The teaser of the biopic of the late legend Michael Jackson was unveiled on Thursday. The teaser begins with the lead character of Michael Jackson (portrayed by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson) putting on his headphones inside a studio.
A few shots inside the studio, and the teaser cuts to a packed stadium, followed by close-up shots of Michael Jackson’s midriff, one of them showing his iconic finger-snip hand movement.
The teaser then swings to show sticky notes on a board, one of which reads, ‘Beat It’, and other reads, ‘Billie Jean’.
‘Beat It’, which was released in 1983, holds monumental importance in Michael Jackson’s discography, both musically and culturally. It wasn’t just another hit, it was a turning point that cemented him as a global icon and helped define the sound and scope of pop music in the 1980s. The song blended pop, rock, and R&B in a way few songs had before. Featuring Eddie Van Halen’s blazing guitar solo, it bridged racial and genre divides, bringing Black pop to rock audiences and vice versa.
The anti-violence message (“don’t be a macho man”) contrasted sharply with the aggressive musical energy, showing Jackson’s ability to mix social commentary with mass appeal.
‘Billie Jean’, which was released in the same year as ‘Beat It’, is arguably the defining song of Michael Jackson’s career, the one that transformed him from a successful global icon into a musical legend.
The teaser then goes on to show the highs of Michael Jackson’s career, and his global impact as a cultural force, as he performs to packed arenas, and the audience fainting in his show, something that was common occurrence during his concerts.
It ends with another shot from the opening sequence of the teaser as Michael Jackson says, “Can you light the lights for me please” given he was a stage artist who transitioned to studio sessions.
Michael Jackson is considered the ‘King of Pop’. He was a transformative figure in music, dance, and entertainment. He revolutionised pop music through albums like ‘Thriller’, ‘Bad’, and ‘Dangerous’. His innovative music videos, signature dance moves like the moonwalk, and boundary-breaking sound reshaped pop-culture.
Hollywood star Johnny Depp is almost set to star in ‘Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol’, which is an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic holiday story, for Paramount Pictures.
Horror auteur Ti West is directing from a script by Nathaniel Halpern, and Andrea Riseborough is set to co-star, reports ‘Variety’.
Emma Watts is producing, and Stephen Deuters and Jason Forman are executive producers. Should the deal close, the studio is looking to release the project on 13 November, 2026.
As per ‘Variety’, Johnny Depp will play the titular role of Ebenezer Scrooge, a misanthropic and miserly businessman in 19th century London who is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future in an effort to save himself from an afterlife of torment.
The character has been a mainstay of holiday cinema for decades, including in the classic 1951 adaptation starring Alastair Sim, 1988’s ‘Scrooged’ with Bill Murray, 1992’s ‘A Muppet Christmas Carol’ with Michael Caine, and 2009’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ with Jim Carrey.
‘Nosferatu’ director Robert Eggers is also developing his own take on the story at Warner Bros., with Willem Dafoe circling the role of Scrooge. The film would mark Johnny Depp’s first role from a major studio since 2018’s ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’. He was fired from that franchise after he lost a libel case against the British tabloid The Sun, which had called the actor a “wife beater” in 2018 following allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife Amber Heard.
In a separate U.S. trial in 2022, both Johnny Depp and Heard were found to have defamed each other. Johnny Depp’s since starred in a handful of independent films, and he recently shot the thriller ‘Day Drinker’ for Lionsgate opposite Penelope Cruz, which is also expected to premiere in 2026.
A new show ‘Dining with the Kapoors’, which will give a glimpse into the world of Bollywood’s most iconic family, is all set to stream on Netflix from 21 November.
The show, which will be marking 100 years of the legendary Raj Kapoor, is created by Armaan Jain, directed and written by Smriti Mundhra, and produced by Aavashyak Media.
Creator Armaan Jain said: “Bringing the Kapoor khandan together around the table felt like unlocking generations of stories — the laughter, the chaos, the endless food, and of course, the banter that’s basically in our DNA.”
He said that the show is his way of honouring his “Nanaji” Raj Kapoor and celebrating the timeless bond that continues to hold us together.
“There could have been no better partner than Netflix to bring this story to life and share it with audiences across the globe. Produced by my company, Aavashyak Media, this project is a heartfelt ode to family, film, and the memories that shape us,” added Armaan.
Shot in a documentary, fly-on-the-wall style, it offers an unfiltered glimpse into their world: the laughter, the affectionate teasing, and timeless bonds passed on from generations that have defined Bollywood’s first film family.
Honouring the legacy of the man who shaped Indian cinema, the special brings together Randhir Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Rima Jain, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, and more.
Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India, shares, “For close to a decade, Netflix has championed and expanded India’s appetite for documentary storytelling, exploring diverse genres and distinct voices within the format. With Dining With The Kapoors, we bring a story that is both momentous and heartwarming.”
“As the Kapoor clan comes together to celebrate 100 years of their legendary patriarch, Raj Kapoor, the table overflows with food, laughter, and love. We’re honoured to take viewers on a culinary journey brimming with classic Kapoor wit and humour, legacy, and flavour.”
She added: Under the expert direction of Smriti Mundhra, who returns to Netflix after the beloved 2023 docu-series The Romantics, the film offers an intimate glimpse into the traditions, conversations, and bonds that define the Kapoor Khaandaan.”
“We’re delighted to partner with Aavashyak Media and Armaan Jain on his maiden project as creator, producer, and showrunner, and we believe this is exactly the kind of heartfelt, authentic storytelling that thrives on Netflix.”
When looking for a cheaper way to send money from the UK to India, one may come across many apps and services. Many NRIs in the UK are choosing Profee, a remittance service that combines digital innovation, client-friendliness, and beneficial terms. What is Profee, and why should you try it?
These five simple stories of Indians living in the UK and Ireland show why Profee is your ultimate choice for money transfers to India.
Kamal is a chef at an Indian restaurant in Birmingham. He is happy to be a part of the Indian community in the UK. Kamal lives in England with his wife and children. He supports his and his wife’s parents in Mumbai by sending money to them every month. When he heard of Profee for the first time, he was looking for a cheap money transfer to India option. The GBP to INR rate was so good that Kamal even questioned if Profee was legit. However, after trying Profee money transfers to India and enjoying the promo rate for the first transfer, Kamal knows that Profee helps him support his loved ones without overspending a penny.Raj is a software developer in an international company based in Dublin. He works hard, and his payroll allows him to enjoy the bustling Dublin life to the fullest. Many of Raj’s colleagues feel stressed out due to high pressure at work, but Raj is always in high spirits, thanks to the support of his family. Whenever Raj is tired, he cooks curry using his Dadi’s recipe and feels better thanks to the memories of the days he spent back home. To show support to his family, Raj remits money to them using the Profee app. As a senior software engineer, Raj is concerned about digital safety; before sending money to India, he read the Profee reviews to learn whether Profee is safe. Raj knows that Profee’s certificates and protocols meet international standards and is sure that Profee is the best app for transferring money to India.
Image: Profee
Anusha works as a nurse in Plymouth. She is devoted to helping others and feels rewarded thanks to her medical career. Even though relocating to the United Kingdom helped Anusha find new friends and increase her income, she cherished the dream of returning to India and opening a retirement home. Therefore, she has a savings account in the Indian bank and transfers money to it regularly. To get the best exchange rate to rupees, Anusha uses Profee. She searched the GBP-INR rate on the web and compared it to that of the popular services many times – and Profee always turned out to be the most beneficial option to transfer money to India. Every paisa counts for Anusha, and she is happy to know that her dream will come true one day
Chandra is a customer support specialist and an aspiring actress. She works hard for a telecom company in London, takes acting classes, and goes to auditions. Chandra has three younger sisters, and she knows she is their role model, so she hopes to become a star like Priyanka Chopra or Aliya Bhatt. She often sends money transfers to India to support her parents and siblings. Once she was so tired, she misspelt the bank account number and lost the money. After that, Chandra came across the Profee money transfer app reviews. She learnt how to transfer money to India smoothly: with Profee, she can save the card and bank account numbers to avoid typos and errors.
Deepak is a student in Aberdeen. He wants to become a lawyer and a politician. Deepak works part-time at a delivery company to have enough money. Even though studies and work require a lot of time, Deepak still has a lot of hobbies. One is cricket: Deepak watches all the main games even when far from home. He discusses the most exciting moments with his family, friends, and other Indian students in the UK. One of the things Deepak loves most about cricket is that it is a team sport: the players come together to seize the victory. Deepak is sure his friends are his team: they help each other and can even earn money thanks to their friendship! When Deepak was trying to find out how to send money to India from Schotland, he came across Profee and enjoyed the experience so much that he wanted to share the service with his friends immediately. It turned out that the Profee money transfer app offers rewards for the inviter and the invitee if the latter sends a transfer of at least 100 EUR (some 86 GBP) in 30 days after creating an account. Deepak invited five friends, four of whom signed up for Profee and sent the money to India. Deepak earned over 30 pounds, and each of his friends got a reward as well.
Finally, here are the five reasons to use Profee for beneficial money transfers:
Welcome Gift: at Profee, new clients can get special terms for their first transfer. They do not need to pay the transfer fee (which is otherwise fixed and makes 1 GPB) and get a promo exchange rate to get more rupees for their pounds.
100% Security: Profee is a licensed company and protects its customers’ data and assets.
Beneficial exchange rate: Profee allows you to get more rupees for your pounds—search the currency rate on the web and check for yourself!
Friendly interface: Profee’s website and mobile apps are designed to make the transfer process smooth and easy. To keep your money safe, the chances of typos and errors are reduced to a minimum.
Referral rewards:invite your friends to Profee – both you and them can get the money after their first transfer. Get your personal referral link and send it to a friend of yours. After creating an account, they need to transfer at least 100 euros (some 86 British pounds) in 30 days. After that, your friend will get a 5 EUR reward for the first transfer, and you will get a 10 euro reward. The best part is that the number of rewards for the invited friends is unlimited: invite more friends and earn more money!
We highlighted the five reasons to send money from the UK to India, but you may find more benefits after you try Profee yourself!
More than 100 business and policy leaders travelled from across India to attend EPG’s inaugural India Week last week, and another 800 participants from across the UK, Europe and the US.
Global advisory firm EPG organised India Week to create a global conversation around India’s increased important in the world economy. Now the most populous country in the world, India’s economic growth rate is the highest amongst major economies today. India’s inflation rate is lower than that of the UK, US and other major economies. As the Western world diversifies its supply chains and geopolitical dependencies away from China, India stands to benefit.
India Week started on 7 May with CEOs Golf Weekend in Leicestershire, followed by an education conference and Awards in Oxford, with a Keynote Address from Rakkam Sangma, Education Minister of Meghalaya. The London leg was on 11-12 May, including the Ideas for India conference, an invite-only dinner in the House of Commons, and a black-tie dinner with KT Rama Rao (Minister for Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Industries, Commerce & IT, Telangana).
KTR, as he is known, highlighted the remarkable progress made by Telangana in the last nine years. KTR was optimistic that by doing things right, what China could achieve in 30 years, India could do in less than 20 years. “As India, we have to focus on the fundamentals and basics the way Telangana did. We need to focus on the farmer, the youth, while creating a future that is based in innovation and making India a leader in the fourth Industrial Revolution,” he said.
His speech was to more than 300 attendees, including leading members of the Telangana diaspora, and drew several standing ovations.
During the Telangana government’s visit to the UK, KTR signed an Memorandum of Understanding with the London Stock Exchange Group CIO’s Anthony McCarthy for the establishment of a Technology Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad, generating up to 1,000 new jobs.
Raghuram Rajan Image: EPG UKFormer Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Raghuram Rajan, delivered the Keynote Address during the Ideas for India conference, organised in conjunction with think tank Bridge India. In it, he said India’s growth path lies in leveraging its intrinsic strengths and becoming crucial to global supply chains by building on its historic culture of tolerance and respect for all. “Our independent judiciary, our liberal democracy, these are critical advantages if we are to go down this manufacturing service-led growth path because this will enable us to earn the world’s trust; it’s intrinsically necessary,” said Rajan.
Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister of State for International Trade, said he was “Delighted to speak to our friends from India during India Week and highlight how a free trade agreement can benefit both nations. A UK-India trade deal is a huge opportunity for both sides, and could boost our £36bn trading relationship and pull down barriers to trade.”
Ruth Cadbury MP, Shadow Minister for International Trade, said: “The conference showed the close links between our two countries and important work we can do around energy security and trade.”
Supriya Shrinate, Chairperson, Social Media and Digital Platforms, for the Indian National Congress, said: “As a proud Indian – I asserted India has made huge strides to emerge as a global super power and reach where we have … Also insisted that despite moments of weakness that plague our democracy it is the resilience and the inbuilt course correction by people that keeps hope and democracy alive. Because they aren’t just some lofty ideas or pillars of our constitution, these are the virtues on which our economic heft and our role as a global power are built upon.”
Pratik Dattani Image;’ EPG UKPratik Dattani, Managing Director of EPG, said: “India is the world’s largest democracy, most populous country and has the fastest economic growth rate amongst major economies. During India Week, we saw interest from governments from across India in engaging foreign investors to bring new ideas, innovation and investment into their cities. Telangana’s MOU with the LSEG is one example of how the bilateral partnership can work for mutual benefit.”
A wide range of cross-party policymakers travelled from India especially for the event, including Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly Rahul Narwekar; Chairman of Tipra Motha Pradyot Manikya, who spoke on the need for a strong federal structure in India; Regional Spokesperson for the NCP Umar Farooqui, and several others.
For the first time in five years, the UK government is set to introduce new passport fees for all applications starting February 2023.
The price changes, which will come into effect on 2 February, will affect those who are renewing or applying for a new passport.
The fee for a standard online application made from within the UK will rise from £75.50 to £82.50 pounds for adults and £49 to £53.50 for children.
Postal applications will increase from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 pounds to £64 for children.
The UK Home Office said in a statement that it “does not make any profit from the cost of passport applications”, adding that the changes are subject to Parliamentary scrutiny.
“The new fees will help the Home Office move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it, reducing reliance on funding from general taxation.”
The fees will also contribute to the cost of processing passport applications, consular support overseas, including for lost or stolen passports, and the cost of processing British citizens at UK borders, the Home Office statement read.
The increase will also help enable the government to continue improving its services.
Since January last year, over 95 per cent of standard applications have been processed within 10 weeks and customers are advised that they should apply in good time before travelling.
Oldham resident, Roxie Taj, a humanitarian worker and a volunteer in the Fire Services and Criminal Justice system has launched her new in-care business, ‘Visiting Angels’ to bring about a change in the quality of social care provisions in Oldham and surrounding areas
Having first hand experience of care for her daughter, who has Downs Syndrome, over many years, Roxie has faced challenges and understood the significant impact sector-wide issues have on the delivery of high-quality, attentive care for those in need.
With inattentive care, no regular carers and inconsistent quality creating problems for Roxie and her daughter, she decided to take matters into her own hands with the goal of helping reform care provision from within.
Now, having spent five years working in the local care sector to gain valuable insight and experience, Roxie has taken the next vital step towards making her goal a reality.
With her sights firmly set on improving the accessibility and overall provision of local care, Roxie proudly reaches out as Managing Director of Visiting Angels to go above and beyond for people in need of their expert services.
“With my little girl previously requiring care, I’ve had very close contact with local care providers for a number of years,” explained Roxie. “This has given me a real insight into how care providers operate in our community. Through no fault of the carers themselves, the conditions that they work in have created negative environments which ultimately lead to poor care delivery. The care my daughter experienced involved half of her allocated time simply waiting for her carer, then when a carer arrived, I felt it was very impersonal and in fact detrimental to her development.
“It’s because of this that I’m determined to address and act upon these issues with Visiting Angels. I understand the mindset of carers and I’m deeply rooted in the heart of the community, so I want to demonstrate my support and offer a high-quality care service that equally protects and values its dedicated, expert care staff.”
Visiting Angels’ ‘carer-centric’ approach sets it apart from other companies in the in-home care sector. Carers working for Visiting Angels feel valued and respected for their commitment to the industry.
Through both financial rewards, opportunities for career development and wellbeing considered a priority, Roxie is determined to address existing issues surrounding the industry, which often leaves carers feeling undervalued and underappreciated. These are just a few of the changes Visiting Angels is making that sets them apart from other care providers in the region.
“I feel that the community has been desperate for a care provider that puts a smile on its carers’ faces as much as its clients. By offering more positive opportunities for local carers, I’m hoping to address other sector-wide problems such as staff retention and wellbeing. We’re so blessed to live in such a diverse area, and we deserve a care provider that understands and acts upon the needs of our community’s most vulnerable residents, as opposed to one that’s simply driven by money,” added Roxie.
In its mission to meet the growing demand for exceptional care providers, Visiting Angels is setting a precedent and truly making a difference for those who need high-quality care in the community. With the aim of becoming the go-to employer for carers, Roxie hopes to build a team that feels valued, respected and protected. And with so many families’ loved ones experiencing poor and rushed care, Roxie is committed to making the changes necessary that will address ongoing issues within the sector such as poor pay terms whilst heightening the wellbeing of staff as much as clients.
For more information, visit Visiting Angels
The winners for the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) awards 2022, were announced on Saturday, 19 November in a ceremony attended by 500 guests.
There were a total of 11 categories of awards, ranging from “Business of the Year” to “Charity of the year”.
Formed in 1987, the ABCC has a long history in supporting the vast variety of diverse, Asian businesses that operate in the West Midlands. The largest Chamber of its kind, the ABCC acts as a gateway for any organisations looking to target the West Midlands Asian business community.’
Among the winners, Solihull based MOT and vehicle servicing company Motorserv UK was awarded with the Business of the Year title. The company was also given the Outstanding Small Business of the Year, while its managing director, Kamran Saleem was the winner of the Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year.
The business conducts up to 600 MOTs a month, making the centre one of Birmingham’s busiest, from which there is an impressive 80 per cent customer retention rate.
Meanwhile, Haroon Mota, founder of Active Inclusion Network and Muslim Hikers, was awarded the co-presidents Award for his passion, drive and determination, despite the abuse and racism he had faced while hiking outdoors.
Haroon Mota, also called ‘Marathon Man’ Image: Haroon Mota’s twitter
Known by many as the ‘Marathon Man’, Haroon is a runner, community activist and a mountaineer.
Over the years, Haroon has helped raised millions of pounds for charity and is an advocate for humanitarian causes. His fundraising adventures have seen him run marathons and climb mountains all around the world.
He has led successful fundraising expeditions for British Muslim Charities by hiking Kilimanjaro, Machu Picchu in Peru and raised a phenomenal £250,000 for the Rohingya crisis by leading 18 British Muslim Women on a trek to Mount Everest Basecamp.
Haroon, along with fellow Muslim hikers faced backlash and racist comments on social media when he organised a hike in the peak district during past Christmas day. He was targeted again when he appeared in BBC’s documentary Countryfile.
Speaking about receiving the co-presidents award, Haroon said: “A huge thank you for the ABCC co-presidents for offering me this award. Nothing is more important than wellbeing. We don’t have the outdoors and fitness embedded in us and that’s what I have been working on. Try to get outside a little bit more and remind yourself of how blessed you are!”
Speaking about the winners, ABCC co-presidents Omar Rashid and Amina Hussain said: “A massive congratulations to all the award winners. It was great to see such a diverse range of winners. Special mention to Kamran Saleem and MotorServ UK for winning not one, not two but three awards on the night, including Overall Asian Business of the Year 2022”
Full list of Award winners:
Charity Of the Year sponsored by OTD
Winner – Services for Education
Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by Este Medical Group
Winner – Kamran Saleem, Motorserv UK
Outstanding Finance Business of the Year sponsored by SME Outsourcing
Winner – FAZ Accountants Ltd
Outstanding Hospitality Business of the Year sponsored by Lets Sanify
Winner – Hotel du Vin
Outstanding Legal Services Business of the Year sponsored by Vicarage Court Solicitors
Winner – Shakespeare Martineau
Outstanding Small Business of the Year sponsored by Ones
Winner – MotorServ UK
Outstanding Start-Up Business of the Year sponsored by LIV24
Winner – Desicity
Outstanding Tech Business of the Year sponsored by South and City College Birmingham
Winner – Gloss Ltd
Outstanding Young Achiever of the Year sponsored by Staffordshire University
Winner – Gurdas Singh – WANAMA
Overall Business of the Year – Sponsored by Aston University
The energy crisis and the Coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed the way schooling operates in UK. A report by BBC, published last month, suggests that home-schooling is on the rise since the pandemic. While other reports suggesting that due to energy crisis, schools might be considering a three day week. The direct brunt of this chaotic transition is faced by school kids.
Trying to bring out a solution, two Class 9 students at Rastrick High School in Brighouse, Caisen Rehman and Zayan Fahad, both aged 13 have come up with a concept of metaverse schooling.
In a project, presented to Yeme Architects, Caisen and Zayan discuss the issues with traditional schooling.
The classroom size, they say is either too cramped up or too big, which as per the teenagers, can create a lot of distraction. Bad behaviour and bullying is another issue the 13-year-old duo point out, its “hard to prevent, (as) teachers (are) not always around”, they observe in their presentation. Another issue, they give out is a “lack of motivation” to study, as they feel teachers cannot always be available to check on students.
Metaverse schooling, according to Caisen and Zayan, can help kids learn more, while staying engaged. Their presentation observes that the students can plug in their device or the VR headset anywhere they want; be it a VR centre or a friend’s place where they can spend their breaks, socialising.
The presentation also throws light into scoring system, as proposed in a VR school. “Higher marks will lead to rewards like access to Metaverse concerts and matches, ” it notes. “There will be a gaming points system for behaviour, you start with 10 points and you can gain and lose points depending on your behaviour and effort,” the presentation adds.
Explaining the concept, the Class 9 duo note that “Metaverse is a combination of the virtual reality and mixed reality worlds accessed through a browser or headset, which allows people to have real time interactions and experiences across distance in the virtual reality world.”
Metaverse schooling, the kids explain, can help enhance and unleash the imagination capabilities of school children. It would speed up response times, encourage critical thinking and also develop a sense of teamwork.
A school on the moon Image: Presentation by Caisen and Zayan
A classroom, can be anywhere they want; be it inside a volcano or on the moon or even under the sea. The contention, the presentation makes that the school children will love the concept of metaverse as “it would make school seem less boring and instead of them thinking that they have to go, they will want to go,” given that “they could go anywhere and experience new things and meet new people.”
Zayan Fahad, when asked what made them chose metaverse schooling as a topic, said “We chose to do a VR school because we believe bringing new technology into school will make more kids excited to go to school”.
A school inside a volcano Image: Presentation by Caisen and Zayan
“We believe that even the worse behaved students will work well and enjoy school and say that they get to go to school instead of want to go to school,” Caisen added.
Amir Hussain, COE, Yeme Architects said “Enabling young people to recognise how their interests and experiences can be channelled into something that has major benefits to society is really rewarding. As an organisation we host a lot of training placements and believe they have the power to transform future career paths and improve confidence.”
“Gaming is enjoyed by a very high proportion of young people, so by aligning that with educational outcomes Zayan and Caisen have demonstrated the value of creating propositions like this. We’re excited to see where they go next with this in their future career paths,” he added.
Inked into print in 2011 at a press in Bradford, consistently making headlines which went from reporting historical events to making history itself. Asian Sunday newspaper swiftly grounded itself as a benchmark publication and UK’s first, free Sunday newspaper solo-owned by a woman.
The newspaper quickly became an essential print- the first Sunday title across the UK Asian media sector as it peeled back the layers of glossy print to fixate a limelight on UK-based South Asians and their oriental nuances.
Asian Sunday newspaper began as an axiom in founder Fatima Patel’s brain and with the aid of her parents’ newsagents, where as a youngster she had helped with sorting and delivering newspapers. The abstraction of printing a free, Sunday paper delivered directly to homes, took shape and soon tangible form. The tabloid was a fanfare of colourful stories and became a breakfast table essential as families spent languid Sundays indulging in sweetened tea and crisp anecdotes that served to entertain, educate and link diverse communities in a single chain.
Asian Sunday launched at Bradford City Hall in 2011
Editorial content for Asian Sunday is a vast spread dichotomised between pages heavy with politics, news and current affairs along with the glittering fanfare of arts, culture and entertainment that transcends stereotypes to encourage interaction and dialogue between various demographics. It is a fusion of cultures and diverse abstractions in one dialect that is crucial to bridge the verbal gaps between communities.
Fuelled by Fatima’s moxie and the success of the Bradford edition in achieving recognition and fostering cross-community relations between the South Asian and local communities, in 2013 she decided to expand her venture and introduce her brainchild to the capital, launching initially in East London.
This endeavour was largely supported by British Airways whose ethos of carving bridges to suture social and
Asian Sunday London launch with Kimberley Walsh, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Dynamo
political gaps aligned with that of Asian Sunday. The newspaper’s prosperity was also positively influenced by members of Bradford Council, MPs at the time: Keith Vaz, Anas Sarwar, Yasmin Qureshi, David Ward with a tribute to fellow Bradfordians: Kimberley Walsh, Steven Frayne (aka Dynamo) and Bollywood’s darling Kareena Kapoor Khan.
The glittering success of Asian Sunday at the house of parliament within a mere two years of launching became a quantum leap for Fatima and the tycoon soared to astral heights unaware of the shadow of misfortune quietly trailing her. Following the newspaper launch, Fatima was tragically hospitalised and bed bound with numerous health complications consistent for a few years
The mishap adversely impacted the newspaper and with deteriorating health, managing the Asian Sunday London title and the Asian Sunday Bradford title became impossible, consequently leading to a sudden and despairing wrap. The credits had been cued however avid readers of Asian Sunday craved the delicious warmth that suffused those who perused the newspaper and encouragement via heartfelt letters and texts began pouring in. The passionate words along, an iron will and the unconditional support from Mrs Rokaiya Patel; Fatima’s mother, the zest re-coloured her life and Fatima returned to full time word in 2015.
The pinnacle seemed further than before as challenges obscured her vision. Advertising revenues were flat-lining causing regional print newspapers to struggle financially while printing at a pace fast enough to match the digital tabloids was needless to say a herculean task yet Fatima had sown herself sure wings and with the faith of Icarus, flew to the sun.
Asian Sunday is now digital with lots of new shows and digital content planned for the coming months.
Brainstorming ideas to reconceptualise the newspaper, Fatima teased the idea of a weekday title-Asian Standard and immediately gave it the green light for production. Asian Sunday was to be introduced as a multimedia platform producing interesting, visual content to not only satiate the demands of a swiftly, digitalised world but also cut down the extra cost of Sunday production.
The plan was spread out for ten years and with courage, determination and lots of elbow grease the Asian Sunday Kirklees was launched in 2018 with Fatima’s mother as the director under the company name RF publishing which are the combined initials of the dynamic duo. Both Asian Sunday Bradford and Asian Sunday Kirklees carved a niche for themselves in the publishing industry and were bourgeoning rapidly until March 2020 arrived with the announcement of unprecedented lockdowns.
This became a setback for the print as associates, sponsors and advertisers cancelled their contracts on the uncertain possibilities of the corona virus pandemic. However, with strict quarantining and isolation, the need for forming virtual communities became more prominent along with providing credible news to combat the prejudices that had become prevalent online regarding Asian communities. The newspaper was in high demand therefore the directors were swift to take the ten year plan from paper to print and Asian Sunday’s virtual existence became the cynosure.
E-news, Interviews and the talk show- Let’s Talk soon landed us YouTube partner status that ensured Asian Sunday progressed as the supreme, multimedia platform it had morphed into. Finances became stable and as revenue was secured Asian Standard was released as a weekly print news title and today it has successfully proliferated into four regional print news titles; Asian Standard Bradford, Asian Standard Kirklees, Asian Standard North East and Asian Standard Leeds which work alongside Asian Sunday Online- the national brand.
The timeline of the last two years spanning from making Asian Sunday completely digital and rebranding it as Asian Sunday Online has been marked by stellar growth and plans to sustain the much-loved tabloid. The content has been consistently updated with quirky and original concepts to follow such as Simmering Sunday’s- a sumptuous food show, a make-over show, a panel-style guest show and multiple exciting endeavours along with expediting the print section as well where a further six Asian Standard regional titles are planned to launch by 2025.
Overwhelmed with a gentle love for the abundance of her virtual audience, Fatima said: “This past decade our company has seen and faced many challenges, but we are proud that today we have more than 150,000 people who read our newspapers every week and more than half a million readers online”
The tycoon added with much vigour “But what makes me prouder is that we have achieved our mission of ensuring that our newspaper doesn’t just reach the South Asian communities but also engages wider communities, to bridge the gap of understanding respecting other people’s faiths, lifestyles, cultures by way of learning and if anything, to get the conversations started. “So, a special thank you to all who have helped make this possible.”Asian Sunday has truly become a news platform owned by the community and we are grateful to everyone who has supported the brand. Having initially started with the abstract idea of creating a loving and inspirational community, we believe our success lies in the hearts of those that have come together through the pages of Asian Sunday. We pledge to continue enlivening your breakfast table discussions with delicious fables, news and entertainment and sincerely hope you stick around to keep reading and supporting the Asian Sunday Online and Asian Standard.
