Off-screen too, Ali Zafar and Aditi Rao Hydari have made a connection both professionally and artistically. Ali Zafar says of his beautiful co-star: “Aditi looks great, she acts great and she adds that freshness of ‘not having seen her more on celluloid’. She gives the audience something new and something that they can’t predict. She is serene and totally chilled out.”

Fuelling further their special relationship, Aditi Rao Hydari is equally gushing about the Pakistani actor and singing superstar when she said recently: “I really think Ali is a good human being, but he is very naughty and that is why I say, ‘Ali is a good Harami’”

The pair recently oozed chemistry on stage at the official film music launch for ‘London Paris New York’ in the Indian capital New Delhi, where they entertained guests with cheeky banter, a little bit of flirting, and of course some melodic singing!

It seems that the star-pairing of Ali Zafar and Aditi Rao Hydari is ready to set the silver screen alight in this year’s ultimate love story. ‘London Paris New York’ tells the quirky tale of two star-crossed, twenty-somethings, who find themselves drawn to each other in the most unlikely of circumstances, amidst the exciting backdrop of three of the world’s most vibrant cities – London, Paris and New York. The film is a coming-of-age comedy designed to appeal to the youth, ‘London Paris New York’ speaks their language, reflects their aspirations and portrays the angst and joys of falling in love.

‘London Paris New York’ is released through Twentieth Century Fox on 2nd March 2012.

By William Walker.

The “golden whistle” of China and three of his cohorts have been found guilty of corruption following a three year investigation into alleged match fixing according to state-run news agency Xinhua. The corrupt football referees, known collectively as “black whistles” were found guilty at a court in Dandong, Liaoning Province and will serve prison terms averaging five years each.

Lu Jun, perhaps the most renowned referee in China, who officiated the 2002 South Korea and Japan FIFA World Cup and the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, was sentenced to five and a half years for his part, having taken more than £80,000 in bribes.

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) as recently as December last year ceded that “corruption exposed flaws in the administrative system and imperfections in the supervision mechanism” and vowed to tackle it in a series of trials. Along with such high profile officials as Jun several former members of the CFA were sentenced, including CFA vice president Yang Yimin and CFA Referee Committee director Zhang Jianqiang.

Match fixing and corruption in sport, not solely in football, has long been a contentious issue in countries the world over, with such high profile cases asPakistancricket captain Salman Butt. Elsewhere investigations into organized crime involving match fixing at Turkey’s top football leagues in which more than sixty people have been detained is ongoing.

The investigations will not stop there, however, as the “big fishes” are yet to be tried, claims Xinhua. In a year that will see state elections inIndia, theUSandFrancecorruption is a hot topic and we can expect to see a lot more of these high profile allegations come to court.

The Mervyn Westfield cricketing scam takes another turn as an ex Pakistani international cricketer is named in the case. In court, Danish Kaneria was mentioned as having been involved in the spot betting scam.

The whole scandal initially started whenEssexplayer Tony Palladino approached Mervyn Westfield in September 2009 with a big wad of cash with a means to convincing him to assist in the betting scam. The roots of the idea were allegedly set up by Danish Kaneria which involved him and other friends supposedly pressuringWestfieldinto the idea during a dinner that Kaneria had arranged. It is believed thatWestfieldwas specifically targeted by Kaneria and others he had involved because he was young (21 at the time) and on the brink of the squad. WithWestfieldstill not a regular fixture in the team it appeared to make him more likely to be persuaded and with Kaneria involved it would make it harder for him to turn down the team’s well respected international star.

The court case also reported rumours of the scandal floating around the Essex County Cricket Club at the time but no allegations were made with perhaps a blind eye being turned by those involved with the club.

Danish Kaneria was arrested but without being charged. Mervyn Westfield has already pleaded guilty and is due to serve four months in jail.

Six groups are keen to restore and open Muhammad Ali Centre in Hockley.

The Muhammad Ali centre has been a target of vandalism and arson attacks since it closed more than a decade ago.

But now, six organisations have offered to resurrect the derelict building, which was opened by the sporting icon in 1983.

The community groups, who have not been named, have asked to draw up plans for the restoration and running of the centre inIcknield Streetin Hockley.

The premises were close to being demolished four years ago, when the council claimed that it would be too costly to restore.

Leisure department officials outlined a business plan to the groups during a meeting at the Summerfield Centre in Winson Green.

City leisure boss Coun Martin Mullaney told reporters, “I know how special this site is to the community and I have always been keen to return it to community use.

“We’ve stressed all along that any plan for the centre must be robust and viable. That remains the case but I am encouraged by the level of interest in this site.”

Officials are eager to reach an agreement quickly and believe that they may secure an asset transfer that will enable the centre to be re-opened.

Nicknamed ‘The Greatest’, Ali was involved in several historic boxing matches, including three with rival Joe Frazier.

Farokh Engineer, Lycamobile’s Brand Ambassador, recently visited the skills training centre in Chennai where he interacted with staff, alumni and students at work on careers that will lift their families out of poverty. “I am extremely proud to be associated with a company that is concerned with the wellbeing of the youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds,” said Farokh Engineer. “The support received at The Skills Training Centre from Lycamobile has enabled youth from the slums in Chennai to gain employable skills for a variety of sectors such as hospitality, automobile and IT services.”

Lycamobile joined hands with The British Asian Trust in 2011 to fund three training centres over three years that will provide livelihoods for 1,500 young people.

Malcolm X honoured on Smethwich plague.

Almost 50 years since his visit to Smethwick during racial tensions, Malcolm X has been honoured with a plague in the town.

The blue plague was revealed on the side of a house inMarshall Street, on the suggestion of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, which organisesBritain’s Black and Minority Ethnic national plaque scheme.

Spokesman Jak Beula told reporters, “It is an honour to be involved in commemorating Malcolm X with a blue plaque inBritainon the anniversary of his passing 47 years ago.

“As an international figure for civil rights his impact was felt far beyond the shores of theUnited StatesandAfrica.

“Indeed, one of his legacies was a contribution to the desegregation of residential housing inSmethwick.”

The Muslim civil right campaigner’s 1965 visit was part of a campaign in theMarshall Street, where white householders encouraged the council to buy the houses in order to prevent black or Asian families from moving in.

Malcolm X made the visit in February after holding the first meeting of the Council of African Organisation inLondon, but was assassinated nine days later inNew York. The father-of-six was shot during his speech at the Audubon Ballroom inHarlem.

Killer Thomas Hagan, who admitted his told in the murder, was released in parole from aNew Yorkprison in April 2010.

Two other men were convicted with him, but Hagan insisted that they were not involved and were released in the 1980s.

Director Spike Lee made a biographical film based on the political figure was released in 1992, with Denzel Washington.

Ricky Basra was shot at “point blank range” by Barrington Denny after being lured to a road near his home by a false drugs deal.

Mr Denny, aged 23 fromBirmingham, was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve at least 28 years. He had pleaded guilty to the murder of Ricky Basra at an earlier hearing.

Gary Narwain, aged 21 and fromWalsall, was sentenced to life, to serve a minimum 26 years for encouraging Mr Denny to carry out the shooting.

Sarah Singh, aged 31 and fromBirmingham, was sentenced to life, to serve at least 22 years for acting as bait. Both she and Mr Narwain were found guilty of the murder following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Ricky Basra, aged 22, was shot dead onMelville Road, Edgbaston on June 21, 2011. The murder was described by the Judge as a perfectly planned and executed assassination.

DS Rob Bastin from Force CID said: “Barrington Denny armed himself with a shotgun and travelled toMelville Roadwhere he shot dead Ricky Basra at close range.

“Sarah Singh played an integral part in this murder; through a misguided loyalty to Denny she lured Ricky to the location so that Denny could shoot him.

“Gary Narwain was a close associate of Denny. He was involved in the planning of the murder and assisted afterwards with the disposal of key evidence.

“This cowardly and callous attack has had a lasting effect on Ricky’s family and friends and my thoughts and sympathy go out to them today. I hope this verdict gives those close to Ricky some comfort. I know they are still coming to terms with their loss.

“West Midlands Police are fully committed to bring those offenders to justice who seek to use or arm themselves with firearms.”

Boy of five saved by op that was never performed before.

A stroke victim has become the youngest person to undergo a new stent operation.

Performed by a specialist who has never done the technique before, the 20 minute operation saved the five-year-old Saad Ali.

Dr Yufail Pantankar asked for advice from a US expert on his hands-free phone while he drove from hisManchesterhome.

At the hospital in Leeds, he removed the clot blocking an artery to Saad’s brain by threading a stent through the boy’s thigh.

The operation allowed the blood to flow again, but Saad needed further surgery to reduce brain swelling.

He is now recovering at his home in Bradford,West Yorkshire.

Father Safdar, 44, said, “It’s a miracle. All the doctors and nurses have done such a great job.”

Lawyer and former Birmingham City Council manager Mirza Ahmad, has announced that he could stand as an independent candidate forBirminghammayor if the city’s citizens vote to create one in May’s election.

The council’s former Corporate Director of Governance told reporters that he would “encourage people to vote for change from the current stale party political system that is totally out of touch with people”.

However, the former barrister also said it would be too soon to formally announce that he would be candidate, as it would depend on the referendum results on 3 May whenBirminghamvoters visit their local ballot.

In an article for blog The Chamberlain Files, he said: “I have had lots of positive feedback and been encouraged to stand as there needs to be a ‘credible alternative’ to the usual suspects from the ‘old’ and out of touch parties.”
“It all depends, therefore, if Birmingham elects to have an elected mayor, and as previously declared, I hope the electorate see the advantages of having one running Birmingham.”
Dr Ahmad said he would follow his “guiding principles” if elected, which includes working with local groups to “cultivate a strong sense of community pride” in the city by celebrating what each community contributes in making it better.

About his principles, he said, “I will promote economic prosperity to driveBirmingham’s local and regional economies by ensuringBirminghambecomes a strong international city.

“I will ensure public funds are maximised for best effect to support the local and regional economic prosperity that will be necessary to drive the other improvements in public/private infrastructure, regenerate local areas and improve the lives of people.”

A Syrian-born Birmingham medic wins back children from ex in Dubai.

A Selly Oak doctor has reunited with her children, three years after her husband fled with them to theMiddle East.

Yusra Abo Hamed has battled to win back her two sons, who were taken in 2008, through the courts of four countries.

The 42-year-old lost her home and her job in the custody war, as she had to spend a vast amount of money on legal challenges in theUK,Syria,JordanandDubai.

The Dubai Court of Cassation eventually issued an order for 11-year-old Sami and Rami, 5, to be handed back to their mother.

During the break down of her marriage to medic Dr Bassam Odeh, the worried mother warnedUKauthorities that her children were at risk of being abducted.

But despite court orders and the children being on an alert register with border officials, Mr Odeh fled fromBirminghamwith the pair.

Dr Hamed received a text from her ex husband, after he did not return to theUKwith their children in December 2008, stating that she would not see them again.

“The last time I saw them was in May 2011 and I dare not even dream of seeing them until it actually happens.
Currently homeless, Dr Hamed said that she is not sure where she and her sons would live, but “she just wants to be with them.”

Dr Odeh, a former haematology specialist atBirminghamCityHospital, said he refused theUKterm, saying that it was a “simple human right” to move to his home country to live permanently.

He was struck off by the GMC last February, after he was found guilty of breaching a court order by taking the children away from theUK.