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Brexit: What Will Happen Now? T
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Asian World’s – Hot Picks LOCAL
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BUSINESS
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Salma Yaqoob in Run to be West Midlands Mayor
University Student Suspended for Being Rohingya
Virgin Trains Uniforms Recycled for Homeless
Eastenders Introduces New Sikh Family
Amir Khan wants to go head to Head with Kell Brook
S
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alma Yaqoob is currently in a bid to win the Labour nomination within the West Midlands....
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Rohingya student has been suspended from university after her identity was revealed...
Page 12
V
irgin Trains are to donate blankets, scarves and dog coats which have been made from old staff uniforms to homeless charities... Page 18
he hugely popular British soap opera Eastenders has announced the arrival of a new trio on the smallscreen this autumn.... Page 26
mir ‘King’ Khan and Kell Brook have been undecided for a while as to if a huge domestic fight between them will take place... Page 46
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Editor’s Note
Hello to our readers and welcome to another edition of Asian World Newspaper! We hope you’ve all gotten back into the swing of work or school, and are getting ready for the chilly autumnal weather ahead. With so many festivals and halfterm break just around the corner, we’ve packed this edition with everything you need to know! Make your morning at the office or afternoon family dinner worth talking about, and catch up with the latest news and happening in your area! In this edition, we will be discussing a new initiative of banning cars outside of Birmingham schools. This new campaign hopes to make streets safer for children all over the city, for more information, please turn to pg 5. We will also be getting to know how a young Bangladeshi girl successfully became the President of her University’s Student Union. For the full story, take a look at page 10. In our Glam section, we have the latest news and info from the biggest soap operas and upcoming films we know you’ll want to watch. We also have included our usual exclusive reviews of this season’s must-have beauty products. Want to stay bronzed and glowing all year round? For a feature on the new St Moriz tanning range, flick through to page 28. Want some insider gossip on Salman Khan’s new film Dabangg 3? Take a look at page number 27.
Also in our October issue, we have a special feature from our columnist Fateha Majid. Need some advice on spending quality time with your significant other as part of a successful marriage? Turn to page 32 for some helpful tips and advice in our wedding section! Stuck on where to treat your family or friends for a meal in Brum? Want to go somewhere with an air of ambiance and great tasting dishes? Why not try the rich and delicious flavours of Alam, located just outside the city centre? For a full review of this restaurant, please go to page 40. Want to cook something new and exotic this Diwali? For a recipe on spicy Tiger Prawn Biryani, just look across the page! Whichever page you turn to, there’s something fresh and exciting to read. So, grab a copy of the West Midland’s No.1 South Asian paper, get a seat in your favourite spot and relax. Take a look at the rest of this issue NOW! For latest and exciting advertisement offers for 2019 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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4
October 2019
What is Diwali and why is it Celebrated?
Brexit: What Will Happen Now?
The government’s plans leading up to October 31st, how will leaving the EU affect your work and family life? Front Page Story Cont’d... The odds are stacking against Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as his actions have constantly been criticised by both his fellow members of Parliament and the general public. Not long ago, the Supreme Court ruled the Tory Party Leader’s suspension of Parliament as void and unlawful. Although Mr Johnson has said he disagrees with this ruling, he states that he will continue his plans to deliver Brexit by October 31st nonetheless. Parliament’s Schedule So Far Brexit is scheduled to take place at the end of October this year. However, this will only happen if the UK PM reaches a new agreement with the EU, which Parliament agrees to. So far, Boris Johnson has been in talks with the leaders of member states, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker. A new deal would demand the support of some ex-Tories and even rebellious members of the Labour party. However, due to the volatile atmosphere in the House of Commons recently, this seems unlikely. Mr Johnson caused chaos in Parliament just a few weeks ago. When asked to stop using extremist language, he dismissed allegations against him by retorting they were “humbug”. Labour MPs pleaded against the Prime Minister to get him to stop using words such as “traitor”, “surrender” and “betrayal” in reference to Brexit. He was later branded as a “disgrace” to Politics. The Benn Act One of the backbench measures which was hurriedly passed through Parliament before its disbanding was the Benn Act. This new law states that by the conclusion of the European Council Summit, a deal has to be reached. If a new agreement is not set into place by October 18th, then Boris Jonson must ask for an extension to the Brexit deadline up until January 31st. Mr Johnson has repeatedly stated that he will abide by the Benn Act, but contradicting says he will not ask to postpone Brexit. There has been much speculation in assessing the possibility of loopholes to this law. For example, another device could be used to request an extension rather than the PM himself. Otherwise, Mr Boris Johnson
could ask for a later deadline to deliver Brexit but tell the EU to decline his offer. Agreeing to a Deal The government wishes to secure a deal with no backstop. This agreement would mean that the measure which prevents border security checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland would be removed. A deal with the backstop still in place could be progressed. However, this would result in Northern Ireland being more closely associated with the EU than the rest of the UK. Many would see this as a border being put up at the Irish Sea. When she was still in office, Theresa May said this measure was something “no British Prime Minister could accept.” Possibility of a No-Deal Brexit In recent reports leaked from the EU, the European Commission was heard to be in major disagreement with the UK PM’s Brexit proposals. Country leaders declared they wished to see Northern Ireland remain a customs union, and talks in Brussels were on the verge of a breakdown. If the EU does not accept the UK’s pleas of an
By Manisha Bhanot extension, there is still the off-chance that it could exit from the European Union without an agreement. Critics say this would result in the loss of the single market and damage the country’s trade and economy sectors significantly. Some have speculated that national debt could rise by up to 90% and economy growth fall to 1% per year. Others argue that the disadvantages of a no-deal Brexit are exaggerated. The Affect of Brexit on Businesses Brexit will affect your business if you export and import goods with the EU. This will be as such whether the item is transported by sea or otherwise. All companies who carry out such transactions will need to make sure they own an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number. The government sent one of these to all VAT registered businesses in August of 2019. If you have not received one, then you can claim yours via the GOV.UK website. You may consider purchasing equipment that interacts with HMRC to process your import/export documentation, if you have not hired an agent to do this instead. Keep in mind, if the UK leaves the EU in a no-deal scenario, temporary tariffs may be placed on goods being moved overseas. How Brexit Will Impact Families and Individuals As in any case, you will need to check your passport and book travel insurance if you plan on holidaying to the EU. This will be the case regardless of whether the government chooses to continue use of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or not. Always ensure that you have the correct travel documents with you at all times. Your pet will need a health certificate from the vet before you travel, as UK passports will no longer be valid in the EU. When driving in Europe, you will need your UK license and possibly one or more international driving permits. You will also need on-hand your insurance green card, which is obtained from your insurance provider. It is advised that you place a GB sticker towards the rear of your vehicle. This should be the case even if your license plate has the GB identifier or national sticker.
Diwali often occurs at the end of the harvest season when produce is cropped and collected. Diwali is the biggest event celebrated in India and is believed to uphold the triumph of good over evil, and light overcoming darkness. The festival of light is observed on the day of the new full moon, or ‘Amavasya’ as it is called in Sanskrit. Diwali is held on the 15th day of Kartik, in line with the Hindu calendar. In reference to ancient mythology, Diwali has also been referred to as Deepapratipadutsava. When the occasion was celebrated in India centuries ago, newlywed couples were often gifted lamps and new clothing as a reminder of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi’s marriage. In 9th century works, narratives about Diwali mention to the cleaning of homes and decorations with lights and rangoli. According to popular folklore, Diwali is the remembrance of Lord Rama and the Goddess Sita’s return from exile. It is one of the reasons why Diwali is mentioned as the festival of prosperity and wisdom. For Sikhs, Diwali is actually the celebration of ‘Bandi Chhorch Divas.’ This event marks the occasion in which Shiri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji freed 52 Rajas from prison, under the rule of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The day is a celebration of the selflessness of the religion’s 6th Guru. It is celebrated at the same time as the Hindu Diwali.
This year Diwali will fall on the 27th of October
The two celebrations share much of the same traditions, such as the sharing of gifts, lighting of clay lamps, fireworks, eating of mithai (sweets), and performing special prayers.
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
Salma Yaqoob in Run to be Mayor of the West Midlands
Salma Yaqoob is currently in a bid to win the Labour nomination within the West Midlands. She has strong hopes of taking the title from Andy Street, the current Mayor of the county. Yaqoob will run against MPs Liam Byrne of Hodge Hill and Pete Lowe from Dudley to gain the position. However, Salma’s political past has caused controversy and criticism in the face of her recent campaign. She has caused great disagreement in her career as she is an outspoken female Muslim, of which has caused upset within different groups, especially from Islamic groups who disagree with her engagement in Western politics. She was a founder of the Stop the War coalition, chaired by Jeremy Corbyn for 4 years, and also co-founded the Respect party. However, Yaqoob was caught up in the backlash from comments made on rape by the party’s George Galloway and consequently stepped down from her position. Salma Yaqoob has also stirred controversy in her recent running due to rejecting previous Labour overtures. The young politician was offered two different positions, however, she declined them, stating that she could not have made the constituencies any ‘stronger’ and therefore, rather than acting in the interest of personal gain and furthering her career, she turned them down. Now Salma feels she can aid and better the
by Grace Lea
Labour work being done, inspiring her to run. Salma Yaqoob specifically focuses her political efforts into the problems surrounding racism and the Muslim culture. Speaking on this issue, Yaqoob stated she ‘wished to be invisible’, as she feels personally held accountable for any action any Muslim makes across the world, just because she ‘chooses to wear a headscarf’. She recalled her experiences following the 9/11 attacks, in which she was racially abused and spat at, just a singular example of the evergrowing fear and hatred of Muslims that is developing due to media exaggeration. In light of these experiences, she
aims to use her position within authority to reduce any fear and suspicions the public may have. It is a positive progression for the Labour party to now have a credible female BAME candidate in the running, with a lack of diversity something that Labour has suffered criticism for in the past. The majority of the party is held by white middle-class men, which does not represent the demographic of the West Midlands area, making the party not sufficiently representative. However, this could all change with the forerunner Salma Yaqoob to make a change for the Labour movement and their politics.
October 2019
5
Cars Banned Outside of Birmingham Schools Cars have now been banned outside of six Birmingham primary schools in a proposition to make it safer for children to walk to school and to reduce traffic congestion. Car Free School Streets is a groundbreaking initiative to fundamentally reduce crowding on school roads and encourage parents to collect their children on foot. The project also hopes to make it safer for children to cycle to school as well. Car Free School Streets has been launched during events in participating schools, beginning with Featherstone Primary School, in Erdington. The second part of the launch event was held during an afternoon of sports activities at Cofton Primary School in West Heath. Birmingham City Council is trailing the initiative’s progress with six schools for the duration of the 2019/20 academic year, until July 2020. Residents living on the streets affected will be issued with permits to access their properties. There will also be some other exceptions, including blue badge holders and emergency services. Anyone else driving in the restricted zone at these times can be issued with a Penalty charge of £50. Waseem Zaffar, who is the councillor and the cabinet member for transport and environment at Birmingham city council, said: “Car Free School Streets are going to put children and
by Tauseef Asif
families first, making it safer for them to walk or cycle to and return from school, while also helping to reduce air pollution”. He also mentioned that air pollution is a significant problem in Birmingham and the school gate is a location where we are particularly exposed. As a father of young children himself, he knows that he cannot merely stand by and do nothing. Although this is a trial scheme, in the long-term Waseem wants every school in the city to be a clean air haven for our children.
AW Facts Did you know? Sutton Park is also one of the biggest in Europe outside of a capital city.
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October 2019
Post Office Boss Injured in Alarming Machete Raid in Kings Norton A local post office owner in Birmingham was hurt when his business was broken into, and he was demanded cash at knifepoint Mr Harry Kundi was working his usual afternoon shift at his establishment when the premises were broken into by a youth armed with a bladed article. The suspect used the back entrance to enter the building unlawfully at around 5:30pm. He then proceeded to threaten Mr Kundi. He later fled with the cash he stole in hand. Mr Kundi, who oversees the mail counter and convenience store at The Fold, Walkers Heath, was described as a “gentleman” by his customers. He was also mentioned as a “nice” and “helpful” individual. One witness was deeply shocked and said that Mr Kundi had been “attacked with a machete.” Post-Master Mr Kundi commented on his condition, saying that he was “alright and no one was hurt”, but was unable to discuss the incident further. The local area where the incident oc-
By Manisha Bhanot
By By Georgia Horsell
curred has been described as a drug haven where anti-social behaviour is regularly tolerated. One father-of-two who refused to be named commented that there is often “dealing in broad daylight” and youngsters “smoking marijuana.” The man further stated: “I worry and my wife and I often think about moving, but the schools are very good locally. “I feel the police have given up the fight
on drugs there. It’s becoming lawless. “I feel angry. What on earth is happening?” Around half a dozen police officers attended the scene. An investigation is still pending to discover the identity of the aforementioned attacker. Police are urging anyone with information to contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. The Fold Post Office will remain open as per usual.
Pedestrian Killed in Handsworth Hit and Run
By Will Rymer
An arrest has been made after 29-yearold Rajesh Chand was hit by a car on Soho Road in Handsworth, Birmingham. Chand was found before 4 am with serious head injuries typical of car crash victims. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Social media tributes poured in when news broke of Chand’s death, which occurred as he was crossing the road in the early hours of the morning. After an appeal from West Midlands police, who released the details of the car that hit Chand, a 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. In 2018, a BBC investigation revealed that the number of hit and runs in the UK had risen by an incredible 45% in 4 years between 2013 (which saw 19,239 recorded examples) and 2017 (28,010). These statistics were found according to information granted by 27 of 44 po-
Walsall May Lose its Shopping Centre to Make Way for New Houses
lice forces in England and Wales. These figures came to light not long after a law change, which means that people who cause death by dangerous driving can be subject to life sentences. This change came four months after Aidan McAteer was sentenced for only nine months in prison after running over a four-year-old girl. Similar examples are all too familiar with Ali Bahramzadeh, in 2016, being sentenced for 12 months for causing death by careless driving. Road Safety charity Brake has been vocal on these issues, calling the law changes a ‘major victory’ for victims’ families. These recent developments encourage optimism that justice will be performed for the sake of Rajesh Chand’s family and friends. Birmingham City Council has a three-pronged approach to road safety, aiming to cultivate road safety through
‘Safer roads’, ‘safer people’, and ‘safer vehicles’. The initiative’s aims include cutting down on speeding by trialling more speed cameras and lowering speed limits. It also involves making sure people who need it most are receiving road safety information and attempting to reduce dangerous driving practices. Examples of these include driving under the influence of drink/ drugs or while using a mobile phone. There is a good reason to be optimistic with deterrents like these working to stop tragedies such as which befell on Rajesh Chand. However, road deaths are still inevitable and more needs to be done to make the roads safer, and to implement a new attitude towards driving. Unfortunately, some people are impervious to the dangers of driving until they are involved in something like the accident which occurred on Soho Road.
It has been revealed that Walsall may lose its Old Square Shopping Centre just days after it was awarded up to £25m as part of the Government’s Town Fund. The shopping centre, which includes a Debenhams, may be bulldozed to make room for more housing, putting many local jobs at risk. However, Officials at the West Midlands Combined Authority see increasing housing as a crucial step in regenerating the town centre. The town centre has lost 16 shops (11 opening, 27 closings) this year, including Marks and Spencer which had been open in the town for 84 years. Debenhams, which could be bulldozed in the plans, has recently announced it has entered administration so it could be soon to shut regardless. Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said in a recent article by the Express and Star, that the high street was ‘doomed.’ He emphasised that significant changes needed to be made to bring life back to the town centre. The upcoming development is part of a masterplan for Walsall, which also includes revamping the train station and Park Street area. Mike Bird said it is too early to say what will happen to Debenhams and the other shops in the Old Square Shopping Centre as the location is just one of several being considered. He said: “Old Square is one of the options we are looking at in relation
to the regeneration of the town centre, along with the top end of the town and Saddlers Quays, we’re looking to bring residential back into the town. “There is no doubt retail is shrinking, and we have got to look at other ways of bringing in footfall. There are other parts of the town we are looking at, including the Guildhall. These are historic buildings which need some TLC.” With the increased number of housing in the area, the local economy will be boosted, and there will be more people to spend money in the local shops. In his “12-point plan to revitalise the high street” published earlier this year, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “Providing homes within walking distance of workplaces gives people more cash and free time to spend it.” He talks about applying the lessons of major cities, repurposing surplus business premises as housing. A spokesperson for the West Midlands Combined Authority said: “The St Matthews Quarter in Walsall is one of five town centres taking part in a pioneering project to transform local high streets. “We are looking at a number of options in Walsall including Old Square, but it is still very early days in terms of what that might entail. Potential schemes are also being assessed in Bilston, Dudley, Bordesley Green and West Bromwich (East).”
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
October 2019
7
£120 million Booze Fraudsters Jailed for 46 Years The UK’s fastest-growing
Nine fraudsters, headed up by Jayesh weeks on 26 July 2019. Shah, Riaz Khan, Fiaz Raja and MuhamShah, 52, of Wembley, Khan, 49, of mad Rasool, orchestrated a missing trader Windsor, plus Raja, 51, and Rasool, (MTIC) VAT fraud. Gang members then 38, both of Slough, headed the laundered the stolen tax and the proceeds gang who laundered the proceeds from selling illicit alcohol. of illicit alcohol importations using The group created a complex chain of pacompanies under their control. The perwork detailing fictitious transactions, fraud was carried out over two years which were used as a cover for the illicit between January 2013 and 2015. sale of smuggled alcohol. The sophisticated scheme would Evidence showed £87m was laundered begin with a company purportedly through more than 50 bank accounts in supplying goods to another, and Britain, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Dubai and charging VAT on them. But instead other foreign countries. of the supplying company handing A HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over the VAT to HMRC, the fraudinvestigation found the gang operated sters would pocket the money and from an office in Eton High Street, and the business would later disappear – then moved to Windsor during the twobecoming a “missing trader”. year fraud. The same consignment of goods Officers caught the fraudsters red-handed would then be sold on through one or when they installed covert cameras in more so-called “buffer companies” one of the offices being used by the gang. before reaching a cash and carry at T-B L-R Khan, Shah, Raja, Karsan, Ahmed, Footage was shown in court of Khan, the end of the chain. Rasool, Dhanji & Hayes Rasool and Raja giving comprehensive Each company in the chain would instructions to other members of how to submit a VAT return showing that “The honest majority of business owners pay carry out the fraud. little or no tax was due to HMRC. what they owe and claim back the VAT they Now, the gang of nine have been sentenced to The investigation team dismantled the are entitled to claim. Concerted HMRC commore than 46 years in prison. complex operation after executing more than pliance activity has seen UK VAT losses from Richard Mayer, Assistant Director, Fraud 20 warrants in January 2015 across London, Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) Investigation Service, HMRC, said: Berkshire, Surrey, East Sussex and Buckingfraud decrease from three to four billion “This was a well-planned money laundering hamshire, seizing computers, £370,000 cash pounds in 2006 to around £250m a year today. operation and tax fraud that stole millions of and business records. Nasra Butt of the Crown Prosecution Service pounds of UK taxpayer money which should said: “Each of the convicted defendants played Confiscation proceedings against the group are have been used to fund vital public services in now underway. their part in a sophisticated operation designed the UK. Sentencing comes just days after HMRC to defraud HMRC. Between January 2013 and “The sums stolen by this organised crime announced a record £7.8m fine for a Money January 2015, they generated a loss of £34.2 group could have paid the equivalent of 1,400 Service Bureau in London for breaching million to HMRC and I am pleased that we salaries of newly-qualified teachers – enough anti-money laundering regulations. Fraud have brought this organised crime operation to fully staff around 93 schools. investigation Service director Simon York also to justice. They will now spend more than 46 “Money laundering supports organised crime delivered a keynote speech on Monday at the years in prison.” and is harmful to businesses, the public and Cambridge Symposium on Economic Crime Six men were jailed earlier this year after a society as a whole. Tackling this crime is a on how international collaboration can tackle three month trial. Of the remaining three, one priority for HMRC and we will not hesitate to the most hardened tax criminals in the world. pleaded guilty in May and two were convicted investigate those suspected of being involved. after a second trial, which ended after eight
halal restaurant chain is coming to Walsall
The UK’s fastest-growing halal restaurant chain has come to Walsall. German Doner Kebab has opened at Unit 1A, Littleton Street, Wisemore. German Doner Kebab has nearly 40 branches in the UK and the same number worldwide. There are already five restaurants in the Midlands – three in Birmingham and ech in Leicester and Coventry. The company expects to double the size of its operations within the next 12 months. GDK’s success is down to the healthy and nutritionally balanced approach it takes to traditional kebabs. All kebabs are made from quality ingredients that are exclusive to German Doner Kebab Restaurants. The great taste comes from the secret sauces that set its products apart. A spokesman explained: “We use lean succulent beef and pure chicken fillets. These meats are imported directly from Germany to maintain quality and consistency. “We only serve fresh, locally-produced vegetables that are delivered and prepared daily along with our special German Doner Kebab bread. “These make our Doner Kebabs a truly unique taste experience for our guests. “The result is a nutritionally sound gourmet food experience that contains virtually no preservatives or additives and can be consumed day or night. “We are constantly evolving and recent additions to our extensive menu include the Doner Gym Box, which has been specially created to be high in protein and lower in calories.”
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October 2019
Muslim Activist Who Called for ‘Jihad’ Speaks her Side of the Story
At Birmingham’s anti-Indian Government protest a few weeks ago, Sumaira Farruk was one speaker who did not hesitate to raise her voice for Kashmiri independence. The community activist and charity worker received much backlash from the right-wing media after she called for a ‘jihad.’ Her reference to struggling for the right to self-rule was misinterpreted by the press, and within hours she made headlines as an ‘extremist’ and ‘violent’ Muslim. Since then, concerns for Sumaira’s a safety have risen, and she has been forced to stay indoors due to numerous threats, unable to continue her important humanitarian work. Since the rally, Sumaira has spoken out for the first time to the media and gave an exclusive interview of her part in the protest with Asian World News. 1) At the recent protest against the Indian government in Birmingham city centre, you said ‘Jihad is the only solution.’ What does the term Jihad mean for you, and how do you define it? It’s clearly mentioned in our religion that Jihad means struggle. The struggle can be of any
kind, to get an education, in financially supporting others, or raising your voice to defend the helpless, etc. 2) You said you were being singled out because you are an ‘outspoken woman in a headscarf.’ What are some of the other political struggles you believe activist Muslim women in society face? When you’re out in public, your hijab that is a kind of Jihad in itself. I am the first Pakistani Muslim woman who prepared seminars and workshops to raise awareness in our community about struggles in Kashmir and Rohnigya. The relief I’ve been raising awareness for has not solely been for Muslims. I travelled to Cumbria with my all-female team when there were floods to provide emergency help and supplies. However, it is common for people to discredit women or not hear the full story. I clearly stated during the protest video that rallying in the UK does not benefit Kashmir. If you want to help Kashmir then protest practically by boycotting Indian Cinema and products. However, some people did not like my stance, and so my video was used in a negative and
extremist point. 3) What are some of the reactions you’ve had from the far right since running your campaign for Kashmir and speaking out? People who are genuine support my activism for the freedom of Kashmir and that of others. Those who think Muslims are extremists, such as the rightwing media, try to portray my personality as awful. I have been receiving threats and messages which are anti-Muslim and Islamaphobic. My work during the last decade has been to build bridges between communities. I don’t know how or why I am being labelled as an extremist Muslim. I’m also a human rights and not just a Muslim activist. I’ve also been wrongly said to have been nominated as ‘Muslim of the Year’, when in fact my nomination was for businesswoman of the year. The mainstream media does not even know my exact story. 4) Has your stance as a community leader and reputation been affected by the prejudice you have faced from the media? The prejudice really has affected my work with people of different faiths and backgrounds. Since propaganda has been spread about me, I now want to clear my name. It has been a difficult time for me, and I have had to prove myself through the work I have been doing for the last decade. Another thing which has been wrongly mentioned in the press is the fact that the Police have been in contact with me to warn me about my public speaking. This statement is entirely wrong; the Police came to me with concerns to do with my safeguarding. They cleared me from all the accusations I faced. They also said the video of me was edited and taken the wrong
Bradford Woman Jailed for Multiple Counts of Racial Abuse
By Charlie Murray
Ellie Burns, a woman from Bradford, has been jailed for 20 months after attacking two female shoppers at Kirkgate Market in Yorkshire. This attack happened just 25 days after Burns had already appeared in court for racially assaulting a taxi driver. Burns attacked the shoppers after they complained that a song she was singing was racist. The court heard that she punched and spat at the first woman. She also pulled her hair and ripped her hijab off, before slapping and pushing over the second woman. The prosecutor, Giles Bridge, said that the incident deeply distressed both victims, adding that Burns scratched and “nipped” a police officer who arrived at the scene. This incident was just one in a series of offences committed by Burns. Previously, she received a suspended 15-month prison way; the English media has taken it out context. My phone and house number have been made public, which is dangerous not only for myself but for my family as well. 5) As a charity worker, what are your next steps in helping the Kashmiri community and the local Birmingham community as well?
sentence for attacking a taxi driver and five arresting police officers under the influence of vodka and cocaine. During the incident, she racially harassed the driver and punched him in the face, bruising him and causing a cut to his eye. While at the station, she kicked and spat at an officer, and threatened to bite his nose. It was in June, when she was on bail for the aforementioned attack, that she assaulted two more police officers in Ravenscliffe. She spat on one officer and kicked a police door onto the other officer’s legs. Also in June, she tried to open the door of a police vehicle in Valley Road, Shipley. This attempt was so she could let out a man who’d been detained, which led to her kicking and punching officers and threatening to break an officer’s nose with her handcuffs. Burns was remanded in cusKashmir is in my blood. I am Kashmiri like my forefathers before me. Human rights work is my passion. These kinds of hurdles are not going to break my confidence. This situation is not going to create any hesitation for me, and I will increase my work. I am going to work as a member of the commonwealth association during the Birmingham games. I
tody in July and underwent probation and psychiatric reports. Her barrister, Camille Morland, said that while Burns did not have a mental illness, she was suffering from serious emotional trauma. She was struggling with substance abuse and aggression as a result of an abusive relationship. This relationship is allegedly what led to her being introduced to Class A drugs and alcohol. Morland appealed to the character of Ellie Burns using her ability to deal with challenging situations as a care assistant, claiming “When sober and calm, she is insightful and thoughtful. When she is intoxicated, it is another story.” The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC acknowledged Burns’ troubles, saying that “Life hasn’t been at all easy for (her)”. However, he went on to ask, “How can I overlook a flagrant breach of a suspended sentence?”. Burns pleaded guilty to two offences of racially aggravated common assault and of assaulting a police officer. The Judge activated 10 months of the suspended sentence and also sentenced Burns to a further 10 months for the new offences. These sentences will run consecutively.
will engage my community, not only Muslims but people of all backgrounds, to demonstrate that we are a national community. My voice is with Kashmir and their rights to independence and self-determination. We have the right to raise our voice for people in need.
Muslim Charity Workers Placed Under ‘Undue Scrutiny’ At Heathrow During an aid trip earlier this year, charity workers from the Muslim charity Human Aid UK suffered “humiliating questioning” by counter-terrorism police at Heathrow airport. The charity stated that its delegates and charity workers were stopped as they attempted to travel to Gaza. The location is one of the many Middle Eastern areas where they deliver life-saving aid. The UK Border Agency also seized their project donations. They were stopped under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. This law allows people to be detained at the border for up to 9 hours with no access to their phones or computers. They also have no rights to silence or a publicly funded lawyer. They must also provide their fingerprints and DNA. Since the person carrying out the detainment does not need grounds for believing someone
may be engaged in criminal activity, it has been criticised on many occasions. For example, the human rights charity Liberty stated that this law is “ripe for misuse and discrimination”. Nur Choudhury, the chair of Human Aid UK, said that many members of this and
other Muslim charities have “repeatedly” been stopped under Schedule 7 powers. He added that the “excessive use of force by police and border agencies” were “symptomatic of the disproportionate harassment Muslim charities face”, and disrupt their life-saving and
important work. For example, Human Aid expressed frustration that the Charity Commission previously spent years to complete a statutory inquiry that Human Aid was involved with. During the procedure, the charity’s bank accounts were frozen. The investigation eventually concluded that there was “no evidence of misapplication of charity funds”. Sohidul Islam, Human Aid UK’s operation’s director, said that the stop made him feel “humiliated” and violated” as he was “innocent yet treated like a criminal.” Before eventually being released without charge, he was questioned for 6 hours. He said those border force officers: “asked questions about my religion, which mosque I pray at, my family members’ details, and all things which seemed unconnected and irrelevant to the purpose of my travel”.
By Charlie Murray
Due to the six-hour delay, which left them feeling as though their work was being criminalised, the charity workers missed their flight. Due to this “large pattern of harassment”, Human Aid UK have concluded that they have no choice but to challenge these controversial counter-terrorism laws. They will do so by taking legal action against the UK government. The Home Office has stated that they will not comment further on the investigation into Human Aid as it is ongoing. However, the department expressed the importance of Schedule 7 and stated that: “large amounts of cash being taken in or out of the country for which a legitimate origin cannot be found are liable to be seized by Police or Border Force, under powers in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.”
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
October 2019
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October 2019
Title of Oxford SU President Given to Bangladeshi Origin Girl
BRING A SMILE
by Mohammed Zafran
Student Anisha Faruk has been elected for presidency at the Oxford University. According to bdnews.com, she won all three rounds of voting at an annual event held in the University’s Weston Library. Anisha alias Padma, is a final-year history student at the Queen’s College campus, London. Her father, Faruk Ahmed is a retired Bangladesh Army major. Anisha also served as the former co-chair of the Oxford University Labour Club and is the ex-editor in Chief of the University’s leading student newspaper. Throughout the competition, Anisha went head-on with her competitors Ellie Milne-Brown and Ivy Manning, of the Aspire Panel and independent candidacy respectively. Anisha herself represented Oxford State.
By Manisha Bhanot
The winning participant defeated Ellie in the second round; the latter only received 1022 votes in total in comparison to Anisha’s 1240. Ivy only received 1095 and was later wiped out in the finals when Anisha’s total was boosted to 1529. This gave her a total of 50% of the overall votes. Roughly 20% of the entire student body
voted in the elections. This number was a record-breaking turnout, beating the previous record which had been set in 2013 with 4,494 collective voters. In a question and answer session regarding her campaign, Anisha said: “I think the diversity of our slate is its strength. “We all come from different parts of student life, from student politics to theatre to sport so I think we represent a lot of students in that between us we’ve experienced the breadth of student life and we can bring that representation to the SU.” Founded in 1961 as the Oxford University Student Representative Council, the student body is committed to facilitating connections between students and university staff and officials, including regional councils and the government.
Sikh Woman Becomes Superintendent
By Manisha Bhanot
Police Officer becomes most highly ranked ethnically Indian female member of the West Midlands Force
INTRODUCTION Bring a smile is a non – profit, charity organisation based in Nanyuki, Kenya – Laikipia county. This initiative was founded by MS.MALINI, with the help of her daughters NATASHA and NEHA. Malini had always had a soft spot for children and always found herself working in NGO’S. After working in these organisations and helping children for 5 years, she founded ‘BRING A SMILE’ in 2016. She started by giving out bedding to homeless people, giving food, providing art and craft classes, counselling services and donating whatever she could to children homes and schools. She then went on to start her first project, rudisha mtoto shule, where she, with the help of her daughters tried to keep children in school by providing them with basic necessities. Bring a smile has various focus points / programmes; 1. RUDISHA MTOTO SHULE ( TAKE A CHILD BACK TO SCHOOL) – Under this programme try to keep children who come from disturbing backgrounds in school. We do so by providing them with uniform, fees, lunches, stationary and other necessary items. 2. WATOTO WETU WAJIBU WETU ( OUR CHILDREN, OUR RESPONSIBILITY) # NOCHILDHUNGRY – this is one of our newest projects. We will be providing hot nutritious lunches in underprivileged schools where they do not have the funds to feed children. -We would like to start this project
first at ‘NKONDONE PRIMARY SCHOOL’ . -According to our budget, it only costs ksh 20 per child each day to feed them with ugali/rice, beans, cabbage and a fruit. 3. COMMUNITY – We also give donations to the community e.g wheelchairs, tissue paper, clothes, beddings e.t.c. - We also organise days where we sit with the children and talk, play, do art and craft and just have fun. We have realised these children do not receive love in their homes as either they have alcoholic parents, absentee parents or they don’t have parents. So they miss out on that love that every child deserves and needs. - We try to encourage the children to talk to us and have counselling sessions with MS.MALINI as she was a counsellor. Therefore, they can open up to us and recover from their past. We show them that they deserve love and nothing less and that they can always talk to us as we are family. We try to help out where we can and in whatever way we can with the help of well-wishers and friends of ‘BRING A SMILE’. We would like to appreciate all the friends of bring a smile as all this would not be possible without you. We know even our new project will become a reality soon for these little angels. Our main objective is to put a smile on everyone’s face that we cross paths with. Thank you so much for taking an interest in our initiative. Join us in making a difference in this world.
Harvi Khatkar has made history by becoming the first woman of a black and ethnic minority background to be promoted to the position of a superintendent. The brilliant bobby has been with the policing department for a staggering 25 years. During her career, she has been promoted numerous times. Within the last couple of decades, she has fulfilled a series of roles inclusive of offender management, response, neighbourhood policing and force incident management. Harvi has worked tirelessly in the west midlands’ neighbouring towns and cities. The areas that she has covered include Sandwell, Dudley, Walsall, Birmingham and Wolverhampton to leave her mark. She was also the Police department’s business crime lead. Harvi underwent rigorous training and an intense assessment scheme before gaining the position of a new superintendent. Before this, she was the most senior BME police officer
in the county before joining the WMP 2020 programme to innovate and modernise policing routines for the future. Despite her huge success, Harvi remains humble and says it is up to others if they choose to see her as an inspiration. She solely intends to do her policing duty. However, she does hope that her achievements will motivate others to begin the polic-
ing career they’ve been aspiring to achieve. She said: “I do feel a sense of pride at being the first Asian woman to reach the rank of superintendent. “We are a diverse police force with a range of different cultures so I have no doubt there will be many more women, and men, from a BME background who will continue to rise through the force in future. “The best thing about being a police officer is no one day is the same; you face varied situations. “If others see me as an inspiration, then I am honoured, but the main thing is to follow your own ambitions, work hard to achieve them and be yourself.” At present, West Midlands Police is running its biggest recruitment drive in years. The force continues to re-instate its national campaign to attract hundreds of potentials to pursue a career in policing. To learn more, visit: https://jobs.west-midlands.police.uk/ police-officer-recruitment.
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
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit South Africa’s oldest mosque
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the Auwal Mosque in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, where they celebrated the great diversity of cultures, traditions and beliefs in South Africa during their tour of the country. The Royal couple held an impromptu question and answer session with the local press in South Africa. When they were asked about the message they were trying to
October 2019
Sinhead O’Connor Claims she’s unknowingly been ‘Muslim Her Whole Life’
The 52-year-old Irish singer appeared on the Good Morning Britain show to discuss her conversion to Islam.
give out, the duchess of Sussex replied: “I think what’s amazing about being here today, as you can see, there’s so much good happening in the world, and there’s so much positivity and all of this diversity and inclusivity - think the focus is on that...” Harry and Meghan travelled across the stunning Cape Town beach where they learnt about a charity that uses local surfers to help the next generation to cope with the mental health stresses of living in notorious slum settlements. During their journey, the cou-
ple visited the Auwal Mosque in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, where they met a few faith leaders. Meghan changed out of her usual clothing, out of respect for the Muslim place of worship and wore a long khaki coloured gown that swept the floor and she covered her head with a scarf. The Auwal Mosque is the first and oldest mosque in South Africa. Harry and Meghan were met by Imam Sheikh Ismail Londt and Muslim community leader, Mohammed Groenwald.
Sinead changed her religious in late 2018. She began wearing a hijab and following religious teachings in the Quran. Sinead claims that she knew that Islam was the religion for her as soon as she read the second chapter of the faith’s central text. She said: “I was like, oh my god I’ve been a Muslim my whole life and didn’t even know it.” However, Sinead had not admitted to ever feeling this way before her conversion. She was raised a Catholic but had contested against the Pope many times on stage; despite the fact she said she was obsessed with the religion. Speaking out about the reaction from other Muslims to her change of faith, she said the feedback has mostly been positive. She states that followers of the religion are very “tender” and “loving”, despite how they are portrayed in the mainstream media. She now feels part of a close brother and sisterhood of people. Commenting on how her children perceived her, Sinead stated: “My kids are very proud of me.” However, others have not been
so welcoming in regards to her conversion. However, Sinead said that as a controversial figure, she is “used to putting up with abuse.” She also commented that people’s disapproval makes her hold her head up higher and be “proud” of her faith. Sinead admitted that she had faced prejudice from other women primarily as a result of her new religion. She has been accused of ‘conforming’ to modest beauty standards set out by Islam by wearing a headscarf. She defended herself by comparing hair to a hijab and claimed that her tweet about not wanting to socialise with white people being untrue.
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October 2019
GLOBAL Student Suspended from University Because of Being Rohingya
A Rohingya student has been suspended from university after her identity has been revealed. 20-year-old law student, Rahima Akter has been removed from her degree in Bangladesh after a video of her went viral among her peers. The associated press video featured Rahima talking about being a Rohingya with a dream to help oppressed communities. The aspiring human rights activist and Red Cross volunteer had concealed her Rohingya identity in order to enrol at university. Currently, Rohingya are not allowed to enrol in schools or colleges in Bangladesh. Rohingya children are permitted to attend nonformal primary schools in refugee camps. As a result, some Rohingya families have used forged documents to enrol their children in
formal institutions. Worried about her safety since her identity was revealed to her peers, Rahima has been hiding in a relative’s house in Cox Bazar. “I was hiding my identity only so I could study. I feel guilty, but I did not have an option. Is getting an education a crime?” Akter asked. “It’s a fun-
damental human right. I have learned that. Being a Rohingya is not my fault.” Overcoming barriers to education has been an initiative that Akter has been fighting for all of her life. When she was 12 years year old, her father wanted to prevent her from attending school and marry her off according to traditions. Her parents had received disapproval from elders in the community for letting her study. With the support of her mother, she was able to convince her father to back off and continued her education. Akter has been proactive outside of her education, working as a translator for journalists and contributing to the household income since the arrival of thousands more Rohingya refugees to her camp in August 2017. Around 740,000 of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh after a military crackdown in Myanmar’s Rakhine state on August 2017. Despite at least 10,000 people dying in the violence, Myanmar’s military officials have still not been prosecuted. Akter herself was born in Bangladesh after her parents arrived there in the 1990s. Despite Bangladesh only allowing Rohingya children to enrol in informal schools, educational institutions have often still admitted these students. However, in January 2019, authorities began to take a stronger stance, identifying and suspending Rohingya students. Akter was able to complete high school by avoiding checkpoints and bribing public school officials.
By Huma Khan
T: 0121 771 4545
www.asianworldnews.co.uk
Pushpa Kolhi:
Pakistan’s first Hindu Police Officer
A Hindu girl has been selected as the Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) after she cleared a competitive exam. This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a Hindu girl was chosen as the Assistant Sub Inspector. The Sindh Police force welcomed Pushpa Kolhi as the ASI. Kapil Dev, a human rights activist, shared the news on Twitter. “Pushpa Kolhi has become the first girl from #Hindu community who has qualified provincial competitive examination through the Sindh Public Service Commission and become Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) in Sindh Police. More power to her!” The Sindh police are currently leading the country in terms of gender parity. They recently appointed Ayesha Abro as the Deputy Commissioner of Hyderabad. In January 2019, Suman Kumari from Sindh became the first Hindu woman to take charge as a civil judge. Suman Kumari of QambarShahdadkot was posted in her native district. Suman Bodan said that she belonged
to a Hindu community and was appointed as a judge to the civil and judicial magistrate. Suman grew up in the underdeveloped rural area of Sindh, where she has faced many challenges, including poverty. She said that her family, including her siblings and her father, had extended their full support and helped her to fulfil her dreams of becoming a judge. Hindus are the largest minority community within Pakistan. According to the official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. The majority of the Hindu population in Pakistan are settled in the Sindh province, where they share language, traditions and culture with the Muslim population.
Bangladeshi bride walks to groom’s home, in stand for women’s rights
Female Cop Makes Lover Shoot Her to Frame in-Laws By Manisha Bhanot In an odd and baffling incident, a police warden in Uttar Pradesh, India has gotten herself shot. She was hoping to blame her in-laws for the incident, which also coincided with a fake robbery. The woman in question, Mrs Renu Singh, was stationed as a constable at the women police station in Ghaziabad. Her husband also works as a police officer with Dial 100 in the same city. She used two male accomplices to execute her scheme. The operation involved a staged robbery in which her scooter and Rs 2 Lakhs in cash were stolen. Circle Officer Baghpat, O.P. Singh, commented on Renu’s motives for the offence. He
said: “Renu was having strained relations for the past few months with her husband and in-laws, so much so that, a panchayat was conducted at their village in Baraut to sort out the matter”. The pair have been married for six years and share a child. However, Renu then decided to take the matter into her own hands. She staged an elaborate and fake case with the help of her friend, Vikas and Manish, with whom she had been having an affair. “She asked Manish to shoot her in the hand, and then Vikas dropped her near the police station. Manish burnt her scooty in a nearby jungle. She approached
the police and alleged that Rs 2 lakh were stolen from her after she was shot at and her scooty, too, was stolen,” stated the Circle Officer. Renu’s plan back-fired after the police department assessed the location of her mobile phone and followed the route. She and her two accomplices are now being held in custody by the Baghpat Police department. “A case has been filed against the three accused under IPC 120 (b) (whoever is a party to a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence punishable with death), and they have been sent to jail,” said the officer.
19-year-old Khadiza Akter Khushi led hundreds of people to the home of her soon to be husband, supporting all Bangladeshi women, in the hope that they would follow her footsteps one day. The walk was said to be the first in a country, where men usually walk to the bride’s home on their wedding day. “If boys can bring girls to marriage, why can’t girls?” she asked BBC Bengali in the days after her wedding to Tariqul Islam had gone viral. However, the situation has inspired and horrified people. One man has suggested that the couple and their families should be beaten with slippers. Although for Khadiza and her husband, it was the right thing to do. “Tradition is not the issue here,” she told the BBC. “It is a matter of women’s rights. Today, if a girl goes to marry a boy, then no one is harmed. “Instead, abuse of women will decrease, women will get their dignity. No one will be less than the other.” The newly married couple were aware of the resistance to the marriage which was held in a ru-
ral region near to the border with India. However, even the couples own family members were not too keen. Although Tariqul, aged 27 said that the family eventually came around, “After all, they were doing nothing wrong.” “Many marry in court; many marry in the mosque. We were married according to religion,” the newly-wed explained. “There was a Kazi [marriage register], witnesses. That’s how the marriage was registered. That’s the formality of marriage. That’s exactly what we did. “It doesn’t matter what people think, what they say. Some people will think; differently, everybody is entitled to their opinion.” According to ancient traditions, the groom and his family go to
the house of the bride where the celebrations take place before the bride says goodbye to her family and goes to her husband’s house. However, In Meherpur, a district in western Bangladesh, a unique situation took place, where the bride came with her family to the groom’s house to marry, and once the marriage ceremony took place, the groom said goodbye to his family and moved to the wife’s home. This scenario wouldn’t happen in cities in Bangladesh, let alone a small village. For many men, this would be considered humiliating, and some people would call it outrageous. The Bangladeshi couple have started out their married life showing great courage.
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
October 2019
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October 2019
Emirati jockey presses Charges against American Mother who her Horse Bit
US mother of 3 Nichole Coffel, from Missouri, who was charged with Cybercrime in the UAE when she texted her Emirati employer to ask for months of unpaid wages, was convicted in an Abu Dhabi court and given a one month suspended sentence, probation & an AED 1000 fine. Her employer, Anoud Al Suwaidi, a local celebrity female jockey, had refused to pay Nichole’s wages and to compensate her for medical expenses incurred when she was bitten by Al Suwaidi’s horse. After months of promises that she would be paid, Nichole texted Al Suwaidi, telling her that it was “haram” to withhold her salary; an Arabic word meaning “forbidden”. Al Suwaidi filed a police complaint against Nichole, claiming that she had insulted her by calling her “harami”, a colloquialism that roughly translates as “bastard”. Because the communication had been via WhatsApp, the complaint fell under the broad definition of the UAE’s Cybercrime laws. “Even though screenshots of the exchange were presented to the police, clearly showing what Nichole said, they chose to believe what Ms. Al Suwaidi told them instead of the material evidence,” explains Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, who represented Coffel. “Nichole suffered a severe injury, considerable medical expenses, and months without wages, yet the
police refused to even allow her to file a complaint herself against Ms. Al Suwaidi. This is absolutely consistent with what we have observed over more than a decade working with expat cases in the UAE; the legal system is overtly biased in favour of locals, and against foreigners, particularly women. Nichole was victimised and exploited by her employer, and when she sought justice, she was victimised by the court.” “Nichole and her family were upstanding members of the community in Abu Dhabi, contributing to charities and founding social projects that made the emirate a better place. They had every intention to live in the country for many years to come. Now Nichole is on her way back to the US, the family is going
IMRAN KHAN CANCER APPEAL TO RAISE £150,000
through upheaval and financial distress, all because locals in the UAE can use the law vindictively against foreigners whenever it suits them. “We were in discussions with Ms. Al Suwaidi before the court case, and she promised multiple times to drop the charges against Nichole; but just as she had promised Nichole that she would pay her wages, she never did, and in fact attempted to file additional complaints after the court case. We are happy that Nichole was merely fined and spared a jail sentence, but she should never have been charged with a crime in the first place.” The UAE’s Cybercrime laws have been widely criticised for their vagueness and severity. Several high profile cases, such as those of British national Laleh
Shahravesh and Australian Scott Richards have demonstrated how perilous these laws can be, with almost any online activity potentially being deemed criminal. “Had Nichole’s case not received media attention, she might well be in jail right now,” Stirling says. “The Cybercrime laws make it all too easy for anyone to be maliciously prosecuted in the UAE, even for private messages or social media posts written years ago and outside the country. The authorities are doing nothing to prevent the abuse of these laws, and Nichole’s wrongful conviction will surely embolden others like Ms. Al Suwaidi to use Cybercrime complaints to checkmate expats in personal vendettas.”
A Bradford based charity is aiming to raise £150,000 after climbing 8,500 metres on a mountain in Pakistan. The charity is known as the Imran Khan Cancer Appeal which brought together a group of 26 brave trekkers to take on Nanga Parbat and Rush Peak. The events coordinator of the charity Shafiq Rafiq said: “We had people from America, Dubai, all walks of life came along to support the cause.” The group consisted of men and women between the ages of 14-72. One of the treks involved travelling through parts of the infamous Nanga Parbat mountain which is said to be the ninth highest in the world. The Nanga Parbat sits at a cool 3,900 metres above sea level and offers an amazing view of the peak – a mammoth 8,126 metres. However, the hardest part was the altitude the group reached while hiking to Rush lake. At 4,694 metres, it is said to be the highest alpine
lake in Pakistan, and it took the group four days to reach. Once they reach Rush lake, the group then clambered to the top of Rush Peak at an altitude of 5,098 metres. Ikhlaq Ahmed, manager of the charity, said: “We are really pleased to have been able to complete the challenge in Pakistan this year.” “Not only is this year the 25th anniversary of the Lahore facility opening, but also trekking in Pakistan for such a worthwhile cause whilst exploring and showcasing the beauty of this resilient and naturally well-endowed country was another purpose of the challenge.” The Imran Khan Cancer Appeal was founded by the famous Pakistani cricketer and current Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. The charity is aimed to provide medical care for poor cancer patients. This was assisted by the establishment of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore, in 1994.
Sri Lanka Unveils Tallest Tower in South Asia In Dhaka, Sri Lanka has unveiled the new Lotus Tower, which stands at a total of 350-metres tall. The high-rise sculpture comprises a total of 17 stories and is acclaimed to be the tallest of its kind in South Asia. The structure spreads over a total of 30,600 square metres. It is inclusive of a television tower, built-in-hotel, telecommunications museum, and a conference centre. It also has facilities such as restaurants, an observation deck, and a shopping mall. It is hoped that the Lotus Tower will help to increase tourist attraction and bring more commercial revenue to the capital city. At its utmost height, it will look over Colombo and provide an excellent view of Beira Lake. The entire project cost a total of $100 million US Dollars and was solely funded by China, one of Sri Lanka’s main exportation partners. According to sources, the contract for the construction work was signed off in 2012 by the Chinese government. Even though the Tower has not yet been completed, Sri Lanka’s president Maithripali Sirisena vouched to open the construction site for public observation. ‘We still have not completed
By Manisha Bhanot this project, but we decided to go ahead and open sections of the tower that can be accessed by people,’ she announced at the unveiling ceremony. Delays to the completion of the commercial building were caused as a result of funding issues. This occurred mainly under the former president Mahinda Rajapakse’s government around four years ago. During Rajapkse’s presidency, the Aerospace Long-March International Trade Co (ALIT) lost some 2 billion rupees. Rapajaske himself argued that China had nominated ALIT and the contract had always been in the partner country’s hands. However, a Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) representative stated o the Media that the money had not been misplaced at all. Instead, Sirisena might have been misinformed. The country is still in disagreement over the issue. The primary purpose of the Lotus skyscraper is to function as Sri Lanka’s ‘digital TV tower.’ It is partially built out of fully working fibre optic cables for this reason. In a statement, Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) commented that the Lotus Tower marks a turning point in the country’s business economy and cultural development.
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
October 2019
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Legendary Singer Asha Bhosle Receives an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree Legendary singer Asha Bhosle received an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Salford in recognition of her contribution towards the field of music and media. Asha was born in 1933 in Goar, a small village in Eastern Indian. She was widely recognised as one of Bollywood’s most popular singers, through her unique vocal range and long-running career. Asha sung in more than 20 languages and recorded over 22,000 songs, making fame in the Guinness Book of Records in 2011. The legendary singer has served as an inspiration for individuals who are pursuing popular Indian music through the popularity of Bollywood films that she has featured in. Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford, Jo Purves presented the Honorary Doctorate to Asha Bhosle at a formal
ceremony located at Saint Regis Hotel in Mumbai, India. Pro Vice-Chancellor Purves said: “Asha’s achievements as a musician cannot be understated. Throughout her career, Asha has left a lasting impression in the industry by transforming traditional Hindustani music to inspire future generations across all nations to get involved in arts and the media.” “We’re truly delighted to be honouring Asha for her accomplishments whilst celebrating her influence on modern British culture.” The University of Salford has a long history of supporting the Indian culture and has also sponsored the national Asian Media Awards for many years. The School of Arts and Media aim to inspire the next generation of stars across many sectors, including Journalists to film-makers, actors and performers.
The degree was awarded as part of a series of announcements made by a 30-strong delegation from Greater Manchester, which was led by the Manchester India Partnership that was set up in 2018 to strengthen the ties between India and UK in the fields of culture,
education, tourism trade and investment. Continuing its investment in the region, the University of Salford also signed a memorandum of understanding with Karnataka State Higher Education Council in Bangalore.
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October 2019
Emirati Female Leaders in Aviation Honoured During Awards Ceremony
By Rida Khan
Detention Camps in India Built for the 1.9 Million Stripped of Their Citizenship
By Grace Lea
Following the publication of the National Register of Citizens of India in August this year, around 1.9 million inhabitants of Assam have been left off of the list. The citizens of the North-Eastern state now have to prove their citizenship through a rigorous check of documentation dating back for decades. However, many of those left from the list do not have such paperwork, and many are even without birth certificates or proof of land ownership. Therefore, this inhibits their appeal process and may result in them being branded ‘stateless’. Those people omitted from the national register will have a strict appeal process to follow to gain their citizenship back. Each person withholds their rights within the country, however, they have just 120 days to appeal their case to the ‘Foreigners Tribunal’. If this is successful, they regain their citizenship status. However, if they are unsuccessful, they must then take their case to the High Court, and further to the Supreme Court should this be necessary. Although, it is still
undecided as to what will happen should a citizen be unsuccessful in all levels of the appeal process, whether they are placed in detention camps or sent from the country. The construction of the detention camps was part of a plan to detect the illegal immigrants within the Assam state, as the migrants move from neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh. However, the removal of citizenship and construction of detention camps has been branded as targeting the large Muslim community and upending many Muslims who have lived in the state legally for decades. Despite this, the Indian government remain steadfast that they are simply following the order from the Supreme Court. There have been ten detention camps contracted, with high, 10ft boundary walls to enclose each, and a watchtower for security on each premise. Many critics have said such construction compares the detention centres to that of a prison, keeping those branded stateless as criminals.
Goalpara Camp, one of the ten, is the size of seven football pitches, designed to house 3,000 people. There will be a hospital and school within the centre, and separate living quarters for men and women. The response to this and the list has been extremely negative. The Bhartiya Janata party were dismayed by the number of Hindus missed off of the list, alongside the number of Muslims. In response to this, there may be legislation passed to grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhist immigrants from neighbouring countries. However, Muslims will not be included in this law, further suggesting that the Muslim community is being targeted. The Federal Government and the local Assam government, when questioned, would not respond about the issue, despite the extreme upset their decisions had caused. There remains great upheaval and chaos within Assam still.
The EAA women in aviation commission have honoured distinguished UAE nationals in the field of aviation in the United Arab Emirates, at the Gulf Center for Aviation Studies. In the presence and honour of Dr Sheikha Hind Abdulaziz Al Qasimi, the Founder and Chairman of Emirates International Business and Professional Club, Mr Yousef Hassan Al Hammadi, President of Emirates aviation association and Mr Ahmed Al Jallaf, Vice president of emirates aviation association this ceremony was held. The event took place in the presence of the members of the Society, the staff of the Gulf Center for Aviation Studies and several leading figures in the aviation sector. Mrs Mervat Sultan, President of the Women In Aviation (WIA) the Middle
East, spoke on the role of the ceremony. Mrs Dina BelJaflah, Vice President of Women In Aviation, spoke about how the country and the government are supporting women in aviation. Dr Suaad Al Shamsi, the first UAE female aircraft engineer, has won a lot of international awards and recognition worldwide. She spoke about the role of Emirati women in the aviation sector. Mrs Farah Alansari and Captain Kristina Tervo presented themselves as the board members of Women in the Aviation sector. Her Highness Sheikha Hind Abdulaziz Al Qasimi stressed the vital role played by Emirati women in all fields. After that, an award ceremony was organised, in which ten women were selected from different sectors of aviation and were awarded by WIA
with her Highness. Women who received this prestigious award were Engineer Nada Al Zaabi from the Armed Forces, Raghad Al-Qadi from Boeing Company, Asma Al Ali from Dubai Airport, Alia Al Shamsi from Sharjah Airport, Majeda Al Kaabi from Abu Dhabi Airport, Maryam Al Zaabi from Abu Dhabi Airport, Warda Bafaraj from Etihad, Farida Ibrahim from the Civil Aviation Authority, Salih Ali of the Dubai Center for Air Navigation Services, and the Aviation Gathering. The honouring included the pioneers who have achieved outstanding performance in their fields. The honorees expressed their gratitude and the prominent status of UAE women today. In spite of statistics indicating that the number of women in this sector is still low, the association looks forward through its active role to get greater female participation in the coming years. It is worth mentioning that the WIA has developed several strategic plans that are under implementation to support the position of the UAE woman in the field of aviation through professional and academic encouragement and to enhance the spirit of women leaders in this field. Thus, shedding light on women in various fields of the aviation industry. I would like to conclude by saying that in no time, you will see a high percentage of Emirati women working in the aviation industry, and raising their name and their country’s flag very high.
Indian Man Lynched for Suspected Black Magic Group hacked him to death during cremation ritual for unfortunate ‘victim’
Hyderabad - A 24-year-person was lynched close to the city on the grounds of allegedly rehearsing black magic, which reportedly prompted the demise of a middle-aged lady. Within Hinduism, black magic is said to be performed in order to please the ‘shaitaan’ (devil) in religious ceremonies. This is said to increase your strength and make your enemies suffer. However, forbidden witchcraft of this kind is said to eventually return full circle and cause the same amount of suffering on the performer. The episode happened in the
Adraspalli town, on the edge of Hyderabad. The events were only brought to the knowledge of authorities a couple of days after. The police distinguished the adolescent as Bovini Anjaneyulu. The 45-year-old deceased woman was distinguished as Gara Lakshmi who died after a long period of sickness. In any case, her family speculated that Anjaneyulu, an inhabitant of a similar town, performed black magic on her. While participating in the last customs of her cremation, the woman’s family held back to
check whether the perpetrator turned up. When he was walking by, they seized him, whipped him and hacked him to death. The body was scorched in a similar fire to remove all proof. Afterwards, the police were informed about the murder, and senior authorities hurried to the town and propelled an examination. The agents gathered bones and different leftovers from the scene and sent them for legal tests. If proven guilty, the family of the woman could face years of imprisonment due to their crime.
Black magic is performed in Telangana towns and in the past numerous individuals suspected to practice dark enchantment were murdered by the relatives of the people who were said to be affected.
AW Facts Did you know? Bhutan became the first nation to ban tobacco sales in 2010.
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
Mumbai Icon Boman Rashid Kohinoor, dies at 97
Boman Rashid Kohinoor was an icon of India’s bustling financial capital Mumbai. The 97 year who called himself “India’s biggest fan of the Royal Family” died on Wednesday 25th September after a brief illness. Kohinoor owned an Iranian restaurant, Britannia which was famous for its low priced berry pulao (a rice dish with cashews and raisins) and caramel custard. However, Kohinoor was far more famous than the dishes he served. Recently the 97-year-old gained internet fame after he met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, during their visit to India in 2016. A video of Kohinoor holding up a board asking to the Duchess of Cambridge to meet him, went viral. Kohinoor was always loved for his eccentricities and the personal touch he offered customers who would visit his restaurant in the commercial Ballard Estate area during lunch hours. Kohinoor often joined his customers at their tables and eagerly asked for feedback on the food or would tell the customers what to order. He always talked about how much he loved the Royal Family and never failed to show off his large framed picture of Queen Elizabeth. “He used to have a huge rooster that used to
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The Gruesome Reality of Underage Domestic Help in Bangladesh
By Priyanka Dutta
flap around the restaurant. I don’t remember its name, but I think it had a minor role in a film,” Siddarth Bhatia, co-founder of The Wire news website and Mumbai chronicler, told the BBC. Mr Bhatia, always visited the restaurant since the 1980s, and also described Mr Irani as a “canny businessman”. “I think the hipster crowd discovered the place a few years ago - they all loved the chatter of this eccentric old man. His charm attracted people in droves in a city where restaurants are known for being a little im-
personal,” he said. Many past and present patrons of Britannia paid tribute to Kohinoor on social media and some shared memories of their favourite encounters with the Indian icon. “If you noticed, they had not bothered to even upgrade the decor. If you went slightly inside, you would see the place was filthy, but it was what I called an ‘Instagrammable restaurant’ - the food, the ambience and the man were all major attractions,” Mr Bhatia said. “Mumbai will miss him”.
Leonardo Di Caprio Told To Withdraw Support for Indian River Project
By Manisha Bhanot
October 2019
Hollywood icon Leonardo Di Caprio has been urged to discontinue backing the Cauvery Calling programme in India. The project was initially set up in order to plant trees around one of the country’s endangered rivers. The initiative would, therefore, boost the ecological systems in the surrounding area. However, an open letter signed by more than 90 environmental groups aimed to persuade Di Caprio against the idea. Within the contents of the documents were warnings that the campaign may result in “the destruction of flora” and “drying up of streams”. The letter continued with the signatories stating: “This isn’t a programme that may offer protection to Cauvery, her forests, her biodiversity, her kids, and her kids’ kids. It’ll by no means save Cauvery.” Despite the potential damage of the campaign, Di Caprio was praised for his tireless work for the planet, continuing the fight against climate
change. The letter applauded him for “case-sensitively selling conservation methods” and much more of his lobbying work. ‘Sadhguru’ Jaggi Vasudev originally began the Cauvery Calling programme. Sadhguru is a well-known Indian celebrity who offers his spiritual living and mediation tips across the country. He also gains endorsements from various Bollywood stars. The Cauvery campaign fundraiser was initiated to raise funds for the plantation of 2.42bn trees. So far it has raised enough to plant 40m trees. The Cauvery River runs across 81,000 square metres, where these new plantations would be made. The Sadhguru organisation has come under fire for its complete disregard of humanitarian rights and environmental laws. They have also been accused of building their headquarters on an Elephant Corridor. It yet remains to be seen whether the Southern India River project will go ahead or whether its funding will be revoked.
Research undertaken by the University of Dhaka has revealed some important facts about underage workers in Bangladesh. One of the most striking and very heart-wrenching realities is that most of the minor workers are girls. Even young boys are also employed for the same work too. It was also found in the research that these underage boys and girls (at least 75%) were made to work daily. They did not receive wages and had no fixed working hours. The children often had no proper place to sleep and were commonly abused, beaten by the people who employed them at their houses. How do these children reach these houses where they are so ill-treated? This is one question that may strike many of you. One must remember that since Bangladesh is a third world country, poverty is still rampant there. The poor parents of these children often send them to work so that they do not have to take care of them and the children can fend for themselves. Often these kids are abducted or brought in by relatives who make them work in wealthy families as domestic help. One of the gruesome facts that have come up as a part of this research is that there is no future prospect for these kids. Despite working in such affluent families, they do not receive proper shelter or education which may help them to make a mark in their lives in the long run. Researchers also found out that girls dominated the domestic help domain. This has risen from
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the belief that girls are more suited for household chores than their male counterparts. Hence, there is a considerable demand for underage girls in wealthy families for the role of domestic help. One will be amazed to know that women of rich families are usually the ones to mistreat the female child working at their homes as household workers. They are not treated as human beings. Instead, they are treated like another piece of furniture that they have in their lavish households. In exchange for a roof over their head and for a two-course meal, the underage children in Bangladesh have to give up their childhood and work as domestic help in wealthy households. This is a gruesome practice and one which needs to be stopped or addressed to by the government in the country. However, due to lack of a specific law and improper implementation of the Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy, 2015, the underage children continue to be abused and mistreated by their employers. Domestic work must be formalised as one way of stopping the abuse of underage children in Bangladesh. Proper laws must be made so as to protect the rights of domestic workers, especially children. If such laws are not made, the children will only be continued to be abused. Only with proper law implementation, can these grave situations be improved and the lives of these children bettered for the future.
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The True Cost of Data
Virgin Trains Uniforms Put to Good Use for the Homeless
Virgin Trains are to donate blankets, scarves and dog coats which have been made from old staff uniforms to homeless charities. Garments which were originally coats, shell jackets, shirts, trousers and suits worn by Virgin Trains’ frontline have been given a new lease of life and will be distributed to those living on the streets in time for the winter months. The upcycled clothes – many of which are in Virgin Train’s signature colour of red – were transformed by prisoners at HMP Northumberland at their onsite textile factory. Items will either be distributed by Virgin Staff at London Euston, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street and Glasgow Central or will go to local charities to
give to the homeless. Other items of clothing which could not be made into blankets have been used to make unbranded dog coats which will also be given out to those homeless people with four legged friends. Some branded dog coats with the Virgin Trains logo will be given to staff in return for a donation -with the profits going to charity. The remainder of the clothes – which are more than six years old - will be donated to charity or later recycled. This initiative follows on from Virgin Trains recent partnership with Change Please Coffee. Change Please have used profits generated from their contract with Virgin Trains to recruit more people who have experienced homelessness to be
baristas. Both organisations are working together to develop successful trainees and offer them a chance to use their new skills in further or new employment with the train operator. Jo Buckley, Community Manager at Virgin Trains: “We set ourselves the challenge to be creative and socially responsible with disposing of these old uniforms. It’s also a smart and socially responsible way to handle our waste. “It’s so rewarding to see the repurposed uniform benefitting those who really need a little warmth and comfort during the winter months and we’re so proud to play a small part in helping the homeless alongside our work with our partners Change Please Coffee.”
Marketers are mesmerised by its potential and with no obvious limit to the number of data points you can collect on target customers for the purposes of advertising or sales conversion, it’s easy to see why. Data has always been useful, but in an analogue world it was expensive to gather. In a digital world, it is infinitely easier to collect, combine and then mine with AI. Google, Facebook and other social companies have become a dominant oligopoly by collecting data-by-stealth and thereby controlling global advertising and more with their data-based business model. The advent of GDPR has brought this oligopoly under a spotlight, but other organisations who have shared BigTech’s addiction to customer data are finding it a tough habit to control. This is particularly true for brands that have relied on collecting customer data to build profiles to personalise customer experiences, such as those in retail or the travel sector. Recent high profile fines however are a stark reminder that addictions come with risks attached. Google itself was the first to come under fire when they were fined EUROS 50 million by France’s data protection supervisory authority – CNIL – for lack of transparency, inadequate information, and lack of valid consent regarding
personalisation of ads. In the UK the ICO recently slapped British Airways with a proposed fine of £183m for a breach of customer data, and the very next day, a second culprit was exposed. The ICO announced that it intended to impose a £99 million fine on hotel chain Marriott for failing to protect personal data contained in approximately 339 million guest records. These serious breaches serve as wake-up calls for all companies, big and small, and particularly those travel brands who need to seriously re-visit their fundamentally flawed websites and CRM systems. Both British Airways’ breach, that exposed some 500,000 customers, and Marriott International’s hack of their Starwood database, are doubtless just the tip of the iceberg. The fine’s themselves are hitting the headlines yet serious data breaches in the travel sector have been a regular occurrence for years. Uber suffered a data breach in 2016 when over 75 million users and 600,000 drivers around the world were affected. Still in 2016, hackers stole data from over 1200 Intercontinental Hotels in the Americas. Hyatt Hotels discovered malware in their payment systems in 2015 the same year that Hilton urged all its customers to check their credit card statements after confirming the theft of cardholder payment details.
Enhancing Freedom of Movement across the Globe Why Investors are Choosing to Obtain a Second Citizenship to Increase Their Freedom of Movement
In a world where Instagram travel bloggers extol the merits and delights of travel and where business knows no borders, the need and desire to travel has never been so prominent or more integrated with everyday life than it is today. Running parallel to this, travelling has never been easier. With a few clicks, we can compare and book flights across the world. However, not all nationalities enjoy this freedom and ease of travel. Whilst countries constantly sign new crosscountry visa-free travel agreements, approximately 60% of the world’s passports only have visa-free access to around 100 countries or less. Although the extent of visa-free travel varies by country, this depends greatly on the openness of a country’s borders, or the amount of bilateral and multilateral agreements a government has in place. Visa Restrictions and Lack of freedoms Entrepreneurs and business leaders are today looking at a global market and whilst communication knows no border, business travel is still shackled by border controls and lengthy visa application procedures. Whilst countries such as Japan, Singapore, and Germany allow visa-free access to more than 185 countries – placing them amongst the
strongest passports in the world – many countries’ passports offer very limited access. Indeed, most African and Middle Eastern countries are weak in this respect. An entrepreneur having US citizenship, despite holding one of the most powerful passports in the world, is still denied visa-free access to two of the world’s leading markets - China and Russia. And take, for instance, an Indian or Chinese entrepreneur wishing to widen horizons and expand business to Western markets. While the prospect is enticing, both countries have visa-free access to less than 75 countries, burdening investors with a limited list of fast and straightforward destinations. Beyond leisure and business travel, freedom of movement becomes an ever more important consideration in countries which experience political and economic instability and where the exercise of basic democratic rights is not a foregone conclusion. A quick glimpse around the globe and it is evident that most regions face one risk or another. With wars and heightened political instability in the Middle East, economic sanctions and trade wars such as that between the US and China, and economic meltdowns in countries such as South Africa and Venezuela, the no-
tion of freedom of mobility takes on a completely different dimension. Overcoming Restrictions through Second Citizenship With the rise in wealth across the globe, more investors and High Net worth individuals are opting to achieve increased freedoms by investing in a second citizenship through one of the various Citizenship by Investment programmes (CIP) available around the world. According to the 2019 “Citizenship by Investment Programmes Index (CIP Index)”, curated by international law firm, Chetcuti Cauchi Advocates, investing in one of the two European CIPs, the Malta Individual Investor Programme and Cyprus Investment Programme, provides the highest level of freedom in terms of visa-free travel, settlement rights within the European
Union, as well as political and civil liberties. A second citizenship can hold as much value to those who seek to plan ahead in their business endeavours, as it does to those who have limited travel options outside their own country. Gaining second citizenship can mean the difference between visa-free access to 30 countries, as is the case for Afghani citizens, to 182 visa-free destinations with a Maltese passport. According to the CIP Index, Austria offers the most attractive passport as regards to visa-free travel, with no less than 185 visa-free destinations. Malta follows suit with 182 countries, while Cyprus also grants visa-free access to more than 170 countries. Notably, Malta and Cyprus have set up reputable Citizenship by Investment programmes which offer
investors access to European lifestyle and investment opportunities. Yet, it is not only European CIP programmes that offer investors and entrepreneurs with freedom of movement benefits. CIPs in 5 Caribbean countries also provide individuals seeking greater visa-free travel access ranging from 137 countries for Dominica, to 151 countries for St. Kitts and Nevis. Although the travel freedom for the Caribbean passports has yet to match that of the top European ones, it remains true that the best-suited citizenship by programme still remains relative to each individual. Taking our earlier example, a US investor who frequently travels to China and Russia would be better off attaining a Grenadian passport since it is the only CIP country which grants visa-free access to both countries.
AW Facts Did you know? 1 out of 8 American employees have worked at McDonald’s.
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
Business in the Community Underlines Balance between Academic Attainment and Essential Employment Skills
After the publication of the 2019 A-level results, Rachael Saunders, Education Campaign Director at Business in the Community, says: “A-levels are only part of the picture. Only 40 per cent of 16-18-year-old students actually take A-levels, meaning we should celebrate the achievements of all learners, including
those taking vocational qualifications, for example. “While the knowledge that young people will gain through their studies is vital, essential skills such as teamwork, creativity, leadership and problem solving are in danger of being forgotten. These skills are valuable now and will remain vital in the future, as a balanced
focus between knowledge and skills directly links to the UK’s economic development and productivity. “Employees and students must be supported to build the skills they need now for our changing world of work, and given access to learning that will equip them to develop the skills they need for the future. If businesses are looking for specific essential skills, they need to work with educators using a curriculum that’s relevant to modern life. This will ensure that businesses benefit from the workforce of the future having the skills they need while leading the way in providing good and fair employment opportunities to all, regardless of background.” The value of employment skills is also the reason why schools encourage work experience placements. Schools also offer vocational courses with a more practical focus, offering the basics on industry skills and more manual learning. These subjects are for careers such as electrical wiring, hairdressing and vehicle mechanics where less time in the classroom is needed. Thus, students can gain valuable knowledge from their desired future career sectors, and learn transferable skills. Employers may also sign on students for apprenticeships to train them to become valuable members of their workforce. These types of courses offer academic learning alongside hands-on experience so that students gain the most out of their learning.
Expat Insider 2019 Survey Reveals:
The Best and Worst Destinations to Live and Work in 2019 • Taiwan, Vietnam, Portugal, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, Bahrain, Ecuador, Malaysia, and Czechia are the best destinations for expats in 2019. • The worst countries for expats are Kuwait, Italy, Nigeria, Brazil, Turkey, India, the United Kingdom, Greece, Russia, and South Korea. • The UK ranks a low 58th place out of 64 destinations in the Expat Insider 2019 survey. Expats worry more about the country’s political stability and are less satisfied with work. For the sixth year, InterNations, the world’s largest expat community with 3.6 million members, publishes its Expat Insider survey. With more than 20,000 respondents, it is one of the most extensive surveys about living and working abroad, sharing insights into expat life in 64 destinations. The survey offers in-depth information about expats’ satisfaction with the quality of life, ease of settling in, working life, personal finance, cost of living, and family life in their respective country of residence. The United Kingdom comes in a low 58th place out of 64 destinations in the Expat Insider 2019 survey, ranking among the bottom 10 countries for the second year in a row. Expats worry more about the country’s political stability, are less satisfied with their work, and struggle to feel at home. Meanwhile, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Portugal are the best expat destinations: all of them attract expats with their ease of settling in and good personal finances. While expats in Taiwan and Portugal are also extremely satisfied with the quality of life, those in Vietnam appreciate their great work life. At the other end of the ranking, Kuwait (64th out of 64), Italy, and Nigeria are the worst destinations for expats in 2019. While Kuwait is the country where expats find it hardest to settle in, Italy offers the worst work life, and Nigeria the worst quality
of life in the world. www.internations.org | The UK ranks 58th out of 64 countries in the Expat Insider 2019 survey admit ongoing Brexit uncertainty: it has fallen 14 places in terms of political stability, now ranking among the ten worst countries in the world for this factor (57th). Over two in five expats (42%) rate the political stability negatively (vs. 17% globally). As one German expat puts it: “Brexit makes our future uncertain.” In addition, the UK receives its worst ratings ever in all subcategories of the Working Abroad Index: it ranks 45th for economy and job security, which is 29 places lower than in the Expat Insider 2016 survey before the Brexit referendum (16th out of 67).
In 2019, nearly one-quarter of expats in the UK (23%) are unhappy with the state of the economy (vs. 8% negative ratings in 2016), 21% are unsatisfied with their career prospects (vs. 12% in 2016), and 23% worry about their job security (vs. 17% in 2016). Expats also struggle to settle in, with the UK ranking 45th in the Ease of Settling In Index. Nearly three in ten expats (28%) say that Brits are unfriendly towards foreign residents (vs. 19% globally). It might be no surprise then that the UK ranks third from the bottom for personal happiness (62nd), only ahead of Denmark (63rd) and Kuwait (64%). Just 66% of expats are generally happy with their life in the UK (vs. 74% worldwide).
October 2019
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Fear of Making Mistakes causes Half of Us Not to Achieve Our Potential Everyone struggles with lack of confidence at different times in their lives. However according to new research from Nyenrode Business University and IE University, one out of two people think they could perform better if they were not worrying about making mistakes. The researchers studied 1,000 people and found that more than 40% of them say they are worried about making mistakes between 20-40% of the time or more. Looking deeper in the differences between men and women, 46% of women worried 20-40% of the time compared to 33% of men, indicating that women worry more than men. Shockingly the numbers increase even more if we look at younger higher educated professionals. They asked participants whether they would be able to perform better at work if they were less worried about making mistakes. Overall about 47% of peoples said ‘yes’ to this question. However, this figure rose to 60-70% for younger higher educated professionals. According to Professor Nick van Dam “Employees only perform well in new positions if they have enough self-confidence and aren’t afraid of making mistakes. We actually learn the most from our mistakes after all. If we don’t feel confident, we tend to avoid speaking up, don’t give feedback to senior people, don’t ask for feedback ourselves and won’t even think about a promotion. In a more extreme case, we might suffer from burnout because we spend so much time worrying. Essentially, we’re not the best version of ourselves. It is important that companies start responding to this crisis of confidence now, in the interest of long-term employability.” Research has shown that everyone will have to upskill over the next 10 years in order to remain employable. After gaining new knowledge and skills, people will take on different tasks and roles in the years ahead. In order to do this successfully, we have to be the most confident version of ourselves. The research suggests authentic confidence is not about getting rid of insecurity but managing it effectively, which is self-empowering. In their new book “Advancing Authentic Confidence Through Emotional Flexibility”, professors Dr. Nick van Dam (Nyenrode Business University), Dr. Jacqueline Brassey (IE University) and Dr. Arjen van Witteloostuijn (VU University Amsterdam) state that a lack of self-confidence can have a negative impact on learning ability, work performance and career success. The authors introduce a number of exercises and tools that people can use to develop self-confidence.
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October 2019
Gaps between Privacy Concerns and Actual Behaviours of American, British and German Consumers
Accessing public Wi-Fi without the use of a VPN is akin to driving your car without insurance
Convenience trumps privacy and security risk: 74% of Americans, 80% of Brits and 86% of Germans don’t use a VPN when accessing public Wi-Fi even though half of them are concerned about privacy and more than 65% are fearful of having their financial information hacked. Amid ongoing identity theft and privacy-related breaches, new research published today by cybersecurity company, BullGuard, revealed substantial gaps between consumers’ privacy
concerns and their actual behaviours. The study shows 53% of Americans, 48% of Brits and 62% of Germans are concerned about privacy, but 74% of Americans, 80% of Brits, and 86% of Germans don’t use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when accessing public Wi-Fi, with convenience trumping privacy and security risks in their rush to get online. A VPN empowers consumers with a highly effective, easy way to safeguard themselves when using public Wi-Fi from their smartphone, tablet
or laptop, and adds an extra layer of security and privacy when used on the home network. Unbeknownst to most consumers, hackers can easily spoof and set up malicious open Wi-Fi networks that appear to be legitimate (e.g. ‘Free Airport Wi-Fi’), but in fact intercept and record all network traffic, including people’s intimate personal data, and allow fraudsters to steal usernames, passwords, credit card details, bank account information and more. Alarmingly, approximately one in
One in four people have had to leave at least one job in the last five years due to mental health Louise Aston, Wellbeing Campaign Director at Business in the Community responds to research, carried out by Censuswide, published by Slater and Gordon showing that a quarter of people have had to leave at least one job in the past five years because of pressure and the negative impact it was having on their mental health. Her views on the topic can be found listed below: “The statistics published today show that there is a significant amount of work to be done to challenge the stigma of mental health in the workplace. “Employers need to create the kind of culture where staff can be transparent about their mental health and they need to lead by example. “It’s OK not to be OK. We need an inclusive, targeted approach to ensure that managers receive quality training, are knowledgeable about key issues in the world of mental health and are aware of reasonable adjustments that can be made, such as flexible working. “The business case for a thriving
UK workforce is clear in terms of showing a clear impact on productivity and staff engagement and retention, and we challenge all UK businesses to make good employee mental health a strategic priority.” Workers may experience traumatic events in their personal or home lives that impact their ability to commute to work and be productive in an office based environment.
Time off work or remote working opportunities should be examined more closely, as well as facilities to help those affected. Peers and fellow employees are also encouraged to be supportive and look out for one another when low mood strikes. Ways to deal with this type of situation include mental health workshops, open coffee-mornings and work-based training.
five Americans (19%) used a credit card while connected to public Wi-Fi, 17% of Brits performed online banking, and 14% of Germans accessed an insecure website -- even though 53% of Americans, 48% of Brits and 62% of Germans believe their data is not secure while on a public Wi-Fi network and two-thirds of all survey respondents stated they are most worried about their banking information being hacked and stolen. “Consumers are playing Russian Roulette with their personal data and privacy, opting for convenience over safety when using public Wi-Fi,” said Paul Lipman, CEO of BullGuard. “Accessing public Wi-Fi without the use of a VPN is akin to driving your car without insurance – sooner or later you’re going to end up paying the price for being negligent.” The research also revealed 48% of Americans, 62% of Brits and 69% of Germans are only using antivirus (AV) software to protect their online information on their home Wi-Fi. AV software prevents, detects and removes malware and helps protect users from other threats such as ransomware, malicious URLs, phishing scams, botnet DDoS attacks and more, but it does not hide a consumer’s origin IP address or prevent others – including ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and government organisations – from monitoring a consumer’s online browsing activity, including what websites they visit, what they download or what services and applications they use.
Additionally, a significant number of individuals (19% of Americans, 12% of Brits and 7% of Germans, respectively) use no additional methods and rely solely on their ISP and browser to keep their online information private and secure. This despite results that show consumers believe the following entities are tracking their online activities: 1. Search engines such as Google (56% Americans, 63% Brits and 71% Germans) 2. Internet Browser (51% Americans, 57% Brits and 57% Germans) 3. Internet Service Provider (53% Americans, 58% Brits and 44% Germans) 4. Online retailers like Amazon (46% Americans, 54% Brits and 61% Germans) 5. Social media platforms such as Facebook (55% Americans and 62% Brits) 6. Messenger apps such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp (42% Americans and 51% Brits) 7. Social media platforms and messengers, e.g. Facebook and WhatsApp (65% Germans) 8. US government (52% Americans and 36% Brits) 9. UK government (15% Americans and 55% Brits) 10. German government (34% Germans) The BullGuard-commissioned survey was conducted in August 2019 and queried a total of 5,000 adult consumers across the US, the UK, and Germany (2000 each in the US and UK, and 1000 in Germany).
LOCAL 2-11
GLOBAL 12-17
BUSINESS 18-21
GLAM 22-28
WEDDINGS 29-33
HEALTH 34-35
TRAVEL 36-37
TECH 38-39
A Third of Product Companies Will Be Services Businesses within Five Years
FOOD 40-41
MOTORING 42-44
SPORTS 45-48
October 2019
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Tenants in the West Midlands reveal most Desirable Attributes in a Rental Property • Renters in the UK deem pet-friendly properties, unfurnished homes and those with access to a garden as most desirable • In the West Midlands, the most popular are in fact pets allowed, unfurnished, and off-street parking • A dryer, a balcony, and a garage rank at the bottom of desirability list for the West Midlands
Top Five Attributes in the UK Pets allowed 14% Unfurnished 12% Garden 11% Off-Street parking 9% Quality of décor 7%
Global study outlines critical drivers shaping the way services business operate New service delivery models, the emergence of flexible services marketplaces and demand for new equipment skills are reshaping the way service businesses operate. This information has been found according to a new global Forrester Consulting study, commissioned by ServiceMax, the leading provider of cloud-based software for service execution management. Thirty three percent of firms that are a product company today say they will be a services company within five years. The Forrester Consulting study, From Grease to Code: What Drives Digital Service Transformation, surveyed 675 digital transformation decision makers across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific that are currently undergoing or have already completed significant portions of their digital transformation. Respondents are in infrastructure roles at global industrial enterprises, including manufacturing, healthcare, utilities and telecommunications industries. “The focus on digital transformation has placed companies’ attention on harnessing equipment data for insights, exploring new business models, and implementing digital technologies,” according to the study. The shift from grease to code is well underway, as firms unlock valuable data about their assets. Eighty nine percent of companies are collecting equipment and service data to drive business decisions, but the digitalization of industrial services requires new skills to operate machinery. The struggle to find service technicians with the required knowledge and expertise remains an issue. Seventy seven percent of firms say external contractors are becoming more important, and
eighty percent are interested in using a service marketplace to access suitable freelance talent when needed and source the necessary skills. The study found that from a financial gains perspective, as-a-service businesses and predictive maintenance models will contribute most of the revenue within five years. Offering assets on subscription, enabling preventative maintenance and shifting to as-a-service delivery models is seen as critical for improving customer experience. Thirty nine percent of companies have already invested in predictive maintenance today, and a further forty nine percent will do so within three years. “Digital transformation is driving the pace and adoption of new service models globally, reshaping the way services businesses operate,” said Stacey Epstein, Chief Customer Experience Officer of ServiceMax. “Eighty five percent of firms say servitization is now a high or critical priority, as are outcome-based business models. This shift puts a different lens on the role of service maintenance, support, unplanned downtime, customer experience and revenue generation as companies see smarter use of equipment data, and the adoption of mixed labour models playing an increasingly important role in business performance.” About ServiceMax ServiceMax is the global leader in Service Execution Management, offering cloud-based software that improves the productivity of complex, equipmentcentric service execution. Enterprise companies across the globe have turned to ServiceMax to help them keep the world running. For more information, visit https://www.servicemax.com/uk
A home being pet-friendly is the most desirable attribute in a rental property, according to research by buy-to-let focussed marketplace lender, Landbay. The study delves into the psyche of 2,000 private renters in the UK, offering insight to landlords on the wants and needs of their tenants. The research found that nearly one-inseven (14%) renters in the UK rated ‘pets being allowed in the property’ as their most important requirement. In the West Midlands, the most desirable trait is also a pet friendly property, at 15%, rating pets as most important attribute. The most pet-friendly region is the North East (27%), and the least is London, with just 3% rating it at the top of the list. Women are more than twice as likely (18%) as men (8%) to prioritise a pet-friendly property. The second most popular attribute in the West Midlands is unfurnished homes, followed by off-street parking. In the
Top Five Attributes in the West Midlands Pets allowed 15% Unfurnished 12% Off-street parking 11% Storage 10% Square footage 7%
UK as a whole, a home which is unfurnished also comes second, with 12% of renters saying this is the most desirable attribute. Perhaps tellingly, renters aged 55 and above (22%) are five times more likely to consider an unfurnished property as crucially important than those aged between 18 and 34 (4%). Unlikely in the West Midlands, a garden was third in the UK, with 11% of renters rating outdoor space as their most important attribute. Parents (15%) are more than twice as likely to prioritise a garden compared to non-parents (7%.) Having a dryer came bottom of the list of most desirable attributes in the UK with just 1% of renters considering it key to their home. A king-sized bed, a balcony, and a dishwasher also polled just 1%. In the West Midlands, the bottom three attributes were a dryer, a balcony, and a garage. Deborah Mudway, Director, Landbay comments: “This will make interesting
reading for landlords, who could be forgiven for believing little luxuries like a dishwasher, dryer and even a king-sized bed make all the difference for tenants. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. “Landbay is investing in a research series to help landlords understand tenants and opportunities within the private rental sector. This edition shows renters value two key attributes above all others that are fundamentally free to bring in. In short, they want to make their property feel like home by bringing both pets and their own furniture with them. The reality is, aside from a deeper clean at the end of a tenancy, this really isn’t hard for landlords to implement. “Essentially, landlords knowing what renters want can make for a happier, more prosperous relationship which benefits both parties in the long run.”
AW Facts Did you know?
Akshay Kumar and team in Housefull 4, this Diwali
Dance is considered as a form of worship in India, performed for Hindu deities.
Page 24
r o o p a K m Sona � m a s a Q i k i s p e P “ Page 24
n a h K n a m l a S s with Dabangg 3
Return
New Sikh Family introduced in EastEnders Page 26
Rajkumari Madhu debuts in Housefull 4 this October
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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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TRAVEL 36-37
TECH 38-39
FOOD 40-41
MOTORING 42-44
SPORTS 45-48
October 2019
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‘Boom Baby!’–Ranveer Singh accepts Madame Tussauds of the Future Award at star-studded NEXA IIFAs Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh walked away from the NEXA 20th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards with two new accolades under his belt and made the exciting announcement that he will join Madame Tussauds’ A-List lineup next year! Best known for his roles in films including Padmaavat and most recently Gully Boy, the Forbes India Celebrity 100 regular walked away with the Best Actor gong and Madame Tussauds of the Future Award. Adding to the night’s significance, the NEXA IIFAs glittering Homecoming Edition event, marking the illustrious awards ceremony’s 20th year, took place in Ranveer’s hometown of Mumbai. A star-studded audience of Indian cinema’s top talent – including Salman Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone – was there to see Ranveer accept his award and announce his upcoming figure. On accepting the Madame Tussauds of the Future Award Ranveer said: “Wow, I’m damn excited. This is amazing. I remember as a kid I used to be an encyclopaedia geek and they used to talk about this mythical place called Madame Tussauds…I was going through my Mum’s early pictures and I would say, ‘Mum, where did you get a picture with The Queen?’ and she would say, ‘that’s in Madame Tussauds London.’ Since childhood it’s always been a very mythical place for me so to be immortalised as a figure there is truly a very, very proud thing for me. “When my wife’s launch was happening my mother-in-law was like, ‘come on now, you have to work hard if you want a figure of you also.’ Mamma, we’re going to London!” Speaking to his wife, Deepika Padukone, from the stage, Ranveer added, “I’m going to figure out my pose, figure out my dress. It’s going to be you and me baby, husband and wife at Madame Tussauds London – boom baby.” Steve Davies, General Manager at Madame Tussauds London, said: “Ranveer is the first 2020 figure that we have announced and what a way to start! We’re privileged that Ranveer will be working closely with us to ensure the figure embodies his inimitable style and huge star power. “Ranveer visited our attraction earlier this year for the unveiling of Deepika Padukone’s figure. As Bollywood’s most in-demand couple it will come as no surprise that we’ve been inundated with requests for Ranveer’s figure to join his wife ever since!” The world-famous attraction is remaining tight lipped about details surrounding Ranveer’s figure until its arrival next year. The London launch will co-inside with the creation of a second figure for Madame Tussauds Singapore. Andre Timmins, Co-FounderDirector- Wizcraft International, added, “IIFA has always been at the forefront in promoting Indian cinema in various facets and has always endeavored to act in the best interest of the Indian Film Industry to
build better avenues for community engagement, cultural exchange, business and trade, tourism and cinema ties. Since 2007, IIFA has been advocating the environmental agenda having launched the concept of ‘greening the IIFA’s’ with bright green carpets instead of traditional red ones to planting trees, to partnering with United Nations and multiple charity organisations to make a difference to our home, our world. We are thankful
for the industry who has helped and supported us during our 20 year old journey that has made IIFA a global phenomenon. And for our homecoming edition we celebrate another successful year for IIFA and Indian cinema we are sure that it will be Magical memorable experience for all.” For tickets and information please visit www. madametussauds.com/London.
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October 2019
SONAM KAPOOR AND DULQUER SALMAAN GROOVE TO THE PARTY ANTHEM OF THE YEAR ‘PEPSI KI KASAM’ Ahead of Sonam K Ahuja and Dulquer Salman’s new movie release The Zoya Factor, the makers of the film have released a brand-new peppy track titled ‘Pepsi ki Kasam’ where Dulquer and Sonam are grooving. The third single of the film is crooned by Benny Dayal and has been composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy with Amitabh Bhattacharya penning the lyrics.
Sonam looks stunning in the video and Dulqueer is full of swag in this brand-new music video. This song is sure set to become the latest party anthem of the year! Sonam K Ahuja took to Twitter to share the new song. She wrote, ‘Get ready with your headphones, ‘cause this new song is sure to be on your playlist! Pepsi Ki Kasan song out.
A CRAZY CHAOTIC LAUGHTER RIOT TO TAKE YOU 600 YEARS BACK IN TIME - BLOCKBUSTER TRAILER OF HOUSEFULL 4 IS OUT NOW
Diwali has come early for the Housefull fans. Ever since the release of its quirky posters, the fourth instalment of India’s biggest comedy franchise has been creating major buzz amongst movie lovers. Following the launch of the posters, fans took to social media to express their excitement for the film’s trailer. Keeping in mind the massive interest in the Housefull franchise, the makers decided on a unique way to launch the highly anticipated trailer of the film. The event that took place in Mumbai, India was screened live simultaneously across the world including in Dubai, Melbourne and London. The Housefull 4 trailer reveals the crux of the storyline at the beginning that the reincarnation comedy is set in two time periods: 1419 and 2019. Then the trailer shifts to the king of Sitam-
garh organising for a swayamvar for his daughters. The king zeroes in on warrior Bala (Akshay Kumar) for Kriti Sanon (Madhu), Bobby Deol (Dharamputra) for Kriti Kharbanda (Meena) and nartaki Bangdu Maharaj (Riteish Deshmukh) for Pooja Hegde (Mala). The first half also offers menacing glimpses of Rana Daggubati who plays the villain in the film. The trailer then fast-forwards the
timeline to 2019, when Akshay Kumar is introduced as Harry, Riteish Deshmukh is Roy and Bobby Deol is Max. Akshay Kumar, who can remember the happenings of his past life as Bala, suddenly realises he is engaged to be married to Pooja Hegde, who is Pooja now. Modern day Riteish’s love interest in the film is Kriti Kharbanda, who is Neha now where as the 2019 version of Bobby Deol is in love with Kriti Sanon, who is Kriti in this life. In a failed attempt, Akshay Kumar tries to explain who’s actually who with reference to 1419 to his friends in an ROFL “uski biwi uski biwi nahi hai... teri biwi hai...” kind of a lengthy dialogue, which leaves all of us confused but in splits. Akshay Kumar tweeted while sharing the trailer “Kaun hogi kiski patni, aur kiski bhabhi hogi kiski biwi! Ek entertaining kahaani laa raha Housefull 4 trailer.”
SKY CINEMA ORIGINAL HOTEL MUMBAI
Sky Cinema is delighted to announce the UK and Irish release of Hotel Mumbai, releasing in cinemas and available for same day viewing on Sky Cinema now. On the 26th November 2008, a wave of devastating terror attacks throughout Mumbai catapulted the bustling Indian metropolis into chaos. In the heart of the city’s tourist district, Jihadist terrorists laid siege to the iconic Taj Palace Hotel, whose guests and staff became trapped in a heroic, daylong fight for survival. Inspired by the stories of survivors of the 2008 Mumbai Attacks, Hotel Mumbai is the powerful, poignant debut of director Anthony Maras, with an ensemble cast that includes Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire, Lion), Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name, The Social Network), Jason Isaacs (The Death Of Stalin, Harry Potter), Nazanin Boniadi (Counterpart, Homeland) and Anupam Kher (Silver Linings Playbook, The Big Sick). Hotel Mumbai announces Antony Maras as a talented new filmmaker, as he emotionally and
viscerally captures one of the most harrowing terrorist attacks of the 21st Century. As well as directing, Maras also co-wrote the film with John Collee, researching heavily to show the event with unrestrained truth. The film’s affecting portrayal has already seen critical and festival success, with its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on 28th September last year. “This is a powerful movie that we think will really resonate with audiences across the whole of UK and Ireland. And, similarly to our other releases, Sky Cinema customers will be able to watch on the same day that Hotel Mumbai is released into cinemas” said Julia Stuart, Head of Acquisitions at Sky Cinema Original Films. “Following on from the success of Extremely Wicked, we’re delighted to be able to share another film that shares a true story with an engaged audience.” HOTEL MUMBAI has been released in UK and Irish cinemas and be available on Sky Cinema now.
LOCAL 2-11
GLOBAL 12-17
BUSINESS 18-21
GLAM 22-28
WEDDINGS 29-33
AKSHAY KUMAR STARRER 2.0
HEALTH 34-35
TRAVEL 36-37
TECH 38-39
FOOD 40-41
MOTORING 42-44
Poster of Lootcase starring RELEASES IN CHINA Kunal Kemmu
After breaking all records at the Indian box office, Akshay Kumar and Rajnikanth starrer 2.0 is all set to have a tremendous run at the China box office. The science fiction magnum opus directed by Shankar is the second highest grossing movie in India of all time. The big budget flick has been released in 48,000 screens across China. The pre-sales of tickets in China started on a great note and earned over Rs. 3.41 crore in the country. The film is definitely set to impress the Chinese audiences. Produced on an estimated budget of Rs.550 crores, 2.0 is the most expensive Indian movie till date. Rajnikanth playing a double role of Dr. Vaseegaran and Chitti the robot has been handed the task of warding off the supernatural powers of Pakshirajan played by megastar Akshay Kumar. Akshay Kumar took to his Twitter page to share the news of the film’s release in China and retweeted the following, “#2Point0InChinaFromToday. Star Alliance is our distributor for #2Point0 in Mainland China. @2Point0movie releasing in a record number of 48000 – 3D screens in China.”
Kunal Kemmu starrer Lootcase to release in cinemas on 11th October Fox Star Studios are excited to announce their next Bollywood film Lootcase, releasing in cinemas on 11th October 2019. Nandan Kumar, played by Kunal Kemmu a middle class, family man finds a suitcase with Rs.10 Crores in a lonely desolate market - on the way back from his night shift. However, he hides it from his morally upright wife Lata and his little son Ayush, whom he dearly loves and wouldn’t trade for anything. Nandan works as a supervisor in a printing press. He pays rent, takes the train and sometimes, bites his tongue and even works the night shift. He now believes the suitcase is the divine answer to all his lower middleclass problems. He starts talking to the suitcase - as if it were his long-lost pal. In the meanwhile, the suitcase’s dark past catches up with him. With absolutely no special skills or talent, the common man has to make a choice: does he fight or does he take flight for survival? Lootcase will see Kunal Khemu in the lead along with Gajraj Rao, Rasika Duggal, Ranvir Shorey, and Vijay Raaz. Directed by Rajesh Krishnan, Lootcase is produced by Fox Star Studios and Soda Films Productions.
SPORTS 45-48
October 2019
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Salman Khan returns in Dabangg 3!
Get. Set. Game on! War New Poster
It is the announcement that Bollywood fans have all been waiting for! Salman Khan Films have announced the release date and posters for the third instalment of Salman Khan starrer Dabangg franchise. The movie will be released on 20th December in four different languages, a perfect Christmas gift for all the fans of the most quirky, fearless and loveable cop, Chulbul Pandey. The makers of the Salman Khan starrer have released four different posters, one for each language that the movie will be released in, with a rendition of Chulbul Pandey’s world-famous catchphrase, ‘Swagat Toh Karo Humara’! As a special treat, the makers have released quirky motion videos for the announcement, in the iconic ‘Chulbul style’. Dabangg 3 will also be Salman Khan’s first movie ever to be dubbed and released in multiple languages and will also see the reunion of Salman Khan and Prabhu Deva who worked together on Salman Khan’s famous action flick, Wanted. According to sources, the decision to release the movie in multiple languages has been taken to cater to the mass appeal that the star possesses where Salman Khan is a Pan-Indian superstar with unparalleled popularity and fan-following and on top of that, Prabhu Deva is one of the biggest South Indian stars in the country.
Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff set their target and are ready to fight till the end in War A film that has left Bollywood fans excited is Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff and Vaani Kapoor starrer War. Touted to be one of the biggest action films of Bollywood, War is directed by Siddharth Anand. With the release date approaching, the makers have released a new poster of the film. Hrithik took to his Instagram profile to share the poster featuring Tiger, Vaani and him in a superlative look. While Hrithik can be seen clad in a leather jacket and has a huge rifle in his hand, Tiger can be seen with a pistol and both actors seemed to have picked their target in this War. Vaani can be seen in a ravishing avatar as she slays in a green dress. In their classic taunting way, Hrithik captioned the poster as “I’ve set my target. What about you? #WARin cinemas now #TeamHrithik.” On the other hand, Tiger also shared the posters and captioned it in a way to reply to Hrithik. Tiger wrote, “Let’s see you try to win this #WAR! In cinemas on 2nd October #TeamTiger #HrithikvsTiger.”
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October 2019
EastEnders Introduces New Sikh Family to the Series
By Manisha Bhanot
The Panesar brothers have made their debut in Albert Square
The hugely popular British soap drama Eastenders has announced the arrival of a new trio on the small-screen this autumn. The Panesar brothers; Vinny, Kherat and Jags are the first Sikh family to star in the show since its 34 years of running. The new characters are being played by actors Jaz Deol, Amar Adatia and Shiv Jolata, who will be making their soap debuts. Insider information has revealed that the brothers have very contrasting personalities but work well together as an implicit team: “they’re a force to be reckoned with.” The youngest of the bunch is Vinny, the troublemaker and rule-breaker. So, viewers can expect the drama to unfold wherever he’s at. He has already begun to ruffle a few feathers in Walford. Respectively, the oldest sibling is Kheerat, an intelligent and confident businessman who is determined to charm his way into just about anything. Fulfilling the role of the big brother, he will undoubtedly have to keep Vinny and Jags out of trouble.
However, as the middle child, Jags unsurprisingly has issues of his own. He’s always seeking approval from others and strives to be in Kheerat’s shoes. Although, he usually seems to leave the rest of the family annoyed at disappointing outcomes of his plans! The trio is seen to be going head to head soon with at least one other family in the show during the upcoming episodes. A quick turn of fate in the characters’ situation sees them staying in Albert Square for the future. Executive Producer Jon Sen said: “A British Asian family of Punjabi Sikh heritage, Kheerat, Jags and Vinny are brothers who turn up in Walford looking to settle a score.”
Actor Jay, who plays Kheerat, said: “I’m very proud and excited to be joining such an iconic show and bringing to life a character that is a reflection of the cultural background that I and many others come from in today’s modern Britain. I can’t wait to get started and for viewers to meet the Panesars.” Actor Amar Adita (Brief Encounters, Dead Ringer, 9/11) who plays Jags added: “My younger self would never have believed I’d be on EastEnders. It’s pretty amazing to be part of one of the most iconic television shows alongside some of the best actors in the business. I really am so grateful.”
Keep that Summer Glow all Year Round with St. Moriz Self-Tanning
By Manisha Bhanot
The iconic brand St. Moriz have released their most advanced range of tanning solutions yet – with high-end formula and a professional quality finish. The rich and moisturising ingredients in this product will ensure you get a long-lasting colour and an after-glow that everyone will be talking about! St. Moriz 5 in 1 Tanning Mousse
St. Moriz tanning mousse if a top of the range solution for those looking to tan on the go and achieve the best and most convenient results. This product is completely vegan-friendly and dermatologically tested. The contents of the bottle have been packed with the best-sourced ingredients that give a BB cream effect and skin smoothing result. With St. Moriz, there are no streaky tan lines, awkward patches or an orange effect. Instead, you’re left with a beautiful olive complexion and natural fragrance. The tan even dries within two minutes, so you’re ready to get dressed and step out to your busy work dinner or for cocktail hour with the girls in an instant! To apply the tan, you can use the totally chic St. Moriz Velvet mitten. Just shake the bottle well for an even application, and apply a small amount onto the glove. With this new, advanced formula, there is no drip or residue. However, we recommend standing in your bathtub or shower while applying the tan, so you don’t touch any surfaces! Once the tan is applied, it will develop between 4-6 hours, after which it should be rinsed off using water only. For the best results – wash any lotions and potions off of your skin before application, and use a moisturiser on any flaky areas!
St. Moriz Body Bronzer and Highlighter
St. Moriz is a cute compact and instant solution to bronzed and illuminating skin. The 2-in1 product comprises of a powder bronzer and highlight. It can be applied on top of your make-up and all over the body for a stunning photo-effect finish. The powders can be used on top of your tan for a further build-up or to add definition and dimension to your look. They can also be used to contour the nose, cheekbones and forehead or add a light dusting of colour for healthy and glowy skin. The size of the compact is the perfect fit for your make-up bag or purse and can be re-applied throughout the day using a brush or sponge. Both the bronzer and highlight are greatly pigmented, longlasting and easy to blend out – perfect for adding that sultry finish to your look during the day or on a night out!
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
October 2019
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October 2019
Indie Pop Collective Easy Wanderlings Return with ‘My Place to You’ “The songs are story-centric, journey-based and vary between playful as well as melancholic” Rolling Stone
Artist: Easy Wanderlings Release: ‘My Place to You’ Genre: Indie Pop Having received support from Rolling Stone India, Red Bull Music, Pure M Magazine and shared the stage with Alt J and Anoushka Shankar, Indie Pop collective Easy Wanderlings
make their return with ‘My Place to You‘ featuring singles ‘Beneath the Fireworks’ and ‘Madeline’ Stream Easy Wanderlings on SoundCloud now Since the release of their debut album ‘As Written in the Stars’ back in 2017, the collective have received
support from National Radio &Television and performed extensively across diverse spaces such as Sofar Sessions and major music festivals in India, sharing the stage with artists like Jose Gonzales, Anoushka Shankar, Alt J and Incubus, to name a few. 2017 saw the band receive a plethora of success and clear up at awards shows, winning; Beehype Magazine’s Best Album of 2017, A Humming Heart’s Most promising debut of 2017 and Rising sounds of the country- DSSC. Now globally recognised for their delicate and soothing melodies, Red Bull Music credited them as “Top 10 Indie artists to watch in 2018”. Easy
Wanderlings were also awarded the Chill Song of the Year at the VIMA Music Awards 2019, Kuala Lumpur and National IRRA Award, 2018 for Best Independent Song Recording. When asked about the tracks, Easy Wanderlings stated: “The arching theme between both tracks is based on the people who selflessly give a part of themselves, their home, their body and soul to a loved one. Both the songs are tonally and energy wise different, but seamlessly flow into each other. Mood wise, it’s an emotional rollercoaster.” Easy Wanderlings have released their new song ‘My Place to You’ via CDBaby, which is out now.
AKSHAY KUMAR
TAKES THE MUMBAI METRO
BEATS TRAFFIC LIKE A BOSS
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar who always surprises his fans with his antics took to his social media handles to share a video message of him travelling by the Mumbai Metro alongside his director Raj Mehta who is directing his next venture Good Newwz. In the short video, we can see the Mission Mangal actor praising the Mumbai metro and explaining why he opted for the metro instead of travelling by the car. The superstar stated that had he taken a car it would have taken him 2 hours, but Raj Mehta suggested the metro instead and he reached his destination in 20 minutes. Akshay Kumar further praised the Mumbai metro said that it is the only transportation that runs on an elevated path and doesn’t get affected even if there is a water logging underneath it. The actor later showed the crowded metro and mentioned he was happy that no one recognised him. Akshay Kumar tweeted saying ‘My ride for today, the @ MumMetro…travelled #LikeABoss from Ghatkopar to Versova beating the peak hours traffic’
Vidya Balan as Shakuntala Devi
– Human Computer
Sony Pictures Networks Productions (SPN Productions), the film division of Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) along with Abundantia Entertainment has announced its upcoming film based on the life of Shakuntala Devi. The film brings to life the legendary and inspiring story of Shakuntala Devi popularly known as ‘The Human Computer’. Shakuntala Devi took the world by storm with her talent of making incredibly swift calculations from a very young age. Despite no formal education, Shakuntala Devi made a name for herself globally as a ‘math genius’. Her great mathematical skills even find a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records. Powerhouse talent, Vidya Balan, will be essaying the title role of Shakuntala Devi. The film is produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions and Vikram Malhotra. Anu Menon and Nayanika Mahtani have written the screenplay and Ishita Moitra is the dialogue writer of the film. Principal photography of the film has commenced today and this unique tale of the human mind and human relationships will see a worldwide release in the summer of 2020. Sneha Rajani, Studio Head, Sony Pictures Networks Productions says, “On very few occasions, you get an opportunity to tell a story of an individual who has had a journey that has inspired the entireworld. The achievements of Shakuntala Devi are unparalleled globally. She was exceptionally gifted and everyone was in awe of her including myself. I have had the honour of meeting her thrice. Vikram and his team are great to work with and Vidya is someone I wanted to work with forever! I am looking forward to beginning this new association and bring this phenomenal story to our audience.” Anu Menon, Director says, “I have always been fascinated by Shakuntala Devi and truly felt that hers is an incredible story that had to be told. She was an extraordinary woman, who lived ahead of her times and on her own terms, unapologetically. From Vidya Balan to the rest of the cast and crew, and my producers – Vikram and Sony Pictures Networks Productions, I am so glad that all the elements have come together for us to put our best foot forward. I’m delighted that everyone will finally get to witness it on the big screen.” Vikram Malhotra, Producer, Abundantia Entertainment Pvt Ltd says,“Abundantia has always been at the forefront of supporting progressive and insightful stories. I am delighted that we are extending our content philosophy further with this exciting story on the life and times of Shakuntala Devi. Shakuntala Devi is, even now, one-of-a-kind and I’m certain that this unique story, especially with the amazing Vidya Balan in the lead, will connect with audiences across generations. I also eagerly look forward to a new partnership with Sony Pictures Networks Productions so that together we can take storytelling to a new level.”
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October 2019
WEDDINGS
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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
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sum of £50,000 upwards, which is more than 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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October 2019
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October 2019
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October 2019
Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties 2019 Study Research Revealed Largest Study of Its Kind Reveals While 1-in-10 Couples Combine Celebrations with Their Partner, Men Spend More Than Women on Attending a Bachelor or Bachelorette Party
WeddingWire, a leader in the global wedding planning industry, has released findings from its 2019 Bachelor & Bachelorette Study, highlighting the average length and cost, the most popular activities, and the top destinations of prenuptial festivities. While the occasional bachelor or bachelorette party is hosted for 5+ days (2%) and may take place in international destinations (females are 4% more likely to leave the US) inclusive of the Caribbean, Mexico and even Asia, most events last 2-3 days and take place in the US (92%). The average cost to attend a bachelorette party is $708, while bachelor party attendees spend $1,044 on average. This cost includes transportation, accommodations, personalized swag, gifts, group activities and more. Men pay a bit more for prewedding celebrations, on average, for a number of reasons; one of which is their average guest count is lower at 8 attendees vs 10 attendees for a bachelorette party.
2019 Bachelor & Bachelorette Party Trends Core Activities Are Similar, But Women Customize Décor and Attire More There’s no shortage of alcohol-related celebrations for bachelor and bachelorette parties, and while the most popular activities are the same for both men and women (going out for food and drinks, clubbing and dancing, and barhopping) other activities vary significantly. Women are nearly 20 percent more likely to spend their bachelorette party at a spa (25% vs 8%) or a nail salon getting manicures and pedicures (22% vs 3%) than men, while men prefer sporting events (12% vs 3%), casinos (22% vs 14%) and golf (8% vs 1%). Spring and Summer Celebrations Take the Cake The majority of bachelor and bachelorette parties take place in the spring and summer seasons in preparation for the more popular times to wed (summer and fall). The most popular months for bachelor parties include April (15%), May (16%) and June (14%), with men being 4% more likely to celebrate in June than women. The most popular months for bachelorette parties are also April (18%), May (14%) and June
Top Bachelor Party Destinations 1. Las Vegas, NV 2. Miami, FL 3. New York, NY 4. Los Angeles, CA 5. Chicago, IL 6. Tampa, FL 7. Houston, TX 8. New Orleans, LA 9. Orlando, FL 10. Atlantic City, NJ (10%), with 6 percent more bachelor party attendees noting their party took place in the summer than women, who prefer spring shindigs. It’s a Party in the USA…9 Out of 10 Times While women are slightly more likely to travel internationally than men (10% vs 6% for bachelor parties), most to-beweds are celebrating domestically for their prenuptial parties (90% for bachelorettes and 94% for bachelor parties). The global jet-setters are most likely to visit the Caribbean (3% for bachelorette parties and 1% for bachelor parties), Mexico (1% for both bachelorette and bachelor parties), Hawaii (2% for both
Top Bachelorette Party Destinations 1. Las Vegas, NV 2. Los Angeles, CA 3. New York, NY 4. Miami, FL 5. Nashville, TN 6. Dallas, TX 7. Orlando, FL 8. New Orleans, LA 9. Philadelphia, PA 10. Atlanta, GA bachelorette and bachelor parties), Asia (1% for both bachelorette and bachelor parties), and Alaska (1% for both bachelorette and bachelor parties). Men are nearly 2 times more likely to go to Las Vegas for a bachelor party than women, yet it’s still the most popular destination for both men and women. Men are more likely to fly to bachelor parties (22% vs 17%), while women are more likely to take their personal car (48% vs 42%). Wherever the destination, males and females are 2.5 times more likely to book a hotel or resort over a rental house for accommodations (44% of men and women prefer hotels and resorts vs. 17% for a rental house).
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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.
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. Chandni’s words over chai seven years ago is 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 1: Mrs Self-Love I recently had a long-overdue chat with my friend Layla. Layla works fulltime and is happily married with no children. Since the wedding three years ago, she has been living with her in-laws. Layla respects tradition. She did what was expected of her upto to a certain point. She did her own thing and held onto her sense of self. She reminded me of the first bride Chandni mentioned. I was curious to know: how do you find quality time with your husband whilst living with in-laws? Living with in-Laws Layla smiled saying, ‘I love it. I’m part of the family. You always hear these awful stories about in-laws being so difficult. I feel so lucky. My father-in-law is the happiest man in the world. My mother-in-law is more reserved. She tends to moan a lot’. Layla had to adjust to her mother-in-law’s communication style. She said that at any point when she found her disrespectful, Layla would take her up on it. She would politely say, ‘I don’t think that’s very fair’. Her mother-in-law was receptive and corrected her behaviour. Here are some of Layla’s tips: Tip 1: Self-love It’s important for you to be on your priority list. Each and every day. Honour yourself through self-care and self-love. This will enhance your ability to know and love others when you fill up your own love tank. Tip 2: Communication is Key After getting married, Layla wanted to go out a lot. Her husband was happy staying at home with her. She said, ‘I would get frustrated and end up going out by myself’. After a few months, he expressed to her, ‘I feel left out and I feel lonely in our marriage’. They both agreed that from now on they will communicate better if they are unhappy or upset. Just by being honest with eachother about what’s on their mind meant they avoided unhelpful communication (i.e. silent treatment, passive aggression). Layla and her husband identified that they both enjoyed doing activities in nature together. Tip 3: Date Night Findings from psychological studies show that couples who try to coordinate their schedules and have shared time improve their marital well-being (Hamermesh, 2002; Gager & Sanchez 2003). Layla shared, ‘Every Wednesday or Friday, we have date night. We plan our dates around what we enjoy doing together. We meet at the station after work and go for a meal, catch a movie or go for a walk in the park.’ Tip 4: Expressing Gratitude ‘We have our own little ritual. Every night, after eating dinner with my in-laws, we wash up and spend some time together as a family. We go up to our room before 9pm. We talk about our day and express gratitude about the little things. The more grateful we are, the happier we feel. We use this time to appreciate eachother’. Verbally appreciating your spouse fills up their love tank.
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October 2019
HEALTH
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NHS ramps up support for survivors of FGM
Hundreds of survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM) will be able to access expert care, support and treatment earlier thanks to a new network of NHS ‘one stop shop’ clinics being launched. More than 1,300 women over 18 are expected to benefit from the highly specialised FGM support being rolled out to eight new centres across England as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. Typically, the NHS is first able to identify and begin to offer support to survivors of FGM when they are pregnant, through maternity services. Over the last three months almost 1,000 women and girls were identified as having been affected. The new network of FGM support clinics - opening in Birmingham, Bristol, London and Leeds - will aim to reach women before they are pregnant, providing those over the age of 18 with a range of services all under one roof. They will be led by specialist doctors, midwives and nurses, and provide access to specially-trained counsellors for emotional support, as well as FGM Health Advocates for advice on accessing other services locally. The launch of the clinics will be marked by Hilary Garratt, the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England and lead on safeguarding, who has officially opened the new services in London. Hilary Garratt, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: “These new
NHS clinics will benefit hundreds of women who have suffered this most severe form of abuse and violence. These are clinics for women, run by women.” “We’ve listened closely to survivors and their advocates and designed these brand new services with them, meaning that these clinics, and the highly-trained staff who will work in it, represents a real step-change in the quality and timeliness of support the NHS provides.” “Survivors of FGM deserve to be heard and supported - and that is exactly what the NHS is working with them
and others to achieve. Not only are we supporting individual women, but the impact this has on their families, communities and of equal importance, the next generation.” Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I’ve been incredibly moved by the stories of girls and women who have been subjected to FGM, and am determined to do everything I can to support the survivors of this horrific act. FGM continues to devastate lives and it is vital the NHS does what it can to help. “It’s absolutely crucial we reach more women so they can access support
services that take care of mental, emotional, physical and clinical needs. These clinics will have a profound impact – helping women who have been violated in the most traumatic of ways to move on from this violence and lead happier, healthier lives.” With highly trained clinicians and staff including FGM Health Advocates on hand to provide support, women accessing the walk-in clinics will be able to talk openly about their experience of FGM and discuss possible treatment options. These will include de-infibulation, a minor procedure that is performed to divide the scar tissue which narrows the vagina in certain cases of FGM, and which can reduce complications during childbirth if it is performed before a woman becomes pregnant. The service will also be available to women outside of childbearing years. As the majority of women who have had FGM come into contact with NHS services after they have fallen pregnant - usually between the ages of 25 and 35 – the new clinics will prioritise swift support and treatment for women between 18 and 25, before they fall pregnant. The clinics will also work with local community groups - including Women’s Health and Family Services, Manor Gardens (Dahlia Project), Forward, and AYDA Centre - to prevent future cases by seeking to change the culture and thinking around FGM.
This will include education on the medical and psychological impact of FGM as well as the legal implications of carrying out or participating in it. Damage caused by FGM affects women differently and each woman’s care package will be tailored to their specific needs, with any women needing further support being referred to other specialist NHS services, local partner organisations and voluntary groups. The eight new clinics represent the latest development in how the NHS is playing its part in supporting the victims of FGM as well as reducing the risk of there being more victims in the future. This includes improving data sharing and staff training to help identify victims and potential victims, and national support to help local health groups commission the kind of services women who have been subjected to FGM need.
AW Facts Did you know? Exercising increases your energy even when you’re tired.
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Arya Sunil, Accounting and Beverly Hills Formula Teeth Management Graduate, Diagnosed Whitening and Mouth Care with Crohn’s Disease in 2013
By Manisha Bhanot
Arya started to get unusual symptoms on her first day of work experience at BT when she was 15, and as time went on, she progressively got worse until she couldn’t keep anything down and was in severe pain. After a visit to the GP, Arya was told she had an infection and that she just needed to keep her fluids up. However, Arya continued to have symptoms and a few weeks later she had lost a lot of weight. By the time she saw her third GP, Arya was escalated quickly to hospital, where a CT and sigmoidoscopy confirmed her diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease. Since her diagnosis Arya has tried numerous medications, including steroids and immunosuppressants, as well as developing complications such as a fistula and an abscess. She says, “I had to deal with not only the rapid progression and side effects of my aggressive Crohn’s but also South Indian ‘aunties’’ and ‘uncles’’ comments about my weight and remedies to cure me. I faced so much ignorance because of a complete lack of knowledge, I’d try and dress to look bulkier so aunties didn’t shove food in my face and
uncles didn’t give me speeches about weight loss at parties and events. I was always ashamed to talk about Crohn’s but honestly I do not want anyone to feel the way others made me feel. If I need the toilet best believe I’m not shy to announce it. I no longer foundation over my surgery scars because I’m no longer ashamed.”
As well as the stigma Arya faced within her culture, she has also experienced stigma when using an accessible toilet or needing a seat on the tube. Even her university friends found it difficult to understand why Arya needed an en-suite bathroom, until they witnessed themselves how ill she could get. Arya says, “People don’t always understand because it’s an invisible condition. Sometimes people think I’m overreacting because I look healthy on the outside.” Now Arya has successfully graduated from university and although she is very conscious of her condition day-to-day, she has a really positive attitude and wants to raise awareness. She currently self-manages her condition and has made changes to her lifestyle including not drinking coffee, alcohol or meat. “I’m a Crohnie and I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing! I fight through pain and side effects because I’m so much more than just my Crohn’s.” This year, Arya took place in Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s London WALK IT event and raised £250 amount for the charity. “It was so interesting and refreshing to talk to others who knew exactly what I was going through.”
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October 2019
TRAVEL
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La Bella Vita, Luxury Cruising from Venice to Mantua
David Powell spent a week on the luxury barge La Bella Vita, cruising the Italian Renaissance from Venice to Mantua in considerable style! La Bella Vita is a stylish 20-passenger vessel with a typically modern Italian interior offering a high standard of comfortable, fully air-conditioned accommodation. There are two upper-deck suites and eight lower deck staterooms. All cabins are en-suite and have a closet with drawer, storage space under the bed, reading lights, a mirror and safe. The eight staterooms have large picture windows while the two suites have a Juliet balcony. There’s a bright and very spacious dining room and a lovely lounge/bar area with books, games and a piano. Outside on top is a vast sundeck with sun canopies and comfortable sun loungers to view the magnificent scenery. There’s also a spa pool to enjoy and ten bicycles which can be used on certain days depending on La Bella Vita’s location. After one prosecco or two, we set sail along the Giudecca Canal for the short cruise into the heart of Venice. What a
start, imagine seeing the most famous Venetian monuments from the river and then mooring near the Naval Museum alongside luxurious private yachts. From here it’s just a short walk to St Marks Square, past the Gondolas, the white limestone Bridge of Sighs to the fabulous Doge’s Palace. The royal site is where a private guided tour has been arranged by Giulia. Our group also take in the sights of St Marks Square. Then it’s a stroll back to La Bella Vita for the first of our delicious dinners freshly prepared onboard with regional specialities, red and white wines, dessert and cheeseboard. Drinks included in the cruise are non-alcoholic beverages, tea and coffee, while the well-stocked bar is open 24 hours. There’s the opportunity to stroll into Venice again after dinner should you choose. At the beginning of day two, we’re given a chance to visit the Murano glass factory. Soon we are being whisked by
a private taxi boat to the nearby island
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of Murano. Here we enjoy a private tour
www.asianworldnews.co.uk seeing how Murano glass is produced first hand. Six showrooms are packed with hundreds of pieces of superb outstanding Murano glass items ranging in price from 10 euros to thousands. After returning to La Bella Vita and following lunch on board, we say goodbye to Venice and set off along the Venice lagoon to the pretty town of Pellestrina our mooring for the night. Before dinner we work off a few calories with a bike ride along the footpath near the sea wall, there’s very little traffic to worry about. The following day we sail into Chiogga, transfer to a small traditional boat for a tour of Chioggia’s pretty canals. We reach the colourful fish market, and our group happily helps choose fresh fish and seafood. On our return to La Bella Vita, we start cruising along the River Po. Captain Roger stopped for us to take photos of pink flocking flamingo as we head upriver to Taglio di Po enjoying sensational views on the way. Here we stop for the night and a special dinner has been arranged ashore at the beautiful 17th Century Villa Ca’Zen. The venue is a huge private stately home close to the river where Lord Byron courted the Countess Giuccioli and wrote some of his best poetry. We were hosted by the owners of this magnificent building welcomed with prosecco and canapés, a tour of the gardens and chapel followed by a beautiful dinner. The weather on our cruise had been fantastic all week. There are several low bridges on our final route, and the crew has to dismantle the sun deck canopy. Andrea, the 2nd captain, makes sure we all keep our heads down and then we arrive at the captivating lakeside setting of Mantua. We have free time and a guided tour of the 14th Century Ducal Palace. Tonight it’s the Captain’s farewell party where the crew joins us for a fabulous night; we all agree what a super cruise this has been. More Information European Waterways offer luxury hotel barging along the canals and waterways of Europe. European Waterways are currently offering 10% off charters on a number of departures in 2020, valid when booked before 13th September 2019. Tel: 01753 598555 or Toll Free from USA 1 877 879 8808 Website: europeanwaterways.com
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October 2019
Chi, I like you a Lot!
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Exploring Illinois and all-things American Last month I got the chance to visit Chicago, one of the largest cities in the USA, and experience everything I could of American food and culture! Also called the wind-city, Chicago is renowned for its bold architecture. It has an impressive skyline, made up by well-known monuments such as the Willis Tower, Hancock Building, and many art institutes and museums. Day 1
ing lights. Later we arrived in the midst of Millennium Park and visited the Bean – masses of people surrounded the site to see their distorted reflections in the polished steel of the shape. Shortly afterwards, we left the hustle and bustle of downtown behind and cut through Grant Park to see Buckingham Fountain – our final stop for the day. The fountain consists of three tiers and is surrounded by sculptures of water shooting horses and many other smaller sprinklers that make up the impressive pool. Day 2 from out of state to enjoy their time off in the bustling lakeside city. We parked downtown and stopped off for a quick bite to eat at Velvet Tacos. Afterwards, we drove down to the Shed Aquarium, from where you can see an expressive full-scale view of the city’s monumental skyline. Following the shoreline, it’s easy to reach Chicago’s Hollywood Beach, where we spent the afternoon sunbathing in the sizzling 30-degree heat. I even decided to take a dip into Lake Michigan. However, sadly, the sun had not warmed up the cold water enough for a swim!
My first day in Chicago comprised of beautiful weather, and we decided to take a short stroll down the River Walk. We passed over Michigan Avenue Bridge and the not-so-favoured Trump Tower, close to which locals were selling gimmick trump heads and plastic turds! However, this didn’t dampen the serene beauty of the river. Numerous yachts and tourist boats cut across the spotless aquamarine water. For lunch, we decided to eat at a local ‘Veggie Grill’, which offers a great selection of dishes if you’re also on a Vegan or Vegetarian diet! After dinner, we walked past some of the most famous Riviera and Goodman Chicago theatres, which were hung with a flare of neon signage and flash-
AW Facts Did you know? Tourists spend the most amounts of cash in Dubai.
My second day in Illinois was just as warm and welcoming as the first. We began the afternoon by driving to the nearby city of Evanston in our car rental. We dined at a cosy IndoChinese Restaurant called Joy Yee’s Noodle Kitchen and had plates of spiced potatoes and crispy stir-fry. After this, it was a quick pit-stop to a local dessert parlour for traditional Japanese rolled ice-cream, topped with fruit sauce and jelly sweets. Our drive ended at the Bahai’ House of Worship. The site is a peaceful and serene marble temple inspired by middleeastern architecture. The monument was home to its own tranquil gardens and fountains; we even spotted some baby rabbits frolicking the nearby foliage! Inside the temple stands a sombre reflection hall where guest are encouraged to perform silent meditation. You can look up to catch a glimpse of the building’s impressive ceiling designs and golden etched Arabic writing. Day 3 On my third day in Chicago, it was Labour Day. The city was packed by tourists and fellow Americans venturing
Day 4 Later in the week, I finally got the chance to see the overly Instagrammed Chicago Skydeck. Here we could see the skyline from an impressive bird’s eye view, on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower! We took the train downtown and then the long walk down the Magnificent Mile – where most of Chicago’s prominent designer outlets are situated. When we had walked off the previous night’s deep dish pizzas, we took the elevator up to the top of the building.
After some model shots on the ledge of the tower, we made a quick pit-stop at Starbucks and headed to The Sugar Factory. The venue is famed for its hosting of a long list of celebrity guests, from the likes of Nicki Minaj and Kylie Jenner. The Sugar factory serves goblets and mini cocktails of a variety of delicious fruit flavours, as well as a range of mouth-watering main dishes and desserts. Day 5 On my final full day in the US, it was decided that I couldn’t leave without seeing Navy Pier! The location is stocked with an impressive harbour of boats and amusement park rides, including a swing carousel, merry go-ride, and climbing wall. There is also a gigantic Ferris wheel which gives a fantastic view of the bay area and down below! Afterwards, we walked back to the city centre for a quick bite at the Cheese Cake Factory to sample their impressive cakes before heading back home. By Manisha Bhanot
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October 2019
TECHNOLOGY
Survey Reveals What Office Technology Workers Want and How it Affects HR
Hire Intelligence’s recent survey discusses the least popular pieces of office equipment and how employees really feel about company spending. After surveying 2000 workers, the survey reveals some key ingredients to better employee productivity. It often feels like there is more technology than ever to deal with in the course of our working lives. Contemporary offices are a forest of technology, with mobile phones, laptops, desktops, printers, scanners, screens and tablets all supposedly being utilised to make our lives easier. But, what do we actually need to get the job done? Hire Intel-
ligence have conducted an in-depth survey into the tech office workers actually want, what they actually use and whether it is fit for purpose. The survey covers 4 key areas of concern: technology, flexibility, productivity and motivation. From unused tech and company overspend to laptoplifestyles and in-demand upskilling opportunities, all bases are covered when it comes to the workforce of today and what they’re looking for. Some key findings include: Only 43% of office workers think that their computers are fit for purpose. 38% said that an office laptop would
significantly improve their working life; followed by wireless charging points and tablets. 48% of office workers thought their company should spend extra revenue on improving office technology. Throughout the survey, there were some surprising discoveries. One might not think that combined printer/scanner/copiers were quite so desirable, or that office music is actually more a hindrance than a help. Furthermore, after better financial remuneration, technology and training were the most popular areas for extra spending - suggesting that career development, great equipment and flexibility with their tech are more important to office workers than leisure activities, sustainability or childcare packages. Speaking about the survey, Hire Intelligence General Manager, Mark Bates said that “this survey has thrown up some interesting considerations for business owners. It would appear that employees are incredibly tech-savvy, but aren’t being asked what is it they actually require. Business owners and managers may find this survey useful when it comes to employee satisfaction, cutting costs and managing overspend.”.
Most Workers Would Prefer to be Replaced by a Robot than a Human
While people generally prefer to see jobs go to people rather than to robots, this preference reverses when they consider their own jobs. In that case, they prefer to be replaced by robots, new research from Stefano Puntoni, Professor of Marketing at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) reveals. In an article published in Nature Human Behaviour today, co-authored by Armin Granulo and former RSM faculty Christoph Fuchs, findings show that people experience more negative feelings when they are replaced by another person than when they are replaced by a robot. This creates a psychological incentive for people to prefer being replaced by robots. However, while comparing one’s abilities to a robot may be less of a concern to people’s self-worth in the short run, robotic replacement is perceived as more threatening to people’s economic situation in the long run. “This is the first paper to explore the unique psychological correlates of technological unemployment. As more and more occupations are affected by automation, this is an increasingly important topic. Interestingly, when technology replaces human workers, it has a unique psychological effect. People realise that the differences in abilities between robots and themselves might not be
short-lived but permanent, indicating skill obsolescence,” says Professor Puntoni. “We hope that, particularly in times when policymakers are discussing strategies intended to support workers who have been displaced by technology, our work encourages more research on the psychological consequences of technological unemployment before technological progress disrupts specific jobs and occupations.” The researchers indicate that their findings can help develop programmes to cope with negative consequences of workers being replaced by intelligent machines. Such
programmes can help to reemploy job seekers and reduce negative effects on mental and physical health. For instance, the research shows that those workers who attribute their job loss to automation would benefit from resources wholly dedicated to interventions targeted at upgrading skills and retraining. As technological progress is expected to affect millions of workers in a wide variety of occupations in the coming decades, it is important for the stability of society that we understand potential threats to the psychological wellbeing of affected workers, and how this transition will affect their long-term economic prospects.
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Brands and Consumers are Now More Connected via Messaging By Khalid Karim - Technology Correspondent Messaging on platforms is on the rise with four of the top apps doing more for offering engagement for users than the four big social media networks. As a result, top brands are now trying to capitalise on this trend and integrate them into their wider digital marketing strategy. A recent survey commissioned by Facebook, conducted across nine different competences of messaging use, provided some valuable insights into what users are looking for. Facebook continues to monitor consumer trends, what drives the business messaging, and what they are looking for from such interactions. People are also using the messaging to connect with celebrity culture and brands they already use. Almost 90% of engagement in conversation commerce happens through social media and messaging platforms which takes place on Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. That is very important to know when building your brand and
messaging strategy; consumers are also looking to engage via the apps and tools they already use. Research also suggests that being active and responsive can drive significant benefits in regards to consumer trust. Nearly 1 in 3 messaging consumers indicated that they chat with businesses to determine if they’re trustworthy and credible. This type of communication creates an opportunity for brands and businesses to offer accessibility for immediate interaction which in turn builds trust when done right. Messenger and WhatsApp are now introducing opportunities to users in the form of online shopping which untimately increases consumerism. There is a shift in consumer buying behaviour, where they start their online shopping journey via social media messaging platforms. In conclusion, there are some valuable insights to integrate into your digital strategy. Current stats should make you rethink and seriously consider messaging to be put into your plan in 2020.
Data for the Future
By Muhammad Nadeem Jahangir - Technology Correspondent
The large volume of data is called big data; it is the term that describes huge amounts of data that is being generated from different sources in a real-time environment. In today’s world, big data has its footprints in almost all the fields of science from biology, astronomy, social sciences, etc. In biology, large databases record proteins and genomes; in astronomy — petabytes of data from sky surveys are received; in social science — millions of posts and tweets go around the internet. The flood of data can bring out human insight and analysis, which can make sense only with the help of advances in computing. On top of that comes information technology, a field that is committed to computational advancements to improve the quality of life. Data has always been an important factor for humans to analyse and make decisions. Without data, we cannot have the knowledge, and without knowledge, we cannot analyse or predict future outcomes. The usage of data leads us to the emerging field of computer sciences known as Artificial Intelligence. Underpinning all this is the explosion of data. Data is growing faster than ever before. By the year 2020, it’s estimated that every human being on the planet will be creating 1.7 megabytes of new information every second! There will be 50 billion smart connected devices in the world, all developed to collect, analyse and share data. This data is vital to Artificial Intelligence. Computer Scientists define AI as a journey, and
the journey to AI starts with ‘the basics’ of identifying and understanding the data. Where does it reside? How can we access it? Of course, some data may be ‘difficult’ – it might be unstructured, it may need refinement, and it could be in disparate locations and from different sources. Then that data will be processed through different types of ‘data pre-processing’ stages. The next step in the journey is identifying and understanding the patterns and trends hidden in the data with smart analytics techniques. Only once these steps of the journey have been completed we can progress to AI and machine learning, to gain further insight into the past and future performance of organisations, and to help solve business problems more efficiently. This is where un-happening happens, and manpower reduces, one well trained model help predict trends for the next 50 or more years. This is how data is driving the future and will be the fuel of the future as quoted by many ML Scientists.
LOCAL 2-11
GLOBAL 12-17
BUSINESS 18-21
GLAM 22-28
WEDDINGS 29-33
HEALTH 34-35
TRAVEL 36-37
TECH 38-39
ENGINEERING COULD BE ONE OF THE MOST POORLY UNDERSTOOD STEM CAREERS
FOOD 40-41
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SPORTS 45-48
October 2019
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Royal Academy of Engineering highlights that misconceptions about engineers and lack of understanding of the profession means young people are missing opportunities to make a difference to our world
• New research1 has revealed that 76% of young people aged 11 – 19 do not know a lot about what people working in engineering do • Engineering careers can have a positive impact on our future society and environment. While 42% of young people aged 11 -19 think making a difference and having a positive impact on the world is important when choosing a career, almost half had not ever thought about becoming an engineer • The Royal Academy of Engineering is launching This is Engineering Day on 6 November to raise awareness of what an engineer is, and to celebrate those who shape our future Engineering could be one of the most poorly understood STEM careers, with new research from EngineeringUK showing that over three quarters (76%) of young people aged 11 – 19 do not know a lot about what those working in engineering do – and this could have far-reaching implications for all of us. Indeed, according to the World Economic Forum, there are many engineering roles that will be crucial in positively shaping our future society and protecting our environment. However, the UK has an annual shortfall of up to 59,000 engineers every year, and research shows that the majority of
young people aged 11 – 19 ‘probably or definitely’ do not want to become an engineer (52%). Their parents need support in developing a greater understanding of engineering as well: 72% of parents do not know a lot about what people working in the profession do, and yet 63% of 11 – 16-year olds would consider going to their parents for careers advice. The World Economic Forum has identified a number of jobs that will be in demand in the future and are crucial to shaping the world we live in for the better – and many of these important roles involve engineering:
-New Technology Specialists, who will make solar and wind energy more flexible and reliable by advancing energy storage capacity so that we can store vast amounts of energy from renewable sources to help us meet peak demand, mitigate future energy crises, and move away from carbon-emitting fuels. -Information Security Analysts, who will make cyberspace safer, for example by preventing cyber-attacks or developing blockchain technologies that enable authenticated and transparent digital voting -Software and Applications Developers and Analysts, who will, for example, enhance virtual reality (VR) for use in healthcare. Engineers are already developing virtual reality healthcare systems, complete with treadmills, to help people with Parkinson’s improve mobility, and exploring applications of VR that help sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and stroke. -Innovation Professionals who will, for example, provide access to clean water in the developing world, and improve water efficiency in developed countries through new strategies for reducing water use. While the research shows 42% of young people aged 11 – 19 said that ‘making a difference’ or ‘having an impact’ would be an important factor to them when deciding upon a career, almost half had not ever thought about becoming an engineer. With an ambition to turn engineering from one of the most poorly understood, to one of the best understood and
in-demand careers, the Royal Academy of Engineering is launching This is Engineering Day on the 6th November as part of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week. This is Engineering Day is a new national awareness day to increase understanding of what an engineer is and to celebrate the roles that will contribute to shaping our futures.
Two Pakistani Engineers Create a Robotic Arm that is controlled by the Brain!
Mohammad Awais and Anas Nazir are two Pakistani engineers who have recently developed a prosthetic arm (denoting an artificial body part) which can be controlled by giving commands via the brain. The Pakistani engineers developed the prosthetic arm, to help differentlyabled people. A prosthesis is the process in which the artificial substitute replaces the knee, leg or arm. A prosthesis can be designed for functional or cosmetic reasons and are developed to help joints such as the hip, knee, elbow, ankle, and fingers. Engineers, computer scientists and biomedical engineers around the world have been working on developing affordable prosthetic limbs, on helping anyone with a disability. The two Pakistani engineers who developed the prosthetic arm started working on bio-robotics during their final year at university. The project started in 2015. The engineers started with a normal mechanical arm and then began developing their own. While speaking to Dawn News in an interview, Mohammed Awais said that:
“Bionics was aimed at making a name for ourselves in the world of bio-robotics. Now we are working on bionic-based lower limbs and exoskeletons.” Exoskeleton robots aren’t new. There have been many studies and designs that focus on lower limbs. The team’s approach focuses on the knee joints, which is one of the most complex mechanical systems within the human body. The Bionik’s prosthetic arm is fitted with sensors that enable users to move the prosthetic limbs by simply thinking about making the movements. According to recent reports, the two Pakistani engineers have helped more than 30 disabled people. The information shared by the media states the prototype’s fingers and hand movements responding to signals which are transmitted by the brain. Prosthetic limbs are usually expensive, especially for children who require new ones as they grow. By 3D- printing the bulk of the limb, the costs are substantially decreased. Bioniks Prosthetics cost $2000 and are made in Pakistan. US-based
Grand View Research states that the robotic prosthetics market is expected to reach $1.76 billion by 2025. Anas Niaz discussed the detailed mechanism of the prosthetic arm and stated that: “We place sensors at locations in the body where the brain sends electric currents or signals to fingers, commanding them to move.” He further said: “The brain generates wave signals, which moves to the muscles and we extract that signal from sensors which translates it into arm motions.” “We designed our own device and sensor, and we use the data it generates. The AI [artificial intelligence] we use knows what sort of signal is for what action.” Bionik’s mission is to ‘facilitate humanity in every field of life.’ The company made headlines in Pakistan when they 3D-printed the first bionic arm for a five-year-old boy. This was inspired by the film Iron Man. Bioniks created a bright red arm with a light beam, to give a superhero feel to the prosthetic, and to boost the child’s confidence.
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October 2019
FOOD
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Asian World’s Kitchen
Alam Restaurant Review
By Manisha Bhanot
Enter a world of flavours from the Middle-East when you visit Alam Restaurant, Coventry Road, in Birmingham. Situated in one of the UK’s largest Somali communities, the name of the restaurant is a translation from the country’s native language, meaning ‘world’ or ‘globe.’ The venue lives up to this universal theme. Each seating area is named after a specific country or place, whose map is engraved carefully on the every table top. The inside of the restaurant is also allocated with many aesthetically pleasing scenes and arrangements. From the ceiling hangs a contemporary spherical chandelier. To the left of the reception is a delicate and blooming artificial cherry blossom tree. Towards the back, you’ll find an engraving in Arabic taken from
the Holy Qu’ran: ‘So which favours from our Lord will you deny?’ The restaurant menu incorporates a range of appetizing starters and main courses; including the likes of mouth-watering curries, meat dishes, Italian pastas and grilled burgers. Some of the dishes we had the chance to sample included Mediterranean cheese, lamb sheikh jebab, masala chick peas and marinated king prawns. The majority of the dishes we began our three-course meal with came alongside a side of green fresh salad and spiced potatoes. Some of the Alam specials which we ordered from included delicate cuts of well marinated steak, chicken on the bone cooked in tomatoes, onions and coriander, accompanied with steamed rice and naan. For dessert;
freshly made cakes are ordered into the establishment twice weekly, served with sweet fruits and scoops of ice-cream. Vegan cheese cakes and vegetarian options are available. Alam also holds a balcony seating area for evening meals and drinks. Their restaurant garden features outdoor fires and lighting fixtures such as LED tulips and teacups, to create a calming and tranquil ambiance. The entire restaurant capacity is for around 240/50 guests, and the site also holds an upstairs hall for the use of mehndis, nikkas and other marriage events. Alam is a strictly no booking restaurant, all guests are given tables at a first come first served basis. For more information on menus and opening times, visit www.alam-restaurant.com
AW Facts Did you know? Cereal is the second biggest TV advertiser to 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
SPORTS 45-48
October 2019
Spice Up this Diwali with an Exclusive Recipe for Tiger Prawn Biryani
Tiger Prawn Biryani
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS
For Prawns
For Layering the dish
For Rice
1 onion finely sliced 1 tomato sliced Handful of coriander leaves chopped ½ handful of mint leaves chopped 3 tbsp oil
INGREDIENTS - For Marinade: • 500g prawns • 60g cup yoghurt • 1 tbsp chilli powder • 1/2 tsp turmeric • 3 green chillies, pierced • 30g cup fried onion • 2 tsp garam masala • 1 tbsp garlic paste • ¾ tbsp ginger paste • 1 tsp ground coriander • 1 cinnamon stick • 4 cardamom pods • 4 cloves • 5 black peppercorns • Pinch of nutmeg • 1 tbsp oil • Juice of a lemon • Salt
30g fried onions A pinch of saffron, soaked in a little water 2 tbsp oil
300g basmati rice, soaked for 30 minutes. A bay leaf ½ tsp lemon juice Cinnamon stick Salt 2 tbsp oil Water
METHOD - For Preparation: 1. Combine all marinade ingredients in a large bowl and add the prawns. Mix well, cover and marinade for 30 minutes in the fridge. 2. To cook, heat oil in a large pan and add sliced onions. Cook until lightly golden. 3. Add the bay leaf, tomatoes and cook for a further minute. 4. Then add the marinated prawns, mix well and cook for around four minutes.
Serves 5
5. Add coriander and mint leaves and mix. 6. Meanwhile parboil your rice in water with the rest of the rice ingredients. You want the rice to be about three quarters cooked. 7. Layer up your biriyani! Top the prawns with fried onions followed by the rice. 8. Sprinkle the dish with saffron and cover. Cook on high for 5 minutes, followed by 10 minutes on a low heat. 9. Do not remove the lid and leave to rest for 10 minutes. Once ready, spoon out into bowls or on to plate and serve alongside raita.
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MOTORING
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WOMEN BOOKING ‘CAN I FIT A COFFIN IN THE BACK OF A MORE MOTORSPORT FORD MONDEO?’ EXPERIENCES THAN MEN – CARGURUS DEALERS SHARE WEIRDEST QUESTIONS ASKED BY CUSTOMERS
New research reveals that women are now booking more motorsport experiences than men, coinciding with the recent conclusion of the inaugural allfemale W Series. Bookings for F1 style driving experiences, where drivers take to the track in a single seater race car, have increased dramatically over the last year and new data reveals that more women than ever are now testing their skills in cars capable of reaching 100mph in under five seconds, reports www.trackdays.co.uk The latest figures from the driving experience provider reveal that bookings for F1 style experiences increased overall by 41 per cent by both men and women
since the start of the year compared to the same period last year. However, further in-depth analysis shows that bookings from women have increased to a 56 per cent share in the last three months. Imran Malek, operations manager at TrackDays.co.uk, said: “F1 style driving experiences have historically attracted more male bookings but the recent increase in female bookings shows the landscape could be shifting.” Among the single seater models available for first-timers to drive are a Formula Renault 2000 and a Formula F1000. Formula Renault was once graced by French motor racing legend
Alain Prost. Other similar experiences are also possible in a Formula Ford Single Seater. Experiences start with a safety and techniques briefing session, and when out on the track drivers learn how to handle the awesome power of these machines, along with basic racing lines. Imran added: “Single seater driving experiences provide a great taster session to see what it’s like to drive on a circuit at high-speed in a race car. Who knows, it may uncover a champion of the future, whatever sex they are.” To learn more about TrackDays.co.uk, or to book a F1 style driving experience, visit www.trackdays.co.uk
RING-FENCE FUNDS TO TACKLE ‘NATIONAL SCANDAL’ OF POTHOLES ON UK ROADS, SAYS IAM ROADSMART
IAM RoadSmart has backed calls for a long-term plan to tackle the ‘national scandal’ of potholes on UK roads – saying nearly half of people it surveyed have experienced pothole damage to their vehicles. The government’s Transport Select Committee has today issued a report stating that the current short-term approach to financing road maintenance as being “not fit for purpose” – which IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, agrees with. The report says: “Potholes are a headache for everyone and a severe risk for many, says the report. A deteriorating local road network undermines local economic performance and results in direct costs to taxpayers, either through rising costs of deferred work or through a mend and make do approach that does not represent good value for money in the long-term. “It also damages vehicles and causes
injuries to passengers, particularly those with existing medical conditions,” it added. A previous survey of more than 7,000 IAM RoadSmart members responded on line with a clear majority thinking that our roads have become much worse in recent years, that there are many more potholes than ever before, and that they have to swerve to avoid potholes on every journey. Some 47% - over 3,400 respondents – say they have experienced damage to their car, commercial vehicle, motorbike or bicycle or personal injury as a result of hitting a pothole. Around 90% have spotted a deterioration of some level in the roads they use with just over 50% rating the state of their roads as ‘much worse’ in the past three years and 38% rating them ‘worse.’ Some 81% - close to 6,000 people – say they have noticed ‘many more’ potholes
in the past three years, adding in the 13% who have seen ‘a few more,’ that gives a total of 94% who report more potholes. Over 56% say they have to take avoiding action on every journey to dodge potholes, while 27% say they have to steer around a pothole every day. An Asphalt Industry Alliance investigation found that councils in England and Wales would need to spend a total of £9.8 billion over 10 years to bring all their roads up to standard. Rodney Kumar, IAM RoadSmart spokesman, said: “While we understand that local government funding has been cut, the effect of pothole damage to beleaguered British motorists is huge. It costs them a fortune, stops them getting to work and has a detrimental effect on the economy. “It really is time to ring-fence funds for tackling this pothole epidemic, and get the problem sorted once and for all.”
Used car dealers across the UK have revealed the often strange – and sometimes downright bizarre – requests they have received from customers. Among the oddest was a customer who wanted to take a car home to check if his dog liked it before he committed to buy, while one consumer wanted to know if he’d be able to fit a coffin in the back of a Ford Mondeo. CarGurus, the fastest growing automotive shopping site in the UK among its nearest competitors, which was founded
by TripAdvisor co-founder Langley Steinert, surveyed thousands of used car dealers in its UK network to find the strangest questions asked on the forecourt. While the survey results show a common theme of buyers asking questions around price, and payment terms, CarGurus has compiled a list of the ten weirdest questions asked by consumers before they decided whether to buy a car.
The strangest questions asked by used car buyers: 1) Will a coffin fit in the back of a Ford Mondeo? 2) Can I take the car home to see if my dog likes it? 3) Can you make this left-hand drive? 4) Would you take animals / property as payment? 5) Can I check the chassis number to see if it’s lucky? 6) Can I take my 80-year-old wife for a test drive to scare her? 7) Can you fit it with a radio and tape deck? 8) Can you deliver it to Australia? 9) Can you put the seats down so I can see if I can sleep in the back? 10) Can you fill it with balloons and put a bow on it? Also included in the results was a plethora of customers who were overly concerned about fitting sometimes odd possessions in the car; these included a tuba, a long bow and arrow, a double bass and one optimistic buyer was keen to find out if he could install his baby’s child car seat on the rear shelf of a 2 seat mid-engine Toyota MR2 sports car. While the most common questions fielded by dealers are typically about more conventional things; whether or not the car has a full-service history, what the dealer’s ‘best price’ is, or how long the used car has been on the market for – 31 days on average according to CarGurus - but some customers take things much further. Several dealers reported being asked whether a car could be taken for months at a time without payment as an extended test drive, after which the buyer would decide whether or not to purchase. Similarly, many dealers are often asked if payment for a car can be delayed, or if they can take a vehicle off the market for up to six months to allow the customer to raise the cash. Others report being asked to transport cars hundreds of miles away so that the customer can view it in person and it’s not uncommon for used car dealers to be asked to deliver cars as far away as
Australia, Malta and Nigeria. Chris Knapman, Editor of CarGurus, said: “When searching for and purchasing a car it’s important to know it’ll meet your requirements – however unusual they might be. Asking questions is therefore a crucial part of the buying process, and something dealers fully expect when a consumer makes contact, whether it’s in the showroom or online via CarGurus. “By factoring dealer reviews into how we rank search results, CarGurus is able to easily highlight dealerships that go above and beyond when it comes to keeping customers happy – even if they do draw the line at taking animals as part-payment.” Visit CarGurus at www.cargurus. co.uk, read the latest reviews, tips and advice on the UK blog and on the UK YouTube channel.
AW Facts Did you know? The ‘new car smell’ is comprised of dozens of volatile compounds.
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
October 2019
THE OFF-ROADER OF THE FUTURE – THE AUDI AI: TRAIL QUATTRO
All-terrain EV concept revealed in Frankfurt completes a quartet of visionary ‘use case’ vehicles projecting Audi into the future Emissions-free driving in the great outdoors Four electric motors and quattro drive
Aicon and friends: Audi bringing all four visionary vehicles to the IAA Audi is completing its quartet of visionary vehicles by showcasing a forward-looking electric off-roader at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. The Audi AI:TRAIL quattro, a comprehensive concept for sustainable mobility off the beaten track, is one of four use case vehicles projecting Vorsprung durch Technik into the future — the Audi Aicon, AI:ME, AI:RACE and AI:TRAIL will be on show together on the Audi stand in Hall 3 throughout the show. The four-seater Audi AI:TRAIL quattro combines the capacity for automated driving with superb off-road capabilities. The glass surrounding the cabin extends all the way to ground level, providing unrivalled all-round visibility. The ample battery capacity ensures sufficient range even away from dense networks of charging stations. The “Trail” part of the name evokes the idea of exploring nature. That is why there are no big screens on board for streaming TV series or videoconferencing; instead, broad glass surfaces provide a clear view of the surroundings. This is how Marc Lichte, Audi’s Head of Design, describes the use case: “With the AI:TRAIL, we are showing
an off-road concept with an emissionsfree electric drive for an innovative driving experience away from paved roads. Consistent with this, we designed a monolithic basic vehicle body with maximum glazing to create an intense connection to the surroundings. A concept for sustainable mobility on demand.” Audi’s visionary vehicles The Audi AI:TRAIL quattro is the fourth entrant in the series of concept cars with electric drive systems, which began with the presentation of the Audi Aicon at the 2017 iteration of the IAA. Following this luxury-class vehicle very much intended for highly automated long-distance driving, an emissions-free super sports car designed for the race track, the Audi PB18 e-tron, made its debut in Pebble Beach in 2018. It has been given a new name in time for IAA 2019, gaining the shared “AI” prefix to indicate that it, too, is part of the family. It is now known as the AI:RACE, which leaves no illusions as to the purpose of the electric sports car. The third in the series, the Audi AI:ME—introduced at the 2019 Auto Shanghai show—is an autonomous city
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car aimed at megacities all over the world. It allows its passengers to stop worrying about the stop-and-go traffic that is inevitable in urban areas, offering them perfect connectivity and a comprehensive range of infotainment services, helping them to spend their time in the vehicle as usefully and as comfortably as possible. Finally, with the AI:TRAIL, Audi is now opening up the potential applications for its visionary vehicles to include off-road terrain. The car is equipped with four electric motors, systems for assisted and automated driving and— typically for Audi—quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The Aicon, AI:ME, AI:RACE and AI:TRAIL are united by more than just the concept of sustainable drive systems and a body line that will run far into the future. They also embody an entirely new mobility concept for the brand with the four rings. Unlike the cars of the present, such vehicles will no longer have to compromise between a wide range of uses and scenarios. Instead, it will be possible to design tomorrow’s cars for much more specific use cases. In the future, customers will be able
to order any of these specialist Audi models from an Audi on demand vehicle pool to suit their personal preferences and requirements and to lease them for a limited period. In the process, they will not have to miss out on the high level of customization that is taken for granted in the premium segment nowadays. That is because it will be possible for all the user’s available data and preferences to be taken into account in the process of configuring and equipping the vehicle for lease. Customers who book a vehicle will then not only get their desired vehicle but also can have it configured to suit their personal preferences as far as possible. The colour, interiors, and technical options can be pre-configured online with the app or via the driver details stored in the myAudi system. Even drivers’ preferred interior temperature, the perfect ergonomic seat adjustment, and their personal music library will already be activated when they get into the car. This offer is accessible and easy to use via a simple app that connects the vehicle order, personal preferences of the user, and numerous options that can be used while on the road.
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ONE IN FIVE MOTORISTS WOULD PAY TO PARK AT WORK IF MONEY WAS DONATED TO CHARITY REVEALS MOTORPOINT POLL • One in five motorists would pay to park at work if money was donated to charity • Figures revealed in new Motorpoint online poll • Motorpoint staff recently agreed to pay £10 a month to pay to park at work to raise money for one of the company’s charitable partners One in five motorists quizzed would pay £10 a month to park at work if the money was donated to charity according to a new survey by Motorpoint. The web-based poll from the UK’s leading independent car retailer found 20 per cent of drivers would support the introduction of a Charity Parking Scheme whereby employees pay a monthly donation to a nominated charity in return for a reserved parking space at their place of work. The news follows the launch by Motorpoint of its own Charity Parking Scheme that will see staff at the company’s HQ raise £5,000 per annum for one of the company’s charitable partners over the next 12 months by agreeing to pay £10 per month per person for a reserved parking space. Mark Carpenter, CEO of Motorpoint, said: “It’s great to see motorists recognising the value of supporting Charity Parking Schemes and we would definitely encourage more drivers to work with their employers to establish such schemes in their workplace. The cost is relatively modest per month, in our case only £10, but the benefits to local good causes can be considerable and have the potential to make a difference to the less fortunate in our society.” *A total of 650 people participated in the survey For more information about Motorpoint visit www.motorpoint.co.uk
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October 2019
INTRODUCING THE NEW LAND ROVER DEFENDER This is the new Land Rover Defender. An icon reimagined for the 21st century; it has been cleverly engineered with capability and safety for all the family at its heart. New Defender is built for the adventurous and curious, for those who know the value of community and strive to make a difference. The unmistakable silhouette is familiar yet new. It looks tough and is tough but designed with purpose and engineered to excite. Iconic in name, shape and capability, Defender can be personalised to allow owners to make
the most of their world. Across seven decades of pioneering innovation, Land Rovers have earned a unique place in the hearts of explorers, humanitarian agencies and adventurous families across the world. Proven in the harshest environments on earth, the new Defender maintains this bloodline. Beside the peerless luxury and refinement of the Range Rover family and the highly capable and versatile Discovery SUVs, new Defender completes the Land Rover dynasty. The 110 is just the start for this family of
the most capable and durable 4x4s in the world. It will be swiftly followed by a short wheelbase 90, before a pair of practical commercial models join the line-up in 2020. Driven by a passion and respect for the original, new Defender delivers transformational breadth of capability and advanced all-terrain technologies to redefine adventure for the 21st century, while remaining true to the pioneering spirit that has been a Land Rover hallmark for 71 years.
• Incomparable, unstoppable: An icon re-imagined for the 21st century • Designed with purpose, engineered to excite: Clever and tactful with an instantly recognisable silhouette that features signature Defender elements including short front and rear overhangs • World-class expert off and onroad: All-terrain ability is beyond question, composed on any surface with supreme comfort ensuring long journeys are covered with ease • Looks tough, is tough: Durable new D7x architecture engineered to withstand Extreme Event Test procedure, above and beyond the normal standard for SUV and passenger cars • 21st Century technology: New Pivi Pro infotainment featuring a more intuitive interface while Software-Over-The-Air updates provide the latest software at all times, anywhere in the world • Meet the family: Defender 110 available with 5+2 seating in four distinct Accessory Packs (Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban) and with 170 individual accessories, will be joined soon by a smaller Defender 90 and versatile and durable commercial models • Efficiency at its heart: Electrified powertrains introduced to Defender with advanced mild-hybrid and coming later, plug-in electric vehicle options, as well as powerful and efficient petrol and diesel engines • Modern interior: The functional, durable and flexible interior is
unique with exposed structural elements and a central front jump seat – perfect for sharing adventures with the family • Intelligent off-road tech: Land Rover’s pioneering Terrain Response 2 technology enhanced with new Wade programme, while Configurable Terrain Response allows the driver to tailor set-up more precisely • Expedition-ready: A maximum payload of up to 900kg, static roof load of up to 300kg, towing capacity of 3,500kg and wading depth of up to 900mm combine to make new Defender the ultimate 4x4 for overland adventures • Capable of great things: Defender has the necessary strength to make great things happen, championing those with the courage to provide help where others dare not, or cannot go • Global partners: Land Rover to continue long-term humanitarian partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) with Defender at the heart • Choose your model: Defender 110 starts from £45,240 on the road available to order immediately. Defender 90 and Commercial pricing and deliveries will be confirmed at a later date. Defender 90 guide price will be around £40,000 with Defender Commercial guide pricing from £35,000 (plus VAT). Configure your Defender 110 at www.landrover.co.uk/Defender
Top Tips for New Riders
After getting a motorcycle licence things can sometimes spiral out of control if you are not careful; from the costs of the bike to the actual kit. The one thing that remains priceless and you do not want to risk, is your life. Richard Gladman, our head of driving and riding standards gives some tips and advice to new riders. This section of top tips give advice to new riders from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman. • Get the right gear. British weather changes very quickly and you can often find yourself wet, cold or hot which isn’t ideal. Invest in a four-season kit and keep an eye out for the weather. Invest in the best-rated crash helmet you can afford and don’t be tempted by unknown second hand ‘bargains’ • No headphones. The temptation to listen to music whilst riding will always be there, but it is important to hear what is going on around you. You need to be aware of other traffic and other road users for your safety, and in this day and age – security • Sat-nav is becoming a commonplace on touring bikes now but be aware that it still poses a distraction threat; the screen tends to be small and in sunshine or rain it can be hard to see. It helps to have an idea where
you are heading and if you are unsure, pull over safely to check • Keep it safe. We recommend locking your bike on something that is fixed and not moveable. If your bike is to be kept outside and you have a suitable area, consider fitting a ground anchor to lock it to. Even a really expensive lock is cheaper than replacing your bike • Remember that maintenance is key. Whatever your riding plans, commuting in winter or touring the countryside during summer, regularly cleaning and servicing your bike will help keep it in good condition and allow you to spot any potential problems early on • Even if you currently have an A2 category licence and are restricted to riding bikes with
no more than 35kW maximum power, remember that your bike will still have much quicker acceleration than the vast majority of cars. This can, of course, be an advantage in many situations but, be sure to take the time to get used to the performance. • Don’t feel obliged to ‘keep up’ with other riders. Have the confidence to ride at your own pace, and make your own decisions, especially when it comes to overtaking and filtering. Richard said: “Choosing the right bike is vital. Do you really need a big tourer or a superfast sports bike for the daily commute? Take a little time and advice from a good dealer to make sure you choose the bike that’s right for your level of skill, experience and budget.”
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
England Name Squads for New Zealand Tour England IT20 squad Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) captain Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire) Tom Banton (Somerset) Sam Billings (Kent) Pat Brown (Worcestershire) Sam Curran (Surrey) Tom Curran (Surrey) Joe Denly (Kent) Lewis Gregory (Somerset) Chris Jordan (Sussex) Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire) Dawid Malan (Middlesex) Matt Parkinson (Lancashire) Adil Rashid (Yorkshire) James Vince (Hampshire)
England tour of New Zealand 2019 Sun 27 Oct: T20 warm-up match – Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Tue 29 Oct: T20 warm-up match – Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln Fri 1 Nov: 1st IT20 v New Zealand – Hagley Oval, Christchurch Sun 3 Nov: 2nd IT20 v New Zealand – Westpac Stadium, Wellington Tue 5 Nov: 3rd IT20 v New Zealand – Saxton Oval, Nelson Fri 8 Nov: 4th IT20 v New Zealand – McLean Park, Napier Sun 10 Nov: 5th IT20 v New Zealand – Eden Park, Auckland Tue 12 Nov: Two-day warm-up match – Cobham Oval, Whangarei Fri 15 Nov-Sun 17 Nov: Three-day warm-up match – Cobham Oval, Whangarei Thu 21 Nov-Mon 25 Nov: 1st Test v New Zealand – Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui Fri 29 Nov-Tue 3 Dec: 2nd Test v New Zealand – Seddon Park, Hamilton
AW Facts Did you know? During the first modernised Olympics, silver medals were given out.
England Test squad Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain Jofra Archer (Sussex) Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire) Rory Burns (Surrey) Jos Buttler (Lancashire) Zak Crawley (Kent) Sam Curran (Surrey) Joe Denly (Kent) Jack Leach (Somerset) Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire) Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire) Ollie Pope (Surrey) Dominic Sibley (Warwickshire) Ben Stokes (Durham) Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
England National Cricket Selectors have named a 15-strong squad for the fivematch IT20 series in New Zealand, staring 1st November, and a 15-man squad for the two-match Test series against the Black Caps, starting 21st November. Eoin Morgan returns as captain after a memorable summer, where he led England to ICC Men’s World Cup glory in July. Tom Banton and Saqib Mahmood earn their first England call-ups after standout white-ball summers. Banton hit 549 runs for Somerset in the Vitality Blast – second most in the tournament behind teammate Babar Azam, while Lancashire’s Mahmood added eight T20 wickets to his competition-leading 28 in the Royal London One-Day Cup. Worcestershire seamer Pat Brown and Lancashire spinner Matthew Parkinson also receive their first call-ups. Warwickshire opener Dominic Sibley is rewarded for his remarkable summer with a first England call-up. The 24-yearold had accumulated 1,324 Specsavers County Championship runs going into the final round of fixtures, including an unbeaten double century and another century in the second innings against Nottinghamshire. Kent’s Zak Crawley is also included after a promising summer at the top of the order. Lancashire duo Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson also receive call-ups. James Anderson was unavailable for selection in the Test squad as he continues his rehabilitation from a calf injury. The Lancashire seamer will work towards being available for the South Africa tour later this winter.
FOOD 40-41
MOTORING 42-44
SPORTS 45-48
October 2019
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My Fit Life with Avi Samra!
Falling off the Wagon
Issues that I had to recover from after my first labour were manageable and I got back on track very quickly. Within a few months I felt strong and had got back into the shape I wanted to be. However, the same issues occurred with my second labour a year ago and that knocked me back 10 steps! Of course, I won’t be too hard on myself, I was dealing with a lot of emotions as well as juggling two children and those dreaded sleepless nights! I’ve learnt from the experience and I can share it with you. I went from lifting heavy weights to not being able to do anything and I completely fell off the wagon. My body wasn’t right and my choices reflected how I felt. I’m the type of person either I’m all in (training hard and eating well) or I’m not in at all. That was my biggest mistake! It shouldn’t be a case of all or nothing when it comes to fitness, if you can’t train how you would like to then do what you can and eat right. As someone working in the fitness industry this isn’t an easy thing to admit but we are all human! Fitness instructors aren’t always perfect and I believe it’s comforting for people who want to get into fitness to understand this. It could have been very easy for me to stay off the wagon and give up as I
felt my body had. The hard choice was to try and change my mindset, adapt my training and make those healthier choices again. Ok, so I couldn’t do a 50kg deadlift anymore, I could only manage using a 6kg kettlebell. Did it matter? No, of course not because doing something was better than doing nothing at all. That’s what I had to tell myself. I turned to yoga and pilates, very different to weight training and I honestly didn’t like at first because it was very slow paced in comparison to what I was used to but it’s what my body needed. Making a change is very difficult and it may seem that the climb to the top
of the mountain is too much. But as someone who has been knocked off the top and has made a comeback, it isn’t impossible. It’s all about making one change today that will have a positive impact on your health and then taking it step by step to make yourself stronger. It doesn’t matter if it takes 6 months, a year, 2 years, as long as you’re working on creating a healthier, happier you! I’m still on the road to recovery and for me it’s a long journey but I feel great knowing that I’m doing what I can to help myself. Until next time, remember to be happy and be healthy! Avi Samra Instagram: @avi_samra_
England Cricket Player Moeen Ali takes a step back
England cricket player, Moeen Ali was dropped after the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston due to a poor display and has been handed a central contract in whiteball cricket. Ashley Giles, the managing director for the England men’s team, believes that some time way from cricket could be exactly what Moeen needs to rediscover
his best form in the longer format of the game. “Moeen has actually asked me if he could just take a step back from red-ball cricket, which is fine. He’s not retiring, but he just wants a little bit of a break from Test cricket,” Giles said.” “I think for all the guys, not just Moeen, it’s been a really challenging summer.
A World Cup, and Ashes back-to-back has had a massive effect on many of these guys psychologically as much as physically.” “Some of those guys are still carrying that and part of that will be Moeen. His experience in the first Test wasn’t a great one, but that’s cricket.” “He has been a great servant to this team, and that’s why I encouraged him to leave that option open to come back. He might just need to go away and freshen up.” Moeen will not play in the two-test series in New Zealand later this year. Adil Rashid is also facing a similar situation as he is also losing his central Test contract. Giles added: “I think Rash has got some stuff to think about as well and with him, some of that is physical. He’s had this ongoing shoulder issue.” “Test cricket is much more demanding, and I think that will be on his mind, but for now, he’s available across all formats until he tells me otherwise.” The former England bowler said: “If we started the summer and you’d offered us a World Cup win and a drawn Ashes series, we probably would have taken it.” “We’re greedy. We always want to win the Ashes, but the short gap between World Cup and Ashes was also a bit of a strange one for some of them coming out of such an emotional high and something that mentally drained them so much.”
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October 2019
Amir Khan and Kell Brook to go Head to Head in Grudge Match Next Year
Amir ‘King’ Khan and Kell Brook have been undecided for a while as to if a huge domestic fight between them will take place. However, promoter Eddie Khan is committed to still scheduling a match between the two boxers. Both ex-world champions were previously unable to set a match day due to disagreements over the date and location of the fight. The two were supposed to face-off in Spring of this year. However Amir cancelled and chose to challenge Terence Crawford in the ring instead, where he ended up losing. Brook seems to have the odds contested against him, as he has not been in the ring since December of last year when he fought Michael Zerafa. Whereas Khan amazed by blowing away Billy Dib in four rounds in July. “I still want to make that fight. I’ll give it one more roll of the dice,” said Hearn. “I will tell them: ‘Guys, spring 2020, let’s do it’. “Hopefully we can get it over the line.” Khan has talked about settling his score with Brook a few days before his last fight. If Brook agrees to the match, it will take place within the first half of next year. However, it was only recently that brook was forced to deny claims that he has gone into retirement, despite the speculations surrounding his boxing career. In a statement to pepTalkUK, Amir commented about the possibility of the upcoming fight: “I think it’s a great idea, definitely. “We are both similar age, I think it’s a fight that we’ve been trying to make for a very long time and I think it’s getting very close to it now. “I’ve worked with Eddie Hearn for a couple of my previous fights and I think going back and working with him on this fight against Kell Brook will be massive.”
ECB Head of Disability Cricket Ian Martin said: “This will be another important tour for the squad. Taking on two of the top sides in the world will give a great indication as to where they are as a group and the progress they have made. This tour is another step forward for disability cricket. Visually Impaired cricket in particular continues to grow internationally thanks to strong support across the global cricketing community and the work of the World Blind Cricket Council.”
England VI Head Coach Ross Hunter said: “This tour is an exciting opportunity for our squad and the players to continue to develop. Our ultimate goal is to win the next World Cup and to do that we need to be able to compete against the very best”. “We feel that the 16 players we have selected all have the ability to win games for England. This trip will help push them forwards and we are looking to see how they perform under pressure against two great teams. We want players who can develop into World Cup winners.”
ECB announce squad for Visually Impaired tour of India ECB have announced a 16man Visually Impaired (VI) squad for their upcoming tour of India. The side will take on World Champions India in three IT20s before competing in a Tri-Series against India and Sri Lanka. Sam Murray returns to the squad after taking time out of the sport to become a Para-Rower for Team GB. Darren Paddick has been called up for his first tour after impressing in the Academy and in domestic cricket. A captain for the tour will be announced in due course. England will be looking to test themselves against two of the best sides in the world in the Tri-Series. All three teams made the semi-finals of the last IT20 World Cup in 2017, with India going on to lift the trophy on home soil.
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
October 2019
India Should Withdraw from Commonwealth Games
Bollyfit with
By Tauseef Asif
The president of the Olympic body had said that India should withdraw from the Commonwealth Games owing to the low level of competition in the tournament. Narinder Batra, who is the Indian Olympic Association president, has commented that the South Asian nation has threatened to boycott the next edition of the multi-sport event. The next Common Wealth Games will be held in Birmingham in 2022 over shooting being scrapped from the programme. Batra has said that “I don’t use the word boycott in sports. What I am trying to say is that India as a country, in sports, should withdraw out of the Commonwealth totally.” He also said that regardless of whether shooting is included in the final programme, India should end its association with the competition played among mostly former British colonies. He also mentioned that he feels there is no sufficient level of competition, leaving aside two or three sports. It doesn’t leave anyone anywhere with this low level of competition. India should be participating in world events and world championships, which earn Olympic ranking points. India topped the table for shooting at last year’s edition in Australia, taking home 16 medals including seven gold for a total tally of 66 medals - the third-best performing nation in the Games.
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By Reema Sarin, Founder Bollyfit
Reema Sarin
Balancing Exercise and Activity
In the Rio Olympics of 2016, the nation of 1.3 billion people came back with just two medals, including one silver and one bronze. Batra has said he was open to talks with Commonwealth Games officials on including shooting. Batra repeated India’s interest in bidding
for the 2032 Olympics and 2026 Youth Olympics. “We are serious about the 2032 Olympics and 2026 Youth Olympics, but then you have to follow a procedure. And to get these events into India you need to win in the Olympics” Said Batra.
Aston Villa’s Neil Taylor: ‘It’s Difficult to Say Why British Asian Players Don’t Make the Cut’ Full-back Neil Taylor has admitted that the professional football leagues in the UK are in need of more British Asian players. However, the Aston Villa star remains hopeful that young players of the same background as him will be recruited for their talent in the upcoming years. The Wales international has an Indian mother and a British father. He has played football for a total of six seasons for Swansea and earned 42 international caps to this present day. Taylor has had numerous appearances in the top two divisions of British Football. However, he and fellow footballer Hamza Choudhury are the only British Asians who have participated in the Premier League this season so far. Taylor argues that Asian parents need to believe that there
is a way to be paved for their children to play football at a professional level, should they choose to. They need to recognise their children’s skills and make sacrifices to get them there. Taylor was also asked whether he sees himself as a role-model to young and potential players. He said: “I don’t know. Hopefully, I can be. It’s difficult to call yourself a role model. When you’re just a normal guy, you don’t see yourself as one. “But I guess the level that we play at, and the way in which it is broadcasted all across the world, every single player in the Premier League is a role model, hence why our behaviour is watched so carefully.” Taylor is firm in his stance of kicking racism out of the game. He became aware of racist remarks and behaviour being thrown at him when he began his footballing career in Wales. He also commented on the racism directed at black players as being “terrible” and something that should be removed from football entirely.
During a pain flare-up, you will likely limit your activities. After a flare-up, it is important to return to a more active life gradually. How much physical activity is appropriate? How much is too much? What type of exercise is best? There are no absolute answers for these questions. Each person needs to decide what activities they will engage in to stay healthy and fit. Exercise will keep you healthy, physically fit, and safe from injury; it will also help lessen your pain. Different types of activity need to be balanced for optimal fitness. Here are a few suggestions that can help you. Activity for Flexibility To maintain flexibility in your muscles, ligaments, and tendons, you should stretch daily. This takes only a few minutes and pays off in many ways. You will likely feel better in general, have less pain, have fewer flare-ups, and also be at less risk for injury. In addition, without adequate flexibility, you will not be able to use the correct body mechanics for daily activities, putting you at greater risk for pain or injury. Activity for Strength Maintaining strength in your muscles will allow you to do more with less effort and pain. You will be able to perform activities with safer technique, for example, lifting with your legs, not on your back. Having
strong trunk muscles will allow you to keep your back in a comfortable neutral position while engaging in a variety of activities. Activity for Endurance Endurance will allow you to maintain activities for more extended periods. You can build endurance for any activity – whether it is walking, gardening, or sitting in a chair – simply by gradually performing the activity for slightly longer periods. The result will be greater energy and the ability to participate more in the things you want to do. Activity for Aerobic Fitness Aerobic fitness is accomplished by engaging in activities that moderately raise your heart rate. Such activities include walking, riding a bike, dancing, and working in the yard. We know that this is good for your heart, lungs, and health in general; and it helps you to maintain a proper weight and also releases endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers. It is recommended to consider a balanced program, including activities for flexibility, strength, endurance, and aerobic fitness. Strengthening muscles without proper attention to flexibility could make you feel worse. Similarly, overworking on some muscles while neglecting to strengthen others can cause more problems!