Asian
Express MAY 2ND EDITION 2015
Yorkshire
速
Asian
Express MAY 2ND EDITION 2015
®
Yorkshire
INSIDE THIS EDITION
See page 49
PRINCE CHARLES CHALLENGED BLAIR OVER IRAQ
See page 3
YOUR CHANCE TO BECOME A LORD Exquisite registration plate ‘L2ORD’ up for sale
Shaving all her hair off CHARITABLE: Jazz Kaur will have her head shaved by hairdresser Emma Mack later this month as she raises money for young victims of the earthquake in Nepal
Long locks to get the chop in aid of vulnerable children
By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
Many people say they would give the ‘shirt off their back’ to help a worthy cause yet one Leeds resident is going that extra mile this month as she gives the hair off her head in a fundraiser for charity.
Continued on page 8
2
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
CONTACT US: Tel: 08703 608 606 Fax: 08703 608 605 Email: info@asianexpress.co.uk Stories: editor@asianexpress.co.uk Advertising enquiries: sales@asianexpress.co.uk
Text to mobile: 07800 778 089
Follow us on Asian Express is available as a FREE WEEKLY pick-up from selected supermarkets, retail outlets, community centres, boutiques, restaurants and many other distribution outlets across the Yorkshire region.
So pick-up your FREE copy of Asian Express TODAY! ©Media Buzz Ltd. All contents are Copyright. All Rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be stored in any retrieval system or transmitted electronically in any form without prior written permission of the Publishers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies howsoever caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Publishers. The editorial policy and general layout of this publication are at the discretion of the publisher and no debate will be entered into. No responsibility can be accepted for illustrations, articles or photographs whilst in transmission with the Publishers or their Agent unless a commitment is made in writing prior to receipt of such items.
Published by Media Buzz Ltd. Company Registration No.8863227. Media Buzz Ltd. 4 Armley Court, Armley Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS12 2LB
FREEPHONE 08000 949 111 www.hibahampers.com
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE: Over three million children are in danger A second major earthquake struck Nepal on Tuesday 12th May, just two weeks after a devastating quake left nearly 8,000 people dead and threemillion children in danger. At least 65 people have been killed and 1,200 injured as a result and bodies are still being pulled from the rubble. Staff from aid agencies are on the ground providing life-saving support to children and their families. The first 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Saturday 25th April ruined lives and destroyed infrastructure. Over 7,800 people are reported to have died and over 17,800 people were injured. This huge earthquake was followed by more than 60 aftershocks, which toppled homes and schools, forcing thousands of families into open spaces and temporary camps. Many families are struggling to simply protect themselves from the sun and rain and it is expected that needs will grow in the coming days as more information is received from remote areas. As children and families face the aftermath of this disaster, water supplies are running low and food is scarce. The risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera is growing rapidly and at least 15,000 children with severe malnutrition need treatment. With the monsoon season only a few weeks away, children face greater risk of disease and infection. A recent poll showed that one in four Britons have donated to the Disaster Emergency Committee’s (DEC) Nepal earthquake appeal in its first two weeks since its launch.
TRAGIC: At least 15,000 children are suffering severe malnutrition following the quakes
According to research from the Charities Aid Foundation, which surveyed more than 2,000 people, the key drivers that made people donate were the large number of people impacted by the earthquake (55 per cent of respondents cited this) and the belief that international aid is essential for helping the disaster (54 per cent). The DEC’s appeal has raised more than £50m in its first fortnight, which is higher than the £34m raised in the first three months of its Ebola appeal. Brendan Paddy, DEC’s head of communications, said: “Our donation levels have always varied significantly depending on the type of disaster concerned. “Appeals triggered by earthquakes and the associated tsunami generally raise the highest totals. These are sudden
and devastating events, producing a very high level of news coverage with shocking imagery. Quakes are seen as natural disasters and donors seem more likely to empathise in these cases than when we appeal in response to conflicts.” Of those who had already donated to the appeal, 42 per cent of respondents said that television was the most influential media channel in encouraging them to donate. The research also found that those aged between 25 and 34 were most likely to donate, with 32 per cent in that age group doing so. Cash has been the most common method of giving (32 per cent of respondents donated in this way), followed by online channels (30 per cent) and text messaging (22 per cent).
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Local
Exquisite registration plate ‘L2ORD’ up for sale
AVAILABLE: A once in a lifetime opportunity has arisen to own the L2ORD registration plate
Your chance to become a LORD A car says a lot about a person yet it is the registration plate that defines them. With so many prestige motors on the road, it seems the only way to stand out from the crowd today is through private plates. From celebrities to esteemed business officials, the rarer the plates the more impressive the individual and if you have the stature of a Lord, then you could be in luck. The plate L2ORD is now available after Asian Express Managing Director, Mr Nadim Hanif, successfully purchased the exquisite design from an English Lord. Mr Hanif, a long term business associate of the Lord, who wishes to remain anonymous, was able to acquire the plates as part of an asset clearout and is now looking
WANTED
VAN OWNERS/DRIVERS
to sell them on to their ‘rightful owner’. The perfect addition to a Rolls Royce, Bentley or prestige vehicle, there are no other plates quite like them on the road and are literally fit for royalty. Offers over £50,000 will be
considered and can be made directly to Mr Hanif via 07519 090000 where terms can be discussed and meetings arranged. If you are a true lord and want others to know it too, then these are the plates for you.
FIRST TIME BUYER, BUY TO LET, REMORTGAGES, 95% MORTGAGES, HELP TO BUY
Kalda Khan CeMap - Mortgage Adviser
Tel: 07534566493 Urdu and Punjabi speaking consultants also available including home visits. email: kaldakhan@mortgagebrokercountrywide.co.uk www.mortgagebrokercountrywide.co.uk
Must have a full UK drivers licence and be able to work flexible hours.
You can choose how we are paid for mortgages: pay a fee on average £600, or we can accept commission from the lender.
PART TIME AND FULL TIME
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage
(Rate of pay to be negotiated)
Mortgage Broker Countrywide is a trading style of Kalda Khan which is an appointed representative of Sesame Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
T: 08703 608 606
The FCA does not regulate some forms of Buy to let mortgage
3
4
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
TRIBUTE: Deputy Head of Mission for the British Embassy in Brazil, Wasim Mir (right), unveiled the plaque at Sao Paulo’s Museum of Football with director Luiz Bloch
Brazil pays tribute to Valley Parade fire victims By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
Thirty years ago, 56 people went to a football match and never returned home as the Valley Parade fire proved to be one of the worst sporting disasters in recent history. To commemorate the anniversary of the events that transpired on Saturday 11th May 1985, a memorial was held in Bradford’s Centenary Square last week whilst elsewhere, respects were also being paid at the other side of the world. In Brazil, a fellow Bradfordian who suffered burns in the fire as a young football fan, unveiled a plaque at Sao Paulo’s Museum of Football to commemorate those who died in the blaze in the Main Stand. Wasim Mir is currently the Deputy Ambassador in Brazil’s British Embassy and was 13years-old when he was forced to run onto the pitch for his own safety. Recalling the moment the fire struck, he said: “I had been taken to the match by my uncle, Reza Mir, to celebrate Bradford collecting the Third Division league trophy. As a special treat he bought tickets for the main stand. “Just before half time the section of the stand we were seated in was asked to evacuate by the police because of a small fire. “I remember walking calmly along the back of the stand when all of a sudden smoke was everywhere. After that I just remember running towards the pitch as fast as I could, I could feel
the heat on my head and covered my head with my hand to protect it. “After that I just wandered around the pitch looking for my uncle and started to panic. Luckily I eventually found him unhurt. “Although I saw the police carrying away a body in a make shift stretcher made out of a police jacket the extent of the what happened didn’t register. “It only dawned on me later when I went to hospital to have my injuries treated and saw hundreds of people with burns.” On Tuesday 12th May, Mr Mir was joined by Museum of Football director, Luiz Bloch, to unveil the memorial plaque which will be homed amongst some of the sport’s most renowned memorabilia. It was the Deputy Ambassador’s idea to bring the
tribute to the museum and after consulting officials from the museum itself and the Fire Remembrance Panel in Bradford, it was confirmed that a tribute would be installed. “As someone who was injured in the fire it felt like a real honour to unveil the plaque at the Football Museum in Sao Paulo,” Mr Mir added. “It feels fitting to have those who died remembered in Brazil, a country so closely associated with football, the country of Pele, Zico and Romario. “It was good to talk to the Executive Director of the Museum, Luiz Bloch about the impact the Bradford City Fire had had in terms of initiating improvements in stadiums in the UK, making them safer and more family friendly.”
HISTORIC: The tribute was agreed upon by the Museum officials and Bradford’s Fire Remembrance Panel
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
5
6
Local
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Wheels, deals and a
million meals
Strawberry Cheesecake Gelato As we strive towards making Gelato Giovanni a worldwide recognised brand, we take pride & care in all our products. Gelato Giovanni’s “Cheesecake Alla Fragola” has a Cheesecake base, packed with strawberry pieces and tied up with a nice ribbon of strawberry sauce. This Gelato has chunks of strawberries throughout, it has a crunchy yet sweet biscuit base which complements the strawberry ripples in the Gelato. Our success lies in the combination of our secret recipe, quality ingredients and unique award winning taste. “Tubzee’s vision is to make Gelato Giovanni, the most prominent Italian ice cream brand in the UK”
Tubzee House, Queens Road, Halifax, HX1 4LN Tel - 01422 355518 www.tubzee.co.uk
A pair of self-made entrepreneurs from West Yorkshire have committed to help ‘drive’ a local charity forward by providing aid to some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Naveed Khan, of EnKahnz, and Shak Shah, of Shak’s Specialist Cars (SSC), have teamed up with Bradford-based Charity Right - an international food programme, to help provide vital food aid to some of the most remote communities in the world. Both businessmen are spearheading the ‘Million Meals’ project, which aims to raise enough money during the month of Ramadan to provide a million meals to primary school children living in refugee camps in Eastern Sudan. With a young family of his own, Naveed says he feels even more compelled to support Million Meals and explained how the work Charity Right is doing overseas is crucial to so many. “As a father I struggle to imagine what my children’s life would be like without life’s most basic needs,” he said. “I’m able to provide for them but there are so many children out there who have nothing. No home, no food, nothing. They go to bed hungry. “It’s heartbreaking to think about so through Charity Right I have decided to do something about it.” He added: “More businesses should take part in this incredible project. The great thing about Million Meals is it’s realistic and you know exactly how many meals you will be providing. ” Naveed joins Shak Shah in launching the project with the pair sharing similar aspirations in what they hope to achieve by working alongside the charity. The SSC founder put the campaign into perspective saying: “Imagine how much money a person spends on the average meal, £20? “That’s 80 meals that can be donated through Charity Right, 80 meals. That’s enough food for one person for a month. “When you sit and think about it, how can you not support this project? The impact you will make will change so many lives. And that’s what I want to help do. “We should always consider those less fortunate, but in a month where Muslims are fasting we are reminded of the hunger that so many people face. That’s why I plan to raise all the funds during the holy month of Ramadan.” According to the UN, hunger is the world’s biggest solvable problem, and Charity Right plan to face this head on by focusing on providing regular meals to vulnerable families and young school children, many of whom are orphans and refugees. With the support of local businesses they can move closer to
HELP: School children in Eastern Sudan will be helped by the Million Meals project
this goal. “I can’t speak for the rest of the world but I can speak for my community, and to my peers,” Shak added. “Million Meals is something we should all get involved in, not just to help those in need but to better ourselves. “I would urge other businesses to support this incredible work during Ramadan.” Charity Right are currently one of very few charities supporting refugees living in some of the most hard to reach camps in Eastern Sudan. Naveed will also see firsthand where the charity’s hard work is taking place after Ramadan as he travels to some of the country’s most remote regions to help distribute meals to school children. Charity Right is now calling for more businesses to get involved in the Million Meals project and help change the lives of thousands of children. For more details or to get involved contact Imran Hussain on 07583 119756 or e-mail imran.hussain@charityright.org.uk For more information about Charity Right, visit www.charityright.org.uk
SUPPORT: Shak Shah, of Shak’s Specialist Cars (SSC) and Naveed Khan, on EnKahnz, are two of the main sponsors behind Charity Right’s Million Meals campaign and are urging others to sign up to help
Yorkshire businesses pledge support to charity scheme
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
7
8
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
24-year-old solicitor Jazz Kaur, from Armley, will be losing her dark locks on Thursday 28th May, as she hopes to raise money for vulnerable children affected by the disastrous earthquake in Nepal. More than 8,000 people died as a result of the 8.1magnitude quake that hit the South Asian country in late April, whilst thousands more were injured and millions affected. After seeing images of the relief efforts, Jazz says she decided she wanted to do something to help and opted for the sponsored head shave as a quirky alternative to the usual fundraisers. “Everyone who knows me knows that I am quite extreme so whatever I was going to do I was always going to do to the fullest,” she said. “The way I have to look at it is that it’s only a haircut at the end of the day and it is for such a worthy cause. “I don’t think it has quite hit me yet that I will soon have no hair but when I look at myself in the mirror and I’m bald, that’s probably when it will fully sink in.” Jazz’s inspiration behind the is her cousin fundraiser who recently Christopher completed the London Marathon after months of training. Admitting that such a physical task would be ‘out of the question’, she hopes her own ‘hair sacrifice’ will be enough to raise awareness and funds for children in Nepal. “People need to be aware of
what is actually going on in Nepal,” she added. “It is one of the poorest countries out there and I think that we have a responsibility as people, to lend a hand where possible. “I come from a deprived background myself but I had the right support in my life which some of these kids in Nepal are unfortunately never going to get “If I can help, along with anyone who can donate, it is going to make some difference.” Jazz will have her head shaved by friend and hairdresser, Emma Mack, at Swillington’s Woodland Barbers, before her trimmed locks are donated for charity. “My first response when Jazz told me about the idea was that she’s crazy,” Emma added. “In all seriousness though it is a really nice and brave thing she is doing for such a credible cause.” If you would like to make a please visit donation virginmoneygiving.com/JazzKaur, with all money raised going to Child Action Nepal.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Shaving all her hair off Cover story continued
Long locks to get the chop in aid of vulnerable children
SUPPORT: Jazz’s friends, Laura and Emma, will be ‘in her corner’ on the day, as the young solicitor hopes to raise as much money as possible for the charity
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
9
10
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
• Permanent Make-Up • • Skin Care Products • • IPL Hair Removal •
HAIR NAILS & BEAUTY
Beauty Top Tips Dandruff, also known as Seborrheic dermatitis is a common scalp disorder. It can occur due to dry skin, irritated oily skin, growth of bacteria and fungus on the scalp, and inflammatory skin conditions. It causes itchiness along with excessive formation of dry skin flakes on the scalp, which can be quite embarrassing and annoying.
So for my beautiful readers who suffer from this here is a quick tip to get rid...
Scalp treatment with apple cider vinegar is effective in getting rid of dandruff. It restores the pH balance of the scalp, thereby inhibiting the growth of yeast. It also helps works a natural clarifier and helps clean clogged pores and hair follicles.
Method: 1.Take two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. 2. Add an equal amount of water and 15-20 drops of tea tree oil in it. 3. Apply it onto your scalp and massage. Rinse your hair after a few minutes. 4. Follow this natural treatment twice or three times a week.
07462 556 956 City Centre Branch, Kirkgate Next to McDonald’s
01274 307 040
14 Legrams Lane, Bradford BD7 1ND
•• Threading • Waxing • • Spa Treatment • •
READY: Saby Khan and Alibi Adam will fly out to Dubai at the end of July to take part in the world record attempt
Bradford musicians head to Dubai World record attempt welcomes DJs from around the world
With just under a month to go until it takes place an exciting line-up of activities has now been confirmed for this year’s Leeds Wool Festival at a popular city museum. Fans of all things woollen will be able to once again enjoy a range of delights as part of the Leeds Wool Festival which is set to be held on Saturday June 6 from 10am-5pm at Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills. On offer will include textile workshops, talks, special performances and weaving demonstrations, which will sit alongside the museum’s fascinating working looms, spinning mules and newly updated tailoring gallery. Presenting one of the talks is knitwear designer Susan Crawford
By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
A group of ten DJs from across Leeds and Bradford will be flying out to Dubai this summer as they join some of the biggest names in music in an attempt to smash an official Guinness World Record. On Friday 31st July, music will take over the prestigious Marina Yacht Club in Dubai as a non-stop DJ rally takes place with up to 500 professionals spinning discs over three days. Amongst the star names in attendance, such as David Guetta, Tiesto and Bob Sinclair, will be Keighley music promoter, Saby Khan. Real name Sabir Hussain, the music enthusiast was selected by chief organiser of the event, Nadeem Chaudhry – of World Top DJs, to be one of the judges after successfully working in the country previously. Despite having worked alongside some of the biggest names in the EXCITED: As well as local talent such as Saby, some of the biggest names in the music industry will be taking part in the rally
music industry, including 50 Cent, Snoop Dog, Black Eyed Peas and The Outlawz, the local promoter says the record attempt will still be a whole new experience. “For the past 15 years I have treated the Entertainment and Music Industry like a family and worked in different types of Music Genres,” he said. “This is an once in a life time opportunity to work alongside the best of the best in the DJ industry. “World Top DJs chose me to be involved because I understand the world of diverse music cultures and genres.” He added: “I strongly believe that working in the entertainment and music industry, you have to be open minded and diverse to achieve your goals and reach out to mass audiences with you talent.” Saby, a former Keighley College student, began his promotions career shortly after leaving Greenhead School, arranging events in Bradford and Leeds before broadening his horizons. He currently works with Bradford’s largest recording studios at Factory Street, helping aspiring musicians in the studio. In Dubai, he will be joined by a number of other local talents including singer, Alibi Adam. The longest club DJ rally will run over three days from Friday 31st July and ends on Sunday 2nd August.
Leeds Wool Festival of Susan Crawford Vintage who will be giving a free talk on The Vintage Shetland Project from 1pm to 2pm. The Spinners of Aire, and Bradford Spinners and Weavers Guild will also be on hand to demonstrate a number of skills including traditional rug making, while handy tips and advice to help with all of your knitting needs will be provided from the museum’s very own Close Knit Friends, along with crochet and spinning gurus. If you are keen to learn new, or brush up on existing skills, a number of workshops will also be held on the day. These include
‘Knitting in the Round’ and ‘Introduction to Fair Isle’ taught by knitting legend Audrey Wilson and ‘Natural Dyeing’ workshops taught by Debbie Tomkies. For more details regarding how to book and cost of the workshops, please visit the website. A mini market featuring over 20 stalls, which proved to be a big hit at the inaugural event at Armley Mills last year will also once again be at the festival. They will be joined by additional entertainment including folk musician Jon Harvison, Morris dancers, and a special screening of the feature film
‘Tell them of Us’ and the short documentary film ‘Tell Them of Us: The Knitters’. This tells the tale of knitters who answered the call to make costumes for a film to be shown on Armley Mills’ very own 1920s cinema at 11.30am and 3.15pm. Don’t forget to also pop in for tea, coffee, cakes and more yummy treats at a special pop up café courtesy of the ladies from Darling Roses WI or pay a visit to the festival’s important guests, the lambs and baby alpacas which will be making a special visit to the museum for one day only. For more information please visit www.leeds.gov.uk/LeedsWoolFestiv al or follow the #LeedsWoolFest hashtag.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
11
12
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Husband and wife to meet the Queen
A royal surprise A couple from Dewsbury got the ‘surprise of their lives’ last month as what looked to be a simple letter in the post turned out to be an invite to one of the most prestigious places in the world. Suleman Adam, known locally as ‘Solly’, and his wife, Maryam, have been included on a very exclusive guest list for a garden party at Buckingham Palace with Her Majesty the Queen. Later this week, on Wednesday 20th May, the couple will head to the capital for a reception in the prestigious gardens from 4pm. Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Ingrid Roscoe, put the couple’s names forward for the invitation and Solly explains how it all came as ‘one big shock’. “I have worked all my life here in the UK and this is my country now,” he said. “I am very proud to call myself British. “Coming from a poor village this is a big achievement but I have worked hard for it. I never expected anything in return, and certainly not something as huge as this, so I am really proud to
INVITATION: The Dewsbury couple received their invite to the Garden Dinner last month from Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Ingrid Roscoe
have received the invite. “So many people gather outside the gates of Buckingham Palace everyday to see what it is like so to go inside is amazing.” Solly has lived in the UK for the past 52 years and currently
runs his own car garage and sports shop in Dewsbury. It is his passion for cricket that has helped him become a community champion in his own right, sponsoring local leagues and helping thousands of young players gain access to the game. He has even helped the likes of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, recommending him to Yorkshire back in 1991, and accommodating the world star in his own home during the visit. “I played cricket for around 40 years and it has always been my ambition to get more people involved in the sport,” he added. “For the last 14 or 15 years, I have sponsored the local cricket leagues and after helping so many, I have got one of the biggest honours in return with an invite to see the Queen.” Solly and Maryam are now preparing for their visit to the home of British Royalty on Wednesday with a special dress even designed for Maryam by the couple’s long-time friend Mr Munaf.
HONOURED: Suleman and Maryam Adam said they were shocked to receive the invitation to Buckingham Palace and are very proud to have been considered
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
13
14
Local
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Britain’s first women’s only mosque Bradford could soon be home to the UK’s first purpose-built mosque for women as plans to develop a new site continue to progress in the city. Announced initially last month by CEO of the Muslim Women’s Council, Bana Gora, at the group’s ‘Daughters of Eve’ conference, the project brought m u c h interest from t h e
PIONEERING: Bana Gora hopes to see the first mosque ‘for women, managed by women’ open in Bradford
hundreds in attendance. A consultation process is expected to take place over the next few months to discuss the correct ways to move forward, with dialogue between the MWC and local, national and international scholars and experts. ‘A space for women, managed by women’ was how Ms Gora initially described the idea, and she says it is important women to feel no sense of ‘alienation’ from their religion. “We’ve carried out an audit of local mosques focussing on services provided to women, above all ‘access’ was the biggest problem,” she said. “Our results highlight that the majority of mosques follow a patriarchal model, poor access for women; women’s representation on governance structures was non- existent, on committees and boards, segregated spaces that are dated and unwelcoming.
“The alienation that women feel has profound consequences for younger generations who are taught that Islam treats both men and women as spiritual equals yet the practice within mosques contradicts the principles. “In an era in which many young people feel that their faith is no longer relevant, or are going to extremes, we want to be able to provide a safe space for them to question, learn and grow whilst having an appreciation of their heritage as well as the opportunity to make informed choices relevant to the 21st Century.” Ms Gora adds that it is ‘inclusivity’ that she hopes to bring to Islam yet accepts certain duties would still have to be carried out by men. “We disagree with the view of women leading mixed congregational prayers and this will not take place under the MWC umbrella,” she continued. “Our intention is not to be divisive, nor to go against the values and principles of Islam, but to provide a space for the community which shows how women can lead and be included in places of worship and also impact positively on their families and communities.”
‘Inclusiveness’ at heart of innovative proposals
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
15
16
Local
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Galloway to challenge election results CONTROVERSY: Naz Shah was the clear winner of the Bradford West seat in Parliament last week yet former MP, George Galloway, is now contesting the result
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Legal proceedings begin amidst claims of ‘widespread malpractice’ Respect party leader, George Galloway, who lost his seat in Bradford West to Labour’s Naz Shah following last week’s election, says he has begun the legal process to have the result set aside and his opponent debarred. In a written statement, Mr Galloway said: “It has come to my notice that there has been widespread malpractice in this election particularly over postal voting. “We are in the process of compiling the information which will form part of our petition to have the result set aside.” Despite claiming just 8,557 votes compared to Shah’s 19,977, the 60-year-old former MP has also added to his complaint under Section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 concerning false statements made with the intention of affecting the result of an election. Galloway accuses Shah of lying about him on Urdu television and says she untruthfully claimed she was the victim of a forced marriage as a teenager. “An allegation made by Naz Shah in Urdu on a well-watched Asian TV show is both untrue and extremely serious,” Galloway added. The complaint to the Director of Public Prosecutions takes issue with the claim Ms Shah has made, and the ‘certificate’ she produced to back it up, that she was
previously married aged 15 in Pakistan. A declaration has allegedly been obtained by Respect officials from what they say is the sole surviving ‘witness’ to the ceremony who says that he wasn’t there, that it is not his signature on the ‘nikah’ document and he believes that it is forged.
Shah has vowed to sue Galloway for calling the circumstances of her marriage into question, whilst a labour spokesperson added that such claims were ‘pathetic’. A Labour spokesman said of Galloway’s legal action: “This is pathetic and without any foundation. George Galloway should accept he was booted out
“It has come to my notice that there has been widespread malpractice in this election particularly over postal voting.” The Respect party also claim there are other discrepancies on the document of which the Labour party were informed of prior to the election. In response to the allegations,
by the people of Bradford West. “They saw through his divisive politics and made a positive choice, by a majority of well over 11,000, to elect a brilliant new MP, Naz Shah.”
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
17
18
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
INTERACTIVE: Chef Hemant Oberoi cooks up a dish in front of spectators at the ‘Curry Theatre’
The World Curry Festival, set to be held in Bradford’s City Park between Friday 5th June and Sunday 7th June, has been postponed until later this year.
A statement on behalf of the organisers read: “It is with regret that the World Curry Festival...will now be postponed. The circumstances surrounding the
rescheduling were completely unforeseen, and sadly unavoidable.” New dates for the three-day event will be released soon with
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
the public urged to visit www.worldcurry festival.com for the latest news and information. In previous years, the annual festival has grown into a global event, welcoming in chefs from around the world with recipes shared in the curry theatre by the likes of Chef Hemant Oberoi and Norman Musa. This year’s event will still be the biggest yet, following on from the World Curry Festival team’s trip to
Malaysia earlier this year where new relationships and exciting connections were made. Events planned to coincide with the festival’s initial dates – Words in the City and For the Love of Music – will continue to go ahead. For more information and tickets on Ilkley Literature Festival’s ‘Words in the City’ visit www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk. For information on the BBC’s ‘For the Love of Music’ – set to be hosted in City Park on Friday 5th June, visit bbc.co.uk/musicday.
World Curry Festival postponed Annual attraction to be staged later this year
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
19
20
Local
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
POSITIVE: Dr Mohammed Ali OBE, founder and chief executive of the QED Foundation, commended the increase of ethnic minority MPs
‘Delight’ at Westminster diversity Election results praised by charity chief The founder of a campaigning charity in Bradford has congratulated the new wave of MPs from ethnic minority backgrounds taking seats in Parliament following last week’s elections results. Dr Mohammed Ali OBE, chief executive of the QED Foundation, says the House of Commons is more diverse than ever before, with newly elected black, Chinese and Asian members helping to reflect the racial make-up of the general population. The number of ethnic minority MPs has statistically jumped from 27 to 41 meaning six per cent of the total seats available are held by the mixed demographics. “We are delighted that the voices of people from different cultural backgrounds will increasingly be heard in Westminster,” Dr Ali said.
“However, their success should not make us complacent. “The 2011 census shows that 19.5 per cent of the population are not from a white British background. There is still a long way to go before our MPs are truly representative of the UK population.”
In the 2010 elections, just 27 non-white MPs won seats in Westminster, which, despite being a much lower figure than last week’s results, is still a huge increase on 1987 when they held only four. Dr Ali added that the dramatic rise in 2015 had been partly due to
“We are delighted that the voices of people from different cultural backgrounds will increasingly be heard in Westminster,” Bradford-based QED Foundation has been campaigning for the inclusion of people from ethnic minority backgrounds in all aspects of public life since 1990. In recent years the charity has shown particular concern about the underrepresentation among policy makers and at senior levels in the private, public and third sectors.
political parties fielding ethnic minority candidates in constituencies that they had a reasonable chance of winning. Now the QED Foundation is calling on businesses, public sector organisations and charities to follow suit and make the most of the skills and experience of talented staff from a range of cultural backgrounds.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
21
22
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Study abroad and choose Hungary’s
UNIVERSITY OF DEBRECEN Looking to study in the field of Medicine, Dentistry or Pharmacy in the future but worried about the competitive market for places in the UK? Well worry no longer and join more than 3,000 international students on these courses and more at Hungary’s leading educational establishment, the University of Debrecen. Fellow academics from around the world have already opted to study in the flourishing European nation which can be the perfect place to pursue your career dreams. The University boasts state-of-the-art learning facilities across all
programs, and has received major investments recently, helping to develop a modern, productive place of learning accompanied by a tranquil and peaceful environment. Courses are expertly provided in the field of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Business, IT, Law and Music, plus much more, and are
taught in English with an internationally-recognised degree achieved at the end of your program. In the UK, the cost of studying at university is ever-rising, yet tuition fees in Hungary remain much more competitive as well as reasonable and comfortable living costs.
Student accommodations are even available on campus with 24-hour security. Reaching Debrecen is also very easy now with direct flights from London-Luton airport by WizzAir making a trip home a very simple arrangement. For Medical School students, the
For more information call Sandor Bone: +36 30 9781199, email:info@studyabroadhungary.com or visit www.studyabroadhungary.com
Study Abroad Hungary Pursue your career dreams at a quality University in Hungary
Want to study Medicine, Dentistry, Business or IT? Not sure about your acceptance in the UK? Your grades might won’t be enough?
Make a back-up plan! Apply to the University of Debrecen! Courses taught in English. Worldwide recognised Degrees. Competitive tuition fees. State of the art learning facilities. Visit our website - Check it out
www.studyabroadhungary.com E-mail: info@studyabroadhungary.com • Tel: +36 30 978 1199
practical and internship part of your studying takes place at the biggest hospital in the east part of Hungary, located next to the University just ten minutes from campus. If you would like to apply for a place at the university, which is done separately from the UCAS applications, the Representative of the University of Debrecen is on hand to assist you with all your requirements when it comes to the submission process. He deals with the applications and collects the required documents to make the process run smoothly, and has overseen the successful acceptance of more than 300 British students. A Debrecen local, he can also provide information and support on everything from the entrance examination to university life, and just about everything you need to know for when studying in Hungary. Aspiring students are invited to visit the site beforehand and tour the premises with a representative who can answer any extra questions you may have. So, if you are hoping to study abroad in the future, and want to gain a first-class education, the University of Debrecen could be just the place for you.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
23
24
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Weddings | Parties | Special Events | Banquets | Outside Catering
GOLFERS: Members of the Muslim and Jewish communities in Leeds came together last week for the first ever ‘Community Cup’
DRIVING communities closer Explore our buffet and try something new from the vast options available, our favourite sizzling lamb chops to the more traditional curries such as Paya and Nihari...
Lanika Buffet... The best buffet experience you’ll have!
Adults £10.99 (Mon-Thurs)
Children under 10 £5.99 (All week)
Adults £11.99 (Fri, Sat + Sun)
Over 30 options available
Pellon New Road | Halifax | HX1 4QE | 01422 613613 info@lanikarestaurant.co.uk | follow us on facebook www.facebook.com/lanikarestauranthalifax
Members of Leeds’ Muslim and Jewish communities were ‘putt’ together last weekend for a special round of golf, targeted at strengthening cultural relationships in the city. The inaugural ‘Community Cup’ saw two teams of 12 golfers, drive, chip and putt their way to the final hole at Leeds Golf Centre in what is hoped to be the first of many annual events staged between the two faith groups. Kicking off with breakfast, the teams then went out to take on the Wike Ridge Championship course, and finished the day with food in Nineteen Bar and Grill. The idea to start the Community Cup came from Naveen Ahmed, Managing Director of Parklane Group of Companies who owns Leeds Golf Centre, and his friends, including Altaf Sadiq, Jeremy Barnett and Danny Taylor, who are both part of the Jewish Golf Society. Naveen explains: “We were playing golf one day and we thought, wouldn’t it be great to start an annual golfing tournament to strengthen our local community. “Leeds is home to a diverse range of communities and we wanted to create an event which celebrates and builds relationships between cultures and ethnicities. The day went really well and everyone really enjoyed it.” He continued: “Due to its launch success, we plan to run the tournament annually, with the hope of expanding it across the
TEE OFF: After 18 holes on Leeds Golf Centre’s Wike Ridge Championship course, the Jewish representatives claimed victory
Inter-faith golf tournament to be first of many in Leeds
country and getting different societies involved.” Meanwhile, Danny reiterated his fellow golf enthusiast’s comments and hoped to compete again next year as relations continue to grow in the city. “It was a unique occasion, enjoyed by all, and played in the best of golfing traditions, despite the autumnal conditions,” he added.
“It is hoped that this competition will become an annual event, which will help build strong relationships through sport and a shared passion for golf.” The winner of this year’s Community Cup was the Muslim team who edged their opponents in a close contest, 165-162.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
25
26
Local
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Do it yourself Sales: 01274 660479 Boiler Spares: 01274 661566 12 Killinghall Road Bradford BD3 8DS
Ring 01274 660479 / 07816143473 for a FREE no obligation quote
COMBI TO COMBI PACK Install NEW Band ‘A’ Boiler Supplied & fitted with 2 Years Warranty
2
YEARS Warranty
£850 CENTRAL HEATING PACK1 1 Combi Boiler Band ‘A’ 7 Radiators Supplied & fitted with 2 Years Warranty
2
YEARS Warranty
£1850 CENTRAL HEATING PACK2 1 Combi Boiler Band ‘A’ 7 Radiators Supplied & fitted with 5 Years Warranty
5
YEARS Warranty
£2200 www.diybradford.co.uk
Terms & Conditions Apply
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Local
Masjid runners raise Prity’s NEW Express Facial Only £20! HAIR, BEAUTY & SPA
RUNNERS: Around 100 people from the local community came out to support the event
£15,000 Fundraisers lace up running shoes for first park run
Earlier this month, runners of all ages and abilities were out in force in Leeds as they took part in a testing charity challenge in aid of a soon-to-be developed mosque. Around 100 members of Beeston’s Muslim community donned their running gear on Saturday 2nd May to complete the first ever charity run for the New Abu Huraira Masjid. Located on the corner of Hardy Street and Lodge Lane, the development is set to open later this year and has so far seen more than £1million pledged to aid its construction. A further £15,000 was raised through last Sunday’s event and for one of the race’s organisers, Amjid Hussain, it was a ‘fantastic total from a fantastic day’. “The turnaround time of this event from its initial planning stage to the run day was next to nothing so to raise so much money is a fantastic achievement,” he said. “We had runners from fiveyears-old up to runners in their seventies so it really was an event the whole community could get involved in. “After the run members also got the chance to have a tour around the new site, before a raffle was drawn where one lucky person won an Umrah trip.” Amongst the many runners on the day were five-year-olds, Mustafa Mahboob and Aiman Karim, who both completed oneand-a-half miles after signing up to take part in the project. The final construction cost of the New Abu Huraira Masjid is estimated to be around £2.5 million with the next phase of the development seeing the doors and dome fitted prior to Ramadan. Once completed, the site will provide a community hall on the
SUCCESS: Masjid representative, Amjid Hussain, celebrates the success of the charity run in Beeston alongside some of the mini fundraisers
Available Every Tuesday!*
Call 01274 30 70 40 for more details. * Offer available every Tuesday's at Prity's Legrams Lane or Prity's City Centre. Offer can be changed or become invalid at any time. Subject to availability. Facial's available on a walk-in service only
07462 556 956
City Centre Branch, Kirkgate - Next to McDonald’s
01274 307 040
14 Legrams Lane, Bradford BD7 1ND
ground floor and three upper floors for prayer and other amenities, including: ablution and wash facilities, a conference room and a kitchen. Amjid added: “Every penny we raise through projects such as this run goes directly to the cost of building this Masjid. “If you could donate any amount to the cause it would be massively appreciated and help so many people in the local community get the Masjid they deserve.”
If you would like to make a donation please visit
www.abuhurairamasjid.co.uk
MOTIVATED: Five-year-old Aiman Karim completed oneand-a-half miles on his way to raising funds for the Masjid
27
28
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Dr Aneesha Advice Column Every few weeks we are asking readers to pose common questions or concerns regarding cosmetic treatments to our specialist Dr Aneesha, Medical Director at Skyn doctor. Today's question is: I've got unsightly thread veins on my leg. I've been to my GP who has advised there is nothing he can do to help. Could you offer anything? Thread veins are extremely common and can be embarrassing, mostly affecting the face, body and legs. Thread veins occur when the veins dilate and becomes larger making them more visible through the skin. The cause of thread veins are unknown and may be caused by changes in temperature, hormonal changes, smoking, alcohol and
Before
prolonged standing. At Skyn Doctor in Huddersfield we are able to offer non-surgical techniques to treat thread veins, using the Duetto MT laser. This Laser system uses two different wavelengths of light which are readily absorbed by blood vessels, heating them to a point where they are destroyed by a process called photothermolysis. Treatment is mildly uncomfortable but certainly not painful and most patients tolerate it well. Following treatment, the
vessels clear quickly as they are reabsorbed by the body, leaving little or no trace of the original lesion. Typically three to five treatments are needed for optimum results, though small lesions may clear following a single session. Repeat treatments are carried out every four to six weeks. So if you want to dress as you wish and lose the ageing spidery veins with an industry leading treatment, book your free consultation with Skyn Doctor now.
After
To ask Dr Aneesha a question, email her at DrAneesha@skyndoctor.co.uk or visit www.skyndoctor.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
29
30
Local
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
May 2015 - 2nd Edition The first ever Tour de Yorkshire has ridden itself into the history books after a momentous three days of racing finally came to an end in Leeds’ Roundhay Park last weekend. More than one-and-a-half-million spectators came out to cheer the riders on whilst television audiences in more than 150 countries witnessed some of Yorkshire’s finest scenery in what was a race to remember. Team Sky's Lars Petter Nordhaug led from day one and eventually claimed the first ever Tour trophy against a strong line up full of individual stars. Amongst the World Champions and Olympians on the starting line of Stage One were Sir Bradley Wiggins and his Team Wiggins cyclists, alongside the likes of GiantAplecin’s Marcel Kittel, Team Europcar’s Thomas Voeckler and Yorkshiremen Ed Clancy of JLT Condor and Team Sky’s Ben Swift. Sadly by Stage Two the race had lost two of the main protagonists as Swift and Kittel were forced to retire yet Yorkshire’s towns and villages showed no sign of dimming enthusiasm for the race with crowds growing each day. Stage Three proved a hard fought, thrilling day of racing for the international peloton and spectators who lined the route, with Nordhaug being presented the iconic yellow-Y trophy to conclude the event. The three day men’s race was joined by an 80km women’s race in York on Saturday 2nd May, with crowds once again lining the circuit to see a thrilling sprint finish in what riders called a showcase event for female racing in the UK. In scenes reminiscent of last
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
31
TOUR-IFFIC Over one million turn out for inaugural race
CLIMB: Cyclists tackle the steep incline in Keighley as crowds gather on the iconic streets to cheer on the race (image courtesy of Welcome to Yorkshire)
year’s Grand Départ, painted bikes, children’s artwork and hundreds of miles of bunting could also be seen across Yorkshire weeks ahead of the race. Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said the atmosphere and excitement during the race was on par with the scenes witnessed during the Tour de France’s two-day depart in Yorkshire last year. “Once again we’ve seen staggering crowds provide a rousing welcome for these incredible riders,” he said. “I salute each of the 144 riders in the men’s race and 98 in the women’s, and the 6,000 who took on the sportive. “We thank the people of Yorkshire and the riders, the crowds, the Tour Makers, the ASO and our team at Welcome to Yorkshire should be immensely proud of the weekend’s achievements.” Christian Prudhomme, Director of the Tour de France, added: “It was an emotional return to Yorkshire, who did of course put on the grandest of all the Grand Départs last year. “This was again a special moment, an historic three days and a great advert for cycling and the passion and the heart that Yorkshire has for the sport.”
32
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
Young people finding out about how the local NHS works through apprenticeships are loving the experience, with two now landing permanent jobs. NHS North Kirklees Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the organisation that chooses and pays for many local health services, currently has three apprentices working in their offices in Empire House. Yaqoob Bhikha, Jade Hart and A’Teeqa Qaisar, are enjoying their first taste of working life in admin roles supporting staff involved in various sections of the organisation. Adam Rayner, 24, who lives in Dalton, Huddersfield, and Harry Ainsworth, aged 22, who lives in Holmfirth, finished their apprenticeships last year. Adam is now working in financial admin for the Continuing Health Care team and Harry supports teams working on communications and engagement and on transforming services. Yaqoob, who is 20 and from Bradford, said, “Everyone here’s been really warm and welcoming. I’m learning about what everyone does and working on spreadsheets and presentations.” He applied for an apprenticeship after getting a BTech IT qualification at college. Jade, aged 18 and from Dewsbury said: “After I left school I’d been doing some computer skills training and looking for apprenticeships when this one came along. I like working here because everyone is very friendly and I’m learning a lot.” Eighteen-year-old A’Teeqa, also from Dewsbury, is working on Reception and also does admin work including filing, copying and
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
APPRENTICES: Chris Dowse, Chief Officer of North Kirklees CCG, (third from the left) with: Jade Hart, A'Teeqa Qaisar, Adam Rayner, Harry Ainsworth and Yaqoob Bhikha
Young people find out about local NHS updating records for a number of staff with different roles, which she enjoys. She said: “It’s very good working here, the people are very nice and everyone made me feel really welcome. I do admin work for lots of different people and they all explain clearly what they need from me and don’t mind if I ask questions or ask for help. “It’s a really good opportunity to find about the different jobs people do and what opportunities there are for the future.”
A’Teeqa did a training course in customer service skills after she left St John Fisher Sixth Form, which she says helped build up her confidence and helped her with her application for the apprenticeship. Adam had been unemployed and looking for work for six months when he heard about the apprenticeship opportunity with the CCG. “I’d done an apprenticeship before with Remploy but they closed down. I got two weeks’ work experience with the CCG in August
2013, which helped me with my application for an apprenticeship starting in October,” he said. “The apprenticeship was a great learning experience and helped me get a foot in the door here. I enhanced my IT skills and my communication skills then progressed to get a permanent job – and I love it.” Adam said the apprenticeship had boosted his confidence considerably, particularly in relation to communication. “I would have been scared to pick
up the phone if it rang previously but now I feel confident,” he added. Harry had been unemployed for 12 months following an insecure job in sales when Jobcentre Plus staff told him about the apprenticeship opportunity. After doing two weeks of work experience with the CCG he secured an apprenticeship and has specialised in Information Technology (IT). “I thought IT was one of my weakest skills when I started and I was very nervous about going into it but I’ve developed my skills a lot and now I’m working here permanently one of my roles is to be the lead person on developing and managing the Intranet,” said Harry. “I also go out to GP practices and support them with their IT, so what I thought was a weakness is now one of my strengths. I was very lucky to do my apprenticeship in such an interesting area of work and it’s been an excellent experience for me.” Chris Dowse, Chief Officer of the CCG, said: “The apprenticeship scheme gives young people a chance to learn useful skills that will help them get jobs – as demonstrated by Adam and Harry’s experience. “It also gives the organisation a chance to develop a talented workforce who understand right from the basics how we work. Although they are not guaranteed a job at the end, the skills apprentices gain gives them a head start in applying for jobs. It’s a way of growing our own talent. “And having local young people working with us and being ambassadors in the local community helps to promote the CCG as a good employer – so everyone wins.”
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
33
34
Local
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
PRESENCE: Taxi drivers gathered at Wakefield city centre last weekend to protest against the rising costs of their profession
Bank Holiday
MAYHEM Bank holiday Monday is one of the “This strike had to happen because we busiest nights of the year for pubs and have been told for too long by our Labour clubs across the country, welcoming in MP that they want to help, yet now they thousands of visitors from across the local are talking about introducing even more area. charges. However, what are usually the packed “As well as refusing service we also streets of Wakefield on a ‘three-daycarried out a slow drive protest in the city weekend’, turned out to be rather quiet which really affected traffic in the city last Sunday as a taxi strike in the city centre.” caused travel mayhem for visitors. Despite receiving support from a In total, 4,500 drivers were reportedly on number of other agencies, Mr Ahmad also strike throughout the night across the accepted that there would be people who whole of the did not back the Wakefield district – strike. from 6pm on “Understandably Sunday 4th May to this strike has 6am Monday 5th affected everyday May – with 33 taxi people who wanted companies and 126 to go into Wakefield hackney carriage for bank holiday,” he vehicles refusing said. service. “This was the only Services in Leeds, way we could Kirklees and other physically show how surrounding important our councils also services are on one provided limited of the busiest days service to the area of the year.” following a dispute Complaints were over legislation and also made about the rising costs. strike by some other The action was taxi drivers who say taken after plans they were unaware were proposed of any industrial earlier this year for action, and were an extra vehicle threatened and SUPPORT: Banners and signs were created check to be intimidated when to show the feelings of drivers in the city introduced to every entering Wakefield. driver in the One driver from Wakefield area Amber Cars, Leeds, each year. who wishes to This would take remain anonymous, the total number of said he was twice tests up to three a stopped in the city year, costing around with threats made £200 each time, on against him and his top of an annual car. MOT. Speaking to the Asian Express, he said: A letter sent out to drivers in March this “I wasn’t aware of any strikes taking place year also suggested new legislation could in the city so when I got a call to say a be introduced which would remove any student ordered a pick up from Wakefield cars seven years or older from such service. to Leeds I set off as usual. Yasar Ahmad, of the UK Fleet, “I was then stopped by a group of four Wakefield, was one of the orchestrators of men who told me ‘you can’t be flagging the event and said it could have been around here’. They threatened to damage avoided if the driver’s demands had of my car if I worked in the area. It was very been heard at a previous date. intimidating to be honest.” “These extra costs would put Wakefield A second strike is now planned to at the top of the most expensive councils in commence on Monday 11th May between the country for taxi drivers, and we are 7am and 11am, likely to affect school already paying more than cities such as traffic and work commuters. A slow drive Leeds and London,” he said. protest will also be held in the city centre.
Taxi strike leaves May Day revellers stranded across Wakefield
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
35
36
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
By Dr Qari Muhammad Asim info@asianexpress.co.uk
Prior to the General Election day 7th May 2015, Britain was believed to be heading for a second coalition government in succession. There appeared to be a near deadlock with Labour and the Conservatives tied at 35 per cent each according to the preliminary results of the final campaign poll. Pundits had appeared certain that no single party would win an outright majority. It was not considered an ordinary election. There was no Churchill or Kennedy on offer, just run-of-themill politicians from a political class, which were not liked by everyone. While some political leaders were considered to be lacking in charisma, others were seen as without much policies or content. Major political parties made promises of better healthcare and childcare, better transport at lower costs and more affordable housing – but they had not said how they were going to pay for it all. Despite all of that, there is no denial that it was seen as a momentous election. Like every other community, Muslims were active during the election campaign: on a theological level, some were arguing that it was shirk/kufr (disbelief) to vote, others maintained that every Muslim should cast his or her vote and fulfil his obligation. On a political level, Muslims were also very active; they were campaigning for their local parliamentary candidates, distributing flyers around the streets, including to mosque congregants. Conservatives’ surprisingly decisive victory in the general
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
General Election what do the results mean for Muslims? election has left many commentators perplexed. Following a devastating result for the Labour party, an almost annihilation of Liberal Democrats and a triumphant victory for the Scottish National Party, which swept through Scotland picking up all but three of the available seats, the political landscape in the UK is likely to change for years to come. Whilst the Conservatives’ election win was met with relief by many, those on welfare benefits are profoundly concerned as the Conservatives plan £12bn of welfare cuts. Feelings of despair and concern are also being felt by some groups of British Muslims. There is a fear that some of the policies of the Conservative government will deeply affect British Muslims. They are worried about what the victory of Conservative means for CounterTerrorism policies that disproportionately affect Muslims and their religious educational institutions. Muslims need to learn from this election results and assess how Middle England has shifted to the Right. In order
to keep Middle England sympathetic to Muslim issues, we need to anchor our concerns in the ‘centre’ rather than on extreme left, where we felt comfortable 10-15 years ago.
Islam also teaches us to remain firm in the ‘middle’. It is a fact that a majority of the Muslims go about their daily business not raising their voice about ‘Muslim issues’. It is the minority that tends to lead the narrative on ‘Muslim issues’ that, more often than not, do not represent the views of the vast majority of British Muslims. British Muslims cannot afford to take on the media or neoconservatives and neo-liberals. Some naive or ill-judged statements/ slogans can have more severe consequences than intended. This doesn’t mean British Muslims refrain from raising their concerns or criticising government policies but the activism and approach to these must be intelligent and pragmatic. The Home Secretary Theresa May’s speech, delivered on 23rd March 2015, which mentioned that incoming Conservative government would extend banning orders, investigate Sharia boards and close down mosques has, quite understandably, raised concern amongst British Muslims. The challenge for the Muslim
✆ 0113 278 0586
41 QUEENS ROAD • LEEDS • LS6 1HY
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FROM 12PM TILL LATE
community is not to solely focus on the Home Secretary’s words; instead, British Muslims must engage with the government to alleviate its concerns about the operation of Sharia boards and mosques and to remove any operational or administrative deficiencies that may exist in such institutions. It is also the responsibility of the government to engage with all sections of its society so that its reputation is not damaged and the Conservative cause is not discredited. Muslims must not be seen as part the problem, but part of the solution. At this critical juncture, it is not a group of empty rhetoricians or keyboard warriors that the Muslim community needs to represent them; rather we need individuals who are community based and politically astute, who can lead us on the path of engagement rather than protest. The community also needs to realise that if it is to be taken seriously by others, it need to show maturity in thought processes, which must be translated into actions. It needs to accept some level of responsibility for some of its actions (or lack thereof), which has led to disengagement between communities and alienation of its young people. British Muslims spend considerable amount of time defending themselves, explaining who or what they are not, rather than who they are and what they stand for. There are already healthy signs of maturity in thought processes, and it is hoped that high levels of maturity will be attained in the next five years, and translated into positive and dynamic activity.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
37
38
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
War of Words
Zayn and Louie in Twitter spat
SINGERS: Zayn Malik and Louie Tomlinson spent five years together as band-mates in One Direction before the prior left the group in March 2015
They were once band-mates in the largest group in the world yet Zayn Malik and Louie Tomlinson seemed far from friends last week as they clashed on Twitter following a simple uploaded photo. Malik, who left One Direction in March this year, has yet to release any solo music since the split despite spending much time with producer and ‘good friend’, Naughty Boy – real name, Shahid Khan. On Wednesday 6th May, a photo was uploaded by the DJ with the message ‘caption this’, showing Malik and Naughty Boy sat in a studio with a filter on the screen. A tweet by Tomlinson soon after seemed to start the ‘war of words’ as he seemingly made fun of the image. His tweet read: “Remember when you were 12 and you used to think those Mac filters for your pictures were cool haha! Some people still do HA!” In response, Bradford singer Zayn wrote: “Remember when you had a life and stopped making bitchy comments about mine?” Following the exchanges of words, Naughty Boy also got in on the action, initially writing directly to Tomlinson: “And some people can't even sing...but who's complaining
May 2015 - 2nd Edition when there's auto tune eh.” Tomlinson replied: “Jesus forgot you were such an in demand producer...How does it feel to be riding on the back of someone else's career?”
in terms of sales and I've happened to write on most. Keep trying!” One Direction’s next tour date will see them return to the British Isles as they play in
The written conversation did not end there with two more tweets following from both artists, with Naughty Boy adding: “Yeah how does it feel mate? You've been doing that for the last five years... I've got Emeli Sande and Sam Smith on my CV.” To which Tomlinson finally replied: “Good for you, well done! I think we've done alright
front of a packed Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 5th and 6th June before heading out across Europe and America. It seems the popularity of the group has not diminished since Malik’s departure with all 25 UK dates, in September and October, already completely sold out.
C A K E S • D E S S E R T S • I C E C R E A M • M I L K S H A K E S • H OT D R I N K S • M O C K TA I L S
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
OPENING TIMES: Mon - Thur • 5pm till Midnight | Fri - Sun • 5pm till Late
for a relaxing evening out! 43 Brook Street | Wakefield WF1 1QW
/trinityshishalounge
/trinityshishalounge
39
40
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
Sales slump UK’s fourth largest grocer Bradford-based Morrisons continues to grapple with falling figures Britain's fourth biggest supermarket chain, Morrisons, revealed a further deterioration in its sales performance last week, highlighting the tough turnaround job faced by its new boss David Potts. Shares in the Bradford-based group which trails market leader Tesco, Wal-Mart' Asda and Sainsbury's in annual sales, fell 6.7 per cent in the first quarter. This followed Morrisons’ update, which said sales at stores open over a year, excluding fuel, fell 2.9 per cent in the 13 weeks to 3rd May, the firm's fiscal first quarter. That compares to analysts' forecasts of a decline of about three per cent and a fall of 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter of Morrisons' 2014-15 year. The update is the first presided over by Chief Executive David Potts, who succeeded the sacked Dalton Philips on 16th March. Analysts noted comparative numbers were very weak as Morrisons' like-for-like sales had
slumped 7.1 percent in the first quarter of 2014-15. Morrisons, which in common with its rivals is grappling with record food price deflation and an intensifying price war launched to stem the flow of shoppers to discounters Aldi and Lidl, said it anticipated that underlying profit before tax in the 2015-16 year would be higher in the second half than the first. Finance director Trevor Strain told reporters the company was comfortable with analysts' average full-year forecast of £356 million but noted consensus had drifted down from £387 million when Morrisons reported 2014-15 results in March. “It’s an uphill challenge reinvigorating Morrisons’ fortunes,” Himanshu Pal, director of retail insights at researcher Kantar Retail, said. “Not only because of the general declining footfalls at big supermarkets but the retailer is also significantly underrepresented in convenience and
online channels.” Ex-Tesco executive Potts has hit the ground running, axing the majority of the management team he inherited a week after joining. He has since announced plans to cut head office staff by 720, at a cost of 30-40 million pounds, while adding 5,000 shop floor staff to improve customer service. Potts has also brought back staffed express checkouts and jettisoned the previous management's computerised queue management system. “Our priorities are to improve the customers’ shopping trip and make our core supermarkets strong again,” he said. “We are listening hard to customers and colleagues and, wherever possible, we are responding quickly.” Potts said he would provide a detailed update on his plans when Morrisons publishes first half results in September but said the focus would continue to be ‘to invest more for customers in order to build trading momentum’.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
41
42
Local
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
EXCITED: Anwar Musa will be heading to Wembley Stadium as part of a football fan choir to perform ‘Abide With Me’ prior to the FA Cup final
City fan to sing at Wembley
Bantams supporter to perform in front of 90,000 fans on cup final day
Bradford City may have missed out on their Wembley dream this season yet one Bantams super-fan will still be present at the FA Cup final, as he sings on the pitch before kick-off. 52-year-old Anwar Musa from Laisterdyke, has been a City supporter ever since he arrived in England in 1968 from his home in Kenya. A season ticket holder, he has seen good and bad days at the West Yorkshire club, and was in the Main Stand at Valley Parade when the fire disaster killed 56 supporters in 1985. Last month he won the chance to sing on the hallowed Wembley pitch prior to the Arsenal and Aston Villa cup final, on Saturday 30th May, after winning a Songs of Praise competition. Describing the occasion as a ‘once-in-alifetime’ opportunity, Anwar says he has been warming up his vocal chords ahead of the big day. “I have been to Wembley before as a fan to watch Bradford and every time we have been, we have sat high up in the stands,” he said.
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
“To be on the pitch this year as part of the football league choir will be brilliant. It is something my grandchildren can even look back on in the future and say my granddad was on that pitch.” “To be on the pitch this year as part of the football league choir will be brilliant. It is something my grandchildren can even look back on in the future and say my granddad was on that pitch.” Anwar was chosen as the Bradford City representative for the pre-match entertainment and will help make up the 64strong choir which will perform ‘Abide With Me’ prior to kick off. One fan was chosen from each of the 64 clubs that reached the third round of this season’s FA Cup competition with more than 1,400 fans applying for their spot. Anwar says it came as a shock to hear he had been successful in his application and remembers how he first fell in love with English football. “It was the FA Cup final in 1972 between Arsenal and Leeds that really got me hooked and at that time everybody supported the big
teams,” he said. “As I lived in Bradford, it was City who got my support and we would go down to the game every matchday and cheer them on. “Unlike today, my friend and I were some of the only Asian faces in the crowd and we stuck out like a sore thumb. “I have seen the ups and downs of this club and I think we are now in a place where we can really grow and push on into the Championship and then who knows.” He added that this year’s FA Cup final held special significance due to its timing with the landmark anniversary of the fire disaster. “The final will be held just a few weeks after the 30th year anniversary of the Valley Parade fire so for me to be representing the club at Wembley is a real honour,” he said. “I hope I can help take the spirit of those 56 fans with me to Wembley and show how great this club really is.”
BRADFORD: Anwar will be the Bantams’ representative alongside 63 other fans from clubs which reached the FA Cup third round this season
Local
43
44
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Local
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
for that authentic taste of the mediterranean!
At Soosi Restaurant we have selected the tastiest, most popular Mediterranean, Italian, Persian and Iranian dishes for our menu, prepared to order by world-class chefs.
Soosi’s menu might sound like an exercise in fusion cuisine, but in actual fact the traditions of the countries are respected, with the selection organised to make it clear what you’re eating.
613 Ro und ha y Ro a d , Leed s, L S8 4AR • 01132 400 400
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Asian
Express
Business
45
Your National and Local Business Round-up
Business news
Soosi
Traditional Italian, Persian and Iranian food in the heart of Leeds
Mediterranean Grill
I
613 Roundhay Road Oakwood, Leeds, LS8 4AR Tel: 0113 240 0400 Opening times: Tue-Sun: 11.30am-10pm Web: www.soosirestaurant.com
n 2011, the Egyptian Revolution resulted in thousands of Brits returning home as millions of nationals protested in the streets for the ousting of then President Hosni Mubarak. Amongst those who returned to the UK was Reham Youssef, known to all as ‘Soosi’ and what was Egypt’s loss quickly became England’s gain as Soosi Mediterranean Restaurant opened up in Leeds. Offering up an exciting new menu from Roundhay, the business has boomed in just 16 months of operations, bringing a touch of the Mediterranean to the heart of West Yorkshire. It is the reputation which draws many customers in and the food which keeps them coming back for more as sumptuous dishes are served up fresh every day. For 35 years, the Soosi team have been developing their menu in outlets across the world and by fusing Arabic, Italian and Persian flavours together they have developed a concept quite like no other. “Every week we are introducing different meals to our menu, offering new tastes and experiences to customers,” Soosi explained. “This week we have had tender lamb neck to complement favourites from our extensive char
grilled meat menu and renowned kebabs, all of which are halal. “We prepare all our meats in the same way, marinating them in secret spices and oils for two days before they are ready to be served, packed full of flavour and a unique taste.” A sign of the restaurant’s success came earlier this year when an extension was required to cater for the growing number of diners, whilst plans to expand even further are already in the pipeline. The interior decor is one which allows visitors to eat in a relaxed environment with the new glass extension making the perfect setting for a summer meal or to dine out at night. “It has been very busy here since our first day opening at the start of last year and we continue to see new and old faces coming through the doors every day,” Soosi added. “There is something for everybody on our menu, whether you want to try something new, or experience the traditions of Italy and Persia in the most tasteful ways.” Soosi Mediterranean Restaurant is the perfect location for lunch or dinner and with opening hours starting from 11.30am Tuesday to Sunday, there is always times to enjoy a taste of the world.
46
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Business
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Crossley House A true ‘taste’ of excellence
Y
orkshire’s leading wedding venue has finally found its own ‘match made in heaven’ as all inclusive multicultural wedding packages are introduced at Crossley House. The impeccable venue has proved time and time again that its grand halls and generous gardens are the perfect setting for any couple’s big day, playing host to numerous weddings every year. Now, that experience is being made all the more ‘perfect’ as Crossley House, in conjunction with MyLahores, introduce these exciting wedding packages. From the table decor to reception drinks, service team to three-course sit down meals, everything you need to enjoy your wedding in a stress free manner can now be arranged by the wedding experts and your very own wedding co-ordinator – on hand for any questions you may have. The new partnership with highly-regarded MyLahore, ensures delectable dishes are prepared and served up by a team of fully trained chefs who specialise in fusion foods from around the world.
Much like the Crossley House ethos, quality is never compromised by the MyLahore team, meaning your day will be as picture perfect as your dreams, in an environment quite like no other. Built in 1845, the magnificent grade-III listed mansion is set away in the heart of West Yorkshire, surrounded by acres of landscaped gardens and exquisite views. Over the years, the original features of the iconic building have all been retained with many highlights restored to their once eye-catching best, imposing prestige and presence for every occasion it hosts. The two large ballrooms, lavishly decorated in keeping with the French Renaissance style, are visually spectacular with glass chandeliers, honeycomb ceilings and mirrored walls just some of the stunning features. With the ability to cater for up to 550 guests in each room, or a
Special introductory offer
10% off quote ref AE201505
smaller Crystal Ballroom – perfect for receptions, there really is nothing that the venue doesn’t cater for. So, with bookings already filling up for 2016 and beyond, make sure you contact Yorkshire’s number one wedding venue today and experience a taste of wedding excellence, fit for Kings and Queens.
Crossley House Belle Vue Park, Hopwood Lane, Halifax, HX1 5EN Tel: 01422 410 067 Web: www.crossleyhouse.co.uk Email: info@crossleyhouse.co.uk
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Business
47
New Business Secretary
Introducing Abu2Go or over 40 years Abu Bakar Supermarkets have been supplying Leeds’ residents with fresh produce from around the world, with everything from domestic supplies to exotic fruit and vegetables available instore. Now, the much-loved family business is expanding its operations as the exciting Abu2Go concept arrives in Hyde Park for the first time next month. Bringing an array of ready to eat fresh foods and sweets, it’s guaranteed to be an exciting project for staff and customers alike, with new tastes and flavours arriving in-store. From Samosas, Kebabs and Curries to Baklawas, Halivas and Ras Malai, everything will be prepared in house that same day, ensuring you only receive the freshest and tastiest dishes possible. Sajid Hussain, manager at the Abu Bakar Hyde Park store, said it was an idea which brought a new type of thinking to meal times. “Abu2Go is a concept which was thought up by the Abu Bakar family after noticing there was nowhere people could go to enjoy fresh, homemade food in this area,” he said. “All our dishes are prepared inhouse from scratch. Our Baklawas for example are made from the finest ingredients, with quality pistachio and kashew nuts selected to create
Sajid Javid MP was appointed Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills last week
Newly re-elected British Prime Minister David Cameron has appointed Sajid Javid as his business secretary, handing the challenge of improving the country's poor productivity record to one of the rising stars of the Conservative Party. Javid, a 45 year-old former investment banker who is the son of a bus driver, was first elected in 2010 and worked closely with Chancellor George Osborne before becoming culture minister in Cameron's first government. Javid worked for Chase Manhattan Bank and Deutsche Bank before starting his career in politics
and is widely tipped as a future Conservative Party leader. In his new role, he will represent the interests of British business ahead of a planned referendum on the country's membership of the European Union. Javid takes over the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) from Vince Cable, one of the most senior members of the Liberal Democrat party which supported the Conservatives in Cameron's 2010-2015 coalition government but is now in opposition after suffering heavy losses in last week's election.
Airbus lands in India
F
An exciting concept from Abu Bakar an authentic sweet taste.” It is a family unity that has driven Abu Bakar to the forefront of the supermarket industry in Leeds and the principle of putting the customer first is the backbone of their success. Growing from a corner shop in the 1980’s to a chain of supermarkets today, the multi-cultural shop caters for all customers and all ethnicities with a product range like no other. Sajid added: “National supermarkets may have introduced aisles with
foods of the world yet it is nothing like the availability of what we have here at Abu Bakar. “Our range of spices and ingredients are always expanding whilst the butchers provide meats many other supermarkets do not, such as halal sausages.” So, with all the ingredients you could want all under one roof, and Abu2Go set to open in June, there has never been a better time to visit your local Abu Bakar store.
37 Queen's Road, Leeds, LS6 1NY Tel: 0113 289 9152 Mon-Sun: 9am-9pm
India's defence procurement agency has cleared the purchase of 56 transport planes from Europe's Airbus in a deal worth an estimated £1.2billion, as the country updates its aging fleet of Avro aircraft. The government also approved a Russian proposal to build Kamov light helicopters in India and the purchase of 145 ultra-light howitzers from the United States as part of its efforts to modernise the military. Under the bid, Airbus will supply 16 of the C295 planes in ‘flyaway’ condition and the subsequent 40 would be manufactured and assembled by Tata Advanced Systems in India. They would be the first military planes built by an Indian private company on Indian soil with current manufacturing in the nation dominated by state-run Hindustan Aeronautics. “The defence acquisition
MODERNISE: As part of the agreement, 16 C295 planes will be provided to India whilst 40 more will be manufactured in the South Asian country
council has given its approval to negotiate with the Airbus-Tata consortium for the transport planes even though it was a single vendor case,” said a defence source who asked not to be identified in line with defence ministry rules. Under procurement rules,
there must be more than one bidder for any contract in play unless it is cleared by the defence acquisition council headed by the defence minister. The source said contract negotiations for the aircraft are expected to conclude by the end of this year.
48
Business
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Park to one side
Please contact Luke Patel on 0113 227 9316 or by email at LPatel@LawBlacks.com
I
n a matter of great public interest the Court of Appeal has recently decided that private parking charges of at least £85 are not unlawful. The case of ParkingEye –v- Beavis was appealed from a first instance hearing last year and is now the current precedent in respect of whether a parking charge can be considered a ‘penalty’ or not. Although the matter has only just been decided by the Court of Appeal, Mr Beavis and another defendant, Mr Wardley first had their cases assessed by Circuit Judge Moloney in 2014 as a test case to try and set precedent on the issue of unlawful parking charges. After the introduction of the Protection of Freedoms Act (specifically Schedule 4 – Recovery of Unpaid Parking Fines) the Courts were faced with hundreds of claims from firms such as ParkingEye seeking to enforce the non-payment of parking fines. ParkingEye would typically bring claims of £170 (including the original charge and legal expenses) against individuals who had
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
refused to pay their parking fine, however contract law would suggest that ParkingEye had no basis for claiming this charge since it could not represent the loss it would have incurred should someone overstay in a car park. An award of damages for breach of contract is intended to put the claimant back in the position they would have been in had the breach not occurred. The damages would therefore be minimal or nothing in a free car park. The amount of the charge, often between £80 £100, is clearly intended to be a penalty which would be unenforceable under contract law. This requirement to evidence the likely loss is known as ‘genuine pre-estimate of loss’. ParkingEye’s legal Counsel advanced the argument of commercial justification rather than genuine pre-estimate of loss; understanding the latter point would be very difficult to show. ParkingEye therefore argued that their higher penalties were needed to deter motorists from over-staying in the car park and there was a
genuine commercial justification for doing so. The Court accepted this line of argument and found for ParkingEye, although did allow permission to appeal with a fast-track through to the Court of Appeal. Mr Beavis commenced the appeal process whereas Mr Wardley decided to settle. Instead of focusing on the issue of ‘commercial justification’ the Court of Appeal heard arguments on the issue of the level of charges applied. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating that the charges should not be treated as penalties because the level of charge (£85 in the Beavis case) was not ‘extravagant and unconscionable’; this being the true test of whether a clause is a penalty. The Court of Appeal assessed other factors in reaching their decision including: the need for readily available car parking spaces, parking fines as a deterrent by nature and undertaking a comparison of the scale of penalties imposed by local authorities. The Court has granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
National
Prince Charles challenged Blair over Iraq The Prince of Wales tackled the then prime minister Tony Blair over the lack of resources for the Armed Forces fighting in Iraq, previously secret letters have revealed. Publication of correspondence between Charles and government ministers following a long-running legal battle showed that the Prince lobbied Mr Blair and other ministers on a range of issues from badgers and TB to herbal medicine, education and illegal fishing. Twenty-seven letters - 10 from Charles to ministers, 14 by ministers and three letters between private secretaries - were released following a 10-year campaign by Guardian journalist Rob Evans to see the documents after a freedom of information request. The Prince, who will one day as king be head of the armed forces, complained to Mr Blair about British forces in Iraq ‘being asked to do an extremely challenging job without the necessary resources’. Charles is understood to be ‘disappointed’ that the confidentiality principle was not maintained as his memos - written between September 2004 and March 2005 - were finally published. Clarence House defended the Prince's decision to write the letters, with a spokesman saying: “The publication of private letters can only inhibit his ability to express the concerns and suggestions which have been put to him in the course of his travels and meetings.” But his top aide suggested the experience was unlikely to put him off raising matters that are brought to his attention in the future. Charles's principal private secretary William Nye said: “He will think about how he deals with things but I think he'll continue to want to reflect the views that he hears from members of the public, and talk about things that matter to our society and the world to ministers of any government.” There were no handwritten ‘black spider’ letters among the batch released - so-called because of the black ink used by the Prince in some correspondence and his habit of underlining words - and all were typed. In one detailed and lengthy letter to Mr Blair, dated 8th September 2004, the Prince wrote of problems with deploying new Oxbow surveillance technology, which he described as a ‘major advance’ for the military but warned that the deployment of the equipment was ‘being frustrated by the poor performance of the existing Lynx aircraft in high temperatures’. “Despite this, the procurement of new aircraft to replace the Lynx (helicopter) is subject to further delays and uncertainty due to the
significant pressure on the defence budget,” Charles said. “I fear this is just one more example of where our armed forces are being asked to do an extremely challenging job (particularly in Iraq) without the necessary resources.” In his response to the Lynx letter, Mr Blair replied on 11th October that year, saying that ‘limitations of the existing platform’ were well known by the MoD, and the budget for the coming years included investment in helicopters. In the same note to Mr Blair, the Prince asked him to put ‘pressure’ on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs over the bureaucratic burdens facing farmers. Charles wrote: “Suffice it to say that any pressure which you can bring to bear on Defra through the Panel for Regulatory Accountability, which you told me you are chairing, would be much appreciated.” In another letter to Mr Blair, the Prince described opponents of a badger cull as ‘intellectually dishonest’ and advocated culling to tackle tuberculosis in cattle. Writing in February 2005, Charles criticised the ‘badger lobby’ for not minding about the slaughter of cattle which contract the disease but objecting to the killing of badgers.
He urged Mr Blair to ‘look again at introducing a proper cull of badgers where it is necessary’, warning that the rising number of cases of TB in cattle was the most pressing and urgent problem facing the agricultural sector. “I, for one, cannot understand how the ‘badger lobby’ seem to mind not at all about the slaughter of thousands of expensive cattle, and yet object to a managed cull of an over-population of badgers to me, this is intellectually dishonest,” he wrote. The then Labour government resisted pressure to launch a cull although David Cameron's coalition government did go ahead with one on a limited basis in 2013. As of March last year, more than a quarter of a million pounds (£274,481.16) had been spent by the Government on legal fees to try to block the publication of the letters. The money was spent by eight government departments as former attorney general Dominic Grieve tried to prevent their release, claiming it would undermine the principle of the heir to the throne being politically neutral. The real cost is likely to be much higher due to ongoing legal wrangling since the figures were published.
49
50
National
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Tragic
Mother and daughters, found dead at home, named
Police have named a man found dead near a reservoir and his twin daughters and their mother who were discovered at a nearby home. Officers made the first discoveries on Tuesday 12th May after concerns were raised about the welfare of the residents living at a house in Grove Road, Chadwell Heath, east London. Upon forcing their way in, police found the bodies of the mother Shighi Rethishkumar, 37, and two daughters, Niya and Neha aged 13. The father, Rethishkumar Pullarkattil, 44, who was missing from the property, was found hanged around six miles away at Woodford Reservoir, Walthamstow, at 8.17am on Wednesday 13th May. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald said: “At this stage we are awaiting the outcome of the post-mortems to confirm cause of death, which will provide further evidence of what has taken place inside the house at Grove Road.
“However, at this stage in our ongoing investigation we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.” Police said there was no response or sign of any disturbance when they initially attended the property on Monday evening. The matter has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Metropolitan Police's directorate of professional standards is reviewing the police response. Scotland Yard said the last confirmed sighting of the family was on Sunday. Mother-of-two Zoya Habibani, 24, lives in the same block as the family and described them as ‘really friendly’, adding: “It's really sad.” She said she thought the family were originally from India. Bobby Singh, 41, who manages a garage next to the flats, said he would see the twins going to school in the mornings.
“At this stage we are awaiting the outcome of the post-mortems to confirm cause of death, which will provide further evidence of what has taken place inside the house at Grove Road.” He described them as ‘very reserved’ and ‘polite’, adding that he did not see their father very much. “The kids always walked in front of their mother. The mother was always a couple of steps behind,” he said. “I hope someone finds out the answers. I hope they rest in peace as well.”
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
National
51
52
www.asianexpress.co.uk
National
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Runaway girls who left for Syria return uncertain Home Secretary Theresa May has declined to say whether three British jihadi brides reported to be on the run from the Islamic State terror group might be allowed back into the UK. Asked about reports that the teenage girls have gone missing in Iraq after being married to militants from the group - also known as Isil or Isis - Mrs May would only say that attempts to return are dealt with on a ‘case-by-case’ basis. She confirmed that some young Britons who went to Syria or Iraq to join IS have come back after becoming disillusioned. Reports of the girls' flight appeared on the Facebook page of Mosul Eye, which purports to be written by a blogger in the city, part of the large area straddling the Iraq-Syria border which has been occupied by IS. On 2nd May, Mosul Eye posted: "Three girls,
(Foreigners - British) married to ISIL militants, reported missing, and ISIL announced to all its check points to search for them. It is believed that those girls have escaped." In a later post he added: "The latest info I got on them is they are still on the run, but still in Mosul, and ISIL is thoroughly searching for them and hasn't captured them yet. "They are Brits, not immigrants, and they are very young teens (around 16 years old). That's all I have about them for now." The information in the report could not be independently verified and the exact identity of the girls and their fate is not known. Reports suggest around 600 people from the UK have gone to join IS in Syria and Iraq, including young women. Three British schoolgirls from Bethnal Green
Academy - Shamima Begum, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana disappeared from their homes in east London in February and flew to Turkey, before crossing the border into Syria. It is understood they were following another 15-yearold girl who travelled there in December. Asked whether the onthe-run girls would be permitted to return to the UK, Mrs May told ITV1's Good Morning Britain: "I'm not able to talk about individual cases. "Obviously there are young people who go to Syria, some of whom find that what they see there is not what they thought it was going to be. "We look on a case-bycase basis, and people have come back - youngsters who have gone there and suddenly realise what a mistake they've made."
NO COMMENT: Home Secretary Theresa May has refused to say if the three British girls who left for Syria will be allowed back into the UK
Rajput
JEWELLERS
Rajput Jewellers are renowned for their exquisite designs along with quality. Our aim is to offer excellence along with design sensibility which will meet the customer’s expectation, quality, styling and pricing. We have a varied jewellery collection starting with rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, bangles, necklaces, brooches and crowns in 18ct White Gold, 22ct and 24ct Asian gold with fine quality diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones like Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Topaz and many others at a wide price range. Rajput Jewellers is not just a jewellery showroom, but it is also a home to some of the best craftsmen, who have mastered the art of jewellery making in varied styles. Our workshop is equipped with state-of-the infrastructure which delivers various creative styles of uniquely designed and handcrafted jewellery specializing in Bridal sets, Necklace sets, bracelets, Rani’s haars, bangles, earrings, crowns and pendant sets. We believe in maintaining purity, quality and a unique creativity that blends with our rich cultural heritage and tradition in a contemporary manner. We deliver beyond our customer’s imaginations, thus creating vibrant enigmatic pieces which not only enhances the wearer’s beauty but also mystifies everyone around them hence, winning accolades of envy and appreciation.
212 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS8 5AA
0113 249 9722
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
National
53
54
National
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Thomson and First Choice to be phased out
TUI Group has confirmed it is to phase out the Thomson and First Choice holiday brands as it seeks to bring its operational names under one roof. The leisure and tourism giant said the reorganisation follows the merger of its UK and German entities last year. It told investors the streamlining of their operations was on track to increase profits by between 10 per cent and 15 per cent this year. Part of this is the plan to sell its British hotel booking website LateRooms. TUI said it would dispose of LateRooms but would not set a definite
timetable as to when exactly this would take place. The company said that its travel offering would come under the TUI name but it would take up to three years for the Thomson and First Choice names to disappear. The pair catered for 5.2 million holidaymakers last year, with the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and Greece among the most popular destinations. The ditching of brands is part of the group's efforts to simplify its operation and comes hot on the heels of its announcement to combine its tour
National
operating, hotel and cruise ship businesses into one unit. Joint TUI chief executives Fritz Joussen and Peter Long insisted in a statement that they were pleased with the company's progress on restructuring. They said: "Our post-merger integration process is ahead of our original plan. Our growth phase is gaining momentum." The update on TUI's post-merger progress came as the group revealed a second-quarter underlying pre-tax loss of £120.5m, an improvement on the £144.9m loss announced for the same period last year.
DISAPPEARING: Thomson and First Choice will be rebranded under one name within three years
w w w.suk kurcuisine. co. uk Catering For • Conferences • Functions • Parties • Weddings ...Any Occasion
Unit 5, Bridge Industrial Estate, Mill Street East, Savile Town, Dewsbury, West Yorks, WF12 9BQ
Tel/Fax: (01924) 485786 Mobile: 07976 266638 / 07974 152929 / 97894 728206
55
56
National
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Farooq and Karis Sheikh joined an exclusive West Midlands Police ‘fatherand-son club’ last month when Karis hit the streets for the first time as one of 82 new PC recruits. The 25-year-old is cutting his teeth in Birmingham with stints alongside response units – answering emergency calls for help – and neighbourhood teams on the beat in Ladywood. As with all new officers Karis – who gave up a job in IT recruitment and took a hefty pay cut to realise his public service ambition – will spend the first 18months under the guidance of a seasoned officer. And in an ironic twist his mentor, PC Kam Samra, was coached through his early crime fighting career by Karis’ dad Farooq who’s an Inspector steering the recruitment drive. Karis said: “I applied after hearing all the positives from my dad about police work, plus I was unhappy doing a 9-5, rooted at a desk and on the phone and email all day. “I’m looking forward to mixing in communities I’ll FAMILY: Karis Sheikh is be serving, understanding people’s needs and following in his father’s responding to (Farooq) footsteps as he embarks on a career in the emergencies…and I’d be police, pictured here with lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to driving mentor PC Kam Samra
Father and son ‘in law’
Its a family affair at West Midlands Police
National
my first blue light run. “I’d like to work in response, it’s a fast-paced environment that suits me, and down the line maybe specialise in traffic or firearms. “I’m learning a lot from Kam and it’s strange to think some of his advice would initially have been passed on by my dad years earlier.” Eighty more recruits are set to graduate from PC training school in July, with another batch of rookie PCs in training from the summer ahead of becoming operational late this year. New officers will continue to join the force throughout 2016 to deliver the Police and Crime Commissioner’s intention to strengthen West Midlands Police’s ranks by 450. Karis’ father, Farooq, is currently an Inspector in the ‘Positive Action’ team – which aims to increase representation of black and minority ethnic groups in the force – having previously spent time in intelligence, CID, traffic, neighbourhood policing, response units, and Offender Management. He has 22 years’ police experience under his belt, including three years spent with the Canadian Police Force in Calgary and Vancouver Island.
57
58
www.asianexpress.co.uk
National
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Egypt’s secrets arrive in England The secret world of the ancient Egyptians will be revealed at Leicester’s New Walk Museum and Art Gallery from Saturday 16th May. More than 150 items – including mummies, coffins, sculptures and jewellery – have been brought together in an interactive exhibition that will shed new light on an ancient civilisation. ‘Secret Egypt: Unravelling Truth from Myth’ uses archaeological and scientific evidence to explore how the pyramids were constructed, how the bodies of people and animals were mummified, and how much of what we think we know about this ancient civilisation is simply modern myth. Matthew Constantine, collections, interpretation and learning manager for Leicester Arts and Museums Service, said: “We are really pleased to be able to bring this exhibition to New Walk Museum. “It nicely complements our permanent Egyptian gallery, providing more fantastic ancient objects for people to see – and encouraging visitors to think
differently about this fascinating ancient civilisation.” ‘Secret Egypt: Unravelling Truth from Myth’ opens on Saturday 16th May and continues until 27th September. Admission to the exhibition is free. A range of activities to support the new exhibition will be taking place at New Walk Museum throughout the summer. Visitors will be able to have a go at making their own ancient Egyptian-style jewellery and there will be Book of the Deadthemed craft activities. Sessions will take place from 11am – 1pm and from 2pm-4pm. A fee of £2.50 – payable at the museum shop – will be charged for activities. Information about other Egyptian-themed activities, events and talks taking place throughout the summer is available at visitleicester.info ‘Secret Egypt: Unravelling Truth from Myth’ is a touring exhibition from the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry, loaned by Birmingham Museums Trust on behalf of Birmingham City Council.
stars Week starting 15/5/15 ARIES
SNEH JOSHI
March 21st - April 20th
Don't be afraid to act forcefully if your instinct tells you it's time for change. If you know your ground and are not afraid to stick your neck out, you can create your own opportunities. Besides spending more time tending to domestic affairs, the focus can be on cultivating and nourishing your inner foundations, so to speak.
TAURUS
April 21st - May 21th
Start the week by inviting comments and criticism of what you have in mind financially, but do not lose your temper when you get others' views. Instead, use them to advantage. A friendly relationship or marriage of people you know could be wavering or on the point of break-up. Try to understand things.
GEMINI
May 22nd - June 21st
There are subtle transformations taking shape in your life and a feeling of helpful influences in the background. There is much to suggest that you are in tune with your inner self and in touch with those hidden forces which often seem to take a guiding hand in one's life. Focus on essentials and establish a solid foundation.
CANCER
with
June 22nd - July 22st
You may find yourself hard at work behind the scenes, although that may not be apparent to others. You may find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of activity, with opportunities to advance on both the inner and outer level. There is likely to be a powerful incentive to do what remains to be done and tie up loose ends.
LEO
Telephone: 0208 518 5500 July 23st - August 23rd
Co-operative ventures are likely to generate financial success. So, if hoping to drum up support or backing, it would certainly do no harm to adopt a more pushy and outgoing approach to life. As social life will tend to draw you into a wider circle, the chances of meeting someone attractive are greatly increased.
VIRGO
August 24th - September 23rd
LIBRA
September 24th - October 23rd
Much enthusiasm goes into professional ambitions right now, but you need to be your own boss in many ways. Circumstances will make you more determined to place your lifestyle on a foundation of greater security. Taking a broad perspective on the prevailing cosmic pattern, farreaching change begins to gather momentum.
There is an element of disruption or stress which may be hard to avoid, but it appears that there is a strong sense of purpose in the background. A certain amount of sheer hard graft will be necessary for a short while, but the final result will be extremely pleasing. An exchange of opinions ought to prove very enlivening at this time.
SCORPIO
October 24th - November 22nd
Retrograde Saturn transit occurs in your solar second house this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to new financial initiatives. There may be the need to resolve old, nagging issues regarding personal finances. Take this time to re-budget and re-think how you want to spend your cash during this period.
SAGITTARIUS
November 23rd - December 21st
Saturn, the planet of caution and discipline is retrograde in your solar first house this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to your body language. You will be re-assessing your work place as well as people around you. Good time to review your partnerships and relationships.
CAPRICORN
December 22nd - January 20th
Retrograde transit of Saturn occurs in your solar twelfth house this time, extra care should be exercised when it comes to private and personal matters. Be as nonjudgemental as you can, but do keep an eye out for deceptiveness and falseness in others. Good time for yoga and meditation.
AQUARIUS
January 21st - February 19th
Bear in mind that Saturn, the planet of caution and discipline remains retrograde in your eleventh house of friends and associates as well. Good time to re-assess friendships and it would serve you well if you spend more time listening than speaking. Keep an eye on your investments.
PISCES
February 20th - March 20th
Bear in mind that Saturn, the planet of caution and discipline remains retrograde in your solar tenth house, this transit will force you to slow down and reflect on your past achievements and future goals. It is now time to take stock, consolidate and plan ahead. You should not allow other people to rush you.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
National
59
60
National
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
• One in four people experience a common mental health problem every year • Over 75 per cent of people who experience symptoms of anxiety and depression get no treatment • Mental Health Awareness Week (11-17 May 2015) shines spotlight on how anxiety, sleep deprivation and exercise impacts on mental health
Is technology the key to positive mental health? Technology could be the key to help people improve and maintain positive mental health according to researchers at the University of Sheffield. Every year one in four people will experience a common mental health problem such as anxiety, depression, drug or alcohol abuse or eating disorders. Over 75 per cent of people who experience symptoms of anxiety and depression get no treatment but leading researchers from the University’s Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare (CATCH) have identified technology as a way to help improve access care and information that can help people manage their condition better. The way the NHS is currently set up means that most services are offered from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday in a healthcare setting, which means lots of people with mental health problems are unable to access care easily and some people find it difficult to speak to people face to face. Dr Katherine Easton from CATCH at the University of Sheffield said: “Technology can increase the availability of services, it can provide services out of hours, it gives people choices and options, and most importantly it helps people take control of their own health.
“Many people are not aware of the options. We need to inform the public and health providers about how technology may be used to support people. “We need to evaluate technology, which, is being developed all the time, and make sure it is being used and delivered in the publics interest to provide the highest quality care and ensure people’s safety when we aren’t all in the same place at the same time.” CATCH builds on the track record of successful interdisciplinary and translational research across the University of Sheffield, bringing together and coordinating expertise across health research, engineering, psychology, computer science, architecture and social science.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
National
61
62
National
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
International
63
• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PFAFF SERVICE CENTRE MIGRANTS: Hundreds of refugees have been refused entry after Malaysia, Indonesia after Thai crackdowns on sea boats. Officials however have been offering food, water, fuel and medical assistance to migrant boats but have prevented them from landing
Boatpeople pushed back to sea A senior Thai official said that despite a U.N. appeal for a rapid rescue operation to avoid a humanitarian crisis, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia will continue to push boats holding thousands of migrants back to sea. Several thousand migrants, many of them hungry and sick, are adrift in Southeast Asian seas in boats that have been abandoned by smugglers following a Thai government crackdown on human trafficking, the United Nations has said. “Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have decided not to receive boat people, as far as I am aware,” Major General Werachon Sukhondhapatipak,
Continued on page 64
REPAIRS + SERVICE TO ALL MAKES
Proprietor MARK BRIGGS
36B Barkston House Croydon Street Holbeck, Leeds LS11 9RT PHONE/FAX 01132 457688 MOBILE 07860 662198
pfaffservicecentre@btconnect.com
64
www.asianexpress.co.uk
International
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Boatpeople pushed back to sea Continued from page 63 spokesman for Thailand's ruling junta said. He declined to comment on the UN refugee agency UNHCR's appeal on Tuesday 13th May for an international search and rescue operation to rescue the thousands stranded on the seas between Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Malaysia and Indonesia have not made public their official policy on future migrant arrivals. Malaysia's Home Ministry declined to comment on the UN rescue appeal and Indonesian officials were not immediately available to comment. The issue would be discussed at a meeting of 15 countries, to be held in Bangkok on 29th May, Werachon said. In Thailand, authorities are enforcing a long-held policy to push boats back. The policy involves offering food, water, fuel and medical assistance to migrant boats but preventing them from landing. There has been a surge in migrants from impoverished Bangladesh and Myanmar to Malaysia and Indonesia following the clampdown in Thailand, usually the first destination in the region's people-smuggling network. Thailand ordered a clean-up of
suspected traffickers' camps last week after 33 bodies, believed to be of migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, were found in shallow graves near the Malaysian border. That has led to many migrants being left out at sea. But a senior Malaysian maritime
official said, after over 1,000 people arrived on the Malaysian island of Langkawi, that any more boats trying to land would be turned back. "We don't allow them in," said First Admiral Tan Kok Kwee, northern region head of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement
Agency. "It's a policy matter." Indonesia provided food, water and medical supplies to around 500 passengers on a boat off the coast of Aceh on Monday, before sending the vessel toward Malaysia. Nearly 600 migrants were rescued from overcrowded wooden boats
stranded off Indonesia's Aceh province the previous day. The Indonesian Navy said the passengers of the boat they sent on wanted to go to Malaysia, not Indonesia. But advocacy group ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights criticised the Indonesian action. "Towing migrants out to sea and declaring that they aren't your problem any more is not a solution to the wide regional crisis," ABHR Chairperson and Malaysian lawmaker Charles Santiago said in a statement. Many of the arrivals are Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. An estimated 25,000 Bangladeshis and Rohingya boarded rickety smugglers' boats in the first three months of this year, twice as many in the same period of 2014, the UNHCR has said. "When countries such as Thailand implement a push back policy, we find Rohingya bodies washing ashore," said Sunai Phasuk at Human Rights Watch in Thailand. "If these three countries move forward with push backs, blood will be on their hands."
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
International
65
66
International
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
International
67
• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Protests as third Bangladesh blogger killed
A blogger has been hacked to death by a masked gang in Bangladesh – the third such murder of a critic of religious extremism in three months. Ananta Bijoy Das, 33, wrote for the Mukto-Mona (Free Mind) website which describes itself as a space for "freethinkers, sceptics, atheists and humanists". His attackers were wearing masks and carrying machettes hacked Das in Sylhet city. The front page of the website
now displays the message "We are united in grief and remain undefeated" written in white on a black background. Bangladeshi news site BDNews24 says that Das was also part of a secular movement called Ganajagaran Mancha, which called for both protests and more actions by the government in the wake of his death. A friend of Mr Das claims he had received death threats and
was on a hitlist of atheist bloggers drawn up by Islamist militants. His death marks an escalation in religious violence in the country. Mukto-Mona used to be moderated by Avijit Roy, 43, a Bangladeshi-born US citizen living in Atlanta, who was hacked to death in the capital Dhaka in February. Mr Roy was a prominent voice against religious intolerance, and his family and friends said he had been threatened for his writings. The software engineer espoused atheism in a January posting on Facebook, calling it "a rational concept to oppose any unscientific and irrational belief". Militant groups Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent and Ansar Bangla claimed responsibility for the attack and Islamist Farabi Shafiur Rahman has been arrested on suspicion of his murder. Mr Roy's wife Rafida Ahmed was seriously injured in the attack and has since returned to the US. A month later atheist blogger Washiqur Rahman was also hacked to death in Dhaka. Police have arrested two students said to be from a madrassa. Although Bangladesh is officially a secular country more than 90 per cent of its 160 million population identify themselves as Muslims.
68
International
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Sallu in trouble
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's five-year prison sentence for killing a homeless man with his SUV after a night out drinking 13 years ago has been suspended pending an appeal. The actor was on Wednesday 6th May found guilty at a sessions court of culpable homicide and other charges for driving his vehicle into a group of homeless men sleeping rough in suburban Mumbai in 2002. He was convicted of all charges, including driving while under the influence of alcohol and without a licence, and was sentenced to five years in prison but released on bail for two days. On Friday, lawyers for 49-year-old Khan argued at the city's High Court that their client's conviction should be overturned. Judge Abhay Thipsay ruled the sentence would be suspended until an appeal was heard, expected to be in July, and set new bail terms for the film icon. "The defence has raised pertinent points about the evidence presented by the prosecution which need consideration," the judge said. "Also, the points based on which
the culpable homicide conviction was passed needs examination," he added. "It is not a case where the applicant is likely to abscond and both parties have no objection to hearing an appeal in a fast manner so the sentence is suspended until an appeal is disposed." The judge told a packed courtroom that the multi-millionaire, who was not present at Friday's hearing, must post bail of 30,000 rupees (£303). Khan's lawyer Amit Desai said: "The prosecution has not established beyond doubt that it was my client who was driving that night." Khan's trial began in earnest last year after a series of court hearings and lengthy legal hold-ups. During the proceedings, Khan's defence team had argued the actor's driver was to blame for the September 2002 hit-and-run, which killed one man and injured several others after mounting the pavement in the suburb of Bandra West. They claimed the actor had been drinking water and had climbed out of the car through the driver's side after the
accident as the passenger side door had been damaged. But Judge D.W. Deshpande on Wednesday rejected the claim after survivors of the crash testified that Khan was driving the vehicle when it ploughed at speed into the men sleeping on the street near a bakery. One of the sleeping labourers injured in the accident said in his statement that ‘Salman was so drunk he fell’. The body-building actor is no stranger to controversy and spent more than a week behind bars for killing an endangered Indian gazelle in 1998. He has starred in more than 100 films and television shows since his first hit ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ (I Fell in Love) in the 1980s. Khan became the second big-name Bollywood actor to be sentenced to jail in the last two years. Sanjay Dutt, the star of a series of gangster movies, is behind bars over possession of weapons linked to several bombings in Mumbai in 1993. The High Court is to reconvene again on 15th June to set a date for the appeal hearing.
CELEB IN TROUBLE: A court has suspended Salman Khan’s five year prison sentence for the famous hit and run case 13 years ago
India court suspends Bollywood star Khan’s jail term
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
International
69
70
International
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
• INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS • INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Nepal disaster response
UK pledges millions to support earthquake-hit nation
As Nepal begins its long recovery from the huge earthquake which affected millions across the country, Britain continues to provide aid with more shelter kits being delivered this week. More than 65,000 people have already benefitted from the kits, with many routinely stored in the nation as part of the Department for International Development’s (DFID) disaster response plan, whilst extra supplies have also been flown into Nepal following the disaster. This meant UK aid supplies were among the first to reach communities who lost their homes following the earthquake. On top of the shelter already distributed, DFID will deliver nearly 20,000 more shelters to Nepal in the coming weeks, enough to house over 100,000 people. The Government of Nepal estimates that 500,000 homes were destroyed in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, leaving millions without shelter as the monsoon season approaches. Flights carrying 9,500 shelter kits, each with two tarpaulins, will be flown in from the UK’s warehouse in Dubai and another 10,000 kits will be delivered by truck from India. Following the Government of Nepal’s announcement that the search and rescue phase is coming to an end, the UK’s International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) team have also now begun to return home. During their deployment they played a key role in the relief effort,
carrying out search operations, providing first aid and making safe a hospital that can now treat hundreds of patients. International Development Secretary Justine Greening said she wanted to thank all the search and rescue teams who had helped to save hundreds of lives. “Our pre-positioned shelter kits meant that within 24 hours of the earthquake British aid was reaching communities who had been hit hard and providing temporary homes to thousands of people across Nepal,” she said. “Ahead of the monsoon season, we
are delivering thousands more to help the Nepalese people cope as they recover from this tragic disaster. “I would like to thank our incredible search and rescue workers and medics whose tireless efforts are saving many lives. We should feel immensely proud of these brave men and women and the role they are playing in Britain’s humanitarian response to the earthquake in Nepal.” The UK has now pledged to continue to play a leading role in responding to the earthquake in Nepal and is currently the largest donor to the relief operation with more than £23million donated.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
International
71
72
International
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Ranveer and Anushka choreograph their own moves
Entertainment
Entertainment
THE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT AND CELEBRITY NEWS FROM BOLLYWOOD & HOLLYWOOD
Fans of ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ have another reason to celebrate as Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma will be seen choreographing their own dance moves for an upcoming song in the movie. The peppy, Punjabi dance number is called ‘Pehli Baar’ and has been sung by Sukriti Kakkar and Siddharth Mahadevan. This is the third song released from the film, the first one being the title track sung by Priyanka Chopra and Farhan Akhtar and the second ‘Gallan Goodiyaan’. Within hours of its release, #PehliBaarOutNow began trending on Twitter. While Anushka. who plays a dancer in the movie, described the track as a ‘crazy fun song’, Ranveer, who plays the role of Kabir Mehra, took to the microblogging site to say: “My fav song from DilDhadakneDo releases tomorrow morning! PehliBaar ...Let's chat abt it later tomorrow after you've seen it..around 2pm.”
Continued on page 74
73
74
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Entertainment
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Akshay Kumar’s ‘Gabbar Is Back’ gets a lean box office result Superstar actor, action supremo and Bollywood’s man of the moment Akshay Kumar has once again dominated the Indian and international box office with the tremendous performance of his latest film ‘Gabbar Is Back’ taking just under Rs 40 crores in its opening weekend, making it the highest opener of 2015 so far. The fantastic performance of ‘Gabbar Is Back’ has also had industry insiders crediting Akshay’s vigilante extravaganza as having resurged Bollywood’s recent lean period, taking more at the box office in one weekend then many recent films have taken in three weeks. The movie is a mass entertainer with Akshay delivering some power-packed punches. Riding on the Aam Aadmi wave in India, the film carries a strong message against corruption with Akshay as the new vigilante in town. Gabbar is a story of a common
man, Ajay (Akshay Kumar) wronged by the establishment, who starts the Anti-Corruption Force (ACF) that aims to track down and cease the corrupt strata of society. Akshay Kumar is deemed as India’s most bankable star and according to many close to Akshay, both professionally and personally, the secret to the actor’s enduring appeal, ongoing and recent box office success and longevity is his winning formula for choosing commercially viable films and his no-nonsense, ultra-professional approach towards his work. Actor Riteish Deshmukh says of his close friend and co-star: “Akshay as a person is one of the most secure people that I have met. This also reflects in his choices. He does a solo hero, two heroes or a multistarrer film, as long as he likes the script. “He depends on his gut while choosing a script. Then it could be directed by a newcomer, an
established director or a director who might have given a failure before. None of that matters to him. He has been around for more than 25 years and yet to be relevant as an actor is an achievement in itself. There is no genre that he hasn’t done or mastered.” Girish Johar, distributor and film business analyst, adds: “Akshay Kumar is definitely one of the most versatile stars of recent times. Where stars do one or at maximum two films in fifteen months, he gives four in twelve months, which is huge! “For the trade, he is one of the most preferred stars as he regularly ensures the rotation at the box office. Even with an average of 75 crore per film, he alone gives 300 crore in a single year, which is amazing. This roughly is 30 per cent of our annual net box office. “Also overseas, with
Varun’s spooky night in Las Vegas
A major chunk of forthcoming flick ‘ABCD 2’ has been shot in the vibrant locations of USA, which meant that many locals were hired during the shoot. While shooting in Vegas, Varun was given the famous Sinatra Suite at the Mirage where the late singer used to stay whenever he performed in the city. When some dancers in the ‘ABCD 2’ crew got to know of this, they started telling Varun scary stories about the suite just for jest. They told Varun how the legendary Frank Sinatra stayed in the suite very often and thought of it as his home, so even after his death he hasn’t checked out of there. The Sinatra ghost story became a regular conversation topic between the crew-members and Varun, and it would
end with everyone laughing it off. So it was only late one night when Varun was trying to sleep that he heard some sounds in the suite that all the stories he had dismissed earlier suddenly seemed true. “The room was definitely haunted because at night I could hear someone singing and the doors would open weirdly,” said Varun. Varun and Shraddha Kapoor will be seen grooving with Prabhudheva, and the ace choreographer Remo D’Souza will be directing them in ‘ABCD 2’. The film is based on the real life struggle of a Mumbai based dance troupe who go on to win the world hip-hop dance championship.
good content films, he does well and attracts good value. He has definitely created his own path, worked on his own set rules and is hugely successful too. He is definitely a strong pillar for the Indian box office.”
Ranveer and Anushka choreograph their own moves
Continued from page 73
Even Priyanka Chopra, who co-stars as Kabir Mehra's sister Ayesha, couldn’t resist and tweeted that Anushka and Ranveer were ‘just killing it’ in the song. Dressed in casuals, Ranveer and Anushka look natural in the song and seem to be enjoying a great on-screen chemistry. Before working on their steps, the actors took a
brief from the movie’s director, Zoya Akhtar, and the famous choreographer duo Bosco-Caesar. The idea to make Anushka and Ranveer dance to their own steps was originally from Zoya, who wanted to capture the song in a fluid way where they are both seen as having fun. Both Ranveer and Anushka are considered good dancers and Zoya wanted them to
follow their own dancing instincts for the song. The team took just around an hour to decide and choreograph the steps, following which they started shooting. The song had some sequences of jiving, which Ranveer and Anushka kept improvising upon during the shoot. The final song looks natural and effortless, just like it was meant to be.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Entertainment
75
76
Entertainment
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Icons of music join forces Taz of Stereo Nation, Apache Indian and Bally Sagoo make a ‘Pretty Baby’
'TAB' is the super-group that the world has been waiting for, combining the three biggest names in the Asian music industry for the past three decades. Undoubtedly, legends in their own right, TAB brings together the powerful vocals of Taz, the man behind Stereo Nation, the reggae vibes of ‘raggamuffin king’ Apache Indian and the master-mixer Bally Sagoo. 'Pretty Baby', the first track to be released by the music icons under their new identity, is a Punjabi dancehall anthem that showcases the talents of the three musical maestros to the max. With Taz's Punjabi vibes interspersed with Apache Indian’s signature ragga-stylings and the unmistakable magic touch of producer Bally Sagoo, ‘Pretty Baby’ is guaranteed to set the charts alight. For decades the three icons of the industry have set their own musical agendas, and always been at the forefront of their respective musical genres. The combination of these three undisputed talents is sure to not only shake up the music scene, but also show that quality collaborations can be genius in their own right. Taz, Apache and Bally have between them sold millions of albums globally. Taz has been described as the Pioneer of Pop Fusion and the “Prince of Crossover”. He was also the first British Asian to break down the doors of Bollywood as a music director and has enjoyed success in the British Top 40 charts with 'Laila' and 'Don't Break My Heart'. Having had multi-platinum selling albums including ‘Hit the Deck’, ‘Spirits of Rhythm’, ‘Jambo’, ‘Slave II Fusion’, ‘Oh Laila’, ‘Tazmania’ and ‘Jawani On The Rocks’ to name but a few. His music also featured in the Hollywood movie ‘New York Minute’. Apache Indian probably best known globally for his mega hit ‘Boom Shak-A-Lak’, also has a huge amount of albums to his name including ‘No Reservations’, ‘Make Way For The Indian’, ‘Wild East’, ‘Karma’, ‘Time for Change’, ‘Sadhu – The Movement’, ‘Home Run’ and more recently ‘It Is What It Is’ amongst others. His music has featured in
countless TV commercials and films including ‘Dumb and Dumber’ (both one and two). Bally Sagoo created waves with his early albums ‘Wham Bam’ 1 and 2 as well as ‘Essential Ragga’, ‘Star Crazy’, ‘Bollywood Flashback’ 1 & 2, ‘Future Shock’ and so many others. He was instrumental in bringing the voice of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan to the ears of the British Asian masses and also provided music for a number of films including ‘Bend It Like Beckham’, ‘Mistress of Spices’ and ‘Monsoon Wedding’. Pretty Baby and TAB is truly a coming together of both talent and creativity and talking about the collaboration, Apache Indian commented: “This has been an amazing and truly exciting new path for all of us. “The three of us grew up in parallel in the industry, and amazingly never had the opportunity to work together. But the truth is the time and the mojo has to be right – and I think that this is the time for TAB – we’ve taken all of our experiences and put them into a great creative pot to create this fantastic new sound that is fresh, dynamic and well worth the wait.” Taz added: "I had thought about doing something like this some time ago but getting the three of us together in one place has been really difficult as we are always in different parts of the world. I finally managed it and we just jammed in a studio together and we knew the vibe was right and the rest is history." Bally summed it up: "The funny thing was that a lot of people thought Apache and I were enemies and that we hated each other or something. “That's so far from the truth. The reality is that we actually never even met till we got into the studio to record as TAB. So this new collaboration will come as a shock to many people.” The track is supported by a superb video, shot in their home-town of Birmingham and directed by former actor-turned-director Ameet Chana (Eastenders, Bend It Like Beckham).
“Dream Girl” Rishi Rich delivers yet another amazing song in the form of 'Dream' with a beauty behind the vocals. South Indian born Serena Kern, who despite currently having a high flying career as a lawyer in a top London firm, still finds time to do her daily voice exercises! Growing up listening to many Rishi Rich productions, she decided to get in touch with him and having heard her voice and ideas, she found herself in a studio in Atlanta with the man himself creating her new EP 'Dream'. Serena says: "I have always liked to experiment with sounds from various cultures. Rishi is a master of fusion music and this EP has a particularly strong Indian flavour and theme throughout, from instruments to other featured vocalists on the tracks.” She adds: "The title track is ‘Dream’. It's an upbeat song and a throw back to my teenage years. I think the sound we created in this track is completely new and different to anything else out there and I am particularly excited about this one". There are four songs on the EP: "Emotion filled 'Burn' is about having to let go and move on in life. 'Chase the Sun' and 'Dream' are very upbeat tracks, evoking images of youth and summer, joy, young love and striving for happiness against the odds. 'Run Away' (which features Kiran Dhanoa) is a portrayal of the struggle in a relationship for control and it is an emotion packed track.” Serena is from Tamil Nadu and is half Swiss. Consuming various genres of music, it wasn't until she got to university and began singing at open mic sessions that she discovered how in love with music she really was! Singing mainly cover versions, she quickly realised that she wasn't able to connect with the songs and decided to give songwriting a try. She explains: "In a way you are opening up very intimate aspects of your life as a songwriter. Once I started writing, I found that
it immediately had an impact on my singing as it became more believable and I was able to have an emotional impact on the audience. It was from there that my music took off. “People always ask me how I balance law and music and whether I find time for my music. “My answer is that no matter what, music is a huge part of my life. There is not a single day that goes by that I am not doing something music related, whether it be writing a new song, practicing for a gig or doing my voice exercises. “Music is an intricate part of my life, an outlet that influences and feeds off other aspects of my life. My mother is an artist and to some extent I feel I do with words what she does with her art!”
London lawyer works with Rishi Rich to deliver serene fusion music
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Entertainment
77
78
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Entertainment
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ takes social media by storm
The theatrical trailer of Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ has captured the nation’s imagination and garnered a whopping two million views in less than two days of its release. Ever since the movie trailer was launched last week, the star-studded film has been creating buzz as well as trending on all social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube & Google Trends.
FILM: N.H 10 DIRECTED BY: Navdeep Singh GENRE: Thriller STAR CAST: Anushka Sharma, Neil Bhoopalam, Darshan Kumaar
An ecstatic Ranveer Singh took to Twitter to post his excitement for reaching the magical numbers. The film is set to be released internationally on 5th June 2015 and the trailer of ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ reveals the film’s essence of being a bittersweet comedy drama with lots of memorable dialogues and ribtickling humour, which has hit a universal chord with fans the world over. The film is set on a European
cruise, which provides the perfect canvas to highlight the various aspects of the ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ family. As a part of this ensemble cast, international icon Anil Kapoor, plays brilliantly the role of the modern father. Shefali Shah, who plays the wife, makes a lasting impression in the very watchable trailer. From the trailer, the film promises some high drama on the high seas, as
RELEASE DATE: 13/3/2015
A young couple's road trip goes badly wrong after an encounter with a group of violent criminals in this gritty thriller. Meera (Anushka Sharma) and Arjun (Neil Bhoopalam) are a professional couple who enjoy a good life in their home city of Gurgaon. Everything changes when Meera is attacked by a group of unknown men after leaving a party late at night. Although she manages to escape, the experience leaves
her traumatised. Feeling guilty for not being there to protect her, Arjun tries to get their relationship back on track by organising for them to go on a luxurious holiday in the desert. Stopping at a roadside cafe on National Highway 10 en route, the couple witness a young girl being attacked by a group of men and Arjun decides to intervene, unaware that his actions will put both of their lives in mortal danger.
we see Priyanka Chopra struggling to break out of an unhappy marriage (to Rahul Bose’s character), while Farhan Akhtar looks charismatic on screen. Ranveer Singh completes the familial line-up as the son who is trying to find his calling in the world. Bringing a breath of fresh sea air to proceedings is actress Anushka Sharma, who plays an entertainer onboard. Like a ship caught in a high tide,
FILM: Dilliwaali Zalim Girlfriend DIRECTED BY: Japinder Kaur GENRE: Comedy STAR CAST: Divyendu Sharma, Jackie Shroff, Prachi Mishra, Pradhuman Singh, Ira Dubey Dilliwaali Zalim Girlfriend is the story of two innocent friends, Dhruv (Divyendu Sharma) - an aspirant IAS officer and Happy (Pradhuman Singh), who's a happy go lucky fun guy. Life becomes a depressing mess for them from the time Dhruv takes a private loan from a company where Sakshi (Prachi Mishra), the girl Dhruv loves, works. He in fact buys a car from the loan just to woo her
too. There starts their encounter right from today's super materialistic girls (where money comes above love), the finance company, the system and many more on the way, remains pretty Zaalim; leaving them to sort their problems on their own. Despite all the crooks they face, Dhruv and Happy along with another friend of theirs Nimmy (Ira Dubey), get
the audience can almost feel the tension within the Mehra family and yet look forward to being a part of their journey. Go to www.asianexpress.co.uk and join millions of fans who have seen the trailer that is breaking the internet.
RELEASE DATE: 5/6/2015
RELEASE DATE: 20/3/2015 together taking matters in their own hands and expose one of the biggest rackets underlying in Delhi. Though Dhruv buys the car to woo the girl who could never be his, in the process to get it back, he finds the right girl who was always out there next to him Nimmy. The music of the movie has been put together with Yo Yo Honey Singh, Jazzy B, Hard Kaur, Meet Bros Anjjan, Indeep Bakshi,
Dr. Zeus, Jatinder Shah, Milind Gaba, Jassi Katyal and Tiger Style while the lyrics are penned by Kumaar, Alfaaz, Bunty Bains, Zora Randhawa and Mavi Bains.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Entertainment
79
80
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Entertainment
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
SMEAPyT 2015 12A
BIG GAME
CERT
STARRING: SAMUEL L. JACKSON, ONNI TOMMILA, FELICITY HUFFMAN, VICTOR GARBER, JIM BROADBENT DIRECTOR: JALMARI HELANDER GENRE: ACTION When Air Force One is shot down by terrorists leaving the President of the United UK RELEA SE D States (Samuel L Jackson) stranded in the 0 7/05/201ATE: wilderness, there is only one person around 5 who can save him - a 13-year old boy called Oskari. In the forest on a hunting mission to prove his maturity to his kinsfolk, Oskari had been planning to track down a deer, but instead discovers the most powerful man on the planet in an escape pod. With the terrorists closing in to capture their own ‘Big Game’ prize, the unlikely duo must team up to escape their hunters.
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD
TBC
STARRING: TOM HARDY, CHARLIZE THERON, NICHOLAS HOULT, ZOE KRAVITZ, RILEY KEOUGH DIRECTOR: GEORGE MILLER GENRE: ACTION, THRILLER U
CERT
K RELEAS E
Action man Tom Hardy plays the iconic 14/05/20DATE: 15 Road Warrior in the fourth adrenalinedriven Mad Max thriller. In a stark and parched post-apocalyptic landscape, taciturn anti-hero Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy) meets his shaven-headed female counterpart Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) who needs to cross the desert to get home. Writer/director George Miller revives the Mad Max series after 30 years with this hyper-kinetic chase movie. Boasting amazing visuals and an intense performance from Tom Hardy, Mad Max: Fury Road promises to be a worthy sequel to one of the all-time great action franchises.
UK RELEA SE
15/05/20DATE: 15
PITCH PERFECT 2 STARRING: ELIZABETH BANKS, ANNA KENDRICK, REBEL WILSON, BRITTANY SNOW, ALEXIS KNAPP DIRECTOR: ELIZABETH BANKS GENRE: COMEDY
12A
Now in their senior year, the CERT Barden Bellas are back to compete in an international a cappella competition that no American group has ever won before. Following an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction that sees Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) expose herself at an event to celebrate the US President's birthday, the Barden Bellas attempt to restore their tarnished reputation by entering the World Championships, which sees them competing against European champions Das Sound Machine from Germany.
POLTERGEIST STARRING: SAM ROCKWELL, JARED HARRIS, ROSEMARIE DEWITT, SAXON SHARBINO, KYLE CATLETT DIRECTOR: GIL KENAN UK RELEA SE DATE: GENRE: HORROR 2
2/05/2
015 A suburban home is invaded by spirits CERT in this remake of the 1980s horror classic. When the Bowen family move into their new home, everything seems perfect. That is, until strange things start happening. Soon they come to realise that their new house is home to a collection of poltergeists, angry souls from the beyond the grave. When their youngest daughter is suddenly taken by the spirits, the Bowens realise they must do everything in their power to get her back. TBC
TOMORROWLAND: A WORLD BEYOND STARRING: BRITT ROBERTSON, GEORGE CLOONEY, HUGH LAURIE, KATHRYN HAHN, JUDY GREER DIRECTOR: BRAD BIRD UK RELEA GENRE: ACTION, ADVENTURE SE DATE:
22/05/2
015 Bound by a shared TBC destiny, a bright, CERT optimistic teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boygenius inventor jaded by disillusionment, embark on a danger-filled mission to unearth the secrets of an enigmatic place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory as ‘Tomorrowland’.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Entertainment
81
82
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Entertainment
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Al-Murad - Decorating Bradford for over 25 Years Unit 2 Bradbeck Road off Cemetery Road (Next to Asda) Bradford BD7 2NX 01274 499427
Victoria Works Bradford Lane off Leeds Road (behind Akbars Restaurant) Bradford BD3 8LU 01274 656333
Whilst Stocks last on all offers 44 A Hopwood Lane Halifax HX1 5ER 01422 368074
Goulbourne Street Keighley BD21 1PJ 01535 662366
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Future of turbo power
The atmosphere will be especially highly charged at this year’s Wörthersee Tour festival because it will play host to an Audi TT clubsport turbo concept delivering a colossal 600PS and 650Nm with the help of an innovative electrically driven biturbo compressor that is close to being production ready. With its stripped-out interior, wider stance and distinctive rear wing the most extreme TT to date is intentionally reminiscent of the thoroughbred Audi 90 IMSA GTO race car of the late 1980s, so it is guaranteed to make an impact at Austria’s annual meeting for Volkswagen Group enthusiasts. “The electric biturbo signifies a new dimension in driving enjoyment; it boosts sprinting ability and torque and enables high peak power,” explains Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi Board Member for Technical Development. “In our TDI engines, we are close to production readiness with this technology. We are now presenting it in a TFSI – here too, we are the first automaker in the world to do this. For our fans at Wörthersee, we have packaged the electric biturbo in a very sporty show car.”
600PS Audi TT concept can propel from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds!
By Steve Maybury info@asianexpress.co.uk
The Audi TT clubsport turbo has a power-boosted 2.5 TFSI engine with very impressive performance data. From 2,480 cc of displacement, the five-cylinder engine produces 600PS of power and 650Nm (479.4 lb-ft) of torque, the latter from 3,000 to 7,000 rpm. This means that it produces 240PS and 260Nm (191.8 lb-ft) per litre of displacement. Power is transferred via a manual six-speed transmission. Thanks to systematic lightweight design, the TT clubsport turbo show car has an unladen weight of just 1,396 kg. The car completes the standard sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 192 mph. The TT clubsport turbo plays out its big advantage over the first few metres of a sprint. Its electrically driven compressor lets it cover up to 16 metres within the first 2.5 seconds – which is six metres further than a comparable car without this innovation. That is a difference of around one and one-half car lengths. An electrically powered compressor offers significant advantages: It revs up to maximum rpm rapidly and without any perceptible delay, and it continues to boost charge pressure when too little drive energy is left in the exhaust gas for the conventional turbocharger. This operating principle makes it
Motors
83
possible to design the conventional turbocharger more specifically for high charge pressures and consequently for high engine power – the e-turbo assures spontaneous response and powerful sprints from low engine speeds at all times. The effect is impressive. The 2.5 TFSI engine builds up its tremendous power without any perceptible delay. This power is available in any situation – whenever the accelerator pedal is pressed. In an acceleration duel, the TT clubsport turbo effortlessly pulls away from a counterpart with an identically powered engine but no electric biturbo. However, it is not just the power of the five-cylinder engine that is fascinating – so is its unmistakable throaty sound. The exhaust system is designed for minimal back-pressure; a side pipe to the ambient air is located immediately after the racing-type muffler. The 2.5 TFSI engine is cooled by a racing-type radiator. In the lower engine speed range, the electrically driven compressor boosts torque by up to 200Nm (147.5 lb-ft). A dedicated 48-volt electrical subsystem – another key future technology from Audi – supplies electrical energy to the turbocharger. A compact lithium-ion battery in the luggage compartment stores the energy that is generated by
Continued on page 84
84
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Motors
Continued from page 83 recuperation when coasting. A DC/DC converter provides the connection to the 12-volt electrical system. The power of the Audi TT clubsport turbo reaches the road impressively via a quattro permanent all-wheel drive system whose multi-plate clutch is mounted on the rear axle for better weight distribution. A coilover suspension system enables highly precise adjustment of the body’s ride height and the compression and rebound of the shock absorbers. An electric lifting function protects the equipment from damage by street kerbs. Electronic stabilisation control (ESC) and torque vectoring round out the dynamic qualities of the suspension ideally. The show car’s wheels are size 9.5 J x 20. Their six twinspoke design is finished in a bicolour look – both gloss turn finished and matt black – and the tyres are size 275/30. Carbon-fibre ceramic brake discs are mounted behind all four wheels; they are very lightweight and wear-resistant. The front brake discs measure 370 mm in diameter. Widened by 14 cm: spectacular add-on parts The compact sports car takes a full stance on the road with track widths of 1,736 mm in front and 1,729 mm at the rear. The car is 4.33 metres long and 1.97 metres wide, including the side mirrors – 14 cm wider than the technical platform upon which it was based. Its angular wings contribute a separate additive shape to the car body. They take the characteristic design motif of the Audi TT to an extreme and emphasise the quattro drive. The wings of the show car – painted in the exterior colour Ferro Titanium – are open at
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Future of turbo power 600PS Audi TT concept can propel from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds!
the front and rear. Air from the car’s slipstream flows through them to cool the brakes. The Singleframe grille and large air inlets – whose vertical fins form a continuation to the light signature of the Matrix LED headlights – are also optimised for maximum air throughput. The manually adjustable rear wing is an advanced development of the Audi Sport TT Cup with which the brand very recently launched a dedicated race series. It is now 20 cm wider, and the side flaps, which feature the four rings, were given a new geometry. The wing consists of carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) as do all other add-on parts: the air inlets and the large splitter at the front, the side panels and side sill trims as well as the voluminous diffuser at the rear whose lateral segments reference the motif of the air inlets. A protective “cage” of ultrahigh-strength titanium tubes makes the rear zone of the interior even more rigid and safe. In front, there are lightweight race car bucket seats with four-point harnesses. The display and operating concept with the digital Audi virtual cockpit focuses on the driver, who can control all key driving parameters via four satellite buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.
CFRP and black Alcantara define the interior of the Audi TT clubsport turbo. The race seats are upholstered in coral orange Alcantara and feature contrasting stitching and piping. In the doors and on the centre console, CFRP parts with their large surfaces create sporty accents, and the doors are closed by pulling on a tubeshaped grip with an Alcantara inlay. The air vents and gear shifter also have coral orange accents – the aluminium gear shift lever travels in an open shift gate.
Happy new gear The Toyota GT86 isn’t a car for standing still, so it’s no surprise that it’s raced ahead with a refreshed line-up and style detail changes. At heart it remains every inch the best driver’s car to be had for the money – and now for even less cash, thanks to a price reduction. New wheels and new colours lead the features list, with the range-topping Aero model running on gloss black 18-inch rims and available with a hot GT86 Orange paint finish. In line with customer preference, Aero is now exclusively available with six-speed manual transmission. The larger alloys are also newly available as an option on the core GT86 model. The Primo model, entry point to the range, moves
on to 16-inch alloys and comes with a £300 lower price tag. An on-going customer offer is available, adding a further £505 saving to deliver an on-the-road price of £22,195. Pricing for other models in the range is unchanged. What has not changed is the fundamentally brilliant GT86 dynamic package: its proven combination of a normally aspirated 2.0-litre boxer engine, low centre of gravity, rearwheel drive and a beautifully balanced chassis continues to deliver the exhilarating and rewarding driving experience that earned it Top Gearmagazine’s Car of the Year title. The engine now complies with Euro 6 emissions standards, with no change to its fuel economy and CO2 performance. This is not the end of the GT86 story for 2015: a new special edition model will be joining the range this summer, details to be announced soon. The 2016 GT86 is available to order now with first deliveries to customers in midJuly.
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Motors
85
86
Motors
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Best Executive Car
The S-Class remains the number one luxury car in the UK
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
The Award was judged by a panel of well-respected writers who tested more than 200 new vehicles over the past 12 months – voting on each one across ten different categories. In announcing the Award, Ian Robertson, Editor and Publisher of Diesel Car Magazine, commented: “In this class of car, its attributes are often judged from the back seat, but in doing so, you’ll be missing out enormously, as it’s a fine car to pilot yourself, as well as being chauffeured around in. “You’ll not find a more luxurious cabin, with exemplary attention to detail, beautiful design and a superb choice of the finest quality materials. If you’re the kind of person that has to have everything, look no further – luxurious saloons really don’t get any better than this.” Four-, six-, eight- and 12-cylinder engines complete the line-up, three of which are Hybrids – available in two trim choices (SE Line
and AMG Line) – as well as two mighty AMG models that combine comfort with immense performance. The range has also recently expanded to include the new Mercedes-Maybach and Mercedes-Maybach Pullman – bringing new levels of driver and passenger comfort to the market. The car can be personalised through 13 different paint options and seven different trim options. A host of interior options are also available – including the Rear Seat Reclining package Package (£1,500) enabling the rear seat to recline up to 43.5 degrees, and the Rear Seat Comfort package (£3,500) which adds rear active multi-contour seats with massage function, a Burmester surround sound system and a rear seat entertainment system. The S-Class – priced from £66,910 OTR – returns up to 100.9 mpg with CO2 emissions from 65 g/km. In the UK, the S-Class remains the number one luxury car in its market segment with over 2,700 vehicles registered in 2014 and over 1,050 vehicles registered so far this year.
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
AUTO SPECIALISTS
Classifieds
BUILDERS
TRADING NAME OF RC LTD
WWW.ONTIME-LEEDS.COM
T: 07764 553 553 E: info@ontime-leeds.com • Commercial Developments • New Builds • New Build Mosques • Extensions AFFILIATED WITH:
HEALTH & BEAUTY
HAMPERS
HOMEWARE
Lord of the Linens The little shop with the big bargains!! The best selection of towels, bedding, curtains, nets, voiles & much, much more.
✔ Best Prices ✔ Great Service ✔ Friendly Staff Established for over 35 years
Open 9:30am - 5:00pm Mon - Sat
☎
0113 2490 517
277 Harehills Lane, Leeds LS8 3RG
JOB OPPORTUNITY
PERFUMERY
MAKE MONEY! Easier than you think. Secure & Stable. Unbelievable Opportunity. If you have a computer & WIFI then enter the money zone. Get paid daily via PayPal or your Bank. Free Membership, No Subscriptions. We have members from 177 countries. We provide FREE training. Workshops running around the UK everyday. Contact: Inam Email: inamul.tm7@gmail.com Tel: 07521 397 349 Skype: inamul.hassan07 Inamul.com
Yorkshire’s First Arabian Oud Perfumery OUD BY SCENT SALIM We now welcome you to our retail store in Leeds, with over 500 different attars/scents including top brands such as Arabian Oud and ASQ. Only shop in the UK with over 75 Oud products. Also many alternatives to Creed, Tom Ford and Gucci. Also selling fresh Ajwa dates and Sidr honey.
Shop Timings: Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat 10-4pm Sunday 10-1pm (after 4pm appointment only) Also visit www.scentsalim.co.uk Find us on Facebook for many offers 107 Harehills Lane, Leeds LS8 4DN
Tel: 07722 000 822 JOB VACANCIES AVAILABLE, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH
87
88
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Classifieds
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
SHOP FRONT DESIGN AND INSTALLATION
SPIRITUAL HEALER
SPIRITUAL HEALER
VEHICLE TYRES
There are no problems without solutions
SHEIKH ABDUL AZIZ
Unit B, Holbeck New Mills, Braithwaite Street (off Holbeck Lane), Leeds LS11 9XE
Spiritual Healer of International Fame
Pure and powerful clairvoyance with supernatural gift from God. Surprising results and deeply effective success and a worldwide reputation. He can help you to solve your problems, bringing love back in your life for the better, to stop unwanted union, love, marriage, health care, successful in a job and business exam, court cases, work, cure impotence, become joyful. Remove black magic, voodoo and nightmares. Misfortune and family problems. Let me destroy your problems before it destroys you!!!!! SUCCESS IN JUST A FEW DAYS
Put an end to all your worries by phoning Sheikh Aziz
Mob: 07946 096 644 • Tel: 01274 710504 Speaks English & French
Nari Ekta ENROLMENT IN PROCESS WOMENS TRAINING
WOMEN ONLY Free Courses (subject to individual status) • Getting bored at home • Gain confidence • Want to meet other people • Learn how to shop online • Create an email • Study Maths, English and Computing • Introduction to Teaching • Preparing for Citizenship (Speaking & Listening Entry 3/B1) Contact Details: Fairfax House, Merrion Street, Leeds LS2 8JU Tel (0113) 3452990 / 2434023 Email: info@nariekta.org.uk Web: www.nariekta.org.uk
If you are ready and worried about submitting your application to the Home Office for ILR or British Passport, then come and join our intensive/fast track programme. • Learn in 1 week • Take exams • Gain a certificate • Advice to fill in application form
QUALITY BRANDS AT LOWEST PRICES SPECIALISTS IN NEW & PART WORN TYRES FOR CARS, LIGHT COMMERCIALS AND 4X4’S • PART WORN TYRES FROM £10 • FREE 4-WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK • PUNCTURE REPAIR • WHEEL BALANCING
0113 242 6070 OPEN 7 DAYS: MON-FRI: 9am TILL 6pm | SAT: 10am TILL 6pm | SUN: 10am TILL 4pm
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Sport
Quaid-e-Azam Sunday cricket League The Quaid-e-Azam Sunday Cricket League is the oldest and largest all Asian league in the country, boasting 30 teams across three leagues. Set up in 1985, the setup is currently celebrating its 30th year anniversary and continues to draw in
talent from across Bradford, Leeds, Kirklees, Calderdale and even Sheffield. Keighley RZM are the current Premier Division champions and have retained the trophy for the past three years whilst upcoming talents
... rest of the action
continue to arise every season. Keep up to date with all the latest match reports and league tables with the Asian Express Newspaper who will be reviewing the best of the week’s action every issue.
Premier Section
White Rose 99 all out v Darulshafa 105-8 (A Akram 53)
OnQ 178-8 (F Hussain 40) v Shimla’s 176 all out
Kashmir Dews 85 all out (Yasir Ali 4-16) v Flix 89-2 (Basit Khan 45*)
Heaton Park 73 all out (Z Qasim 4-16) v Keighley RZM 74-1
Bhalot 69 all out (H Randawa 4-4) v Raja 70-7
Section A Group 1
Bradford Moor 205-6 (Z Mahmood 59) v Shaheen 113-6
Karmand 212-9 (A Tariq 52, I Iqbal 40) v Friends 70 all out (A Islam 4-23)
Chach 106 all out (Y Shezad 40, T Bashir 6-28) v Bradford Royals 107-5 (A Bala 57*)
Eastern Friends 150 all out (G Hanif 76, T Hussain 4-27) v Zulfi 152-5 (K Maroof 65*)
Rising Stars 164 all out (P Khan 70) v Central Leeds 99 all out
Section A Group 2
Azad 161 all out (K Mehmood 5-28) v Mylahore 162-4 (S Bashir 50*, S Parwaz 50)
Kashmir Bradford 176-8 (M Ishtiaq 46) v Al-Minarah 124 all out
CHAMPIONS: Keighley RZM are hoping to make it four Championship titles in a row and sit top of the table
Patriots 141 all out (A Sadiq 4-30) v Kings XI 142-2 (M Saghir 67*)
Keighley keep up conquering record An action-packed day of cricket in the Quaid-e-Azam Sunday leagues saw all 15 games get the go ahead with Premier Division champion’s Keighley RZM maintaining their 100 per cent record this term. The pre-season favourites are looking to secure their fourth title in a row and made little work of Heaton Park last weekend with a comprehensive nine wicket victory. Bowling out their opponents for just 73, with Z Qasim taking figures of 4-16, Keighley quickly reached their target of 74, losing just one wicket on the day. Second placed Darulshafa (105-8) maintained some pressure on the runaway leaders, eventually crossing over the line in a close contest against White Rose (99 all out). At the other end of the table, Kashmir Dewsbury (85 all out) slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat at the hands of Flix (89-2), whilst Shimlas (176 all out) were unlucky not to end their search for a win, going down at OnQ (178-8). The final game of the day in the Premier Division came at Bhalot (69 all out) who lacked with the bat on the day to succumb to defeat at the hands of Raja (70-7). Elsewhere in the Section A Group
Bradford Phoenix 160-5 v Tabs 162-8
Indus Ghari 195 all out (Miraj Khan 54) v Earlmarshall 196-8 (A Hayat 62, M Nazim 60)
Big hitting Karmand reach 212 as team’s eye play-off spots 1 table, Karmand (212-9) are up to third as they registered the most runs of the weekend, thumping Friends (70 all out) in their first defeat of the season. There were also wins for Bradford Moor, Zulfi, Bradford Royals and
Rising Stars. In Section A Group 2, Kashmir Bradford (176-8) beat Al-Minarah (124 all out) to maintain their unbeaten record and lead at the top of the table whilst Tabs, Azad and Kings XI remain six points adrift.
League Tables 2015 Premier Section 2015 Club
Played
Win
Lost
5
3
2
1
NR*
Total
Keighle y RZM
4
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
24
Darulshafa
4
2
0
1
0
1
0
0
19
Bhalot
4
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
14
OnQ
4
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
14
Raja
4
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
14
Heaton Park
4
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
12
Flix
4
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
8
White Rose
4
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
8
Shimla's
4
0
3
0
0
0
1
0
3
KashmirDews
4
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
Section A Group 1 Club
Played
Win
Lost
5
3
2
1
NR*
Total
Bfd Roy als
4
3
0
0
0
1
0
0
20
Rising Stars
4
3
0
0
0
1
0
0
20
Karmand
4
3
1
1
0
0
0
0
17
Friends
4
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
14
Chach
4
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
9
Eastern Friends
4
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
8
Zulfi AK
4
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
8
Bfd Moor
4
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
7
Central Leeds
4
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
6
Shaheen
4
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
1
Section A Group 2
CHASING: Darulshafa’s narrow two wicket victory over White Rose lifted them to second spot
89
90
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Sport
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
Soccer League UK - Leeds Soccer League UK Leeds was officially launched in August 2014 with the ambition of bringing together West Yorkshire’s leading sixa-side teams to crown an overall champion. With representatives travelling from across Leeds and Bradford to
THE RED HAIRED MEXICAN – CANELO ALVAREZ By Khalil Alam info@asianexpress.co.uk
Mexican fighters are known in the boxing world for their immense fighting courage. One of the best Mexican fighters in the history of the sport Marco Antonio Barrera (67-7-0 44KO) best described the characteristic of a Mexican fighter when he said “to be a Mexican fighter you first have to be a warrior, throw punches from the first bell to the last. It doesn't matter that you get hit as long as you land. He will always come forward looking for knockouts”. This past weekend the boxing world witnessed another great young Mexican fighter called Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1 32KO) take on James Kirkland (32-2). Alvarez has that great come forward fighting style that always pleases the crowd and is completely a different type of animal in the boxing ring. Alvarez is a throwback to the great days of boxing when legendary fighters like jack Dempsey and Rocky Marciano were willing to step in the ring and risk it all. Alvarez displayed sheer brute strength of a brawler than supreme skill and defence tactics of a modern day boxer. The Mexican Alvarez does not look like a typical Mexican fighter with his red hair and pale complexion but when the bell rings and the referee tells him to start boxing, you then see the Mexican in him as he
Khalil Alam
willing to risk great harm to himself mentally and physically as he imposes his sheer will to win the fight. Alvarez in the fight with Kirkland managed to land with 58 per cent of his punches compared to his opponent’s 21 per cent and this was certainly a fight from the opening bell. Alvarez and Kirkland met in the middle of the ring and then the punches started flying with aggression and power with both fighters looking for a knockout victory. However it was Alvarez who managed to topple his opponent with an overhand right that managed to knockout Kirkland and give Alvarez another impressive win. Alvarez after the knockout win said “I am happy with the win; the result was what I expected. I knew he was going to come on strong and be aggressive...But once I dropped him the first time, I knew I had him." For Alvarez this fight has proved that he is one of boxing’s biggest stars and is on the path to become the next super star of boxing. Alvarez’s next challenge could be a MexicanPuerto Rican rivalry with Miguel Cotto or even a more risky fight against the king of knockouts middleweight champion Gennedy Golovkin and Alvarez has no hesitation in facing either opponent. However in my opinion Cotto and certainly Golovkin are no Kirkland and the 24 year old Mexican Alvarez will certainly not have his own way in a fight with either of them, even though a win against either fighter is a real possibility. Alvarez has all of Mexico looking at him to make up for the void left by the previous Mexican fighting legends and I certainly think he will deliver. He may never be the Floyd Mayweather defensive genius but he is the old fashioned entertaining fighter that boxing desperately needs right now.
take part in the weekly competition, the matches are held at Thomas Danby College every Monday and Thursday evening. The brainchild of Mushad Ahmed, Soccer League UK Leeds is the first of many franchise opportunities which will hopefully set up across the
Tight at the Top Jubodhol finally lose as Izzy strikes again Al-Aqsa 1-0 Jubodhol It has taken 12 games of the SLUK Division One campaign yet the final unbeaten record finally went last
week as Jubodhol went down 1-0 at the hands of Al-Aqsa. A solitary strike from ‘Izzy’ was enough to seal all three points
A6 Milan
PLAYER OF THE WEEK PLAYER OF
THE WEEK Hyde Park’s Tyler Bussue continued his fine goal scoring form as he netted in his side’s 2-0 victory over Old Bacca Boys. Victory moves his side to within three points of the leaders as last season’s champions aim to retain their crown.
country, offering teams the chance to play against their region’s top sides, at the lowest prices around. Keep up to date with all the latest match reports and league tables with the Asian Express newspaper who will be reviewing the best of the week’s actions every issue. against the table toppers and lift his side to within two points of the summit. Going into the game boasting the joint best defensive record in the league, it was always going to be a tough task for the eventual victors to claim all three points yet they were able to do so thanks to a moment of brilliance. Foundations have been built from the back this term for Jubodhol and despite early chances for Izzy, the team stood strong to keep the game goalless. At the other end, the high flyers were struggling to produce anything like their usual attacking prowess, limited to shots from range by an organised opposition. The deadlock was finally broken when Izzy once again picked up the ball and after shifting it onto his favoured foot, struck the all important goal with a well taken finish. Late pressure from the pre-match favourites failed to produce any clear cut opportunities and the underdogs picked up a well deserved three points. Results elsewhere, which saw Jackhammer move level at the top and Hyde Park move to within three points, have tightened up the league and with six games to go this season the championship remains wide open. Man of the Match - Izzy (Al-Aqsa)
... rest of the action
JHFC 1-0 Borussia Teeth Goalscorers: Adnan Arfan MOTM: Abdur Razzaq (Borussia Teeth)
Tetleys Tino 1-1 Super Six Goalscorers: Bash Libayno (Super6), Ajmal Abrar (TT) MOTM: Wasim Rashid (Super6)
Old Bacca Boys 0-2 Hyde Park Goalscorers: Kadeem Mcfarlane, Tyler Bussue MOTM: Jamil Walker (Hyde Park)
NFA 0-1 NewBees Goalscorers: Shipon Miah MOTM: Shipon Miah (Newbees)
Monday’s Results A6 Milan 1-2 FC Eldorado Team Titans 0-2 Furious 6 Warriors 3-0 Mourinho's Men Bankside 3-0 Odd One Out
www.asianexpress.co.uk
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
SPONSOR: Shazad Dad, of S H Dad Solicitors, is one of the main supporters of Ghaz’s rising career
Sport
Ghaz going great
Exciting boxer signs with solicitors as ‘rise to the top’ begins
Back page story continued It has always been his ambition to break into the professional ranks and after a convincing start to his career, following on from a highly impressive amateur background, Ghaz says now is the time for the hard work to begin. “As soon as I turned 18, I turned professional because I have always been told that my style is one which is best suited to the professional sport,” he said. “I had 34 amateur fights and was Yorkshire champion three times but I knew I had to make the step up as soon as possible to help me progress. “I look up to Robert Duran as an idol. I watch videos of his fights all the time and I have a similar style to him so he is my idol in the sport.” In Ghaz’s debut against Jason Nesbitt in November
2014, the young fighter got his first taste of the professional leagues, eventually winning on points at Leeds’ Elland Road Banqueting Suite. Four months later and he was back in action at the same venue, this time knocking out his opponent in just over two and a half minutes, showing the other side of his hard hitting repertoire. “The fights so far have been really good experience,” he added. “My aim is to one day be world champion but at the moment I just want to get some wins under my belt and climb the ladder.” Bradford-based S H Dad Solicitors are one of the rising star’s sponsors and Ghaz says he is thankful for all the support he has received. “They have been great with me since day one and I wouldn’t have been able to get to some of the places I
have without their support. “By providing me with sponsorship it has allowed me to progress onto televised shows and show my talents to a wider audience.” Shazad Dad, owner of the solicitors, said it was a corporate responsibility to support local talent to ensure they can achieve what they are capable of, adding Shazad was a great example of ‘exciting potential’. “I am a big boxing fan myself and I think it is very important that we support our local talent,” he said. “Growing up it is a great way of keeping out of trouble and the sport can really encourage kids to push themselves that little bit harder. “We want to encourage boxers, such as Hamed, to keep pursuing success in the sport. I’ve seen him fight and he has real exciting potential and I’m confident he has a bright future ahead of him.”
Much more to come WALK & TALK
It may have been another week where Force India left empty handed from their latest grand prix yet the team remain confident an ‘upgrade package’ could soon turn those fortunes around. A testing race as ever in Barcelona resulted in little room for manoeuvre for most drivers, resulting in few incidents on the track and a classic RosbergHamilton one-two finish at the front. Further down the track and Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez found themselves having to settle for finishing spots outside the points following on from the four they picked up in Bahrain last month. Last year the team enjoyed their best campaign in their history, with Hulkenberg leading the way securing top-ten finishes at 15 of 19 rounds and ending the season ninth overall with 96 points, 37 clear of team mate Sergio Perez. This year the course has been less straightforward as the Brazilian remains on just five points from five races – the same as his teammate. Robert Fernley, Deputy Team
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 2013/14 AWARDS
CARD PAYMENTS ACCEPTED • Est 1995 I-Phone Screen Fitted Principal, accepted points were going to be hard to come by in Spain yet insists there is still plenty more to come from his side. “I think we can be content with today's race despite finishing outside the points,” he said. “Our pace was more convincing than our qualifying performance, which allowed us to battle against the Saubers and McLarens, but anything more was just outside our reach. “We chose early on to split the strategies so that we had the opportunity to make the most of any unexpected developments, but as the race was fairly uneventful, both drivers ended up pretty much in the
WANTED
VAN OWNERS/DRIVERS
***
same place. “The main regret is the amount of time Nico lost behind Maldonado in the middle of the race, which again proved how difficult it is to overtake here – even with a tyre advantage and DRS. “Looking at the championship table, we are only eight points adrift of fifth place, and we are now one step closer to our big upgrade package, which is encouraging for everyone in the team.” Next up for the drivers is a trip to the iconic Monaco Grand Prix where Hulkenberg last year finished up in fifth spot in one of the highlights of the season.
Must have a full UK drivers licence and be able to work flexible hours.
PART TIME AND FULL TIME (Rate of pay to be negotiated)
T: 08703 608 606
I-Phone 4 / 4S I-Phone 5 I-Phone 5C I-Phone 5S
£15 £25 £30 £30
Samsung Glass Fitted S3 Mini - Glass S3 - Glass S4 Mini - Glass S4 - Glass S5 - Glass
£20 £25 £20 £25 £35
LARGE VARIETY OF ACCESSORIES IN STOCK ON SPOT REPAIRS IN MINUTES
01274 669051 800 Leeds Road, Bradford BD3 9TY
10AM - 10PM MON - FRI 11AM - 9PM SAT & SUN
01274 492929 74 Lilycroft Road, Bradford BD9 5AB
10AM - 9PM MON - SAT 12AM - 8PM SUNDAY
91
92
www.asianexpress.co.uk
Sport
SPORT Ghaz going great
May 2015 - 2nd Edition
GOT A SPORTS STORY? NO MATTER PROFESSIONAL OR AMATEUR GET IN TOUCH AT
sport@asianexpress.co.uk
WE NEED YOU!
Exciting boxer signs with solicitors as ‘rise to the top’ begins By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
One of Bradford’s top boxing prospects says he ‘will’ be world champion one day and at just 18-years-old, it seems the world is at his feet. Hamed Ghaz, from Undercliffe, has had two pro fights since turning professional last year, picking
up two victories as he makes his first impression on the senior light welterweight stage. Compared to a young Robert Duran, the teenage ace trains out of Burmantofts Amateur Boxing Club and has recently completed warm weather training in Marbella alongside the likes of Adil Anwar.
POTENTIAL: Hamed Ghaz is one of Bradford’s top boxing prospects and hopes to one day have a world title around his waist (image courtesy of SJ Young Photography)
Continued on page 91
Published by Media Buzz Ltd. 4 Armley Court, Armley Road, Leeds LS12 2LB. Company Registration No. 8863227