Amir Khan to pay visit to EMD Fitness in Dubai

 

Boxing superstar Amir ‘King’ Khan and former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon ‘The Cannon’ Briggs will be the honoured guests for the official grand opening of Dubai’s most outstanding fitness, boxing and MMA facility - EMD Fitness.

The centre of excellence, located in Sunset Mall, is the brainchild of the UAE’s leading professional boxer Eisa Al Dah and will host the former unified light-welterweight world champion, Khan, and heavyweight hitman, Briggs, at 6pm local time on Monday December 30th.  

EMD Fitness offers the very best in training and workout services, and is spread across 15,000 square feet, providing a

Double award honour for animation graduates

Creative graduates Birmingham City University have received a double honour at this year’s Royal Television Society’s Midlands Centre awards.

 

Rizwan Khan, from Edgbaston, was named winner in the Student Animation category for his film ‘Chime’ – an animated short film about a man who lives inside a clock. Fellow animation student Michael Price was also shortlisted for his stop-motion film ‘Oh Well’.

 

Kelvin Wong, Subject Leader for Film and Animation at Birmingham City University, said: “We are extremely proud of Rizwan and Michael's achievement at the RTS Animation awards. This labour of love would not have been possible if

Man gets suspended jail term for fraud

A man who falsely claimed £15,000 in benefits despite the fact that he lived in a house he owned in Coventry has been given a suspended jail sentence.

 

Sivasubramanian Srithar, 53, was claiming housing and council tax benefit at a house in Bye Way, Harrow between January 2004 and March 2011.

 

But checks in 2011 through a new data-matching system showed he was paying a mortgage on a property in Beake Avenue, Coventry.

 

It later emerged that he had bought the house in Coventry in 2007, using a £40,000 deposit from the sale of his parents’ home in Sri

Do you recognise these men?

 

 

British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for information after items worth £450 were stolen from the Boots store at Birmingham New Street rail station.

 

Investigators have today released CCTV images of two people they would like to speak to in connection with the incident, which took place on Saturday, 16 November.

 

Investigating officer, PC Brian Mandefield, said: “At 3.25pm two men were seen to walk into the Boots store at Birmingham New Street, where one of them selected a large amount of skincare products.

 

“Both men then left the shop without making any attempt to pay for

Gandhi’s great grandson visits De Montfort University

De Montfort University (DMU), Leicester, welcomed special guest Vinayak Bhattacharjee, Gandhi’s great grandson, at a celebration of its commitment to public good through its award winning Square Mile initiative.

 

 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard initiated DMU Square Mile to share knowledge and resources beyond the campus boundaries, in the spirit of Gandhi’s inspired quote: ‘You must be the change you want to see in the world’.

 

  

Mr Battacharjee has a personal connection to public good through his family legacy, recently publishing a translation of his mother Tara Gandhi’s book, ‘Reflections of an Extraordinary era’ at the event, for which he wrote the foreword.

 

 

Mr Bhattacharjee said: “I

200 years behind bars for Birmingham based drugs gang

A sophisticated drugs gang have been jailed for more than 200 years after a complex police investigation smashed their operation.

The final seven criminals were sent to prison yesterday (18 December) during a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court after police recovered more than £3 million of heroin.

　

Over a three year period detectives also uncovered two firearms and hundreds of thousands of pounds in cash linked to the group.

　

In total 20 other criminals have been jailed as part of the sophisticated investigation which has snared £3.5million worth of drugs destined for the streets.

　

The focus of the latest court hearings was 30-year-old Zaheer Hussain who was found to be running the organised crime group who were importing and distributing heroin in Birmingham.

　

Officers will now be using powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) to recoup money the gang made and put it back into the public purse.

　

Detective Inspector Martin Brennan, who oversaw the investigation, said: "This was the final chapter of an extremely complex investigation against a network of criminals who were distributing huge amounts of heroin in

Shed burglars stabbed homeowner with screwdriver

Thieves stabbed a homeowner in the stomach with a screwdriver after he disturbed them breaking into his shed.

　

But it's believed one of the teen burglars − who stole lengths of copper piping during the burglary in West Heath's Willetts Road − may have been bitten by the resident's pet dog as he fled and police are now appealing for help to trace him.

　

The 35-year-old householder, an ambulance technician, challenged the thieves in the garden of his home at 8.15pm on November 5 before one grabbed a screwdriver from the shed and lunged at him.

　

He was seriously

Bangladeshis and Pakistanis living ‘in deprived neighbourhoods

New analysis reveals a shocking one in three Bangladeshis and Pakistanis in England and Wales lived in a deprived neighbourhood at the time of the 2011 Census, as defined by the government. In contrast, only one in twelve of the Census’s White British group lived in deprived neighbourhoods. Dr Stephen Jivraj from The University of Manchester and Dr Omar Khan from the Runnymede Trust say all ethnic minority groups are more likely to live in deprived neighbourhoods than the White British majority. The non-white ethnic groups have unemployment rates in deprived and other neighbourhoods which are double that of white groups, suggesting they face employment disadvantage wherever they

Hundreds turn out for Jaswant Kaur’s Funeral

Hundred’s of mourners have turned out for the funeral of a well respected member of the community. Mata Jaswant Kaur Digpal died on the 8th December at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital at the age of 105.

The funeral was held at a Gudwara in Hallam Street in Balsall Heath with her casket being ridden to Perry Barr Crematorium. Jaswant leaves behind an astonishing 302 members of family; of which 48 are grandchildren, 145 great-grandchildren and 101 great-great grandchildren.

Having being born in Amritsar, India in 1908, Jawant settled in to Balsall Heath with her late husband, Sardar Gian

Restaurant worker jailed for battering boss to death

A restaurant worker who stabbed and battered his boss to death has been jailed for life after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

 

Fausto Graciano was also given a hospital order at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday (13 December) for killing business owner and family man Amarjit Singh Rai earlier this year.

　

The 27-year-old Brazilian national, who was living in Gillot Road, Edgbaston, attacked Amarjit on the morning of 2 May 2013.

　

Amarjit, 41, was visiting his employee Graciano at his bedsit, because he was concerned about his welfare after he tried to harm himself the day

Principal Mike Hopkins named Business Person of the Year

South & City College Birmingham Principal Mike Hopkins has been named Business Person of the Year by the Institute of Asian Businesses at their annual awards in December 2013.

 

Mike, who has been the principal for the further education college for six years, was awarded the title in recognition of his achievements in providing the inspiration for the successful growth of the college.

 

Mike directed the college through a successful merger in August 2012 between the former South Birmingham College and City College Birmingham. The college now has over ten campuses and centres across the city, and offers 15,000

Thirty two people due in court over EDL protest violence

Thirty two men will appear in court next week to be sentenced after violence erupted at an English Defence League demonstration in Walsall last year.

 

Over a period of four days the defendants will all appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court for their final hearing, after being convicted of violent disorder earlier this year.

 

The men were arrested and charged following a lengthy and painstaking investigation by West Midlands Police Force CID following violence in Walsall town centre on September 29, 2012.

 

A series of operations were staged across the country to arrest people suspected of involvement in the disorder which

Convicted Rapists get Unfair Trial

Two of the four convicts, whom are on the on death row, declared at the High Court that they were denied a fair trial on the case. Lawyers for Mukesh and Pavan Kumar Gupta "alleged that amicus curiae in the case was appointed by the trial court against the wishes of his clients." In addition to this "the advocate also argued that the trial court had ignored the affidavit in which the convicts had said that police had pressurised them to give consent for appointment of V K Anand as defence counsel." During the case at the High Court, lawyers defending the

Young Yob Sentenced ASBO

A gang of baby-faced thugs – including one just aged just 13 – have been banned from two Birmingham neighbourhoods for causing anti-social behaviour on the streets of Washwood Heath and Bordesley Green.

The young yob terrorised law-abiding citizens caused havoc by throwing rocks, hurling abuse and vandalising buses.

The group of schoolboys made a mockery out of the law by continuing criminal behaviour despite being arrested a number of times.

None of the thugs were older than 15-years-old with the youngest being Sajeer Khan who was only 13-year’s old.

All four thugs were also known to have targeted other

Birmingham Man gets Regional Sports Award

A Birmingham based volunteer has won a top sports award for a charity he set up in his brother-in-law’s memory. Muhammed Zafran, 34, runs All 4 Youth and Community, a charity providing sports resources to youths and gang members.

 

Set up in his brother-in-laws name, Safraz Khan, who was stabbed to death whilst walking through a local park, the charity takes youth off the streets and gets them to participate in local football leagues with resources and facilities by South and City College Birmingham, projects have included litter picking projects, community festivals, football tournaments and indoor cricket leagues. With

Gold for Qais Ashfaq and silver for Sandy Ryan at Tammer

Qais Ashfaq won a gold medal this weekend in Finland, dominating his semi-final against Hungarian David Berna to take victory by second round stoppage before going on to leave Frenchman Elias Friha chasing shadows in a one-sided final. At 60kg, Sandy Ryan lost her semi-final to Finland’s Mira Potkonen, but due to the round robin format of the competition the GB boxer was given an opportunity to box on finals day, finishing the tournament on a high as she stuck to tactics and made light work of Charlene Jones, keeping her experienced Welsh opponent at bay with a stiff jab and

“For My Unconquerable Soul”

A man who fought for freedom and justice. A militant commander, a prisoner and a president. A freedom fighter that fought against the apartheid government; a long but successful struggle to liberate the Black South African population.

 

With a world watching Nelson Mandela, dubbed the Father of the Nation, founded the ANC’s Youth Movement and gave the nation hope; a move which saw him called a terrorist and jailed for life.

 

With his fierce dignity and a tireless struggle for freedom, he spent 27 years on the notorious Robben Island

Ram Hans - You Drive The Boys Crazy Featuring Cheshire Cat

After successfully launching his debut album ‘Glassy Junction’ last year, the UK based singer-songwriter Ram Hans is bringing summer back with his sensational new song ‘You Drive the Boys Crazy’, an up-beat, high-octane infusion of Bhangra and Reggae, which has universal appeal; a feel good track, guaranteed to fill dance floors worldwide.

 

Local Press has taken a keen interest in Ram’s career and his new project. Ram has a full-page feature in an upcoming issue of B4u’s ‘Bollywood Glitz’ magazine. The song video is soon to be aired on major TV stations globally such as, Tempo USA, B4u, BritAsia

Promo For “Daddy Da Cash" Out Now

The sounds of UK Urban-Bhangra and American Hip-Hop come together to enthral fans across both sides of the globe, as two musical titans – RDB and T-Pain – unveil the promo for their latest track ‘Daddy Da Cash’, available on RDB's Youtube channel. 

 

Tipped to be the most coveted collaboration of the year, RDB blend their unique brand of traditional Bhangra beats fused with urban grooves with Grammy award-winning music artist T-Pain’s signature Hip-Hop and Rap flavours, presenting fans with a global musical treat.

 

Only a handful of artists have created an authentic stamp on the music industry, creating not only a genre but a global phenomenon. RDB and T-Pain can be counted amongst the short list. The in-demand producers and singers RDB have continually pushed

Nico Hulkenberg Gets Multi-Year deal with Sahara Force India

Sahara Force India has confirmed that Nico Hulkenberg will return to Sahara Force India in 2014 after agreeing a multi-year deal.

 

The 26-year-old German is no stranger to Sahara Force India having spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons with the team. The already strong working relationship will ensure a smooth transition as the team moves into the new era of Formula One.

 

Sahara Force India’s full 2014 driver line-up will be announced in due course.

 

Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director said “I’m delighted to see Nico back with Sahara Force India. When he drove for

Illegal Cigarette Trade Linked to Global Crime

Organised crime gangs across the country are moving in to the illegal cigarette trade. Police and government officials fear that these crimes link back to bigger gangs and terrorists across the world.

 

The lure of this trade is the fact that there is much more money to be made as it is more easier and effective. Individuals caught selling or smuggling illegal cigarettes are more likely to get penalties which are much more lower than other smuggling crimes.

 

Mark Yexley, of Japan Tobacco International said, “Law enforcement agencies across the world have identified links between tobacco smuggling and globalised

Haroon Khan’t for Dec 14th ring return

Haroon Khan will bounce right back into action this month in Wigan following his demolition of Bulgarian Stefan Slavchev. The Bolton youngster looked calm and assured in the ring at his last fight at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens as he patiently broke down his 20-year-old compatriot who had no answers to the succession of quick flurries and powerful right hands that kept landing throughout. The 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist returns to the ring on December 14th in Wigan after moving to a record of 3-0 following his victory over Slavchev. Khan showed tremendous maturity in his recent outing as he picked away