Asian Standard (North East) 24 - 29 Aug

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THE INCREDIBLE COST OF

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

BY SHAWNA HEALEY School children across Britain are set to return to face-to-face teaching in the upcoming weeks, with some schools in places like Bradford and Leeds set to return before September, to make up for lost time in July, when some shut their doors early because of rising Covid-19 cases and mass self-isolation for kids that got ‘pinged’ by the NHS Test and Trace app.

Every child in the UK has the right to a free education, with approximately 93% of pupils aged between 3 and 18 attending a state-funded school, with the remaining 7% of kids either being home schooled or attending fee-paying private or independent schools.

Within the education system, there are many ‘hidden’ costs, which researchers suggest are “failing families living in poverty” and has only been exacerbated through the Coronavirus pandemic. Meals and school trips are some examples, but one of the key issues that is hotly contested is school uniforms.

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POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER ADVERTISES FOR £92K ‘CHIEF OF STAFF’ Mr Turner added: “Lisa is passionate about what being part of we are trying to build and wants to be at the top leading that with me, and I wish her every luck.”

BY STUART ARNOLD Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Steve Turner says he expects his acting chief executive Lisa Oldroyd will be in the running to become his permanent ‘chief of staff’.

Mr Turner’s office has begun advertising for a chief executive, a position that attracts an annual salary of up to £92,250.

Mrs Oldroyd was also previously acting PCC up until Conservative Mr Turner’s election in May following the departure of Barry Coppinger last year Mr Turner said: “Lisa has supported me in reviewing the role and looking at what the OPCC will look like going forward.

“I am hopeful that she will apply, but she does know it is an open recruitment process.

“If she is successful she will become

Image: Stuart Boulton

Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, Steve Turner, with his acting chief executive Lisa Oldroyd the substantive chief executive, if she is not she will revert to her regular role of assistant chief executive.

“What I have to do to be fair to the Cleveland public is to get the best possible person to do the role, and by leaving it as a ‘closed shop’ if you like, I would not be doing that appropriately.

“It would be wrong of me to just give it to someone because they are in that role currently.”

The chief executive role became vacant after the departure of Simon Dennis who combined the position with being chief executive of the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The successful candidate will support and advise Mr Turner to develop and deliver a strategic Police and Crime Plan, effectively becoming his chief of staff and making sure the PCC meets statutory obligations, and the office is run effectively and within legal guidelines.

Mr Turner said: “This will be a high profile appointment and will suit anyone with proven leadership ability.”

Mrs Oldroyd was appointed to the £60k a year assistant chief executive role in June last year.

She was at the time described as having 18 years of experience working in crime and community safety and having previously served as programme lead for criminal justice across the Cleveland and Durham area.

Mr Turner recently completed his first hundred days in office and has pledged to help make Cleveland Police a force “residents know will keep them safe and can take real pride in”.

His tenure suffered an early blow when it was recently announced that Chief Constable Richard Lewis was leaving the Cleveland force for family reasons.

Mr Lewis was announced as the preferred candidate for the chief constable’s job with his former force, Dyfed-Powys Police.

Mr Turner said he expected to set out more details next week of the timetable to recruit Mr Lewis’s successor.

This article is by the Local Democracy Reporting Service

UK WILL WORK WITH TALIBAN 'IF NECESSARY', SAYS PM JOHNSON Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that his country will work with the Taliban "if necessary", as the group has regained control of Afghanistan.

"What I want to assure people is that our political and diplomatic efforts to find a solution for Afghanistan, working with the Taliban, of course, if necessary, will go on," Johnson said on Friday 20 August.

He said the situation at the Kabul airport, where thousands of Afghans gathered in hopes of boarding an evacuation flight,

was getting "slightly better" and he saw "stabilisation". The UK has been able to evacuate about 2,000 people, including British nationals and Afghans who worked with Britain, since Thursday, the Prime Minister said.

Earlier, the Home Office introduced a "bespoke" resettlement plan, promising to take in up to 20,000 Afghans "in the long-term", with some 5,000 being in the first year. The plan was considered far from enough to deal with the Afghan crisis by British lawmakers who met for an

emergency Parliament session last week.

Leaders of the G7 will meet online early next week to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, as the rift between Washington and its European allies seemed to have widened over the former's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan.

On Tuesday, French daily Le Monde said "Europeans were trapped in hasty American withdrawal". The UK's Secretary of Defence Ben Wallace said last week that the US decision to pull its military forces out of Afghanistan was a "mistake".

SUPER SPORTS CAR MASERATI MC20 DAZZLES IN DEBUT AT MONTEREY CAR WEEK sleek lines of the mid-engine, two-seater sports car.

The Pebble Beach Concept Lawn is considered one of the highlights of Monterey Car Week in California, and the MC20 was there to impress with eyes watching from all over the globe as the event returned for 2021.

Maserati’s MC20 made its Northern California debut this weekend during the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance event, where the vehicle

appeared before crowds of fans on the Concept Lawn. The MC20, marking a new era for the Trident brand, was greeted with adulation by VIP spectators who took in the

Boasting a top speed of over 326 km/h, the MC20 is the first Maserati with a carbon fiber monocoque and, weighing less than 1500 kg, the super sports car also features the powerful new Maserati Nettuno engine. The Nettuno engine is a V6 that incorporates F1-derived technology to create an exceptional power-toweight ratio and delivering 0-100 km/h acceleration in 2.88 seconds.

The new Maserati MC20 is a car with racing DNA and a worthy successor to the legendary MC12. In fact, the MC in

the name stands for “Maserati Corse,” the Italian word for “racing.” The 630 hp Nettuno engine ensures the racing heritage of Maserati is felt by the driver, and it is also a return to Maserati producing its own power units after a hiatus of more than 20 years. Built in Italy, the Maserati MC20 is 100% Made in Modena.

More information can be found about this supercar at www.maserati.com

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MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL: AFGHAN REFUGEES MAYOR “And we’ll continue to do that, in support of anyone who is persecuted, terrorised and abused.

BY EMILIE CRAIGIE Middlesbrough’s mayor has urged ‘posh places’ in the south to take in more asylum seekers stating that Middlesbrough has housed ‘more than its fair share’ for years.

“But it’s time for a ‘levelling up’ where places like Middlesbrough don’t continue to shoulder most of the challenges – so I’d want to see posh places like Kensington & Chelsea and Elmbridge, Surrey taking their fair share of those in need as well.

Andy Preston’s comments come after he said that the town would ‘stand tall’ to support Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban takeover.

The mayor has called on the Prime Minister to ensure the ‘levelling up’ agenda includes measures that would see all parts of the country supporting people seeking refuge equally.

Mayor Preston said: “For years

Andy Preston Middlesbrough has taken far more than its fair share of asylum seekers, and we’ve been happy to give them the shelter and security denied them in their own countries.

“Together we can do this, but only if it’s done fairly, if everyone plays their part and if the right support is in place.

“We owe it to those who have put their lives on the line in support our squaddies- they are our friends and allies and we will stand by them.”

The government has announced that it will receive 20,000 Afghan refugees over the next five years, with 5,000 expected in the first year.

who are being persecuted, terrorised, and abused.

In the past, Middlesbrough has had the highest proportion of asylum seekers in the country per head of population and the town even exceeded the Government guidelines for numbers in 2014.

Earlier in the week, the mayor said that Middlesbrough would welcome those fleeing persecution as long as they were willing to contribute to the town.

He added “Middlesbrough will stand tall and help, welcoming innocent people

“I don’t care where you come from – if you need help and you are willing to contribute to Middlesbrough then we will help you.

“This is especially true when it comes to Afghan people who have put their lives on the line by supporting British armed forces – these friends and allies of Britain are in mortal danger and abandoning them is not an option.

“In Middlesbrough we stand by our friends and allies – regardless of where they’re from.”

This article is by the Local Democracy Reporting Service

RETAIL SALES FALL SHARPLY DESPITE EASING COVID CURBS Retail sales volumes fell by 2.5 per cent in July from June despite the easing of coronavirus restrictions, but still 5.8 per cent higher than the pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Food store sales volumes dropped monthly by 1.5 per cent in July, following an increase in the previous month when sales were boosted by the Euro 2020 football championship, while non-food stores sales volumes plunged by 4.4 per cent in July compared with June, according to the ONS.

Image: Wikipedia

Samuel Tombs

Meanwhile, automotive fuel sales volumes decreased by 2.9 per cent over the month, marking the first monthly fall since February 2021, the ONS data showed.

"Disappointing 2.5 per cent m/m fall in UK retail sales in July is hard to explain," said British independent economist Julian Jessop, adding that "hopefully just reflects end of Euros, diversion of spending to hospitality etc. as Covid restrictions lifted, and bad weather. But perhaps also shortages of some goods due to global supply chain problems".

Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, an economic research consultancy, said he wouldn't attribute July's fall to people returning to restaurants. "Non-food sales fell more than food. Disruption and fear caused by the Delta wave was the dominant driver."

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said the lifting of restrictions "did not bring the anticipated in-store boost, with the wet weather leaving consumers reluctant to visit shopping

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destinations".

Since 19 July almost all of England’s remaining Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted. More than 87 per cent of people aged 16 and over in Britain have had their first dose of vaccine and more than 75 per cent have received both doses, the latest figures showed.

Image: Youtube

Helen Dickinson

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85% OF SOUTH ASIAN ADULTS WANT TO INTRODUCE HEALTHY HABITS INTO THEIR LIFESTYLE of support options to help motivate people and help them maintain a healthy weight. It’s never too late to make changes to help improve your health.

Visit the Better Health website for ideas and support that is right for you and you can seek support from your local weight management service.”

A recent England-wide survey

by Public Health England (PHE) reveals that 85% of South Asian adults are motivated to introduce healthy habits into their lifestyle this summer.

The new insights show the extent that lockdown has impacted the eating and physical activity habits of different communities with 43% of South Asian adults reporting that they have put on weight since lockdown.

On average, those who said they had gained weight during this period reported they had gained over half a stone (5.8kg) and 72% believed this was due to eating unhealthily and eating too much.

In response, PHE has launched its latest ‘Better Health’ campaign to encourage adults across the nation to lose excess weight, eat more healthily and get active this summer. The new campaign offers free evidence-based support and guidance to those working towards a healthier weight.

There are a variety of NHS endorsed apps, including the newly updated NHS Weight Loss Plan app - which according to new research due to be published by PHE, suggests that those who used and followed the plan over 12 weeks, reported an average

Better Health is also working in partnership with a number of weight management and physical activity partners who are providing both free and exclusive discounted offers.

PHE is also working with local authorities to provide weight management support to those who need it.

loss of almost a stone.

The wide range of resources also includes new recipes that offer healthier versions of traditional south asian dishes such as chicken jalfrezi, macher jhol, and punjabi dhal to help people introduce small and simple changes this summer. These recipes, and more, will be available on the NHS Easy Meals App. As part of the campaign brothers Neil and Sean Mukherjee from Oxford, have shared their experience

of weight gain during the pandemic and how they have worked together to develop healthier eating habits over lockdown.

For Neil and Sean, cooking is an opportunity to be experimental with traditional recipes and make healthy tweaks. The brothers learnt to cook from their mother from an early age.

“She taught us that spices act as the foundation of all South Asian cooking,” says Neil. Later as adults, they spent some time in India and learnt how to cook more traditional Indian recipes.

Neil Mukherjee said: “Our relationship with food is so important. We wanted to start eating better, but we wanted to continue eating the Indian dishes we know and love. We used the Better Health website to find tips on how to get started on our better health journey.”

Now, instead of reaching for coconut oil, they opt for healthier oils such as sunflower or olive oil. The brothers have also reduced their rice and chapati portions and increased their vegetable intake after being inspired by

all the vegetable-based dishes they discovered whilst in India.

Dr Linia Patel (PhD, RD, MBDA), Dietitian & Sports Nutritionist, said: “Maintaining healthy habits has been far from easy over the past year which for many of us has meant we have gained more weight than we might have expected. However, summer is a great opportunity to eat healthily, be more active, and start making more changes to lose some weight and improve our health. That is where the Better Health campaign comes in, it has a range of free tools and support if you want to eat healthier, get active and lose weight.

The NHS Weight Loss Plan app for example helps people lose weight in an easy, healthy and safe manner.”

The upcoming launch of the new Office for Health Promotion in Autumn will lead national efforts to level up the health of the nation by continuing to support people living with obesity, supporting mental health and promoting physical activity.

Search ‘Better Health’ or visit nhs.uk/betterhealth for free tools and support to start leading a healthier lifestyle today.

ABOUT THE BETTER HEALTH CAMPAIGN The Better Health webpage (nhs.uk/BetterHealth) provides tools to help people improve their health and lose weight:

Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist, Public Health England said: “The past sixteen months have caused many to change their habits so it is not a surprise to see so many people reporting weight gain.

Weight Loss: ● NHS Weight Loss Plan App ● BMI Calculator ● NHS Easy Meals App ● NHS Food Scanner App Get more active: ● NHS Couch to 5k ● NHS Active 10 App Reduce alcohol intake: ● NHS Drink Free Days App

“We know how hard it can be to lose weight and keep it off – so, we are providing a range

All the above apps are free and can be downloaded via the App Store or Google Play.

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THE INCREDIBLE COST OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND HOW A GROUP IN LEEDS IS TRYING TO OFFSET IT

KITTING OUT A CHILD’S YEARLY SCHOOL WARDROBE COSTS OVER £300 ON AVERAGE, WITH MORE SCHOOLS OPTING FOR LOGOONLY UNIFORM DESPITE NEW LEGISLATION Continued from cover There is no law that says children in Britain must wear a uniform, but since The Elementary Education Act 1870 which introduced free education for all children, uniform has been the norm, with over 90% of schools across Britain requiring it.

Schools set their own uniforms, and the consequences for pupils breaking the rules set.

Schools have the ability and often assert the power to temporarily suspend or even expel pupils for breaking the uniform guidelines, regardless of the circumstances or finances of the family. In 2018 and 2019, there were 7,894 permanent exclusions and 438,265 fixed-notice exclusions.

Failure to adhere to uniform rules is not a registered reason for exclusion by the Office of National Statistics so the true number of exclusions because of uniform is unknown. The most common reason for both permeant and fixed-notice exclusions is for “persistent disruptive behaviour”.

Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021 was passed in Parliament, which will require schools to follow new statutory guidance on uniform costs, instructing them to keep prices down.

The cross-party support for the Bill recognised the costs parents face for school uniform, particularly for branded items, and the statutory guidance will tell schools to consider high street alternatives.

families money and ensure the cost of a blazer or shirt is never a barrier to accessing the best possible education.”

The Department will publish the statutory guidance in the autumn this year, which will focus on ensuring costs are reasonable for families of all backgrounds and giving parents the best value for money.

It will also include measures on encouraging second-hand uniform, schools’ arrangements with suppliers, and ensuring parents have access to clear information about uniform policies.

Children’s rights advocacy charity the Children’s Society found that parents and carers pay on average £315 for primary school children’s uniform and £337 for young people in secondary school, which works out about £326 on average.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb

Despite recent legislation instructing schools to keep their uniform prices and logo requirement to a minimum, the price of uniform is continuing to increase, with more schools requiring logo-only items.

Talking about the Bill, School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “School uniforms are important in establishing the right ethos in a school. They also help to improve behaviour and a sense of belonging and identity.

But we want to be sure they are affordable for parents.

On 29 April of this year, the

“This new law will help to save

In 2015, the average for a year’s worth of school uniform for secondary school kids costs approximately £212.88 and £196.59 for pupils in primary school. This is an increase of just over £124 for secondary pupils, and £119 for primary school kids.

The costliest items of uniform include blazers that on average can reach up to £40 or more.

Coats, shoes, school bags, and jumpers and dresses are also some of the pricier items.

Shockingly, gender divides start early, with parents of girls facing higher costs for the uniforms.

For girls, the average cost of primary school uniforms from Year 1 to 6, totals £66.76 more than the cost for boys’ uniforms; £1,422.26 for girls and £1,355.50 for boys during the same period.

Research from Deichmann, suggests that the reason for this is because “of the cost differences between blouses and shirts, skirts and trousers, and dresses and shorts”.

The Children’s Society’s 2020 survey (of around 1,000 parents across the UK) found that many parents struggle to pay these high costs with nearly a quarter (23%) of parents in the survey said that the cost of school uniform had meant their child had worn ill-fitting, unclean, or incorrect uniform.

Talking about the cost of uniforms for kids in Leeds, a father to three girls Daniel Stillings, said: “It is robbery is what it is. I can’t see why they don’t just do away with uniforms like American schools. I have three girls, one starting high school in September and its cost me over £150 for uniform just for

her and I’ve still got to get her some shoes.”

Wearing the wrong uniform can lead to children being bullied, feeling left out or even being excluded from school. The charity estimates that nearly half a million children have been sent home from school because the costs meant they were wearing incorrect uniform.

Lorraine, a parent and governor of a high school in Leeds said: “My son recently left secondary school but after being astounded about the prices of uniform, I did a bit of an investigation into school uniforms myself.

“When my son was as around eight or nine, the official school uniform supplier, Rawcliffes Schoolwear Centre, was charging around £70 for a blazer which is outrageous. Luckily, the school’s parents’ association ran a second-hand uniform shop from its premises a few times a week and that is where I got most of my son’s uniform when he needed it, but the price for the uniform brand new is out of this world.

“We found a different uniform shop, Whitakers Schoolwear, known as Uniformity at the time, that supplied the branded items for his secondary school, and they were selling blazers for

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around £25. It is still expensive for some families but not in the realm of the cost of the other uniform.

The idea started when Freema's washing

“I was in touch with a single mum from South Leeds that was explaining that her daughter was getting in trouble, missing lessons, and sent home from school because her skirt didn’t have the little logo patch on, it was ridiculous. The school trousers didn’t require the patch and the patch wasn’t available then to buy on its own, so you could sew it on yourself as a more affordable option.”

get the school clothes nice and clean, but

Lorraine found that after speaking to the owner Uniformity and found out that schools in the area are pressured to stick with the same, and sometimes only supplier because they received cashback for every logo item sold. She said: “I found out that some schools only have one official supplier because they get a percentage of the money back with every item sold, and that the owners of the uniform shops, say ‘well if you split the supply between two shops you will potentially only get half the cashback that you get now’.

“The cashback is legitimate”, says Lorraine.

“It goes into a pot for the school to help pay for children to go on school trips who can’t afford it and things like that, but most parents do not know that there is this cost

machine had broken and she had to spend all of her money on a new one so she could then her youngest came home with holes in his trousers.

From that experience Freema came up with the idea of setting up a uniform exchange scheme in her son’s Northumberland school, collecting ‘pre-loved’ uniforms in good condition that can be passed onto other pupils in need.

Image: Ben Molyneux, Shutterstock

The idea took off, and, in 2017, Freema founded the ‘Community School Clothing

built-in to their children’s uniforms and it something that I think people really need to know.”

Some councils offer help with school uniform costs, however for those councils that don't there is help available from charities who offer a school uniform exchange service.

The Community School Clothing Scheme was founded four years ago by Freema Chambers, who came up with the idea after she struggled to replace her growing son's school trousers during a time of financial difficulty.

The 48-year-old mum has opened a store in

the former WHSMITH store on King Street, in South Sheilds.

Free school uniforms are offered to families for their children, whatever their circumstances.

They also accept all unwanted school skirts,shirts, dresses, shoes, trousers and branded school jumpers, which are distributed to parents who need them.

Parents can also loan essential items such as cots and prams for babies and young children for free, returning the items when they are no longer needed.

Scheme’ going on to open dedicated shops offering free school uniforms, among other items.

The South Shields store is one of four ‘Community School Clothing Scheme’ shops already in the North East, with stores already in the likes of Sunderland’s Fawcett Street and Wallsend High Street.

More information can find the Community School Clothing Scheme on Facebook and twitter, or visit one of the four stores, which are open from 10am to 5pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and from 10am to 12pm on Wednesday.

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MAHR – AMONGST MANY RIGHTS, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RIGHTS OF A WIFE

BY SABEENA DIN With the restrictions of lockdown being lifted and wedding season in full swing, there cannot be a better time for us to talk about Mahr. What is this? Who does it belong to? How much should the husband pay? Is it a must?

Award winning, Leeds based solicitor Sabeena Din is back to answer your questions.

In Islam, marriage holds a high value and is a Sunnah (tradition/ practice) of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). Marriage is the only legitimate or the halal way to live with someone, so to cohabit one must enter into a ‘Nikah’ (marriage according to Islamic law) as living together as a couple outside the ‘Nikah’ contract is not permissible under sharia law or haram.

There are 3 elements that form the Nikah contract which are: (a) Consent of both parties (b) An offer (the groom offers) (c )An acceptance (by bride).

It is absolutely vital that these three things are present to form the Nikah contract.

What is a Mahr – It is one of the

Sabeena Din Milsons Legal

Image: Shutterstock

important aspects of a nikah marriage or contract. It is a gift, or a promise of a gift, to the wife by the husband. It is usually agreed between the parents or elders of the bride and the groom verbally or in writing shortly before the couple’s marriage. It is recorded on the nikah contract. Technically it’s a clause in your nikah contract.

Mahr is an obligation, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom. While the mahr is often money, it can also be anything agreed upon by the bride such as jewellery, home goods, furniture, money, property or some land.

Mahr is typically specified in the nikah contract signed upon marriage and agreed in advance.

Mahr is said to be one of the many rights of the wife and it is something which must be given directly to her. There are two kinds of mahr, prompt or deferred.

Deferred mahr is delayed at a later point. Some people fix the mahr to an agreed limited sum of cash. There is no fixed or even recommended amount in Islam.

More recently in the news is the case of Nazma Quraysha Brishty who is suing her ex-husband and his family for full payment of her mahr, or bridal payment, after the mutually agreed, arranged marriage ended in divorce. If she wins, the case will change the dynamics of the recognition of the nikah all over UK. Thousands of women who for whatever reason have not registered their nikah in the UK may have a precedent case to support them. If Brishty wins this case, her case could help thousands of women in similar positions on their nikah marriages.

Under sharia law, the wife has the right to ask for her full mahr at any time during her marriage or upon a divorce. Married south Asian women who have registered their marriage in the UK must apply to the family court to deal

with finances of the marriage, which typically is a part mahr payment (if at all) of the money as part of the overall financial settlement under section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.

The UK courts have dealt only with cases involving written mahr,

England in January 2017. They separated later that year and were divorced in 2018. Brishty’s former in-laws paid her £5,005 – the mahr written in their nikah contract but refused to pay the remaining sum that Brishty says her former father-in-law promised verbally, in the presence of her father and another witness, before and at the wedding ceremony. Her ex-husband and his family deny there was an oral contract.

At present there is no case law or parliamentary law dealing with women in her position. This case if won will be a huge victory for all those in similar position. This will then become a leading case in this area. It will mean more women will come forward and demand a full payment of their mahr either oral or written.

The judgement in this case would be a firm stand for not only Muslim women but to women from all cultural backgrounds where the tradition of giving mahr is practised, regardless of their immigration status in the UK and whether the contract was in oral or written form.

The fact is that the law does have a gap where women who only have had a nikkah contract in the UK are without any protection.

The judgement if in favour of the

Image: Wikipedia

London County Court. in parties nikah contracts. The case of Brishty is the first case of its kind, involving an alleged oral contract to be heard in the UK courts.

The facts of this particular case are that Brishty (wife) has taken her ex-husband, former motherin-law and former father-in-law, to the London County Court to demand the full payment of her mahr, which she says is worth approximately £55,000.

The couple had a mutually agreed, arranged marriage in

wife will give these women a ray of hope.

It will be interesting to see how the court rules in this case.

Where can I get more information about this?

To find out where your marriage stands under English law or if you’re planning on getting married and wish to obtain advice contact Sabeena Din at Milson Legal Solicitors for a free initial consultation on 0113 8730032.

The foremost Northern Asian Celebration and Recognition Event returns on Thursday 14th October at the Gosforth Grand Hotel.

Bigger and better than ever before!

ABC AWARDS DINNER CEREMONY 2021 Recognising the significant contribution of the Asian community from across the public, private and third sectors.

This year we have more of a reason to come together and demonstrate we are one community, celebrating inclusion and diversity.

For all Nominations, Sponsorship Opportunities and Table Reservations visit www.abconnexions.org or contact Amit on awards@abconnexions.org or 01661 82 32 34 Email: info@abconnexions.org | Web: www.abconnexions.org 17 Main Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 9NH Tel: 0191 242 4892 | Twitter: @abconnexions

#InclusionByDefault

Tune in to ABC Show Business every Friday morning between 10-11am. www.spicefm.co.uk

Saveoursme.co.uk

#AWESome Women

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OPINION

SHOWBUSINESS WITH AMMAR MIRZA Ammar Mirza CBE is the Chair and Founder of Asian Business Connexions and holds various other positions across the public and private sectors.

Spanning more than a decade of business he has helped establish several hundred new businesses within the North East and continues to champion across sectors for equality, diversity and philanthropy.

BUSINESS MODELS

Like a blueprint, your business model should show the essential building blocks of your business. For example, who will your customers be? What is your value proposition, that is, what are you offering to customers that they can’t get elsewhere?

How will you make money? What resources will you need? Fill in each section accurately and in as much detail as possible to best assess your plan.

We’ve all seen the movies where the main characters are trying to pull off an elaborate heist. To make sure it works, they all gather round the blueprints (and maybe a 3D model) of the building where the jewel, or safe, or secret document, is kept so that they can prepare for every eventuality.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but films always need some kind of drama. In real life, you want to cut out as much drama as possible, especially when starting your business. You need to plan carefully and follow it up with a successful heist! A business model is the blueprint for how your business functions. It shows you every angle and allows you to examine the potential weaknesses and strengths of your business, as well as innovate and take advantage of market gaps.

Like a blueprint, your business model should show the essential building blocks of your business. For example, who will your customers be?

What is your value proposition, that is, what are you offering to customers that they can’t

get elsewhere? How will you make money? What resources will you need? Fill in each section accurately and in as much detail as possible to best assess your plan. Research your market and customers to help you. Once you have filled in all the necessary building blocks, you can then use them to assess three things: the desirability (do people actually want it), feasibility (it

is possible to do) and viability (will it make money) of your business. Your business model is validated if it can do all three!

Once your business model is finalized, don’t put it away and never look at it again. Business models should be reviewed frequently to keep them up-todate and relevant. Let’s take a famous example: Netflix.

Over 200 million people are currently subscribed to Netflix worldwide and a large part of that is down to the company’s successful business model… and business remodeling. Did you know that Netflix actually launched in 1997? The original business model was an online DVD rental service which, in 2006, had grown to 5 million members. In 2007, though, Netflix began to introduce the model that we know today with

a streaming service alongside DVD rentals. By 2012, they were making their own content and, by 2016, the now-exclusivelystreaming service had launched in over 190 countries across the globe. As you can see, Netflix’s business model has changed significantly since its launch to take into account new market opportunities and current trends and technologies.

(Netflix’s rival, Blockbuster, on the other hand failed to adapt to changing environments and went bankrupt in 2010.)

One of the tools you can use to help you create a business model is the Business Model Canvas, like the one for Netflix illustrated here. To find out more about this and how we can help you to start, survive and thrive, contact us at the SME Centre of Excellence.

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ASIAN STANDARD / NORTH EAST

@ASIANSTANDARD

OPINION

Unfiltered with Aunty Razia Razia Bibi, aka Aunty Razia is our resident 80-year-old columnist. She wants to give a voice to a whole generation of women who feel their views are seldom heard.

Like so many first generation South Asian women of her era, Aunty Razia has a very powerful life story of her own. So many of these stories go untold and, as time goes by, there are fewer people around to ensure this part of history is kept alive. Aunty Razia, who lives in Bradford, speaks Punjabi, Urdu, Swahili, Gujarati and English and in her own style, every week will share her views on life. Sometimes you may not like her straight talk, but who said life was a bed of roses and our Aunty Razia's life most certainly wasn't. Over to you Aunty Razia.

A DISCOURSE ON DIVORCE

Maintaining the perfect, cereal packet family image was prioritised over the truth and by God did everybody suffer.

Divorce - a word as guarded and sworn into secrecy as my nani’s halwa recipes, the duosyllabic existence of it often dissolved into hushed whispers at glittering dawats and all this fuss led me to ponder one eve over a cup of chai; Why? Why do we not engage in conversations about divorce? Is that dirty of a word to be heard slipping out of a married individual’s lips?

Especially in the present era where divorce has become analogous to purchasing a tin of coconut biscuits and returning them after a few days because suddenly your palate dislikes the dry, sandy flavour.

This chatter prompts me to dip my finger into the crevasses of my mind and procure the memory of my street where a man shoved out his wife for no substantial reason apart from the fact that he disliked the way she kept her house. Logic seems

to sprout wings and fly out of the window on such instances.

The magazines I used to peruse in my youth were chock full of sizzling, scandalous stories where wives were divorced for wearing too much makeup and where women had lusted towards adultery as their husbands did not allure them anymore. Whatever the problem maybe I deduce that people have resorted to seeing divorce as an easy escape instead of persevering to keep the flames of matrimony burning longer.

But again, there are some bewakoofs that make it seem as if the devil had a free spin on the matchmaker however as prevalent as it is now divorce in my time was a vague concept as rare as hen’s teeth.

I married in Kenya and birthed five beautiful children. With a farm as our solitary source of income, my husband and I put in lots of spadework and whether it was the physical exertion or the stress that, with the passage of time led my husband to develop mental health issues.

After a diagnosis, the hospital concluded that he must be sectioned however with the stigma around mental health and the lack of quality content educating the masses, this conclusion was swiftly dissolved under the word of my in-laws. My mother-in-law refused to allow his sectioning and was adamant that I must take better care of him because obviously ‘log kya kahengey?’

Maintaining the perfect, cereal packet family image was prioritised over the truth and by God did everybody suffer. With the elbow grease needed on the farm, bringing up five children, ensuring they get adequate love while providing my husband with the gentle care he needed fragmented my existence into pieces. Just as the songbirds pecked at the ripe orange and took with them sweet slices, I too carved off slivers of myself and hand-fed it to those I loved for even fathoming a separation from my husband was impossible. I strived and the past bears a testimony to a future where I would’ve strived more had it not been my in-laws who threw me and my children out on the streets.

Every day was a war on the streets, it was only sheer commitment and my iron will that sealed my survival who kehte hain na jo dar gaya samjho mar gaya, I never let my fate scare me because after all, the lines delineating it were etched on my palms, the palms I would use to shape a better future and so I did.

We camped at an area near a petrol station as that guaranteed 24-hour lighting and the metaphysical darkness in our lives would never turn into tangible shadows. I then scouted a job and worked

countless hours to make ends meet and honestly I never minded the physical aches as much as the emotional jabs stung. As Manto once said “The barbs of society are always reserved for the women” and accusatory fingers always pointed to me instead of my inlaws and ex-husband.

All these shortcomings lay firmly on my shoulders however I rooted them deep somewhere in my subconscious and disallowed them to interfere with my life and soon I met my second husband.

I was fortunate enough to have found a soul as gentle as his; he loved me and my five children as his own and brought me with him to the UK where I have rebuilt my life for the past three decades.

He is no longer alive, and I never remarried but I am deeply grateful for the blessed life I live.

Separation impacts couples devastatingly and more so if they have children that are forever lost wondering where they belong. The single parent is weighed down with dual duties that may have a significantly negative impact on the child’s development and despite everything I firmly believe divorce is never the answer. If there is even a sliver of love and compassion, you rekindle the spark that once ignited in your hearts, work on communication and solutions because frankly the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and divorce comes with its fair share of problems.

However, if it is the last resort then proceed with caution and mutual satisfaction. It is easy to suggest these solutions as you munch on samosas but at the end of the day only the couple knows what is ideal for them and their fate rests in their very own hands.

23 - 29 august 2021

AKSHAY KUMAR: PRANKS ARE A PART AND PARCEL OF SHOOTING WITH ME.

KARTIK AARYAN WELCOMES ALAYA F ONBOARD FOR 'FREDDY'.

SALMAN KHAN'S 'TIGER 3' LOOK LEAKED, GOES VIRAL

TIGER SHROFF, KRITI SANON'S 'GANAPATH' TO RELEASE ON CHRISTMAS 2022

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FILM FASHION BEAUTY

ALI FAZAL: IT'S QUALITY OF WORK THAT MAKES US STAND OUT Actor Ali Fazal, who took the spotlight with his impactful performances in web-series and films, says it is the quality of work that will make talent stand out. However, there was a time, when he was just focussing on quantity that led to making many “sins”.

Talking about what matters to him more -- quality or quantity of work, Ali in a chat with IANS said "It's a subjective question for all actors. We all look for quality. If quantity comes with quality then it's even better but at this stage... maybe if I was asked a year ago, I would have said quantity."

The 34-year-old actor "I think somewhere some shift has happened and I really...

It is all about quality. But I suppose I am at a stage where that quality comes with certain responsible parts so maybe I have the privilege to say quality."

The actor made his Bollywood debut with a cameo appearance in the 2009 film "3 Idiots". He appeared next in "Always

Kabhi Kabhi". His tryst with success started with "Fukrey", "Victoria & Abdul" and series such as "Mirzapur".

"There was a time when I was focusing on quantity.

So, because of that I made many sins but anyway I will say quality," said Ali.

He added "These days I think quality is what will make us stand out because it is going to be a lot of work and cinema on all kinds of platforms so I am sure a lot of people can do it but it is the quality that makes the difference between good and really good."

'KGF CHAPTER 2' FINALISES RELEASE DATE: APRIL 14, 2022

Mark your calendars as the release date of the much-awaited action film 'KGF: Chapter 2' is out. After suffering a release delay, the movie is now set to come out in theatres on April 14, 2022.

Indian film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed the news on his Instagram handle in a post captioned as, "#KGF2 14 APRIL 2022 RELEASE... Team #KGFChapter2 finalises the release date 14 April 2022... Stars #Yash, #SanjayDutt, #SrinidhiShetty and #RaveenaTandon... Directed by #PrashanthNeel... Produced by #VijayKiragandur. #KGF2onApr14."

The movie was earlier supposed to be released in July this year but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

For the unversed, Sanjay Dutt will be seen essaying the role of the antagonist Adheera in 'KGF Chapter 2', which is a follow-up of the Kannada blockbuster 'KGF Chapter 1'.

Starring South star Yash in the lead, the first part's narrative follows an underdog who later becomes a dangerous gangster. The upcomin g sequel is said to follow the power struggle between Rocky (Yash) and Adheera (Sanjay).

Apart from Yash and Sanjay Dutt, the movie will also star Bollywoo d actor Raveena Tandon in the lead role.

Helmed by Prashanth Neel, the film will also feature Srinidhi Shetty in a lead role. The first installment of the film was also directed by Neel.

KARTIK AARYAN WELCOMES ALAYA F ONBOARD FOR 'FREDDY'.

Actor Alaya F recently confirmed that she has joined the cast of the upcoming Kartik Aaryanstarrer 'Freddy'.

The 'Jawaani Jaaneman' actor took to her Instagram handle to share the news.

She posted a picture of herself holding the movie's clapperboard with a caption that reads, "Ready for Freddy! Sooooo happy to be on board with the most wonderful team!" Lead actor Kartik Aaryan also welcomed his co-star on board for the movie.

"Welcome @alayaf From Freddy )," Kartik wrote in the caption with a monochrome picture featuring Alaya cutting a cake on the film sets. 'Freddy' went on floors on August 1 in Mumbai.

Kartik announced the news on his Instagram Story and shared a picture from the sets. The forthcoming film is being helmed

by Shashanka Ghosh and is produced by Ekta Kapoor (Balaji Telefilms) and Jay Shewakramani (Northern Lights Films).

The romantic thriller is said to be packed with unpredictable twists and sharp turns. The characters in the movie are set to take the movie buffs on a dark and chilling rollercoaster ride, where the lines between love and obsession will blur.

'Freddy' marks Ekta and Shashanka's second film after the hit flick 'Veere Di Wedding', which had released in 2018.

Apart from 'Freddy', Kartik has Ram Madhvani's 'Dhamaka', Anees Bazmee's 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', and Hansal Mehta's 'Captain India'. Kartik will also be seen in Sameer Vidwans' directorial venture, which was earlier titled 'Satyanarayan Ki Katha'.

On the other hand, Alaya, who made her Bollywood debut with the 2020 rom-com 'Jawaani Jaaneman' starring alongside Saif Ali Khan and Tabu, has Ekta Kapoor's upcoming Hindi remake of the 2018 blockbuster Kannada thriller 'U-Turn' in the pipeline.

FILM FASHION BEAUTY

SALMAN KHAN'S 'TIGER 3' LOOK LEAKED, GOES VIRAL Salman Khan is currently shooting in Russia for his upcoming film 'Tiger 3'.

The superstar's look from the spy thriller has been leaked and has caused a tizzy on social media.

A fanpage on Instagram which goes by the name 'salmanic_aryan' has shared a few stills from the film, featuring the 'Dabangg' star, who is unrecognisable in his get up.

According to the fanpage, the pictures are from a car chase sequence that is being shot in the country. The 55-yearold superstar is seen sporting long reddish brown hair and

a beard. He is wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, a red jacket and a headband for the look. Another set of pictures showed Salman posing with some fans.

The third instalment, which is directed

by Maneesh Sharma, also stars Katrina Kaif. 'Tiger 3' was put on hold due to the global outbreak of Covid-19. 'Tiger 3' is the third part of the spy thriller franchise.

The first instalment 'Ek Tha Tiger' directed by Kabir Khan released in 2012.

The second 'Tiger Zinda Hai' released in 2017 and was directed by Ali Abbas Zafar.

THREE

'DESTINY'S CHILD' REUNION NOT HAPPENING, CONFIRMS BEYONCE' S FATHER.

Beyonce's fans might feel disappointed as the much specula ted 'Destiny's Child' reunion is not happening.

Beyonce's father Mathew Knowles who is DC's official manage r told TMZ that currently there are zero plans for the iconic group to reunite, make an album, tour or do anything like that.

He also said that the recent social media updates on 'Destiny 's Child's official accounts that sparked the rumours, were just a "routine revampi ng" by the record label.

On a related note, Beyonce's "new music's coming" statement in an interview added further fuel to the fire. However, while teasing the upcomin g project, she didn't specify if it would be solo, or with her 'Destiny's Child' teammates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

Knowles also weighed on to the fan response to the 'Destiny 's Child' reunion buzz and said that she is impressed by the huge demand for the singers to make a comeback; adding it is something they will take into account for the future.

MANUSHI WASN'T TOLD RAKSHA BANDHAN WAS ABOUT WOMEN SEEKING PROTECTION. Bollywood debutante and former beauty queen Manushi Chhillar has revealed that her parents Neelam and Mitra Basu Chhillar never told her sister Dewangana and her that Raksha Bandhan was about women seeking protection from their brothers.

She says this made the two young girls of the family forward thinking individuals as Raksha Bandhan, in their household, has always been celebrated as a day where all the siblings wished happiness for each other.

Manushi said "Our parents never told Dewangana and me that Raksha Bandhan was about our brother taking care of us for life and protecting us. They told us that Raksha Bandhan was all about all of us vowing to be beside each other through ups

and downs."

"It was never about gender and how the man has to protect the women. It was never about us thinking that women need protection and thus were weak," she added.

Manushi, who will be debuting in Bollywood in the big screen with 'Prithviraj' opposite Akshay Kumar, thanks her parents for instilling such progressive values.

"For us, Raksha Bandhan is a time when we all keep our calendars free to just hang and chill and spend time with our parents. It's a celebration of us as a family and I just look forward to it every year. I credit my parents for being progressive and teaching us the right values that have shaped us to be forward thinking individuals," she said.

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FILM FASHION BEAUTY

TIGER SHROFF, KRITI SANON'S 'GANAPATH' TO RELEASE ON CHRISTMAS 2022 Mark your calendars as the release date for actors Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanonstarrer 'Ganapath' is out. The film is set to release on December 23, 2022.

The makers of the film announced the date with a video that gives a hint of Tiger's character in and as 'Ganapath'.

"Apun ka do baap hai, God aur janta.

Dono ne bola aane ko, toh apun aa rha hai," Tiger said in the video.

Excited about the movie, Tiger said, "'Ganapath' has been one of my most ambitious and challenging projects. This one truly is going to challenge me to an extreme level in terms of action as well the idea is to take the bar a lot higher for myself and 'Ganapath' is just the right vehicle to express a new action for our audiences here."

Vashu Bhagnani and Pooja Entertainment present 'Ganapath' in association with Good Co. The film is directed by Vikas Bahl.

While talking about the scale of the film, producer Jackky Bhagnani said, "During

the pandemic, it was tough to conceive a film of this scale and to bring so many people on board but we did it thanks to Vikas! The film has great action, it has a strong emotional core that takes it to another level. Tiger's phenomenal energy, discipline, and commitment to the film have simply wowed us all. This is going to be a landmark film and the fact that it is releasing in my birthday month is just the perfect cherry on the cake!"

Director Vikas said he is both nervous and excited.

"If nervousness and excitement lead to a great final output then I want a bit more of both. There are a few hurdles given the pandemic situation worldwide but we have a great team and there is immense excitement. Tiger keeps setting the benchmarks for us and Jackky is the Adrenalin running in our system," he said.

Touted to be an action-thriller, the film will see Tiger and Kriti sharing screen space again after their debut film 'Heropanti'.

GURU RANDHAWA TO TURN ACTOR, EXPLORE MULTIPLE GENRES.

Singer-composer Guru Randhawa, who is all set to try his luck as an actor in Bollywood, is eager to explore different genres and not just limit himself to any one particular genre.

Talking about it, Guru Randhawa told IANS I'm personally a big fan of Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio movies. This is my first film and I want to give my 100% to it, I would try and like to explore different genre like romantic, thriller etc in movies and not to get stuck with one.

Opening up on why he decided to try his luck in acting, the singer expressed: “Well, it was all very instinctive. I mean, there wasn't a fixed process and I think it is a series of events that leads to one particular big event. It all fell in place one thing after the other. We signed this film last month and since then I've been excited to see my journey and the road ahead.”

His debut film is a Hindi musical drama which showcases the tumultuous journey of a young musician. If Guru Randhawa tastes success as an actor, would he like to continue both acting and singing?

“I would like to do both, and I think for me they will go hand in hand”, he replied. However, the musician is not ready to give up if his initial projects as an actor do not make it big.

“That's destiny but my hard work will be constant always”, he shared.

Quizzed if he has taken any formal training in acting, the singer replied: “Over the years I have been playing different roles for my three-minute music videos but now only the

duration of the movie will increase.

I've learnt so much from Mrunal, Nushrratt, Nora (actors who have featured in his music videos) as they act for big screen. It's always a pleasure to learn from such talented people. The hard work and effort will be constant and will always be. I think I'm ready for my Bollywood debut”, Guru concluded.

DANIEL CRAIG BEATS DWAYNE JOHNSON IN LIST OF 2021'S HIGHEST-PAID ACTORS Actor Daniel Craig has topped the list of highest-paid movie stars of 2021, beating actor Dwayne Johnson with whopping USD 100 million in earnings.

Craig topped Variety's highest-paid movie stars of 2021 list.

Craig made his money from Rian Johnson's forthcoming 'Knives Out 2' and 'Knives Out 3'.

As for Johnson who lands in the second spot, he is walking off with $50 million from Amazon's holiday-themed action movie 'Red One'.

Right behind Johnson are Will Smith and Denzel Washington, who both

earned $40 million for their movies 'King Richard' and 'The Little Things', respectively.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg, meanwhile, scored $30 million each for Netflix films 'Don't Look Up' and 'Spenser Confidential'. On the sixth spot is actress Jennifer Lawrence, who pocketed $25 million from 'Don't Look Up'.

Other actors and actresses who made it to the list's top 10 are Julia Roberts ($25 million from 'Leave the World Behind', Sandra Bullock ($20 million from 'The Lost City of D') as well as Ryan Gosling ($20 million from 'The Gray Man').

Chris Hemsworth and Brad

Pitt matched Ryan's $20 million for 'Thor Love and Thunder' and 'Bullet Train', respectively.

Actor Michael B. Jordan, on the other hand, earned $15 million from 'Without Remorse' while Tom Cruise was paid just $13 million upfront to star in 'Top Gun Maverick'. The list also shows Keanu Reeves landing at the 15th spot as he earned $12-14 million from 'The Matrix 4'.

Joining the A-listers above are Chris Pine, who reportedly earned $11.5 million from his film 'Dungeons & Dragons' and Robert Pattinson, who earned $3 million from 'The Batman'.

FILM FASHION BEAUTY

MOVIE REVIEW

FIVE

'Bell Bottom': A brilliant narrative; must watch in theatres 'Bell Bottom' features Akshay Kumar as a RAW agent, who pulls off the impossible mission of recapturing a hijacked plane and landing it safely on Indian soil with all the passengers alive, without any bloodshed. It is slick and stylish all along.

Akshay Kumar’s character, Anshul, is driven not only by the call of duty, but also because of a personal loss. His mother, an asthma patient, played

by Dolly Ahluwalia, had died when an Indian flight had been hijacked by terrorists. She had lost her life because she'd been denied lifesaving oxygen by the hijackers.

Kumar's character therefore is focused, determined and goal-oriented. The film stars Vaani Kapoor as the leading

lady (Akshay Kumar's wife).

Her character has an amazing twist to her, which is revealed much later in the story. Lara Dutta plays Mrs Indira Gandhi and Huma Qureshi, a special agent working for the Dubai government.

Kumar has definitely nailed the look and nuances of a special agent, who lives a normal life but drops

everything when duty calls. He is in top form looking slick and Director: Ranjit M. suave in his retro Tewari; look and for the most part holds the movie with Cast: Akshay Kumar, his acting skills.

Vaani Kapoor, Huma He does justice Qureshi and Lara Dutta to the character he plays. The bond between Released: 19 August the mother and son is sweet.

Vaani Kapoor has a sweet but impactful role.

She excels in playing a goodhumoured character and looks stunning.

She brings a lot of freshness when on-screen.

Film: Bell Bottom

The editing in the first half could have been crisper, but the second half is so smooth and pacy that you wouldn't know when the film ends. The special effects (VFX) could have been better.

3

For Lara Dutta, this could be a career-defining role. She looks so much like Mrs Gandhi and excels in her performance. Huma Qureshi, especially when her real identity is revealed, will definitely blow you away.

The narrative is gripping, and every character comes with a back story or sudden twist,

so the audience doesn't lose interest. The massive scale of the movie is outstanding; the makers (Pooja Entertainment) have not shied away from spending to make it larger than life and for achieving this in the middle of the pandemic is commendable.

The movie was shot in Scotland, but never once do you feel any liberties were taken with the narrative's authenticity.

The production designer who recreated the 1980s deserves special mention. The songs are few but well-placed. The ones that stood out were the gurudwara song 'Khair Mangdi' and the title track 'Dhoom Taraa', which just stays with you much after you leave the theatre.

'Bell Bottom' is a must-watch on the big screen.

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FILM FASHION BEAUTY

AKSHAY KUMAR:

Pranks are a part and parcel of shooting with me.

Akshay Kumar is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars today and he hasn’t achieved this status by playing it safe, quite the contrary. Moving from his Khiladi status Kumar has really come on to his own, playing characters that have not only been revolutionary, but also far from a stereotypical Bollywood hero. Whether that be Padman or Toilet Ek Prem Katha Akshay has enthralled us all with his choice of films and has excelled.

Once again Akshay is ten steps ahead with his latest Bellbottom being the first film crew to shoot during the pandemic and now the first major Bollywood film to have released in theatres in India. He seems to be once again risking it all but with success.

The risk taker is also a mega prankster when on sets, here’s our interview with the mega star, taken before the release of Bellbottom.

Exciting that Bellbottom is the first Hindi film to release in cinemas in India. With the lockdown people got used to watching movies on OTT platforms, what is your personal preference, are you a cinema goer, or do you prefer binging in the comfort of your own home?

immerse yourself in the pictures, sounds and overall experience of being in front of the big screen. Given the circumstances, everyone is putting effort into making the theatre experience feel normal and safe again, whether that be staff or members of the public.

Both are different experiences which have their merits in their own individual ways. I think films are made to be showcased to the audience, one way or another. With Covid, circumstances have certainly changed over the past year, meaning OTT streaming was the only viable means of consuming content, but I believe beyond that cinema theatres and OTT platforms can and will coexist with great success.

A film like Bellbottom is tailored to be showcased to an audience in a theatre where you are able to

Lara Dutta has taken on a very interesting role in Bellbottom and thanks to you we got to see the BTS of her character. Her very first film was with you – Andaz in 2003 and many more films thereafter, if you had to comment on her journey in films, what would you say about her?

Lara is a phenomenal professional and a very talented actress. It’s true, her role in Bellbottom is very interesting and her transformation is synonymous

with her versatility as a performer and great credit must also be given to makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad and his team for making her role appear so authentic. I have worked with Lara for almost two decades as you say and her journey has been so successful, but not surprising. She really does dive headfirst into her work, and she is brilliant in Bellbottom as you will see. I felt Lara would always do this character justice.

It’s been a while since we have seen you in an espionage thriller, and our office was just reminiscing about your action and stunts in your earlier films. So, it’s so good to see you back in this genre. In terms of action and stunts what can audiences expect from Bellbottom.

FILM FASHION BEAUTY

Audiences can expect plenty of action, balanced with suspense. The beauty of Bellbottom is that there is a perfect mix between scenes of high-octane action, with scenes where the suspense and tension will drive you to the edge of your seat.

But it’s true, Bellbottom certainly entails plenty of stunts and explosive moments.

You would have caught glimpses of it in the trailer.

You filmed extensively in Scotland and London and made history as the first film

crew to shoot a film in an international location amidst the pandemic. What was it like being on the sets in such a scenario and how does it feel to have been part of this historic milestone?

SEVEN

Being the world's first film to shoot at an international location after the nationwide lockdown, the safety of our team was of absolute priority.

There were extensive and meticulous safety measures in place as laid out by the production house, Pooja Entertainment, to enable a smooth and safe shoot.

Besides medical-grade masks and face shields, the production house had also made it mandatory for the cast and crew to wear a wrist watch, that would constantly monitor their oxygen levels, body temperature, blood pressure, stress levels and pulse via a centralised

dashboard.

Along with this, everyone was instructed to live within the premises in bubbles, to minimise interaction with the outside world. Chefs were also appointed for the team to avoid the need to order food from restaurants.

There was an on-set doctor looking into the vitals of all of the crew members on a daily basis and every 15 days the entire

crew would take a mandatory Covid test. There was a sanitisation tunnel installed for the crew to use before starting the day’s work and at the end of the day, each day, the set got disinfected.

The Scottish government and the authorities were a big help

in this, guiding and supporting us each step of the way, ensuring a smooth sailing of the schedule.

We’ve always asked you about your pranks on sets and you’ve always given us some hilarious stories….Are there any you can share for Bellbottom?

I think it helps build a camaraderie between everyone and eases the work environment. I can recall one such prank alongside my cast

member Adil Hussain. In one of the scenes Adil had to wear a certain watch for the purpose of continuity, but just before we started filming I shook his hand and somehow managed to get hold of the watch without his knowledge. Just before we started filming the assistant director came over and started asking ‘Adil sir, where is your watch? We need it to continue this scene’… Adil had no idea at all that I had taken it. He couldn’t understand why it was no longer on his wrist!

How I took it, now that’s a trick. But yes, such harmless pranks are a part and parcel of shooting with me.

Vaani referred to you as a very funny person to work with, so what I want to know is how do you be so jovial on sets and humorous, but then can go straight into a scene that is the complete opposite and intense. As an actor, how do you manage to switch and get back into character so easily? Not all actors can do so effortlessly.

As I said, I like to keep spirits high in between filming. Being on set can be a long day for everybody and so much energy goes into making these films so I think it's so important to energize people with laughter and the odd prank or two – but once the cameras are rolling, there can be no other distraction. In fact, I feel it helps you concentrate on your scene better.

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14

MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL: DEVELOPMENTS CHANGE TOWN The huge developments set to change the face of Middlesbrough In 2020, the council gave permission for Thirteen Housing Group to build 145 homes on the land between Diamond Road and Union Street in Gresham – the scheme is known as ‘Union Village’.

BY EMILY CRAIGIE Regeneration is very much the buzzword of the moment in Middlesbrough, with funding plunged into areas across the town.

Areas ‘over the border’ in Middlehaven are all changing with the Boho plans and a new school, while the historic parts of Middlesbrough and the very centre of the town will also be developed.

Construction work has already started on this first phase of the project, with homes expected to be able to be rented from summer 2022.

Phase two will see a further 77 homes built, though work on this will not start until 2022.

Upcoming projects will see a mixture of housing, office space and leisure sites created and there are hopes that it will help to expand the town’s digital sector.

Read on for the five developments that will change the face of Middlesbrough.

Boho X Excavation works will finally start on the Boho X building, on Lower Gosford Street, next week, which will provide office space for Middlesbrough’s burgeoning digital sector.

Initially, there were plans for a 260ft tower made up of 19 storeys, however, the covid pandemic led to plans being reassessed and now the project will include five and six-storey blocks, alongside

Historic Quarter

Image: Middlesbrough Council

The land in Gresham where the first homes will be built Image from Middlesbrough Council a rooftop swimming pool, rooftop bar, rooftop gym, and a ‘private orchard’.

Mayor Andy Preston said: “Boho X will be the best office building for 100 miles and it will confirm Middlesbrough’s position as a powerhouse of technology.

“As we transform into the digital city, thousands of new jobs will be created in central Middlesbrough – jobs of all kinds – offering life-changing

opportunities to Teessiders.

Street while the new building is completed.

Captain Cook Square

This is the third school in Middlesbrough to be part

The Council has bought Captain Cook Square and will be aiming to turn it into a leisure hub right in the heart of Middlesbrough.

The area will receive £9 million worth of investment from the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) as urban areas across the country look to rebalance city centres as retail declines.

Middlehaven School Middlesbrough’s first new free school in a generation will also be operating out of a new site in 2023, if building work goes to plan.

Image: Ian Cooper/Teesside Live

The area, which was at the centre of manufacturing and trade in the second half of the 19th century, will face major improvements to allow key

A number of proposals have been put forward for the site including a bowling alley, boutique cinema, a brewery, and restaurants.

Andy Preston has previously said that the interest shown by regional and national leisure operators ‘speaks volumes’.

New homes planned for Gresham in Middlesbrough with social housing provider Thirteen the builder

Work is expected to go on until 2024 in the Historic Quarter after the town secured funding through Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme.

The Department for Education approved an application for Outwood Academy School to be built next to Middlesbrough College In the meantime, the school will be based at 100 Russell

Image: Middlesbrough Council

Designs for Boho X Plan B artists impressions at Middlehaven, Middlesbrough of the Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT), alongside Outwood Acklam and Outwood Ormesby.

Gresham Homes Plans have been agreed for more than 250 homes to be built at two separate sites in central Middlesbrough in an attempt to bring ‘derelict land back to life’.

historic buildings to be reused for housing and commercial businesses.

Around half of the buildings in this area are listed, however, many look run down – this new scheme will seek to regenerate them and create a pleasant walk between the town centre and the railway station.

This article is by the Local Democracy Reporting Service

15

ASIAN STANDARD / NORTH EAST

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ASIAN SUNDAY TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY - THE JOURNEY SO FAR This past decade our company has seen and faced many challenges, but we are proud that today we have more than 150,000 people who read our newspapers every week and more than half a million readers online Fatima Patel

Inked into print in 2011 at a press in Bradford, consistently making headlines which went from reporting historical events to making history itself. Asian Sunday newspaper swiftly grounded itself as a benchmark publication and UK’s first, free Sunday newspaper solo-owned by a woman.

The newspaper quickly became an essential print- the first Sunday title across the UK Asian media sector as it peeled back the layers of glossy print to fixate a limelight on UK-based South Asians and their oriental nuances.

Asian Sunday newspaper began as an axiom in founder Fatima Patel’s brain and with the aid of her parents’ newsagents, where

London launch, Fatima Patel with Bradford's Dynamo

as a youngster she had helped with sorting and delivering newspapers. The abstraction of printing a free, Sunday paper delivered directly to homes, took shape and soon tangible form. The tabloid was a fanfare of colourful stories and became a breakfast table essential as families spent languid Sundays indulging in sweetened tea and crisp anecdotes that served to entertain, educate and link diverse communities in a single chain.

Editorial content for Asian Sunday is a vast spread dichotomised between pages heavy with politics, news and current affairs along with the glittering fanfare of arts, culture and entertainment

Newspaper launch at Bradford City Hall

Fatima Patel interviewing Jeremy Corbyn Asian Sunday at the house of parliament within a mere two years of launching became a quantum leap for Fatima and the tycoon soared to astral heights unaware of the shadow of misfortune quietly trailing her.

Following the newspaper launch, Fatima was tragically hospitalised and bed bound with numerous health complications consistent for a few years The mishap adversely impacted the newspaper and with deteriorating health, managing the Asian Sunday London title and the Asian Sunday Bradford title became impossible, consequently leading to a sudden and despairing wrap. The credits had been cued however avid readers of Asian Sunday craved the delicious warmth that suffused those who perused the newspaper and encouragement via heartfelt letters and texts began pouring in. The passionate words along, an iron will and the unconditional support from Mrs Rokaiya Patel; Fatima’s mother, the zest re-coloured her life and Fatima returned to full time word in 2015.

The pinnacle seemed further than

that transcends stereotypes to encourage interaction and dialogue between various demographics. It is a fusion of cultures and diverse abstractions in one dialect that is crucial to bridge the verbal gaps between communities.

Fuelled by Fatima’s moxie and the success of the Bradford edition in achieving recognition and fostering cross-community relations between the South Asian and local communities, in 2013 she decided to expand her venture and introduce her brainchild to the capital, launching initially in East London.

This endeavour was largely supported by British Airways whose ethos of carving bridges to suture social and political gaps aligned with that of Asian Sunday.

The newspaper’s prosperity was also positively influenced by members of Bradford Council, MPs at the time: Keith Vaz, Anas Sarwar, Yasmin Qureshi, David Ward with a tribute to fellow Bradfordians: Kimberley Walsh, Steven Frayne (aka Dynamo) and Bollywood’s darling Kareena Kapoor Khan.

The glittering success of

WWW.ASIANSTANDARD.CO.UK

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ASIAN STANDARD / NORTH EAST

Interviewing Bollywood superstar's Shahrukh Khan and Kajol

before as challenges obscured her vision. Advertising revenues were flat-lining causing regional print newspapers to struggle financially while printing at a pace fast enough to match the digital tabloids was needless to say a herculean task yet Fatima had sown herself sure wings and with the faith of Icarus, flew to the sun.

Brainstorming ideas to reconceptualise the newspaper, Fatima teased the idea of a weekday title-Asian Standard and immediately gave it the green light for production. Asian Sunday was to be introduced as a multimedia platform producing interesting, visual content to not only satiate the demands of a

Asian Sunday the UK's first FREE Sunday paper swiftly, digitalised world but also cut down the extra cost of Sunday production.

Door to door delivery of Asian Sunday

The plan was spread out for ten years and with courage, determination and lots of elbow grease the Asian Sunday Kirklees was launched in 2018 with Fatima’s mother as the director under the company name RF publishing which are the combined initials of the dynamic duo. Both Asian Sunday Bradford and Asian Sunday Kirklees carved a niche for themselves in the publishing industry and were bourgeoning rapidly until March 2020 arrived

with the announcement of unprecedented lockdowns.

This became a setback for the print as associates, sponsors and advertisers cancelled their contracts on the uncertain possibilities of the corona virus pandemic. However, with strict quarantining and isolation, the need for forming virtual communities became more prominent along with providing credible news to combat the prejudices that had become prevalent online regarding Asian communities. The newspaper was in high demand therefore the directors were swift to take the ten year plan from paper to print and Asian Sunday’s virtual existence became the cynosure.

E-news, Interviews and the talk show- Let’s Talk soon landed us YouTube partner status that ensured Asian Sunday progressed as the supreme, multimedia platform it had morphed into. Finances became stable and as revenue was secured Asian Standard was released as a weekly print news title and today it has successfully proliferated into four regional print news titles; Asian Standard Bradford, Asian Standard Kirklees, Asian Standard North East and Asian Standard Leeds which work alongside Asian Sunday Onlinethe national brand.

The timeline of the last two years spanning from making Asian Sunday completely digital and rebranding it as Asian Sunday Online has been marked by stellar growth and plans to sustain the

much-loved tabloid. The content has been consistently updated with quirky and original concepts to follow such as Simmering Sunday’s- a sumptuous food show, a make-over show, a panel-style guest show and multiple exciting endeavours along with expediting the print section as well where a further six Asian Standard regional titles are planned to launch by 2025.

but also engages wider communities, to bridge the gap of understanding respecting other people’s faiths, lifestyles, cultures by way of learning and if anything, to get the conversations started.

“So, a special thank you to all who have helped make this possible.”

Asian Sunday has truly become a news platform owned by the community and we are grateful

Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik with a copy of Asian Sunday Overwhelmed with a gentle love for the abundance of her virtual audience, Fatima said: “This past decade our company has seen and faced many challenges, but we are proud that today we have more than 150,000 people who read our newspapers every week and more than half a million readers online” The tycoon added with much vigour “But what makes me prouder is that we have achieved our mission of ensuring that our newspaper doesn’t just reach the South Asian communities

to everyone who has supported the brand. Having initially started with the abstract idea of creating a loving and inspirational community, we believe our success lies in the hearts of those that have come together through the pages of Asian Sunday. We pledge to continue enlivening your breakfast table discussions with delicious fables, news and entertainment and sincerely hope you stick around to keep reading and supporting the Asian Sunday Online and Asian Standard.

17

ASIAN STANDARD / NORTH EAST

@ASIANSTANDARD

HOW LOCAL UNIVERSITIES ARE HELPING STUDENTS IMPACTED BY THE AFGHANISTAN CRISIS

BY HERBERT SODEN

and accessed for free with a university email address.

Three North East universities have told how they will help students impacted by the crisis in Afghanistan.

The counselling team are also available and can offer support.

The Taliban has captured Kabul, having swept across the country as foreign forces withdrew.

The team can be contacted on sws.therapyappointments@ ncl.ac.uk or 0191 208 3333 if you need support or if you wish for us to reach out to other students in need.

Their victory returns the group to power 20 years on from when they were toppled in a US-led invasion.

Further information about help available, including 24/7 sources of support, can be found on the website.

A huge number of families have since fled their homes in a bid to escape the conflict.

In a statement, Newcastle University said it was “deeply concerned” by recent events in Afghanistan and what it will mean for those living there.

Students thought to be affected by the crisis have already been contacted by the university.

It said: “We know that many members of our community have family and friends in the country, and we are working with our students and city partners to be ready to welcome Afghan refugees to the region.

“We have already contacted any Newcastle student where

Image: Shutterstock

our records show they may be affected by this ongoing situation to offer our support.”

The statement said that the university’s deputy vice chancellor, Prof Julie Sanders, is working to make sure support is in place for any current or potential student from Afghanistan.

It continued: “Beyond this, through our Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Sanders, we are working with

the sector and Universities UK International to ensure the support is in place for any current or prospective student from Afghanistan wanting to study in the UK. Through CARA (the Council for At Risk Academics) we are also looking at the situation for academics who may be displaced by these events.

“Locally, as part of our work as a University of Sanctuary, we are also providing additional resources to support our student

run volunteer group North East Solidarity and Teaching (N.E.S.T).

“The group has been providing services to hundreds of asylum seekers and refugees in the region over the past four years and is now part of the City’s wider response to support those arriving in Newcastle from Afghanistan.

“This includes providing, packing and distributing approximately 350 care packs to refugees and asylum seekers, including Afghan refugees, who are expected to arrive in Newcastle before the end of August. Among those seeking sanctuary in Newcastle are families with young children, and both students and colleague volunteers will be helping with this effort.”

The chaplaincy and pastoral support team can offer emotional support to any staff or student.

They can be contacted by emailing: pastoral.support@ newcastle.ac.uk Postgraduate students can also access support from the Postgraduate Assistance Programme via the free 24 Hour confidential helpline: 0800 030 5182.

Newcastle University

The university also has a multilanguage service app called TalkCampus which allows you to talk with other students from around the world. This can be downloaded from the app store

A University of Sunderland spokeswoman said: “The university has a very small number of current and prospective students from Afghanistan. Our current student and their family are in the UK already continuing their studies so are safe, well and are in touch with the university around any support they may require. We have a small number of prospective students this year with only one likely to join us for our upcoming intake at this stage.

“We have been in regular contact with the student over the past few months, increasing this in the past couple of weeks as the situation has developed. They are safe at this time.

“Flights out of the country have been suspended and they are trying to apply for a Visa but the VFS offices are currently closed.

They are hopeful flights will start again soon but things in the country keep changing.

“We are offering support and working across the University regarding options for the student including options around late arrival, online learning etc and will assess the situation with them as it develops to see what the best options for the student will be.”

A spokesman from Northumbria University said that it doesn’t have any current or incoming students from Afghanistan.

However, it has published information via its internal channels, for any students who may have connections in the country, which gives them guidance on what welfare and support is on offer.

This article is by the Local Democracy Reporting Service

&Crosswords

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

Across 1. Moth-eaten (6) 4. Worshipped (6) 8. Take it easy (5) 9. Memory loss (7) 10. Tower on a mosque (7) 11. Pharaoh's land (5) 12. Prosperity (9) 17. Insurgent (5) 19. Fate (7) 21. Cul-de-sac (4,3) 22. Embellish (5) 23. Housing area (6) 24. Period before Christmas (6)

Spot the

5

differences

Down 1. Small prawn (6) 2. State capital of Georgia (7) 3. Pugilist (5) 5. Underground prison (7) 6. Out of practice (5) 7. Severe shortage (6) 9. Amazed (9) 13. Hazel nut (7l 14. Part of a serial (7) 15. Card game for four players (6) 16. Young swan (6) 18. Explosion (5) 20. Sedate (5)

CODEWORD

ANSWERS SPOT THE DIFFERENCE CODEWORD ANSWERS

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

If you can read this

PRINT

AIN’T

DEAD Contact sales@asianstandard.co.uk

01274 735 657

21

ASIAN STANDARD / NORTH EAST

@ASIANSTANDARD

RECIPE

CHICKEN TACOS

INGREDIENTS Chicken: 1 chicken breast, cut across so you have two fillets 1 tbsp oil 1 tsp Supreme Garlic Paste 1 tsp Supreme Onion Powder ¼ tsp Supreme Garlic Powder 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp Supreme Smoked Paprika ½ tsp Supreme Cayenne Pepper ½ tsp Supreme Cumin Powder Salt to taste 2 tbsp oil Other Ingredients: Corn tortillas Sour cream Coriander leaves Lime wedges Guacamole: 2 avocados, destoned and flesh removed Juice of a ½ lemon Juice of 1 lime Salt to taste ½ tsp Supreme Chilli Flakes ¼ tsp Supreme Coarse Black Pepper ½ cup red onion, chopped into small cubes ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, chopped into small cubes ½ cup chopped coriander Pico de Gallo: 1 vine tomato, de-seeded and chopped into small cubes. ½ cup finely chopped coriander 1 medium onion, chopped into small cubes Zest of 1 lime Juice of 2 limes 1 tsp Supreme Garlic Paste 1 ½ tbsp fresh jalapenos, finely chopped Salt to taste Salsa: 1 Supreme Plum Tomato Tin 1 medium red onion, roughly chopped 1 tsp Supreme Garlic Paste 1 fresh jalapeno pepper Juice of 2 limes Salt to taste Pinch of sugar

METHOD Chicken: In a bowl add oil, garlic paste, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin powder and salt, and mix well. Add chicken, coat well and marinate for 2 hours. Place a frying pan with oil over medium-high heat, add chicken and cook until fully cooked. Remove and place on a chopping board, rest for 5 minutes and chop into smaller pieces.

Guacamole: Add all ingredients to bowl and mash together and serve.

Pico de Gallo: Add all ingredients to a bowl, mix well and set aside for 1 hour before serving.

Salsa: Add ingredients to a blender and blend until well combined.

To assemble tacos, heat corn tortillas on a griddle pan. Top with chicken, desired amount of salsa, pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream and coriander leaves.

Recipe in partnership with Supreme ingredients.

For more recipes visit www.supreme-ingredients.com

JOURNALIST WANTED

RF Publishing Ltd publishes the North’s leading FREE ethnic print title – Asian Standard platforming the South Asian community with a view to reaching out to wider communities.

SALES &

DISTRIBUTION We are looking for an energetic individual who can deliver our newspapers business to business on a weekly basis.

•

The right candidate will have a positive and friendly personality and be able to use their personality to build partnerships and relations with local business owners to help grow our news sales and distribution within the North East region.

•

Our newspaper – Asian Standard North East is FREE for the public to pick-up from supermarkets, cafes, offices and community centres. While we already have arrangements with business owners, we want our distributor to be able to regularly monitor and increase pickup points and find new places to distribute the newspaper. You will be required to keep records and take images to manage all the distribution locations and proof of delivery. So good organisation skills and preparing spreadsheets is an essential part of the role.

•

As you will be the face of the company, you will be expected to be well presented, with excellent communication skills.

•

From time to time business owners may also ask to advertise in the newspaper and you will be required to be on hand to provide the information.

•

A flexible working approach is required due to weather conditions and delivery delays from time to time.

•

A clean driving license is advantageous and will be prioritised when shortlisting for the position.

We currently have three regional titles based in Bradford, Kirklees and now the North East. Our news patches are growing along with our readership and therefore we are looking for more journalists to join our team.

We are looking for experienced journalists to join our news patch for the North East.

•

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 1-year journalism experience covering community and political news.

•

They will have media law knowledge and trained with or to NCTJ standard.

•

The ideal candidate needs to be self-motivated and a go getter. They need to get to the heart of our communities and find stories that are not only breaking, but fresh and exclusive.

•

Candidates must also be familiar with social media apps and be able to use word press to post articles online.

•

Understanding of South Asian communities would be an advantage but not necessary.

•

With Covid in mind we will be offering opportunities to work from home with both freelance and employed opportunities, providing excellent perks and remuneration.

It’s a really exciting time to join our organisation as we have growth plans to expand both our digital and print offerings.

Pay: £10ph plus expenses

Pay: Freelance and Employment opportunities available

Hours: Flexible

Hours: Flexible

Email your CV to jobs@asianstandard.co.uk

To apply send your CV and an example of a written piece of work to editor@asianstandard.co.uk

WANT TO

WORK FOR NORTH EAST?

SPORTS

@ASIANSTANDARD

WITH LIONEL MESSI IN TEAM, OPPONENTS WERE MORE SCARED OF BARCELONA, ADMITS RONALD KOEMAN FC Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman on Saturday admitted that the Blaugrana club is less feared without Lionel Messi Barcelona manager stated that the rivals were “more scared” when the Argentine was leading the attack for their side. This statement by Koeman came after his side struggled against Athletic Club and managed to just retrieve a point in their second La Liga match of the season.

“I don’t like to always talk about the same thing, but we’re talking about the best in the world,” the Dutchman told in his post-match press conference, as per Goal. com.

“Our opponents were more scared when Messi was here. For us as well, if you pass the ball to Leo, usually

Ronald Koeman he won’t lose it. You can tell [Messi] isn’t there. We know that and we can’t change it.”

The six-times Ballon d’Or winner left the Catalan side as a free agent after the Spanish club announced that “financial and structural obstacles” meant the deal between them and Messi could not be completed.

San Mames is never an easy place to win as Barca have

Image: Shutterstock

Lionel Messi

struggled there in recent seasons and the Saturday clash was no exception.

Indeed, for much of the ninety minutes, they had their backs against the wall, and Athletic were good value

for their 1-0 lead. A flash of inspired brilliance was needed, and it came from the left foot of Memphis.

The Dutchman was able to salvage a point from one of the most difficult road trips

in La Liga, and in doing so celebrate his first official goal in an FC Barcelona jersey. Next Sunday, Barca will be back at Camp Nou, where Getafe will be their visitors.

RAFAEL NADAL ENDS SEASON EARLY DUE TO FOOT INJURY, TO MISS US OPEN

Image: Wikipedia

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal declared on Friday that he will end his 2021 season early due to a foot injury. The move

forward to try to recover and recover well. It’s a year that I’ve missed things that matter a lot to me,

things that really motivate me and the things that I have done during all these years. I am convinced that

means that the Spaniard will not take part in the US Open starting August 30.

“I wanted to inform you that unfortunately I have to end the 2021 season. Honestly, I have been suffering much more than I should with my foot for a year and I need to take some time,” tweeted Nadal.

He further tweeted, “After having discussed it with the team and family, this decision has been made and I think it is the way

like Wimbledon, like the Olympics.”

The troublesome foot injury had caused the 20-time Grand Slam winner to miss the Cincinnati Masters and Canadian Open last week.

The foot issue flared up at this year’s French Open, where he fell to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

“I am (determined) to do whatever it takes to regain the best possible shape, to continue competing for the

with the recovery of the foot and obviously a very important daily effort this can be achieved. I will work as hard as I can to make it happen,” concluded the 35-year-old.

Nadal will be the third big absentee from the men’s singles event in the US Open. Defending champion Dominic Thiem has been ruled out due to wrist injury while Roger Federer ended his season prematurely for further knee surgery.

SPORTS FAKHAR ZAMAN, HARIS RAUF AMONG 26 PAKISTAN CRICKETERS TO TRAIN IN PRE-SEASON CAMP

Image: Twitter

Fakhar Zaman

A pre-season training camp for Pakistan men’s white-ball players has commenced at the National High-Performance Centre with practice matches to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium.

According to Pakistan

Cricket Board (PCB), the camp will be supervised by the NHPC coaching and support staff, led by the head of international player development Saqlain Mushtaq. Twenty-six players will take part in the camp and throughout the camp, the

prevalent COVID-19 SOPs will be observed.

During the camp, the players will work on their fitness and cricketing skills with a special emphasis on their preparation for the hectic white-ball international cricket season which begins next month.

“White-ball players returning from the West Indies will be asked to join the camp after a few days of rest,” PCB said in a statement.

Pakistan white-ball players to participate in the camp Arshad Iqbal, Danish Aziz, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib

Maqsood.

Additional players to help during net sessions and practice matches Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Bashir, Imran

Randhawa, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Imran, Muhammad Akhlaq, Raza Ali Dar, Rohail Nazir, Zeeshan Ashraf.

Image: Twitter

Haris Rauf

AFTER PULLING OUT OF IPL, BUTTLER MIGHT SKIP ASHES AND LAST TEST VS INDIA England wicketkeeperbatsman Jos Buttler might skip the Ashes tour scheduled for the end of the year over concerns about taking his family along due to Australia’s coronavirus restrictions.

Buttler has already pulled out of the second leg of the 2021 IPL due to the birth of his second child and gave an indication about missing the final Test against India at Old Trafford too. With his second child’s due date coming on the first day of the final Test against India at Old Trafford, Buttler may skip the match in order to be with his wife Louise and two-year-old daughter Georgia.

In 2019, Buttler had cut short his stint with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL to fly

Image: Twitter

Jos Buttler

back home for Georgia’s birth. “Obviously the most important thing is to be there for my wife. If that means missing cricket, I’ll miss cricket,” asserted Buttler in an interview to The Times on Sunday. He added, “With my wife expecting our second child and with the uncertainty

around the rest of the winter, it’s important for me to stay at home before the World Cup. I love the IPL, but without knowing what the rest of the winter looks like, it’s impossible to commit to that.

“One of the challenges is working out where the line is

where you say I can’t do that.

I’ve sacrificed a lot for cricket and my wife and family have sacrificed a lot. You have to be open to that (saying no). It would be incredibly disappointing if some players feel like they can’t do it, but we’re in a world at the moment where that is a possibility,” said the 30-yearold.

With England scheduled to play in the men’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October and November before flying to Australia for Ashes, it means that the players who feature in both events will be away from their families for four months.

“Covid is incredibly challenging for everyone, and Australia has a very

strict policy in how they’ve tried to deal with it. An added complication is that it’s been a long time now (living in bio-bubbles). If this was the first time, we were potentially going away in this manner you might find it more manageable but having spent a long time in Covid environments already, it makes it tough,” said Buttler.

“We’ve been doing this for a lot longer than we all hoped. Even playing cricket in England it’s almost like being on tour. Families don’t come and go like they used to, and you could get home between games. Until we get more information about what it (the Australia tour) might look like, it’s impossible to know what decision you’re making,” concluded Buttler.

SPORTS

23 - 29 AUGUST 2021

WITH LIONEL MESSI IN TEAM, OPPONENTS WERE MORE SCARED OF BARCELONA, ADMITS RONALD KOEMAN Page 23

FAKHAR ZAMAN, HARIS RAUF AMONG 26 PAKISTAN CRICKETERS TO TRAIN IN PRESEASON CAMP Page 24

MANNY PACQUIAO BEATEN BY YORDENIS UGAS ON RETURN TO THE RING Everyone’s favourite 'Pacman' was defeated last weekend in WBA title fight It was the legendary boxers 72nd appearance of a phenomenal career Manny Pacquiao slipped to a unanimous decision defeat to Yordenis Ugas in their world welterweight championship fight in Las Vegas on Saturday 21 August The boxing legend was making his comeback at the age of 42 after two years out of the ring, and it was evident his weakness was showing as his trademark speed and power didn’t seem up to the usual oomph.

Questions are already being raised on whether he has boxed for the final time, or whether he will continue to reign on with his 73rd fight. After all he is the only man to win world titles in eight divisions so anything is possible.

Pacquiao was expected on Saturday night to fight IBF and WBC champion Errol Spence Jr, who withdrew injured, but eventually toiled behind WBA titleholder Ugas' jab.

Ugas got to Pacquiao right from the early rounds, with, despite

Image: Twitter

Pacquaio’s attempts Ugas held is own over the Pacman’s trademark flurry.

crushing power that he has displayed so brilliantly over the past two decades.

Marking around Pacquiao's eye by the fourth round was evidence that the great man wasn't going to shine in this one.

Pacquaio tried desperately to keep afloat, but the punches kept coming from Ugas which stands at 62 wins, eight losses and two draws. left our champion with damage around both eyes.

Pacquiao just couldn't muster the blistering speed and

The judges scored it 115-113, 116-112, 116-112 for the Cuban.

Pacquiao's official record now The sensational southpaw has had career-defining wins against Erik Morales, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. He shared four incredible fights with Juan Manuel Marquez.

He lost the highest-grossing

fight of all time to Floyd Mayweather but became one of the biggest US-based attractions in the history of the sport himself. Despite his recent defeat Pacquaio will still remain a champion for many of us.