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New Billion Pound Tube-Style Transport Plan Revealed for T Black Country

he collective cost for the scheme would be approximately £15 billion, spread out at £750 million per year for the next two decades... ...continued on page 5

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Asian World’s – Hot Picks LOCAL

GLOBAL

BUSINESS

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Birmingham Celebrates Chinese New Year

Islamabad 75% of Top 10 Ranked as Businesses Richest One of the Say Bollywood World’s Disabled Actors Safest People Face Cities Job Seeking Barriers

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n Sunday the 26th of January, thousands came together to celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year in Birmingham.....

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recent report has found that Islamabad has climbed 69 places on the index of global cities. ....

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ust 53% of businesses actively seek and welcome disabled candidates - despite the fact that 73% say they...

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ist of the Indian film industry’s richest stars and their annual

earnings during the last year....

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SPORTS

Women’s Teams Announce Signings for The 100

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he eight women’s teams taking part in The Hundred have announced their first wave of domestic signings...

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Birmingham Celebrates Year of the Rat

By Manisha Bhanot

On Sunday the 26th of January, thousands came together to celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year in Birmingham. Locals braved the downpour and flocked together in vast grounds as the Year of the Rat set to bring prosperity and good fortune to those living in the city.

In Chinese culture, rain is actually significant of money and wealth. Whereas 2020, the Year of the Rat is expected to be good for local businesses, due to the animal’s cunning and calculative nature.

The festivities kicked off with a bang in the Arcadian, with a colourful and energetic performance of the lion dance. The Chinese mascot was accompanied by the sound of loud drums and bells, as the procession moved along Ladywood Walk onto the main stage. The opening ceremony ended with bright pyrotechnics and firecrackers, which, according to ancient tradition, are believed to scare evil spirits away.

Throughout the afternoon, a series of mesmerising performances took to the stage. They included fan, umbrella and drum dance sequences by performers dressed in vibrant Hanfu dresses. There were also orchestra recitals as well as sword and staff demon-

strations from Shaolin warriors.

To keep locals entertained were various activities and street booths across China Town.

There were fairground rides, Oriental and South Asian food vendors, as well as stalls where visitors could buy traditional Chinese merchandise such as fans, chopsticks, good luck charms and other Fung Shui items. There were stands where attendees could practice calligraphy or get their name written in Chinese too.

The Festival was directed by James Wong, who is chairman of Birmingham City’s Southside business improvement district (BID). He is also the owner of

the city’s longest-establish Cantonese Restaurant, Chun Ying Central. West Midlands Mayor Andy Street was also in attendance and spoke in favour of Birmingham city’s connections with Chinese culture. He said: “We’re celebrating the growing relationship between the West Midlands and China. I was lucky enough to be out there with the leader of the city council just tbefore Christmas. We saw the incredible progress in China.”

The event was free entry, sponsored by Birmingham Airport, and Birmingham Hippodrome.

The festivities will return to the city during the beginning of the next Lunar Year in 2021.

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Editor’s Note

Hello to our readers and welcome to another edition of Asian World Newspaper! We hope that you’ve all had a fantastic first month of 2020, and for those of you celebrating the New Lunar Year – Kung Hei Fat Choy! With so much going on in Birmingham throughout the next few months, we know you’ll be eager to get into the new stories we have for you on the following pages!

In this edition, we will, of course, be discussing the news that everyone is talking about – Mexit! Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have jetted off to Canada to start their new life. For more on what this means for the royal family, please turn to page 10. Meanwhile, we also have the latest updates on what another royal couple has been up to lately.

Prince Will and Kate, the brother and sister-in-law of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been very busy paying a visit to My Lahore and getting stuck in with traditional Pakistani cuisine. Wow! For more on this, take a look at page 8.

In our Glam section, we have all the info from the hottest new tracks in the industry and latest films. If you want to know which blockbusters are due in the cinema soon, then read through pages 23-28. Also in this section; if you’ve always wanted to know what the megastars earn, well now’s your chance as we’ve compiled the official Bollywood’s highest-earning actors list from

the last 12 months!

Got the cravings? Want to go somewhere to eat that offers great tasting dishes combined with an opulent dining experience? Well, you’ve come to the right place as we have our usual amazing restaurant reviews in our Food section. To find out what’s on at Craft Birmingham’s seasonal traditional British menu right now, flick through onto page 41.Fancy taking up a new morning ritual? Then read down the page and participate in the new breakfast challenge to keep your sugars low and energy high throughout the day!

Whichever page you turn to, there’s a story for everyone. So, add a copy of the West Midland’s No.1 South Asian paper to your bag or shopping basket, make yourself comfortable and get up to date with the news and local happenings that matter to you. Take a look at the rest of this issue NOW! For the latest and most exclusive advertisement offers for 2020, please don’t hesitate to Contact us on 0121 771 4545 or email: sales@asianworldnews.co.uk Have a great read!

Editor: Manisha Bhanot editor@asianworldnews.co.uk Visit us online www.asianworldnews.co.uk

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February 2020

New Sky Scraper in Digbeth will cast ‘dark cloud’ over Locality

By Manisha Bhanot

A protesting campaign has been launched against plans to develop a new 30-story building close to the city centre.

Residents and workers based in Digbeth have raised their concerns against the proposal of a 928-home Stone Yard Development. Locals argue that the casting shadow of the construction project will give the area an unwelcoming and gloomy feel. It will also likely drive out creatives and tourism from the area.

Digbeth is home to a number of business and attractions, and a lively hub for young people and students. It is currently the site of two of South and City College’s innovative campuses,

the Custard Factory, Ghetto Golf UK, Digbeth Dining Club and a number of eateries and takeaways.

The mixed-use scheme which is currently being speculated would mean new outlets and homes being constructed on the Bullring Trading Estate as well. In addition to accommodation, six-storey

buildings would also be constructed to be used as potential retail or leisure space.

Campaigners state that the new designs are poorly planned and have been drawn-up after little to no consultation with the area’s surrounding inhabitants.

They also said that the proposals lack af-

fordable housing and parking space, and will overshadow Digbeth’s prominence night-time venues.

Protestors are in favour of investments being made to improve sustainability and income in Digbeth. However, they state new construction plans should be created to appropriate design and scale.

Mr Gray, ex-owner of The Custard Factory and current owner of Devonshire house in Digbeth, is one of the people who are strongly against the scheme.

He said: “It would be such a tragedy if all of the interest and energy and creativity and the unpredictability and the texture which has been generated by the Custard Factory and other people in Digbeth over the last 20 years, were to be allowed to turn into just a corporate business with spiralling, soaring land values, as a result of which the people who created the interest in the first place are going to be edged out.”

The Birmingham high street set to profit by £1bn Government finance 1) Swinton Town centre - Salford 2) Thornton Heath - Croydon 3) Cheadle - Staffordshire Moorlands 4) Aldershot Town Centre - Rushmoor 5) Stirchley - Birmingham 6) Accrington Town Centre - Hyndburn 7) Kendal - South Lakeland 8) Friargate - Preston 9) Coventry City Centre - Coventry 10) Hartlepool Town Centre - Hartlepool 11) Ellesmere Port Town Centre - Cheshire West and Chester 12) West Bromwich Town Centre - Sandwell 13) Huyton Town Centre - Knowsley 14) Withington District Centre - Manchester

The scheme will be tested first in 20 town/city centers before being turned out in 101 zones up and down the UK A West Midlands high street has been named as the first in the UK to profit by a £1billion Government supported funding project.

Stirchley is among 14 UK shopping hubs singled out by the High Streets Task Force.

It will supposedly get up to £25m in preparation, expert help and access to research into entrepreneurs.

The scheme was declared by the Government because of suggestions of a specialist board on the high street led by Sir John Timpson.

It will be trailed first in 20 town/city centers before being turned out in 101 regions across the nation.

Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry said: the new funding would give communities the money and support they need to unleash the potential of their towns.

“

“

The primary 14 towns to participate in the new scheme and be issued government funding will be:

He added: “Every place has its own unique strengths and challenges but all our town centres and high streets have one thing in common - they are the lifeblood of communities.”

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick stated: “The Task Force will provide the tools they need to get the best advice possible and a dashboard of key local data.”

Ministers will additionally launch a conference on whether to build a digital register of commercial properties, which may make it easier to put empty commercial shops to use once again.

Masked gang who drive an Audi have been targeting Asian households

A masked gang that is said to be responsible for several break-ins in Glasgow and the West have been targeting Asian households.

Scottish police stated that the victims of the recent spree of crimes were Asian families who have been targeted for valuable gold and cash.

It was reported that the gang were driving a white Audi saloon car, and were seen acting suspiciously outside a property located in the Murchison Road and Hewett Crescent area of Houston.

The gang reportedly stole £300 cash and jewellery from a property in Darnley’s Harberlea Avenue while money was seized from a house in Ardrossan’s Kirkhall Gardens.

The men were said to be wearing balaclavas and were described as having southern English accents.

During April 2019 – November 2019, police received 35 reports of break-ins inside properties in Glasgow, Paisley, Renfrew, Ayrshire, and Edinburgh, with over £500,000 worth of jewellery and cash being stolen.

Scotland’s police department has even set up a team to tackle the issues through Operation Suitcase.

DI John Morrison, who was leading the task force in 2019, previously mentioned that the Scotland Police department had been working with forces in England to catch those responsible.

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

GLAM 22-28

WEDDINGS 29-33

HEALTH 34-35

TRAVEL 36-37

TECH 38-39

FOOD 40-41

MOTORING 42-44

SPORTS 45-48

February 2020

New Billion Pound Tube-Style Transport Plan Revealed for Black Country

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By Manisha Bhanot be used on the Metro.

It is believed that the project will be funded partly by contributions from the housing and commercial sector, the central government, and also from future ticket sales.

Andy Street, who announced the vision, stated: “For too long we have been left behind London and Manchester, and other cities around the world. We are a world-class city region, and we deserve a world-class Metro and rail network.

“In recent years we have made great progress completing the Metro extension to Centenary Square on time and on budget, and bringing the plans for the new rail stations to life in south Birmingham and the Black Country.

“But now is time for the next stage of ambition. This plan will connect communities which haven’t had Metro or rail lines for decades, and restore pride in the West Midlands.”

Front page story cont’d...

A new tub-style map of the West midlands is soon to be unveiled, which will rival that of the London Underground or New York Subway. According to organisers, the blueprints for the project will even include underground tunnels, as well as over 150 miles of railway lines.

The project has been initiated by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street. His plans feature eight new metro lines, and 21 stations for the public to board at. Andy Street is in a fierce bid to be re-elected as the County Mayor in May of this year. However, the afore-

mentioned Birmingham and Black Country Tube Transport plan is not expected to open until 2040.

It is reported that by using ‘cut and cover’ lines and allowing parts of the Metro to run below ground, space will be saved on narrow streets where traffic can drive on street level above the lines.

Part of the plans feature an initiative to re-open the Camp Hill line which previously ran between Birmingham

and Kings Norton, connecting to the cities of Derby and Coventry.

The new rail routes will feature 380 stops, including the Wolverhampton to Walsall line and transport to areas such as Darlaston and Willenhall.

According to experts, the new scheme will see a lesser need for man-power and will lean heavily on technologybased operation systems.

For example, ‘very light rail’ trams and driverless autonomous pods will

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February 2020

College Student What Befell the Birmingham Commits Robberies Families Evicted to Clear using meat Cleaver a Path for HS2? to Clear Drug Debt

By Tauseef Asif

A college student in the West Midlands carrying a meat cleaver has carried out terrifying robberies to clear up his drug debts. The young man in question committed his horrific attacks by targeting five young victims in one hour.

Warsame Farah, 20, now faces deportation after committing the broad daylight offences in Digbeth. Birmingham Crown Court heard five students were attacked by the meat-cleaver-wielding robber who was after their phones.

Farah held the weapon to a man’s throat at the entrance of a university building, then punched a female in the face before threatening to stab her. Two other victims dropped their phones in fear when the thug raised the meat cleaver and made a chopping motion. A fifth victim fled when he rushed the blade.

Farah is a cannabis addict and had targeted victims for their phones to repay a drug debt as he feared consequences from the dealers, the court heard. He was jailed for three robberies, two attempted robberies, and possessing a bladed weapon in public. After serving his prison sentence Farah could now be deported back to Holland, where he was born before moving to Birmingham.

The court heard how the terrifying in-

cidents started at around 12.30pm, with the ambush of two friends. The students were walking along Watery Lane Middleway talking when armed Farah was seen heading towards them. As he passed, he tapped one of the two men on the shoulder and was heard demanding: “Hey, give me your phone.”

They at first refused, but Farah wielded the meat cleaver at shoulder height while making a horrifying chopping motion. Both victims handed over their phones. At 12.55pm Farah targeted another student outside Birmingham City University’s Curzon Building. He approached the victim as he was walking into the building and pulled the meat cleaver from his tracksuit bottoms.

Just seven minutes later Farah attacked another BCU student, outside the University Locks. She was using her red iPhone when he snatched it from her hands. Mr Graham Russell, prosecuting, said: “She tried to snatch it back but was rewarded with a punch to the eye. Despite receiving that blow, she continued to try to retrieve her phone.” Farah then shoved her backwards.

She then backed away as the defendant fled the scene towards Curzon bridge - where he was caught on CCTV. At 1.07pm he met his final victim, who was also using his mobile phone while walking along. “He looked up and thinking that the defendant was going to pass him, he moved out of the way,” the court heard. Farah rushed the meat cleaver at the victim, leaving him shocked he stumbled and dropped his phone on the ground. The terrified victim fled from the scene and kept running until he reached a business on Great Barr Street - where he reported the crime to the police.

Shalinder Diwan was one of 12 mortgage holders kicked out of Common Lane in Washwood Heath last May on account of the new rapid rail.

The column of semis has since been leveled and the site cordoned off in availability for HS2, subject to the last green light to be given by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the new year.

However, while eviction was heartbreaking, Mr Diwan, 40, said “A few years back I had come to comprehend that having a home loan is usery, it is haram (taboo) in Islam, it is a significant sin,” he said.

“At the point when I comprehended that I burned through three and a half years appealing to Allah for help to discover a route forward. At that point came HS2.

Presently living in Stoke-on-Trent, Mr Diwan said this was the main ‘positive’ to rise up out of the experience of eviction.

The 12 three-room homes were toward the corner of Common Lane, isolated from the remainder of the road and on the edge of a previous mechanical site.

The land has been reserved for a train fix yard as a component of the masterplan for HS2 in Birmingham.

The mortgage holders were at first offered between £110,000 to £140,000 each for their properties. This was expanded by up to £20,000 per property after councillor Majid Mahmood took

up the case.

However, the valuations made it trying for families to discover like-for-like property substitutions.

Said Mr Diwan: “I visited 18 urban communities and saw 58 properties to attempt to discover one that was inside our spending limit since I was sure we should have been off home loan since Allah had introduced this chance.

“We just had what we got from HS2 in addition to certain reserve funds, so it was troublesome, however, in the long run, we discovered someplace in Stoke.

“It’s agonizing to recollect how close we as a community were. We ate together, we fasted, we shared celebrations.

“On the off chance that we had issues like looking after children, we could leave them with our neighbours; the

youngsters strolled to the school together, visited classes at the mosque together, played together.”

Pervez moved into the Common Lane in 1985, at first as an occupant before purchasing up his first house a year later. He said the neighbours were a very close group of people.

The families initially knew about HS2’s enthusiasm for their homes in around 2012. “Yet, they just began pushing in 2015 to 16,” said Mr Akhtar.

“In January 2018 we had them descend like a huge amount of blocks, revealing to us we needed to get out by May 1.”

“At the point when I was growing up, I learned mortar and bricks make houses, yet homes are made with feelings, and they have no cost.”

By Manisha Bhanot

National Lottery Hacker; Caught before he can Cash Out

A number of men have been arrested over charges of cybercrime and fraud after hacking into the National Lottery’s organising company, Camelot. The man at the head of the operation, Anwar Batson, was accessing passwords, configuration files and personal information and then tempting other people into buying and selling these details to earn money. Batson enticed people into the set-up by promising the reward of easy money by scamming people out of their winnings.

To do this, Batson used an alias of ‘Rosegold’ to target the online catalogue of around 9 million records; using a widely available hacking tool called Sentry MBA, Batson created a file to attack the company that he then put into motion on November 2016. In the following year, he was arrested but denied

all charges, as he claimed to be a victim of online trolling and that his devices had been cloned. However, once the Police apprehended these devices, the communication trails between himself and the other hackers incriminated him.

He was jailed on January 10th for nine months, charged with four different offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 and one count of fraud.

During his operation, Batson sold the username and password of one lottery player to his colleague, Kayode Akinwunmi, a 21-year-old Birmingham man. Akinwunmi proceeded to steal £13 from this account as he had the information necessary to access it, and then sent £5 to Batson. Akinwunmi was also jailed, charged with a four-month sentence for unauthorised computer misuse with the intent to commit other

offences and fraud by misrepresentation. Working alongside Akinwunmi was a man named Daniel Thompson, jailed for an even longer, eight-month sentence at Birmingham Crown Court.

Thompson admitted to the same unauthorised computer access but also to a further two counts of obtaining an article for the commission of a computer misuse offence.

Despite being sentenced to almost a year in jail, Akinwunmi seemed particularly casual in his response, as he stated that he was ‘just being silly and naïve’ in this ‘naïve act to make a little bit of easy cash’. In response to this, NCA Senior investigating officer Andrew Shorrock warned that no crime is victimless, and whilst his actions may seem insignificant, ‘even the most basic forms of cybercrime can have a substantial impact on victims’. The National Crime Agency has subsequently declared that they will be pursuing the crime further and identifying any other offenders, signifying the gravity of what may seem even the smallest of online crimes.

By Grace Lea

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

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February 2020

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February 2020

Harvard University Positions the “Quran” as the Best Book for Justice From verse 135, Surah/chapter 4 Nisa/Woman It states: O ye he believe, stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses, to Allah even as against yourselves or your parents, or your kin and whether it be [against] rich or poor: For Allah can best protect both.

By Tauseef Asif

trance of the faculty. The rest of the quotes belong to St. Augustine and Magna Carta.

These quotations were suggested by the faculties and the students of the Law School, and from more than 100 entries, the Qur’anic verse was chosen.

“

Harvard University has quoted that the Quran is the best book for justice. The sacred text is the Holy book in Islam and believed to hold the final revelations believed by all Muslims.

Followers of the faith trust that Allah (God) has selected it as his last and final book, and that it came from the creator of the universe to guide them on the correct path.

Rules and justice are highly prioritised in Islam and the Holy Book, which is full of essential laws for humans.

Islam doesn’t have any space for injustice. Followers of the religion also accept these rules and the verses where they are mentioned in the Qur’an.

However, their actions appear contrary; the same is the case of Muslims.

At the entrance of the Library for Faculty, Harvard Law School, being of the prominent Law Schools in the country, have displayed an aya/ verse from Surah/chapter 4 Nisa/woman. It explains that justice is among the greatest expression regarding justice from the past. Harvard Law School is known to be home to the biggest academic library in the world and is a part of Harvard University.

This appears to be amongst the three significant quotations displayed on the wall, which is facing the main en-

“

The City of Bradford is home to thriving and diverse communities making huge contributions to modern British life including a large Pakistani diaspora. The visit of the Royal Highnesses to MyLahore in Bradford is one example of this which showcased not only great Pakistani food and a great business, but also brilliant work to help those in need.

Co-operation and friendship between the UK and Pakistan is stronger than ever, thanks to the strength of the dynamic Pakistani diaspora in the UK, the business investments being made in both countries, and a vibrant next generation in both the UK and Pakistan which want to build on these links.

“

“

8

Dr Christian Turner British High Commissioner to Pakistan

DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE VISIT MYLAHORE IN BRADFORD

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Bradford one of the UK’s most diverse cities - today to visit a number of projects supporting local communities. As part of the programme, they also visited one of the city’s flagship restaurants MyLahore, and heard about its charitable work.

Founded in 2002, MyLahore is a British Asian restaurant chain which has taken inspiration from the city of Lahore; The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Lahore during their tour to Pakistan in October 2019.

Their Royal Highnesses vis-

ited the restaurant’s kitchen where they met students from Bradford College on a kitchen apprenticeship scheme at MyLahore. The Duke and Duchess joined students making kulfi milkshakes and mango milkshakes before sitting down to meet representatives from the UK Women’s Muslim Council and those who have benefitted from the Council’s Curry Circle.

The Curry Circle, which is sponsored by MyLahore, is an initiative that provides a hot two-course meal for people who are homeless or struggling to feed themselves.

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February 2020

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Brawl breaks out at Sidhu Embark oN New Life in Canada Moose Wala Concert in Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have decided to step down from their position as senior members of the royal family. The couple will no longer be using their official titles or receiving funding to carry out any British royal family duties.

The couple made the shocking announcement that they were stepping away from public life in early January. The news was received with much surprise and speculation from the public. It was heard the pair had been in talks with the Queen for months to come to an agreement about stepping away from the limelight and perusing their new life abroad.

Prince Harry and Meghan are presently staying in Canada where the Duchess’ mother, Doria Regland also resides.

The pair have been described as having a strong connection to Canada, where Meghan formerly lived for several years and the couple spent the previous Christmas.

It is believed that Prince Harry and Meghan will fund their new lives partially with Meghan’s acting career, and via their clothing brand Sussex Royal.

However, it is reported the Queen has strongly advised them against the latter, as they are no longer acting members of the royal family.

There has also been controversy surrounding the excess spending of tax payer money in lavishly renovating the couple’s home of Frogmore Cottage.

Prince Harry and Meghan have offered to reimburse the cost of the £2.4 million Royal Windsor Estate. The Queen has given the couple permission to live at the property on their visits home, as they are now expected to split their time between

Birmingham O2 Academy

By Manisha Bhanot

the UK and North America. my mother and now I watch my wife fallThere have been many rumours and al- ing victim to the same powerful forces.” legations as to why the couple have Speaking publically on his family’s dechosen to depart from Royal life and parture from the UK and leave from live more privately. Sources have stated Royal life, the prince said the following: that Meghan did not “After many months realise how big of a The former Duke of reflection and inresponsibility being ternal discussions, and Duchess part of the monarchy we have chosen to would be and it is not make a transition this of Sussex are the type of life she year in starting to leaving royal wants her son Archie carve out a progresto have. sive new role within life behind to Prince Harry has conthis institution. become tinuously been pro“We intend to step tective of his wife, back as ‘senior’ financially especially since she members of the Royindependent has been victim to al Family and work repeated ‘bullying’ to become financially and scrutiny from the British press. In independent, while continuing to fully a statement relating to the matter some support Her Majesty The Queen.” months ago, the prince declared: “I lost

Much to the shock of local spectators, a giant fight recently broke out at one of Punjabi Rapper Moosewala’s concerts in Horse Fair.

Footage recorded showed at least half a dozen men in the crowd pushing, shoving and throwing punches at one another. Several people in the audience filmed the dispute via their mobile phones while Moose Wala performed on stage.

As a consequence of the ongoing brawl, the show was stopped, and the artist asked everyone to calm down. In a recording, Moose Wala could be heard urging the crowd to “chill”, at one point declaring: “Birmingham you need to chill.”

The stopping of the show was met with a series of boos and un-pleasantries from the audience. As the violence continued, one lone voice could be heard saying “bang him, bang him”, meaning beat him.

One video recording later depicted a fighting group retreating to the exit doors at the back of the venue. It is not believed that the incident was reported to West Midlands police.

Footage of the incident was uploaded onto the Panjab Radio Facebook page alongside the caption: “Sometimes we wonder- WHY?” The video has since been viewed thousands of times, with many deeming the violence as uncalled for and appalling.

Others have argued that safety at the venue was the responsibility of the security team at the O2 venue, who have failed to comment on the situation. No mention of the incident was given on Moosewala’s social media accounts.

Sidhu Moosewala in an Indian born singer, rapper and actor who works in Punjabi music and film. The 30-yearold moved to Canada before releasing his first song ‘G Wagon.’ His other popular hits include ‘So High’ and ‘47’, which features MIST, Steel Banglez and Stefflon Don.

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Controversial Citizenship Law Begins to be Enacted in Indian State

By Charlie Murray

A controversial citizenship law, criticised for discriminating against Muslims, has begun to be enacted in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India.

Critics of the law claim that it is a “Hindu nationalist” drive to marginalise the over 200 million Muslims that currently live in India. This is because it is making religion the basis of citizenship, which violates the secular nature of India’s constitution.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) offers citizenship to members of 6 religious minority communities (Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian), if they can prove that they are from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh, 3 Muslim-majority countries which neighbour India. This amends the current citizenship law in India, which has been law for 64 years and bans illegal immigrants from becoming In-

dian citizens. This has worried Muslim citizens who fear being made stateless if they cannot produce the documents needed to prove their citizenship.

The government, Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claims that the CAA aims to protect religious minorities fleeing persecution from these Muslim-majority countries.

R. Jagannathan, editorial director of Swarajya magazine, defended the bill by saying that Muslims are excluded from it because “the three (neighbouring) countries are Islamist ones, either as stated in their own constitutions, or because of the actions of militant Islamists, who target the minorities for conversion or harassment”. However, critics of the law say that if its genuine aim was to protect minorities, it would have included Muslim religious minorities who are facing religious persecution in their countries (e.g. Ahmadis in Pakistan and Rohingyas in Myanmar).

Nassiruddin, a politician and Muslim community leader in Kanpur, has raised concerns that “if a Hindu family and a Muslim family both fail to prove citizenship – the former can use CAA to claim citizenship but the latter will be stripped of their citizenship.”

India’s Wealthiest Man is Prepared to Battle Amazon and Walmart’s Flipkart

By Manisha Bhanot

Due to these criticisms, protests in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad started in from the 20th December, some of which became violent, with the government being accused of using disproportionate force against protestors. Approximately 30 people in Uttar Pradesh alone have been killed after these protests. Hundreds of people, mostly Muslim men, have been detained in Uttar Pradesh and Internet services were suspended for days at a time.

The police have denied accusations of intimidating Muslims. One man,

Mohammed Shareef, lost his 30-yearold son, who was shot by police at the protest site despite not even being there to protest. He asked, “Did he die because we are Muslims? Are we not citizens of this country?”

The state minister Shrikant Sharma has said that Uttar Pradesh has already begun identifying illegal migrants who may be eligible for citizenship under the new law, as it came into effect earlier in January. He said the process had just started, and the number of migrants identified will probably increase as he gets more data from other districts.

Reliance Retail and Reliance Jio, two segments of Ambani’s Reliance Industries, said they have started JioMart, their web-based business adventure that works intimately with neighbourhood stores, in parts of the province of Maharashtra — Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Thane.

The web-based business adventure, which is being showcased as “Desh Ki Nayi Dukaan” (Hindi for the new store of the nation), presently offers a list of 50,000 basic food items and guarantees “free and expedited service.” The brand has become top competition for Amazon, and Walmart owned Flipkart

in India’s retail sector.

On the off chance that there is anybody in India who is situated to contend with intensely supported Amazon and Walmart, it’s Ambani. Reliance Retail, which was established in 2006, is the biggest retailer in the nation by income. It serves more than 3.5 million clients every week through its almost 10,000 physical stores in over 6,500 Indian urban communities and towns.

In a discourse in January, Ambani, a partner of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referenced Mahatma Gandhi and stated, similar to Gandhi, who drove a development against Emperialisation of India. He said: “We have to collectively launch a new movement against data colonisation. For India to succeed in this data-driven revolution, we will have to migrate the control and ownership of Indian data back to India — in other words, Indian wealth back to every Indian.”

Modi, whose administration at the time had quite recently reported legislation changes that would affect Amazon and Flipkart, was among those in the audience.

In a meeting last year, Amit Agarwal, supervisor of Amazon India, stated, “one thing to keep in mind is that e-

commerce is a very, very small portion of total retail consumption in India, probably less than 3%.”

To make their organisations all the more speaking to Indians, the Reliance subsidiaries have begun to sell staple items in new quarters and are dealing with food stock retail, as well. Amazon has purchased stakes in various retailers in India, which include for India’s second-biggest retail chain Future Retail’s Future Coupons, Indian general store chain More and retail chain Shopper’s Stop.

Flipkart has put resources into various new businesses, including ShadowFax and Ninjacart. Amazon India was likewise in conversation with Ninjacart to obtain some stake in the Bangalorebased startup, individuals acquainted with the matter said.

AW Facts Did you know?

Sri Lanka has the highest life expectancy (77.1) in South Asia

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February 2020

Kuwait Aviation Show 2020

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By: Rida Khan ( Aviation Author) (Instagram A/c :- aviationauthor.ridakhan )

Recently, Kuwait International Airport held their 2020 Aviation Show, where around 37 countries, 200 companies and more than 70 commercial and military aircraft were in attendance.

During the opening ceremony, President of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Sheikh Salman Al Sabah said that: “KAS2020 represents an opportunity to witness the latest in the world of aviation. The show in its 2nd edition coincides with the completion of significant state projects to develop the air transport sector. It also aligns with developments at Kuwait International Airport amid significant investments aimed at raising the efficiency of operations and improving aviation services.

The event received wide participation this year by specialised International companies, becoming a platform for everything related to the Aviation Industry and airport requirements.

The latest military and commercial aircraft, private jets, air ambulances and helicopters were on display, in addition to other

equipment related to aviation such as engines, and navigation systems, which are a requirement of civil and military airports.

On the side-lines of the exhibition, several workshops were conducted to do with the latest technologies in the world of aviation. It was also affirmed that the Kuwait government is keen on empowering women in civil aviation sectors and that the civil aviation directorate supports women with all available resources.

After the press conference, the show was inaugurated, which continued for four days.

More than 60,000 visitors witnessed this show which was a huge success. Different Airline companies showcased their aircrafts, like the Qatar Airways A350-1000 , Gulfstream G500; Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner retro livery; Emirates A380; military and fighter jets etc. There were various air formations held by the

Kuwaiti air force, Saudi hawks team, Emirati Cavalry team, Eurofighter typhoon, Italian air force flight (test wing), C-27J, US and British Air forces. The main attraction was the Qatar Air sports committee, who performed in the sky beautifully. The team jumped holding flags of Kuwait and Qatar along with portraits of Amir HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamed Al Thani and Emir of Kuwait HH Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad.

Not only this,

but 16 skydivers formed a diamond as a part of their performance, which was highly applauded by the attendees.

His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker said: “The sky was full of colours, and the land was full of aviation lovers, huge crowd of people were interested to know and see different planes, busy in gaining knowledge and taking photos, capturing miniature aircraft displayed at the stands, children enjoying the show by touching and sitting in the military jets to experience how it looks from inside. There were many announcements related to the future carried out by different airline companies in the press conference during the show, such as the Award-winning airline Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive. KAS is the perfect platform for us to kick start the New Year and unveil some of our exciting plans for 2020. He announced the eight new destinations which will join their airline network in 2020.”

Ismail Behbehani Head Of the organising committee, stated: “This event was a great success which signifies that Kuwait is becoming one of the main competitors in the aviation market. We appreciate all the participants who made this event successful.

The great number of participants this year reflect the trust that Kuwait gained on an international level.

This even serves the national economy in addition to different refreshing sectors, including transportation, tourism, telecommunication and others. The main goal of KAS2020 is to place Kuwait on the International agenda of the countries organising exhibitions that attract the world’s largest airlines.”

Behbehani concluded that this year’s show was attended by a huge number of international companies from the commercial and military fields, in addition to many VIP from GCC and Arab countries.

The show ended with the sunset, each and everyone returned home with beautiful memories of the event.

The Next Kuwait Aviation Show will be held on the 19th of January 2022.

Hardcore Hindus Protest Against Huge Jesus Statue in Karnataka Hardcore Hindus have protested against a planned statue of Jesus Christ that was to be set up in the state of Karnataka in India. According to sources, the size of the statue will rival Rio de Janeiro’s Christ The Redeemer in size.

The Hindus who protested against the set up of the statue of Jesus Christ have been found to have links with ruling BJP party. The protests were taken out in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district.

The rally was led by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The members of the party were seen holding saffron flags and about one thousand policemen

stood to watch them.

Most of you know that the RSS is the parent organisation of the now ruling party BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). BJP governs Karnataka and other Hindu groups which are collectively called the Sangh Parivar or better known as RSS family.

A top RSS member named Prabhakar Bhat told the Indian media on why his party protested against the building of the statue of Christ. He said that the building of the statue goes against the spirit of communal harmony. Christian missionaries always have rampantly carried on converting people to Christianity. And with this statue, this will further encourage such religious con-

versions of the common people.

Javed Akhtar took to Twitter to express his opinion on the issue. He said that while the ruling party mentions that they will give citizenship to the religiously persecuted Christians from neighboring countries, they are against the statue of Jesus Christ.

After the rise of objections from different spheres, the building of the statue stopped. The building began just last month. The statue would have been constructed from white granite and will be of 34.7 meters height (114 feet).

Although there is no Hindu temple present in the Christian dominated village of Harobele, many Hindus claim that the hill where the statue will be con-

structed is the home of a Hindu deity.

Now the BJP run state government is also accusing the main Opposition party Congress of illegally allotting this land for the construction of the Jesus Christ statue.

PM Narendra Modi’s BJP wants India to reshape as a Hindu nation. The party however refuses such allegations. The party has been time and again proving its intolerance towards other religions.

After Modi came to power in 2014, there is a rise in crimes in religious minorities in India.

It remains to be seen whether the building of this statue will finally happen in Karnataka.

By Priyanka Dutta

14

February 2020

Sindh Magistrate Suspended on Account of Rape

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi

The Sindh High Court suspended a judicial magistrate in Sehwan after a woman accused him of raping her in his chambers, Geo News reported.

According to an order, the judicial magistrate has been suspended for ‘misconduct’ with immediate effect and directed to report to the High Court.

The allegations surfaced when the civil judge took the case of the woman who had eloped to Sehwan from Shahdadkot with a man. The couple had fled from their family members who were against the two marrying.

On January 13, the couple’s relatives arrived at the guest house in Sehwan, but the matter was eventually taken to Sehwan police who took the couple into custody. Police later presented the woman before the court of the judicial civil judge to record her statement.

Later, in her complaint to the police, the woman alleged that the judicial magistrate sexually assaulted her after directing the lady police officers accompanying her to leave his chambers.

Following the allegations, police took the victim to the Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences in Sehwan for a medical check-up, which confirmed the woman was raped.

According to a senior police official, who spoke to media on the condition of anonymity, an inquiry has already been conducted by a district and sessions judge who confirmed that the allegations of the civil judge sexually assaulting the woman in his chambers.

The session’s judge, in his findings, had recommended disciplinary action against the civil judge. It is pertinent to mention here that police are yet to register a First Information Report against the civil judge and he is, at the moment, only suspended from performing his duties as a judicial magistrate. The judge will continue to draw his salary during the period of his suspension, the Sindh High Court said.

Utah-based Co-Diagnostics working on test to Detect coronavirus A Salt Lake City-based company is bringing its disease diagnostic and plant and animal genome technologies across the world to help address global health concerns, its CEO says.

Currently, Co-Diagnostics is working to design a test for the new, highly-contagious coronavirus that started in China and is spreading into other countries, Dwight Egan said.

The form of pneumonia has killed six people and infected 291 in China, the Associated Press has reported. One person who returned to Seattle from the city where the virus emerged in China was also hospitalized.

After health officials confirmed the virus is spreading from human-to-human contact, the World Health Organization announced it will hold an emergency committee meeting to determine whether the outbreak warrants being declared a global health crisis, according to the AP. Egan believes his company’s diagnostic test could be developed soon, as its software is “very rapid.”

“It’s that kind of ability that allows us to quickly take a problem and any kind of a disease or mutation of an existing disease, whether it’s RNA or DNA, and to quickly get a solution to it in terms of its diagnosis,” Egan said.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also says it has developed a test for the virus. Currently, the test is being performed only at the CDC, but the agency says it will share the tests in “the coming days and weeks.”

Co-Diagnostics’ test now in the works is one among those that the company of about 50 employees is bringing to communities around the world and in its home state of Utah, according to Egan.

Last year, Co-Diagnostics launched an-

other test, called NAM-W, that the company says uses technology in a faster, more affordable way than traditional tests, allowing mosquito abatement districts to get results within a day. It tests for West Nile, Western equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis.

A Co-Diagnostics PCR testing machine, which is used to detect West Nile Virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, is at the Magna Mosquito Abatement District in Magna on Tuesday, July 23, 2019.

Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Since then, several districts in Utah have begun using the test, Egan said, and the company also created a test for the deadly Eastern equine encephalitis.

Photographs from L-R: Jayati at Hyatt Regency, Raj Shahani; detailed view of the inscription on Jayanti, Raj Shahani. Images courtesy of the artist.

Following the success of his solo exhibition at the Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai in November 2019, New-York based artist Raj Shahani was commissioned to create a sculpture for the Hyatt Regency Dharamshala Resort in Mcleodganj - the first five star, luxury hotel in the region.

The artist unveiled his 17-foot sculpture Jayanti at the ever-popular tourist destination following several months of meticulous planning. The site-specific sculpture, made of mirror-polished steel will stand as a permanent installation for the hotel’s lush property grounds. The sculpture serves as a reflective and conceptual homage to Dharamshala, a land steeped in spirituality and home to His

Holiness the Dalai Lama. The artist has also curated the art exhibited across the hotel, including a series of photographs by him, inspired by Buddhist monks.

The Hyatt Regency Dharamshala Resort recently opened in Dharamshala, with the inauguration attended by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With its contemporary design and finish, the faceted, gem-stone shaped sculpture serves as a compelling reflection of the traditional and bucolic landscape of the mountain town.

It captures the energy and the spiritual elements and reflects it back multi-folds.

It gives back everything that it takes in.

The sculpture carries a Sanskrit inscription devoted to the Goddess Jayanti, the

In the agricultural sector, the company signed a deal with prominent diagnostic firm LGC Group to take Co-Diagnostics’ technology to customers worldwide in the agriculture industry to help them “produce greater harvest,” Egan said.

“Because we have a world that’s got a problem in that we’ve got to double the food supply between now and 2050, we have 30 years to double the food supply in the world. ... And our technology is one of the technologies that’s being used to engineer plants in a way that will help accomplish that,” Egan said.

The company is also selling diagnostic tests in countries like West Africa and India to test for diseases such as malaria

and tuberculosis. Its in-vitro diagnostics tests — which search for tuberculosis, hepatitis C and B, malaria and human papillomavirus — were approved by India’s regulatory body and are now being placed in hospitals and labs throughout that country, according to Egan.

Co-Diagnostics is also creating blood bank product in India that will test for AIDS, HPV and HCV, Egan said.

“What they’re all interested in is the fact that we can do these multiplex tests, and we can do them at a price that is relevant to these developing world markets,” he said.

New York-based artist Unveils sculpture Jayanti at the Hyatt Regency Dharamshala Resort in Himachal Pradesh monolith Mother Goddess of Dharamshala. Through its towering presence and public accessibility, Jayati endeavours to create a dialogue between tradition and contemporary art in Dharamshala.

Raj Shahani’s meditative photographs which have been exhibited throughout the space of the hotel, represent the compelling power of Buddhism, through their sensitive representation of Buddhist monks. The artist has been photographing Buddhist monks since 2016, across Myanmar and Dharamshala.

At the launch of the sculpture, the artist shared - “Spirituality and celebrating the brilliance of the human spirit are two vital cornerstones for me as an artist. One

can’t help but be inspired by the natural beauty and profound spirituality of Dharamshala. I’m grateful that my work at the Hyatt Regency has been blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and I’m happy to be able to share my work and passion as an artist with the people of this special town.”

The artist most recently exhibited a series of sculptures, inspired by his photographs of ballet and contemporary dancers. The two-week-long exhibition took place at the prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai.

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February 2020

15

Global Megacities Growing at Unprecedented Rate – study reveals

The world’s biggest cities are growing at an unprecedented rate – particularly in India and the global South – with 11 of the planet’s 30 biggest cities each adding more than 10 million citizens over the last four decades, according to a new study.

Report author Charlotte Hoole, Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham, commented: Analysing the GHSL data reveals a great deal about the patterns of change in population in our biggest cities and could play a vital role in planning for future changes in global urbanisation.

There are some particularly striking findings that demonstrate a rate of urbanisation which is often seen as neither sustainable nor desirable, yet it is the lived reality for residents and policy makers in many large cities across the global South.

Whilst high population density in itself is not necessarily problematic – the affluent urban centres of Seoul, Hong Kong and Tokyo are good examples of high-density megacity living – it requires infrastructure, long-term planning and significant capital investment; none of which are available to the required level in cities such as Kolkata.

“

ever, they contained less than half this total at 261 million or 6.4 per cent of the then global population.

Researchers at the Universities of Birmingham and Sheffield published their findings in Town Planning Review, using hi-tech analysis to make some striking discoveries, including: • Tokyo was the most populous city in

1975 with 23 million people, followed

by Kolkata at 17 million. By 2014, there were 12 megacities of 20 million or more, the most populous being Guangzhou–Shenzhen, in China, with over 46 million people.

• There has been remarkable population growth in urban areas in Asia and the global South over the past 40 years,

with slower growth found in traditional, long-established urban centres in Europe and the US. • Guangzhou–Shenzhen added over 10 million people from 1975 to 1990 and again from 2000 to 2014, while Jakarta added over 10 million people between 2000 and 2014.

• Dhaka, Manila and Shanghai all more

“

Rapid and large-scale urban growth can cause major problems - recognised in the UN’s New Urban Agenda – in areas such as housing, infrastructure, basic services, food security, health and education.

Using ‘big data’ techniques to analyse Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) data to focus on population growth and density in 30 major urban areas around the world – including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai – shedding new light on the scale and extent of global urbanisation since 1975.

In 2014, the 30 ‘megacities’ – urban agglomerations with a population of more than 10 million - analysed contained a total of more than 558 million people or 8.2 per cent of the world’s population. In 1975, how-

than trebled in size between 1975 and 1990, with Bangalore and Beijing quadrupling their populations.

• Dhaka had a maximum population density of 200,000 people per km2 whilst Cairo, Kolkata, Guangzhou– Shenzhen, Manila and Shanghai had maximum population densities of 200,000 people per km2.

16

February 2020

Indians at Great Risk of UAE Islamabad Ranked Legal Abuse after New as One of the Enforcement Agreement with UAE Safest Cities in the World Indian nationals comprise close to 30% of the population of the United Arab Emirates, and Indian business people are by far the largest entrepreneurial group in the country. It is safe to say that there is not a single development, industrial, or commercial project in the UAE that is not made possible by Indian skills, supplies, and services. Being the largest, and most integral business community in the Emirates, expat Indians are naturally the most exposed to the systemic risks of doing business in the UAE. When suppliers run late on payments or local partners misuse company funds, Indian business people – like anyone else – may fall behind on loan instalments, or even go into default. Easy lines of credit come with the requirement to submit security cheques which the bank can then present for payment the moment a debtor fails to meet the scheduled instalments. Bounced cheques are a crime in the UAE, and even the most responsible professionals and business owners can abruptly find themselves under arrest and facing substantial prison sentences.

The only option has been for Indian expats to go home, try to carry on their business, and negotiate new plans with their creditors to avoid incarceration and the subsequent impossibility of earning the money necessary to pay back outstanding loans. A new agreement between the UAE and India just eliminated this option.

It was announced by the Indian Ministry

of Law and Justice that it recognised the UAE as a “reciprocating territory” and would enforce Emirates’ civil decrees in India.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said this policy has extended the de facto jurisdiction of the UAE courts to India, “Bounced cheques and unavoidable loan defaults are branded as ‘fraud’ in the UAE; regardless of mitigating circumstances. Wrongful judgments

by UAE courts are now enforceable in India. There is no legal obligation imposed upon banks to renegotiate payments when debtors face difficulties, but are genuinely trying to avoid default. If their business suffers unforeseeable interruptions or problems that temporarily impact their ability to fulfil their agreements with creditors, they will be prosecuted as criminals, now in India just as in the UAE. Indian business people now

have nowhere to go to safely reorganise their financial affairs and resolve civil disputes.

“The UAE does not provide due process, neither in criminal or civil cases; it is appalling that court judgments reached by a legal system renowned for its corruption would now be enforceable in another country without challenge. India’s deepening ties with the UAE are not in the best interests of Indian entrepreneurs, investors, or workers, and this policy will surely discourage Indian business people from continuing to bring their expertise and resources to the UAE.” Stirling notes that the UAE has regularly subjected Indian nationals to abusive Red Notices on Interpol and pressured Indian authorities to pursue debtors in the past.

“A significant number of our clients are from India,” Stirling explains, “We have successfully removed dozens of Indian citizens from Interpol’s database over debts, negotiated settlements with creditors and mediated countless business disputes over the past year alone.

The last thing India should be doing is unquestioningly implementing UAE judgments against their own citizens; this will inevitably hurt the bilateral relations of the private sector, and we strongly advise business people to immediately seek professional intervention and assistance the moment an issue arises, since UAE jurisdiction has essentially expanded to the Indian subcontinent.”

India’s Missing 54 – Still Languishing in Pakistani Jails

The South Asian city has been found to be safer than the likes of London and Paris, along with having the lowest crime rate in Pakistan A recent report has found that Islamabad has climbed 69 places on the index of global cities. Now with just a 28.63 crime rate, it has moved from 374th to 232nd on the list.

However, Pakistan’s fellow city of Karachi was ranked the most crime-prone city of the country. The report also analysed the quality of healthcare and safe living conditions of each city.

Islamabad was statistically proven to be safer than the European capitals of London and Paris. The two cities had a crime index of 47.63 and 48.16, respectively.

The former was ranked at 107th place on the list, the later at 111th, whereas Berlin was at 201st with a crime index of 59.03.

The most dangerous city in the world has been found to be Caracas in Venezuela, followed closely by Pietermaritzburg in South Africa, and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. These cities have a large

crime index and are the topmost dangerous on the planet, with a high record of theft, robbery and public disorder.

Abu Dhabi in the Arab Emirates took first place on the list, with the lowest crime rate and a safety index of 82.95. It is known that the city’s inhabitants have a general fear of the city’s police department, and even tourists are expected to follow strict laws. Other cities ranked the safest on the list were Q`uebec, Munich, Bern, Eskisehir, and Taipei.

Islamabad formerly launched the Safe City project in 2016 to introduce technology-led policing to the territory. Under the new initiative, video surveillance and vehicle management camera were installed city-wide. The scheme came under questioning in the past, when private pictures of residents in cars were leaked onto social media by the police.

India and Pakistan have a history of heavy disputes and violence. The two nations have gone to war many times over the contested territory of Kashmir, in 1947, 1965 and 1971. During their last conflict, Pakistan ended up losing its entire Eastern half, which became the sovereign nation of Bangladesh.

India has come to believe that 54 of its soldiers who conscripted to their national army in 1971 went missing in action and are still held in Pakistani prisons.

The country’s army veterans state that some of these men have become severely mentally imbalanced due to their incarceration, whereas others have died under suspicious circumstances.

In July of last year, Indian PM Narendra Modi told his BJP led Parliament that there are a total of 83 Indian soldiers being held illegally by Pakistan. He said this number including the missing 54, the rest had consequently strayed across the neighbouring county’s border or were being held as future bargaining chips.

On two separate occasions, the Indian government bizarrely admitted that 15 of the missing 54 men had been killed.

However, it would not disclose how it came to know this information or remove the allegedly deceased men off the list. It still continues to report all 54 with unknown whereabouts to the public today.

Others believe that the missing 54 could still be alive in Pakistani prisons today.

During the 1965 war, a missing wireless

operator was declared dead by Indian authorities, but between 1974 and the 80s, three Indian prisoners were released

by Pakistani officials, who told the operator’s family he was still alive.

However, no action was taken. After the 1971 war, India sent around 93, 000 prisoners of war back to their home country of Pakistan, who consequently released somewhat 600 Indian soldiers.

Indian Prime Ministers and MPs have raised awareness of the missing soldiers in the past and set up talks with Pakistan.

However, despite official meetings and the families of the soldiers visiting Pakistani jails twice, nothing has been done.

Pakistan still continues to deny holding any prisoners of war.

Many reporters, war campaigners and members of the public believe that the truth remains in the grey area that neither side wishes to discuss. In reality, anything could have happened to India’s 54 soldiers, but their loved ones still hope to receive some sort of closure about their disappearances until today.

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February 2020

India’s Richest Men 2019

17

By Manisha Bhanot

1. Mukesh Ambani

2. Gautam Adani

3. Hinduja Family

4. Pallonji Mistry

5. Uday Kotak

This merchant has made the top spot of our richest Indians list for the second year running. He owns the most valuable companies in India and seems to be an unstoppable driving force in the business industry.

Early Life Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani was born on April 19th 1957 in Aden, Yemen and grew up in Mumbai, India. He gained a Bachelor’s degree from the Institute of Chemical Engineering during his youth.

As an adolescent, Ambhani worked under his father’s guidance at his family’s owned Reliance Industries. After his father’s death in 2002, the Ambani siblings divided the gas and oil empire between themselves and continued with its work.

Business career Ambani holds the largest shares of Reliance LTD among his brothers and sisters. The Mumbai Indians Premier League football team is also owned by him. Ambani’s wealth continues to grow since establishing the Jilo mobile phone network, which has millions of users up and down the country. His net worth is around $51.4 Billion.

Gautam’s life and business is surrounded by continuous controversy. He has been blamed for supporting the PM and leader of India’s ruling party, Narendra Modi and receiving government bribes. His key businesses stem in port developments and agriculture.

The Hinduja family name resonates all over India as one of the most influential and wealthiest dynasties in the country.

The four brothers: Srichand, Ashok, Gopichand and Prakash manage the family’s empire from various locations all over the globe, such as Switzerland, India and London.

Early Life The oldest of the Hinduja brothers, Srichand Pramand, was born on November 28th 1935 in Karachi, Pakistan.

He attended RD National College in Mumbai. Gopichand was born in 1940 and graduated from Jai Hind College in Mumbai. Prakash was born in the same year and went to the University of Westminister. Ashok graduated from the University of Bombay.

Business Career Ashok owns the Hinduja’s own named Defence business which specialises in tactical vehicles. The Hinduja Group have divisions in the oil industry, inclusive of lubricants, commercial explosives, and speciality chemicals. The dynasty also owns a Hospital in Boston, among other establishments and businesses across the world. Their combined net worth is roughly $15.6 Billion.

Mr Mistry is CEO of his family’s Shapoorji Pallonji Group, which has a history that exceeds 153 years. His alias is ‘The Phantom of Bombay’ in recognition of his affirmative but quiet managerial technique. He is known to love the outdoors and horseback riding.

Early Life Mr Mistry was born in India on the 4th of July 1968. He graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from the Imperial College London. Mr Mistry gave up his Indian nationality to marry his wife Pat Perin Dubash, an Irish national. He is the former chairman of Associated Cement Companies and owns acres of land in Pune, which he utilises for horseback riding and the like.

Business Career After inheriting the SP Company from his forefathers, Mr Mistry went on to own Forbes Textiles and ‘Eureka Forbes’, a company managed by his son Shapoor which specialises in water purification. The SP Group also share 18.4% of shares with Tata Sons, a company Pallonji’s other son faced a legal battle with after being removed as chairman.

Mr Mistry’s net worth is valued at $15 Billion.

Uday is a new entry in India’s top 10 Indian rich list of 2019. The primary source of his income stems from banking and investments. He initiated Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd., which became India’s first company to be granted a banking license in 2003.

Early Life Adani was born on June 24th, 1962. He is one among several brothers and sisters born under a father who was a clothes merchant. He graduated from secondary school and attended Gujarat University for his Commerce degree before dropping out half-way.

Business Career The businessman’s self-owned Adani Group oversees transmissions and generation of power, as well as property investment and commodities. Gautam controls the port of Mudra in his hometown of Gujrat. Recently, his company acquired the rights to sell gas for vehicles in 21 cities. He also owns shares in Anil Ambani’s Reliance Industries. His networth is around $15.7 billion.

Early Life Uday grew up in a joint household which accommodated around 60 persons. His family traditionally worked in cotton trading. As a child, he enjoyed playing cricket and the Sitar. His talent in Mathematics influenced him to pursue a Bachelor’s degree from Sydenham College. He then graduated with a Masters in Management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies.

Business Career Kotak began his business after borrowing just an 80, 000 rupees loan from his family and friends. His has investments partners from the likes of ING and Bharti Airtel. In October of 2019, allegations for conspiracy and fraud led him to be investigated. His current net worth is priced at $14.8 Billion.

6. Shiv Nadar

7. Radhakishan Damani

8. Godrej Family

9. Lakshmi Mittal

10. Kumar Birla

Shiv Nadar is an Indian billionaire and philanthropist. His primary income comes from his software services company HCL. His nickname is ‘Magus’, which translates from Persian as ‘Wizard’, due to his unique ideas in re-shaping his company constantly. He has a brother named Ramichand who is a Tamil fiction-author.

Early Life Nadar was born in the Tamil region of India on July 14th 1945. He graduated from the PSG College in Coimbatore, India with a degree in Electrical Engineering. His Great Uncle is S.P. Adithanar, the founder of Dina Thani Newspaper.

Business Career Nadar left his first job in technology at Walchand’s Group in the 1960’s to begin his own business venture with his close friends and family. Before establishing HCL, he sold digital Calculators via his company’ Micro comp.’ After creating HCL in 1976, Nadar continues to donate 10% of his annual income to charity. He also founded the College of Engineering in Chennai. His net worth is approximately $14.4 billion.

Damani is another new entry to the 2019 Top 10 Indian richest list. He is a Veteran Mumbai investor and was also a mentor to billionaire Rakesh Jhunjunwala. His primary source of income is from investments and the retail sector.

Frequent visitors to India will be aware that the brand name ‘Godrej’ is inscribed on a range of Indian household goods and products. The group has over 120 years of history behind it, and the current owner Adi Godrej inherited it from his forefather Ardeshir Godrej, an ex-lawyer.

Early Life Godrej is a Parsi family. The business was first founded in Bombay where Ardeshir started to manufacture and retail locks to keep residents safe from the locality’s rising crime rate. His nephews Naval, Burjor and Sohrab continued his important work until their sons Adi, Jamshyd and Nadir took their places.

Business Career Currently, Adis’s two children Nisaba and Pirojsha contribute greatly to the smooth running and management of the family business. The group has also grown to have businesses in the industrial, agricultural and engineering sectors, as well as producing home appliances and furnishings. The family has a large asset of 3.5 thousand acres of land within Mumbai. Their current net worth is $12 Billion.

Lakshmi Mittal has fallen heavily in ranking on the list since last year when he formerly held 3rd place. Mittal comes from the historic Indian steel clan, in 2007, he was also thought to be the richest Indian person in Europe. He currently resides in the UK. His daughter Vanisha’s wedding, is the second most expensive of all time.

Early Life Mittal was born in Rajasthan, India on June 15th 1950. He gained a first-class honours degree in Commerce from St. Xavier’s College. Like his father before him, he became a steel merchant and opened his first steel factory in Java, Indonesia, titled Ispat Indo, at age 26.

Business Career Mittal is CEO of Arcelor Mittal, the world’s biggest Steel Maker. He has merged the company with one of France’s own steelmaking groups and formerly bought Italy’s loss-suffering manufacturer Ilva in 2018. In the same year, his company suffered a $33M loss due to rising steel prices, despite $5.1 Billion revenue. Mittal is a part of foreign business councils in Kazakhstan, Cleveland and Europe. His approximate net worth is $10.5B.

Formerly holding the number 9 spot for India’s top 10 richest list, Birla has fallen down one place. He heads his family’s Aditya Birla group; the empire’s roots go back to 1857 with early beginnings in cotton trading in Rajasthan.

Early Life Damani was born on January 1st 1956 in Mumbai, India. He was raised in a single-bedroom apartment. He was a College dropout and instead of finishing his degree, opted to enter the stock market and try his luck as a young broker.

Business Career Dumani exited the stock market at the turn of the millennium in order to build a retail empire. He bought cheap land in Navi, Mumbai to construct his first DMart store. D-mart specialises in cheap consumer goods. The chain now has more than 170 stores all across the country. Dumani’s net worth is now valued at $14.3 Billion.

Early Life Birla was born in Mumbai, India on June 14th 1967 but grew up in Kolkata. He secured his degree in Commerce from the HR College of Commerce and Economics. He graduated with his Masters from London Business School.

Business Career Birla oversees India’s most colossal Conglomerate group; his business deals in financial services, telecom, aluminium and cement. Birla inherited the industries over two decades ago at age 28 when his father passed away. One of his biggest successes is combining Vodafone India with Idea Cellular to form the country’s biggest mobile network. His net worth is priced at around $10 Billion.

February 2020

BUSINESS Age is only a number

the expert guide on how to overcome career fear and find genuine happiness

“

My hope is that older professionals develop the same attitude as millennials to their career. I’d advise them that age means little – one of our aims is to alter that mindset, and to show the older professional that their potential is limitless.

Ultimately, we spend a lot of our lives in work, and we all deserve to feel happy in that environment.

Business Psychologist Penny Strutton

“

New research from Think Forward Consulting has revealed that 75% of people in the UK are unhappy within their role.

In a survey of almost 1500 workers, the findings were reflective of a largely unsatisfied workforce. This unhappiness appears to be down to three key issues: passion, recognition and environment.

Only 19% of respondents said that they were doing their dream job. A staggering 83% said that they were not recognised for doing a good job, and only 18% of respondents were allowed to work flexibly. These factors all conspire to create a largely unsatisfied workforce. The malaise gripping the UK workforce doesn’t discriminate when it comes to age, but the tendency to stay in an unhappy situation does.

Last year a Deloitte survey of 10,455 millennials (professionals under the age of 35) uncovered some telling trends – 43% of millennials plan to leave their current jobs within two years and only 28% plan to stay beyond five years. This short-termism is indicative of a millennial fearlessness that eludes the older generation. Millennials are not as afraid to act upon their dissatisfaction. They believe they have options with a conviction that older professionals don’t.

The Think Forward Consulting research revealed that over a quarter (26%) of respondents feel stuck in their role. This is particularly pertinent to professionals between the age of 35-44, amongst whom 28% feel stuck. 26% of professionals over the age of 55 believe it’s too late to change things, compared to 12% of 18-24-year-olds. Business psychologist Penny Strutton says the career fear that comes with age can be overcome: “It’s common that people become more fearful with age: children, mortgages and other obligations combine to create an illusion that it’s too late to change career. But this is just an illusion – people always have the power to change things, they just need a little reminder of that and some help along the way”.

Penny believes that it is never too late to

change things, but that the relentlessness of work can make it appear that way. Her advice for older professionals is to step away from the rat race to reflect on what they truly want: “Any big life change requires time and space. If you feel restless and trapped within your career, I would advise you take a break and restore the work/life balance that we are often deprived of.

Our retreat centre provides an idyllic backdrop for you to work hard with specialists that can reconnect you with your strengths, interests and purpose, opening up doors to new job roles and improved life and wellbeing. We want you to return home with a defined outcome, ready to make the career change you desperately want”.

For Penny this one decision could be lifechanging. In her view the feeling of being stuck is linked to the confinement of the work environment and an old belief that you have a job for life. The relative fearlessness that millennials enjoy is possible for the older professional. It’s not an exclusive privilege.

T: 0121 771 4545

www.asianworldnews.co.uk

The only way competitive workplaces can work is by encouraging staff self-improvement competitive work environments only promote creativity and idea implementation when employees adopt self-improvement goals Companies that emphasise both competition between employees as well as personal accomplishments and development see more creative ideas being fulfilled, according to new research from BI Norwegian Business School.

Not all creative ideas are implemented– generating too many creative ideas may actually lead to fewer ideas being carried out. This can leave a company worse off than if they had simply not spent any resources on generating ideas in the first place.

Miha Škervalaj, Professor from the Department of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour, studied the effect of two work environment climates, mastery and performance, on the relationship between idea generation and implementation.

They used a sample of around 400 employees and supervisors, measuring idea generation and implementation and how they perceive the work environment.

A mastery work environment is associated with increased well-being, higher work performance, and rewards effort, self-improvement, and cooperation, while a performance work environment emphasises competition and comparing your achievements to colleagues.

Performance work environments are related to high employee turnover, burnout, and effort withdrawal.

Prof. Škervalaj says:

“

We found that a combination of the two work climates improves the relationship between idea generation and idea implementation: ideas were most frequently implemented in companies with high-mastery and high-performance climates. This suggests that introducing a mastery work environment is useful for stimulating idea implementation and for negating disadvantages of a performance work environment.

“

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These findings show that competitive work environments only promote creativity and idea implementation when employees adopt self-improvement goals. Therefore, companies that want to increase the implementation of creative ideas would benefit most from combining a mastery climate with a performance-focused one.

This research was published in the European Management Review.

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MOTORING 42-44

75% of businesses surveyed say disabled people face barriers when job hunting

AW Facts Did you know?

70% of small businesses are run by 1 person

disability inclusion, respondents identified HR consultancies, BDF and internal employee networks (selected by 80%, 67% and 60% respectively). Just 7% said they rely on external recruitment providers for assistance.

The findings come at a time when the employment rate for working age disabled people sits at just 52%. For individuals without disabilities, this figure stands at 81.5%.

On the findings, Sara Wright, Quality Assurance Manager and Inclusion Lead for Intelligent Resource commented: “Hiring people with disabilities is often seen as the ‘right thing to do’ - but the business benefits associated with disability inclusion should not be underestimated.

Organisations that fail to engage with this community are missing out on a highly-skilled talent pool. In fact, according to recent research by Accenture, companies which champion disabled talent enjoy 28% higher revenues than those which don’t.

“While our research clearly indicates that some employers could be doing more to support disabled individuals, the fact that many are monitoring levels of inclusion – and seeking external support – suggests a widespread appetite to address this.

“Fewer that one in 10 of those surveyed turn to external recruitment providers to boost disability inclusion.

However, staffing companies which are Disability Confident and committed to barrier free recruitment are perfectly placed to advise on tapping into this underutilised talent pool. For

example, through reviewing existing attraction strategies and suggesting and supporting alternative recruitment methods.”

Diane Lightfoot, CEO at Business Disability Forum, added:

“

One in five people have a disability and most people acquire their disability when they are of working age. Yet, the percentage of disabled people in employment remains far below the national average.

External recruitment providers have a vital role to play in promoting disabled talent and supporting employers to remove the barriers that many candidates face when seeking and securing employment.

“

Just 53% of businesses actively seek and welcome disabled candidates - despite the fact that 73% say that are currently facing skills shortages.

That is according to a survey of 392 employers undertaken by one of the UK’s leading staffing companies and managed recruitment service providers, Intelligent Resource, a Partner organisation of Business Disability Forum (BDF). The survey is the first stage of a wider research project.

In addition, 75% of businesses admit that disabled applicants face barriers when job hunting, with online applications and assessments, face-to-face interviews and telephone interviews flagged as the stages where challenges are most often faced (identified by 44%, 38% and 31% respectively).

The research also found that 80% believe they ‘could do more’ to attract disabled jobseekers while just 40% of those surveyed were ‘very confident’ in supporting disabled jobseekers and existing employees. This desire to improve in this area seems to be reflected in the fact that 67% of companies reported actively recording disability data.

When quizzed on where they turn for support in order to boost

SPORTS 45-48

February 2020

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New BP businesses can attract fresh talent pools to the oil and gas sector

In light of the recent news that BP has set the target of creating five unicorns by 2025 in an attempt to tackle the “dual challenge” of providing more energy with fewer carbon dioxide emissions, rail and energy recruitment specialist, Samuel Knight International, has urged the energy giant to use this opportunity to attract more professionals to the skill-short sector.

The oil and gas industry has historically battled with negative press regarding climate change and also struggled to attract the number of professionals needed due to outdated stereotypes, however as BP aims to create new businesses which will address environmental issues, this can be the ideal time to attract fresh new talent.

Shaun Docherty, Divisional Manager of Oil and Gas at Samuel Knight International, commented: “This is certainly welcomed news for the sector, and also much needed. We have all witnessed the growing pressure from climate activists and investors to move away from fossil fuels and embrace cleaner energy, and this announcement from BP is a step

in the right direction. Advanced technology is helping to create new, eco-friendly forms of energy, while still meeting demand, however the core issue is that there are not enough people in the sector to meet targets. Unfortunately, the industry suffers from antiquated stereotypes, and many Millennial and

Gen Z professionals don’t want to be working in a sector that has been linked to climate change.

However, BP now has a new opportunity to show people that companies are, in fact, helping to provide solutions for environmental issues, and that by being part of these businesses, individuals can make a difference to the world.

It’s important that BP share this message, and utilise this opportunity to attract fresh new talent.”

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February 2020

Half of businesses not ready for contractor tax upheaval

workers will become responsible for setting the tax status of these individuals. As part of this reform, the tax liability will also transfer from the contractor to the fee-paying party in the supply chain, which is typically the recruiter or the company that directly engages the individual.

A survey of the trade association’s membership revealed that although more than three quarters (79%) of the professional recruitment firms polled believe that most of the businesses they work with are aware of the incoming changes, just 51% said the majority of their clients are actively preparing for the updated legislation.

While this represents a notable improvement since July 2019, when just 12% of respondents said clients were putting plans in place to respond to the new rules, it also suggests that many are not doing enough to ensure they are ready for the changes.

When asked if the organisations they recruit into are expecting to pay more for contractors after the changes are implemented, 38% said ‘yes’. In July 2019, this figure stood at just 10%.

In addition 70% of recruitment firms surveyed said that they are not expecting the majority of their contractors to agree to working ‘inside’ IR35 once the changes come into effect – sug-

gesting a disconnect between the contractor and employer communities.

On the findings, Tania Bowers, General Counsel at APSCo, commented: The countdown to the off-payroll working reform is now well and truly underway – but our latest data suggests that many employers are either unaware of the wider potential consequences of the changes, or simply burying their heads in the sand.

“

“

Clients should not be complacent given scale of this challenge Around half of businesses are still unprepared for changes to off-payroll working in the private sector, which are due to come into effect in April 2020. That is according to new research from recruitment trade body, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo).

The new rules mean that changes to IR35 legislation, which were introduced in the public sector in April 2017, will be extended to medium and large private sector companies. From next year, businesses engaging independent

Why You Should Combine Print and Digital Marketing

“Irrespective of any review into the roll-out, which may be announced in the Queens Speech, clients should not be complacent given scale of this challenge.

Businesses now have a few short months to get ready for incoming changes to IR35 legislation but it seems that many may be ill-prepared. Companies which haven’t already must urgently review their existing contingent workforces to determine what employment models individuals are working through to understand the extent of PSC contractor usage. They should then work with trusted recruitment partners to discuss which roles are likely to be in scope across different levels, and if individuals with these skills are thin on the ground or easily replaced, so that plans can be put in place to enable them to sustain and grow future workforces effectively. If we’ve learnt anything from the public sector roll out, it is that we are now entering a period of significant change. However, by working with expert recruitment partners, businesses can ensure that they navigate the new landscape easily.”

In the past few years, many companies have been turning their marketing efforts away from using printed materials such as leaflets and flyers to digital formats.

However, many others continue to use print marketing. This has led to many start-ups not being sure which of the two marketing methods is better and more effective.

The good news is, you don’t have to choose. Both print and digital marketing can be combined into a dynamic strategy to deliver the best ROI. Here are four reasons why you should combine printed and digital marketing: We believe the most successful companies are using both print and digital media channels in conjunction with one another, creating engaging and provoking marketing materials.

1.

Promotes trust in your brand Although online channels such as social media platforms offer a larger, more captive audience, according to statistics, 82% of people trust printed advertisements over online alternatives. Hence, combining both methods will not only generate online traffic but serve to cement trust in audiences who may not be as familiar with your brand.

2.

Increases traffic to your digital channels and vice versa As you prepare your flyers and leaflets to hand out door to door, remember to include your social media handles and website on them directing people to visit your online channels. For SMEs, whose primary goal is to increase their customer base by creating awareness of the brand, this is a very effective solution to drive online traffic. Using QR codes and call for actions on your printed flyers and leaflets is a great way to encourage your custom-

ers to visit your digital platforms.

Leaflet printing is a great way to reach a large audience base easily and cost effectively.

3. The right medium for your target audience It is a myth that print marketing is dead. For instance, when it comes to B2B marketing, social media might not be the best avenue.

When making a pitch to other businesses why they need you as a supplier for what their company needs, giving out brochures and leaflets indicating what services you offer will be more appropriate. High quality brochure printing is essential for global businesses to connect with customers, investors even their own employees. These can directly complement sustained strategies such as targeted web content and other digital marketing techniques.

4. Marketing to the max

As more companies continue to use online marketing as their main advertising channel, more people become oblivious to the many popups and sponsored posts that they are bombarded with. However, it is difficult for them to ignore posters or flyers and other printed materials directly mailed to them. Hence, using both print and digital marketing will ensure that you reach your target customers one way or the other, reinforcing both your offline and online presence.

Combining print and digital marketing strategies is the best way to make the most of your promotional campaigns and hit all areas of your audience base. Are you looking to push your print marketing strategies to the next level?

PrintUK.com is here to offer you high-quality printing services for all your needs. Email us at hello@printuk.com or call on 0845 2993 923

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February 2020

What makes a good partner programme? 5 Steps to Success

Leveraging partnerships is good for business but the channel landscape is changing. Tomorrow’s winners will truly engage with their partners says Rob Wiles at Puzzel. Here, he shares 5 top tips for building a supportive channel ecosystem.

1.

Less is definitely more – while many vendors go for high volume, we believe partners should be chosen carefully. The aim is not to recruit 100s of partners but provide organisations with an opportunity to be part of a supportive ecosystem. Look for partners who bring different skills, perspective and value to the mix.

They should complement each other’s products and services.

They should also be able to determine their own level of engagement to best suit their individual business models.

This gives partners the freedom to generate new revenue streams while effectively protecting margins and ensuring their offerings stand apart from the competition.

Be sure to include industry analysts, consultants and latest social influencers on LinkedIn and Instagram. Their power to influence buying decisions is real and viral so it is important to involve and nurture them!

2.

Brilliant engagement – winning vendors are those that truly engage with their partners to achieve coverage and scale in today’s competitive marketplace. Sharing collective knowledge and expertise with partners to create joint value propositions will have real impact on the market and drive customer success. Extend engagement beyond the immediate partner management team to include high-touch sales people, solutions archi-

to win and delight customers in their own way. Start with the basics, which can be overlooked. Communicate news about upcoming product releases before they become public. In advance, give partners the marketing tools they need to deliver the right message and generate hot leads.

Remember to train the whole team – pre-sales, sales, operations, support, marketing and professional services. At Puzzel we aim to enabling partners to become effective customer experience (CX) consultancies and value added partners to their own customers.

The secret to building an effective channel is to brave and dare to be different! Turn traditional thinking on its head and learn the new rules of partner engagement.

Rob Wiles is Partner Channel Director at Puzzel

tects, pre-sales and marketing.

Why not add the VIP touch by appointing executive sponsors for partners who want to focus 100% on your business?

3.

Positive commercials – most organisations will agree that different types of partners are motivated by a different set of discounts, rebates and MDF rates when they are really only thinking about what motivates the channel or sales department. Successful vendors should seek to introduce incentives that excite all areas of the business from the owner to the financial director as well as the salespeople and beyond.

4. Trusted technology – we

promote the benefits of cloud contact centre solutions that combine omnichannel technology with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support complete customer interactions in a digital age. Highlight scalability to accommodate all customer types so that partners can rely on one platform to meet their customers’ end-to-end needs. Be creative and build a marketplace where partners can monetise their offering and where everyone from IT administrators in small companies to seasoned enterprise architects, in large multinational organisations, have easy access to the best vendor and third-party solutions, all in one place. Use trusted technology to spread the word and build business cases.

5. Create a supportive channel community – it’s all about enablement, enabling partners

Businesses that take advice at the right time become more successful than those that don’t

The founder of an independent branding and design agency has been recognised for the outstanding work he does to help small businesses grow.

Sukhy Singh Cheema, founder of Branding London, from Finchley, was named UK’s Top Branding and Design Adviser 2019, in a national competition held by Enterprise Nation.

Enterprise Nation is a business network and support provider for small businesses, which has helped thousands of people achieve their goals. Its aim is to help people turn their good ideas into great businesses – through expert advice, events, acceleration, diagnostics and networking.

The awards were part of the Top 50 Advisers Competition hosted by small business support group Enterprise Nation at the city headquarters of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (ICAEW) and sponsored

by Direct Line for Business and Square.

Emma Jones, MBE, founder of Enterprise Nation, who handed out the awards said: “All research points to the fact that businesses that take advice at the right time become more successful than those that don’t.

“Yet our own research has found small firms are still reluctant to take advice, often relying on family and friends. These awards are about raising awareness about the benefits of guidance, increasing the ease with which you can find advisers you can trust and recognising the signs when it’s time to

“

Becoming a business adviser and sharing my knowledge with start ups is really important to me, So winning this award is a lovely reminder that it’s appreciated – and so worthwhile. My approach includes formulating the strategy as part of the firm’s broader business plan, and then advising them through that journey from concept to completion.

“

The best channel strategies create impact in the marketplace while giving customers something new and relevant to their business. At Puzzel our strategy is simple, rewarding, on trend, disruptive and above all supportive:

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Sukhy Singh Cheema, Founder of Branding London, from Finchley. seek the help of an expert.

“Without these amazing advisers, great British businesses wouldn’t be doing great things.”

The competition saw hundreds of adviser nominations and more than 5,000 votes were cast during in the voting phase for advisers in technology, leadership and management, PR, marketing, sales, branding and design, human resources, legal and finance and funding.

Sukhy has over 10 years of experience in branding & design, having worked with a wide range of clients including start-ups, small to medium sized businesses and large multi national corporations.

He was also awarded fellowship from the Royal Society of Arts earlier this year, joining a global network who support the RSA’s mission to enrich society through ideas and action.

He consistently puts time aside

as part of his corporate social responsibility, as a regular contributor for Stairs and Shares, which is an organisation offering independent expert advice for entrepreneurs. “This is my way of giving back to society by mentoring and providing free branding support sessions for entrepreneurs and start-ups in need of my help, on a monthly basis.”

AW Facts Did you know?

Aamir Khan’s Lagaan had the most British actors cast in a Bollywood film

Diljit Dosanjh’s 2020 live concerts in the UK Simple Spice Vegetarian Book

Top 10 Richest Bollywood Actors Alya Skin Review

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February 2020

HYPHEN: ALTERNATIVE HIP-HOP ARTIST

Following a brilliant year playing BBC Introducing Live, Reading & Leeds Festivals; as well as multiple shows for Sofar Sounds, London based, alternative hip-hop artist, Hyphen returns with arguably his best track to date, the brilliant ‘Stand Back’.

Using his music as a platform to maintain a conversation on mental health, Aadarsh Gautam, Aka. Hyphen, frequently finds solace in songwriting and is not afraid to address and share his personal aperture.

In just six months he’s gathered quite the collection of accolades. His single ‘We’re OK’, written during a dark time in Hyphen’s life when he was struggling with his mental health, was picked up by London Evening Standard and received national radio play on BBC Asian Network who tipped Hyphen as ‘The Future of British Asian Hip-Hop’. Hyphen also appeared on Metro’s Mental Health podcast Mentally Yours, to share his battle with mental health and how music helped shape his future. Follow up single’s Ice Cold and Feels Right also saw national radio play from BBC 6 Music, with legendary radio presenter Tom

Speaking more on the track, Hyphen explains: “I’ve talked a lot about mental health in my music, and that always tends to focus on the bad parts (being depressed, anxious etc.) but I wanted to do something which is about feeling good about yourself, looking in the mirror and feeling like you’re doing alright. The world is a terrible place in so many ways - I love how some songs can put you in a good mood regardless of that. I wanted to try making a song that had that impact.”

Robinson saying, ‘You’ve got a great career ahead of you’. Further afield, all three tracks have gained momentum at BBC Introducing, which led to Hyphen playing the BBC Introducing stage at Reading and Leeds Festivals, and BBC Introducing Live.

STREAM MORE HERE Hyphen has made a name for himself on

Makers of Chhalaang unveil first look poster

FILHALL PART 2: AKSHAY KUMAR’S ANOTHER LOVE

First look poster of Chhalaang out now. The first look poster of upcoming film Chhalaang has just been unveiled by creators of the film. The highly anticipated film will see the uber talented Rajkummar Rao join forces with starlet Nushrat Bharucha for the first time. The film also marks the reunion of director Hansal Mehta and Rajkummar Rao as they work together for the fifth time.

Rajkummar Rao took to Twitter to share the poster for the first time with his millions of followers, writing “Lambi #Chhalaang ke liye, lambi neend Zaroori Hai! Releasing on 13h March” Chhalaang is set to be a hilarious yet inspirational journey of a schoolteacher in a small town. Montu is a typical teacher but when circumstances threaten to put his everything at stake, including his love life, Montu is forced to do what he has never done before – teach.

Starring Nushrat Bharucha and Rajkummar Rao, Chhalaang releases in cinemas on 13th March 2020.

After the tremendous success of Filhaal which had crossed more than 540 million views on YouTube, Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has announced that he is all set to release the second part of the video soon. Filhall was the first time that Akshay Kumar had featured in a music video and the song also witnessed the screen debut of Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon’s sister Nupur Sanon. The first part of the song was sung

by B Praak and was directed by Arvindr Khaira also featuring Ammy Virk. Below is the post Akshay Kumar shared on his Instagram saying ‘‘The story continues with another melody… #FilhallPart2 @nupursanon @bpraak @Ammyvirk @jaani777 @arvindrkhaira @azeemdayani @VarunG0707 @hypenq_pr @ desimelodies #CapeofGoodFilms’ Akshay Kumar has four exciting films lined up for 2020, The actor will be seen next in Rohit Shetty’s cop universe saga Sooryavanshi, followed by horror-comedy Laxmmi Bomb, historical drama Prithviraj based on the heroic Prithviraj Chauhan and ending with a Christmas 2020 release of Bachchan Pandey directed by Farhad Samji.

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the live music scene, with his energetic, jazz infused performances. Uniquely in the world of rap, Hyphen performs alongside a 6-piece live Jazz band.

Using his music to spread a positive impact, he has single handedly raided over £6.5k for New Horizons a charity that works to alleviate homelessness in London. He also performed for Sanctus, a mental health charity, to raise awareness for depression in young men - given how close the issue it is to his heart.

Having just been named BBC Asian Network’s Sound of 2020, Bobby Friction, BBC Asian Network DJ says: “I’m so excited about Future Sounds 2020 on the Asian Network. What we can definitely see this year is the emergence of a whole new generation of multi-genre, multi-talented artists who’ve literally got the world in their hands. All the artists represent a new musical vibe coming out of the UK in 2020. More importantly than that, so many of them are operating in a brown musical space, which is always a bonus for us fans of Desi music worldwide.”

‘Stand Back’ is out NOW.

Guru Randhawa’s song Lahore is re-created

Lagdi Lahore Di is the latest track to be released from Street Dancer 3D. The makers of Street Dancer 3D have dropped the latest song of the film, Lagdi Lahore Di. The peppy song is a re-make of Guru Randhawa’s 2017 song titled Lahore.

The music video focuses on Shraddha Kapoor and Varun Dhawan growing closer as they dance together with Nora Fatehi making appearances, dancing with Varun. While the song is slower than the original it fits the journey Varun and Shraddha’s characters go through.

Lagdi Lahore Di is composed by Sachin and Jigar while Guru Randhawa has sung and written the lyrics of the rehashed version as well with additional vocals lent by Tulsi Kumar.

Directed by choreographer Remo D’Souza, the third instalment in the ABCD franchise sees Shraddha Kapoor and Varun Dhawan come together once again. The film also stars Prabhu Deva in a pivotal role.

Distributed by Cinestaan Film Company, Street Dancer 3D is in cinemas NOW.

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February 2020

South Asians and Arts Careers A Perfect Match or Just Not Meant to be?

By Manisha Bhanot

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Decades ago, South Asians rarely secured starring roles both on the big screen and in minor TV shows. You would plaster posters on your teenage bedroom of Noel Gallagher from Oasis, but listening to a South Asian indie/Rock artist on the radio was almost unheard of, literally. For years, you might believe the only role model children from migrant families had to look up to was Raj from The Big Bang Theory, an awkward and shy nerd who had trouble speaking to girls.

However, as the 2010’s rolled in, they had a lot to offer in terms of South Asians breaking into the Entertainment industry. Of course, you still hear the Indian aunties nattering “so and so’s daughter just graduated from a medicine degree, she’s going to be a Doctor”, or “my son’s a Civil Engineer, what does your Arun do again?”

They would peer down their long, and pierced noses at anyone’s child who they heard was taking Drama classes, or on a creative writing course. Why let your kid be a novelist, painter or playwright when there was real big money to be made?

And then, the market began to change.

Young girls swooning over One Direction singer Zayn Malik, Mindy Lahiri giving us unlimited sass in the ‘Mindy Project’, and Nitin Ganatra was appearing in films. For many South Asians born in the Western world, the Arts allowed them to explore the parameters of their identity and break through ethnic boundaries.

Playing and performing music, or acting out a different character let them forget about their chaotic family life at home.

Pallab Sarker is one of the British Asians who has broken away from cultural taboos to become a successful artist. He has his roots firmly embedded in the Indie music scene and enjoys soulful collaborations with fellow musicians in his current home of Walthamstow, one of London’s most artistic boroughs. Having released his solo album ‘Grey Day’ and performed on the same stage as the likes of Rita Ora, Little Mix and Liam Payne at the Global Teacher Prize Concert, Pallab’s passion in perusing the arts only continues to grow. He is adamant of the benefits of creative industry careers for any young person, whatever their background, and talks openly about the benefits of the professional Arts in the working world.

Pallab himself was born to Hindu Bengali parents that moved across to the UK where he was born. Talking about his experiences growing up and his passion for pursuing music, he said: “My Mother and Father, who were first-generation immigrants, wanted us to cling to careers that were safe because they struggled when they first came to England. They wanted their children to become Doctors or Engineers. However, they were also open-minded. Not only does the Arts give you the skills to have a job in the creative economy, but it gives you the skills you need in whatever job you do. It gives you team work, empathy, resilience, and much more.”

Sarker now believes that South Asian parents are altering their opinions of the Arts world – a long-overdue

change. People have realised there are various career options available, from being a screenwriter, producer, journalist, sound technician, backing dancer, and a lot others. More and more South Asians are taking up professional and well-paid positions in the Arts.

When we asked Pallab if he thinks more South Asians are taking up the Arts in schools and colleges or University, he said: “I certainly think so. There are a lot of great South Asian role models out there. We see it in the media now. South Asians are not just focussing on traditional careers, but they’re in comedy, acting, and working as groundbreaking journalists. They’re in every field. In Indie music, we haven’t completely broken through yet but that will hopefully change. British bands with people of colour were vital in founding the UK’s punk, rock and indie scenes. However, post late 90s Britpop, if feels like the British indie music establishment has been a little too fixated with pushing white guitar bands – and if truth be told mainly while male guitar bands. It’s definitely time to challenge the status quo and once and for all decolonise British indie music”.

Currently, Pallab is working as

British Asian Musician Pallab Sarker who lives in Walthamstow

a resident artist in collaboration with an Arts educational scheme founded by Andria Zafirakou, winner of the Global teacher Prize 2018. She used her $1 Million prize winnings to fund the charity, which brings real artists, either those who are well-known or ones from the local area into schools. As a result, students are educated about authentic experiences from the creative industry and encouraged to take their pas-

sions of studying an arts subject further.

Lately, the number of pupils perusing drama, art and music subjects has dramatically decreased.

This decline is also to do with the education system prioritising more traditional academic subjects such as Maths, Science and Engineering. The Artists in Residence project, however, has become so successful at changing people’s perspectives about the importance of the arts, that the scheme is growing farther than just London, and is being requested in Manchester, Newcastle, Dorset and other locations across the country.

“We need to make the case”, said Pallab, when arguing in favour for the long-term benefits of getting young people into artistic careers. “The public narrative and debate about how important the arts are for people’s future, mental health and the global economy. That narrative needs to be pushed by the government, business leaders, artists themselves. I think if the public discourse and the media win that case, everything will hopefully change.”

Pallab is continuing his music career and is now preparing to release his second studio album.

For more, please visit www.pallabsarker.com

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

GLAM 22-28

WEDDINGS 29-33

HEALTH 34-35

TRAVEL 36-37

TECH 38-39

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February 2020

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Title Track of Disha Patani and Aditya Roy Kapur’s Malang is out now Team Malang release title track featuring Disha Patani and Aditya Roy Kapur.

Since dropping the eagerly anticipated trailer for upcoming film Malang, the team behind the film have had fans on the edge of their seats waiting for more from the film.

Now the crew have released the title track from the film and fans all over the world have gone wild.

The title track video sees stars Disha Patani and Aditya Roy Kapur fall in love in the picturesque landscapes of Goa. The video shows off their love story, from their first meeting at a party to romancing on the beach.

Star of the film Aditya Roy Kapur

took to social media to share the song with his millions of followers, writing “Get ready to fall in love and unleash the madness within you with the Malang title track”.

The Malang Title Track is sung and composed by Ved Sharma with lyrics penned by Kunaal Vermaa and Harsh Limbachiya.

Directed by Mohit Suri, Malang is a romantic thriller, starring Disha Patani, Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur and Kunal Kemmu.

Produced by T-Series’ Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Luv Films’ Luv Ranjan, Ankur Garg, and Northern Lights Entertainment’s Jay Shewakramani, the film releases in cinemas on 7th February 2020.

Concerts in UK Utilita Arena Birmingham (formerly The Arena) 11th July 2020

Biggest, Global Punjabi Superstar, Diljit Dosanjh, to bring Record-Breaking Live Concerts back to UK in 2020 Diljit Dosanjh’s bringing back his record-breaking, live concerts to the UK this year Media House and Empreo Events are proud to announce that the biggest, global Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh is bringing his record-breaking, live concerts back to the UK in 2020.

In 2018, Diljit broke the Box Office record when he sold out in Birmingham with his Con.Fi.Den.Tial live show, bringing the biggest south Asian crowd to The Arena for the first time, followed by sold out shows at the SSE Arena Wembley and First Direct Arena, Leeds. This confirmed the performer’s status as the biggest-selling Indian artist for a single concert at Birmingham Arena.

In 2018, Ben Sharman, Venue Sales Manager, Birmingham Arena said, “This has been an impressive production, not only in design but also in sales figures. To be selling out shows like this highlights Diljit Dosanjh’s wide international reach and fan base in the West Midlands, and it’s been a

The O2 London 17th July 2020 First Direct Arena Leeds 1st August 2020

pleasure to open his UK tour.”

In 2019, Diljit took his live shows to new heights, surpassing the levels of production in Indian music history with his US and Canada Roar Tour.

The shows, which are complete experiences for the whole family from children to the elderly, including incredible visuals and the most elaborate production elements ever for south Asian shows.

Now, Diljit Dosanjh and his team are set to unveil the grandest production ever for his new, 2020 tour in conjunction with Empreo Events.

Tickets are on sale now, more details to follow soon.

South Asian Lawyer Settles as International Singer

by Mohammed Zafran Petaling Jaya-born singer Kamal Chopra got busy with studies and then with her emerged as the winner of the “Best Inter- legal practice. She graduated with a national Artist” Award at the UK Bhan- law degree from the University of Longra Awards which are held annually in don and practised for a few years in Birmingham.

Kuala Lumpur and thereafter in Penang.

This family-based event aims to promote However, she gave up her law practice Punjabi Bhangra, culabout ten years ago to ture and unity among focus on taking care A Lawyer-turned all communities across of her three children.

-singer Kamal the region.

Everything changed The 55-year-old mothjust about seven years Chopra tells us er of three is a lawyer ago when her husband about her musical gave her the first push by qualification but became a full-time singer to start singing again. journey which seven years ago. Kamal “Because of his enculminated in her is married to Dr Sunil couragement, I started winning the “Best going for singing lesChopra from Kangar, Perlis, a Consultant Rasons and taking part International diologist and Nuclear in competitions. Then, Artist” Award Medicine Physician when I started to win at the UK at a private hospital in competitions, I realised Penang. The couple that I should go further Bhangra Awards has three sons: Kunal and sing profession2019.

Chopra (22), Praveer ally.”

Chopra (20) and Vishal “To be honest, I do not Chopra (17). miss being a lawyer.

The UK Bhangra I guess this (singing) Awards is a red caris my calling, I’ve alpet prestigious famways wanted to be a ily event. A total of 24 singer, and I am very awards were presented glad that I was able during the Awards to practise as a lawyer ceremony. One of the and fulfil my parents’ Awarding categories dream as well. is “Best International Kamal has qualified Artist”, which previunder Rockschool Inously saw nominees ternational Music & from six different Performance Arts, UK countries, namely the (Vocal Performance).

USA, Canada, SweShe has been actively den, India, Dubai and performing in MalayMalaysia.

Malaysia sia for the past seven was represented by years at various public Kamal. and private functions “I was nominated for and sings in a number this award by a panel of languages, in Engof judges based on work done, perfor- lish, Hindi, Punjabi, Malay, Tamil, Chimances, and the endorsement of the nese etc. Apart from Malaysia, she has Punjabi culture over the course of one been invited to perform in India, Ausyear. My live performances for various tralia and recently in the UK. cultural events and charity functions, es- In addition to being a solo performer, she pecially in fundraising events organised is also the lead singer of a six-piece Rock by the Penang Sikh Association for the band in Penang called “Vintage Rising” Gurdwaras, may have garnered the atten- which is made up of a group of doctors, tion of the organisers of the UK Bhangra lawyers and other professionals.

Awards 2019.”

Her journey into singing with a live band As Malaysia’s sole representative at the started around five years ago when she Awards, Kamal was given the honour of joined “Kasajam” (a family-based band performing live at the Regency Banquet- in Penang also made up of professionals) ing Suite in Birmingham. She comment- as the lead singer. ed: “I was really excited and felt that it Kamal believes age is never a barrier to was a great honour to be singing on such achieving one’s ambitions. Age is just a a prestigious platform. This was the big- matter of the mind. If you don’t mind, it gest stage that I have ever performed on. doesn’t matter! We all have only one life The energy was really fantastic.” to live, live that life to the fullest and fulAlthough she loved singing since her fil all your dreams. childhood days, as she grew older, she

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February 2020

Simple Spice Vegetarian

The New Cook Book for Re-Inventing the Bland and Boring

By Manisha Bhanot

Indian food is both delectable and nutritious – a fusion of carefully blended spices and flavours which are enough to beckon anyone to the dinner table. Due to the vegetable and vegan bases of most delicious curries and mixed rice dishes, this type of cuisine is also great for those looking to stay on top of their five a day. Moreover, the dishes are perfect for anyone who has newly converted to a plant-based diet, or if you’re just looking to enjoy more meat-free meals!

For many newbies or less

confident cooks, the idea of cooking South Asian cuisine can be daunting. Most people think they won’t have a kitchen cupboard stocked full of dozens of the required spices or even the right equipment plus expertise. However, with celebrity Chef Todiwala’s easy recipes, with minimum ingredients and prep time required, even the most spice shy can get on board with his new and innovative methods.

In the Simple Vegetarian Cook Book, you can cook a full three-part dinner with

ease. Choose from a selection of easy to follow recipes from starters, rice dishes, mains, warming broths, chutneys or desserts. Wow your guests with never before tasted flavours, all from home-cooked recipes invented in the heart of India.

Some of the dishes featured in this amazing new cook book include spiced aubergine tomato frittata, baked tandoori-style couscous, parsee fudge cake, lemon and orange fennel scones and much, much more!

Cyrus Todiwala has been

awarded an OBE and was born in Bombay, India. He went on to become Executive Chef at the infamous Taj Group of Hotels. He then immigrated to the UK, eager to share his culinary experiences overseas. He owns three successful restaurants in the capital of London, and has written a range of high-selling cookery books.

Cyrus has also featured on BBC Saturday kitchen, The Incredible Spice Men and many other media channels.

The Simple Spice Vegetarian cook book will be available online and in stores from 5th March 2020, and will retail as a hard-back edition for £20.

Alya Skin Review

Alya Skin is a vegan and animal cruelty-free skincare brand, made to detoxify and brighten up the skin. The Australian brand sells a variety of skin care

products including, the Australian Native Berry moisturiser, the Pomegranate Facial Exfoliator, and the award-winning Alya Skin Pink Clay Mask.

The products are suitable for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin, as they help to reduce redness, pores, acne as well as keeping the skin looking

and feeling hydrated.

The products come in cute pink bottles, and prices are affordable. The key Ingredient used in all Alya Skin products is Australian Clay, which is said to help detoxify and brighten up the skin.

You can even purchase bundle packages where you have a choice from The Complete Skincare Bundle or the Ultimate Skincare Bundle.

Alya Skin has also featured in award-winning beauty magazines, such as Glamour, Teen Vogue, Insider, Vogue, Marie Claire, Australian Women’s Health and many more.

I received the complete bundle package which included the Alya Skin Pink Clay Mask, a Pink Towel, Moisturiser, The Facial Scrub and the Foaming

Micellar Cleanser. All these products are amazing and have hydrated my skin, leaving it looking bright and clear. The skincare products are easy to apply and look great on my bathroom shelf.

I personally love the small pink towel as it allows me to wipe the products off easily. The Pink Clay Mask can be used weekly to create a softer, smoother and healthier-looking complexion in just 10 minutes.

The skincare products can be the perfect gift for Valentine’s day if you fancy treating your loved ones or you can even purchase these for yourself, to wind down and relax.

If you are interested in purchasing any Alya Skin products, then visit their website www. alyaskin.com or check out their Social Media Pages.

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

GLAM 22-28

WEDDINGS 29-33

HEALTH 34-35

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MOTORING 42-44

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February 2020

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February 2020

Highest Paid Bollywood Actors

Below is a list of the Indian film industry’s richest stars and their annual earnings during the last year - BY manisha bhanot 1. Akshay Kumar – 293.25 Crore Akshay is a legendary Canadian Indian born Bollywood star. He specialises in acting, stunts, producing and also as a television personality. He has been in the film industry for over three decades and starred in over 100 works. Akshay was born Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia on the 9th of September in 1967. He dropped out of Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Mumbai to peruse a career in martial arts. After this, he went on to become a model before he started being signed up for leading Bollywood roles. Akshay owns an impressive bungalow and flat properties in Mumbai and on Goa beach. He is known to be smart with his earnings and has around five crores invested in the Khalsa Warriors and World Kabaddi League.

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4. Shah Rukh Khan – 124.38 Crore Widely known as ‘King Khan’ for his incredible impact on Bollywood, Shah Rukh has been part of over 100 movies, and also worked as a TV actor, producer, show host and infomercial star.

Khan first made his acting debut in 1988 and is still a hard-working gem in the Indian film industry. He was born during November in 1965, New Delhi, India. He graduated from Hansraj College and Delhi University, prior to beginning his acting career. He married his wife, Gauri Khan in 1991, the couple live in Mumbai with their three children. Khan has won several awards and accolades, including 15 Filmfare Awards, 5 Producers Guild Film Awards, and 17 Screen Awards.

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9. Priyanka Chopra Jonas - 23.4 Crore Priyanka Chopra Jonas is an actress, singer and producer. She is a former winner of the Miss World Pageant 2000, UN ambassador, and has been named on the Forbes 100 Most Influential Women list twice. Jonas was born on the 18th of July 1982 in Jharkhand, India. Her parents both worked as physicians in the Indian army, due to which she moved across various cities and attended several schools. The actresses Prineeti, Meera and Mannara Chopra, are all her cousins. During her career, Chopra has expanded into American cinema and tv, starring in the thriller series ‘Quantico’ and Isn’t It Romantic (2019). She married singer Nick Jonas in 2018.

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5. Ranveer Singh – 118.2 Crore Ranveer Singh Bhavani has appeared frequently on Forbes India for the last several years as one of Bollywood’s highest-earning actors. He made his big-screen acting debut just a decade ago in 2010.

Singh was born on the 6th of July 1985 in Mumbai, India. He always loved acting and performance, but unable to get a big break, turned to creative writing and gained his BA from Indiana University. After working as a copywriter, he became an assistant director, before getting his break-through in Bollywood.

Singh married Deepika Padukone in 2018 after six years of dating, in a lavish ceremony at Lake Como in Italy.

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7. Deepika Padukone 48 Crore Padukone is the second actress on Bollywood’s highest-paid stars list.

From a family of Sports professionals, Padukone started as a fashion model before she made her acting debut. Padukone was born on the 5th of January 1986 in Copenhagen, Denmark. When she was one year old, her family migrated to Bangalore, India where she received her formal education. Padukone has made several runway, music video and commercial appearances. She has several successful hits under her belt, including her first lead debut, Om Shanti Om, Happy New Year and Chennai Express.

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2. Salman Khan – 229.5 Crore Salman Khan was born as Abdul Rashid Khan on the 27th of December 1965. He has been in the film industry for over 25 years, undertaking both lead and supporting actor roles. He is also an established television presenter, and known vocalist and philanthropist. Salman’s paternal ancestors hailed from Afghanistan before they migrated and settled in Indore. Salman completed his formal education at St Stanislaus High School, and attended St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, but left before earning a qualification. Khan has set up a few philanthropic projects during his career. One of them is his clothing line ‘Being Human’ which sells t-shirts, a portion of the profits are donated to worthy causes. He has been subject to much speculation due to his allegedly violent relationship history, and legal cases against him.

8. Ajay Devgn – 94 Crore Ajay Devgn, born Vishal Devgn, is an actor, producer and director. He is another one of the old school heroes of Hindi cinema. He has been awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian Government, which is the 4th highest civilian honour of the nation. Devgn was born on the 2nd of April 1969 in the country’s capital of New Delhi. He received his education at Mithibai College. His father, Veeru Devgn, was a famous Bollywood director, stuntman and action choreographer. Devgn began dating fellow actress Kajol in 1995 on the set of their film Gundaraj (1995). They married in 1999 and have two children together.

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10. Aamir Khan – 85 Crore Aamir Khan is an Indian born actor, director, film producer and talk-show presenter. He has a large following in South India and Greater China. Khan was born on the 14th of March 1965 in Mumbai, India. He began his career early as a child actor in the film Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) which was produced by his uncle Nasir Hussain. Some of Aamir Khan’s most popular works include Ghajini (2008), 3 Idiots (2009), Dhoom 3 (2013), his directed and self-starring film Taare Zameen Par (2007), and his work on his talk show Satyamev Jayate. Khan married his first wife Reena Dutta in 1986; they divorced in 2002. He married his current wife Kiran Rao in 2005. He has three children.

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3. Amitabh Bachchan – 239.25 Crore Also referred to as ‘The Big B’ of Bollywood, Bachchan was born as Inquilaab Srivastava, before having his first name changed to Amitabh. When he began acting, he started using his father’s pen name Bachchan. He has been active in the film industry for almost five decades, despite being aged 77, he still continues to work as an actor today. Bachchan first made his acting debut during the 1970s by playing a series of angry characters, through which he gained tremendous popularity. However, since then, he has made use of his talents in a variety of roles. Bachchan was born in Allahabad, India. He attended Sherwood College in Nainital. He is married to actress Jaya Bhaduri. His son is actor Abhishek Bachchan, who is married to the actress Aishwarya Rai. They also have a daughter called Shweta Bachchan

6. Alia Bhatt – 59.21 Crore Alia Bhatt, although with British citizenship, is an Indian origin actor. During the last year, she became Bollywood’s highest-earning actress after releasing a series of new projects and films to theatres. Bhatt was born on the 15th of March 1993 in Mumbai, India, at age 26, she has a number of impressive awards and accolades under her belt. She won the Filmfare Critics Award for ‘Best Actress’ due to her role in Highway (2014), and her highest-grossing release so far has been Gully Boy (2019). Besides acting, Bhatt has also launched her own clothing and handbag line called CoExist. She has also sung several of her film songs and participated in live concerts and stage shows.

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LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

GLAM 22-28

WEDDINGS 29-33

HEALTH 34-35

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February 2020

WEDDINGS

T: 0121 771 4545

www.asianworldnews.co.uk

Asian Wedding Section Welcome to the renewed version of the AsianWorld wedding directory – inclusive in your monthly copy of our newspaper. This section will include a handful of all your favourite and well established brands, as well as some new and upcoming featured businesses. Either way, we aim to make planning your perfect wedding so

much easier! The lay-out and design of the next few pages is set to put you at ease – either side of the bridal party will find it simple to dip into our list of useful clientele, services and products, and tick off all their wedding needs!

On average, the Asian wedding costs a huge sum of £50,000 upwards, which is more than

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twice the price of a traditional British ceremony.

Whether it be a Sikh, Muslim or Hindu marriage, Asians are known to invite all of their friends and members of their extended family from near and far. With an invitation list that normally exceeds 100 guests, hosts are eager to please. Hence, the average Asian couple will spend around one fifth

of their entire lives’ earnings on this single most prestigious event!

If you would like your business advertised in our wedding directory, and promoted across the West Midlands in various ways, you can get in touch with us using the contact details on page 3.

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February 2020

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

GLAM 22-28

WEDDINGS 29-33

HEALTH 34-35

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February 2020

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Wedding Party Services, Party Decorations, Mascots, DJs, Bollywood Dancers

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February 2020

The Knot—the nation’s leading wedding planning and registry resource—reveals 10wedding details to anticipate for 2020 celebrations.

Couples marrying in 2020 will place a greater emphasis on intentional and deeply meaningful personalisation, as well as on creating an inclusive experience for attendees.

To-be-weds are also putting sustainability at the forefront of their festivities through creatively upcycling décor, jewellery and attire details. In addition, couples consider the full culinary experience along with any guest dietary restrictions, opting to craft food and beverage menus that are fully inclusive for all guests to nosh on happily throughout the event.

2020 Wedding Trends lean towards Personalisation

10 WEDDING DETAILS THE KNOT IS LOVING FOR 2020 1) Eco-Conscious Couples Seek Sustainability in Their Wedding Details. Sustainable weddings are on the rise. While some couples are committing to zero waste or a reduced carbon footprint as they plan their celebrations. Couples are asking caterers to provide reusable drink straws. A lighter version of this includes repurposing florals and décor from ceremony to reception.

2) Couples Craft Inclusive Menus and Present Food With Interactive Elements. Menus will check all the boxes in 2020—whether you have guests who are vegan or gluten-free, couples have all their guests’ dietary needs covered. Creative menus with a variety of customisable offerings allow every guest to enjoy the culinary experience regardless of dietary restrictions.

3) Guests Are Serving Themselves at the Bar. We’re not talking about a cooler full of cold ones..

Self-service drink stations with wall-mounted dispensers and margarita bars with all the mix-ins allow guests to serve and garnish their own drinks throughout the night. It’s one less bartender and one more personalised choice that also serves as a photo-worthy moment for guests.

4) Lighting Makes Celebrations Shine. Bold lighting helps set the wedding vibe. We’re loving how creative couples, designers and planners are incorporating new types of lighting not typically associated with weddings into their décor. From bold LED cocktail bar fronts, which empower couples to customise their hues, to tube lighting draped on ceiling beams and the creation of a visually interesting statement.

5) From the Décor to the Drinks, Florals Are Used to Make Bold Statements. Florals are going beyond the bouquet as couples use edible blooms in salads, ice cubes, water infusions, on top of desserts, drinks and more to elevate virtually anything at their celebration. Couples are also exploring floral textures and shapes for a monochromatic look.

6) Live Entertainment and Experiences: The Amenity Basket Upgrade. Think of this as the most #extra amenity basket: Instead of just treating guests to hair spray and mints in the restroom, couples are stationing magicians, interactive make-your-own scent bars, and champagne stations in lounges just outside the restrooms to ensure the party doesn’t stop, even when you leave the dance floor.

7) Couples Use Wedding Fashion to Showcase Personality and Attire Preferences, Favoring More Fluidity in Fashion Choices. Couples are seeking fashion that fits their personal style. We’re seeing to-be-weds explore attire outside of convention: rocking jumpsuits; opting for pops of colour; exploring textures; incorporating showstopping embellishments, exaggerated sleeves and bold ball gowns.

8) Barrettes and Combs Are Having a Moment. Veils aren’t going anywhere, but tiaras have given way to the latest in hair jewellery—barrettes and combs. These accessories are often adorned in pearls, rhinestones and colourful enamels. They’re great for holding back natural curls or creating a second style for your reception.

9) Wedding Registries to Last a Lifetime. Couples are using their registry to share more about their future plans together, as well as their values and interests. Couples also look to beloved pop-culture moments to inspire registry asks, such as flights to Europe or New Zealand to explore where Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones was filmed, or walking tours in NYC to check out scenes and mementoes from Friends and Seinfeld.

10) Unplugged Honeymoons. While the majority of couples (93%) rely on their smartphone to plan their wedding, when it comes to their ceremony, nearly one in three (29%) ask guests to limit the use of their phone—a trend that continues to gain momentum. Couples are now opting to follow their own rules, unplugging for their entire wedding day, as well as on their honeymoon.

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

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WEDDINGS 29-33

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February 2020

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Quality Time: Part 2/3 Fateha Majid is a South Asian woman working in tech. With a background in Psychology, she is fascinated by the science of love, attraction and relationships. She has developed a new Family Matchmaking app for Muslims.

Quality Time. Having quality conversations and doing quality activities.

Giving your spouse your undivided attention. In 2012, Wilcox and Drew found that people who spent quality time with their partner at least once a week were 3.5 times more likely to report being ‘very happy’ in their relationship compared to those who didn’t.

Chandni’s words over seven years ago are engrained in my memory. She said: “Fateha, I’ve learned a lot from observing two brides in our family who got married around the same time. The first bride did her own thing and was heavily scolded by the Uncles and Aunties. The second bride was praised non-stop. Who do you think is blissfully married today?”

My initial thought was, “why don’t people talk about the groom?!” She slowly said, “it’s the first bride”.

This topic is in three parts: Bride 1: Mrs Self-Love; Bride 2; Mrs Selfless; and Groom: Mr Hero or Mr Zero?

Bride 2: Mrs Selfless My friend, Nadia, is a stay-athome mum with two children below age 5. She met her husband through common friends and got married after a year of getting to know eachother. She has been living with her in-laws for the past 7 years. In the first 2 years of her marriage, she worked as a teacher and was

Watch out for Cupid!

Why Valentine’s Day can be a Pain in the Backside Across the UK and other parts of the world, Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February the 14th.

The special day is a chance to express your adoration towards your loved one. It’s common to gift your significant other with chocolates, flowers or lavish jewellery. But just why do we perform the whole facade and where did it come from?

Why do we Celebrate Valentine’s Day? According to some Historians, Valentine’s Day has its roots embedded in ancient Roman culture and coincides with the celebration of Lupercalia. The festival was held annually between the 13th and 15th of February to promote fertility. In a bizarre tradition, priests would sacrifice a dog and a goat, before slicing the goat’s hides into strips. Two males would then dress as goats (representing make sexuality) and hit women with the goat’s hide until they bled, symbolising their fertility – doesn’t sound very romantic!

Expectations Vs. Reality Due to the lengthy build-up towards the big day, Valentine’s can be a highly stressful time of the month for many. With companies pulling out all of the stops in their marketing to pressure you into buying from them, you might be feeling the dread of

squeezing into that hot red dress, having your hair on point or getting your eye-shadow just right.

Perhaps you don’t know what to gift your partner and are struggling to find the funds to afford an affluent gift.

Either way, it’s important not to let our expectations cloud our clear judgement. Expecting a costly gift or something personalised may not be something they can put together the cash for at the minute. It’s also unrealistic to expect your partner to guess your favourite candies or flowers if you’re in a new relationship – especially if you haven’t gotten round to telling them yet! Either way, Valentine’s Day should be about cherishing your relationships and spending quality time with your loved ones. Let them know you’re thankful, and instead of a rushed dinner date in a crowded restaurant and last-minute gifts, why not cook dinner for them at home or handcraft a present? We’re sure they’d love the thought and effort!

Single on Valentine’s Day? You’re Not Alone (Really) If you don’t have a date this year or you’ve just broken up from your significant other, then being surrounded by loved up couples might make you feel a bit salty, to say the least! In today’s society, it’s easy to get caught out

with superficial expectations of romance. However, you don’t have to have your love life all figured out! Remember that working on your career, health and mental wellbeing is what really counts. Your ‘perfect’ person will come along, in the meantime, work on being the best version of yourself!

What to do if you’re Dateless on the Big Day Not to worry, there will be millions of people on Valentine’s Day that didn’t have the honour of being asked out by their long-term crush or recent Tinder match. What you can do instead is use the holiday to commemorate your other long-standing relationships! Get together with your besties for an epic Galantine’s; try baking, do each other’s nails, or throw an epic dance party in your room. You can even meet up with your other friends and make it a Palentine’s date by ordering Pizza and binging on your favourite Netflix series on the sofa in your PJs. Whether you’re celebrating with your bae, bestie, family or even your cat, we hope you have a great Valentine’s Day, and remember, if things didn’t quite go according to plan then there’s always next year! (;

By Manisha Bhanot

without children. Her husband spent most of his time socialising with his friends and she did not see him much. She was stuck at home with her in-laws almost every evening. Nadia expressed, “I was getting more bitter and resentful towards him and the marriage”.

Nadia’s husband became more present and hands-on with the children 5 years into their marriage. She said, “In the past 8-10 months, we sit and watch more TV. We try and go out more and have more day trips”.

Living with in-Laws Nadia shared, “I moved in with the Brady Bunch! They were just the perfect family who would kill for one another. I am from a family who argue and fall out but there’s still love. I felt the pressure to be amazing. The perfect wife and daughter-in-law.

I was always being compared to his sister. Her in-laws were quite ‘old-school’, they weren’t nasty

but would make sly comments.

They would have an issue with her staying with her mother for a few nights. Nadia said, “It’s one rule for me and another rule for my sister-in-law. She too was married but would come and stay and spend time with my motherin-law”.

Here are some of Nadia’s tips: Tip 1: Strong Routine with Children It is vital to have a strict routine.

This will allow you unwind and spend time with your spouse or yourself for 2-3 hours in the evening.

“My children are abit of a terror and I am wiped out by the end of the day. I make sure they are in bed by 8pm. I do get teased about it by my in-laws”.

Tip 2: Set Boundaries with in-laws Start as you mean to go along otherwise resentment arises.

Nadia sighed, “I cook 30 dishes

per week for my in-laws”. For years, Nadia would seek approval from her in-laws to go out which she later regretted. She advised, “Set boundaries from Day 1. Your life is your life. Don’t let your in-laws have a say”. Nadia added, “I now put my mother-inlaw in place when she has digs”.

Tip 3: Family Day Out Make it a rule to have a family day out once a month with your spouse and your children.

Tip 4: Tap into support networks for Date Nights If you have family or friends who are available, take them up on their offers to babysit. It’s good for couples to enjoy quality time together without the children. It’s also good for children to be independent and enjoy time away from their parents without having anxiety and outbursts.

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February 2020

HEALTH

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Debt-free Living Hypnotherapy

Ailsa frank

C.ht D.hyp MHF Registered

This hypnosis download will help you to let go of debt worries and create new habits of behaviour to break free of debt long-term.

The messages will instil thinking which helps you to tackle the problems head-on. When you feel overloaded with debt issues it can be hard to see the way forward.

These recordings will gently release the negative thinking from your subconscious mind replacing this with solutions to creatively get out of debt. By improving the

Top dentist warns Millennials not to fly abroad for outdated dental treatment

A top dentist has urged Millennials to think twice about travelling abroad for dental treatment Dr Orr warned that anyone who has had dental treatment abroad, such as veneers, crowns or implants, may not be eligible for treatment on the NHS if they have a problem: ‘Flying back to the country you had the original treatment may be difficult and/or expensive.

And you may not be able to rely on the NHS to fix it either’.

‘My main concern is one does not know the lifelong maintenance needed for this type of work. Veneers can be an excellent treatment in the right situation, but - like every treatment - they have their pros and cons.

‘Regardless of who does it, nothing lasts forever and veneers / crowns etc will need to be replaced several times over the person’s lifetime, so it makes sense not to do these things if there are more conservative alternatives available, especially in younger patients’.

Dental veneers change your natural teeth and the treatment is irreversible.

A veneer is a thin facing, custom-made from porcelain, which is bonded to the front surface of a tooth. Veneers can be a good solution to chipped, misshapen or mildly crooked teeth. They can also be used to close gaps between teeth.

Veneers should mimic the size, shape and colour of your teeth and create a natural look.

However Connor has found himself

trolled online for his veneers with many mocking the artificial look of them and found them to be so white they have been branded ‘’blinding’’.

Dr Orr said this reflects the way that treatment is undertaken.

He said: ‘Very often when treatment is done in a short timeframe, for example, when carried out during an overseas holiday, the treatment may involve a lot more drilling than what could be achieved if the dentist had time to straighten teeth using braces, provide whitening then reshape the teeth using conservative veneers or composite bonding’ The result achieved can appear impressive at first, but sometimes the teeth are permanently compromised for the sake of speed. Many people having treatment like this do not appreciate that no treatment will last forever, and will need to be replaced eventually. It therefore makes sense to try to preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible each time treatment is carried out. This is much easier to do with today’s techniques and materials so that teeth last a lifetime’.

Dr Orr said: ‘If you do decide to choose a dentist abroad it is better to rely on a recommendation rather than an internet search engine which is what Connor said he has done. It is important to check them out, ask about their level of experience in carrying out the kind of treatment they propose’.

way that you think, you will be surprised at how easy it is to get your money issues back on track.

Three tracks covering various elements for a new debt recovery way of thinking.

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Spending and debt become a habit in your life. This recording will set you free with new ideas to take back control of your finances and action steps to get out of debt.

www.ailsafrank.com and is priced at £14.99.

Reader Offer 20% discount code: MONEY2020 to be used at the www.ailsafrank.com checkout page.

How does the ‘Debt-free Living’ hypnosis download work?

Your beliefs are stored in your subconscious mind, some of which are positive others are more negative. During this relaxation, your mind will let go of the limiting thinking which is stopping you from taking back control of your debt. Feel more relaxed as you release the fears and worries which have built up around money issues and help you to take practical steps to get on top of debt. The messages will help you bring about changes in your life to earn the most, reduce expenditure, pay back money owed and spend the least so you can adhere to a sensible budget.

Debt can build up over time from overspends, poor budget-

ing, irregular salary, retirement or from being on a low income.

Debt can also come into your life from an unexpected event such as a divorce, redundancy, reduced income, an increase in expenses, illness, having a baby or from a failed business. This hypnosis recording to Get out of debt will give you the chance put whatever has happened behind you so you can instead find practical answers to get out of debt. Money is the root of our lives. With a strong money foundation in your mind, you will create a secure future.

The messages in this recording will filter into your subconscious mind whilst you relax on a bed or a sofa. There are three short tracks so it is easy for you to fit them into your busy schedule. You can listen to one after the other or alternate them on different days. If you fall asleep during the recordings you will still benefit from these recordings.

Improved diagnosis and treatment for patients with anaemia with BCU Ambulatory care specialists at the University of Birmingham are working with Vifor Pharma UK Limited (VPUK) to develop and implement a populationbased anaemia diagnosis and treatment decision support service for routine healthcare delivery.

Anaemia is one of the most common laboratory abnormalities in both community and hospital settings - associated with a range of poorer health outcomes, including poorer quality of life, hospital admission, progression to institutional long term care and death.

There is also evidence of inadequate use of tests to determine the cause of anaemia, leaving patients without a confirmed underlying diagnosis.

The new quality improvement project, led by Professor Dan Lasserson aims to construct a decision support algorithm to reduce the proportion of patients with inadequate investigation for anaemia.

This will ensure the right combination

of tests are performed for patients with anaemia detected for the first time, as well as reducing over-investigation where information is already contained within existing results in the laboratory database. The algorithm will, therefore, support rational diagnostic testing for anaemia, using existing resources tailored to the local population.

Dan Lasserson, Professor of Ambulatory Care at the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Applied Health Research, explained: “Anaemia is associated with a range of poorer health outcomes and seen commonly in community and hospital settings, but despite this, there is wide variation in approaches to diagnosis and management.

“Developing a population-based anaemia detection, diagnosis and management tool will standardise care to the large and diverse population in Birmingham, and ensure that at every healthcare contact, patients will have the right tests

performed to find the underlying cause of anaemia.”

The algorithm guidance will be developed in conjunction with haematologists, acute physicians, gastroenterologists, and GPs in the UK West Midlands region to ensure that the outputs are delivered in a usable and effective format, using electronic health records, enabling maximum generalisability across primary and secondary care.

Vifor Pharma, a leader in iron deficiency therapy, has provided financial support to this quality improvement programme.

Nick Ibrahim, VPUK General Manager, commented: “Irrespective of the effective treatments available, Vifor UK is proud to support a project that will allow better identification and management of people with iron deficiency and anaemia, with the potential to provide significant benefits to thousands of patients and the healthcare system in general.”

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

GLAM 22-28

WEDDINGS 29-33

HEALTH 34-35

TRAVEL 36-37

TECH 38-39

FOOD 40-41

MOTORING 42-44

SPORTS 45-48

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Demand for dementia specialists up 304% as diagnosis rates increase The rate at which demand is accelerating is certainly noteworthy

Why a Performing Arts Evening Class is the New “ Wellbeing Trend for 2020 Why you should choose a performing or creative arts class for the ultimate wellbeing and mental health boost in 2020 – and even try to become the next Fleabag or performing sensation!

2020 is here, the dawn of a new decade. And along with physical fitness and career goals, many of us pledge to go to the gym and get running as a new year dawns.

The standard go-to ‘reset’ activities include joining a gym. But one organisation is calling on those who want to give their emotional health a boost to try something closer to home: A performing or creative arts course.

With politics and austerity hitting the headlines hard on a daily basis, and pressures of work and family stress, our mental health has never

been in greater need. Wellbeing trends in 2019 saw us all reaching for the CBD oil, going forest bathing and shunning all our belongings as we tried to ‘Marie Kondo’ not just our homes, but our emotions, too.

City Academy will be offering 699 classes, so it’s time to shun the ommmms and get some oomph into your new year! Fancy yourself as the next Fleabag? Then you could sign up for script writing or writing for television.

There’s ballroom dancing for Strictly aficionados, the mindfulness of painting or piano, or for those who want to tap into the fastest growing media trend going, Podcasting for beginners.

The founders of Londonbased City Academy, which provide creative and performing arts classes, have found that their students’ wellbeing has sky rocketed thanks to its classes. And as 2020 dawns, they’re encouraging people to make a new year’s resolution to sign up for something that delivers something more profound and deeper than a gym membership or wellness retreat. City Academy offers hundreds of courses that they believe can truly enhance wellbeing in 2020.

Susan Young, co-MD of City Academy, says: More people than ever are looking for an answer to their wellbeing and a way to improve their mental health as we enter 2020. At City Academy, we believe that our courses provide just that.

From the camaraderie that a class brings – battling loneliness with the regularity of a weekly class and joining like minded people - to the thrill of learning a new skill, as well as the endorphin rush of song or dance, there’s so much more in a resolution that involves active creativity.

Rather than just pledging to work on your fitness or emotional health, a creative or performing arts course is an opportunity to meet new people and boost confidence as well as learning amazing skills.

”

Vacancies for Mental Health Nurses (MHNs) specialising in dementia care have skyrocketed over the past year as experts identified a rise in the number of people living with the condition as the ‘greatest health challenge of our time’.

That is according to market analysis from specialist recruiter, WR Health.

Between 2018 and 2019, demand for professionals to care for patients with conditions including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia jumped by 304%, with employers seeking MHNs with solid experience in providing expert practical, clinical and emotional support to families living with these conditions.

The findings follow reports, published just over a year ago, which found that Alzhei-

mer’s and dementia is now the leading cause of death in England and Wales. Almost one in eight people died from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in 2018, with the proportion increasing for the fourth consecutive year – up from 12.7% in 2017 to 12.8% in 2018.

According to separate figures from Alzheimer’s Disease International, there are currently close to 50 million people worldwide who are living with dementia and this number is set to grow to 75 million by 2030 and 131.5 million by 2050.

Commenting on the Data, Emma Platt, Manager of WR

Health, said: “Over the past year, we have witnessed a phenomenal increase in demand for nurses who have experience in – and a passion for – caring for individuals with dementia. In care home settings, in particular, there has been a notable shift from hirers seeking more generalist adult nurses to mental health nurses with experience in dementia care.

“At a time when diagnosis rates are on the rise, due to people living longer and surviving other illnesses, an increase in vacancies is not altogether unexpected. However, the rate at which demand is accelerating is certainly noteworthy.

“Our clients are looking for nurses with a strong background in providing relationship-centred dementia care, who are able to support both patients and their families.

And with the Alzheimer’s Society predicting that one million people in the UK alone will have dementia by 2021, this growth in demand shows no sign of slowing.”

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TRAVEL

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Best Couple Health and Fitness Escapes for Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day approaching, rediscover romance with the best Valentine’s Day wellness breaks to suit every couple. From adventure-loving, Globetrotting and sporty couples to those looking to rediscover their zen this Valentine’s Day, Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists has hand-picked the best health and fitness breaks to reconnect with your partner and enjoy the activities you love doing most. Whether it’s a weekend unwinding in the tranquillity of the Yorkshire hills or a week walking the wonders of China, these healthy holidays are guaranteed to rekindle the romance for every kind of couple.

Chilled Couples: Grantley Hall, UK

With this luxurious spa destination tucked away in the hills of Yorkshire, there’s no need to travel far for a relaxing wellness break this Valentine’s Day. With plenty of workout areas and treatments in the luxurious spa, you can rejuvenate and relax together, taking care of both the body and mind. At the end of your visit, you will not only leave with a renewed connection with your partner, but also leave with a clarity of mind and overall improvement in your well-being.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 3 nights at Grantley Hall for £1,800pp. Price includes full board and a wellness programme.

Adventure-driven Couples: China Active Tour

For the ultimate adventure this Valentine’s Day, escape to the fascinating country of China together on an active tour like no other. With activities like walking the Great Wall of China, taking a boat ride along the stunning Li River and cycling past the rice paddies of Yangshuo, there is an endless amount of ways to keep active together whilst taking in the breath-taking sights China has to offer. Step off the beaten track as you trek through tiny villages and experience a side of China you never knew existed.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 14-nights for the China Active Tour for £1,831pp. Price includes arrival transfer and full board.

Healthy Foodie Couples: Kamalaya Relax & Renew, Thailand With a restaurant, café and tea lounge serving a variety of dishes to cater to every need all day long, Kamalaya in Thailand is a healthy foodie couple’s dream. This Valentine’s Day treat your loved one to over 70 therapies in the Spa and a detox menu they will not be able to refuse, on this gentle and renewing wellness holiday.

Explore the local Thai food together by getting involved in cooking classes and Oolong tea sharing, or soak up the culture with a Monk’s cave visit and temple tour.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Kamalya from £2,620pp. Price includes accommodation, full board, a wellness programme and return private transfers.

Active and Sporty Couples: BodyHoliday Fusion Fitness, St Lucia

If you’re the kind of couple that loves a challenge, then why not mix up your normal workout routine this Valentine’s Day with an exclusive Fusion Fitness holiday at BodyHoliday in St Lucia. From the high intensity of kettle bell, beach bootcamp and circuit training to the deep relaxation of mind and restoration treatments, meditation and yoga, choose from a range of options to diversify your workout routine.

After you’ve been pushed to the limit, reward yourselves by venturing into the calm Caribbean waters with activities like scuba-diving, sailing or water-skiing.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at BodyHoliday from £2,440pp. Price is all-inclusive and includes a Fusion Fitness program, accommodation, and return private transfers.

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Globe-trotting Couples: Costa Rica Wellness Tour

Create unforgettable memories together this Valentine’s Day by venturing to the hot springs of La Fortuna and relaxing in a volcanic mud bath on this exclusive wellness tour in Costa Rica. After a long day exploring the wonders of Costa Rica, try something a little different and unwind with a Stand-Up Paddleboard yoga class. You will take part in a local project supporting up to 200 farmers at a coffee plantation, encouraging you to connect with the people of Costa Rica, leaving you both with a renewed sense of clarity.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights in Costa Rica from £1,775pp. Price includes breakfast, 2 lunches and 3 dinners, accommodation, a wellness tour and return private transfers.

Zen & Mindful Couples: Santani Wellness Resort & Spa Re-balancing Bliss, Sri Lanka

Set in the rolling green hills of Sri Lanka, Santani Wellness Resort & Spa is the perfect place for couples to enlighten the mind and energise the body. Daily meditation sessions and guided walks will instil a sense of peace and reconnect you with yourself and each other. Truly relax with a daily spa treatment and rejuvenate the body together with group yoga or dip in the thermal salt pools. The minimalistic approach of this mindful holiday will leave you both with clarity of mind, and the ability to lead a balanced lifestyle.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Santani Wellness Resort & Spa from £1,825pp. Price includes full board, a de-stress program and return private transfers.

Fitness Couples: Training Paradise, Thailand

Teamwork makes the dream work on this fitness retreat. With a panoramic view of Chalong Bay, encourage each other to make healthy behavioural changes during coaching sessions such as functional training, boxing and yoga sessions, that will guide you both towards an active lifestyle. Training Paradise offers opportunities to partake in local activities, such as Thai boxing or Muay Thai, making this intimate healthy holiday the perfect place for couples to experience the Thai culture together and get fit at the same time.

Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 10 nights at Training Paradise from £1,625pp.

Price includes full board, a fitness programme, and return private transfers.

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

GLAM 22-28

WEDDINGS 29-33

HEALTH 34-35

TRAVEL 36-37

TECH 38-39

FOOD 40-41

MOTORING 42-44

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February 2020

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Princess Cruises Reveals 2021 Alaska Cruises and Cruise tours

2021 Alaska Season Includes Eight Ships Calling To Alaska’s Top Cruise Destinations The #1 cruise line in Alaska announced its 2021 Alaska season with eight ships calling to 17 destinations on 11 unique itineraries from five homeports on sale now. Also included in the 2021 season are 25 cruise tour options which combine a 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with multiple days on land, scenic rail travel and overnight stays at Princess Wilderness Lodges.

“With our rich history in Alaska, Princess Cruises continues to differentiate itself to deliver a truly authentic Alaska experience that connects our guests with the local culture and wilderness on a cruise or cruisetour,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president.

“Our 2021 lineup includes plenty of choices so travellers with big and small groups, various budgets and vacation time available can visit and take in the unmatched beauty of Alaska.”

Princess Cruises offers key product differentiators in Alaska, including: • Award-winning North to Alaska program featuring Cook My Catch, an exclusive culinary program allowing guests to return from select Princess fishing excursions only to have the chef prepare their very own catch of the day. Also offered, the crowd-favorite Puppies in the Piazza, where real Alaska sled dog puppies are brought on board for guests to interact with.

• MedallionClass-enabled cruise ships, powered by OceanMedallion, the most advanced wearable device in the global hospitality industry, delivering a hassle-free, personalised vacation that gives guests more time to connect with loved ones, make new friends and enjoy what they love most about cruising.

• Exclusive Discovery and Animal Planet shore excursions, giving guests opportunities to catch a glimpse of Alaska wildlife, including bears, whales, bald eagles and more. In addition, Princess has partnered with a team of local experts in Alaska to give guests even more exclusive and authentic experiences ashore as part of the cruise line’s award-winning Local Connections program, like cooking with an Alaska chef or going on a photo safari with a nature photographer.

In addition to Alaska cruises, Princess Cruises is the only cruise line to own and operate five Alaska wilderness lodges, all located riverside near national parks.

Cruisetour highlights include: • Two unique perspectives to see Denali, the tallest mountain in North America at 20,310 feet from two lodges – Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge and Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge.

• Exclusive Direct to the Wilderness rail service, taking guests directly to and from their cruise ship to the Denali area.

• More remote lodge locations including Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, overlooking Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, near Kenai Fjords National Park.

• Unique Alaska experiences including a treehouse at the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge built by Pete Nelson of Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters.

In addition, lodge guests will hear firsthand tales from mountain climbers who have conquered Denali as they tell their exhilarating stories in the Hudson Theater.

• Fannie Q’s Saloon and Fireside Patio at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, named after the famous local Alaska pioneer Fannie Quigley, is located in the center of the property and features a modern saloon ambience with indoor

2019 marked Princess Cruises 50th season sailing in Alaska. In celebration of this great milestone, Princess Cruises connected with local communities to give back to the people who make Alaska one of the most unique and memorable destinations in the world. Guests looking to visit Alaska in 2020 can take advantage of Princess Cruises Best. Sale. Ever. including drinks, wi-fi and gratuities when they book a cruise or cruisetour. The sale runs now through February 29, 2020.

and outdoor seating, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The fireside patio offers a new gathering place for guests to roast marshmallows, talk about their adventures and have a drink under the midnight sun.

AW Facts Did you know?

The official London underground map has existed since the 1930s

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February 2020

TECHNOLOGY Machine learning technology allows us to track emotional experiences

Every decision we make is driven by emotion, but until now, measuring human emotion in real time has been impossible. However, according to new research from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) we can now successfully track, moment to moment how someone really feels.

Esther Eijlers, Dr Maarten Boksem and Professor Ale Smidts have developed a new method to measure and track emotions in the brain using electroencephalography (EEG).

They collected EEG data from 40 students while they watched short videos that were each designed to trigger a specific emotion: happiness, sadness, fear and disgust. Participants viewed five short clips for each of the four emotions.

Using machine learning the researchers then classified the emotional content of these clips based on the frequency and topography of the EEG signal.

According to Esther Eijlers “The results showed that the algorithm we used can successfully predict which emotions were experienced during the viewing of the video clips.

“The ultimate validation that the classification algorithm worked came when we showed the participants a clip from the animated Pixar movie ‘Up’. The clip tells the story of the lives of a man and woman who get married, and grow old together.

“We estimated the average happy and sad responses across participants, second-bysecond during the movie clip. It appeared that the emotional response, which was estimated based on the EEG data, was able to accurately track the main ups and downs of the story.”

Measuring emotional experiences has always been challenging. People are not often honest about how they really feel, and even if they are, it is often very difficult to put emotional experiences into

words, particularly when these emotions are ongoing.

Being able to accurately measure emotional experiences with a high temporal resolution is extremely useful for businesses. It means they can understand the emotional effect their product, commercial, website or customer service has on consumers. When this method becomes commercially available in the future, it will be a valuable tool for tracking customer experience.`

Cyber-risks associated with new technology to become mainstream in 2020 Security leaders predict next year’s top trends, challenges and risks – technical debt, credential stuffing and access control are highlighted As we meet the third decade of the 21st century, Infosecurity Europe, Europe’s number one information security event, has once again asked its community of C-level security professionals what they think the year ahead has in store.

The list includes a range of challenges, opportunities, and broader trends across technology, business and the world.

Many of the CISOs highlighted the risks presented by emerging technologies that are expected to become more widely adopted in 2020. Deloitte cyber risk partner, Peter Gooch, says: “2020 will see more deployment of security automation tools.

Where this is done well, it will allow organisations to adapt rapidly to changing attack tactics.

Where it is done poorly, it

will be more complicated to unpick.

“There will be a drive for more transparency when contracting for cloud services, with vendors required to expose more data and events for consumption by SIEM tools, and to evidence security practices and capabilities closer to real-time. Hackers are increasingly targeting unstructured data to hide and launch attacks, so the priority is to implement robust governance.

“More than 100 companies worldwide will begin testing private 5G by the end of 2020, which could increase the attack surface, making data flows harder to follow and the job of

those responsible for securing them more challenging.”

Mark D. Nicholls, Head of Information Security & Governance at housing association, Peabody, flags up vulnerabilities with AI and IoT. “Machine learning has established itself in 2019, and we will begin to move to true AI in 2020, but one must remember whatever can be used for good can also be used by the criminals. Imagine a DDOS attack powered by true AI,” he warns.

“As consumers strive for a smarter, more connected world we will see more attacks targeting connected devices as a means to an end. This is not new, but the attack surface will get bigger. We must continue to educate to ensure humans are our strongest line of defence.”

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Online Shopping Trends Cause half of Gen Zs and Millennials to avoid the high street Paymentsense, Europe’s largest merchant services provider, has released new findings on the waning level of consumer patience in Britain. In partnership with YouGov BrandIndex, the only daily consumer perception research service of brands, Paymentsense found that 37% of Gen Z’s (respondents aged 16-24) agreed that access to online shopping has made them more impatient while shopping in store for retail purchases. Furthermore, 41% of those aged under 40 prefer to shop online rather than in-store, those respondents claiming it is due to a combination of convenience (81%) , cost (63%), there being no queues (64%) and choice (61%).

This data from Paymentsense highlights the necessity of UK high-street brands to transform their businesses and embrace digital technology. The British consumer is becoming more impatient with long queues, lack of choice and higher costs, resulting in them choosing to shop for retail products from the comfort of their own homes.

Further to the typical causes of impatience, the findings highlight a growing desire for alternative, more efficient methods of payment. In 2017, card payments overtook cash as the most frequently used payment method in the UK. However, today’s findings show over 31% of British consumers would prefer to use methods of payment that are currently only seen in sci-fi films rather than reality. These include fingerprint scanning (26%), retina scanning (16%), and embedded microchip payments (9%). 12% of British consumers said that a wider variety of payment methods like these would improve their in-store shopping experience.

“Retailers operate in an experience economy. Consumers expect, and now demand, a first-class level of service when they enter a store and will leave and not return if they have had a bad experience,” said Guy Moreve, Chief

Marketing Officer at Paymentsense, “The in-store experience starts the moment a consumer sets eyes on the store front, and their last interaction before they leave is paying for any goods or services. A long queue, a faulty payment device, or a ‘cash-only’ sign not only frustrates consumers but will stop them from returning. This data showcases these continued customer frustrations. It is imperative businesses react and ensure they’re delivering the complete service demand by their customers. Failure to do so will hinder their growth and continued success.”

Following the analysis of more than 24,000 tweets over the last 12 months, the most impatient time for in-store purchases was the week prior to the 25th December and the impending holiday period, with a 300% spike in tweets expressing consumer frustrations. However, for online purchases there was no significant peak throughout the year.

This would imply consumers find the online shopping experience less frustrating than in-store and validates the findings of the survey, with the need for retailers to review in-store operations.

Although technology may be a cause of the rising level of impatience, it also looks to be the solution. As 46% of Gen Z feel smart technology within the store environment would improve their experience. This includes using a mobile device to locate products in-store to remove the need to ‘go hunting’ for products themselves.

AW Facts Did you know?

YouTube Broadcasts 1/3 of America’s multimedia entertainment

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39

The 5G Paradox – increased pricing means more data and higher speeds

The latest 5G Pricing and Analysis from Telecomspricing shows increases in 5G pricing, speeds and data allowances: 5G average prices are now USD $79.97 per month the US, in return for more data & higher speeds.

Telecomspricing, providers of in-

dependent research for the world’s telecoms industry, has examined the 5G pricing plans of 36 MNOs pricing plans as of the beginning of 2020, and finds that average 5G pricing has risen from USD $69.75 up to USD $79.97 an increase of almost 13% over the

Instagram now Testing Desktop DMs

By Khalid Karim - Technology Correspondent

Great news for Instagram users, especially marketers!

Instagram has started to issue the direct messaging feature via the desktop.

the DM feature for customer service, making the integration between other social media platforms more congruent and uniform.

Integration may also be part of Instagram’s marketing technique - Facebook’s still working on its plan to connect the messaging functionalities of all of its apps into one, interconnected framework, where anyone The tool has been made available to would be able to message anyone else a group of small beta testers since across WhatsApp, Messenger and InFebruary last year, but will soon be stagram. Maybe Instagram adding accessible for a wider audience.

DM access to the web is another elHowever, at present, ement in that gradual the feature is still in process. its beta test phase. It This is part of FaceInstagram was first spotted by book’s broader stratnow reverse engineering egy to streamline the expert Jane Manchun messaging capabiliTesting Wong last year, with ties between all of its DMs revisions of the feaaccess, such as Faceture and options seen book, WhatsApp, and in Its in October of 2019.

Messenger, to connect The new addition will Desktop them all with Instamake the messaging gram included. The Version platform reach more merging of this frameof Instagram’s audiwork would help users ence. Partly due to to message one anothlimited network access in some coun- er on the wide web with greater ease, tries, or where data plans are also lim- and help streamline while increasing iting, specific users could do with be- interaction. ing able to access their DMs through At the moment, only a small percenta different platform. This is a great age of users will be able to access opportunity to improve user experi- their Instagram DMs via the desktop ence and help increase interaction. version, but the way things are going, It is also an excellent opportunity for it’s going to be rolled sooner rather brands and corporates looking to use than later.

last quarter (from October 2019 to January 2020).

The main reason for the increase has been the inclusion of new 5G plans from MNOs in the Middle East which include unlimited or very high monthly data allowances - as high as 1,000 GB and up to 6,000 GB (or from 1TB up to 6TB (TB = Terabyte or 1,000GB) per month). As a result, the average 5G data allowance has increased to 303 GB - up from 56 GB as of October 2019 – due to the introduction of high allowances for smartphones and home routers in the Gulf States.

Over the last quarter period there have been a number of trends in 5G services which will have an impact on the future development of the sector worldwide into 2020: “The highest 5G price levels and data allowances are to be found in the Middle East. Overall 5G will follow existing country market pricing trends”.

– The highest price levels are found in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia which also have the highest mobile data allowances. However, the price premium charged offer regional disparities for pricing, with Post Pay rental rates already being higher in the Middle East than in other regions. Overall 5G will follow existing country market pricing trends rather than eradicate them.

Although the average 5G data allowance looks high the actual number of plans show a more nuanced story – Out of the 121 x 5G plans surveyed worldwide, the greatest proportion (some 41%) consist of mobile data allowances of less than 100 GB per month.

The single most common allowance is 100 GB. One of the reasons for the cautious approach in providing data bun-

dles appears to be the determination 2Gbps, with the most common averof MNOs (particularly in South Korea age advertised download speed now and China) to offer lower cost 5G entry being 1,000 Mbps (52% of all plans). level pricing with mobile data allow- It should be noted that independances starting as low ent verification of as 8 GB and 30 GB these speeds is yet The highest respectively. to emerge, and that 5G price levels MNOs appear wary 5G download speeds of charging a price could reduce as more and data premium for 5G users join the netallowances services – Although work leading to more still at an early stage, congestion. are to be MNOs are offering And 5G is soon found in the 5G at a small or no poised to enter the premium charge to mainstream as more Middle East. normal mobile data MNOs offer lower Overall 5G will services. cost entry-level 5G theoretical packages and the follow existing download speeds ofavailability of lowercountry market fered have increased cost 5G smartphones pricing trends. sharply – The averstarts to improve age advertised 5G later in 2020. These download speed two trends have the has increased – from 582Mbps up to potential to make 5G the transforma736Mbps, with a number of MNOs tive technology of the year. claiming 5G download speeds of

Gtech Inventor Designs Massage Robot

Award winning home technology specialist, Gtech, has launched an automated massaging bed - the MYO Touch.

Underneath a comfortable contoured bed is a powered robotic massage roller that seamlessly glides along a track. The intensity of the massage can be personalised from so light you can barely feel its touch to deeply invigorating. You can simply lie back and enjoy a full-length massage or target problem areas such as your back, arms or legs.

The MYO Touch - where technology meets tranquility...

The massage bed has been engineered to bring relaxation and calmness into your day and enable you to enjoy a massage in the comfort of your own home whenever you need it.

MYO Touch is quick and easy to assemble allowing you to set up your massage space in minutes. In addition to this,

you will also get access to Gtech’s audio library with four 15-minute tracks to help you unwind, whether it’s rainforest sounds, mindful podcasts or guided meditations, all downloadable on your smart phone or tablet. The bed folds down easily and can be packed away for simple storage for use next time.

MYO Touch User Trials...

Gtech ran a pre-launch trial with 50 people and the indications are that the MYO Touch could be beneficial to users, at least in the short term. Graduate Sports Therapist Harry Ingham carried out the testing and concluded, “Lower back pain is the leading cause of global disability.

During the MYO trials I saw decreases in blood pressure and increases in a range of movement which led me to believe the product has real potential. Also, there is definitely a link between elevated mental health and reduced back pain. Results of a clinical trial carried out by the University of Washington in 2016 found that mindfulness-based stress reduction can be an effective treatment option for patients with chronic low back pain”.

As Nick Grey says “It’s interesting that the only treatments NICE recommend for lower back pain are massage, mindfulness and exercise. But I see them as being linked. Having a massage is an extremely mindful experience and that can be enhanced by preparing the setting and providing a sound track to the massage.

And, if the wellbeing from massage and mindfullnness generates extra exercise then we could be on to something!”.

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February 2020

FOOD

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Asian World’s Kitchen

Lebanese Cuisine with Anthony Rahayel

An interview with a celebrity food blogger of Lebanon Anthony Rahayel about Lebanese Cuisine Anthony Rahayel (Instagram – nogarlicnoonions) is a passionate Lebanese food lover, blogger, you tuber, influencer and TV presenter. He works in according to one sole aim, showcasing Lebanese cuisine to the world.

NoGarlicNoOnions is Anthony’s food blog where he aims to discover the professional chefs and cooks working to spread joy across the country by cooking the most authentic Lebanese dishes.

His wants to keep people connected to each other and to their roots, to make everyone smile when they taste something good and unique, to discover the endless food artisans across the country creating a positive and rich environment that allows them all to embrace life.

Q.) What is the story behind your blog’s name “NoGarlicNoOnion”?

Anthony: I’m allergic to both ingredients .

Q.) Describe Lebanese cuisine in your own words?

Anthony: Simply: “The Sexiest cuisine on Earth”. It’s full of colours, flavors, nutrients, richness, variety, passion and love.

Q.) Which ingredients or dishes best define Lebanese cuisine?

Anthony: Manakish, Hummus and Tabbouleh.

Q.) What is Mezze all about?

Anthony: Mezze is all about sharing happiness before even talking about food. More than 72

plates fill a table of Mezze where people gather for the feast of sharing happiness, good food and great stories.

Q.) Does the history of Lebanon make Lebanese food popular in Middle Eastern cuisine?

Anthony: Lebanon is one of the oldest countries on earth, and one which has witnessed all kinds of occupations. Inspired by the cuisines of the world, the Lebanese have taken from everyone, copied from their neighbors and turned every dish into a gourmet creation adding style and finesse. Due to the land variety, weather and generosity of people, the food has always been unique.

Q.) Lebanese food is very healthy, instead of butter or cream people use olive oil in food, fresh food ingredients are used while cooking any dish.

What do you have to say about it?

Anthony: It is the healthiest; it’s vegan, it’s vegetarian and it uses healthy natural ingredients. That’s why the world considers Mediterranean diets to be the healthiest.

Q.) Why is breads so famous in Lebanese food?

Anthony: Due to old times, war, occupations, bread was used to satisfy hunger. This is why bread got to a point where they used it everywhere. Lebanon has many varieties of bread like Saj, Markouk, Tannour, Flatbread, Tolmiyyeh… Thin, fresh, light-bodied

and “kind of healthy” bread.

Q.) If travelers visit Lebanon , which Lebanese food should they opt for?

Anthony: Mezze and traditional homemade food which few restaurants serve.

Q.) According to you, which places are best to have the Lebanese cuisine?

Anthony: Lebanon is full of restaurants where you can find a good Lebanese cuisine like Mhanna Sur Mer Restaurant, which is famous for seafood, Ummi Restaurant, Babel Bay Restaurant where you can find Lebanese Seafood with a Classy Twist, Restaurant Al Halabi.

Q.) Why do Lebanese people still use a traditional style of cooking?

Anthony: Due to its 1300 villages, traditional way of living, family concept and lifestyle. Due to its mountains, quality of the land and four seasons. Due to the richness of the land and ingredients we have, and because of its rich historical past.

Q.) What advice would you give to motivate someone to visit Lebanon?

Anthony: I honestly don’t have to do much. I’ll ask them to watch my videos! Thousands of people message me monthly after their visits to Lebanon thanking me for the videos and how it made them change their wrong beliefs.

By : Rida Khan (Instagram - aviationauthor.ridakhan) Thanks Anthony Rahayel for giving me your interview. I hope after reading this you all will now be in love with the healthiest cuisine in the world, Lebanese cuisine. Enjoy your Lebanon trip with real Lebanese food!

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February 2020

Craft – Exquisite British Dining Craft Restaurants and Tea Rooms are created with traditional British dining etiquette and exceptional style in mind. With a range of chic and stylish dining areas accompanied by unique modern finishes, each venue forms an ambient atmosphere incorporating timeless family values with excellent food and drink.

Guests choosing to dine with Craft can select from a variety of seating areas to accommodate them during their lunchtime or evening meal. A contemporary gar-

den featuring a romantic tunnel of love and delicate flower arrangements, as well as opulent and chic dining pods are available if visitors choose to dine outside. Inside, the restaurant features a glamorous floral bar area, glass walls and chandeliers, as well as marble top-dining tables with elegant cushioned seats.

Craft’s set menus incorporate seasonal vintage dishes with innovative twists. Expect fantastic tastes created to evoke nostalgia and memories from past mealtimes.

Take up the weekend breakfast challenge A survey by Action on Salt has found that second to bread, bacon is one of the biggest contributors of salt to the UK diet, with many brands containing at least as much salt as seawater!

Too much salt in your diet causes your body to hold on to more water which puts pressure on your heart and arteries.

High blood pressure is the largest single known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease and stroke.

Whilst the occasional bacon sarnie won’t kill you, it could drive up your blood pressure if you make a regular habit of it.

This weekend why not surprise your partner, friends or family members or treat yourself to one of the many new recipes out there that are bursting with flavour and kinder to your heart?

Here are a few tips from our Healthy Heart Team to help tickle your taste buds, get the creative juices flowing and stamp down on salt…

AW Facts Did you know?

Drinking coffee can reduce the risk of being diagnosed with depression

Make the swap

Swapping bacon for an oily fish like salmon, pilchards or mackerel is known to replace harmful saturated fats with healthier omega-3 fats. When it comes to salt, avoid ‘canned in brine’ and ‘smoked’ options. Go for grilled or baked fish and add your own choice of salt free pizzazz! Crushed black pepper, chopped tomatoes, lemon, herbs, even turmeric could work, it’s so easy to add flavour without the salt!

• Get creative with veg

Why not try serving a poached egg on a portabella mushroom instead of bread? Crisp up your mushroom a little with a light spray of rapeseed oil. Season with a little paprika and black pepper and pop in the oven- 200 for 15-18 minutes should do it.

Wilted spinach, vine tomatoes, grilled peppers and chia seeds will add colour, texture and nourishment for your heart.

• Revamp your shopping list

Set yourself a challenge to seek out low salt brands of your regular shopping items. Let’s start with sauces. Manufacturers don’t have to display a front of pack a traffic light but if you can spot one, go for green or amber on your ketchup or brown sauce.

You could also look at the nutritional information on the back and make a note of which brand offers the least salt or sodium per 100g. When you’ve found the best choice for your heart, add it to your regular shopping list and repeat the challenge for a different product each time you shop.

If having a bacon buttie has become a regular weekend treat for you, we’d love to hear about your experience of trying healthier options. Can this popular favourite be beaten on flavour and help put an end to heart disease?

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By Manisha Bhanot

At the same time, sample new dishes and flavours that will stay with you and have you returning to Craft again and again. The dining room’s menu is lead by pioneering Chef Andrew Sheridan, who has formerly been named ‘North West Chef of the Year.’ He has been applauded consistently for his creative and personalised approach to cooking, which is embedded in the restaurant’s name ‘Craft’ itself.

Everything at the Restaurant is hand-picked and crafted to perfection; from the home-grown food to the tasteful décor and rich ales and spirits. Craft owns over 500 vineyards in England and incorporates over 100 different wines into its dining areas. Discover the best in ambience and the best in taste when you dine with Craft. Choose from mouthwatering dishes such as mushroom and truffle tart, cheese and onion crisp, soft monkfish and creamy chicken broth. To book yourself a table or sample their Valentines tasting menu, head over to weare-craft.co.uk today.

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February 2020

MOTORING

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Ford Puma Crowned 2020 N-Car Conversations What Car? Car of the Year Made Easier

What Car? has named the new Ford Puma as its 2020 Car of the Year during its 43rd annual awards ceremony, held in association with MotorEasy at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane.

The first Ford to use the Puma name in almost 20 years, it took the top prize after triumphing in the Small SUV category, where it saw off competition from models including the Audi Q2 and Skoda Kamiq.

Rivals for the overall Car of the Year title included the Skoda Scala, Range Rover Evoque and Tesla Model 3 among others, reflecting the diversity of new cars launched during the past 12 months.

The judges praised the Puma for being fun to drive, cleverly packaged and well priced. Additionally, What Car?’s independent True MPG tests showed it to be extremely economical in real-world driving, thanks to its mild hybrid technology.

What Car? editor Steve Huntingford said: “As a small SUV, the Ford Puma competes in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the car market. Crucially, it also excels in all the areas that are important to buyers, according to our research.

“Thanks to its sharp handling, gutsy engine and clever mild hybrid technology, it offers a mix of fun and frugality not previously seen among its competitors. Plus, it’s as practical as it is stylish. In short, the Ford Puma is truly outstanding.”

Victory at the 2020 What Car? Car of the Year Awards marks the sixth time

Ford has taken home this prestigious accolade – but the first time it has won since 2009, when it triumphed with the Ford Fiesta.

Roelant de Waard, vice president, Ford of Europe Marketing, Sales & Service, said: “It’s a great honour for the Ford Puma to be named as What Car?’s Car of the Year 2020. We’re all excited to see the return of the Puma name on a stylish and dynamic crossover that reflects today’s customer aspirations.

“Puma blends practicality with performance and fuel-

efficiency from its choice of 1.0-litre, 125PS or 155PS hybrid options. To receive such high praise from industry experts like What Car? kicks off the year to a great start. This is Ford’s sixth What Car? Car of the Year win, and we are thankful for the continued support What Car? has shown Ford.

“We would like to extend our congratulations to all those who took home category awards, and we all look forward to our market improving in 2020.”

Three new categories were introduced for 2020, reflecting the growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and SUVs: Small Electric Car, Large

Electric Car and Coupe SUV. These titles were awarded to the Renault Zoe, Tesla Model 3 and Range Rover Velar respectively.

Elsewhere, it was a hugely successful night for BMW, with its latest 3 Series winning Best Executive Car, Best PlugIn Hybrid and the Safety Award, while the bigger 5 Series was named Best Luxury Car. Audi and Skoda were also recipients of multiple awards, with the Skoda Scala named as the Best Family Car and the Skoda Superb the Best Estate. Audi won the Best Luxury SUV award with the Q7, and Best Coupe with the TT. The prized Reader Award, voted for by the public and given to the most eagerly anticipated new launch of the year ahead, went to the new Land Rover Defender. The brand saw further success with the Range Rover Evoque awarded Best Family SUV. Duncan McClure Fisher, CEO of headline sponsor MotorEasy, said: “It is a privilege to be so closely involved in the 2020 What Car? Car of the Year Awards.

Both MotorEasy and What Car? share the same driver centric approach to motoring.

“Each year What Car? highlights the leading models to look out for over the next 12 months, and gives a great insight into what cars will be bought over the year. This insight enables MotorEasy to help it’s members to better protect and maintain their cars.”

For more information on the overall 2020 What Car? Car of the Year and all the other award winners, visit: https://www.whatcar.com/awards/

NEW VOICE-SENSING VOLUME FADE EV TECHNOLOGY FROM HARMAN Audio specialist HARMAN is aiming to put an end to constant fiddling with the volume whenever you want to chat in the car. As part of its EV Plus+ Solutions, a suite of audio technologies created specifically for electric cars, Voice-Sensing Volume Fade can differentiate in-car communication from music, seamlessly adjusting the audio volume level down when conversations are taking place and automatically turning the music back up as soon as the conversation has finished.

This technology, available now for car makers, is one of a number of personalisation features that EV owners could choose from HARMAN’s Audio Marketplace, a new, cloud-based ecosystem that allows users to add and update in-vehicle audio, entertainment and communication features on-demand via Over-The-Air updates. Other features include NatureScapes where HARMAN has partnered with the National Park Foundation in the US. Using authentic recordings, NatureScapes delivers fully immersive soundscapes into the car from locations including Yosemite

Falls and Mammoth Dome so occupants can transform the stress of dense traffic or monotony of dull scenery with their choice of real sounds from nature.

HARMAN has also looked at making audio hardware more suitable for EVs. Ecotect ensures powerful audio performance with half the parts and boasts reduced weight, reduced complexity and reduced power consumption when compared to a traditional system.

“At HARMAN, we believe the nextgeneration of mobility should convert the time you spend in your car into time well spent – and electric vehicles are no exception,” said Bill Wyman, VP of Global Marketing, Lifestyle Automotive. “Environmental concerns are guiding purchase decisions more and more, but the demand for premium experiences hasn’t changed. Through the ground-breaking delivery system of Ecotect that underpins EV Plus+ Solutions, we’re enabling automakers to fulfill these needs for their customers, without compromises, for the very first time.”

THE ICONIC ELECTRIC LONDON TAXI – NOW ON SALE IN JAPAN

A London icon is about to become a familiar sight in Japan, as London Electric Vehicle (LEVC) launches its electric TX model at an exclusive event in Tokyo today.

The original London taxi, now totally redesigned for the 21st Century, is a purpose-built high-quality model suitable for both the taxi and premium shuttle markets, with ample space for six passengers, wheelchair access and renowned eCity technology.

The TX combines more than 130 km of zero-emissions pure electric range with the flexibility of a total electrically driven range of 600km - made possible thanks to the on-board rangeextender. The class leading 8.45m turning circle allows drivers to negotiate tight spaces and narrow city streets with unparalleled manoeuvrability.

Premium and accessible, the electric TX will bring a whole new experience to Japanese passengers, not just meeting local regulations but far exceeding them, boasting a panoramic roof, charging points for mobile phones and

laptops, alongside unrivalled cabin space.

It’s this unique combination of features that LEVC believes will be so appealing to operators of taxi and premium shuttle fleets in cities across Japan.

The TX is expected to empower fleet operators, cities and e-mobility service providers to take a new approach.

Japan’s taxi industry has 240,000 vehicles in operation with 50,000

based in Tokyo as well as a growing number of on-demand passenger shuttle and ride sharing services in major cities. Thanks to its combination of greater space, agile manoeuvrability and far better wheelchair access, not to mention its iconic status as the original London cab, LEVC expects TX taxi and shuttle to be bought by operators who would otherwise use large premium saloons and minivans.

Joerg Hofmann, LEVC’s CEO, commented: “We are delighted to further grow our international footprint of green mobility solutions with the launch of the TX in Japan. We are reinventing a British icon, transforming the company from a traditional taxi manufacturer to a green mobility company, producing a wider range of electric commercial vehicles. The electric TX will set new standards across Japan in the taxi and premium shuttle market, delighting passengers, drivers and fleet operators alike. We are looking forward to seeing TX on the streets of Tokyo and across cities throughout Japan.”

Fleetway and Service Company, based in Yokohama, has been selected as the official importer and retailer of LEVC models. Order books open in February and first customer deliveries begin in Q2 2020.

Since its launch in early 2018, over 3,800 TXs have been sold worldwide.

The UK remains the biggest market, but LEVC’s expansion into new

export markets continues at pace. The Japanese launch of the TX builds on existing sales in overseas territories such as Germany, France, Switzerland, Denmark and the Middle East.

LEVC’s range will grow further in 2020 with the launch of a new electric van, based on the TX Taxi and sharing the same eCity technology.

By 2022, LEVC expects that 60 percent of the vehicles built at its Coventry factory will be for export while the remaining 40 percent will service the UK. By 2024, the company aims to have fleets of TXs and electric vans operating in major cities around the world.

AW Facts Did you know?

1 billion cars are currently being used worldwide

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GLOBAL 12-17

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February 2020

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PARENTS WILL SPEND FOUR DAYS EVERY YEAR GETTING KIDS INTO THE CAR

SEAT research finds that it costs families 96 hours a year getting children ready, out of the house and into the car twice a day.

Kids aged 2-3 years old are the most difficult to get into the car 30 per cent of parents will be late for work at least once a week due to extra time spent on morning routine. Getting the kids to put shoes and coat on is most time-consuming bugbear Most common ‘bribes’ are sweets and favourite music being played.

As families get ready to start the morning routine once again, parents will spend four days of the year getting their children out of the house and into the car twice a day, according to new research from SEAT.

Average time taken to get the children into the car by region Region

Average time

(mins) London 18.2 South West

10.35

North East

10.17

Wales 9.91 Northern Ireland

9.81

West Midlands

9.76

South East

9.7

East Midlands

9.55

Scotland 8.68 Yorkshire and the Humber 8.59 North West

8.13

East Anglia

7.82

LL-NEW FORESTER E-BOXER. 4X4 MAGAZINE’S BEST SMALL SUV OF THE YEAR

Subaru UK is pleased to announce the all-new Forester e-BOXER – the first self-charging hybrid from Subaru – has been awarded 4x4 Magazine’s Best Small SUV of the Year 2020, a testimony to Subaru’s on-going commitment to build cars that are incredibly safe, extremely capable and unfalteringly reliable, too.

Beating off strong competition, Forester impressed the judging panel at 4x4 Magazine across the board thanks to its wide range of safety technologies, on-road drivability and genuine off-road skills.

Alan Kidd, Editor of 4x4 Magazine, said: “Subaru’s new Global Platform is the gift that keeps on giving. It means the all-new Forester has a roomier cabin than ever, as well as being almost unbelievably entertaining to drive – and one of the safest family vehicles in the world. That’s a hat-trick to be proud of!”

Subaru UK Managing Director Chris Graham commented: “We’re delighted that the all-new Forester e-BOXER has won 4x4 Magazine’s Best Small SUV of the Year 2020. Subaru are committed to building the safest vehicles on the road,

www.capitalbusinesshub.co.uk

with all-new Forester out-performing all other vehicles assessed by Euro NCAP last year. These accolades are testimony to a great product and our vision to produce cars that truly are better where it matters.”

The safety credentials and suitability of Forester as a family wagon have also been confirmed by Euro NCAP, with the all-new model achieving Best in Class 2019 in the Small Off-Road / MPV class*1 – and the best score across all new cars tested by Euro NCAP in 2019.

Time spent on the daily routine makes almost a third of parents (30 per cent) late for work at least once a week, with mums and dads a daily average of 11 minutes late because of troublesome tots. In London, that figure jumps even more, with kids in the capital taking the longest to get into the car, making parents 18 minutes late on average.

The additional time spent is mostly taken up by children taking too long to put shoes and coats on before heading out of the door.

Parents report that toddlers aged between two and three are the worst culprits when it comes to getting into the car quickly and easily, with nearly half (47 per cent) agreeing that the ‘terrible twos’ are the most difficult to marshal.

The job of getting children out of the house and into the car adds, on average, 20 minutes to the routine while one in 14 families reported it takes up to 40 minutes longer to start their morning journey since having kids.

London children are the most likely to make their parents late for work, with 16 per cent of Londoners reporting that they are late every day because of the morning routine. As a result, London parents are also the most likely in the UK (25 per cent) to dread the daily task of bundling their loved ones into the family vehicle.

At the other end of the scale, Scottish children appear to be better behaved when it comes to leaving the house, with nearly half (46%) of parents north of the border revealing that their offspring never

make them late.

Among the other most likely things to make leaving the house difficult are the task of getting children strapped into seats in the car – a third of Northern Irish parents find this the biggest challenge, last-minute toilet trips and struggling with the large amount of childrelated paraphernalia that need to be loaded into the car for each trip.

Incentives offered to children to try and smooth the process of getting underway are common tactics used by parents, with more than a quarter admitting that they offer sweets, favourite music being played in the car and promises of a treat once a destination has been reached.

Rob Fryer, Head of Product at SEAT UK, said: “It won’t be a surprise to parents of young children that getting into the car and setting off on a journey, however long or short, is such a challenge. Whether it’s last-minute toilet trips or deciding which of their toys they’d like to take in the car with them, children can make the job of leaving the house seem daunting.

“At SEAT we’ve included a raft of family-friendly elements to our Tarraco that means that we can make this a little bit easier. The hands-free boot opening makes access easy, while the seven seats can be configured quickly at the pull of a button. And with Apple CarPlay also available, it’s easy to keep the tots amused once in the vehicle.”

The multi-award-winning Tarraco is SEAT’s flagship model, launched in April 2019, the new SUV blends the key attributes of every SEAT – design and functionality, sportiness, comfort and technology – but with even more space, boasting ample room in the boot with the seats up or folded down (up to 1,775-litres).

The Tarraco is available with four trim levels and a choice of five powertrains: two petrol and three diesel engines with manual or DSG transmissions, and the 4Drive four-wheel drive system is available across certain specifications.

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RACE CAR EXPERIENCES SURGE AHEAD OF F1 ANNIVERSARY YEAR • Race car experiences see surge in bookings ahead of historic year • More-and-more Brits emulating their F1 heroes in single-seater race cars • TrackDays.co.uk offers race cars like the Formula F1000 and Formula Renault 2000 Budding would-be racers are taking to race circuits across the UK in record numbers as Formula 1 celebrates a milestone year.

The latest figures from leading driving experience provider www.trackdays. co.uk reveal a sizeable 15 per cent increase in bookings for single-seater race cars in 2019 compared to 2018.

Dan Jones, operations manager at www.

trackdays.co.uk, said: “Interest in motorsport would appear to be stronger than ever as F1 celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2020.

“We’ve recently witnessed a surge in single-seater bookings as race fans want to experience an adrenalin rush unlike any other while emulating their race track heroes.”

TrackDays.co.uk provides single-seater race cars, such as the Formula F1000, capable of reaching 100mph in under five seconds, and Formula Renault 2000.

Venues where potential future champions can sharpen their race skills include Castle Combe, plus other locations in Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and Greater Manchester.

Meanwhile other super-fast models to drive include a Formula Silverstone at the world-famous Silverstone track in Northamptonshire where F1 legends like Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton have all raced.

Dan added: “Our research also shows that single-seater experiences are most popular with the 25 to 34-year-old age group. With such strong support from many millennials, motorsport has a young and keen fan base to help it expand further over the next decade and beyond.”

For more information about TrackDays. co.uk visit www.trackdays.co.uk /driving-experience/

MAKE SURE YOUR EYESIGHT GOES BEYOND 20/20 THIS YEAR, SAYS GEM ROAD SAFETY organisation GEM Motoring Assist is reminding drivers and riders of all ages to make an appointment for an eyesight test this year.

This, according to GEM, would make a significant contribution to reducing collisions and injuries on the UK’s roads.

The organisation is once again warning that our driver eyesight regulatory system is no longer fit for purpose and needs to be updated urgently.

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth comments: “What better time than the year 2020 to get your vision checked properly and ensure the risks you face

ALEXA, PUT ON THE HEATING IN MY HURACÁN EVO’ LAMBORGHINI: FIRST TO INCORPORATE FULL IN-CAR CONTROL BY AMAZON ALEXA

Automobili Lamborghini incorporates Alexa in its Huracán EVO range in 2020, enhancing its super sports car driving experience with the cloud- based voice service from Amazon. The first Huracán EVO equipped with Alexa is on display at the global stage for innovation, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, from January 7-10, 2020.

In the Huracán EVO, Lamborghini introduced a connected infotainment system with digital services for the first time on a super sports car. It will be the first car manufacturer to deliver in- car control via Amazon Alexa, allowing drivers to adjust functions such as climate, interior lighting and seat heating with a simple voice command, leaving the driver to focus on the road ahead.

Alexa will even be integrated into the LDVI dynamic set-up (Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata) on the fourwheel drive EVO, taking the Huracán EVO to a new level of voice-activation capabilities: place calls, get directions,

play music and audiobooks, check news and weather, and more – all you have to do is ask!

The Alexa integration also connects Lamborghini owners to the growing number of connected devices that work with Alexa. With a simple voice interaction, drivers in the Huracán EVO can control everything from entry gates to thermostats and lights, directly from the vehicle. The first step in a strategic collaboration with Amazon, the specially enhanced Human Machine Interface (HMI) system will allow continuous updating of Alexa’s functionality within Lamborghini models, and paves the way for future cooperation between the two companies: both companies are working to develop further connectivity innovations and integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

“The Huracán EVO is an outstanding driver’s car, and connectivity enables our customers to focus on the driving, thus enhancing their Lamborghini

experience,” says Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. “Lamborghini is a future shaper, and this is the first time an automaker will deliver in-cabin car control through Amazon Alexa to bring together car controls as well as smart commands and Alexa’s standard capabilities.”

“Our vision is for Alexa to become a natural, intuitive part of the driving experience, and Lamborghini has embraced that by integrating Alexa directly into its onboard infotainment systems,” adds Ned Curic, Vice President of Alexa Auto at Amazon. “The integration will enable Lamborghini owners to enjoy the convenience of an intelligent voice service while focusing on the joy of the Lamborghini driving experience, and we expect it to set a new standard for in-car voice experiences when it ships this year.”

The V10 Huracán EVO Coupé and Spyder, launched in 2019, is Lamborghini’s

latest generation of the four-wheel drive super sports car model. With a new design for improved aerodynamics it is the first Lamborghini with predictive logic on vehicle dynamics control and features a fully- integrated Lamborghini Vehicle Dynamics Control System combined with all-wheel drive, and allwheel steering, for redefined parameters of responsiveness, agility and easiness to drive. The 5.2 liter V10 naturally aspirated engine from the Huracán EVO delivers 640 hp (470 kW) at 8,000 rpm with 600 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm.

With a dry weight of 1,422 kg the Huracán EVO reaches a weight-to-power ratio of 2.22 kg/hp, accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and from 0-200 km/h in 9.0 seconds. Braking from 100 km/h to 0 is achieved in just 31.9 m, with a top speed of more than 325 km/h.

as a driver or rider are as low as possible?

“You should only drive when you’re sure you can see properly. After all, poor eyesight is linked to more than 3,000 fatal and serious injury collisions every year. We continue to be concerned that there are too many people driving whose eyesight has deteriorated to a dangerous level. This puts their own safety at risk, as well as the safety of others sharing the same road space.

“A detailed professional eye examination will mean any problems can be identified and – in the vast majority of cases – corrected, meaning the risks are reduced considerably.

“So many people are staying behind the wheel into their eighties and beyond. This, coupled with the greater volume of traffic and an increase in distractions, both inside and outside the vehicle, points to the clear need for more regular and detailed eyesight testing.”

The eyesight test was introduced to the driving test in 1937 and has only been amended in minor ways over the years to reflect changing number plate sizes. It is the only eyesight test drivers are required to undertake until they reach the age of 70.

According to GEM, the test is crude and outdated, as it only measures visual acuity (sharpness). It could also quite easily examine a driver’s field of view, as is done in many US states, to check whether motorists can see and react to what’s happening around them.

Neil Worth adds: “So this year we are encouraging drivers to ensure their eyesight goes beyond 20/20. After all, 20/20 is only an expression of normal visual acuity, but the requirements for safe driving go beyond clarity of central vision.

“Asking someone to read a number plate at 20.5 metres (67 feet) cannot on its own be a measure of their fitness to continue driving. A proper eye test will also measure peripheral awareness, eye coordination, depth perception, ability to focus and colour vision.”

GEM believes all drivers should have an eye test every two years, just to ensure there are no safety concerns about their vision and to deal with any issues at an early stage.

The organisation is also calling for every new driver to produce evidence of a recent eye test when first applying for a licence, and to obtain a mandatory vision test every 10 years in line with licence renewal.

Follow GEM on Twitter @MotoringAssist for the latest industry news.

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

GLAM 22-28

WEDDINGS 29-33

HEALTH 34-35

TRAVEL 36-37

SPORTS

TECH 38-39

FOOD 40-41

MOTORING 42-44

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Women’s Teams Announce Domestic Signings For The Hundred The eight women’s teams taking part in The Hundred have announced their first wave of domestic signings, with Alex Hartley, Sophia Dunkley, Mady Villiers, Katie Levick and Sarah Glenn amongst the names.

The first group of domestic players announced by the new teams include players who have represented England, others who are currently part of the England Women’s Academy, as well as many who are standout performers from the county game.

Each team is permitted to have up to six “marquee players” in their squad at any one time, comprising a maximum of three Centrally Contracted England Women’s players and a maximum of three overseas players. Their 15-strong squads will be completed with domestic talent.

Many of the domestic players also boast local links with their new team. Marie Kelly, who will join up with Amy Jones, Kirstie Gordon, Georgia Elwiss and Sophie Devine at Birmingham Phoenix, is captain of Warwickshire, while Naomi Dattani - a new recruit for London Spirit - is captain of Middlesex’s one-day team.

Manchester Originals have announced four players who represent Lancashire in county cricket - including World Cup

winner Alex Hartley - while Northern Superchargers have signed Yorkshire’s Katie Levick, the leading wicket-taker in the history of women’s county cricket.

Lydia Greenway’s Oval Invincibles team have been strengthened by the addition of former England seamer Tash Farrant, and have also tempted Yorkshire’s Hollie Armitage into a move down south.

Trent Rockets will have an England spin duo in the shape of Sarah Glenn and Mady Villiers - as well as Scottish international Kathryn Bryce, who impressed in last season’s Kia Super League.

Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Bell - two potential future stars for England - will play under Charlotte Edwards at Southern Brave while Welsh Fire have signed two local Welsh players in Alex Griffiths and Claire Nicholas.

For full squad information for each team head to www.thehundred.com. The Hundred women’s competition kicks off on 22July, with the men’s competition getting underway a week earlier on 17 July. For priority ticket access head to www.thehundred.com and sign up. The first wave of priority tickets go on sale from 12 - 28 February.

Birmingham Phoenix Evelyn Jones, Isabelle Wong, Marie Kelly, Ria Fackrell London Spirit Aylish Cranstone, Charlie Dean, Hannah Jones, Naomi Dattani Manchester Originals Alex Hartley, Ellie Threlkeld, Emma Lamb, Georgie Boyce Northern Superchargers Bess Heath, Georgia Davis, Helen Fenby, Katie Levick Oval Invincibles Georgia Adams, Hollie Armitage, Rhianna Southby, Tash Farrant Trent Rockets Beth Langston, Kathryn Bryce, Sarah Glenn, Mady Villiers Southern Brave Fi Morris, Lauren Bell, Paige Scholfield, Sophia Dunkley Welsh Fire Alex Griffiths, Claire Nicholas, Georgia Hennessy, Sophie Luff

Football: Bala Devi moves to Rangers FC, first Indian female to sign binding contract abroad

In a noteworthy move for Indian football, Scottish club Rangers FC declared the marking of striker Bala Devi from Manipur Police Sports Club on an 18-month contract, following a successful preliminary that the player experienced in November a year ago.

The move is a significant advance in Devi’s career, who is as of now the top scorer for the Indian national women’s team and furthermore, the main goal scorer in South Asia. The 29-year-old, who has additionally captained India previously, has scored 52 goals from 58 games since 2010. Her record is currently unbeaten by her fellow players.

She turns into the first Indian female to become an expert footballer, the Scottish club said in a recent announcement. Her sporting role is helping to promote cultural representation and inclusivity in the game.

Bala publically stated that she trusts her transition to Rangers acts as an example for every one of the women’s

footballers back in her home of India, who fantasise about taking up the game professionally.

“To play my football in Europe with perhaps the greatest club on the planet is something I would never have longed for,” Devi said in a statement.

She added, “I hope my move to Rangers serves as an example to all the women footballers back home in India who dream of taking up the sport professionally. I’m looking forward to making the most of the top-class facilities and coaching.”

Devi has exceeded expectations at club level as well, with a record of more than 100 goals made. She has been the top scorer in the Indian Women’s League for as far back as two seasons and has additionally been named as the All India Football Federation Women’s Player of the Year on two occasions, in 2015 and 2016.

Khadijah Mellah, the first British Muslim female jockey South London native, Khadijah Mellah has become the first British Muslim woman jockey to compete in a horse race while wearing a hijab.

The 18-year-old from Peckham made most of her debut by winning the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood.

Mellah has admitted that she always loved a challenge and she is trying to balance her fame while studying at the University of Brighton.

“There is a stereotype that Muslim women can’t go out there and do certain things, but I was always someone who was really into horses,” said Mellah, speaking at the SJA British Sports Awards.”

“I also like physics, and I’ve been told that I could be quite good at it in terms of creative thinking, so my physics teacher was like, ‘You should definitely go for engineering’.”

“I was told to make sure I worked on my maths as maths isn’t my strong suit. There are some similarities between horse riding and physics; they’re both very challenging.”

“There are many hurdles you have to get over when doing physics before you can say, ‘I’m doing ok, I’m doing well’. And it’s the same thing with horses.”

The young girl has been riding racehorses for mere months before she steered Haverland to an unexpected victory for Charlie Fellowes.

Racing in South London seemed like a pipedream for Mellah before she persuaded her parents to take her to Brixton’s Ebony Horse Club.

“I just really loved horses, and I just kept searching for the right one,” she said.

“At one point I was like, yeah, I might share a horse in Bromley because I found one on Gumtree.”

“And then my dad was like, we’re not doing that, and I was like, ‘What’s the alternative?’ And then we found out about Ebony, and we thought, that’s

the alternative. So that’s how we got involved.”

Mellah trained to be a jockey while she was fasting for Ramadan and successfully completed her A-levels in physics, design technology and maths.

The 18-year-old suffered several fails along the way, and she even failed her first assessment test at the British Racing School in Newmarket, only to line up on the big day against the likes of Olympian Victoria Pendleton.

However, despite her route towards the sport being unconventional, Mellah’s feel-good story has been immortalised by an ITV documentary – although this did not raise her profile at university.

“The people I live with didn’t know who I was so I did a reaction video of a newspaper cutting of me. It was really funny,” she said. “I’m hoping to start a YouTube channel to track my progress.”

Mellah was crowned the Sunday Times Young Sportswoman of the Year and has also trained in javelin and boxing before settling on steeds.

She is also looking forward to raising more money for charity after her victory supported the health charity Wellbeing For Women.

She added: “My brother’s going for his license, so I really want to do a charity race against my brother, or possibly a charity fundraiser, where it’s my team against my brother’s team.”

AW Facts Did you know?

At the 2008 Beijing Games, China won 100 medals

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February 2020

An inspirational 18-year-old female cricketer has fought against adversity to make waves in the world of sports.

Jasmin Akter who is currently studying at Bradford College has been named Everything in Sport’s Unsung Heroine in Women’s sport 2019, after appearing on the BBC 100 Women 2019 list of inspiring and influential women.

Earlier this year, Jasmin represented England during the Street Child Cricket World Cup, and she was selected alongside Bradford College student Sabeha Salam for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s girls’ team.

The young women’s story was said to be incredible because of the journey she has been through.

Jasmin was born in a Bangladesh camp as a Rohingya refugee. Her father passed away before she was born.

For almost a decade, she lived in what she has described as “destitute poverty”.

Her family arrived in the UK when Jasmin was just eight years old through the Gateway Resettlement programme, operated by the UN in partnership with the UK government.

During 2014, Jasmin visited Bangladesh with her brother and mother, and they were all involved in a tragic car accident that left Jasmin’s mother paraplegic.

Rohingya Refugee named ‘Unsung Heroine of Women’s Sport’ Jasmin became one of her mother’s carers, while still in full-time education. She was also noticed at a young age and was recommended to apply for a sporting scholarship in America. However, she decided to care for her mother and study for her Level 3 Business Diploma at Bradford College. Yasmin develops her talents at

the college.

She has recently returned from Miami, where she was acting as a Young Leader for Street Child United, which uses the power of sport to change the perception of street-connected children all over the world.

Dawn Leak, Vice Principal at Bradford College, said: “We are extreme-

ly proud of Jasmin.

“She is a young woman who has broken down barriers and has shown people what can be achieved with talent, support and determination to succeed.”

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games plans take major step forward as Alexander Stadium revamp is approved

Proposals for the redevelopment of Alexander Stadium have been approved

by Birmingham City Council’s Planning Committee – marking a major milestone in the preparations for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

At the heart of the wider effort to regenerate Perry Barr, the £72million plan will see the venue become a high-quality venue for diverse sporting, leisure, community and cultural events in the decades to come.

Initially, the stadium, at Walsall Road, Perry Barr, is set to be the focal point of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, hosting the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as the athletics events during the 11-day event which features 6,500 athletes and officials from 71 nations and territories.

The redeveloped stadium would increase its permanent seating capacity from 12,700 to 18,000 allowing more than 30,000 during the Games through additional temporary seating.

Post-Games it will be at the centre of a regenerated Perry Barr, which is receiving more than £500million of investment in the coming years, which also includes new housing, improved transport and related upgrades to infrastructure and public space.

The revamped stadium is set to host a range of tenants including the world-famous Birchfield Harriers Athletics Club and Birmingham City University.

The stadium will provide a new home for the university’s sports and exercise

students, bringing an exciting new partnership and purpose to the stadium beyond athletics – as well as becoming a focal point for a range of leisure, health, wellbeing and community activities for local residents and the wider general public.

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “We’ve always been clear that Birmingham 2022 is about much more than 11 days of fantastic world-class sporting action. The Games are about regeneration, improved health and wellbeing, promoting the city on a global stage and building civic pride.

“This particular scheme is integral to

all of those aims and benefits – the eyes of the Commonwealth and indeed the wider world will be on the venue during the Games, but the longer-term opportunities the improved stadium will offer a regenerated Perry Barr, and indeed the wider region and nation, mean the delivery of this scheme is crucial for the city’s future.”

Abazz Shayaam-Smith, triple jumper and Team England scholarship recipient, said: “The first time I came here I was 13 years old. Today was the first day I have been to the track since they knocked down the main stand, it’s going to be really inspirational. I’ve seen the designs

and it’s going to look really good.

“It’s really important, not just for athletes competing but for how many people like me will get to come into this track and be inspired.

“To think of how many nations will come here in 2022 and compete on this track it’s so exciting.”

Deputy Mayor of the West Midlands, Cllr Bob Sleigh, added: “The West Midlands Combined Authority was pleased to contribute funding towards the redevelopment of the Alexander Stadium as not only will it provide a world class sporting arena at the heart of our region, it meets our aim of encouraging economic growth, creating jobs and improving the health of citizens. It is great to see the project move towards the next stage of development and to see how it is already inspiring our young athletes.

“We are also investing in train, bus, tram and cycle routes across the whole region, which will not only meet the public transport needs for Birmingham 2022 but serve the people of the West Midlands for years to come.”

Ian Reid, Chief Executive for Birmingham 2022, said: “The Alexander Stadium is a pivotal venue for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as not only will it host the track and field events for athletics but it’s also where we will stage our official opening and closing ceremonies for the Games.

“Today’s news that planning approval has been granted is therefore a key moment for us as the organisers of the Games and

one which we are pleased to be able to celebrate with our partners.

“Birmingham City Council will be delivering the new sections of the stadium and we look forward to watching progress over the next couple of years, ahead of us moving into the stadium when we deliver the Games in 2022.”

Construction of the new stand will commence in spring of this year, with completion in late 2021. This will be followed by test events ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The approved design will also facilitate the temporary ‘Games overlay’ elements and additional infrastructure needed specifically to deliver the 2022 Games. Further detail regarding the Games overlay will be published at a later date.

LOCAL 2-11

GLOBAL 12-17

BUSINESS 18-21

GLAM 22-28

WEDDINGS 29-33

HEALTH 34-35

TRAVEL 36-37

TECH 38-39

FOOD 40-41

MOTORING 42-44

Books like these are abundantly Required in India: Gopichand on Dreams of a Billion Within the run up to Tokyo Olympics 2020, praised sports history expert Boria Majumdar and writer Nalin Mehta’s new book Dreams of a Billion is hitting the stores, revealing insight into a few untold parts of the Olympic games to the nation.

Dreams of a Billion is a significant bit of work in a nation where there is next to no writing about Olympic games.

From bringing to the fore front stories of chivalrous triumphs at the Olympic and Paralympic Games to illuminating what it takes to rival the best on the planet, the first part of Dreams of Billion follows the excursion of how these competitors became donning symbols of the nation. In the last 50% of the book, stories from India’s initial Olympic history and the road ahead are told.

I have been a pivotal of this book from the start, in the sense Boria has been conversing with me consistently

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February 2020

on it. He talked with me for near 100 hours I think and yes I much appreciate the difficult work he has placed in. He is an ace storyteller and books like these are greatly required in India. On the off chance that individuals feel propelled perusing our accounts it is just acceptable to perform well for the Indian games going ahead, India’s main badminton trainer Pullela Gopichand said at the sidelines of the dispatch of Dreams of a Billion.

Twofold Paralympic gold medalist, Devendra Jhajharia expressed joy at the manner in which the book has managed the examples of overcoming adversity of Paralympians.

It is extraordinary that the tale of Paralympians and Olympians are set next to each other. It implies that they are treated with a similar regard. It has been extraordinary conversing with Boria and I trust the perusers like my story, Jhajharia said.

Kabaddi the High Contact Sport Breaking Barriers between Asian Communities

Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team Promotes Inclusivity and Mutual Support

By Grace Lea

Javeria Khan, the senior batter for the Pakistan Women’s Cricket team, is one of many players who don the Pakistan star while representing her country.

In a recent interview, Kahn firstly put to rest the rumours of jealousy that have spread throughout the women’s team, suggesting that the team have set aside any negative hearsay to prevent a distraction from the sport that would inhibit the performance of the team. In response to this gossip, each woman has

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donned the Pakistan star as they play, signifying a sincerity firstly while representing their country, and secondly, a unity between them. This shows that they are unbothered by what is being said about them.

Therefore, despite the gossip surrounding the team, the women have put any disputes to bed to continue towards their next target: the Women’s World T20. While their tournament record is far from impressive, Kahn has stated that she is hopeful for success for her team. Kahn blatantly accepts that the team, up to this point, have not done well. However, they allow the challenge that lies ahead and know they can better their abilities with time and practice. They are confident to do well and hope to finish amongst the top four.

While striving for the top position as a whole team, Kahn has also set her own targets to achieve while at the World Cup. Admitting that she doesn’t usually give herself such personal goals, she hopes to become a leading run-scorer in

the upcoming tournament, the result of this to generally better herself. She warns that thinking you’ve become perfect can lead to a stagnation in skill and therefore, instead, you should continuously strive to improve yourself.

Kahn essentially expresses that herself, and the team, will play according to the situation and to the best of their ability.

Part of their plans for success will partially become possible with the help of newcomer Ayesha Nasim, whose enormous talent has been praised by Kahn herself. Stating that their newest player will do well for the future, Kahn is now hopeful, as the fresh talent is a good sign for the team. However, the team has said goodbye to Sana Mir, their former captain, who has decided to take a break from cricket to evaluate her future. Branded as ‘legend’ by her teammates, her presence within the group, along with her skill and ability, make her a player who is to be greatly missed.

Kabbadi is a competitive contact sport which originated from ancient India. It has been an official sport in the Asian Games for the last 30 years, where both men and women participate in the highly physically demanding tournament.

For those that don’t know, Kabaddi is an easy to learn and crowd entertaining sport. The lines on a Kabbadi playing field can be compared to that of a Badminton court. Each match is divided into two halves of 20 minutes, with 7 players on each side, which are split into the raiders and defenders. The raiders attack by running across the centre line and tagging as many people as possible on the defending team. The player must shout ‘Kabaddi’ in one breath when running from one side of the playing field back to his home turf, for his team to score points.

Kabaddi United Hong Kong, is a sports group founded in 2014 which aims to promote inclusion of ethnic minorities by introducing the sport into local communities. The initiative seeks to foster social inclusion and for participants to learn about cultural diversity through playing the game. Since being founded, Kabaddi United Hong Kong has collaborated with over 42 organisations and run approximately 150 workshops with more than 2,000 participants.

Lo Yuk-Kwog explains why Kabaddi has been utilised in aiding to resolve the social inclusion problem. “There are people who want to help ethnic minorities, unfortunately they only advocate policy changes, which turns out to be empty talks since it could not help explain why we should not discriminate them,” he says.

At present, there are a handful of ethnic minority ambassadors working in Kabaddi United Hong Kong for the betterment of the community. Lo comments: “They can get very delighted when people in Hong Kong are actually interested in their sport and culture. They can gain satisfaction when they share their culture with Hong Kong people,” he says.

Bangladesh’s first Female body-Building Competition Sees Contestant Cover-Up B

angladesh’s first all-women bodybuilding championship, held in the capital of Dhaka, was won by a teenage student.

Nineteen-year-old Awhona Rhaman had most of her body covered up to prevent judgement in a majority Muslim-nation.

Normally, barely there bikinis, dark spray tans and high heels are widely expected at body-building competitions. However, Awhona and the 29 other women to take centre stage were kept under tight wrap and hardly showed any skin whatsoever.

Hundreds of people attended to watch the show, and every contestant was made to wear conservative attire in order to avoid controversy from the audience.

The contestants hit the stage, each flexing their muscles and striking impressive poses in front of the crowd in a bid to wow judges. The women wore tight leggings and body-hugging tops which accentuated their figures.

When speaking about the competition result, Awhona said: “I am really happy, I really worked hard for this.

It never entered my mind that someone might criticise me for showing my body. My brother, who runs a fitness centre, has always encouraged me.”

Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh Bodybuilding Federation general secretary stated there had been a huge response to the introduction of the women’s competition, which targeted to promote gender inclusivity in the sport as well as general fitness.

“We were told there would be proper dress code and the outfit provided was perfect from a Bangladeshi perspective “We were very careful about the dress code because of our religious and social culture. We selected long sleeve crop tops and leggings for the girls,” he added.

Most Bangladesh citizens follow the Islamic faith, which preaches the importance of modesty. Revealing a huge amount of skin is often considered as offensive. Most women cover their heads with the hijab, hiding their hair, neck and ears, and are expected to wear trousers of a floorlength skirt.

Bangladesh’s Body Building Federation estimates that the competition will help create more jobs in the fitness industry for women; such as personal trainers, health and wellbeing coaches, etc. Women are now making a significant contribution to other sports in the country such as football, archery and cricket as well.