The Asian Today Issue 240 - November 2018 by The Asian Today

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he High Street in Smethwick, Birmingham saw hundreds of people gathering to witness the unveiling of the Lions of the Great War monument, a 10-foot high bronze statue of a Sikh soldier, cast to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War. The statue standing outside the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick is to honour the millions of men from the British Indian Army who served in the two world wars. continued on page 2

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"The contribution of Sikhs and of all of the faiths that came over from South Asia is immeasurable" Continued from front page

Jatinder Singh, president of the gurdwara, said: “I’m absolutely so proud. The contribution of Sikhs and of all of the faiths that came over from South Asia is immeasurable. “It’s so amazing. And the response from the community is just incredible, this statue has got such a big connection to so many. “In the past, the Sikh contribution – and all the faiths from South Asia – was missing from British history but now it will go down in British history. The Lions of the Great War statue, which sits on a 6ft granite plinth, is now permanently based between High Street and Tollhouse Way. Artist Luke Perry said the statue had taken months of hard work but that it felt amazing to finally see it finished. “It’s a real relief to actually have the sculpture installed because once its in the ground or on a plinth

your job is essentially done structurally, and it looks fantastic,” he said. “Just the amount of people here, the whole drive behind this entire thing, for it to be a statement of togetherness and unity, is incredible. “Modern Britain is a mixture of cultures that work together and everybody’s here – it’s like Martin Luther King’s dream – it’s beautiful. I’m really proud of that. It’s a real honour and I have loved being part of this – being part of history.” Leader of Sandwell Council Steve Eling gave a speech at the unveiling, and added: “This is something that people in Smethwick and in Sandwell can be extremely proud of. “The contribution of British Army soldiers from the Indian subcontinent is largely unrecognised. “Whenever we hear people talking about the sacrifices soldiers have made it’s very rare soldiers from the Indian subcontinent are mentioned – so to have

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this reference that, and as a reminder forever after of that contribution, I think is fantastic for this area.” A marching band paraded down High Street and members of the gurdwara

sang the Sikh national anthem to the crowds before the unveiling. A minute’s silence was also held ahead of Remembrance Sunday next week. Speeches were made by

MP for Edgbaston Preet Kaur Gill, the first Sikh female member of parliament, MP for Warley John Spellar, and Angela Lewis, the head of programmes at Fields in Trust.

Armistice Day 2018 Birmingham – 100 years since the end of The First World War

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ue to major works taking place in the city, around Centenary Square, the City’s annual ceremony of Remembrance will this year be held on Colmore Row near Cathedral Square on Sunday 11 November 2018. The Parade will include taskforces from ex-Service, Regular, Reserve, Cadet units and representatives of other local uniformed organisations marching on from Temple Row at 10:30am. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and pay tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces who lost their lives in service. The Day of National Remembrance Service 2018 to commemorate the end of the World War One will be held on Colmore Row. Work to rebuild Centenary Square began in the spring of 2017 and was originally expected to have been finalised by now.

But in September, Birmingham City Council said it would not be completed until the ‘summer of 2019’. Although Victoria Square was used last year for the service and parades, the major corner of the site close to the statue of Queen Victoria has been dug up to facilitate the building of the Midland Metro Tram extension Westside, from the top of Stephenson Street to Five Ways. For the Remembrance Sunday 2018 service, a transitory grandstand will be erected on Colmore Row for veterans and VIPs. The parade will include ex-service personnel, regular, reserve and cadet units from the Armed Forces who, with representatives of other local uniformed organisations, will march on from Temple Row from 10.30am.

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Local residents Kalwinder Singh Improving Dhindsa and Arun Kapur support Lives the Every Mind Matters campaign Through Art On World Mental Day (10 October) Public Health England (PHE) launched its Every Mind Matters campaign in the Midlands. The campaign is encouraging adults to recognise their mental health is as important as their physical health and there is always something we can do to look after our minds. Kalwinder Singh Dhindsa from Derby and Arun Kapur from Wolverhampton are both supporting the campaign and are speaking openly about how they dealt with their own mental health issues. Kalwinder said: “Mental health problems can affect anyone at anytime. I felt very low after my dad took his life because he had mental health problems, it was a big shock to my family and me. It was only when I was about to become a father myself that I decided to seek help.” “I think it’s important to know that we don’t have to wait until we are struggling to take steps to look after our mental health, there’s lots of things we can do to protect ourselves and prevent problems from escalating, in the same way we would approach our physical health. I’m really glad that the Every Mind Matters campaign is highlighting this.” “At the time, it was really difficult for me to express how I was feeling to anyone, so I started to write down my thoughts. I found this very therapeutic and it keep my mind occupied. My notes later became the basis of my book which I wrote to help others who might be struggling and so that people know that they are not alone.” Arun remembers the difficult feelings he experienced and the impact

this had on his life “I felt numb and passive most of time. I found it difficult to make every day decisions.” He opened up to a work colleague from the same cultural background as him. “Talking to someone I could relate to helped me to deal with my feelings and let go of things from my past. His support and our conversations made me feel more motivated to improve

A young father who died in tragic cinema accident on March 9 in Star City will have an inquest to examine how he died after being trapped in an electronic footrest. Dad-of-one Ateeq Rafiq dropped his mobile phone in between luxury Gold Class seats at the end of a movie. In a previous tribute, a family member said: "He was so young and had his whole life ahead of him. His family have lost a son, a father, a brother and a husband. "He left behind a lovely daughter who is only two years old. "He was a lovely, humble, down to earth guy who was always smiling, he literally had everything to live for. "We are all devastated to

have lost him so early and are in shock. "We cannot believe it." Mr Rafiq died on March 16 while at Heartlands Hospital one week on from the horrific incident. Speaking at the time, a spokesman for Vue Cinema said: "Following an incident which took place on Friday, March 9 at our Birmingham cinema, we can confirm that a customer was taken to hospital that evening. "We are saddened to learn that he passed away on Friday, March 16. "A full investigation into the nature of the incident is ongoing. "Our thoughts and condolences are with the family who have our full support and assistance." Seven months on from the tragedy,

Kalwinder at his graduation with his family my mental health. I began to channel my energy into writing poetry and creating short films which I still do today.” “For me it was important to speak out and take some positive steps forward, no matter how small. I’d also advise people to have an outlet of some kind, whether it’s creative, written or confiding in others.” Looking after our mental

health is not only good for us now, it can also help us deal with and manage difficult times in the future as well as help us feel better, sleep better and help to us have more positive relationships. To learn more about how to look after your mental health and create your own Action Plan, visit: www. nhs.uk/oneyou/Every-MindMatters

Inquest Set for Young Dad

A couple who moved from India to Derby had a dream to improve people’s lives through art. Nine years on Ruchita Shaikh and her husband Zahir have reached out to thousands with their creative, city-based charity, Artcore. The charity runs regular workshops and there is a contemporary gallery space which regularly showcases work by local artists. Artcore also engages with people with learning difficulties and mental health issues as well as migrants and asylum seekers. Ruchita, 43, said: “Whilst we are inclusive to all - we particularly wanted to give socially disadvantaged people the chance to enjoy art and help nurture their talents, health and well-being.” The couple first started the charity back in India and when they migrated to Britain they started work in other fields and were soon back to doing what they loved. “Something in our hearts kept telling us go back to doing what what came to us naturally - using art to better the local community. And we soon realised there was

nothing in Derby in terms of visual arts and we developed from there. “Our families told us we were crazy and I admit it was hard especially as we had not long been living in the country. But we are both determined people even if it does mean staying up until 2am at night.” The couple, who have two children, first went to work in schools, before growing to a point where they help up to 10,000 people a year. They also work with local artists - around 80 a year - promoting their work and helping with everything from mentoring to marketing. “We aim to operate as a cultural hub, fuelling active engagement for a diverse range of communities in Derby, East Midlands and beyond. Our longterm objective is to use arts and crafts as a vehicle to strengthen community cohesion, educate, raise awareness and provide a platform for development. “We are committed to bringing change into the lives of people of all ages, abilities, cultural and ethnic backgrounds through creative activities.”

Birmingham Coroner's Court has released details of Mr Rafiq's inquest A pre-inquest review will take place on December 6 while a final hearing date has been set for Monday, February 11, 2019 at 10am.

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How do you Handle life’s Ups and downs? We all have mental health and, just like our physical health, it goes up and down. So there will be times when we feel stressed, low or anxious. The Every Mind Matters online guide provides expert advice and practical tips to help you start taking care of your mental health.

Search Every mind Matters EMM18-01

£500k Family Home Faces Demolition 6

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A family home of seven that recently had a new build is set to be demolished for being 75cm too tall. The property, on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent, owned by owner Asif Naseem was supposed to only be two storeys but has dormer windows in the eaves and a roof higher than agreed before the work was done. Stoke-on-Trent City Council says the builders failed to dig the foundations deep enough. The only hope for him to save his home is if another retrospective application currently going through the planning process wins approval. The authority has deferred making a decision for six months to see if

a compromise could be reached. Members of the planning committee have voted in favour of enforcement . Mr Naseem's wife, Faranzana Asif, told a council meeting: “It’s not fair. It’s worrying us. I don’t know what will happen now.” Some of the residents have also shown their support behind the family and are opposing demolition. One resident who lives opposite the property in Star and Garter Road, said: “I hope it doesn’t come to demolition. When they started building it, it ripped my house to pieces. It was horrendous the whole house shook. It shouldn’t be that big, but Asif says it’s because the groundworks aren’t deep

enough. Another resident added: “They’ve gone over and above the planning regulations. I think for the people it overlooks, it’s bigger than it should have been, and I imagine that’s quite intrusive.” But six councillors decided not to grant another reprieve. Councillor David Evans said: “People want a solution, but I do think we have deferred enforcement action already and I wasn’t happy about that then. We should take action. I’m not happy with the deferral. “If you build a building without permission you are risking any investment you spend. No authority should be pressured into giving permission because it has

already been built. Councillor Ross Irving said: “I second the proposal to move to enforcement. We’ve been here twice before, and I said it was the last chance saloon then. “We are left with a problem that’s got to be sorted and I’m in favour of taking enforcement action. We have been here for months and months on end and we need to send a message to sort this out.” Mr Naseem has previously told StokeonTrentLive he had spent £500,000 on the building project since plans for the development were approved in 2016. He claims it would cost £200,000 - money he does not have - to lower the roof.

The Villa supermarket in Lozellls has been shut down as it is said to be at the 'heart of crime and antisocial behaviour' and serious concerns about child sexual grooming taking place. Police say there has been months of disorder and nuisance linked to Villa Supermarket in Lozells and concerns about suspected sexual grooming of vulnerable girls in the flats above. In the last 12 months police have responded to 20 calls ranging from serious assaults to the sale of illegal

goods, while prohibition notices were served after fire risk assessments were ignored. Working alongside the Regional Disruption Team, which is part of the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), they managed to present a strong case of evidence before a judge last week. This resulted to a threemonth closure order issued at Birmingham Magistrates Court under the Anti-Social, Crime and Policing Act. The premises must remain shut and two flats empty

until the beginning of 2019 and from then they will be closely monitored by officers to ensure there is no repeat of trouble. Inspector Ifty Ahmed, from Birmingham Police, said: “We have taken tough action in response to the number of crime reports we were receiving over recent months. “We have also listened to residents who have told us what a nuisance and blight on their lives this was causing. “We have already seen a significant reduction in calls and hopefully this will

reassure our communities we will not tolerate such nuisance. “When the closure order expires we will closely monitor the premises and won’t hesitate to use what powers we can to stop antisocial behaviour and crime.” Police say a 33-yearold man was arrested on suspicion of rape in January and released with no further action. And a 27-year-old was arrested in September and has been released under investigation.

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Family Don’t Feel Safe Move out of Birmingham

A young family who lived in Great Barr decided to pack up and move out of Birmingham because they don't feel safe. Kiran Kaur, 23, and her husband, who wants to remain anonymous with their one-yearold son are living with family in Manchester after being targeted by car thieves. Mum Kiran told BirminghamLive : "We've been in Great Barr for exactly three years, but we've had to get away. "My husband purchased a new BMW 5 Series in March and, in July, it was stolen off our driveway. We woke up and it wasn't there. "[Thieves] used like an iPad to hack in and steal it. I've got a Toyota Yaris so obviously they did want that." Around 2 months ago Kiran's husband bought a Jaguar XF and in fear of it being taken, the 25-year-old is now getting rid of it. "My husband can't sleep at night," added Kiran, "every time a car goes past or drives slowly he's up and looking out of the window. "The final straw was Sunday (October 7) when we caught a man snooping around taking

photos of our Jaguar before casually driving off. "A white van then turned up on the Thursday, again stopping to take a look. "We've had CCTV put in and automated lights but, even now, we've seen a van drive past checking our house out. "It's been so distressing for all of us, it's the fear of what could happen and, on Monday, we packed our things up and are living at the in-laws here in Manchester. "We feel 10 times safer straight away. It's a rough area but we're safer than being in Great Barr, it's crazy. Now my husband is getting rid of his Jaguar, you just can't have anything nice anymore because [thieves] will just take it. "He works hard and has a good job, so why can't he have a nice car?" Kiran added: "We've got a young son and we all could be asleep when they come for the car, we just had to get out. "We're not sure if we'll return to Birmingham. It's so bad at the moment." We have been told this week how Great Barr had seen a surge in crime.

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THE FESTIVAL OF DIWALI 8

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t h g i L f o l a v i t s e F The

Diwali is probably the most well-known and popular Hindu festival. The word ‘Diwali’ translates as ‘full of light’ and Diwali is known as the festival of lights because of this.

Diwali Meaning Diwali for Hindus

Divali means 'row of lights'. This is because Hindus, Sikhs and Jains decorate houses, shops and public places in India with small oil lamps called Divas. These lamps

are often placed in rows in windows, doors and outside buildings as decoration. Electric lights too are used in Divali displays and fireworks are also a big part of the

Divali celebrations. Divali is a time for giving and receiving gifts for Sikhs. Traditionally, sweets and dried fruit are exchanged.

Diwali for Sikhs When Hindus and others celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, Sikhs remember the release from prison and return to Amritsar of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind in 1619. The name Bandi Chhor Divas means liberation of prisoner’s day. According to tradition, Guru Hargobind was

Diwali is probably the most well-known and popular Hindu festival. The word ‘Diwali’ translates as ‘full of light’ and Diwali is known as the festival of lights because of this. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance, although the legends that go with the festival differ in the following ways depending on what part of India you are from… In Northern India, Diwali celebrates Prince Rama's return after defeating the

demon Ravana In some parts of India, the festival honours Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth In Nepal, Diwali commemorates the victory of Lord Krishna over the demon king Narakasura In Bengal, it is associated with Kali, the goddess of time and death Traditional diva lamps are small clay pots filled with ghee or oil, containing a cotton wick. Many Hindus light a diva as an act of daily worship. Many Hindu homes,

shops and public places are decorated for Divali. Lights are the main feature, eg fairy lights and candles, as well as traditional diva. Colourful patterns called rangoli can be seen on the doorsteps of homes to welcome visitors and good fortune in the shape of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Some Hindus will leave the windows and doors of their houses open so that Lakshmi can enter and grant good fortune.

released from prison in Gwalior and reached Amritsar on Divali. He would only agree to leave prison if 52 Hindu princes who were in prison with him could also go free. The Emperor Jahangir, said that those who clung to the Guru's coat would be able to go free. This was meant to limit the number

of prisoners who could be released. However, Guru Hargobind had a coat made with 52 tassels attached to it so that all of the princes could leave prison with him. The story reminds Sikhs of freedom and human rights and this is what they celebrate on Bandi Chhor Divas.

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Countdown to the German Markets!

The countdown to Christmas is here and so is the famous German markets which makes it way to Birmingham from 15 November to 23 December. The official launch ceremony has been revealed and it will be from 5.30pm to 9pm on Thursday 15th November. Birmingham City Council's events team has teamed up with market organisers and Free Radio to host the occasion that will formally kick off the festive season in the city. A spokesman said: "The Frankfurt Christmas Market

will officially be opened by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham on Thursday 15th November at 5.30pm in Victoria Square, with an evening of entertainment from our media partners Free Radio and the Christmas Light switch on. "Birmingham's popular Frankfurt Christmas Market returns to get the city in a festive mood in the run-up to Christmas. "The market offers a large range of traditional goods and gifts, such as handcrafted decorations, toys, jewellery and more. "There's also a selection

of tempting food and drink. Pretzels, schnitzels, bratwursts, and roasted almonds will tempt your taste buds, and can be washed down with glühwein, weissbeer, or hot chocolate. Lord Mayor Coun Yvonne Mosquito will do the honours at the event, declaring Birmingham's market open for business in Victoria Square and New Street. A new festive market outside Birmingham Cathedral is arriving this year and should help to plug the gap caused by the absence of the craft market yet again.

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Bank Cashier Stole £56k Kebab Shop Infested from Elderly Customer 10

NOVEMBER 2018

A Halifax bank cashier has escaped being jailed after transferring over £56,000 from an elderly dementia sufferer he had targeted. Nasir Haider, 30, of Stratford Road, Hall Green made transactions into his own accounts over a three year period to fund his gambling addiction. An investigation found that he had made payments to a gambling company of over £94,000, Birmingham Crown Court heard. The judge said he had taken into account the effect of a jail sentence would have on his family. Haider, who had

previously admitted theft, was sentenced to two years suspended for two years and ordered to do 250 hours unpaid work. Phillip Beardwell, prosecuting at Birmingham Crown Court, said the pensioner banked at a branch of the Halifax in Acocks Green where Haider worked as a cashier earning just over £15,000 per annum and who had been there since 2011. The 78-year-old victim suffered from Parkinson’s, arthritis and diabetes which made it difficult for him to get to the bank. Whilst going through bank

statements it was apparent that substantial sums were missing which lead to an investigation. The investigation uncovered a total of 54 suspicious transactions over a three-year period amounting to £66,300 and that Haider cold be linked to 43 of these through his unique file number. There was CCTV evidence on October 19, 2017 of the defendant taking £2,200 out of the victim’s account when he was not present at the branch. Mr Beardwell said investigators discovered that Haider had been transferring

Grooming Gang Leader Attacked in Prison Telford’s grooming gang leader has been ‘left scarred for life’ after being attacked in jail with razor blades. Ahdel Ali needed 40 stitches after being attacked on October 21 with a makeshift knife at Wakefield Prison in West Yorkshire. The 31-year-old was the leader of a grooming gang along with his brother Mubarek Ali who abused and trafficked young girls, was left with a deep wound running from his neck to his shoulder.

A source told The Sun that the attack on October 21 was sparked by a simmering row between Ali and another inmate. Prison officers split them up, but the other inmate went back to his cell later on and found it had been covered in excrement a claimed source has revealed. They added: "He flipped, blamed Ali and went straight back for him with the blade. It was a really nasty wound. He lost a lot of blood." A Prison Service spokeswoman

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said: “A prisoner at HMP Wakefield was assaulted on 21 October by a fellow prisoner and this is now being investigated by police.” Ali was sentenced to 18 years in 2012 for his role in grooming 1,000 children as young as 13 in Telford. Ali and his brother Mubarek, who was also jailed, sold teenage girls for sex above an Indian restaurant after grooming them.

the cash to his current and saver accounts by using the deposit machine at the bank. When quizzed Haider denied the offence saying he rated himself “10 out of 10” for competence in his job and claiming that £25,000 had come from an inheritance. In passing sentence Recorder Martin Jackson said Haider had taken money from the customer which should have been used for his living expenses “for his selfish purposes” and that he had “targeted a vulnerable victim.”

The Desi Roti and Khana kebab house in Smethwick has been hit with a huge court bill adding up to £9,600 after being charged for poor food hygiene. Mr Abid Hussain, the owner of the kebab shop on the corner of Cape Hill and Montague Road has pleaded guilty to not keeping his premises clean, not protecting food against contamination, failing to implement pest control measures and not having a food safety system in place. Abid will have to payout £2,000 for each offence (£8,000), plus a victims surcharge of £170 and full costs of £1,439.59. This amounts to a total of £9,609.59 which will have to be paid by 1 November. Councillor Elaine Costigan, cabinet member for public health

and protection, said: “Sandwell Council always takes food hygiene matters very seriously. “We do work to support food businesses but in this instance, officers had no alternative but to take enforcement action because of the imminent risk of heath to the public. "We welcome this sentence and hope that it acts as a deterrent to other food businesses that do not manage their businesses in compliance with the law.” In response to the fine, Mr Hussain told Black Country Live: ”We closed voluntarily last year for three days until there were no signs of pests. The issue was caused by the bin strike in the area last year. We are are open seven days a week.”

NEW MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES IN THE WEST MIDLANDS ADVERT

Shuranjeet Singh Takhar, Director of Taraki

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Public Health England (PHE) is encouraging adults to look after their mental health as they do their physical health through its new Every Mind Matters campaign – launching as a pilot exclusively in the West and East Midlands this World Mental Health Day (Wednesday 10 October). The new campaign highlights that while we can all feel stressed, anxious, low or have trouble sleeping, there are simple actions we can take to manage them and prevent these issues from becoming more serious. It encourages people to visit the Every Mind Matters guide, a free NHSapproved online resource, which provides expert advice, practical tips, and experiences from real people to help manage these issues and those of others. Each year, around one in four people in England experience a mental health problem and the proportion of diagnosable common mental health conditions has increased by 20% in 20 years. A new survey1 of adults across the West and East Midlands conducted for

PHE also shows nearly three quarters (70%) of people in the West Midlands (and 70% of people within Birmingham) report experiencing one or more of low mood, anxiety, stress and trouble sleeping frequently or occasionally. Stress is the most common response, with over half (51% of people in the West Midlands and 53% in Birmingham) experiencing this frequently or occasionally. The survey also found that two thirds (64%) of adults in the West Midlands (66% in Birmingham) say they look after their physical health on a weekly basis, but less than half (45% in the West Midlands and 48% in Birmingham) look after their mental health as regularly.1 Having good mental health can help us feel and function better, have more positive relationships with those around us and deal with and manage difficult times now and into the future. Over time, having good mental health may also reduce our risk of physical health problems. Dr Mamoona Tahir, Health

Protection Consultant with PHE West Midlands, said: “We know that there is stigma and shame associated with mental health within South Asian communities so it’s important that we don’t shy away from talking about it but recognise that with the pressures of modern life, it’s normal to feel stressed, anxious, low or have trouble sleeping some of the time. But when these become overwhelming or frequent they can manifest into a more serious problem. Shuranjeet Singh Takhar, Director of Taraki, said: “It’s great to see that PHE are launching a new campaign encouraging people to look after their mental health as many people do with their physical health. We work with Punjabi communities so we fully understand how language, cultural and religious beliefs can make it a real challenge to talk openly about mental health. However, the reality is we all experience stress, anxiety, low mood or have trouble sleeping at some point in our lives irrespective of our cultural background. We are committed to

West Midland Safari Park, Spring Grove, Bewdley, Worcestershire, DY12 1LF

helping Punjabi communities to better understand mental health, break down stigma associated with it, and be better placed to help one another so we fully support the new Every Mind Matters campaign. As South Asians, it’s important for us to better understand and take the necessary action so we can have good mental health.” The Every Mind Matters guide also offers support for social anxiety, trauma, obsessions and compulsions or panic attacks and provides information for people wishing to help friends, family and colleagues experiencing mental health problems. It is being promoted to adults across the Midlands with new TV, radio and online adverts; and is being supported by a range of public sector, charity and commercial partners. To access the Every Mind Matters digital platform, including expert-led videos, and create your own action plan to help look after your mental health, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/ every-mind-matters/

Tel: O1299 402114

Heartbroken Mum Had To Make Funeral Plans Before Baby Was Born 12

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NOVEMBER 2018

Heartbroken mum had to make funeral plans before her baby was born. Shabina Akhtar, 34, from Birmingham who gave birth to a beautiful baby boy had just two precious hours with him before he tragically died in her arms. Shabina was told at 20 weeks of her pregnancy that her baby had Potter’s Syndrome, a fatal condition where the kidneys fail to develop and was offered to terminate but wanted to give her baby a chance of survival. Shabina had to prepare for the worst and started making funeral arrangements for her baby while she was still pregnant. She says she treasures those precious minutes she had with baby Mohammed, and has no regrets about her decision. “At the scan I was told that there was no amniotic fluid around the baby, and he had no kidney,” she recalls. “They said he ‘wasn’t viable with life’, and offered me a termination. “I had never even heard of Potter’s Syndrome, and many babies who have it are stillborn. “It was horrible. You get past the 12-week mark, and you think after that everything will be OK, and your baby will just get stronger and grow “But because of my religion I didn’t feel I had the right

to make that decision, so I continued with the pregnancy. “There was also a small part of me that had a glimmer of hope that the diagnosis might be wrong.” Shabina told her family, who supported her decision and helped her to make arrangements. On May 27, 2017, Shabina went into labour. Mohammad Mustafa Ahmed was born via caesarean section at Heartlands Hospital.

Medics told her that her little boy wouldn’t survive, and they did their best to make him comfortable. He survived for two hours and 19 minutes, and as he took his last breath, Shabina cuddled him in her arms. “I wouldn’t change it for the world. I have no regrets,” she says. “He was so small and precious. I held him until his last breath.” The next day, as with Muslim religious traditions, Mohammed’s funeral took place. Sadly for Shabina, she had suffered a blood clot during labour, and was unable to attend his burial. “My sister stayed with me, and I was actually having a CT scan at the time, as I’d got a clot in my lung,” she explains. “But the bereavement

nurses at Heartlands were amazing. They really helped me. “They were there for me during my darkest hours, and I will never forget their kindness.” Shabina is raising money for the Eden Suite, the bereavement ward that helped her through the tragedy. She is raising money for a CuddleCot – a moses basket with a built-in cooling unit. It helps stop a baby’s body from deteriorating, so that grieving parents can spend longer with their newborns who have died. “There wasn’t one available for Mohammed,” says Shabina, who also has three daughters, Alishba, nine, Eliza, five and Iraj, three months. “But I know it would have made a huge difference to us. “That’s why I wanted to raise money for a new CuddleCot on the Eden Suite. I know it will really help other families who sadly will go through what we did. “To have that extra time would have meant so much. I could have changed his clothes, and had more time to spend with him. “The subject is still taboo in a lot of communities, including in the Asian community, so I think it’s really important to share my experience. “Often people don’t know

what to say to you, but I want people to know it’s good to be open. “It has affected my eldest daughter quite a lot, but I tried to explain that some babies are special and go to heaven. “It means a lot to us all that we can give something back.” Shabina has raised more than £2,300 in Mohammed’s memory, and she will be presenting her donation to nurses at the Eden Suite . Sian Averill, Fundraising Manager at Heartlands

Hospital Charity, says: “The charity’s heartfelt thanks go to Shabina for her hard work in raising such a fantastic amount of money. Thanks to the generosity of fundraisers such as Shabina, the charity has been able to provide CuddleCots for the suite. “A CuddleCot keeps the baby cool, which extends the window of time that parents have to make memories with their baby, with the support of the specialist bereavement midwives on the unit. “The CuddleCots are so important for the ward – they

give families that precious time with their babies that they wouldn’t be able to have otherwise. “None of this would be possible without the support of people like Shabina, who enable the charity to go ‘over and above’ for mothers and their families on the Eden Suite.” * If you would like to donate to the Eden Suite at Heartlands you can visit Shabina’s Just Giving fundraising page at or go to www.hospitalcharity. org.

She was our everything. Scans had shown she had a hole in her heart before she was born so she was rushed to Birmingham Children's Hospital as soon as she arrived. She had her first open heart surgery at just a couple of months old. She would go onto have five

more surgeries, including another open heart surgery that last 11 hours. We practically lived at the hospital for three or four months at a time then we’d come home and Khadijah would develop another condition and we’d go back. But the hospital staff were amazing, everyone from the cleaners and caterers to nurses, doctors and surgeons. In May, we went for a lovely day out at Cannon Hill Park and Khadijah didn’t seem well when they got home. We took her to hospital and the staff thought it was a virus and sent her home. By the next day my wife Nida was convinced something was seriously wrong and said we needed to take her back to hospital. As I was putting her in her car seat, I saw her skin was peeling off her hands and legs. It was blistering, like she had been in a fire. By the time we got to the hospital, it had spread all over her body. The doctors rushed her straight into theatre and started pumping her with fluids and antibiotics. There was so much activity and we just sat in the parents room, waiting. When they came to see us they said her heart had stopped but they had managed to bring her

back. However, they didn’t think she would make it. That’s when we started phoning family to come. As we went down to intensive care, we could see the emergency lights going off and we just knew it was coming from her bed. We saw them trying to resuscitate her but they were unable to. We were there with her at the end. Khadijah eventually lost her fight not to her heart condition but to septic shock - the fact that she was so young and had a heart condition meant she could not fight the infection. I now want to help other children like Khadijah. Thousands of children all over the world are born with a heart condition and many will die due to not being able to afford the medical care needed. We run a food bank at our offices and send money to help girls at a refuge in Pakistan. I have since become an ambassador for the Little Hearts Project , working on the Muntada Aid project which offers free surgery to children with congenital heart defects - the same condition my daughter had. For three years Birmingham Children’s Hospital became our home - I could never thank them enough for what they did for us and I want to raise awareness of

the amazing work they do. this poster is being screened on five electronic billboards around Bullring and Grand Central. I am going to stand next to the billboards and talk to people about what happened to me and how they can help others. I want to inspire people who have lost a loved one, to show them that life does go on if they can channel their energy into good by helping people. It just helps with the healing process. We are so blessed to live in a country that enables us to access these services, there are so many parents across the world who cannot get help for their children. The boys know their sister is in heaven. Even our youngest points to the sky and says up when we talk about her. Khadijah was a little busy body, very talkative and lively. She loved babies, always wanted to be mum when she was playing. And she was very strong and resilient because she went through so much. She had a fighting spirit few adults have." Sunny is raising money for Little Hear ts in memor y of Khadijah. Donate to his page h t t p s : / / w w w. j u s t g i v i n g . com/fundraising/ isasavinghear ts

A Brave Dad’s Message To Help Others

Sunny Araf and his daughter Khadijah Araf

A Birmingham brave dad has posting his final photo with his daughter on electronic billboards around the city to say Thank you for the wonderful work done by the NHS. Sunny Araf, from Erdington has arranged for the last photo of him and his daughter Khadijah Araf to be beamed onto billboards on

Monday October 15 to say thank you to Birmingham Children's Hospital. Little Khadijah Araf was born with a complex heart condition and died of septic shock in May just before her third birthday. "Khadijah was a 'Daddy's girl' - and a tomboy due to having three older brothers.

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“Fresh Off the Boat” Asian Comedy Film season 14

Victoria Park Productions proudly presents a series of screenings celebrating Asian Comedy including screenings of The Big Sick, Four Lions and Comedy Classic Bhaji on the Beach with special Q & A’s taking place across the midlands at the Midland Arts Centre, The Mockingbird Cinema and Electric Cinema. The season celebrates Asian comedy on screen. Challenging perceptions and highlighting great Asian comedy talent. Each of the titles have been curated to represent the unique diversity of Asian comedy. From the hilarious all female, all Asian led classic comedy Bhaji on the Beach written by Meera Syal to the American comedy hit The Big Sick which tells the tale

of a Pakistani immigrant making his way in the modern America the while navigating a romance with an all American girl from a very different background. The British comedy Four Lions ofcourse represents great home grown comedy talent and proves why Riz Ahmed was to make it in Hollywood. The film season is as follows: 9th November 2018, 7PM: The Four Lions at the Mockingbird Cinema with a Q and A panel hosted Omar Sabir. Omar (Unity FM) of. Book your tickets Now from Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite. co.uk/e/four-lions-15screening-with-a-special-qatickets-51913648119 10th November 2018, 7PM:

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Channel 4 Goes to Leeds

Leeds has been chosen for the new national HQ of Channel 4 to boost the way it reflects life outside London above Birmingham and Greater Manchester. The broadcaster will keep another headquarters in London but will move aound 200 of its 800 staff to the West Yorkshire city. Channel 4 has also announced it will open "creative hubs" in Bristol and Glasgow, with around 50 staff in each. Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds City Council, said it was "the best news". Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the decision to house one of the creative hubs in Glasgow was "fantastic news for Scotland's screen sector and creative industries". Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees tweeted that he is looking forward to working with Channel 4 in "our

creative, innovative city". Channel 4 said Leeds had put forward an "ambitious strategy" to support growth in the creative industries and "to nurture new talent from diverse backgrounds - in the region and across the UK". Chris Curtis, editor of trade publication Broadcast, said the difference it will make on screen will depend on which staff move to the new hubs, and how much power they have. "They have talked about moving creative decisionmakers out of London but there's still a sense that the big creative decisions will still be taken in the London HQ," he told BBC News. "Which roles move, the level of seniority of those roles, and how much autonomy those people are given are yet to be determined, and they will have an influence on Channel 4's output. "But I don't believe C4 are

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just paying lip service - they genuinely want it to be a success." Channel 4 chief executive Alex Mahon said she wanted to open the publicly-owned company up to "people from across the UK and supercharge the impact we have in all parts of the country". She said: "Locating our national HQ in Leeds enables us to capitalise on a strong and fast-growing independent production sector in cities across the north of England - and also has the potential to unlock growth in the north-east and east of the country, an area without a major presence from other national broadcasters." Sally Joynson, chief executive of Screen Yorkshire, said the move would be "transformational" for the TV industry in the city and the north of England.

Plans To Close Stratford Road Car Park

The Alfred Road car park in Sparkbrook is constantly "chocka-block" with but is now set to be closed to make way for a new housing estate. In 2005 it was offered as a parking provision when the council introduced a red route along Stratford Road. It has been confirmed that Birmingham City Council will close the car park when the work starts in 2020. Local businesses are furious and are saying they won’t survive if the car park is scrapped. Mr Gohil, who is the secretary of the Stratford Road business association, told how a petition against the council's plans was signed by more than 400 locals. With customers' only parking option set to be scrapped, traders may as well just 'shut up shop', says the owner of Gohil Emporium. He said: "We have people coming from Luton, Glasgow and London just to come to our shops here. Birmingham City Council confirmed the car park is set

to close as it is 'surplus to requirements A council spokesperson said: “The reallocation of a number of council-owned sites to facilitate the development of much-needed affordable housing across the city was approved by Cabinet in March. "The sites in question were all declared surplus on the basis that they were underused and full public consultation was carried out at the time, including in relation to the Alfred Road car park, where support was shown for these proposals by residents and traders. “While approval was granted in 2005 for the Alfred Road site to become a car park to offer parking provision in support of the red route works on Stratford Road, the car park has since become underused and therefore surplus to requirements. "However, the site will remain in use as a car park until development works are ready to begin, which is expected to be by 2020. The news comes as we revealed

the stark reality for traders working on what is fast-becoming a no-go zone. Homeless people are a large part of the problem, traders claim. But shoppers also face blocked pavements - whether with badly parked cars, flytipped bin bags or 'drugged-up youths'. Asif Butt, who recently opened a café selling homemade cakes, fresh samosas and coffee, branded the street a "dump" and said shoppers are afraid to visit. He said: "Women don't feel safe here. Homeless people now follow people to their car and knock on the windows if you don't give them money. "Cars block the pavements, so no one can see the shops. "Pushchairs and wheelchairs can't get through and pedestrians often have arguments with the drivers. "I lived here 40 years before I moved to Lickey Hills, it's just not welcoming here anymore and businesses have slumped over the years. "It used to be a posh place, now the area is deprived."

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Naga Munchetty, Ayub Khan Din and Faisal Islam were among those honoured at the 2018 Asian Media Awards. The University of Salford 6th Asian Media Awards ceremony took place at the Manchester Hilton Deansgate (Thursday October 25) in front of journalists, presenters and media personalities from across the UK. East is East and Ackley Bridge creator Ayub Khan Din was presented with the Sophiya Haque Services to British Television and Film Award. Ayub said, “I’m delighted and honoured to accept an achievement award for a body of work that I hope continues to inform and entertain and hopefully inspire other young British Asian Men and Women to do the same”. He was presented the award by the sister of Sophiya Haque, Aysha Jamieson after an introduction detailing his influence of British films and television by broadcaster and journalist Sarfraz Manzoor. BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty was awarded the Media Personality of the Year honour by young ambassadors from the cancer charity CLIC Sargent –

official charity partners at the event. As well as sharing her journey as a broadcaster, speaking on stage Naga said she was overwhelmed by the support she receives from members of the public. “I think it matters being different. I often get approached by families on the street with young children saying to their kids, ‘You could be her – you could do what she is doing. She managed it and that matters.'” There was a special award to commemorate 25 years in broadcasting for Tommy Nagra, who helped to launch some of the most defining programmes on British television. Sky News Political Editor Faisal Islam who has broken a string of exclusive stories in the past year was named the MMU Journalist of the Year. ‘Child Victims Rohingya’ part of a wider series of broadcasts by Ashish Joshi into the tragic plight of the Rohingya victims won the TV Report of the Year accolade. He was presented his award by BBC Midlands reporter Satnam Rana. Satnam was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and through the turbulent moments and hospital appointments she has aimed to raise awareness of the

NOVEMBER 2018

Naga Munchetty

illness. The highly coveted Best Investigation Award went to ‘White Right: Meeting the Enemy,’ a report by Deeyah Khan which explores the farright in America. Deeyah Khan said, “I am overjoyed that my ITV documentary White Right: Meeting the Enemy has been honoured at the Asian Media Awards this year, especially considering it was up against

so many other very worthy competitors. “This award reflects the importance of the film’s message: the growing threat of racist ideologies – and the power of empathy to rebuild human connections. I am grateful and humbled to have had the support of the Asian Media Awards for several of my Fuuse projects over the years.” “I believe that a platform

Duaa Karim presented AMA Best Newcomer

like the Asian Media Awards is crucial as it continues to draw attention to the diversity of talent in the industry in order to better reflect the societies we live in.” Alan Shearer Announces New Sports Journalist Finalists The Sports Journalist of the Year category saw nominations read out by Alan Shearer from the Match of the Day studios in a pre-recorded segment. It was won by presenter and reporter Seema Jaswal. ITV Central News journalist Balvinder Sidhu won the Regional Journalist of the Year award and Amani Khan triumphed in the Outstanding Young Journalist Category. Dúaa Karim, who hit the TV screens with aplomb taking on the role of Aqsa, aka ‘Little Aks’ in the hit BBC Three comedy ‘Man Like Mobeen,’ was named the 2018 AMA Best Newcomer. Ali Official picked up the Best Video Channel Award. Ali, a stand-up comedian and content creator specialising in short form content online has digitally garnered over 100M views across his Instagram and Facebook pages. Child of the Divide won the Best Stage Production category and Paul Chowdhry’s ‘Live Innit’ tour won the Best Live Event honour. BBC Asian Network Reclaim Radio Award In the radio categories BBC Asian Network regained

the Radio Station of the Year accolade. The station also celebrated a win with the Best Radio Show award for Late Night with Mobeen Azhar. Anushka Arora of Sunrise Radio won the Radio Presenter of the Year category and Kavita Kukar of Panda Radio picked up the first Rising Star in Radio Award. Asian Star 101.6FM won the Regional Radio Station of the Year category, an honour they last won in 2014. In the creative and marketing categories Penny Appeal’s ‘As British As’ campaign won the Creative Media Award. Cultr London were named Media Agency of the Year and Vickram Sembhi of Exterion Media UK won the Media Professional of the Year award. Sony Wins TV Channel Honour The TV categories saw Sony TV put an end to Star Plus’s grip on the TV Channel of the Year Award. The Boy With The Topknot won the Best TV Programme category and Sanjeev Bhaskar was named the Best TV Character for his role as DI Sunny Khan in the hit drama Unforgotten. Vlogger Ibz Mo was named Best Blog whilst BizAsiaLive.com won their second Asian Media Award for Best Publication/ Website. It was their second award in this category after their triumph in 2014.

NOVEMBER 2018

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Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: AMITABH BACHCHAN TO PAY OFF DEBTS

DOSANJH’S NEW SONG ‘PAGAL’ D O O W Y L L O B T S E T A L E TH S W E N T N E M IN A T R E T N E

Formally announced their wedding date

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Ranveer & Deepika

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone formally announced their wedding date

With Saif Ali Khan being one of Bollywood’s established stars and daughter Sara making her debut, he revealed son Ibrahim wants to enter the industry in the future. Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan has revealed that his son Ibrahim Ali Khan aspires to follow in his footsteps one day and become an actor. Sara Ali Khan, Saifs daughter is already set to make her Bollywood debut with Kedarnath which is releasing on November 30, 2018. Now it looks like Ibrahim wants to go into the same profession as his father. Although Saif is supporting his sons career choice, he did confess that he is concerned that Ibrahim feels it is the easiest route to take. Saif also explained that other boys such as Akshay Kumar’s son Aarav and other boys aspire to be Bollywood stars like their fathers too.

Dosanjh’s New Song ‘Pagal’

The highly anticipated song of Diljit Dosanjh, ‘Pagal’ was finally released. Jotted by Babbu and composed by GoldBoy, the song is a sad melody. The track narrated the story of a couple, who were separated by conspiracy and misunderstandings. In a recent Instagram live session, Diljit Dosanjh unveiled that the track was dubbed by him in 2015 at the time of ‘5 Taara’. However, the songster wasn’t sure that he would be able to make his audience accept him in a sad song; therefore, he took his own time to release the melody.

Mandy Takhar recently wrapped up the shooting of one of her 2019 releases, she took to her social media accounts to announce the new film which will be hitting the big screens next year. The film titled ‘Band Vaaje’, stars Many Takhar and Binnu Dhillon as the lead roles and is set to be the funniest Punjabi comedy of 2019. So, everyone keep a look out for this movie to hit the cinemas in 2019!

Mandy Takhar

Band Vaaje

COMEBACK For Brad Pitt

It’s official! Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have confirmed their wedding date which will be taking place in November 12-14, 2018. With so much speculation around this much-loved Bollywood couple, known as DeepVeer to their millions of followers and fans globally, the couple took to their social media accounts to announce and confirm this wonderful and big news.

The couple began dating after they worked together in Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela in 2013, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Prior to this Deepika was dating Ranbir Kapoor. Although, none of the stars confirmed their relationship status.They also appeared together in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films Bajirao Mastani (2015) and Padmaavat (2018), which were both huge films for them.

Brad Pitt, 54, is making a comeback! After Angelina Jolie, 43, filed for divorce in September 2016, the two years since had been “a living hell” for Brad, as we heard almost one month ago. After dealing with the fall of their two-year marriage, on top of nearly 12 years together, Brad feels “healthier, stronger and happier than he has in years,” a source says

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Amitabh Bachchan to pay off debts Amitabh Bachchan has announced that he will pay off debts for 850 farmers in his home state

r Bachchan, 76, said he also previously helped more than 350 farmers in the western state Maharashtra, whose capital is Mumbai, by paying off their loans. It has been a most satisfying experience to give some to them our countrymen that sacrificed their lives for us”, he wrote on his personal blog. More needs to be done from other parts of the country

“

too. It shall be done.” ndian farmers have faced a turbulent year with high fuel costs, monsoon-damaged crops and empty promises of government minimum-price support causing tens of thousands of them to take out exorbitant loans. r Bachchan said: "Over 350 farmers loans that were difficult to pay off , and to prevent them from

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas conﬁrm their Wedding Date

Actress Priyanka Chopra and Singer-Songwriter Nick Jonas will reportedly tie the knot in a threeday ceremony from November 30, to December 02, 2018. It has been reported that Indian actress Priyanka Chopra and singersongwriter Nick Jonas from the US will get married at the end of 2018.

committing suicide, was paid off some days back too. Now a list of over 850 farmers from Uttar Pradesh have been identified and their loans amounting to over Rs 550m (611,000) shall be taken care of.” he agricultural crisis has seen tens of thousands of farmers fatally despairing, accounting for 11 per cent of suicides in India. The latest available data for 2016 showed 11,370 took their lives that year.

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Mundiyan Tu Rendhe BAAGHI - Navraj Hans Tu Rendhe Tindy & Rixx and 2Sudesh Kumari Tindy & Rixx and Sudesh Kumari

Ghar Se Nikalte Hi Woman Woman Armaan Malik Shide Boss ft Zack Knight Shide Boss ft Zack Knight

Ae Watan Peat Pe Booty Peat Booty A RAAZI Flying -Pe Arjit Jatt Sing A Flying Jatt

Aashiq Banaya Apne Suit Suit Randhawa Guru HATE STORY 4 - Himesh & N. Kakkar Guru Randhawa

Patola Tu Hai Tu Hai Daro Mohenjo BLACKMAIL - Guru Randhawa Mohenjo Daro

Aaj Se Teri Dishoom Dishoom PADMAN Arjit Singh Sau Tarah- Ke Sau Tarah Ke

BHANGRA/POP BHANGRA BHANGRA

“ T

DJ Khaled

he 42-year-old music producer is worth over $20 million; however he wants to become a billionaire the easiest way possible. He purchased a massive stack of lottery tickets for the Octobers Mega Millions drawing where the pot has grown to $1.6 BILLION and fans are dragging him for being greedy. After posting on social media that he purchased as many lottery tickets as he could with ‘1 Bag’.

First Movie for Singer Rajvir Earlier this year, singer Rajvir Jawandha made his debut in Pollywood in a supporting role with ‘Subedar Joginder Singh’, and right now the artist is shooting his first movie as the main lead. Titled ‘Mahi Ve’, the movie is being helded by Darshan Bagga. The shoot of the same went on the floors this week in Thailand. Though the details regarding the other cast of the movie have been kept under wraps, from Rajvir’s social media updates it seems that some prominent faces of Pollywood like Upasna S i n g h , Harby Sangha a n d Jaswinder Bhalla will be featuring in ‘Mahi Ve’.

Following their whirlwind romance, the Indo-American couple who got engaged earlier this year. They will be tying the knot in a three-day ceremony from November 30, to December 02, 2018. The two will reportedly marry in Rajasthan’s second largest city Jodhpur with family and close friends.

01. 01. 02. 02. 03. 03. 04. 04. 05. 05. 06. 06. 07. 07. 08. 08. 09. 09. 10. 10.

Knightridah Gabbroo Gabbroo Jassie Imran Gill Khan ft. Preet Hundal Jassie Gill ft. Preet Hundal

Sip Sip Akhil Akhil Teri KamiSandlas Jasmine Teri Kami

Akh Lad Jaave Tru-Skool Ashok Prince, Badshah, Asees & Jubin Ashok Tru-Skool Time 4 YaPrince, Mind Kaur Nautiyal Time 4 Ya Mind

Laung PBN & Laachi Raj Bains Mannat PBNAkh & Noor Raj Bains Billi Billi Akh

Dil Diyan Manni Sandhu Gallan Manni Sandhu Welcome Atif Aslam To The Future Welcome To The Future

Diﬀerence Tere Bina Tere Maan Bina Monty Amrit & Waris, Ginni Kapoor Monty & Waris, Ginni Kapoor

Patt Lai Geya Skoda SkodaBawa Ranjit Jasmine Sandlas ft. Bhinda Aujla Ranjit Bawa ft. Bhinda Aujla

Thumka Ikk Vaari Hor Soch Lae Ikk Vaari Hor Soch Lae Harish Zack Knight Verma Harish Verma

Tareefan Billa Kulwinder Kulwinder Billa Kulwinder Qaran & Badshah Billa Kulwinder Billa

Chogada Selﬁ e Boliyan SelﬁeSingh Boliyan Malkit Darshan Raval ft. Dj Vix Malkit Singh ft. Dj Vix

UK UKARTISTS CHART UK ARTISTS

01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10.

Youngblood One Dance One Dance 5Drake Seconds feat OfWizkid Summer and Kyla Drake feat Wizkid and Kyla

2002 Cold Water Anne-Marie Cold Water Major Lazer and Justin Beiber Major Lazer and Justin Beiber

God Good Too Is A Woman Too Good Drake Ariana feat Grande Rihanna Drake feat Rihanna

No Tears This is what Leftyou To came Cry for This isHarris what you came for Calvin Ariana Grande feat Rihanna Calvin Harris feat Rihanna Answerphone Heathens Banx & Ranx & Ella Eyre feat. Heathens Twenty One Pilots Yxng Bane Twenty One Pilots

Closer Beautiful Closer Chainsmokers featCabello Halsey Bazzi feat. Camila Chainsmokers feat Halsey

Eastside Perfect Strangers Benny Blanco, & Khalid Perfect Strangers Jonas Blue featHalsey JP Cooper Jonas Blue feat JP Cooper

Tears Love (Paddington) Spread Tears Clean Bandit featDVNO Louisa Johnson Boston Bun feat. Clean Bandit feat Louisa Johnson

This One Girl Kiss This Kungs Vs Cooking 3 Burners CalvinGirl Harris feat.on Dua Lipa Kungs Vs Cooking on 3 Burners

Don't IWe Like It Talk Anymore We Don't Anymore Charlie feat Selena Gomez Cardi B Puth , BadTalk Bunny & J Balvin Charlie Puth feat Selena Gomez

NOVEMBER 2018

WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM

The Asian Today Interviews London Artist

K Zie

In your own words, tell us a little bit about you? I am singer/songwriter based in London. I mainly specialise in the genres RnB and Pop. However, I will be fusing those genres with Punjabi/hindi in some of my next singles. Outside of music, I studied Economics at Queen Mary University. I also represented Surrey County Cricket Club and South of England in my teenage years. At what age did you start writing your own songs? I actually started writing my own lyrics at the age of 13. I would not say they were full songs but more like a few verses of a song or a chorus idea. I wrote my first complete song at the age of 17. Growing up did you want to go in to the music industry? I have always had a passion for music from a young age. However, I was more on for a career in cricket

if you actually ask me. I represented Surrey county cricket club from the age of 11 til 16. After that, then I was selected to play for South of England. Whilst playing for them I actually stress fractured my back which led me to not being able to play cricket for about 16 months and also not being able to get selected for England U16/17. After getting this injury I was not the same player I used to be and kept on getting back injuries. From that point onwards I started taking music much more seriously and decided it was music that I wanted to give my full dedication to. Your new single â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Make you Mineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, what is the song about? The single Make You Mine is a fusion of pop and punjabi music produced in a very futuristic manner. Make You Mine is for everyone, all ages giving you the fresh sound with the old skool twist. It is about a boy and girl

who clearly fancy each other. We can indirectly say they are going out. However, the girl at the same time is teasing up the boy by playing a little hard to get. But then again K Zie also likes the fact she is doing this and therefore is determined to make her his girl. Why is this song so different to your previous songs? This song is different to my debut release This Could Be Love in April as it is the first time I have fused both English and Punjabi in one song. This Could Be Love was a much commercial pop release whereas Make You Mine has more of an authentic touch due to the fusion of English and Punjabi but also because of the native Asian intsruments used such as the flute. In addition to this, it is the first time my song has been signed to major record label. If you could collaborate with any artist who would it

DESIXPRESS

EXCLUSIVE Artist K Zie talks about his music

be and why? From the UK Asian scene, I would love to collaborate with Zack Knight as he has a great voice and also has produced some fantastic songs in the last few years. I feel his style of music is very similar to mine and so I think having his and my tone of voice on one song would be a game changing vibe. Outside of the UK Asian scene, I would love to collaborate with Selena Gomez. She has such a sweet voice and has been great artist for a number of years. I feel her voice would go extremely well with mine. I also read lately that she would be up to do a song for Bollywood, so Selena if you read this you know what to do haha.

What is next for K ZIE? In the next few weeks I will be starting the UK Make You Mine Tour which will see me going to different events/ venues in London, Leicester, Birmingham and Manchester to perform Make You Mine along with a few of my other songs. I will also be doing a meet and greet for all of my fans, so would love to see each and every one of you there. So please stay tuned to my social media sites to find out all the dates of when I am in your city. I am also currently working on new music too. I have just finished one of my new songs which I am hoping to release soon which has a more Punjabi urban vibe. In conjunction with this I am also working on musical projects with Bollywood Music Producer Harry Anand and Vee Music.

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INTERNATIONAL

THE ASIAN TODAY

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Student Jailed Justice Served For Stabbing Two for Zainab Students In College

The convicted man for the rape and murder of six-yearold Zainab Ansari has been hanged. Imran Ali, was arrested after her body was found in a garbage dump, was executed in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat prison on 17 October 2018. After he was sentenced to death for raping and murdering Zainab, Imran Ali was convicted for similar crimes against six more girls. Zainab's father, Amin Ansari, said after the execution that he was

"satisfied". "I have seen his aweinspiring end with my own eyes," he told reporters. Mr Ansari, said that Zainab would have been seven years and two months old if she was alive, expressed regret that authorities did not televise the hanging. Zainab disappeared on 4 January and her body was found five days later in a rubbish dump. Zainab's family said the police did not take action during the five days from

when she was reported missing until her body was found. Relatives, not police, recovered CCTV footage of her last movements. The footage, showed a girl being led away by a man, was circulated widely on social media. The hashtag #JusticeForZainab later went viral, with many Pakistanis calling for action. On 23 January, 24-yearold Imran Ali was arrested through a DNA match.

Bride of One Week Killed in Car Crash

A science student from Manchester college has been jailed after he stabbed two other teenagers following a row over a girl on November 11, 2016. Mohammed Alsarayefi was just 17 when he knifed his victims in a fight outside the canteen at The Manchester College's Shena Simon Campus after an argument over a post he left on Snapchat. A fellow student, then 18, had read on social media that his ex-girlfriend was dating Alsarayefi and confronted him. But he was left fighting for his life after being stabbed in the chest, back and upper arm. The teenager suffered a partially-collapsed lung. A third student, also 18, suffered a knife wound to his back as he intervened. Almost two years on, Alsarayefi, now 19, from Fallowfield, has been

convicted of two charges of w ounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following a trial. He was jailed for six years. The court heard the row began after the first of Alsarayefi's victims split up with girlfriend of two years after he accused her of having a fling with a different boy. The girl, who attended a different college, then began dating Alsarayefi. Alsarayefi, who was hoping to go to university after completing his access to science diploma course, denied wrongdoing arguing he was acting in self defence - claiming his first victim had the knife. He told the jury of his relationship with the girl: ''We never slept together. I did approach [the first victim] and told him that I was seeing [the girl] and he said that he respected me for

telling him and that I was a good lad.â&#x20AC;? Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver QC told Alsarayefi: ''This has had a lasting emotional impact on the two young men. There was a degree of self defence in that the victim swung the first punch, but to then to strike with a knife was wholly out of proportion. 'You were 17 when you went to college that day, armed with a very dangerous knife and you used it to inflict a very serious injury. "The offences are aggravated by the location and time, outside a college when other young students had to see the blood and aftermath. ''If you had been an adult at that time in an identical circumstance the least possible sentence would have been one of nine years."

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A newlywed couple from Canada were involved in a serious crash that killed 30-year-old woman from Newmarket and seriously injured her 31-year-old husband. A man accused of fleeing the scene has turned himself in to Peel Regional Police.

Investigators say the 23-yearold driver was responsible for a collision. Police say the couple had been married for one week at the time of the crash. The collision happened on Oct. 21 at around 12:30 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 50 and

Castlemore Road in Brampton. The accused driver fled the scene on foot, police say, and turned himself in two days later. The man, from Nobleton, is facing four charges, including criminal negligence causing death and failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing death.

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NOVEMBER 2018

THE ASIAN TODAY Our very own Graphic Designer and on the side Journalist - Anil Singh Gill brings his Food Reviews to The Asian Today, bringing all the news from hot restaurants to cool bars and everything in between. www.theasiantoday.com

Mac and Cheese with a

funky twist

Holy Moly Macaroni Grand Central - Birmingham

Headed into Grand Central in Birmingham and stumbled across this Mac and Cheese restaurant, called Holy Moly Macaroni. The name of the restaurant had enticed me in, the décor and interior of the restaurant was very modern and contemporary with exposed brickwork and neon lights and furnished with thick wooden benches and seating, very Hipster indeed. With the location being in a busy shopping centre. The menu was very interesting with an array of different toppings for Mac and Cheese, you can even make your own combination, also buttermilk chicken and waffles and smoky BBQ ribs. To drink there was a range of soft drinks, house wine’s, craft beers and IPA’s. This is definitely a great place for comfort food it was quiet filling and a decent portion size. Nice place for date night or to come with families. Even if you’re just in the need of something warming. Would definitely recommend the ‘Shrimp Daddy’ if you like seafood.

Get more food news on twitter @theasiantoday and on the web : www.theasiantoday.com

LIFESTYLE

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YOUR L

Must have Charcoal Beauty uses and Beneﬁts!

Activated charcoal is a natural remedy used to flush toxins and chemicals out of our bodies, so they wouldn’t be reabsorbed. There are now several products on the market which use activated charcoal which are available widely. Charcoal Teeth WhiteningWe all know that dark foods and drinks can stain our teeth, but fear not charcoal can erase these problems.

Using a charcoal activated toothpaste is a natural way to whiten your teeth! Charcoal Face Masks help to deep cleanse and minimise your pores, in turn making your skin feel soft, supple and refreshed. Charcoal face care, soap, cleansers for oily skin are new go to products to keep that unwanted shine away. Charcoal Shampoos- If your hair is feeling weighed

Rahu GBBO

down and dull, it might be time for an extra purifying hair care product. Shampoos with charcoal are more likely to pull the grease, dirt and impurities from the hair, therefore adding more volume. Charcoal tablets- They soothe and heal your skin after insect bites or bruises by lessen the swelling and absorbing the toxins from the insect bites.

Top 5 eye shadow must haves this Winter!

While a lot of people simply swish a coat of nude eyeshadow and move on with the rest of their makeup, the possibilities of the looks you can create with combinations of pigments and brushes are endless. From neutral browns and beiges to metallic gold and bronze, and from warmer wine tones to anything bright (pink, blue, green), every conceivable colour is on trend right now. The trick is to get the application right. Here are 5 eye shadow must haves.

1.Pérsona Cosmetics Identity Eyeshadow Palette This palette was created to enhance the beauty of brown eyes, but the bronzy shades look just as beautiful on all eye colors. Both the matte and shimmer formulas are ultra-pigmented and easily blendable and buildable, which is what makes this palette so good. 2. Karity Unicorn Dreams Palette This palette by Karity, a beauty brand that sells its products sans mark-up, is

made up of 15 vibrant cool tones. Build them up for an over-the-top unicorn look, or play them down for a subtle pastel eye. 3.NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette To get the most of these crease-resistant shadows, use the matte shades to create the base of the look, then use your finger to press the buttery shimmer pigments in place. 4.Charlotte Tilbury Bigger Brighter Eyes Palette This limited-edition

palette features the only four shades Charlotte says you need to contour and highlight your eyes for a subtle look that makes the biggest, brightest difference. 5. Huda Beauty Desert Dusk Eyeshadow Palette Imagine the prettiest sunset you've ever seen. Now imagine that but on your eyes. Yeah, this palette of glittery, matte, pearl, and duo-chrome finishes is that good.

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LIFESTYLE

IFESTYLE

ul Winner of O 2018

t was a close finish on The Great British Bake off finale which was watched by an average live audience of over 7 million people and a peak audience of 8.1 million saw Rahul Mandal being announced as the winner in the final five minutes of the show. Rahul triumphed over fellow finalists Kim-Joy Hewlett and Ruby Bhogal. He was crowned 2018's winner after some trouble from the get go. He said: "I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. I just feel I need to talk with my mum." The final three contestants were evenly matched, having each been named star baker twice during the course of this year's series. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today, Rahul said: "Only my parents knew about [me applying for Bake Off], in the newspaper they published the news and the rest of the family found out, they are very happy but shocked and surprised. "I think baking is science, its a mixture of physics, chemistry and engineering so perfectly fits what I do. "I just want to spread this word to students that maybe they think science is not for them, especially guys in school think they

can't bake but its the same thing [as science] - anyone can do it." The finalists were given four-and-a-half hours to make a landscape dessert, painting a picture with cake, pastry and biscuits. Rahul created a rock garden, inspired by Victorian explorers bringing back exciting plants from around the world. But his glass storage container smashed due to the 32C heat in the tent and after a swift clean up by producers he had to start again - with an extra 15 minutes to make up for lost time. Kim-Joy's Lost city of Atlantis was also applauded for being "original and colourful". Ruby created a magical landscape, with unicorns and mushrooms, was praised for its theme. The judges taste and complexity of Rahul's final bake saw him come back from the brink of disaster to win the final. Leith said: "He never reined in his ambition, he always tried to do a bit more than everybody else, and it paid off." Hollywood added: "He is one of those characters that you will miss when you are not with him.

"I don't think he realises still how good he actually is and I think that's what's magic about Rahul." Overall Rahul's raw talent and skill and his unique flavours that he had bought to his sweet and savoury bakes, had impressed Paul Hollywood and earned him star baker a number of times in the whole competition.

NOVEMBER 2018

FASHION CORNER

Autumn Coat Trends

There is something to suit every style this winter! Not only fashionable coats, however the best coats that will keep you warm this winter. From puffas, parkas, trenches, right through to sharply tailored numbers, as well as no fuss longline woolly dusters- all of which will keep you warm this winter. With animal prints, bright colours, checked coats and faux fur coats all in season this winter, which will be your winter coat this winter? 1. Animal print coats- There is no escaping animal prints this season, as seen in fashion week.

Specialists in

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From Leopard print, snake print, zebra print, the louder the better! 2. Thanks to some famous designers this winter will not be gloomy at all. This season bright block coloured coats are adding colour to our winter wardrobes with colours such as orange, red and pink to be the in-trend colours. 3. Checked coats were a big hit last season and they are back again! 4. As many people do not agree with real fux, faux fur has never been so chic! Making the faux fur a friendly but fashionable trend

this winter. 5. Late last winter a new trend hit the coat market which was teddy coats. The playful, soft teddy fur like textures were an instant sensation by all last winter. 6. Ever yone has a go to puffer coat to add on top of any outfit which will keep them instantly warm and in trend. 7. And finally, the classic trench coat which is ever yone’s ever yday coat. This season the oversized trench coats are the customers favourites!

• We aim to bring you great flight prices, whatever your destination. • We use a variety of airlines to find you the best deal. • We can provide tailor made packages and visa facilities. • We also specialise in Hajj & Umrah Tour packages. Hotel Bookings & Umrah Visa Services also available LOW COST FARES TO: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ethiopia, Lagos, Dar-Es-Salaam, Dubai and many more destinations.

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NOVEMBER 2018

BUSINESS

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THE ASIAN TODAY

usiness

mber

BUSINESS

Engineering plays a vital role in the UK’s Economy

merce

Engineering plays a vital role in the UK’s economy, providing employment on a large scale and producing the majority of our physical exports. Engineering is also responsible for developing and implementing some of the solutions to major global challenges. UK engineering has a worldleading position across the range of knowledge-intensive industrial industries involved in scientific and

technological research and innovation that results in addressing these global challenges. Engineering is responsible for 44% of UK exports according to the EEF. Britain is the world’s 8th largest manufacturer. According to Engineering UK It is estimated that engineering contributed £486 billion to UK GDP in 2015 – around 26% of the total and representing 2.3% growth since 2014. In 2015,

the number of engineering enterprises in the UK grew by 7% over the previous year, to 650,000. Nearly 5.7 million employees work in engineering enterprises in the UK, representing just over 19% of total UK employment. 265,000 skilled entrants required annually to meet demand for engineering enterprises through to 2024. That is more than 2.5 million job opportunities over a ten year period.

Paul Cadman ABCC Business Columnist

nual Dinner & Awards 2018 Asian Business

17th November 2018 - ICC Birmingham Chamber of Commerce

Y FOR AN AWARD DEADLINE FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2018

@PaulCadmanUK

The average salary, in 2015, for all those in fulltime engineering occupation employment was £33,689 compared to a UK average of £27,645. Average earnings for some mainstream engineering roles look strong and are enjoying bigger rises – such as civil engineers at over £42,500 (up 5%) and mechanical engineers (over £45,000, up 3.6%). In 2016 the Office of National Statistics said that the average manufacturing salary

was £32,047 compared to a national average of £28,299. If you already possess engineering skills you will find that there are many opportunities already waiting for you so whether you have already left higher education or are thinking about you working life, contact us to find out more. We have experts in all aspects of engineering and they are waiting to hear from you.

nformation on how to apply for an award or to find out more about sponsorship opportunities visit www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com, email Annual Dinneror&call Awards vents@birmingham-chamber.com 0121 6072018 1722

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PROPERTY

THE ASIAN TODAY East Midlands has had 19,743 property purchases with Help to Buy Over 169,102 completed Help to Buy equity loan purchases have been made since 2013. Leicestershire has had the most completed Help to Buy property purchases (5,177). Rutland revealed to have had the least property sales from Help to Buy equity loan in the East Midlands (255). According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Authority over 169,102 properties were brought with an equity loan since the launch of the governments Help to Buy scheme in 2013. Whilst the value of these properties sold are estimated to be worth an enormous £42.23 billion. A whopping 81% of total purchases have been made by first-time buyers, and although it has been announced that the scheme

is set to run until 2021, it has been under scrutiny with claims it is enabling people who can afford to buy without the equity loan to climb onto the property ladder with just a 5% deposit; thus driving up property prices as a result. Homelessness charity Shelter analysed the increased amount of mortgage lending in correlation to the scheme and concluded Help to Buy has increased the average home price by £8,250. The data was obtained by establishing which unitary authorities and county councils govern each county within England and then compiling the number of completed Help to Buy purchases from each governing body to work out the total sum within each region and sub counties.

What are the results? Fasthomes.org found that the East Midlands had the fourth highest number of property sales made via the Help to Buy equity loan scheme at a total of 19,743; a 437.88% increase since the first quarter of 2013. The South East was the region with the highest number of properties sold using the Help to Buy equity loan scheme (28,361). Sitting below the East Midlands is the West Midlands (18,606) and the South West (17,889). At the bottom end of the scale, Fast Homes can reveal the regions with the lowest number of properties sold using the Help to Buy equity loan scheme are: Yorkshire and The Humber (15,547), the North East (12,598), and finally London (12,206).

Upon further investigation, Fast Homes broke down the East Midlands as a region to reveal the counties that have had the most and least completed

Help to Buy equity purchases. The bottom three counties in the East Midlands consists of Nottinghamshire (3,270)

and Lincolnshire with just 2,424. Rutland had the least number of Help to Buy properties sold in the East Midlands, at 255.

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e p u o C 18 0 2 3 6 S G M -A s e d e rc Me LOOKING TO SELL YOUR NUMBER PLATE? LOOK NO FURTHER! CALL 0121 314 2892 FOR GREAT AD RATES!

he S63 Coupe represents arguably the best clarification of the Mercedes-AMG partnership. A new 4.0-litre twinturbo V8 makes rapid advancement when required, but equally offers the kind of effortless and refined performance you would expect – all in spite of a hefty two-tonne kerb weight. In all, the S63 is a car that manages that juggling act admirably. Updated for 2018, the S63 That’s despite considerable change

under the bonnet and a comprehensive technology turnover since the current C217 model arrived locally in 2015. The key change is Mercedes’ ubiquitous 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 engine –replacing the outgoing 5.5-litre V8 turbo unit – hooking up the rear wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. Outputs are up to 450kW and 900Nm, endowing the 2.0-tonne coupe with a nought to 100km/h time of 4.2 seconds and a claimed fuel consumption rating of 9.0L/100km combined. The most innovative technical marvel is to be found in the car’s routebased speed adaptation, which uses the GPS and

driver’s side door. Despite its incredible semiautonomous technology, the S63 is still made for those who enjoy driving. As such, it would be the perfect accomplice for weekends away for reasons other than prodigious power and

performance, with a sizeable 400-litre boot and ample incidental storage. The Mercedes-AMG S63 is a veritable velvet sledgehammer. It offers the technology, comfort and refinement to match its excess of performance.

Innovative and technical marvel

active cruise control to independently adjust speed for curves and intersections. Standard fare on the S63 is impressive: multicontour seats with inflating and deflating chambers, an updated dual screen display, wireless phone charging, 64-setting ambient lighting, and heated seats, armrests, front centre console and steering wheel. Performance goodies are equally generous: The S 63 incorporates the AMG Driver’s Package, which lifts the governed top seed to 300km/h, an AMG performance steering wheel, illuminated floor sill panels, 20-inch

AMG forged wheels, a high-performance composite braking system including red brake calipers and a sports exhaust. The matching nine-speed automatic is equally up to the task, providing razorsharp shifts in perfect harmony, allowing the engine to shuffle just the right amount of torque to the rear Continental rubber. Body control from the AMG is admirable given its sporty premise. It does tend to thud over sharper

imperfections, even in Comfort mode, but with little crashing through the cabin. The S63 grips tenaciously through corners, in spite of its size. On long, flowing bends, it is an easy car in which to build speed, and its stability control suite is well suited to heady driving, especially when making use of its Sport+ and Race settings. Overall, the S63 is an easy car with which to live despite the uber-

performance tag. Niceties that are not compromised include an accessible and refined infotainment system, comfortable ingress and egress and a broad spectrum of road abilities. The internals are dressed in quality leather materials broken up by carbon fibre inlays and quality metal highlights. It is a riot of sophisticated colours, highlighted by ambient lighting in the evenings. The one let-down on our test example was a loose plastic panel in the

NOVEMBER 2018

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SPORT

Sport

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Tributes for Leicester City Helicopter Crash Leicester City FC owner was amongst five other people who died when his helicopter crashed in flames near the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ground. Club owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was killed, along with two members of his staff, another passenger, and the pilot on Saturday 27 October. The helicopter took off from the King Power Stadium at about 20:30 BST on Saturday, as it often does after Leicester City games. The helicopter was seen spiralling out of control, then crashing in flames in a car park. Freelance photographer Ryan Brown had been at the match covering the game. "I heard the helicopter take off," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I turned around and it made a whirring noise and grinding noise and then went silent, it was spinning out of control. "The blades had stopped

spinning and then there was a big bang and a big fireball. Lots of people started running towards the scene; as I came around the corner there was a huge fireball. "It crashed right near the stadium. It just cleared the stadium roof and landed in an industrial park next to it." It is not yet known what caused the helicopter to crash. Leicestershire Police said two members of his staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, died in the crash, as well as pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz. No-one on the ground was injured. An investigation into the crash is being led by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which investigates civil aircraft accidents across the UK. Tributes have been pouring in and the Duke of Cambridge led the tributes

to Mr Vichai, saying he was lucky to have known him for several years. "He was a businessman of strong values who was dedicated to his family and who supported a number of important charitable causes," Prince William, who is president of the FA, said. "He made such a big contribution to football, not least through Leicester City's magical 2016 season that captured the imagination of the world." Former Leicester City and England striker Gary Lineker tweeted to say he was "deeply saddened" to hear of Mr Vichai's death. He signed off the Match of the Day programme on Saturday by saying it had been a "dreadful day". Mr Swaffer's friend Lucie Morris-Marr said the pilot was a "veteran in the field" and would have done all he could to prevent lives being lost in the crash.

She described him as a "funny and vivacious" man who was in an "aviation love story" with Ms Lechowicz. The couple were professional pilots who lived together in Camberley, Surrey. Ms Lechowicz moved

to the UK from Poland in 1997. Prime Minister Theresa May said: "The outpouring of grief is a testament to how many people's lives were touched by those on board."

In a statement, Leicester City said the club's thoughts were with "the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the families of all those on-board at this time of unspeakable loss".

Billionaire Shahid Khan has withdrawn his ÂŁ600 million offer to buy Wembley Stadium from the Football Association after the plan became "divisive". The move was "more divisive than expected", said FA chief Martin Glenn. Khan has not ruled out making another bid in future if there is more support from FA Council members. The FA had said it would invest the proceeds of the sale into improving grassroots football facilities. FA executives made a presentation to the FA Council last week about why they were backing the sale to Khan, and the 127 council members were scheduled to vote on the proposed sale on 24 October. FA chief executive Glenn

said Khan had believed his offer "would be well received by all football stakeholders". However, Glenn added: "At a recent meeting with Mr Khan he expressed to us that, without stronger support from within the game, his offer is being seen as more divisive than it was anticipated to be and he has decided to withdraw his proposal. "Wembley Stadium is an iconic venue that is revered around the world and it will continue to thrive under the ownership and direction of the FA." Khan said he wanted "to do right by everyone in a manner that strengthens the English game and brings people together, not divides them". He added: "Unfortunately,

given where we are today, I've concluded that the outcome of a vote next week would be far from sufficient in expressing the broad support favoured by the FA chairman to sell Wembley Stadium. "Until a time when it is evident there is an unmistakable directive from the FA to explore and close a sale, I am respectfully withdrawing my offer to purchase Wembley Stadium." Khan, who owns Fulham FC and the NFL American football team the Jacksonville Jaguars, added: "Our commitment to London would have been amplified and strengthened with the certainty of officially making Wembley Stadium an annual host to Jaguars or other NFL games." Football Supporters'

Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke said Other supporters, however, were concerned over the possibility of rising ticket prices for Wembley games, loss of control over the ground's future development and the stadium becoming the home of a new owner's club side. "More than 2,000 supporters took part in our consultation on the Wembley sale and we took that fan feedback directly to the FA Council last week. Only one in three fans thought the FA should sell to Khan while two-thirds of supporters were against selling the stadium under any circumstances," he added.

Shahid Khan Withdraws Offer To Buy Wembley Stadium

WWW.THEASIANTODAY.COM

NOVEMBER 2018

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Tributes for Sir Doug Ellis ﬁnal respects for AVFC legend

Sir Doug Ellis passed away at the age of 94

ir Doug Ellis’ funeral cortege will drive past Villa Park to allow football fans to pay their respects to the adored former chairman. The football world was plunged into

mourning after Sir Doug passed away on October 11, at the age of 94. His funeral will be held at Aston Parish Church, just a stone’s throw from his beloved Villa Park. The service is for family and invited guests only, Aston Villa will allow the funeral procession to travel by the stadium between 10.30am and 10.45am to give the broader football family one last chance to say goodbye. Anybody wishing to pay their respects should do so at the North Stand entrance to the ground. Mr Ellis, humorously known as ‘Deadly Doug’ for his reputation of firing managers, passed away at the family home in

Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield. England manager and former Villa star Gareth Southgate was among those who paid tribute overtly to Sir Doug, who served Villa as chairman for 31 years in total. Southgate, who was signed from Crystal Palace during Sir Doug’s second spell as Villa owner, portrayed Ellis as “a fantastic custodian”. “He was a brilliant chairman from a player’s perspective, I think it was slightly hard work for some of the managers, but brilliant as a player,” Southgate said. “The day I signed for Villa he took me for dinner with Brian Little and then I stayed at his house rather than going all the way back to London. “He made me welcome right from the start. He was hugely

passionate about the club. “If you look at his period in charge, not only were we competitive in the top six but the club owned their own training ground and had no debt when he sold it on. “He was a fantastic custodian for the club.” Villa favourites Paul McGrath and Paul Merson as well as former Tottenham owner Sir Alan Sugar also shared their memories. Andy Street Mayor for West Midlands and Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward led the civic tributes to Sir Doug, whose passing was observed with a minute’s silence before Villa’s game against Swansea.