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AUGUST 1ST EDITION 2020 MIDLANDS

SHOCKING:Footage of father beingdragged away from dying daughter’s bedside by police

Shocking footage hasemerged of the moment afather was dragged away fromhis dying six-year-old andarrested after being told shewould be taken off life supportin a north England hospital.Zainab, who suffered from

the rare genetic illnessNiemann-Pick disease, wascritically ill at the time.The hospital had just

informed Dr Rashid Abbasi – arespiratory expert who hasworked for the NHS for morethan 30 years and his wife Aliya– a former doctor, that adecision had been made toremove life-support from theirdaughter Zainab, and allow herto die.The video, obtained from a

police bodycam, shows fourofficers approach the couple asthey sit holding Zainab’s handon the intensive care unit at thehospital in the north ofEngland.Mrs Abbasi attempts to

explain to the officers they hadbeen told of the hospital’sdecision to withdraw lifesupport just 30 minutes earlierand begs them to allow herhusband to stay at Zainab’sbedside.They repeatedly ask Dr

Abbasi, 59, to leave the wardwith them, and he declines toleave his daughter’s side.Police officers can be seen

first pulling away his wife fromthe bedside by her wristsbringing her to the floor.Dr Abbasi is then forcibly

removed from Zainab’sbedside during a violent scuffle.During the prolonged ruckus,

several of the officers accusethe 58-year-old of biting them.One of the female officers inreturn accuses Dr Abbasi ofacting “like an animal” and “tobehave” as he repeatedly tellsthem he’s having a heartattack.

Continued on page 6

www.asianexpress.co.uk2 Local August 2020 - 1st Edition

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In the wake of the massiveexplosion in Beirut that killed atleast 135 and injured around5,000, officials in the country havebeen calling for help from theinternational community torecover from the tragedy, which isestimated to leave some 300,000people homeless.Beirut Governor Marwan

Abboud called the 4th of Augustexplosion "a nationalcatastrophe" in a tearful interview.He said the country will need torely heavily on donations andforeign aid to rebuild. The explosion levelled homes

and buildings, and was capturedon gut-wrenching video. Humanitarian officials said the

incident could have a cripplingeffect on the city's alreadystruggling economy, citing theongoing financial crisis, politicaltensions and the COVID-19pandemic there.The exact cause of the blast

remains unknown, althoughauthorities said that more than2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate,

an industrial compound, was beingstored in the warehouse that wasthe scene of the blast. Footagefrom the scene appears to show acloud of smoke forming before theblast, then a fire, before themassive explosion that carried amushroom cloud well over thecity.More than a dozen Lebanese

charities have begun receivingdonations to help with disasterrelief as well. "I have never seen this amount

of destruction on this scale. This isa national catastrophe. This is adisaster for Lebanon. We don'tknow how we will recover. Wedon't know," Abboud said to newsagencies. "We could barely survivebefore and now we have this. Wehave to be strong."He urged residents to hold

themselves together and "bebrave" as crowds took to thestreets with brooms, garbage binsand other tools to help rid the cityof the tons of glass, shrapnel anddebris left behind by the blast.Hospitals were already

struggling to keep with demanddue to the virus, but now they'rebattling with a sudden influx ofpatients from the blast on top ofthat, humanitarian officials said.Lebanon is also home to the

largest number of Syrian refugeesper capita in the world withrefugees now accounting for about30% of the country's population.The potential humanitarian

implications of the explosion arestill unclear, but Beriut's governor,Abboud, said that as many as300,000 people could be left“without homes,” according tolocal media reports. He estimatedthat it could cost the countrybetween $3 billion and $5 billion,noting that engineers had yet toconduct an official assessment.Countries around the world

have also pledged support, withUnited Kingdom, France,Germany, Canada, Bangladesh,Israel, Russia, Jordan, Qatar,Kuwait and Iran offeringhumanitarian aid, rescue teams,supplies and other resources.

Over 300,000 displaced by the deadly explosion

Beirutin crisis

www.asianexpress.co.uk Local 3August 2020 - 1st Edition

Following a successful pilot,McDonald’s has reopened dine-in areas in the Rooley andIngelby Road restaurants,which are owned and operatedby local franchisee Saj Shah.Social distancing measures

are in place and the restaurantis carefully managing thenumber of customers inside toprevent congestion. On arrival, customers are asked to

use the hand sanitiser provided andfollow the safety measures laid out inrestaurants to help keep them, othercustomers, and restaurant teams safe. Food will be served by table-service

only with customers able to orderdirectly to their table via the MyMcDonald’s App, at the till or kiosk.Saj commented: “I’m thrilled to be

able to welcome back customers todine-in at the Rooley and IngelbyRoad restaurants. “Local customers are at the heart of

my business and I’m proud to bereopening our doors to thecommunity. I’d like to thank all mycrew members who are workingtirelessly to help keep our customerssafe and comfortable in line with thelatest government guidance.”McDonald’s will be asking

customers that choose to eat-in toleave their contact details by usingtheir smart phone to either scan a QRcode taking them to a dedicated

webpage or visiting that webpagedirectly with the URL detailsprovided on each table. Customers will be asked to leave

the name of the lead member and thenumber of people within their group,a phone number, the date and time ofvisit and the restaurant number(identified on each table sticker). Reopening the dine-in area will

enable the Rooley and Ingelby Roadrestaurants to take part in theChancellor’s Eat Out toHelp Out scheme,offering 50% offdine-in bills, up to£10 on Mondays,Tuesdays andWednesdays inAugust.

Saj Shah

Bradford McDonald’sopen for dine-in


Tens of thousands of new homesand other vital infrastructure projectswere given the green light with nearly£1.3 billion of investment confirmedby Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick.The move is part of the

Government’s comprehensive plan todeliver upgrades to localinfrastructure and boost skills to helpfuel a green economic recovery.Over 300 successful projects in

England are being told they willreceive a share of the £900 millionGetting Building Fund, which wasannounced by the Prime Minister inJune, to invest in shovel-readyhousing and infrastructure projects,creating jobs and supportingeconomic recovery across thecountry.The investment is expected to

deliver up to 45,000 homes, create upto 85,000 jobs and reduce around 65million kgs of CO2 emissions acrossEngland.Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert

Jenrick MP said: “As we get Britain

building we are also laying thefoundations for a green economicrecovery by investing in vitalinfrastructure for local communities,creating jobs and buildingenvironmentally-friendly homes witha huge £1.3bn investment announcedtoday.“This Government is determined

to level up all parts of the country andthis funding will not only give a muchneeded boost to our economicrecovery, it will help build the goodquality, affordable homes the countryneeds.”To deliver a further 26,000 new

homes while protecting greenfieldsites, the Government has alsoconfirmed a £360 million investmentin Mayoral Combined Authorityareas through its £400 millionBrownfield Fund.A further £8 million of funding has

also been announced to help speedup the delivery of these new homeson brownfield sites and theGovernment is inviting ambitious

bids from the Mayoral CombinedAuthorities for the remaining £40million of the fund.Details of the new £2 billion Green

Homes Grant scheme, which will seethe Government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of homeimprovements of over 600,000 homes,

have also been announced.Tradespeople must register for

TrustMark accreditation to take partin the scheme, which will cover greenhome improvements ranging frominsulation of walls, floors and roofs, tothe installation of low-carbon heating,like heat pumps or solar thermal –measures that could helphomeowners including landlords saveup to £600 a year on their energy bills.Households on low income canreceive vouchers covering 100% ofthe cost of the improvements, up to amaximum of £10,000.Business and Energy Secretary Rt

Hon Alok Sharma said: “Green homeimprovements will save peoplemoney on their energy bills, help tocut carbon emissions, and create newwork for many thousands of builders,plumbers and other tradespeople.“Our TrustMark scheme will

guarantee that building work iscompleted to a high standard byaccredited tradespeople, ensuringconsumers are fully protected.”

Chair of the LEP Network, MarkBretton said: “As business ledpartnerships with a ready-madepipeline of projects, LEPs respondedswiftly to the Prime Minister’s call forinfrastructure projects with moreavailable when Government is ready. “LEPs ‘can do’ business attitude

has created a proven track record ofcomplex delivery, landing projects atscale, on time and to budget. Thefoundations they are building forlocal recovery in their Five Point Planwill underpin our national recovery”.The funding commitments come

ahead of a radical overhaul of theplanning system due to be announcedshortly. The reforms will bring about asimpler, faster, people-focused systemto deliver the high-quality, energyefficient homes we need. As part ofthe changes, developers will have tocontribute fairly to the infrastructureneeded to sustain communities,ensure designs keep in with localcharacter and work as part of a newinteractive online planning system.

Business and Energy Secretary RtHon Alok Sharma says the green homeimprovements will save people moneyon their energy bills, help to cut carbonemissions, and create new work formany thousands of tradespeople

£1.3bn investmentto deliver homes,

infrastructure and jobs

Successfulprojects beingfunded include£23 million for phase 1 of thedevelopment of commercial spaceat Mayfield Park in GreaterManchester, expected to deliver3,200 jobs and attract over 1 millionvisitors a year; £14.88 million toaccelerate the National BrownfieldLand Institute, a project aiming tocreate a leader in sustainableconstruction which will support thehousing deal and drive levelling upacross the region; and £12 million tosupport a new high-speed railwaystation in Thanet, Kent, improvingtransport in the area and creating800 new jobs.

August 2020 - 1st Edition www.asianexpress.co.uk Local 5


Dr Rashid Abbasi has worked forthe NHS for over 30 years and hiswife Aliya is a former doctor

He was held by the neck and strapped to a hospital gurneyand wheeled out of the ward, he can be heard pleading with thearresting officers to take his under-the-tongue medicine fromhis pocket because he is experiencing chest pains. But hisrequest seems to go completely ignored throughout the clip.

Following the incident shown in the footage, Rashid was takento accident and emergency, where officers later de-arrested him.He said he was told he had suffered a heart attack and the nextday he underwent an emergency angioplasty.

Speaking to the press for the first time, Dr Abbasi has said:“The pictures speak for themselves. They behaved likebarbarians.

“They were not prepared to listen. My daughter was given adeath sentence half an hour before they arrived.

“I reacted as any father would who is suffering from grief,but I also knew in my professional capacity that my daughterwas purposefully not receiving the treatment she needed tolive.

“For challenging this and trying to protect mydaughter’s life, I was treated like a criminal and an

SHOCKING:Footage of fatherbeing draggedaway from dyingdaughter’s bedside by police

Cover story continued


animal. This was brutal and unacceptable, but wewant to emphasise that it was the doctors and thehospital who escalated the situation and involvedthe police unnecessarily.“We are still grieving deeply, but we have no

choice but to expose what has happened and tofight for justice for our daughter.”

Why was the police involved?Police were called on 19th August, last year,

after receiving a complaint from the hospitalabout Rashid’s behaviour. Earlier he had stormedout of a meeting when they were told that doctorsplanned to take Zainab off a ventilator and moveher to palliative care.Rashid and Aliya pleaded for further tests and

they claim that on two previous occasions theyhad successfully argued for Zainab to be treatedwith steroids instead of having life supportwithdrawn, and that her condition improved.The father believed that while his daughter was

dangerously ill she could survive with the rightcare.Doctors disagreed and told the couple ‘we are

not going to be doing any more going round incircles.’Following these events, the NHS trust applied

to the High Court for permission to take Zainaboff the ventilator, but on 16th September, justthree days before the hearing was due to start,Zainab died.The hospital commented: “When there is a risk

to the safety of any of the patients in our care, torelatives, visitors or to our staff – or interferencewith the delivery of care and treatment – it isnecessary for us to seek help from the police.“This is never taken lightly. It is essential we

maintain a safe and secure environment,particularly where we are caring for very sick andvulnerable patients.”The police force involved, which cannot be

named for legal reasons, said its officersresponded to a call ‘of a man being violent andabusive towards staff and that he had assaulted aconsultant’.They added: “While we recognised this was a

very distressing time for him and his family, ourduty was to ensure the safety of all thosepresent.”They confirmed Mr Abbasi was arrested on

suspicion of breach of the peace and assaultingpolice officers, and that one officer was treated inA&E.The force added: “Due to the nature of the

incident, it was necessary to detain the man, andwhen he complained of feeling unwell he wastaken for treatment as soon as possible.”

Zainab, who suffered from the rare genetic illnessNiemann-Pick disease, was critically ill at the time

Anyone found flouting the rules could be fined £100 up to a maximum

of £3,200 for repeat offences


Anyone found flouting the rules could be fined £100 up to a maximum

of £3,200 for repeat offencesNew coronaviruslaws for Bradford

have come into forceEnforceable laws kicked in from

midnight Thursday 6th August, five daysafter lockdown restrictions wereannounced for Bradford and other areas.

Announced by Twitter late on theevening of Thursday 30th July, the latestlockdown rules ban people from differenthouseholds meeting in a private home orgarden.

The move was harshly criticised byMuslims across the country who had beenpreparing to celebrate Eid al Adha onFriday 31st July.

The latest legislation imposesrestrictions on Aberdeen, Bradford,Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Bury,Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford,Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan,Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale,Calderdale and Kirklees. Similarrestrictions are in place for Leicester,which has been in lockdown since 29thJune.

Anyone found flouting the rules couldbe fined £100 up to a maximum of £3,200for repeat offences. And they could be inplace for up to six months.

But Health Secretary Matt Hancock

has said the restriction zone could changeat any time.

The new laws also prohibit people frommeeting others from different householdsin areas outside the lockdown zone, suchas at homes in nearby towns not subjectto the rules. And people cannot meet ingroups of more than 30 in public places.

The ban does not extend to places suchas hotels, campsites and guest houses orinclude other buildings such as carehomes.

And there are exemptions to the rules,including: for those who have formed asupport bubble and have become"linked" households; for people sharingchildcare duties; in order to go to work; toattend a birth at the mother's request; tovisit a dying loved one; to fulfil a legalobligation; to move house, to care for avulnerable person or escape injury, illnessor risk of harm.

The legislation cames into force on 6thAugust and do not/cannot apply toanything which happened before that.The restrictions will be reviewed onceevery fortnight and the first review willtake place by 19th August.


Miss Manchesterfinalist:

“The media havealways portrayed

that girls can eitherbe pretty or smart,

never both; and very rarely do thesegirls look anything

like me.”

“I wanted to represent girls who look like me”

“The media havealways portrayed

that girls can eitherbe pretty or smart,

never both; and very rarely do thesegirls look anything

like me.”


A warm-hearted, big-smiled finalyear dentistry student is flying the flagfor South Asian girls in the final of thisyear's Miss Manchester competition.22-year-old Tara Bharadia, who

studies at one of the largest and thehighest-ranked dental schools in thenorth of England, has completed over200 hours of volunteering, sat on fiveuniversity committees, climbedKilimanjaro, and raised thousands ofpounds for charity.After beating some 200 girls in the

qualifying rounds, the University ofManchester student is one of the 11women in the running to be crownedMiss Manchester.Tara, who comes from Doncaster,

has never partaken in a beautypageant before. Still, this year decidedthat she wanted to represent girls likeherself who might not feel that theyhave a voice and to inspire them totake every opportunity they can."The media have always portrayed

that girls can either be pretty or smart,never both; and very rarely do thesegirls look anything like me," says Tara."Growing up, I’d see blue-eyed,

blonde-haired women with flatstomachs and perfect glossy facesgracing the cover of pretty much allthe magazines."The talented dentist-to-be, who

earlier this year was awarded heruniversity's 'DistinguishedAchievement Award', detests howwomen are constantly barraged withsocial caveats, to look a certain way; towear more make-up; to be a certaindress size. She hopes she can helpmake a change perceptions. "Women always seem to be put in a

box. But myself, and many Asianwomen I know are talented in allareas of life. "They are not just amazing mothers

and wives, but my mother and auntsare ground-breaking at work too.They are CEO's, doctors, business

owners, creatives and have the abilityto talk to anyone."The women in my life have all

inspired me to not worry about whatothers say or think.”But she says leaving her home for

university was the defining moment inher life. "Through moving away from my

cultural hub - my home for university,I was able to reconnect with myheritage. "Many times in school, I found I

was the only South Asian or Hindugirl in my class or year. I was often the"token brown kid"."I've frequently been disheartened

when the people who are meant toteach you and guide your education,assume your race or religion; whenthey ask you where you're from, orwhere you were born."'England' doesn't satisfy them as

an answer, and you begin to feel likeyou don't belong."In every school classroom, we are

taught to be patriotic; to be proud ofthe British Empire, World Wars andwe learn all about the British'striumphs. "I grew up learning to recite the

names of the monarchs and listeningto Churchill's speeches but neverheard a word about the British rule inIndia."But at university, for the first time,

I had other Asian classmates. Theyallowed me to gain a new respect forIndia and what being British Asianmeant. I won't ever let that go of that,and I want empower other Asian girls."I've begun to appreciate

everything my religion and heritagehas done for me, my identity and howI fit in with the rest of the world"I've been reminded of the

importance of community and charitywork. I am so proud to be pushing theboundaries and bringing somethingnew to the table of Miss Manchester!"

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75-year-old Gurmit Kaur Sahota isan undocumented migrant living inSmethwick for over 10-years. She hasbeen living in fear of being “forciblyremoved” to India, a country whereGurmit told us she has no family.For the last decade, she has been

committed to being a vital part of herlocal community, helping feed people ather local temple. Gurmit came to the UK in 2009, and

Smethwick has been home to her eversince. The local Sikh community hadadopted her.Though she applied to stay in the UK

in 2010 but her application was refused.She was 65 at the time.She then received letters from UK

Visas and Immigration (previously UKBorder Agency) threatening to deporther. Fearful of these threats, she did not

contact the Home Office again untilthis year. She has had nocorrespondence orcommunication with them since2013 and has struggled tounderstand why she’s beenrefused.This case has similarities to the

recent Windrush scandal, wherepeople who contribute to UKsociety are made to feelunwelcome.After a decade of living in the

UK, Gurmit still suffers anuncertain future.Gurmit Kaur said: “If I was to

return to India, I would havenowhere to go and no home toreturn to, and I have no familythere.“Being here in Smethwick is

my true home, it’s where I workto help the community, it’s whereI give back, it’s where I know and lovethe people who have become myfamily. This is the society I am part ofand the place I have made my home.“I have spent my life helping and

giving to others and want to be able tocontinue to do this. But as I’m gettingolder, my community want to help mestay here and support me, this is whythey are rallying behind me and I’mdeeply touched by this campaign.”People who have met Gurmit have

commented on how generous she is andfeel she’s very much part of Smethwick.Most of her days are spent volunteeringat the local Sikh temple - GurdwaraBaba Sang Ji.At a local Black Lives Matter protest

in Smethwick in July 2020, Gurmit was

giving out fruit to protesters insolidarity with the cause. Many of them cheered her name and

are supporting her campaign.Migrant voice urge the Home Office

to grant Gurmit Kaur Leave to Remainin the UK.The campaign for her to get leave to

remain has been launched with MigrantVoice, Brushstrokes and GurdwaraBaba Sang Ji;; and is supported bymembers of the community.An online petition opened on

Sunday (July 19th) has already gainedover 50,000 signatures (at time ofwriting) in only 6 days; with the hashtag#WeAreAllGurmitKaur trending onsocial media.Members of the public are also

showing their support by taking andposting photos of themselves holdingposters displaying ‘We Are All GurmitKaur’.

Her campaign has attracted supportfrom local politicians and communityleaders across the West Midlands aswell as people all over the world.Nazek Ramadan, Director of

Migrant Voice, said: "We're standingwith Gurmit Kaur because, like somany undocumented migrants in theUK, this country is her home and she'sa deeply valued member of hercommunity.“We urge the Home Office to

regularise her status, and that of allundocumented migrants in the UK, sothat she and thousands like her can livewithout fear of being detained anddeported, and protect themselves andtheir families, especially during thispandemic."

SIGN THE PETITION:https://www.change.org/p/home-office-help-gurmit-kaur-stay-in-the-uk

Follow the campaign online: Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups//WeAreAllGurmitKaurInstagram: www.instagram.com/IAmGurmitKaur Twitter: www.twitter.com/iambgurmitkaur

Gurmit Kaur outside Gurdwara Baba Sang Jiwith temple General Secretary Harvey Singh(Picture: Migrant Voice)

75-year-old woman’s fight againstdeportation

75-year-old Gurmit Kaur prepares foodinside the Sikh Temple Gurdwara Baba SangJi in Smethwick (Picture: Migrant Voice)

HASHTAGS#WeAreAllGurmitKaur#GurmitIsYourMassi#GurmitIsOurAuntie#SmethwickIsHome


Five arrested overRotherham abuseallegations

A trio from Birmingham arrestedhave been charged with drugs andfirearms offences, after officers seizeda sub-machine gun, drugs and cash.Michael Earp, 29, Danyal Aziz, 26,

and Nicole Rhone, 26, have all beencharged.Earp was detained by NCA officers

on Friday 10th July at an address inKings Norton and was charged withconspiring to possess drugs, anautomatic firearm and ammunition. Hewas remanded to custody and appearedbefore Birmingham Magistrates’ court

today, Saturday 11 July. He is due toappear at Birmingham Crown Court on10 August.Aziz was arrested at his home

address on 26 June, supported by WestMidlands police, and was remanded tocustody after being charged withconspiring to possess drugs, anautomatic firearm and ammunition. Heis due to appear at Birmingham CrownCourt on 24 July.Rhone was arrested on17 May at her

home address, also supported by WestMidlands police, and charged with

possession of an automatic firearm andammunition. She was released on bailand is due to appear at BirminghamCrown Court on 27 July. Officers seizeda Skorpian sub-machine gun from theaddress, as well as ammunition.Officers have also seized

approximately one kilo of drugs andabout 40k cash as part of theinvestigation.The investigation is part of

Operation Venetic, which has so farseen more than 750 people arrested bylaw enforcement across the UKfollowing the infiltration of anencrypted communications platform.NCA branch commander Adam

Warnock said: “We know that highlevels of violence and exploitation arelinked to illegal drugs and firearms inthe UK and pursuing the criminalsbehind this type of activity is our toppriority.”

Five men have been arrested in connection withallegations of abuse relating to four girls in Rotherham.The offences are alleged to have taken place around 20

years ago, when the girls were aged between 11 and 16.National Crime Agency officers working as part of

Operation Stovewood made the arrests over the course ofthree days this week starting on Tuesday.Four of those detained live in Rotherham, the other in

Leeds. All were aged between 38 and 50. They werequestioned and then released while investigationscontinue.Philip Marshall, senior investigating officer for

Operation Stovewood, said: “Our priority in all theseinvestigations is to support victims, and I’d urge anyonewho was the victim of child sexual abuse in Rotherhambetween 1997 and 2013 to come speak to us in the strictestof confidence. We will do all we can to support you”“Operations like those that have taken place this week

demonstrate that we, together with partners in SouthYorkshire, are determined to bring offenders to justice,and more arrests are to come.”Victims or witnesses who might have information to

help investigations can find contact details on theStovewood pages of the National Crime Agency’s websitewww.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/Stovewood.Stovewood is the single largest law enforcement

investigation into non-familial child sexual abuse (CSA) inthe UK.To date 134 people have been arrested, with 20

convicted and sentenced to jail terms totalling 248 years.

Birmingham trio charged withdrugs and firearms supply


Finding a figure huddled under ablanket, eyes downcast, an emptydisposable cup has becomecommonplace. But in the city ofBradford, beggars will approach yourvehicle at the traffic lights, knockingon the window asking for money.

It’s difficult to ignore. What do youdo? Avert your gaze and briskly pickup the pace? Or maybe fumble inyour purse or pocket for a pound cointo drop into the cup?

Indeed, not only do most localauthorities and police forces activelycampaign against giving money tostreet beggars, but the vast majorityof charities and organisations dealingwith the homeless adopt the sameapproach.

It’s estimated that some beggarstake home a few hundred pounds a

day.Now a successful multi-agency

operation was carried out in Bradfordto tackle homelessness and begging.They found that a number of thepeople begging were actually nothomeless and were committing theoffence purely for the monetarybenefit.

Many were found begging ontraffic islands, which is potentiallydangerous for themselves and othermotorists.

Officers from Bradford East NPTworking together with officers fromthe City NPT in conjunction withstaff from Bradford HomelessOutreach Partnership carried out a

proactive operation in the CityCentre and Bradford East areas.

Sergeant Richard Bedford, ofBradford East NPT, said: “Throughpartnership working, this was anincredibly successful operation thisweek to tackle begging andassociated issues.

“We have been working closely

with our partners regarding the issueof street begging for some timefollowing feedback from residentsand businesses, and fully appreciatethe sensitivities of what is a highlyemotive subject.

“Our key role as a police officers isto aid those at risk and therefore ourconcern, as it is for other agencies, isto ensure those who are by definitionvulnerable receive the help andsupport they need.

“We will continue to work closelywith our partners to tackle anti-socialbehaviour and crime in Bradford. Ihope that these kinds of initiatives arereassuring to our residents and localcommunities that we are committedto ensure that Bradford is a safe placeto live, work and visit.”

BEGGING:Is it just a scam or a lifeline?

A successful multi-agency operation was carried out in Bradford to tackle homelessness and begging. They found

that a number of the people begging were actually not homeless and were committing the offence purely for

the monetary benefit.


GREATER Manchester hassecured more than £800,000 from theHome Office to help tackle anti-social behaviour and stop crimes suchas robbery in two areas of the city-region.The Safer Streets Fund aims to stop

offences that blight communities andcause misery to victims fromhappening in the first place.Following a bidding process back in

January two Greater Manchesterboroughs, Manchester and Wigan,had funding approved which totalsmore than £883,000 and will includea range of safety measures to supportthe communities

Wigan’s bid was for funding in WestLeigh and the Manchester bid coversparts of South Manchester.Plans will be made to tackle anti-

social behaviour and improve safetyfor residents particularly affected byacquisitive crimes including burglary,vehicle theft and robbery.Deputy Mayor of Greater

Manchester Bev Hughes said: “Iwelcome the news that these areashave received more than £800,000from the Safer Streets Fund. Thisfunding will enhance our efforts toeffectively deliver crime reductionactivities, working with local peopleto strengthen communities and keep

them safe.“This money will be used to

support measures proven to cut crimerates and make Greater Manchestera safer place to live and work.”Councillor Kevin Anderson,

cabinet member for police, crime andcivil contingencies at Wigan Council,said: “For some time now it has beena top priority for all partners to tackleanti-social behaviour in specific areasof Leigh. To secure this funding isfantastic and will enable us to bringabout real change in the way we work

for residents in the area and allow usto implement practical measures tomake the streets safer.“The work of the Place and

Community Safety Partnership andof local councillors has been vital tosecuring this funding. I hope residentsfeel reassured we are taking theirconcerns extremely seriously and arecommitted to making a long-termimpact. We knew these issueswouldn’t be solved overnight but it isstill high on our agenda to improvethe quality of life for this community.”

Councillor Nigel Murphy, DeputyLeader of Manchester City Council,said: “We are of course glad to seeany additional funding that comesManchester’s way to help reducecrime and anti-social behaviour. Thenext step will now be working withour partners to ensure we are able toput in place measures that will makea significant and lasting change forour residents.”The Safer Streets Fund forms part

of the Government’s concertedaction to tackle crime.

GreaterManchestergranted over£800,000 to tackleanti-socialbehaviour


The money-off mealdeal will only be

applied to food ordersplaced on Monday

through to Wednesdaynext month, kicking off

on 3rd August andrunning through until

31st August.

People will be able to get half pricemeals when they eat out atrestaurants, cafes or pubs in Augustin a bid to help boost the leisure andtourism industry.The Eat Out to Help Out scheme

announced by The Chancellor, RishiSunak, will see the government pickup 50 per cent of the bill.There is a cap of £10 per person,

but it applies to all food and softdrinks orders that are eaten at theplace that you bought them,including kids' meals.It means that an £80 meal out for a

family of four will be reduced to £40under the plans.The money-off meal deal will only

be applied to food orders placed onMonday through to Wednesday nextmonth, kicking off on 3rd August and

running through until 31st August.It's hoped the discount scheme will

encourage people back out thissummer and help hospitalitybusinesses back on their feet.A leisure scheme like this has

never been tried before in the UK,with Mr Sunak telling the Commonsthat the coronavirus "moment isunique" and calls on policymakers tobe "creative".A website has been launched,

through which operators can registerto take part in the scheme. Businesseswill be fully reimbursed for thediscounts, he promised.“Each week in August, businesses

can then claim the money back, withthe funds in their bank accountwithin five working days," said theChancellor.

EAT OUT TO HELP OUT: The government will pick up 50 per cent of the bill, toa maximum of £10 per head (Picture courtesy of Fanoosh in Street Lane, Leeds)

Eat Out to Help Out scheme -how the government's 50%food vouchers will work

More details of the incentive have been published, including information on how businesses can register. Visithttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-establishment-for-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme

Here's how the EatOut to Help Out

scheme will work

Guidance for buisness:To register your business to participate

in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme visithttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-establishment-for-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme

Records you must keep:For each day you’re using the scheme,

you must keep records of the:• Total number of people who have

used the scheme in your establishment• Total value of transactions under the

scheme• Total amount of discounts you’ve

given• If you are using the scheme for more

than one establishment, you must keepthese records for each.

Where can I use the discount?Diners will be able to claim the offer when they dine-in

at any participating restaurant, café, pub or other eligiblefood service establishment.

How much can I save?While it's been billed as a 50% discount, it won't quite

work out to be half price in many cases.The maximum amount of money diners can save is £10

per head, per meal.There is no limit to the number of times you can use

the discount, so in theory you can get half price meals onevery Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August; so ifyou're someone who usually dines out regularly, thesavings could quickly add up.

When can I use it?The discount will be available throughout August, and

is redeemable at participating restaurants on Mondays,Tuesdays and Wednesdays.The idea is to help boost restaurants, bars and cafes

during typically quieter times and ensure custom isn't justconcentrated at the weekends.There's no limit to how many times you use itYou can use the discounts as many times as you like,

as long as it's on orders made on Monday through toWednesday in August.That means you could get up to a half price breakfast,

lunch and dinner three days a week if you wanted to.Can be used in work and school canteens?Staff and pupils can use the scheme to get money off

their lunch during the school day, as long as they sit inthe canteen to eat it.It means that workers who have to head back to the

office can also use the discount too.Can I use it on booze?

No - the discount is applicable only to food and non-alcoholic drinks, as is the reduced rate of VAT.There's been some criticism that this doesn't support

traditional 'wet-led' pubs that don't serve food.What about takeaways?

The clue's in the name we're afraid - the Eat Out toHelp Out discount will only be available on dine-in meals.Many restaurants and bars quickly adapted their

business models to serve takeaway food during lockdown- but the scheme aims to encourage people back throughtheir doors to bring them fully back into operation.

MEAL DEAL

The money-off mealdeal will only be

applied to food ordersplaced on Monday

through to Wednesdaynext month, kicking off

on 3rd August andrunning through until

31st August.


Barrister’s son jailed fordangerousdrivingfollowingdeath of 20-year-oldstudent

A 27-year-old son of abarrister who killed a woman ina hit-and-run crash during apolice chase, throwing her in theair "like a rag doll", has beenjailed.Quincy Anyiam hit 20-year-old

student Anisha Vidal-Garner onBrixton Hill, south London, afteraccelerating away from officerswho had signalled for him tostop.Student Ms Vidal-Garner was

pronounced dead at the scene,and Anyiam handed himself intopolice two days after the crash.Anyiam, was sentenced at the

Old Bailey this month to spendseven years in prison for causingthe death of Anisha Garner bydangerous driving.Anyiam pleaded guilty on

Tuesday, 23rd March at the samecourt to charges of failing to stopand dangerous driving.His vehicle was then involved

in a collision with 20-year-oldAnisha Vidal-Garner, fromEpping. Despite the best effortsof the emergency services, Anisha waspronounced dead at the scene.Anyiam did not stop after the collision

and his car was found abandoned nearby.Two days later, on Friday 21st February, hehanded himself into police and wascharged with the above offences.A spokesperson for the family paid

tribute to Anisha, saying: “Anisha was abeautiful, intelligent, witty, fun and hugelykind person who had time for everyone.She was passionate about many things andall her passions became our passions, fromEurovision to Timothee Chalamet. “She was complex and interesting and

interested in everything. She had so muchto look forward to. She wanted to traveland see the world and experienceeverything it had to offer. “But her life was taken away by the

reckless actions of Quincy Anyiam. She

stood no chance. She was just in the wrongplace at the wrong second. “His failure to show any real remorse or

take responsibility - including his failure toturn up to court on two occasions - hasdragged this case out and caused evenmore distress.Her brother Gael added: "Anisha was a

truly spectacular person - smart, funny andcaring. She was always there for you andnever would not be. She is loved no matterwhat. Her love is endless. She is animmortal and that's what she deserves. Wesimply adored Anisha and we will miss herfor ever.”A/Detective Inspector Richard Budd,

leading the investigation said: “This is anincredibly tragic incident for Anisha'sfamily and loved ones. This is justice, but inno way will it compensate for thedevastation and destruction that Anyiamhas caused to this family.”

Quincy Aniyam wasspeeding away frompolice when he hit Anisha

VICTIM: 20-year-old Anisha Vidal-Garner waskilled by dangerous driving. Paying tribute, herbrother Gael said "Anisha was a trulyspectacular person - smart, funny and caring”.

www.asianexpress.co.uk Business 25August 2020 - 1st Edition

Your National and Local Business Round-up

AsianExpressBusiness news

Pizza Express could close 67 restaurants across UK

izza Express has said itcould close around 67 ofits UK restaurants, with up

to 1,100 jobs at risk, as part of amajor restructuring plan.The chain said it is planning to

launch a company voluntaryarrangement in the ‘near future’in a bid to push down its rentsamid a ‘significantly morechallenging environment’ afterthe coronavirus pandemic.

The outcome has ‘yet to bedecided’, Pizza Express said, butit may end in the closure ofaround 15% of its 449 restaurantsin the UK, affecting 1,100 staff.The company added: ‘This

decision is a very difficult one;however, against the currentunprecedented backdrop, PizzaExpress believes reducing thesize of its estate will help it toprotect 9,000 jobs.’

Pizza Express closed all itsrestaurants on 23rd March afterthe Government-mandatedlockdown.Zoe Bowley, UK and Ireland

managing director, said: “Ourbusiness has a long history ofsuccess, but the UK-widelockdown has hit the hospitalityindustry particularly hard.“While the financial

restructuring is a positive step

forward, at the same time wehave had to make some reallytough decisions.“As a result, it is with a heavy

heart that we expect topermanently close a proportionof our restaurants, losing valuedteam members in the process.”Andy Pellington, group chief

finance officer, said: “While wehave had to make some verydifficult decisions, none of which

has been taken lightly, we areconfident in the actions beingtaken to reduce the level of debt,create a more focused businessand improve the operationalperformance, all of which putsus in a much stronger position.“We can now plan to invest in

both our UK and Ireland andinternational businesses as wellas support our teams as theyreturn to work.”

P

www.asianexpress.co.uk26 Business August 2020 - 1st Edition

he recent High Court case ofWales (t/a Selective InvestmentServices) v CBRE Managed

Services Limited and Aviva is a timelyreminder for all litigants that therefusal to engage in Alternative DisputeResolution (“ADR”) can result in severefinancial consequences.In that case Mr Wales, an independent

financial adviser, pursued a claim for£205,000 against CBRE and Aviva forunpaid commission. The former haddispensed with Mr Wales’ servicesfollowing its decision to move itsemployees to a new pension platform.In his Letter of Claim,

Mr Wales hadindicated that hewas willing toconsider anyproposal to settlehis dispute bymeans of ADRincludingmediation inaccordance withthe Pre-Action

Protocol in the Civil Procedure Rules.However, CBRE did not engage with MrWales’ request and later stated that it

would not participate in There wasnothing in the nature of the disputewhich rendered it unsuitable formediation.As a consequence the Judge only

awarded CBRE 50% of its costs for themajority of the proceedings and 80%after the date of certain withoutprejudice correspondence. Aviva wasalso penalised but to a lesser degree; ithad its costs reduced to 80% towards thelatter stages of the litigation.This case highlights the need for

parties to remain flexible in litigationand to be prepared to negotiate. This isespecially so in view of the currentCovid-19 pandemic when judicialresources are being substantiallystretched and current court listingsdeferred for months. Judges are likely totake an even dimmer view of any casethat proceeds to trial where there wasthe possibility of it having been resolvedby ADR months beforehand. AlthoughADR may not always result in asettlement it could still be utilised tonarrow down the issues between theparties thereby saving on both expenseand court time when the mattereventually reaches trial.

If you are involved in any disputeand require assistance or onany Covid-19 related issuethen please contact LukePatel on 0113 227 9316 orby email at“[email protected]”.

T

Lets Mediate…Or Not – What

Are The Perils?

Please contact Luke Patelon 0113 227 9316 or by email at

[email protected]

The tax gap estimate for2018-19 is 4.7%, HMRevenue and Customs(HMRC) confirmed today.There is a long-term

downward trend in the taxgap, falling from 7.5% in2005-06 to 4.7% in 2018-19, its lowest recordedrate.More than 95% of the

tax due was paid in 2018-19. This is the result ofsustained efforts byHMRC to support theoverall health of the taxadministration systemand make it as easy aspossible for taxpayers topay the right tax at theright time.The tax gap is the

difference between taxthat should be paid andwhat is actually paid.HMRC collected £628billion in tax revenue in2018-19.This is the first year that

a stand-alone tax gap forwealthy taxpayers hasbeen included in thereport. The total wealthytax gap stands at £1.7billion and represents avery high collection rate ofall tax due within thisgroup. The wealthy tax gap

is the smallest proportionof the total gap bycustomer group, makingup 6% of the total tax gap.Any impact of COVID-

19 on the tax gap is likelyto be first seen in the taxyear 2020-21.Jesse Norman, Financial

Secretary to the Treasurysaid:“At 4.7%, the 2018-19 tax

gap is the lowest onrecord. The coronaviruspandemic has highlightedthe importance ofeveryone playing theirpart and paying the taxthat is due.“Having a secure and

comprehensive tax base iswhat allows theGovernment to pay forpublic services, but also toprovide financial supportin a crisis, at a time whenit is most needed.”HMRC’s Chief Executive

Jim Harra said:“More than 95% of the

tax due was paid in 2018-19. HMRC’s aim is foreveryone to pay the taxthat is due, no matter whothey are.“Our role is increasingly

about making itstraightforward for

taxpayers to get it right,first time, while alsotackling the minority whodeliberately set out tocheat the system. I’mpleased that we’re nowable to share moreinformation about whopays what.”Making Tax Digital

(MTD) for businesseslaunched in April 2019.Businesses with a taxableturnover above the VATthreshold now have to usedigital record keepingtools and submit their VATreturn data direct fromthose records using MTD-compatible software.MTD seeks to reduce

the tax gap caused byerror and failure to takereasonable care whichcost the Exchequer £8.5billion in lost revenue in2018-19. More than 1.4million businesses havesigned up to the servicewhich helps them reduceerrors and see, in close toreal time, the health oftheir finances. Thisincludes around 280,000businesses below the VATthreshold who have joinedvoluntarily.

Tax Gap falls tolowest recorded rate

Two men are to be prosecutedover alleged fraud offences aspart of the NCA investigationinto the sale of the NationalAsset Management Agency’sNorthern Ireland property loanbook.NCA investigators submitted a

comprehensive file to the PublicProsecution Service (PPS), whodecided that there is sufficientevidence to prosecute the twomen in connection withsuspected criminal activityaround the property deal knownas Project Eagle.A 78-year-old man is to be

charged with fraud offences,while a 49-year-old man is to becharged with fraud offences andconcealing criminal property.A date for their initial court

hearing has yet to be set.The NCA investigation

examined, amongst othermatters, the circumstances

around the sale and attemptedsale of NAMA’s Northern Irelandproperty loan book to two USinvestment firms in 2014.Today’s decisions relate only to

allegations investigated aroundProject Eagle. An NCAinvestigation into a number ofadditional matters, notconnected to Project Eagle,remains ongoing.NCA Deputy Director of

Investigations Craig Naylor said:“This operation has been and

remains an incredibly complexinvestigation, which is ofenormous importance to thepublic in Northern Ireland andbeyond. Today’s announcementis therefore a significantmilestone.“I’m grateful to officers here in

the NCA and colleagues in thePPS for their professionalism andcommitment throughout, whichhas been instrumental in gettingus to where we are.“The investigation is not over

yet. We have further lines ofinquiry to follow up and we willcontinue to liaise as appropriatewith PPS colleagues.”PPS Assistant Director Ciaran

McQuillan said: “We have beenworking in close partnership withthe National Crime Agency inrespect of its wide-ranginginvestigation into the sale ofNama’s property loan book inNorthern Ireland. We would liketo take this opportunity torecognise the diligence of the

NCA in this investigation and thecomprehensive nature of theirenquiries.“A considerable volume of

evidence submitted to the PPShas been painstakingly examinedby a team of experienced andsenior prosecutors, with thebenefit of advice from two SeniorCounsel. As a result, it has beenconcluded that there is sufficientevidence for two of thosereported to be prosecuted for anumber of serious charges.“Whilst the Test for Prosecution

was met in respect of twosuspects, it was considered notmet on evidential grounds inrespect of seven furtherindividuals in respect of theProject Eagle investigation. Alldecisions were taken in fullaccordance with the PPS Codefor Prosecutors and only after athorough consideration of allissues.”

August 2020 - 1st Edition Business 27www.asianexpress.co.uk

Two face prosecution linked to Northern Ireland’s

largest ever property deal

www.asianexpress.co.uk28 Business August 2020 - 1st Edition

www.asianexpress.co.uk Life & Style 29August 2020 - 1st Edition

million HATEtheir current job3

Three million British workers HATE theircurrent job, and feel trapped with no way out- and those stuck inside all day are most likelyto be unhappy.A study of 2,000 employed adults found one

in 10 actively dislike their work, blamingboredom, their colleagues and lack of praise.But while just three per cent of those who

spend the majority of their time workingoutside are unhappy in their job, this rises tomore than 12 per cent of people who earntheir crust inside.And more than half of all respondents feel

they are ‘stuck’ in their role for the foreseeablefuture, regardless of how unhappy they are.It also emerged the average adult spends

just under seven hours of their working dayinside.As a result, 26 per cent would like to have a

job where they could spend more timeoutdoors, while 30 per cent would like to bemore active.The research was commissioned by the

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in linewith the launch of their new online careersresource, and found a fifth of people said alack of knowledge about roles in the industryputs them off jobs in horticulture.A spokesperson for RHS said: “It’s well

known that spending time outside close tonature and working with plants is great formental health.“Tending to a garden and working in

horticulture can be really enriching bothphysically and mentally.“The vast majority of roles, both inside and

outside, in horticulture are helping us dopositive things for the environment, fromfinding out how plants can mitigate pollutionand flooding issues to looking at supportingwildlife.”

Workers say they feel trapped with no way out, and those stuck inside

all day are most likely to be unhappy

Continued on page 32

www.asianexpress.co.uk30 Life & Style August 2020 - 1st Edition

Wearing a mask while out and about isgoing to help contain the spread ofcoronavirus. But it can also make it tricky tounlock your phone with your face.Newer phones, like the iPhone 11 or

Google Pixel 4, don’t have fingerprintscanners so rely on scanning your face tounlock the device. So unless you want toenter a PIN every time you open your phone,you’re going to need to configure it to workwith a face mask.Whether you use an iPhone or an Android

device, the method is the same: You’ll needto reset your phone’s face unlock featureswith a mask to hand.When you’re required to scan your face

with your phone’s camera, make sure youhave your surgical mask folded in half so itcovers only one side of your face. Whileholding the mask in place, follow yourphone’s face unlock enrolment instructions.Once your setup process is complete, you

should be able to unlock your phone withyour mask on.

Running through the face enrolment option like thisshould help your phone recognise you with a mask on

Millions plan to continuetheir digital spending spreedespite restrictions being lifted

ShopaholicLockdown has led to the UK becoming a nation of online shoppers

Lockdown has led to the UKbecoming a nation of onlineshoppers – with millions planningto continue their digital spendingspree despite restrictions beinglifted.A study of 2,000 adults found 61

per cent shopped online more thanusual during lockdown, with astaggering nine in 10 planning toshop as much online, if not morefrom now on.Groceries, and home and garden

products were at the forefront ofitems purchased online, with 41 percent of adults making at least oneof these purchases duringlockdown.And three fifths of the adults

polled now plan to buy groceriesonline in the future, with salesfigures of meal kits purchased overthe internet soaring by 114 per centwhen people were urged to stayindoors.The study also found shoppers

are buying in new ways and fromnew suppliers, with nearly a third

signing up to a new shoppingwebsite that they hadn’t usedbefore lockdown.Also seen was packaging

demands double for food, flowers,and hygiene products sold onlinesince the start of the pandemic.Reasons for buying online

differed both by age and gender,with men and younger peopleprioritising convenience - whilewomen and older generationsfocused on safety.But some of the in-store habits

remain despite the switch to onlineshopping, with a third saying theystill ‘window shop’ by browsingwebsites and keeping a wish list ofthe items they want to buy.And more than one in three

enjoy bargain hunting even whenshopping online.However, sustainability has

become an increasing concern withalmost a quarter more likely to buyonline if items are delivered withless or more environmentally-friendly packaging.

Another 21 per cent of thosepolled, via OnePoll, are more likelyto shop online if their productsarrive in more recyclablepackaging.Those aged between 25 and 34

were most conscious aboutsustainability, while women heldthis as a higher priority than men.Stefano Rossi, packaging CEO

at packaging firm DS Smith, whichcommissioned the research, said“There has been a seismic shift inthe way consumers are shopping."What's clear is that as

lockdown eases further, thesetrends aren't likely to fall away.“Consumers have found new

confidence and convenience in theway they shop, buying a wholerange of items online – everythingfrom the family food shop, totoiletries and home and gardenproducts.“If companies are not already

transforming their business tomeet this new age of e-commerce,they risk being left behind.”

Fold your mask soit only covers halfyour face

How to unlock your phonewhile wearing a face mask

August 2020 - 1st Edition Life & Style 31www.asianexpress.co.uk


million HATEtheir current job3

The research also found aquarter would also be more likelyto consider a career in horticultureif they felt they were going to behelping the environment.

And a further 25 per cent thinkdoing so would give a huge boostto their mental wellbeing.

It was revealed 44 per cent ofthose currently unhappy in theirwork life describe it as boring, and17 per cent of office workers hatestaring at a screen all day.

For more than a quarter,however, it’s their colleagueswhich are the single worst thingabout where they work.

As a result of their unhappiness,three in 10 of all respondents have

seriously considered changingcareers to find something whichgets them outside more often.

For a third of those polled viaOnePoll, they’d like to do so inorder to get to work with plants oranimals.

Some of the top outdoor-basedjobs people would love to try theirhand at include being a gardendesigner, florist, or a generallandscaping expert, according tothe research.

RHS’ spokesperson added:“There are so many rewardingroles in this wonderful industryand we hope people enjoy our newonline careers resource to find outmore.

“The correct skills andknowledge are vital to thehorticultural sector, however thereis currently a horticultural skillsgap in the UK.

“In a separate piece of researchwe recently found out therequirement for skills in thehorticultural industry are expectedto increase by 23 per cent in thenext two years.”

Workers say they feel trapped with no way out,

and those stuck inside

all day are most likely

to be unhappy

Continued from page 29

www.asianexpress.co.uk Life & Style 33August 2020 - 1st Edition

www.asianexpress.co.uk Entertainment 35August 2020 - 1st Edition

EntertainmentTHE LATEST ENTERTAINMENT AND CELEBRITY NEWS FROM BOLLYWOOD & HOLLYWOOD

Fake likes, ghost followers andbots reveal the murky underbellyof famous social media accountsbeing probed by Indian police.It’s emerged that several PR

agencies provide "fake" socialmedia followers to Bollywoodcelebrities or other "big people”,and such followers are used fortrolling and data theft, India’s

Maharashtra Home MinisterAnil Deshmukh had said in avideo message.Last month, Mumbai Police

found as many as 200 high-profile people, including someBollywood celebrities, moviedirectors, sports personalities andsocial media influencers whoallegedly paid money to get fake

or ghost followers. Reports say Priyanka Chopra

and Deepika Padukone areamong top Bollywoodpersonalities who bought a largenumber of fake followers toincrease their popularity to enjoytheir influence on social media.

Continued on pages 38 & 39

Bollywood celebritiesprobed over fake likes

and social media posts

Bhoomi Trivedi is an Indian singer,known for her Bollywood songs ‘Ram ChaheLeela’ and ‘Husn Parcham’ which resultedin several awards and nominations

36 Entertainment August 2020 - 1st Editionwww.asianexpress.co.uk

The matchmaking show people hate… butjust can’t stop watching…28/07/2020New Netflix documentary series ‘Indian

Matchmaking’ is cringey but honest, andcompletely reflective of societal flawsArranged marriages are commonplace in

South Asia, with stats revealing that almost 90per cent of all marriages in India are fixed byparents. So of course exposing the lives oftraditionalist Hindu families would make a greatentertainment.Featuring an elite India matchmaker from

Mumbai, who visits families in their plushhomes, Sima Taparia AKA ‘Sima Aunty’ is the50-something year old quintessential scrutinisingdesi aunty jee at the epicentre of the viral show‘Indian Matchmaking’.She helps struggling singles find suitable

matches by scouring her rather significant andever-expanding database of potential candidateswho fit the “demands” of the prospective bridesand grooms to be.Caste, fairness of skin colour, height, wealth,

all come into play, along with the repetitivestatement that girls must “adjust their mindsets”and be willing to “compromise” to her newhusband and his family. Her obliviousness to herown political unawareness is brutal.Just minutes into the very first episode, Ms

Taparia reveals the high stakes of marriage forthe richest families in the world’s second-mostpopulous country.“The two families have their reputation and

many millions of dollars at stake,” she says in amatter-of-fact tone, before spelling out thecriteria for successful union to viewers: “In Indiayou have to see the caste, you have to see theheight, you have to see the age . . . then I match,”she says.‘Indian Matchmaking’ has stripped naked the

pretence of what arranged marriages in Indiaare all about, and exposes it for what it really is– a hard-nosed transaction – a vetted alliance ofpeople who are societally equal to each other.Indian Matchmaking a new documentary on

Netflix (Pic: Yash Ruparelia/Netflix)Although caste discrimination has been

outlawed in India, just five per cent of Indianmarriages are inter-caste, reported the IndiaHuman Development Survey in 2014, while 20per cent of urban households said they stillpractised “untouchability”.With the internet abuzz with memes and jokes

of Sima Aunty, many criticising her of sexism,promoting misogyny and casteism; heatedintrospective debates of out-dated customs ofthe ‘arranged marriage business’ have called itas India’s most antiquated institution.But despite the rave on social media – some

saying they love the show, and others saying theyhate it, it seems people are fascinated with theshow. Since its release earlier this month ‘IndianMatchmaking’ has raced to the top of the chartsfor Netflix in India.In the show Ms Taparia describes marriage as

a familial obligation.Traditionally, arranging marriages has been

the job of family priests, relatives andneighbourhood aunties. But in more recentyears, parents will trawl through matrimonialcolumns in newspapers to websites, uploadingvideos of their requirements so they can find asuitable match for their children.Admitting that she doesn’t

charge a fee, but rather works on“good-will”, Ms Taparia fliesacross India and indeed the world,to meet eligible bachelors andbachelorettes giving us a sneakpeak into their lives andpersonalities. Gathering biodataduring the meeting, she creates aprofile of her client and an almostclinical shopping list of what theyare looking for.Her clients biodata is a CV that

covers basic details such as height,weight, skin tone and caste (socialclass), as well as family name and,among Hindus, lineage. Theimportance of the horoscopes is

paramount here, including when they are born.It includes birth date and time. These are usedto check compatibility between the prospectivecouples and their families.She also consults astrologers and even a man

deemed a face-reader over whether a matchwould be auspicious or not.She is often seen talking about her clients –

mostly the independent women – as “stubborn”,saying that they need to “compromise” or “beflexible” or “adjust” if they are to find a groom.The docuseries follows chaperoned meetings

in plush settings, and Sima Aunty’s clients goingon dates and providing feedback of what theythought of her recommended candidate.Quite surprising though, is that affluent,

successful Indian-American clients who havetried dating apps are resorting to traditionalmatchmaking and astrology for a chance to helpthem find a partner. The vast majority of themare people in their thirties looking to find amade-to-order happily ever after.Despite all the controversy and cringe-worthy

moments, the reality series is a fascinatingglimpse into the Indian, particularly Hinducultural traditions surrounding finding a mateand planning a wedding.

The matchmaking show people hate… but just can’t stop watching...New Netflix documentary series ‘IndianMatchmaking’ is cringey but honest andcompletely reflective of societal flaws


The matchmaking show people hate… but just can’t stop watching...

SERIES: IndianMatchmaking is thenew arrangedmarriage show that’sgone viral (Pic: YashRuparelia/Netflix)

www.asianexpress.co.uk38 Entertainment August 2020 - 1st Edition

Rapper Badshah was summoned by theMumbai Police to record his statement inconnection with the fake social media scam


Bollywood celebritiesprobed over fake likes

and social media postsThe Crime intelligence unit

(CIU) of Mumbai Crime Branchbegan the investigation whenBollywood playback singerBhoomi Trivedi filed an accounttheft complaint. Trivedi discovered a fake

profile created in her name. Thefake profile chatted with other‘high profile’ individuals showingscreenshots of ‘simulated’ chatsbetween herself and the companyboosting social media accounts. It was an attempt to new

accounts on board to charge themfor an increase in followers likethey ‘supposedly’ done so forTrivedi. Many have been dupedinto the scam.The fake social media likes and

posts racket, assists influentialpeople by buying a large numberof fake followers to flaunt theirpopularity and star status. This is abusiness model to facilitatefollowers after charging money topromote a product or to speak infavour of any person. Probing the case of Bhoomi

Trivedi, the CIU arrestedAbhishek Dawade who used towork for a company namedFollowers Kart. This companyprovided more than 700 services in80 different categories. Theseservices were linked to many socialmedia platforms includingYouTube, Instagram, Facebook,Twitter, Telegram, LinkedIn,Spotify, and Sound Cloud.The company provides fake

Likes, Comments, Views, Retweets,Subscribers, and Followers to itscustomers on these social mediaplatforms and in return, fees werecollected in dollars. The company'snetwork was spread almost allover the world. Apart from India,it was mainly working in Russia,America, Britain, France Italy, andIsrael. The investigation has also

revealed that this company used totamper with servers related tosocial media platforms to facilitatea surge in the number of likes,comments, and followers. Thepolice unearthed the company'slinks to France, and has written aletter to the French government toseek help in the investigation.The police also arrested Kasif

Mansoor, a civil engineer byprofession, who used to operate awebsite and his company used toprovide fake followers.The CIU investigation also

involves a report prepared by TheInstitute of Contemporary Music

Performance (ICMP) in 2019. The ICMP named 10 Bollywood

celebrities including PriyankaChopra and Deepika Padukonewho purchased fake followers. Thereport claimed that 48 percent offollowers of these two actressesare fake or Internet Bots. The Mumbai Police is currently

probing over 60 companiesaccused of selling fake followers.So far, it has questioned as manyas 21 people, and in the comingdays, it will interrogate the rest ofthe celebrities who are accused ofbuying fake followers.Rapper Badshah was also

summoned by the Mumbai Policeto record his statement inconnection with the fake socialmedia scam and his Instagramaccount that goes by @badboyshahname.

Continued from page 35

Reports say PriyankaChopra and DeepikaPadukone are among topBollywood personalitiesalong with other high-profile people who bought alarge number of fakefollowers to increase theirpopularity to enjoy theirinfluence on social media

www.asianexpress.co.uk40 Entertainment August 2020 - 1st Edition

www.asianexpress.co.uk Motors 41August 2020 - 1st Edition

T.50Rewritingthe supercarrule book

Gordon Murray Automotivehas unveiled its T.50 supercar infull for the first time, showingthe finished exterior andinterior design and confirmingits ground-breaking technicalspecifications. The T.50 hasbeen engineered to be thepurest, lightest, most driver-centric supercar ever.

Improving on his acclaimedMcLaren F1 “in everyconceivable way”, ProfessorGordon Murray CBE is leadingthe team that will beginbuilding customer versions ofthe 986kg supercar in January2022.

Justifying its whopping£2.36m (before taxes) price tag,the T.50 promises to deliveran unsurpassed drivingexperience.

It’s powered by a 100%bespoke 3.9-litre, 663PS V12engine that revs to a record-breaking 12,100rpm, andfeatures the most advanced andeffective aerodynamics everseen on a road car – aided by a400mm rear-mounted fan.

The most dominantcharacteristics of the T.50exterior design are its purityand balance, free from thewings, skirts and vents thatadorn most modern-daysupercars. The clean surfacesare enabled by the mostadvanced and effectiveaerodynamics ever seen on aroad car, resulting indeliberately simple, beautifullines and a timelessappearance.

Continued on page 42 & 43

www.asianexpress.co.uk42 Motors August 2020 - 1st Edition

Rewritingthe supercarrule bookThe purity of the silhouette is broken

dramatically when the pair of dihedral doors riseup and forwards, coming to rest high above thepassenger cabin. Inside, the driver-centric approachis plain to see – from the central, jet fighter-likedriving position, to the aerospace-grade primaryand secondary controls arranged in an ‘ergonomicbubble’ around the driver.Quality of materials, the utmost precision, and

simplicity of visuals define the whole car, butnowhere is this more evident than inside thecockpit. British suppliers are responsible for everymajor component throughout the interior, as wellas every facet of the car’s exquisitely-engineeredunderpinnings.From the record-breaking V12 engine, and best

lightweight transmission, to the world-firstaerodynamic package and the feather-lighttitanium throttle pedal, every element is 100%bespoke and crafted by a British company thatleads in its field. Murray: “Just 100 customers will share my vision,

a car created to improve on the F1 formula in everyconceivable way. “With 30 years of technological and systems

advancement, now, the time is right to design thegreatest analogue driver’s car. I believe no othercompany could deliver what we will bring tomarket in 2022, producing this British supercar willbe my proudest moment.“From the first touch of the titanium throttle

pedal to the V12 screaming at 12,100rpm, the driverexperience will surpass any supercar ever built. No

other road car candeliver the package ofpower, instantresponsiveness anddriver feedback in sucha direct and focused waywhile remainingcomfortable, refined andusable every day.”At the heart of T.50

ethos is the ultimate,sensory-rich driving experience, which all startswith the central driving position. The ‘jet-fighter’style seating position affords an unhindered viewout of the cabin, offering the type of pure drivingexperience usually associated with a single-seaterrace car layout.Creating the greatest ever V12, the bespoke

Cosworth GMA unit hits the mark as the world’shighest revving, fastest responding, most powerdense, and lightest road-going V12. In terms ofaural enjoyment, the T.50 raucous 12,100rpmredline will certainly deliver on wow-factor. Sitting prominently at the rear of the car, the fan

is just one example of ‘engineering art’ on the T.50.Murray detests carbon or plastic engine covers so,upon raising the twin gullwing openings that spanthe rear half of the car, the Cosworth GMA V12engine sits proudly on display with its cam covers,primary exhaust manifolds and inlet trumpets alltaking centre stage.The chassis and body of the T.50 are entirely

constructed from high-grade carbon fibre. Creating

Peak horsepower: 1,400 - and make itelectric. Mission accomplished.Ford introduces Mustang Mach-E 1400,

an all-electric road rocket that shows justhow much performance can be harnessedwithout using a drop of gas. Coming hot on the heels of the 1,400-

horsepower all-electric Mustang Cobra Jet1400, this one-off Mustang Mach-E with itsseven electric motors and high downforceis ready for the track, drag strip orgymkhana course - anywhere it can showhow electric propulsion promises extremeMustang performance.Developed in collaboration with RTR

and built off a Mustang Mach-E GT body-in-white, the prototype targets 1,400 peakhorsepower. The chassis and powertrainwork together for a multitude of setupsoffering capability unlike any othervehicle. And this ‘road rocket’ is set todebut at a NASCAR race.It’s the result of 10,000 hours of

collaboration by Ford Performance andRTR aimed at bridging the gap betweenwhat an electric vehicle can do and whatcustomers tend to believe it can do."Now is the perfect time to leverage

electric technology, learn from it, andapply it to our lineup," said Ron Heiser,chief program engineer, Mustang Mach-E."Mustang Mach-E is going to be fun todrive, just like every other Mustang before

it, but Mustang Mach-E 1400 iscompletely insane, thanks to the efforts ofFord Performance and RTR.""Getting behind the wheel of this car

has completely changed my perspectiveon what power and torque can be," saidVaughn Gittin Jr., RTR Vehicles founder,motorsports champion and professionalfun-haver. "This experience is like nothingyou've ever imagined, except for maybe amagnetic roller coaster."And Ford has taken shape without

rules. The design team and RTR usedmany of the same tools Ford uses for itsrace cars and production programs.Aerodynamics are optimised for shapeand location, with a focus on cooling ducts,front splitter, dive planes and rear wing.The Mach-E 1400 has seven motors -

five more than even Mustang Mach-E GT.Three are attached to the frontdifferential and four are attached to therear in pancake style, with a singledriveshaft connecting them to thedifferentials, which have a huge range ofadjustability to set the car up foreverything from drifting to high-speedtrack racing.The chassis and powertrain are set up to

allow the team to investigate differentlayouts and their effects on energyconsumption and performance, includingrear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive. Drift and track setups have completely

different front end configurations likecontrol arms and steering changes to allowfor extreme steering angles in drifting.Power delivery can be split evenlybetween front and rear, or completely toone or the other. Downforce is targeted atmore than 2,300 lb. at 160 mph.The 56.8-kilowatt-hour battery

(installed) is made up of nickel manganesecobalt pouch cells for ultra-highperformance and high discharge rate. Thebattery system is designed to be cooledduring charging using a di-electric coolant,decreasing the time needed between runs.An electronic brake booster is

integrated to allow series regenerativebraking combined with ABS and stabilitycontrol to optimize the braking system.Mustang Mach-E 1400 features Brembobrakes, like the Mustang GT4 race car, anda hydraulic handbrake system designed fordrifting that integrates with the powertraincontrols to enable the ability to shut offpower to the rear motors.Ford is investing more than $11.5 billion

in electric vehicles worldwide, with thefirst global vehicle, and the all-electricMustang Mach-E starts hitting the streetsin the U.S. at the end of 2020.

RoadrocketFord MustangMach-E 1400concept

T.50

www.asianexpress.co.uk Motors 43August 2020 - 1st Edition

inherent stiffness and torsionalrigidity, the carbon fibre plays animportant role in making T.50 theworld’s lightest supercar.At the core of the T.50 is a

lightweight carbon fibremonocoque. It has beenconstructed by UK-based companyFormaplex and features novel,cutting-edge part-bonded carbonfibre an aluminium honeycombcore. This construction methodgives the T.50 exceptional structuralrigidity, which benefits handling,agility and ride comfort.The T.50 takes road-car

aerodynamics to entirely newlevels, with Murray rewriting therule book to significantly enhancethe supercar’s ground-effectcapabilities. The T.50 is capable of increasing

downforce by 50%; reducing dragby 12.5%; adding around 50PS tothe car’s output in combinationwith ram-air induction; and cuttingbraking distance by 10m from150mph.In terms of overall proportions,

the T.50 is extremely compact. Its4,352mm length and 1,850mmwidth belie the generous interiorsspace, with room for threeoccupants and up to 288 litres ofbelongings. The 3.9-litre T.50 engine delivers

maximum power (663PS) at11,500rpm, on its way to a12,100rpm redline. The CosworthGMA V12 not only promisesscreaming high-end power, it is alsoextremely tractable for everydaydriving. The maximum torquefigure of 467Nm is produced at9,000rpm, while the pick-up is arecord-breaking 28,400 revs persecond.

The T.50 has the highest powerdensity (166PS-per-litre) of anyroad-going V12. It is also thelightest ever made thanks to acombination of exceptional designand lightweight materials(aluminium, steel and titanium)resulting in a total engine weight ofjust 178kg.The T.50’s engine will be the

highest-revving and mostresponsive naturally-aspiratedengine ever fitted to a productionroad car. The V12 engine revs freely to a

road-car record of 12,100rpm.Measured in revolutions gained persecond, the T.50 will pick-up revs at28,400 revs per second enabling itto hit its redline from idle in just 0.3of a second.As part of the early development

process, the Cosworth teamsurpassed efficiency and emissionsrequirements and completed plansfor two engine maps. These driver-selectable modes

ensure the T.50 is not only theultimate driver’s car, but is equallyat home as a GT or a daily driver.While the engine offers usabilityand high-performance in eithermode, ‘GT mode’ limits revs to9,500rpm and with 600PS available,making the car even easier to drivearound town.During the car’s development,

owners have been given first sightof vehicle designs, engineeringmilestones and project updates.Moving closer to the car’s 2022manufacturing date, customers willbe invited to set up their car to fitthem perfectly, while customisationof colours and interior will allowindividualisation of the strictlylimited 100 T.50 models.

The 1992 McLaren F1was something that worldhad never seen before.And, until Gordon Murraydelivered the new T.50, it’ssomething we neverexpected to see again. Itwas a car made completelywithout compromise,perhaps why it is now oneof the most sought-aftercars in the world.The F1 story began when

Murray’s flight back from the1988 Italian Grand Prix wasdelayed. He sketched his firstideas for a high-performancethree-seater and persuadedRon Dennis and themanagement at the time tobuild the finest road car yet created.From its world-first carbon fibre tub

chassis, which took 3,000 man-hoursto make, to its titanium subframe andmagnesium alloy wheels, the F1 wasdesigned to be as light as possible.Even the toolkit was titanium, to saveweight.Its bespoke 620bhp 6.1-litre V12

engine was developed by PaulRosche and his team at BMWMotorsport. It had the highest specificoutput of its day to give the F1 a topspeed of over 230mph. Such was theheat output from this mighty motorthat McLaren lined the engine baywith the best heat-reflective materialavailable: pure gold.The F1 was sculpted by designer

Peter Stevens to cleave through theair and yet remain stable at anyspeed without the need for ungainlywings, with the airbrake only poppingup when necessary. Its unique one-

plus-two seating arrangement put thedriver centre stage, while still givingpassengers sufficient space.With a manual gearbox, unassisted

steering and brakes, and a naturallyaspirated engine it offered the mostpure, undiluted driving experience.On-board diagnostics transferred

data to the factory so every singleone of the 64 road cars made couldbe monitored for performance. If acustomer had a problem McLarenwould fly out a technician to fix it. Orthere were eight official servicecentres worldwide.Money was no object when the car

was developed and, despite the F1costing £540,000 new, McLarendidn’t profit from the road carprogramme. But owners certainly did.For those willing to play the long

game, seldom has a car proved to besuch a wise investment. According tothe Hagerty Price Guide, until 2006

F1s were changing hands for justover the original asking price, but by2008 prices had trebled and the F1was valued at £1.5 million.Since then there’s been a

seemingly exponential rise in values.By 2014 you’d need over £5 million toget behind the wheel. A year laterRowan Atkinson sold his F1 for £8million, despite crashing it twice andmaking possibly the world’s biggestinsurance claim.Even that looks like a bargain

today. In 2017 chassis no. 44 sold atBonham’s Quail Lodge Auction for$15.6 million (£12.1 million at thetime), while the Hagerty Price Guidenow values the cars at in excess of£16 million.It’s hard to imagine any other

investment of any kind offering suchan amazing return over 20 years, letalone one that could offer as manythrills to its owner.

Price guide values iconic McLaren F1 at over £16M

www.asianexpress.co.uk44 Classifieds August 2020 - 1st Edition

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www.asianexpress.co.uk Sport 45August 2020 - 1st Edition

The government’s £2bn cycling andwalking revolution to tackle obesity willbe a real game changer for the bicyclingindustry as it continues to enjoy its boomperiod.Boris Johnson announced he would be

urging GPs in England to prescribecycling as he launched a major publichealth drive aimed at assisting those whoare overweight in response to thecoronavirus pandemic.Measures also include thousands of

miles of new protected cycle lanes, cycletraining for everyone and subsidising e-bikes. The announcement came aspeople were invited to apply for one of50,000 bike repair vouchers worth £50each to encourage people back intocycling.Public Health England has warned

that the overweight – those with a bodymass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 – are athigher risk of hospitalisation and death ifthey contract Covid-19.Manchester-based Insync, owned by

India-based Hero Cycles, has longchampioned the health benefits ofcycling and brand ambassador ShanazeReade, who competed for Team GB inthe 2008 and 2012 Olympics, has usedcycling to combat her own weight gain.The government intends to identify

areas with poor health rates toparticipate in a cycling pilot. GPs in thescheme “will be encouraged to prescribecycling where appropriate for patients”.A pilot scheme of GPs prescribing townbikes in Cardiff cut the risk of heartdisease for patients when it ran last year.Cycle training will be open to every

child and adult who wants it, more cycleracks will be installed at transport hubsand there will be funding available forstreet storage for those who don’t havespace for a bike at home.The government also pledged to

support local authorities to crack downon traffic offences and strengthen theHighway Code to better protectpedestrians and cyclists.The BMX racer and track cyclist says

the countless health benefits to cyclingshould not be underestimated.She said: “Exercise is such a positive

boost for health and cycling, along with abalanced diet, was key for me in losingweight I had gained in 2017 following myretirement from competitive riding. Dueto the mental strain I was experiencing,I’d started to use alcohol to mask how Iwas feeling to the point where I gained alot of weight. Cycling helped me returnto a positive mindset and the physicaleffects led to me losing the weight andreturning to fitness.“I welcome the government’s plan for

doctors to prescribe cycling to thosetrying to lose weight, which I think is afantastic approach to tackling thenational problem of obesity. I’m lookingforward to seeing many more people outon the roads and enjoying the benefitscycling can offer.”

Plans for mass improvement in public health welcomed

‘Cycling onprescription’

Continued on page 46

Shanaze Reade, who competed for TeamGB in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, has usedcycling to combat her own weight gain

www.asianexpress.co.uk46 Sport August 2020 - 1st Edition

Wayne Clarke, sales director at Insync, echoed Shanaze’sthoughts on the scheme, which should reduce pressure on theNHS.

He said: “Insync has been buoyed by the way the governmenthas championed cycling during the pandemic, which has seenthousands more people taking to the roads, giving the industrya significant boost. We are now delighted that cycling is beingseen as the way the country can emerge from this crisis, throughreducing reliance on public transport and cars with a focus oncommuting by bike and now by encouraging people to use it towork on improving their health. We have long talked about themany health benefits of riding a bike, which includestrengthening the immune system to ward off infection.”

For those attempting to use cycling to lose weight, Shanazesuggests starting with small goals and increasing these as youmeet your targets.

She said: “When I started cycling again, I picked the bike backup and started to ride just for fun, with no measuring equipmentbut just to simply be outdoors. Build up your confidence bygoing out on short rides at first, even if it is just around the blockor to the end of your road to get used to the feel of the bike.

“Once you start to feel comfortable, lengthen the amount oftime you are out for but be careful not to take on too much –instead take small steps each time as you gain in strength andstamina.

“Importantly, drink lots of water and keep to a healthy diet toensure you don’t feel sluggish when you ride. You’ll soon startto feel the benefits in body and mind, and you’ll find that cyclingand keeping fit becomes addictive.”

‘Cycling onprescription’Plans for mass improvement

in public health welcomedContinued from page 45

Insync sales director Wayne Clarke says thescheme should reduce pressure on the NHS

CRICKET:Highlights of every Testand One DayInternationalgames

www.asianexpress.co.uk Sport 47August 2020 - 1st Edition

CRICKET:Highlights of every Testand One DayInternationalgames

Joining them to provide theirexpert perspective are England'srecord Test run-scorer Sir AlastairCook and West Indies' 2016 WorldT20 final hero Carlos Brathwaitewhile respected broadcaster AlisonMitchell and former Englandspinner Phil Tufnell complete theteam providing commentary dutiesfor the TV highlights.From the famous long room at

Lord’s, Isa Guha is showcasing thehighlights from the classic gamesand tell the stories behind theseincredible clashes that wouldeventually see England turn the tideon one of the most dominant teamsin sport.Over on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports

Extra, Test Match Special is beingbroadcast ball-by-ball commentaryon all England’s international gamesthis summer, with the team led bythe BBC’s cricket correspondentJonathan Agnew. Aggers is joined on TMS by the

likes of Isa Guha, Simon Mann,Alison Mitchell and DanielNorcross with expert analysisprovided by Michael Vaughan, PhilTufnell, Carlos Brathwaite and SirAlastair Cook amongstothers. Meanwhile, on Radio 5 Live

Eleanor Oldroyd is providingupdates on the action as it happensthroughout the day's play.The BBC Sport website is

featuring video clips of all the bigmoments as they happen, along withlive text commentary, audio streamsand audience interaction for all ofEngland’s summer internationals.Throughout the summer the websitewill have columns from the likes ofEngland fast bowler Mark Woodand England women’s captainHeather Knight, and will continue tokeep fans across breaking news andin-depth match analysis. To warm up for the return of Test

match highlights, throughout themonth of June BBC Sporttransported fans back to some of themost memorable England v WestIndies Test matches of all timebroadcast on BBC Two everyweekend. In tandem, Jonathan Agnew and

Fazeer Mohammed presentedweekly TMS podcasts on theseclassic encounters.Director of Sport, Barbara Slater

said: “We are delighted to welcomeback Test match cricket highlights toBBC TV. Along with broadcastingsome of the best classic matchesfrom over the decades, the coveragewill provide the perfect mix forcricket fans this summer.”

Back page story continued

www.asianexpress.co.uk48 Sport August 2020 - 1st Edition

Published by Media Buzz.

CRICKET: Highlights of every Test and OneDay Internationalgames Highlights from every

Test and One DayInternational this summerare being shown on BBCTwo, marking the first timeTest match cricket has beenbroadcast on BBC TV inover twenty years.

2009 Cricket World Cup-winner Isa Guha is the leadpresenter for BBC TV’scricket coverage; and hasbeen fronting the highlightsshow which began on the8th July from the first Testmatch between Englandand the West Indies at theAgeas Bowl, Southampton.

Alongside her is BBCCricket's lead analyst,former England Ashes-winning captain MichaelVaughan.

Continued on pages 46 & 47

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