knowledge and ideas will widen the perspective, knowledge and skills of our board of governors (Corporation) in leading this very successful and well respected Sixth Form College.
EDUCATION
Finding a first role in which you can be yourself WRITTEN BY: NYLA NASEER TWITTER: @ADVMERIT
H
ow many people do you know who complain about their jobs? Quite a few I imagine: I know I do. When comes to unpicking what actually makes people feel dissatisfied there are many reasons, from low pay to a lack of appreciation. There is one factor, however that is often neglected and that can make the difference between job satisfaction and discontent. That factor is the extent to which you can ‘be yourself’. When you are thinking about which career to follow it is important to choose a sector that chimes with your personality. So, if you
are gregarious and loud, a sector where being very outgoing is a nono, such as counselling, may not be a good fit. Lots of professional jobs require you to be able to write effectively but some require more desk-work than others. Check how much report-writing is expected if this is a big deal for you. Let’s imagine that you have not made a dreadful mistake in your choice of degree and are confident that the sector you have your sights on is the right one for you. The next challenge is to find a company or organisation where you can actually show your true colours personality-wise. To help
with this try and find out how other employees describe the culture: is it open and accepting of difference or hierarchical and rigid? Is the team one where you will be respected and nurtured? Although the temptation may be there to just apply for anything and everything when you are just starting out, it is wise to be as discerning as you can, as one bad experience can have an impact on your future choices. However, whilst it is good to seek an employer that accepts and values you, don’t be unrealistic about this. Most professional jobs involve a great deal of ongoing learning that involves a
certain expected loss of freedom, especially at the start of your career. As a junior lawyer or doctor, for example you will be undergoing the earnest gathering of knowledge and experience that gives you credibility. Even in the most serious jobs you should still have the freedom to express your personality within the limits of the role. In particular, it is right that everyone can make valid comments and be encouraged to add to ideas, whatever their status and without feeling inhibited. Feeling confident about being yourself is a great way to continue throughout your career.
Teacher Brain Drain
We are looking to appoint someone who can demonstrate sound business acumen; an individual who has a track record of operating strategically. Perhaps you are that person who wants to develop their expertise through this voluntary role and help lead the College through a challenging period for six form colleges. The broader your vocational background and cultural experience the better in further encouraging the success of our students. The Corporation has a strong commitment to equality and diversity and encourages applications from under-represented groups which may include women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
For further information on becoming a governor please contact Peter Butcher on 0116 2472905 or email vacancies@wqeic.ac.uk. Application packs can be downloaded from our website: www.wqeic.ac.uk Closing date for applications: 24 March 2016
• Sir Michael Wilshaw
England’s schools are grabbling with a recruitment crisi, Ofsted has warned. The education watchdog has said lucrative pay packages have been luring thousands of teachers abroad. Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw has said that more people left the UK to teach abroad (18,000) than the number of individuals who trained (17,000) on post-graduate routes in England. He called for financial incentives, dubbed “golden handcuffs”, to be considered by policy makers to aid
in the retention of teachers in the UK state system. The Department for Education has challenged the chief inspector’s views, saying that it was disingenuous to imply that its teacher recruitment efforts were failing. However, the claim follows news that the government has failed to meet its teacher trainee recruitment target for the previous four years, leading to a shortage of teachers in the majority of subject areas with many schools facing difficulties in recruiting replacement staff.
MARCH 2016
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EDUCATION
Washwood Heath Academy, Burney Lane, Stechford, Birmingham, B8 2AS Tel: 0121 675 7272 Email: enquiry@washwoodheath.bham.sch.uk Twitter: @washwoodheath • Head of Academy: Heather McLachlan
Feeding The Homeless
W
ashwood Heath Academy catering staff supported the homeless by supplying food to the Salvation Army to distribute on a freezing
January cold evening. Staff headed to the city to St Martins Church opposite the market stalls in Birmingham City Centre in support.
Mosaic Connect Event
• Heather McLachlan (Head of Academy) DJ Noreen Khan (BBC Asian Network)
EAL Students & Parents Visit Council House WHA students and parents had the opportunity to explore The Birmingham Council House. It is the home of Birmingham City Council, and houses the seat of local government for the city. It provides offices for both employed council officers, including the Chief Executive and elected council members, plus the council chamber, Lord Mayor’s Suite, committee rooms and a large and ornate banqueting suite, complete with minstrels gallery. The first-floor's exterior balcony is used by visiting dignitaries and victorious sports teams, to address crowds. The students and parents were so overwhelmed by the grand design they needed a cup of tea, so they visited the tea room at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
•
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e wish to welcome our new Mosaic team of mentors for
2016. Mosaic was founded by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in 2007. Mosaic links young people with positive role models
• Nusrat Sadiq Partnership Development Manager & Claire Carr Client Manager - Lloyds figures surrender their time from their busy schedule to inspire and empower our next generation. They reinforce belief
Mosaic Mentors
Paula McGee (Birmingham City University), Laura L Taylor (Shakespeare Martineau law firm), Claire Carr (Lloyds Bank), Heather McLachlan (Head of Academy ), Joey Islam (Jaguar Land Rover) , Shabir Ahmed (Service Birmingham)
Key Note Speakers
Key Note Speakers Week is a termly programme for Washwood Heath Academy. Birmingham’s leading
Mosaic held it’s annual Mosaic: Connect event at Al Rayan Bank in Edgbaston. The evening was a celebration of the work being done, within the region. Mosaic intervenes to encourage and support high aspirations and raise selfesteem amongst our young people through connecting industry professionals to school students. The event hosted by Becky Mitchell, West Midlands Regional Manager vowed continued support to schools through the charity. DJ Noreen Khan from BBC Asian Network spoke about female heroes and the importance of ensuring the next generation progress in leaps and bounds.
in young people and ignite their passion to study hard and give them great courage to achieve a successful future.
to boost their confidence, self-efficacy and long-term employability. It provides mentoring support by inspirational role models, tailored to the needs of particular school students. Our volunteers range from a variety of industries.
Matholympics 2016 On Friday 5th of February 2016 we were fortunate enough to have our very first ever Matholympics, planning and delivery was courtesy of Stans Cafe. A fun packed Maths day with lots of exciting events taking place. It was a very close competition between the houses but in the end Chamberlain took the Cup for this year. This was a particularly valuable resource for students who are not
necessarily mathematical, but who want to understand Maths better. The key principle at play was that anyone with a basic understanding of mathematics should understand problems, even if the solutions require a great deal more knowledge. Thus allowing more dynamical systems and creating an incentive to find elegant, deceptively simple-looking problems to solve using more comprehensive techniques.
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BLOOD IN URINE Dr Jyoti Sood warns South Asians “If you notice blood in your urine, even if it’s just the once, you must tell your doctor straightaway” Dr Jyoti Sood, who features in the latest Public Health England (PHE) Be Clear on Cancer campaign, knows all too well about the importance of seeing your doctor straightaway when you notice symptoms like blood in your urine. She sadly lost her grandfather to kidney cancer when he was in his 70s. As she recounts the chain of events she says, “He had experienced blood in his urine for a good few months but didn’t realise what it was. By chance I saw the blood in the toilet after he had been. When I asked him about it he said he had discussed it with friends and they thought it was probably caused by the beetroot he was eating.” “I encouraged him to make an appointment to see his GP to check what was causing his symptom. He was reluctant to see his GP but after he had a urine test the results showed it was in fact blood in his urine and not beetroot as he thought. Unfortunately because he had delayed seeking help his kidney cancer was detected at a late stage, it was aggressive and soon after he was diagnosed he passed away. If he had been diagnosed and treated earlier, I believe he would have survived because cancer is more treatable if found early.” This experience has made Dr Jyoti Sood very passionate about raising awareness of the symptoms of bladder and kidney cancers as well as tackling cultural beliefs that can delay people in going to see their doctor; she says “The key symptom for both bladder and kidney cancers is blood in urine, but people sometimes experience other symptoms. Other bladder cancer symptoms include pain while urinating or a urinary tract infection that is difficult to treat or comes back quickly after treatment. A pain in the
side, below the ribs that doesn’t go away or weight loss can be symptoms of kidney cancer.” “I feel very strongly that people should go to their GP as soon as they notice these symptoms and let their GP advise on the most appropriate treatment. People should avoid self-diagnosing and letting friends and family guide them with alternative remedies.” “There are many myths about cancer within South Asian communities, for example, some believe that changing your eating habits or having a detox can cure cancer without any medical intervention. These cultural beliefs, along with patients feeling embarrassed or ashamed, can lead to people hiding their symptoms and seeking medical help late, resulting in poorer outcomes.” She goes on to talk about other issues, “For some not being able to communicate in English can delay people in seeing their doctor. However, many people don’t realise that they can request an interpreter in their chosen language, so language shouldn’t be a barrier.” Dr Jyoti Sood talks about why she agreed to be the face of the ‘Blood in Urine’ campaign, she says “As a GP, I feel very responsible; I want to encourage people to pay attention to this campaign and to talk to their GP about their symptoms. If one life is saved as a result, then I feel I’ve made a difference!” She concludes by saying, “Remember to always look before you flush the toilet and if you notice blood in your urine, even if it’s ‘just the once’ don’t ignore it or try to treat it yourself – please tell your doctor and they will advise you appropriately. We want to see patients with these symptoms, it might not be anything serious, but these cancers are more treatable if they are found early.”
Are you on Twitter? To find out what is going on around our hospitals, and for latest news and updates follow us @heartofengland. Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust staff provides general and specialist hospital care across Heartlands Hospital, Solihull Hospitals, Good Hope Hospital and Birmingham Chest Clinic. The Trust also provides community health services across the borough of Solihull.
MARCH 2016
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NATIONAL
Body found on Golf Course P
olice forces are trying to demystify the movements Of Saima Ahmed, a woman who passed through Birmingham before being found dead on a golf course in Edinburgh. After a detailed forensic examination of the area, officers confirmed the identity of the body found as the missing London local Saima Ahmed, who was reported missing in August last year. A national appeal for information has been launched as police try to distinguish what took her from London to Edinburgh where body was discovered. Saima Ahmed was caught on CCTV at Wembley Central station before she came to Birmingham. The 36-year-old is said to have passed through Birmingham, and officers are keen to establish why she did and where she went in the city. Head of crime operations for Edinburgh CID, Detective Chief Inspector Martin MacLean has said: “I have met personally with Saima Ahmed’s family and have passed my condolences to them at this tragic and extremely difficult time. “I have given them a commitment that we are doing everything we can to establish why Saima travelled to Edinburgh and the exact circumstances that
led to her death. “At this stage of our inquiry we continue to treat Saima’s death as unexplained, however there is no evidence of criminality as matters currently stand. “Clearly there are a number of matters and facts we have yet to establish, and it remains a mystery to Saima’s family why she travelled to Edinburgh.” Her exact route is currently unknown. Police believe she may have travelled to Hemel Hempstead, Birmingham and then on to Edinburgh. Police believe she left her home in Wembley on August 30 last year. A timeline of her movements have been issued from that day from CCTV footage. Ahmed has been described as 5ft 5, medium build with straight black shoulder length hair. She was last seen wearing a dark long v-neck top, black trousers, black shoes and a black jacket. In a statement, Ms Ahmed’s family said: “We, Saima’s family, are extremely saddened and shocked by the death of Saima. “She was a very loving and caring person who was part of a very close family. “We are hoping someone can provide some information as to Saima’s journey on August 30 and help us to understand what happened to her.”
"She was a very loving and caring person who was part of a very close family..."
A Royal Tour of India The Duke and Duchess to Visit Iconic Taj Mahal in Spring Trip to India
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to visit the Taj Mahal as part of their tour of India later this year, a spokesman for Kensington Palace has confirmed. In a move that follows in the footsteps of Princess Diana, William and Kate are said to be eagerly anticipating the trip which comes 24 years after Princess Diana was captured in a photograph sitting by herself outside the Taj Mahal during a visit with the Prince of Wales. The week-long trip in which will feature a visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan will begin when the couple arrive in India on April 10 and will be the first time the Duke and Duchess visit the countries, the source added. William, 33, and Kate, 34, will visit the World Heritage site on April 16, crowning their tour of the region by stopping at the India’s most
famous landmark where they will thank the country’s people for their hospitality. A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “The Duke and Duchess are very much looking forward to their tours of India and Bhutan. “Their visit to India will be an introduction to a country that they plan to build an enduring relationship with. “They will pay tribute to India's proud history, but also are keen to understand the hopes and aspirations of young Indian people and the major role they will play in shaping the 21st century.” The source added: “This tour, coming shortly before the Queen's 90th birthday, will also allow the Duke and Duchess to pay tribute to Her Majesty's huge contribution to diplomacy in Britain and the Commonwealth.”
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Sanjay Dutt’s a Free Man
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Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt has been released from prison earlier than anticipated read more inside - page 24
Read the full interview on our website Be honest, Is it difficult working with your brother? Do you still squabble? Jas: Everyone always asks us that, but no, not that much. Everyone has slight disagreements, but we just get on with it really.
JAS AND DEEPS ARE SET TO PUMP UP THE DANCE FLOOR
MAHARAJAS MAKE SOME NOISE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD NOW FROM ITUNES AND AMAZON PLAY
M
aharajas a.k.a. brothers Jas and Deeps are set to pump up the dance floor with their new music production. The brand new track ‘Giddeh Vich’ is set alight by the vocals of one of Punjab’s finest talents, Aman Sandhu and features rapper HMC, who is no stranger to the Asian music scene, with huge hits from ‘Soni Lagdi’ to ‘Sukshinder Shinda.’ The two London based brothers, born and raised in Ilford, began their musical journey DJ’ing for parties before setting up one of UKs most reputable road-shows. Set to make their first venture into the music industry, the duo speaks to The Asian Today about their journey so far.
Where did you get the inspiration for Giddeh Vich? Deeps: A lot of it has got to do with when we started DJ’ing in the early 2000’s music was going through a huge change. This style of music went away a little bit, if you remember music from that time it was totally different to what people are releasing now. Jas: We thought let’s do something a bit old school, the Bhangra-garage vibe disappeared a little bit and you don’t hear it that much anymore. What we listen to is a heavy influence, as garage is one of my favourite genres.
What have you tried to play that you’ve completely flopped at? Jas: Fguitar for me! Deeps: I don’t think I’ve ever completely flopped at anything, maybe if I tried playing a violin that wouldn’t work! Were percussionists really, our hand falls into percussion. So the dhol is obviously a big part of your life, what other instruments do you like to play? Jas: For me it is definitely dhol, I had an amazing journey playing the dhol; it took me to amazing venues with amazing audiences. Deeps: When you play one instrument, you want to try them all, we’ll try and play anything, but it takes devotion and practice. You’ve got to put the time, effort and dedication into it. Has music always been a big part of your life? Deeps: At a young age, we were passed on a tabla from my grandfather, we started taking lessons and from there it picked up. We started performing and we eventually picked up the dhol. Jas: We’ve spent time on it and we’ve put most our lives into the instrument, and generally into music and performing. Before we knew it, we were in the DJ line so the next step just made sense for us to come in with our debut single.
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Move over Pamela! That’s right, there’s a new beach babe in town! Following her success from American hit TV show Quantico, Bollywood beauty Priyanka Choprah is making a leap from small screen to the big screen as she prepares to make her Hollywood
DEADPOOL’S DOPINDER! This year’s new release ‘Deadpool’ had Marvel-manias flocking to the cinemas, and one character appears to have made a lasting mark. No, it wasn’t Ryan Reynolds with his satirical portrayal of the antihero; it was none other than his cab driver Dopinder, played by Indian actor Karan Soni. Not only did his 10-minute appearance make him a huge success in India, his social media profiles have become instantly more popular. Karan’s Instagram and Twitter profiles saw a huge increasing in the number of followers after the release of ‘Deadpool’ bagging him a verified Twitter account! When talking about his role, Soni explains: “the response I have been ¬getting from people is ¬unbelievable. It was hardly a 10-minute role, and honestly, I never expected people to notice my part. “Since the film got an R ¬rating, I didn’t expect it to release in India. So it was a pleasant -surprise. My dad went to the theatre (in Delhi) to get the tickets, but the show was houseful. He had to wait for another slot!” he added. We hope to see him reprise his role in ‘Deadpool 2’!
debut in none other than the anticipated ‘Baywatch’ remake. Priyanka, who was seen enjoying herself at the Oscars, is set to join the star-studded cast which includes Hollywood poster-boy Zac Efron and Muscle-man Dwayne Johnson in the big screen adaptation of the much-loved ’90s TV series. Dwayne, who is producing as well as starring in the film, shared his excitement at Choprah joining the
cast by posting a video of the two of them having a blast on set, where he described Chopra as 'one of the biggest stars in the world.' Priyanka has broken away from her usual roles, and is set to play the evil villain in the big-screen adaptation of the iconic TV show. She looked fabulous while on set in white-framed sunglasses with a voluminous wavy blow-out hairstyle.
There is no easy walk to freedom, my friends.”
They all know me!
Due to huge public demand, a further six shows have been added to the Citizen Khan: They All Know Me! UK tour starring Adil Ray in April and May 2016. Tickets for the first three shows in Wembley, Manchester and Birmingham were so popular, that the much loved self-appointed community
leader Mr Khan has announced extra performances in Bradford, Nottingham, Coventry, Leicester and a second performance in London. Mr Khan, Community Leader adds: "Hello. It's without question a real honour for the people from some of these average towns and
cities to have me come visit. I'm very excited about this tour, especially the prospect of checking in to the nation's Travel Lodges. And no, my in laws in Bradford and my cousins in Leicester, Coventry, Blackburn, Nottingham and Leeds you can't have any free tickets. Get lost."
Pitt & Padukone? Its no surprise that Bollywood beauty Deepika Padukone is making waves in Hollywood with her role in ‘XXX: The Return of Xander Cage.’ The third instalment of the action-packed trilogy, also starring Samuel L. Jackson, Ruby Rose and Nina Dobrev, is set to hit theatre in January 2017. But Deepika’s got the rumour mill turning once again, just months after landing the lead role in the action movie with Vin Diesel , reports are claiming that the ‘Piku’ actress is set to
star in a movie alongside none other than Hollywood royalty, Brad Pitt. Entertainment website Pinkvilla reported the exciting collaboration between the equally talented duo, something i’m sure we’d all love to see! When he visited India in 2012, Brad expressed his admiration for Bollywood, stating: “I would love to work in a Bollywood film as there is so much drama and colour in the films there.” Perhaps we’ll see Brangelina’s debut in Bollywood!
Sanjay Dutt’s a Free Man Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt has been released from prison earlier than anticipated for being well behaved while he was on the inside. The 56-year-old star, best known for his role as a lovable gangster in the Munnabhai movies, was locked up for firearms offences linked to the 1993 Mumbai blasts which killed 257 people and injured 713. The actor was committed on the basis of buying firearms from the bombers. He defended himself by saying the weapons were necessary for protecting his family from the Hindu-Muslim rioting that was going on at the time. Dutt’s initial six year sentence was reduced by one year and he was moved to the Pune Jail in 2013 to complete his five year jail term, but the star was recently granted a remission of 144 days due to good behaviour. Sanjay was seen kissing the ground as he walked out of the prison a free man, and was driven to the airport to begin his journey home to Mumbai. The star expressed his gratitude, saying: "I am out here because of their [fans'] support. There is no easy walk to freedom, my friends.”
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Jus Reign: Turban Trauma
Jasmeet Singh, better known as YouTuber Jus Reign, ran into a spot of trouble recently at San Francisco’s International Airport when travelling back to his home town of Toronto. The Punjabi YouTube sensation explained how he was taken to a private room and asked to remove his turban by airport officials, despite already having passed through a body-scanner and being patted down from head to toe with the metal detector. Jasmeet told how he initially refused to remove his turban
and asked to speak to a manager, who was in no hurry to accommodate him, eventually complying with the request. When Jaspreet asked for a mirror to put his turban back on, a private process that can take up to 15 minutes, his request was dismissed and he was told there was a bathroom out in the terminal. The incident comes just weeks after Hollywood actor Waris Ahluwalia was also stopped at an airport and asked to remove his turban, causing global outrage.
Albert Square set for Revamp! Shabnam Bows Out As the new renovations come to ‘EatEnders’ the Square bids farewell to Shabnam Masood, played by Rakhee Thakrar. An emotional Shabnam left with her on-screen daughter after tearfully calling time on her marriage to Kush Kazemi. Shabnam’s departure marks the end of Thakrars two year stint on the BBC soap. Some of her most memorable story lines included the stillbirth of her son
MARCH 2016 DESI XPRESS 25
WINNERS OF THE 'BEST LOCAL NEWSPAPER' AT THE ASIAN MEDIA AWARDS 2013
It appears ‘EastEnders’ wellknown Albert Square is set to get a makeover, one that may include a prominent place of worship for the soaps Muslim characters. The renovations will cost almost £15 million according to a report in The Sun, with BBC executives now in talks to finalise the contract. If the project gets the go ahead,
Zaair in touching scenes last year, as well as her wedding to Kush. Talking about the impact of her plotline, Thakrar said: "I'm so proud to have been part of that. I've seen how much it's meant to so many parents and families. Stillbirth needs to be talked about and I hope our story in some way helps people to do that. It's truly been one of the best experiences of my life."
She added: "Every now and again a job and a group of people change your life. I can definitely say that about EastEnders. I’m so grateful for having the chance to play Shabnam Masood and particularly her story. It feels like the right time for both myself and the character to move on. I’m very thankful for my time on the show - it’s been brilliant.”
From One Pioneer to another Sonam Kapoor’s portrayal of Pan Am flight attendant Neerja Bhanot has tinsel town abuzz with congratulatory wishes for the star, and amongst her fans is none other than Pakistani female-education pioneer, Malala Yousafzai. The film, which has managed to garner critical acclaim and praise for its brilliant depiction, portrays Neerja Bhanot’s brave sacrifice to protect the lives of the passengers on Pan Am Flight 73
the potential mosque will be located on a street leading to Albert Square. A spokesperson for the soap adds: "The new locations for the exterior set build are still to be decided. However, as announced previously, the new set will better reflect the East End of London on screen as well as increase the potential for storylines."
in an incident which took place at Pakistan’s Karachi airport. From one fearless lady to another, Noble Prize laureate Malala yousafzai, who survived a targeted Taliban attack, was seen attending a private screening of the film in London. Sonam personally thanked the female-education activist for watching the film, saying: “Malala said ‘I am stronger than fear’ and for #Neerja ‘Fear gave her courage’ Thankyou.”
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Manish Gajjar Hindi Film Adviser for Vue Cinemas
TOP10
BOLLYWOOD MOVIE OF THE MONTH
KAPOOR & SONS Director: Shakun Batra Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Fawad Afzal Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Ratna Pathak
This is a family drama focusing on two brothers Rahul and Arjun. They have returned home to be with their ailing 90 yrs old grandfather who recently had a heart attack. They reckon he has not long to live. Good looking Rahul seems to be living a comfortable life in a London-based apartment. He is pursuing a course in architecture and writing. Meanwhile younger brother Arjun also an aspiring writer, living in New Jersey is struggling to make ends meet. But when these brothers meet in India tension rises due to their parents’ preferential treatment. Whilst Rahul is perfect in their parents’ eyes they find Arjun immature in more ways than one. Life comes to a head when Arjun instantly strikes a chord with the attractive, flamboyant, young girl Tia. Rahul meets Tia as well regarding a business deal they are trying to strike and even here there is a certain spark right from the word go. Soon when this family goes on a vacation one of the brothers finally reveals his sexuality. It's a big shock for his dysfunctional family. And how they resolve their issues and bring back normality back into their lives for the crux of this modern family drama. The film has been made by Shakun Batra, who had made his directorial debut with Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu. This will be the second time that rumored couple Alia and Sidharth will be seen together with another on screen crackling chemistry. The film also stars Rishi Kapoor and Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. The musical score is gaining popularity amongst fans especially Kar Gayi Chull and the romantic song Bolna involve all the three young stars. After starring in Brothers where Sidharth Malhotra pumped iron to gain body weight, in Kapoor & Sons he had to reduce by 10 kilograms in a matter of few weeks to get a boyish look for his character.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE ONLINE
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WITH KAMAL CHOPRA
KAM CHOPRA
BOLLYWOOD 1
Kar Gayi Chull - Kapoor & Sons
2
Jabra Fan - Fan
3
Sanam Re - Sanam Re
4
Soch na Sake - Airlift
5
High Heels Te Nachche - Ki & Ka
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Yeh Fitoor Mera - Fitoor
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Rock Tha Party - Rocky Handsome
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Rock Tha Party - Rocky Handsome
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Dil Cheez Tujhe De Di - Airlift
10 Mar Jaayen - Loveshhuda
BHANGRA 1
Resham Anmol - Cheta Karda
2
Garry Sandhu ft GV - Jaanu
3
Imran Khan - Hattrick
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Mankirt Aulakh - Charda Siyaal
5
Mukhtar Sahota - Ishq Yaar
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Shaan & Verinder - Yaar Nachda
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Preet Hundal - Ignore List
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Babbal Rai - Deor Bharjayii
9
Maharajas - Giddeh Vich
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Jassi Gill - Att Kardi
UK 1 7 Years - Lukas Graham 2 Work - Rihanna ft Drake 3 I Took a Pill in Ibiza - Mike Posner 4 Lush Life - Zara Larsson 5 Fast Car - Jonas Blue & Dakota 6 Pillowtalk - Zayn 7 Hymn For The Weekend - Coldplay 8 Love Yourself - Justin Bieber 9 When We Were Young - Adele 10 Stitches - Shawn Mendes
BOLLYWOOD FILM TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS MONTH
Kapoor & Sons Since 1921
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“I was given the task of composing, writing and singing the song. I had a lot of fun with it. It’s like an interesting take on the item number concept and the trend of acquiring abs to ensure a hit song,” said the 35-year-old actor. He added that the song has an old Bollywood touch to it, with a catchy beat and lyrics. “Ever ybody who hears it for the first time bursts out laughing,” he said. The singer went through rigorous training to beef up for his special role. ”It was a strict schedule of three months to get into shape. I was off carbs and sugar and worked out twice a day before the shoot commenced,” said the singer. “After it [training] was over, I binged on ice cream and parathas for a month,” he added. Ali Zafar, confessed that he and the makers of Tere Bin Laden made histor y together by casting a Pakistani actor as a protagonist in a Bollywood film. “It was like we made histor y with not only the first film of our careers, which went on to garner a cult following, but also the fact that it was probably the first venture where a Pakistani actor was cast as the protagonist, paving the way for several others,” said Ali.
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Feast of Varanasi
Ali Zafar reveals details about cameo role in Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive akistani singer and actor Ali Zafar’s cameo role in Tere Bin Laden: Dead or Alive has many questioning why he wasn’t chosen for the lead role in the upcoming film, the actor explains it was solely because he wanted to opt for something ‘challenging’. “When the sequel came underway, Abhishek and I were excited about it but as an actor I wanted to tr y something challenging. So he decided to cast me in an interesting number,” said Ali in a recent inter view. “I felt as an actor I’ve already enacted the role of a reporter in Tere Bin Laden and would want to tr y something challenging even if it’s a special part. In the west, you would often see even big actors like Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp feature in a surprisingly awkward yet interesting part. That’s the whole idea. Abhishek got excited and gave a really interesting angle to my role which obviously I can’t disclose right now but when you’ll watch the film you would understand why, when, how, what?” The ‘interesting number’ Ali speaks of is an item song, Six Pack Abs. The song in the upcoming film has been written, composed and sung by him.
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Having Akshay Kumar and John Abraham share screen space leaves their fans feeling nostalgic as the paring of these actors have always proved to be a grand success in the past. They have jointly delivered major hits like Housefull 2, Garam Masala and Desi Boyz. Akshay was seen riding on a bike and looks like we are in for a treat with some breath-taking stunts by the superstar. Akshay is no stranger to the emirates. He filmed Baby in Abu Dhabi in 2014 and a year later, he was in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah to film his recent box-office success Airlift. When asked about his frequent visits to the UAE the actor said, “It’s always nice shooting in the UAE ,” to The National earlier during a visit to Dubai to promote Airlift. “Plus, you just can’t shoot like this in Mumbai. They won’t close a part of the street for you – they’d rather close down the shoot.” This news surely makes us wonder what Akshay’s character will be in this movie that also features Varun Dhawan and Jacqulin Fernandez in lead roles.
or fans of independent cinema and of the thriller genre, the gritty and suspense-filled Feast Of Varanasi by British director Rajan Kumar Patel won’t disappoint. Just as the title suggests, the thriller provides a visual feast of the great northern Indian city of Varanasi – the spiritual capital of India situated on the banks of the River Ganges. The Feast Of Varanasi will receive its world premiere at the 18th London Asian Film Festival on 5 March 2016. Boasting stunning production design and cinematography, dark themes, powerhouse performances and edge-of-yourseat storyline, the cross-over feature provides a peak into the complex, sacred and colourful world of this ancient city, once described by the American author Mark Twain as ‘older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and twice as old as all of them put together.’ Feast Of Varanasi is a compelling, tense drama, which will throw up some unexpected surprises for even the most avid of thriller fans. Filmed entirely on location in the ancient city of Varanasi in northern India, the feature showcases a talented supporting cast including: Tannishtha Chatterjee (BRICK LANE) as Inspector Rajveer Saxsena, Neha Mahajan (MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN) as Maya and Prashant Prakash (ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA) as Kasi.
FIRST TRACK FROM
KAPOOR & SONS
The Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and Fawad Khan starrer Kapoor & Sons – Since 1921’s first song Kar Gai Chull has released. The ever energetic Alia is seen grooving to the beat, while Sidharth Malhotra is enthralled by her effer vescent beauty. Alia and
Sidharth match their steps on the famous Punjabi number sung by Badshah, Fazilpuria, Sukriti Kakkar and Neha Kakkar. The contagious choreography urges you to match their steps in the track. Alia looks cute, care-free and bohemian chic while Sidharth looks uber cool teaming blue denims with a tee.
Kapoor & Sons – Since 1921 releases on 18th March 2016 through Fox Star Studios.
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FAN Trailer Launched
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Priyesh Dhoolab & Nasa Munir release ‘Saye’ Priyesh Dhoolab (composer) and Nasa Munir (vocals) have released a beautiful, soulful composition for Valentines 2016 with ‘Saye’. It’s about falling in love all over again. Just a few months after their debut single (Mahi) reached “Track of the Week”, on BBC Asian Network, Birmingham talents; Music Composer and Producer, Priyesh Dhoolab and Vocalist, Nasa Munir have returned with their latest release; a melodious and enchanting offering. The captivating lyrics of SAYE, which means ‘shadow’ have been written by Hasan Chaudry. Two souls merge into one in this emotion filled melody based around the innocence of love; the purity and grace between a man and a woman who decide to spend their lives with each other. The simplicity of nature is captured alongside the epic orchestration of music, go hand in hand for this track, that will captivate the listener and put them a musical journey of unconditional love. The single is now available to download on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Amazon and all other major online digital platforms.
Sharmeen Makes a Splash. Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy made History this year, by becoming the first Pakistani woman to receive two coveted Oscar Awards. This year’s ceremony, saw her receive the prestigious accolade for her documentary, ‘Girl in the River – The Price of Forgiveness’ which explores the story of Saba, an 18-yearold victim of honour-killing, who was shot by her relatives and thrown into a river. Chinoy won her very first Oscar for her short documentary which focused on the alarming regularity of acid attacks in Pakistan, a practice which involves defacing female victims by throwing acid at them. Since 2010, the Pakistani pioneer has reported, produced and directed over a dozen documentaries, her recent documentary conveys a similar message to her first, highlighting the importance of female-empowerment. In a previous statement, she explained: “Honour killing is a taboo subject in Pakistan. It’s a very private affair. It happens when a father kills a daughter, when a brother kills a sister and it’s left in the family. “Often times you don’t find out the names of the women, you don’t find the bodies, you don’t even know that a woman has been killed.”
AN is the story of Gaurav (Shah Rukh Khan) a young man, 20 something, whose world revolves around the mega movie star Aryan Khanna (Shah Rukh Khan) or God as he refers to him. From the by lanes of Delhi, young Gaurav embarks on a journey to the city of dreams, Mumbai, in order to wish his God on his birthday. After all, he is Aryan’s biggest FAN and even has a striking resemblance to him – how difficult could it be for the world biggest FAN to get an audience with the world’s biggest Star. When things don't go according to plan, Gaurav’s love and passion for his God turns in to a dangerous obsession that crosses the fine line. In an edge of the seat thriller, FAN will peel away at both Gaurav and Aryan’s personalities and characters as the two men discover people within themselves that even they didn't know existed, and we’re left wondering who to sympathize with and whom to root for – can we really pick a side, after all, Superstars are also human beings but each one of us is also a FAN.
Oscars 2016 Another year, another celeb studded ceremony! The Academy Awards 2016 was alight with some of Hollywood’s brightest stars. Hosted by Comedic
legend Chris Rock, the greats gathered to honour the level of excellence in cinematic achievements, and this year there was plenty to celebrate.
#Oscars So White? This year’s Oscars caused quite a stir, with power couple Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith openly boycotting the ceremony due to the lack of black representation in the nominees. This year’s ceremony marked the second consecutive year that an actor of colour failed to be nominated and the stars felt it was time to call them out. Host for the evening, Chris Rock, used his comedic input to highlight the prevalent issue: “I'm here at the Oscars, otherwise known as the White People's Choice Awards. If they nominated hosts, I wouldn't even be here right now. Y'all would be watching Neil Patrick Harris.” What about the Asian representation? “Fun Fact: More white actresses have won #Oscars for playing Asians than actual Asian actresses have won. Period.” A tweet by twitter-user ‘AngryAsianMan’ gained numerous retweets on the night and even became a trending topic cross several social media platforms. Clearly there’s a colour crisis plaguing Hollywood.
Oscar Love for Leo! With a 30 year career, 37 motion pictures and 6 Oscar nominations, the world cheered as Leonardo Dicaprio finally became the deserving recipient of his first Academy Award. It’s difficult to believe that Leo’s phenomenal acting in such films as ‘Inception’ and ‘The Departed’ could go unrecognised by the Academy, but his riveting performance in the January release ‘The Revenant’ finally saw him receive the well deserved ‘Best Actor’ award. His enthralling portrayal of legendary frontiersman Hugh Glass, who is left for dead by his hunting team, gripped audiences and received world-wide praise and recognistion.
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MARCH 2016
THE ASIAN TODAY
Fashion & Beauty Correspondent: Sara Khan Twitter: @sarakblog
EXCLUSIVE
FASHION & BEAUTY
FASHIO
Facebook: /sarakblog website: www.sarakblog.com
Pakistani Designers Steal The Show At LFW
• House of Kamiar Rokni at LFW AW16
Fashion DNA, a fashion designer mentoring program for emerging South Asian designers created by The British Fashion Council and this year the program allowed some of the best up and coming Pakistani designers to participate in London Fashion Week (LFW) showcasing their autumn and winter 2016 (AW16) collections. I’m excited to present to you three Pakistani designers who showcased at LFW and are creating ripples in the fashion waves. Don’t forget to take note of the trends for AW16. The House of Kamiar Rokni is among Pakistan’s premier fashion design houses. The brand strives to provide an immaculate essence of style in all their creations, designing signature unique pieces that evoke a sense of individuality and elegance in the people that wear them. The house’s core philosophy is to embrace art, culture and imagination in their fashion. The collection is symbolic of an old world charm, traditional heritage with a seamless amalgamation of a combined Seraiki history and cultural diversity that the three have inherited. It’s an inspiring approach of turning the traditional craft into contemporary fashion. The Wardha Saleem label is known for its unique colour play, intricate figurative embellishments and contemporary print design. The brand’s vision is vibrant, young and eclectic. The fashion label fuses indigenous embroideries, vibrant colours and traditional printing techniques with a modern sensibility allowing audiences to express their individuality and be playful with their style. A proud Pakistani fashion label heavily inspired by the vibrant culture of the country, the brand is committed to showcasing the brighter side of its homeland through its design philosophy that is happy, playful and free spirited. Zaheer Abbas is known for his use of monochrome, something unusual in Pakistan, as well as his craftsmanship. He works with his team of artisans to make each piece by hand in his studio. Zaheer has proven to be one of the country’s top designers and highlights his extraordinary talents to bring modern fashionable clothing to the forefront with his extraordinary vision for fashion. He astonished the crowd with his flawless everyday modern digital prints and implicit contemporary high-end Pakistani fashion. The colour palette, layering, cuts and AW16 digital prints and ideal for the British weather. You can also appreciate the combination of modest fashion trends to express the true beauty of a woman through her clothes.
Omar Mansoor’s Living Work Of Art
British Asian Designer, Omar Mansoor returned with his AW16 collection, L’art Vivante (Living Work of Art) at London Fashion Week (LFW). He featured couture gowns inspired by Marchesa Casati, who was an Italian heiress, muse, and patroness of the arts in early 20th-century Europe known for
her eccentricities. The collection features fullsize ball gowns and knee-length dresses made up of Koya Silks, Crepe Silks and Velvet. Three of the key items of the collection are made of hand woven koya silk. Koya (Cocoon in Urdu) is a movement headed by veteran Pakistani designer Maheen
Khan. The Koya initiative that actually inspires to revive, reintroduce and even rehabilitate the dying craft of hand woven fabric. By combining hand woven fabric alongside modern fabrics, Omar creates an elegant look for a woman, who embodies the jauntiness, gaiety and grandeur.
• Wardha Saleem LFW AW2016
• Zaheer Abbas LFW AW2016
MARCH 2016
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FASHION & BEAUTY
ON & BEAUTY
GET KAREENA KAPOOR’S ‘KI and KA’ LOOK
T
he fact that she is one of Bollywood’s most beautiful stars is not the only reason why all eyes are on Kareena Kapoor, as her latest hairstyle in new film ‘Ki and Ka’ is taking Bollywood by storm. Women and hairstylists alike ogle after Kareena’s beautiful brown locks but you don’t need to be a red-carpet regular to
look like a star! Prior to the release of ‘Ki & Ka’ in which Kareena’s hair steals the show, hairstylist to the stars Asgar Saboo, who has worked with some of Bollywood and Hollywood’s finest, including Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Cindy Crawford and Eva Longoria, shows you how to recreate Kareena’s signature look to unveil your inner superstar.
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Get that Flawless Finish
T
he eternal search for a good foundation is never ending, and with top brands increasing their colour range it’s easier than ever to find your true colour match. The trouble with finding the right foundation for South Asian skin is a lot of
the time, make-up brands tend to make the colours to warm and yellowy with undertones of red, which does nothing for an Asian complexion. Here are some of the best high-end foundations and shades that will show off the glow in your Asian skin tone.
Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation A light textured serum with great buildable coverage without looking cakey. Best Shades for Asian Skin: Barcelona, Sante Fe and Tahoe
only £32
1
Spray your clean, wet hair with voluminizing spray, or work in another volume-enhancing product. Pull a large barrel brush through your hair, aiming the blowdryer down the hair shafts until the hair is completely dry. Lift the roots whilst drying to give body.
2
Separate out a section of hair that runs from temple to temple and is positioned at your hairline or behind your bangs, depending upon your hair style. Comb any tangles out of the section, and spray the hair with a heat-protectant spray.
3
Take a 1-inch-deep section of hair from the section that has been sprayed. Place the open curling iron at the end of the section and clamp the curling iron down over the hair. Turn the curling iron back towards the crown until the iron reaches the scalp. Hold for five seconds, then release.
4
Wrap the resulting warm curl around your fingers and pin it into place with bobby pins. Repeat throughout the rest of the sprayed hair until the entire section has been curled and pinned. once cool, remove the bobby pins to reveal bouncy curls. To create a more natural look, run a loose toothed comb through the hair.
5
Curl the remaining hair away from your face. Pin each curl into place as you go for long-lasting curls. Once all of your curls have cooled, remove the pins. Brush through your curls with your fingers, shaking your head upside down for additional volume.
Don’t Sweat It F
or those of you who wear hijaab, you know that working out in public isn’t exactly an option. The last thing you need when you’re sweating buckets is a sticky hijaab clinging to your every contour. But thanks to House of Frasers new range of sports friendly veils, that’s a thing of the past. The highstreet giants are set to launch the 18 piece collection that comes from Shorso UK, who claim to be specialists within the range of modest clothing and sportswear. The range includes sports Hijaabs, made from breathable fabrics, for women who are keen to stay fit and cover up.The veils come in a variety of colours including a
floral Hawaiian pattern and brightly coloured designs. The collection also contains the Shorso Bodysuit, a unitard that covers the arms legs and chest and ranges from size 8 – 14. The esteemed store is one of the first to stock products specifically designed for maintaining modesty whilst exercising. Jessica Robinson, Shorso UK's Regional Commercial Director said: "We are very proud of our achievements with House of Fraser and will be growing our range within the next few months. "It is a pleasure to bring these products to the UK and internationally." She added, speaking to the Mail Online: "We enable people to be active, without compromise – that’s what makes us unique."
House of Fraser’s got it covered.
YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation This foundation comes in a wide range of shades. Opting for a more rose, neutral or golden tone, this foundation brings out the rich vibrant tones of Asian skin. Best Shades for Asian Skin: Beige Rose 60, Beige Rose 50
only £32.50
Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation This foundation comes in an impressive 24 shades. The coverage is medium and leaves a soft, iridescent glow. Best Shades for Asian Skin: Cashew, Dune and Honey
only £35 Foundation Tip: Swipe three possible matches on your lower cheek or jawline (the shade should closely match your neck as well as your face). Take a mirror and head toward a window or go outside so you can see the hues in natural light. The one that fades into your skin without much blending is the best.
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MARCH 2016
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ADVERT
TRAVEL
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Commuters are set to face major rail disruption over the Easter Break as engineers undertake a £250 million upgrade plan in the West Midlands. The upgrade will include the opening of a new flyover at Norton Bridge, removing one of the last bottlenecks on the West Coast main line between the West Midlands and Manchester, as well as changes to a major junction between Birmingham and
managing director for Network Rail, said: “We are advising passengers to check before they travel over the Easter bank holiday and in some locations after that, as we make a big investment to provide passengers with a better railway. “I appreciate there will be some disruption as a result of this work and I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this investment to provide a
Birmingham City Centre Metro Extension not to arrive untill May
Metro Delay M
Wolverhampton. The upgrade will mean significantly reduced services between Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton over the Easter weekend and for the Tuesday and Wednesday afterwards. Train users are being urged to check before they travel over the Easter bank holiday Weekend, wither with their train operator or at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Martin Frobisher, route
better railway.” Executive director of operations and projects for Virgin Trains, Phil Bearpark adds: “We understand that improvement works impact on passengers. “We have worked closely with Network Rail and industry partners to ensure alternative travel arrangements are in place wherever possible and to keep disruption to a minimum whilst this important work is carried out.”
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Travel
THE ASIAN TODAY Easter Train Disruptions
MARCH 2016
idlands Metro developers have "not covered themselves in glory", it has been claimed, after it was announced trams would not run to New Street station until May at the earliest. The Birmingham city centre extension was initially designed to open last year alongside the reopening of New Street station and the Grand Central shopping centre. But now regional transport body Centro has announced it has only been given the go ahead to begin overnight tests on the track from April 23. Birmingham’s Conservative shadow cabinet member for transport Timothy Huxtable said: "It is getting later and later all the time. I don't think anyone has covered themselves with glory on this. "It was supposed to be opened for 'Super September', and then by the end of the year. Now, with testing only beginning at the end of April, it
will be May at the earliest. "If we can't get the delivery of these projects right, there is a danger we will open the HS2 station at Curzon Street and there will be nothing to connect to it." The next phase of the Metro to Centenary Square, already under way, was initially designed to be running by the end of 2017 but will not now be finished until 2019. Centro has announced it has been given the green light by Network Rail to run the overnight tests on the New Street link from April 23. This ensures it does not interfere with the operation of the rail station. Centro's Metro programme director Phil Hewitt said: "This is a crucial piece of work because, once done, it clears the way for us to carry out the final testing, commissioning of and staff training for the new extension. "Once that process is completed, we can start running trams down to New Street station."
Trams returned to the streets of Birmingham for the first time in more than 60 years in December when the Midland Metro started running to a new stop in Bull Street. But work to complete the remainder of the route along Corporation Street and Stephenson Street to New Street station was suspended for eight weeks in the run up to Christmas to provide a more attractive environment for shoppers. Work restarted in the new year. Jonathan Cheetham, chairman of Retail Birmingham Business Improvement District, welcomed the announcement. He said: "We are delighted that this next phase has been achieved and we look forward to seeing trams arriving at Grand Central. This development is good news for the city and traders." The New Street extension was part of a £128 million package of upgrades to the Metro along with the new depot at Wednesday and a fresh fleet of trams.
Thomas Cook Takes More! Thomas Cook Airline is set to add a new aircraft to its fleet at Birmingham Airport, following its newly launched Winter 2016 Programme. The new carrier will mean Birmingham locals looking for winter sun will benefit from an extra 30,000 seats to warmer climates including Tenerife, Lanzorote and Gran Canaria. Henry Sunley, Director of Sales and Planning at Thomas Cook Airlines states: “We’re so proud to have one of our newest A321s based permanently at Birmingham this winter. “And, as well as a new plane, our customers can take advantage of
our new pre-order duty free service, Airshoppen, and get their holiday treats delivered straight to their seat,” he added. William Pearson, Aviation Development Director at Birmingham Airport, added: “This is great news and shows just how successful Thomas Cook is here at Birmingham Airport. “The airline offers routes which are extremely popular with our passengers and demand for seats is continuing to increase. “As an airport we look forward to welcoming the extra 30,000 passengers that this new aircraft will bring.”
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FEATURE
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MARCH 2016
TARIQ JAHAN DIARIES PART 1: EUROPEAN REFUGEE CRISIS
The State of Things
W
e were motivated to go over to Lesvos to help with the refugee crisis that was taking place in Europe. We had seen pictures of refugees coming over to Greece and, what with Greece having its own problem with its economy, we thought we would try to see what we could do to help. Listening to the media, seeing the pictures on TV, on the news and in the papers, we understood
Over 1,011,700 migrants arrived by sea
Almost 34,900 migrants arrived by land
Majority of migrants are from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iritrea and Kosovo
Deadliest month for migrants was April 2015
3,770 migrants reported dead trying to cross the Mediterranean
Most tragic single incident saw a boat of 800 migrants capsize in the sea off Libya
refugees literally landing on the shore. As soon as we left the airport, we saw people standing outside and assumed that these people were trying to get flights. We didn’t realize then that these people had just landed and were walking down the road, having been directed towards the camps. Some of them were putting out their hands out to us, and I didn’t know what they wanted. I thought, ‘What are they asking for? Why are these people here? They’re
Some of them were putting out their hands out to us, and I didn’t know what they wanted. I thought, ‘What are they asking for? Why are these people here? that those people needed help and so we set up the Haroon Tariq Jahan Foundation. We started collecting donations to help us with the aid work and raised a small amount of cash. We went over in October to Greek in order to do a reconnaissance to try to understand what was happening. When we got to Lesvos, it was absolute chaos. From the time we hit the ground at the airport, which, keep in mind, is right by the beach, we saw
The Refugee crisis: 2015 Crisis Statistics
only young. Who are they asking for?’ It didn’t make any sense. It took us a while before we realized that they were newly landed refugees. By this time the refugee crisis had already been going on for a while. I thought it would have been well-organised. It wasn’t. There was no methodical organization or any council who was dealing with a situation there. They had no funding. There was no co-ordination between the agencies or any of the people on the ground – the UNHCR and so on so on.
Greeted with Harrowing Sights A
s soon as we landed in Lesvos, we went to the hotel to drop our stuff and went straight out again, heading to the camps. People say I’m a strong man, and I dealt with this and dealt with that but, I kid you not, what I saw there in the camp broke my heart. I actually went up to the fence on the
Afghan side of the Moria Camp and I put my hands on the fence and looked in and there were roughly five hundred to a thousand people sat with dry faces, refugees who hadn’t eaten or drank anything for three days, women, children and men of all ages. I exploded into tears. I literally broke down. I turned away from
the fence, ran behind our van and cried. And I cried loudly. I was so shocked because everybody who was sat there turned to look at me as soon as I grabbed the fence and looked in. It was a harrowing sight to see their faces. And I thought to myself, ‘I can’t do this in front of these people. I need to go away and compose myself.’
FEATURE
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MARCH 2016
Harrowing & Heartfelt A Reconnaissance Mission in Lesvos M
ore than four years on from the death of his son, Mr Tariq Jahan now views the world with a renewed sense of faith. With the charity in honour of his son, the Haroon Jahan Foundation, the bereaved father is channelling his grief into helping those in dire need through his aid work tackling the European refugee crisis. It was 1am on the night of August 10th 2011, when Tariq Jahan, heard the bang of a car crash. Following his instinctual response, he rushed to the scene of the accident, unaware of the sight that was to greet him. As Tariq leaned over the bodies of the three young men, it became apparent with searing agony that his beloved son, Haroon Jahan, was amongst those severely wounded while defending local businesses from angry rioters. The emotional scars from that harrowing night will probably never heal, but Tariq Jahan endeavours to persevere with patience, honouring his son by helping those in dire need.
Tariq Jahan Founder of Haroon Tariq Jahan Foundation
Within a few minutes I came back and we spoke to the police, the riot police who were patrolling the crowd. I asked one of the officers if and how we could help. He told me the people in the camps had had neither food nor water for three days. Immediately we jumped back in the van, our lads and volunteers, went to Lidl with the cash that we had and filled the van up to the top until the wheels were touching the arches. Getting back to the camp, we told the police to let us into the camp. We promised we’d talk to the people, we’d keep everything under control and we’d deliver everything we bought. They agreed and so we found a refugee who could speak English
to translate for us, asking him to tell people to stay where they are, that they’d all get fed. We gave the refugees water, a croissant, and either an apple or a banana. The refugees were being kept in the camps until they were processed in through another area. They were waiting to have their fingerprints taken and being given their documents before they were allowed to move on. Some refugees were having to wait three days, maybe four, or five or even longer. We went to Skala Sikaminea in the north of the island where all the refugees land. Every day up to five to six thousand people were landing. You would have literally thousands of people coming in on dinghies and, you
know, these dinghies aren’t designed to carry that many people. Sixty people would be in a boat, including women, children and babies. They’d have completed a seven-hour journey from Turkey to Lesvos in which, should the weather change, their lives would have been in great jeopardy. At the time, there was no organization. There were riots every night and we volunteers were the ones controlling the riots. The police would stay at a safe distance inside the fenced area and wouldn’t come out and, even if they did come out, they’d simply use gas and leave everyone affected – the riot police, crowds,
even the volunteers. They’d try to maintain calm but people were climbing over the barbed wire fence, jumping in only to be struck by the police and thrown back out. This went on for the ten or twelve days that we were initially there, conducting the renaissance. The problems with most new-year’s resolutions now, is that we tend to accentuate the negative rather than focusing on the positive. No one ever says 'I'm going to get healthy" the focus almost always lies on shedding the weight. If phrased differently and made more positive, resolutions may be a lot easier to keep and stick to.
‘I can’t do this in front of these people. I need to go away and compose myself.’
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MARCH 2016
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ABCC Annual Dinner & Awards Patrons top strip new theme.indd 1
• Saqib Bhatti
• Anjum Khan
www.mazars.co.uk
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event catering, design & management
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www.edgbaston.com
web: www.asianbusiness-chamber.com 22/07/2015 15:36:01
Birmingham firm’s a ‘multinational’ accountancy training provider
S
hirley-based accountancy t r a i n i n g specialists HTFT Partnership marked its third birthday in style – after helping nearly 1,000 students develop lifelong skills and enjoy exam success. The training provider, launched to help provide the next generation of professional accountants
Asian Business Chamber of Commerce is giving its members an exclusive invitation to book tickets for the organisation’s annual dinner and awards, which takes place on 19 November at the ICC. Due to the increasing popularity of the event, which is selling out months in advance, members are being first option to book tickets. ABCC director Anjum Khan (pictured) said that the 2014 awards and dinner had sold out three months ahead of the
event, and last year’s tickets had all gone before September. “Last year’s event sold out even before we had announced any of our key speakers. This just shows how popular the annual dinner and awards is, and how it has established itself as one of the key events of Birmingham’s business calendar. “So, to make sure our members get every opportunity to buy tickets, we are allowing them to have priority booking until 8 April. After this date, the tickets will go on general
sale.” Individual tickets: £80 +VAT Standard table of ten: £800 +VAT Platinum table of ten: £1,200 +VAT The Standard ticket price includes a reception drink, three-course meal and tea/ coffee. The Platinum package includes a number of specially enhanced features including: a prominent table allocation within the designated platinum area, upgraded menu selection and complimentary glass of
champagne or a soft drink for each guest. Please be aware that only a limited number of tables of ten are available, so early booking is essential to avoid disappointment. To book for this event, please visit our events calendar at www.birmingham-chamber. com. To book a Platinum table, please email: info@ asianbusiness-chamber.com Sponsorship opportunities are available. For further information, contact Anjum Khan: a.khan@asianbusinesschamber.com
Charity hopes to resurrect traditional Bangladeshi games • From left- Participant of the Creative Art and English programme Mr Tauhid Chowdhury, Chairman of New Hope Birmingham Mr. Mohammed Foizuddin MBE, Former project manager Mr. Tofayal Talukder and Community cohesion manager of Birmingham City Council Mr. Satpal Hira.
• GB Boxing Olympic Medal Hopefuls Natasha Gale, Anthony Fowler, Nicola Adams
A charity is hoping to resurrect traditional Bangladeshi games that have disappeared through time. The charity, New Hope Birmingham, is hoping that its efforts will also promote multi-culturalism and social cohesion. A spokesman said: “Through recreating past time games and hearing stories from generations past we will engage the old and new documenting what has become a new Birmingham. “A series of community events across Birmingham will bring people together to celebrate and experience authentic
Bangladeshi Games. These events will showcase the unique stories of local residents old and young sharing the stories of past generations. The documentary will provide an insight into the culture and heritage of the Bangladeshi community to be archived at the Library of Birmingham.” New Hope supports those who are disadvantaged by providing support, guidance and training. To find out more information about this exciting new project call us on 0121 455 8144 or email info@nhbham.org
to develop very wellrounded professional accountants so that when they are in a workplace they can think outside the box and add greater value to the organisation.” James said the vast majority of students were trainees employed in sectors ranging from accountancy practices to NHS Trusts and commercial organisations.
• Clare Finch, partner at HTFT Partnership with students Russel Hardwick and Graeme Toon
in the West Midlands and further afield, partied at the Hyatt along with past and present students to celebrate three years since its foundation. James Taylor, Commercial Development, said HTFT was a ‘multinational organisation based in Birmingham’ helping students across the West Midlands and as far afield as Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, Botswana and Dubai. “We are not an organisation which is just supplying training. Our clients pay for students to go on training courses to take exams but we provide a far wider service than that. “Exam success is very, very important but by coming to HTFT we look
“Of the 955 students in the last three years around 700 have come from this area. The majority of our courses are delivered via home online in the evening. Everybody has a different set of skills and there are also live classes at weekends.” HTFT says it offers a ‘real alternative’ to ACCA, CIMA and AAT professional training. It aims to launch two new products this year to ‘broaden the accountancy offer’ and enable the partnership to work closely with more firms across Birmingham and the West Midlands region. For more information see www.htftpartnership. co.uk or email james. taylor@htftpartnership. co.uk
Sports nutrition company continues to help UK’s Olympic athletes PharmaNutricals, shortlisted for Birmingham Asian Business Awards 2015, is continuing to make revolutionary changes in the world of sports nutrition and supplements. PharmaNutricals is the official nutrition partner of English Institute Of Sport (EIS), which manages 24 out of the 26 Olympic sports and was responsible for 86 per cent of the medals in London 2012 Olympics. PharmaNutricals is the official nutrition partner to GB Boxing & British Judo in Rio 2016 Olympics. PharmaNutricals works with a number of leading elite athletes,
and its products comply with all anti- doping laws, ensuring that anyone routinely drug tested (Army, civil aervants and athletes) can be confident that the products are safe. PharmaNutricals has agreed a partnership with a TV channel to produce a programme which will work with members of the public from various backgrounds and lifestyles, to create a positive change through the use of correct nutrition and exercise. Any personal trainer, club or a gym owner who feels that they have a client, friend or family who could be in need of the support to make the
positive change this year should get in touch. PharmaNutricals.com has a variety of all-in-one protein based Formulations, pre-fuel, lean definition, size, performance, night recovery and a selection of protein, carbohydrates, amino acids and supplements. The company is offering an exclusive 20 per cent discount to anyone using the discount code ABCC20. For further information, please contact info@PharmaNutricals.com or on social media @theofficialPN
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Amazon Expands Grocery Range Morrisons Supermarket Set To Supply Food To Amazon Customers
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orrisons, Britain’s fourth biggest supermarket, have announced a new deal with Amazon to supply groceries to the online giant’s UK customers. Hundreds of Morrisons fresh and frozen food products will now be available to order under the Amazon Prime Now and Amazon Pantry services, with the expanded service set to be available in the coming months. Launched last year in a move to increase competition with the major four supermarkets in the UK, the Amazon Pantry service will allow Morrisons to supply Amazon
customers with a variety of fresh, frozen and nonperishable food items. Prior to signing its first supply deal, the US online retailer only offered packaged groceries through its Amazon Pantry service, available to its Amazon Prime members who pay an annual fee of £79 for their subscription. With the arrangement, Amazon’s small food delivery business is set to grow in line with the online retailer’s ambitions to become a big name amongst the major online grocers. Though resembling its US Amazon Fresh service, the company has chosen not to replicate the broader
service available in America, which offers approximately 20,000 chilled, frozen and perishable products from local shops. The new entrant to the growing online grocery market is sure to ruffle some feathers, being a potential concern for Tesco, which currently dominates over 40% of the British supermarket sector. Following this move, Morrisons is essentially becoming a food wholesaler to Amazon and is set to gain a significant new medium for its grocery business through this new plan. The recently unveiled deal awaits implementation as yet and, though it is likely
Mobile App Sees Pizza Profits Spike Domino’s Pizza have reported “excellent” results for last year, with profits primarily boosted by the growth it in digital sales. Domino’s have said they saw an increase of almost 29% in online orders in the UK, with e-commerce sales accounting for 77.6% of all deliveries in the UK at present. With a total count of 11.5 million people
having downloaded the app, the 48.6% of all online sales are now made via the company’s app, resulting in a spike in app-based orders of over 41%. The company’s pretax profits last year stood at £73.16m, a rise from the £62.1m it saw in 2014. Chief executive David Wild said, "The thing that customers want more than anything
else is convenience and that means food that's delivered to their home.” He added that the second significant factor in convenience to customers was the ability for the food to be ordered online. He said: "What we have learnt is that customers like to find it easy to get hold of a pizza and that's the most important trend."
to expand the online reach of Morrisons to the whole of the UK, the agreement awaits final approval from the British supermarket. David Potts, chief executive of Morrisons, said: "The combination of our fresh food expertise with Amazon’s online and logistics capabilities is compelling. “This is a low risk and capital-light wholesale supply arrangement that demonstrates the opportunity we have to become a broader business. “We look forward to working with Amazon to develop and grow this partnership over the coming months."
Kerb Appeal Matters
One in six British househunters have admitted to making snap decisions when it comes to purchasing property, with new research from Barclays Mortgages revealing that most aspiring home buyers take just ten seconds to decide whether or not like a property based entirely on its exterior. A property’s first impression may well be its last impression, with the ‘kerb appeal’ of a property coming increasingly into play in the final decision of property buyers in the UK, with over a third of house-hunters confessing to making their decision solely on how a property looks on first glance, and won’t even step inside if they’re left impressed. The kerb appeal of a property factors so significantly into whether or not a property is purchased that over half of research participants admitted
they would buy a property with an appealing exterior even if extensive redecoration was required with the interior. An unkempt exterior has led to the UK losing on average £57,600 on each home as almost half of home buyers are likely to deduct up to 20 per cent from a property’s asking price due to its lack of kerb appeal. Craig Calder, Director of Barclays Mortgages said, “We know that one of the big questions that arise amongst homeowners is how can we improve the value of our existing property? It’s fascinating to see the importance that the exterior of our homes can have. “We would encourage all homeowners to think about their own property’s kerb appeal and understand that getting the small details right can be one solution that can really boost the financial value of your home.”
Out of every 10 British individuals under the age of 35 living on modest incomes, nine will never be able to afford a home within a decade, research by a leading think tank has shown. The study by the Resolution Foundation indicates that home ownership will become restricted to wealthy and older households, a matter which will escalate as the years progress. Of those individuals aged 16-34 with incomes “between 10 per cent and 50 per cent of the national average”, only a quarter bought their own homes in 2013, according to the think tank’s findings. In comparison, 1998 saw more than half of those individuals having the ability to become homeowners. By 2025, that figure is predicted to fall to 10 per cent across the UK according to current projections. The think tank also found
that where home ownership has declined among young people, especially those on low to middle incomes, private renting has doubled. Of those individuals under-35 living on modest incomes in 1998, 22 per cent were renting, increasing to 53 per cent today. Analysing data from family resources survey conducted by the Department of Work and Pensions, the Resolution Foundation has found that home ownership across the UK has declined steadily since the start of the century, having now decreased to 63 per cent. Matt Whittaker, chief economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “With the average modest income household having to spend 22 years to raise the money needed for a typical first time buyer deposit – up from just three years in the mid-1990s – it’s no surprise that owning looks so out of reach.”
Out of Reach
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EMISSIONSSEEKING CAMERAS GRACE UK ROADS
Drivers in London and Birmingham have to be cautious not only of cameras targeting speeding but also those detecting pollution when driving on the cities’ roads. The emissions-seeking devices are a recent arrival in two of Britain’s largest cities where they are currently being trialled. Launched for the first time in the UK, the pilot schemes have been organised by King’s College London, as well as the universities of Leeds and Birmingham. A bid to improve the cleanliness of Britain’s roads, the devices shine a laser beam through vehicle exhaust fumes, the reflected light of which is then used to chart toxin levels. London is also set to cut down on the city’s pollution by introducing an Ultra-LowEmission Zone in 2020, with the Government currently deliberating on plans to limit diesel cars across the city as are Birmingham, Southampton, Nottingham, Derby and Leeds.
Measured Aggression
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he first-ever Coupé in the BMW M2 series sees a seamless marriage between top sporting prowess and classic rear-wheel drive. Incorporating the precision and agility customary of BMW’s M Division, the latest addition to the M2 range is considered the spiritual successor to the limited-run 1 series M Coupé. Slated for an April release, the M2 Coupé is a genuine M car for under £50k. Kitted with a tough-looking exterior featuring pumped up arches and 19-inch wheels, this motor is all about measured aggression and things are no different beneath the bonnet. There you’ll find a more powerful variant of the 30-litre single-turbo straight six connected with a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT automatic. Featuring aluminium suspension components similar to
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DRUG-DRIVING ARRESTS SOAR
The introduction of new drugdriving laws has led to a surge of 800% in arrests, statistics show. Figures starting soaring when new legal driving limits came into play for 17 prescription and illegal drugs in March 2015. The Department for Transport (DfT) reported that England and Wales saw a total of 1,888 drug screening tests taking place in December 2015, with 50% of them presenting positive results. Officers have now been equipped with the power to employ “drugalyser” swaps at the roadside to test for cannabis and cocaine. Police also have the ability to take drivers to a police station to undergo a test for these drugs alongside others such as ecstasy, LSD and ketamine, regardless of whether or not a driver passes the roadside check. The DfT has said that an additional £1 million has been provided to train officers, purchase drug screening equipment as well as paying for samples to be analysed.
PARKING FEE WOES Paying for parking at hospitals has proven to be a major grievance affecting motorists in England in the latest research conducted by the RAC. The survey of 1,217 drivers revealed that approximately 64% view hospital parking to be the least welcome of charges motorists are expected to cough up, with almost half of the participants calling for the Government to mirror Scotland and Wales in scrapping the charges. At 12% and falling in second place in the list of least favourite fees were parking charges at
supermarkets, shopping centres and other private car parks. On-street parking in town centres was ranked third at 8%, with residential parking permits following close behind at 7% and finally railway station parking the least of drivers’ concerns at 4%. "While we would like to see parking charges at hospitals in England scrapped, that might be an unrealistic hope, particularly as many hospitals appear to be using the additional income to support patient care," says RAC spokesman Simon Williams.
those of the bigger M3, the Coupé also includes uprated brakes. The cabin space available is practical and, mirroring that of the standard 2 series, is perfectly acceptable for a car of this calibre. The sports seats up front offer excellent support and the rear sees ample legroom even for taller individuals, though the headspace available is comparatively limited. A substantial boot is also on offer at 390 litres. The M2 Coupé is the least expensive way to manoeuvre into the M series for those wishing to move up to a true performance car. Marked as a fine driver’s car, the perfect ratio of grip to power leads to a firm ride with fantastic handling balance on offer in this near perfect introduction to a sports car. For those looking for a casual drive, the comfort setting makes normal driving with the turbo six a breeze and the DCT auto gearbox makes light work of urban driving. The strong acceleration is effortless, with a sharper throttle response when the sports mode is engaged. Fast, capable and controlled, the latest BMW is a car to savour even at casual speeds, being comfortably fast for novices and experienced drivers alike. Coming with a price tag of £44,070, the M2 Coupé is a confidence-inspiring model sufficiently exciting to be great fun on the road.
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Doping Shock for Sharapova Maria Sharapova has revealed she failed a drugs test at the Australian Open, leaving the world of tennis reeling with shock. The five-time Grand Slam champion announced that she tested positive for a recently banned drug called meldonium, a substance the 28-year-old has been taking for health reasons since 2006. Sharapova, who has had career earnings amounting to approximately £26m from tennis alone, said she had known the drug under the name mildronate and had been given it by her family doctor. Sharapova said, “I did fail the test and take full responsibility for it.” The Russia tennis superstar said she does not yet know the possible sanctions she will face for her violation though she could face up to a four-year ban. The
Former world No 1’s drugs admission leaves tennis world stunned
International Tennis Federation has said the former world No 1 will be provisionally suspended from March 12. Shamily Tarpishchev, Russian Tennis Federaton president, said regarding the matter, “I think this is just a load of nonsense.” Tarpishchev added: “The sportsmen take what they are given by the physiotherapists and by the doctors. However, we will need to see how this will develop.” Russia’s tennis chief also said that despite her failed drugs test, he expects Sharapova to participate at the 2016 Olympics, set to take place in Rio de Janeiro from August 5. Speaking of the Russian sports superstar, Sky Sports tennis expert Annabel Croft said: “She is such a huge name in the world of tennis. She added: "Knowing the character she is, she will fight it all and go about her business in an utterly professional way like she has done in her tennis. Fellow Sky Sports tennis expert Barry Cowan said that the incident was a "valuable lesson for other athletes to learn that you are responsible for what you put in your body". He added: "I'm shocked. It's an amazing sequence of events. Her attention to detail on and off the court is why I've held her in such high esteem, but it's been her undoing on this occasion and she will pay the consequences for it. "I don't think it will tarnish her image or the sport's image. It's right she will serve a ban but I think things will move quite quickly because she hasn't denied it."
Sania Mirza Sets Sights On ‘Santina Slam’ Sania Mirza has her sights set on winning the approaching French Open, hoping to perform a Career Grand Slam with her partner Martina Hingis. The Swiss-Indo pair hope to lift the trophy of their fourth and final Grand Slam in a move they have dubbed the ‘Santina Slam’. Sania and Martina currently holding three of four Grand Slams, namely Wimbledon, US Open and Australian Open. The power duo has eight consecutive tournaments under their belt through which they’ve accumulated a winning stream of 41 games along the way, a run that came to end at
the quarterfinals stage in the Qatar Open. Despite voicing their desire to win the French Open, the task ahead will be a tough one for the pair, who have admitted that Clay is not their favourite surface, with results supporting their trepidation in sealing the win at the Grand Slam. Speaking to the Telegraph India, Sania said: “I hope that the chances are bright, considering we won the last three Grand Slams. But it is going to be our toughest Grand Slam to win. “It is not our favorite surface but we are doing whatever we can and hopefully we can get that ‘Santina’ Slam, so to say."
Pakistan Crashes Out of Snooker Championship Pakistan’s Haris Tahir was left with smashed ambitions in the 17th Asian U21 Snooker Championship following his defeat by China’s Wang Yuchen 5-0 in the last-eight round. The tournament in Colombo saw Yuchen dominate the match from the very first frame, following his initial 68-12 with momentum that carried him throughout the match and saw him gain the second frame 96-15. Unable to secure firm
footing in the match against the Chinese competitor, Tahir never regained his focus and also lost the third frame 9811 to Yuchen too. Trying to regain control of the match, Tahir attempted to fight back in the fourth frame through which Yuchen extended his lead 77-51 and sealed his victory over the Pakistani player with a 6610 win in the fifth frame. Yuchen, who moved into the semi-finals after defeating Tahir, also locked horns with Pakistan’s second
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IT'S ALL IN THE MIND
Asian Today have been so inspired by the principles of Asian Sports Foundation that we wanted to show our support as media partners for the Foundation and help them to reach and engage at a grass-roots level with members of the community. Each month we get the lowdown from people from within the Asian community who are working in different areas of the sports industry to get their views on what inspires them. This month, meet another member of the Foundation’s Expert panel - Gobinder Gill - to look at how a positive mindset can play a vital role in your success and achievement in sports. He believes that there are four core areas that any sportsperson needs to build upon to help them on their path to success:
FOCUS Sport performers need to focus on specific cues in order to establish any advantage over opponents. Continued focus is important as it increases success opportunities and needs to be practiced consistently during both training and competition settings.
ACT Performance is about dictation and the ability to respond to competitive challenges. It is imperative that performers act on impulse and take advantage. Therefore, performers need to utilize opportunities that present themselves during competition. Further, performers need to act in time-accomplished segments to preserve energy and act accordingly.
CONCENTRATE All sports performers need to concentrate fully in order to achieve successful performance outcomes. Concentration is the ability to use both mind and body in order to execute skills and techniques. Skills associated to concentration should be implemented and practised during training in order to be perfected for competition.
TIME Set an appropriate time frame to achieve specific goals. A range of outcome, process and performance goals should be set. Together, the set goals should conform to specific technical, tactical and psychological criteria. In addition, goals should be set for short-term, medium-term and long-term practices. Gobinder currently teaches in Further Education using innovative methods to deliver sports psychology. Alongside his teaching commitments, Gobinder has been instrumental in working with sports performers, from
various sports, to increase mental positivity. Through his increased knowledge and awareness of emotional intelligence Gobinder utilises a humanistic approach in supporting performers.
T: @AsianSports_Fdn Instagram: @ASIANSUPPORTSFOUNDATION
E: info@asiansportsfoundation.org W: www.asiansportsfoundation.org
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SPORTS
Back On Court India’s Saina Nehwal Returns To Badminton After Injury Lay-Off
The Asian Today caught up with Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma in the lead up to the T20 World Cup
On Stratergy If there’s only one ball left, and six runs to get, my mindset is that I should hit the ball out of the box! To shoot for victory! You have to have a confident mindset in a situation like that. You have to have one clear thought as to what you’re going to do. You have to have faith and not be double-minded and not to add further pressure to yourself. If I’m in a situation where I have to score every ball then I’ll premeditate my shots but not when I’m batting first of the order as that’s when I don’t want to think about the shot but instead I react instinctively. As soon as the ball is released from the bowler’s hand, I react to that. It’s when I have
to hit every ball that I have to premeditate the shots - I’ll find the gaps and hit the ball where I want it. To do that, you have to think about all these things, but when I’m facing a new ball, batting up the order, I don’t prefer to do that. However, if you’re chasing a target, you have to stay ahead of the run-rate and can’t let it drop as that adds pressure to the next batsmen. Of course, different grounds have different run-rates so you’ll have to analyse those scores beforehand and discuss with your batting partner what targets you want to work towards before you place the shots and attempt to dominate the bowlers and put them under pressure.
On Partnerships and The Indian Team I’ve had great partnerships in the past, especially with Shakir Dhawan who I’ve been opening with for a while now and we’ve been doing pretty well. It’s such an important role for the opener as well and is very challenging. I think half of the tone of the game is set by the openers and so how they bat is very important. I’m not saying the openers win you the game but they lay the foundation for the middle order to come and play the game. If the openers come and play a solid game, they make the middle order’s
life much easier in dominating the bowlers. The best thing about the batting line-up is that as partners, we enjoy each other’s company and success and that’s usually a great sign of any team. It’s very important in the team room to have a friendly atmosphere. How you behave in the dressing room is reflected on the field. We tend to listen to a lot of Punjabi music and we joke around and like to pull each other’s leg. Even in a high pressure game, we enjoy a chilled atmosphere in the team room.
On Comparing Test and T20 Cricket Test cricket and T20 have no comparison – Test is the ultimate thing and will continue to be the ultimate thing. Cricketers love playing test cricket as it’s challenging though people do enjoy coming out to watch T20 cricket. For them it’s like going to a movie or spending time with the family and just enjoying the game as there are lots of fireworks in that format. T20 has improved my game immensely. I’m only 16 test matches old but whatever test matches I have played, it has definitely helped my mindset. Playing so much T20 cricket, I’ve learnt so many different types of shots that I never imagined I could play. We want to be mindful of playing in conditions where you can just smack it. Sometimes you have to spend time in the middle and try to play a lot of shots. If you look at test cricket the way people are playing it now, people can score 40 or more runs, with some people scoring over 80 even, which shows T20 cricket now plays an important part even in test cricket.
On The Upcoming World Cup New Zealand and Pakistan have been playing some really great cricket of late and it’s going to be challenging to play these teams one by one. We’ll be playing New Zealand first, then Pakistan, then Australia and then one of the qualifiers after that. The performance of New Zealand has been great over the past few years. They’ve brought forward a different side and are looking to play as a unit and it’s always the case when you play as one that you will achieve great results. Playing against Pakistan is always an interesting game, especially for the spectators. For us, it’s just another game of cricket and we treat it as that. As for Australia, they are one of the top teams and
are the team to beat. There’s no doubt it’ll be a challenging group and we’re up for it. We’ll give a hard time to these teams and make them feel like they’re up against a top quality team. I’d love to win the World Cup for my country. However, that’s going to be a big challenge. It’s not going to be easy. But we’ve been playing so much cricket recently with so many different teams, I’m sure that will help us. I think we’ve got the team, we’ve got the players, we’ve got the scores we need. The think we are in a really good position right now. The frame of mind is very good and everyone’s enjoying themselves and looking forward to going out and performing well.
'Sky Sports will show every ball of the ICC World Twenty20 as part of a year round schedule of live cricket'
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ndian ace Saina Nehwal will have all eyes on her when she returns to badminton at the All England Championship after an injury lay-off. The prestigious event will see the Indian hopeful work to better her runner-up finish from last year’s tournament. Her comeback in the Birmingham event follows a series of missed badminton tournaments in pursuit of returning to her full fitness, with skipped events including the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold at Lucknow in January, South Asian Games in Shillong and Badminton Asia team championship last month.
The current World No. 2, who last participated in the BWF Super Series Finals at Dubai and a couple of matches in the Premier Badminton League (PBL) for Awadhe Warriors, is back in the reckoning ahead of a hectic Olympic year. The 25-year-old, who reached the World No. 1 last year, said, "Unfortunately I could not play any tournament this year because of a nagging ankle injury and a recurrent viral infection. “But now I am perfectly all right and my fitness level is also good. I had a good training session and I would give my best in this event.”
Sussex Sign Bangladesh Bowler
Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been signed by Sussex as their second overseas player for the NatWest T20 Blast. The 20-year-old, who has played two Tests, nine ODIs and 10 T20s for the national side, is in the Bangladesh squad for the ICC World Twenty20 in India, set to begin in early March. The left-arm seamer will represent Sussex throughout the entire tournament, depending on his obligations to Sunrisers Hyderabad during the Indian Premier League. The move will make Mustafizur the first Bangladesh international to play for Sussex. Sussex head coach Mark Davis said, "He is a cricketer with incredible ability and is currently one of the bright young talents of world cricket.” "His unorthodox bowling variations make him a very difficult customer to bat against, and he will be a brilliant addition to our team."
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DHONI WINS
The Asia Cup with a SIX India Seal Record Win Against Hosts Bangladesh
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he Asia Cup final against Bangladesh led India to lift the coveted trophy for a record sixth time. Placing them ahead of Sri Lanka, who have five wins of the cup under the belt, the final was India’s seventh win in a row in the competition which saw the team not taste a single defeat, having won all five of their matches in the games. Visiting India beat the Bangladesh by eight wickets with seven balls to spare in the game in Dhaka, posting 122-2 against hosts Bangladesh’s 120-5 in a match which saw Shikhar Dhawan achieve an international Twenty20 career-best of 60.
Where fleeting hope was offered to Bangladesh by way of Mahmudullah’s blistering 33 not out off only 18 balls, Dhawan and Virat Kohli came together in a partnership lasting 94-runs for the second wicket. Their calm chase helped India make light work of their chase of 121 and put India back in the running after the visitors were reduced to 5-1. With India needing 22 off 14 balls, captain MS Dhoni walked in to polish off the chase and clinched the game in style by smashing two towering sixes and a four off just 6 balls. Also finishing unbeaten at 41, Kohli’s credentials in run chases were bolstered as he played a crucial
role in helping his side cross the line. Though it may seem that everything worked in favour of India, who saw much going their way in the tournament which asserted their superiority in Asia, it is not to say that hosts Bangladesh don’t have reason to reason to be proud despite their defeat in the Asia Cup final. The high-flying hosts, ranked 10th in the world, were seen to repeatedly punch above their weight throughout the tournament in which they won three matches on the trot to qualify for the final, much to the upset of former World Twenty20 champions Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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