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PAD MAN AKSHAY KUMAR FLAGS OFF INDIA’S LARGEST NATIONWIDE RUN IN LUCKNOW
Thousands attend run and concert at Sahara Shaher Auditorium with Akshay Kumar, Singer Darshan Raval and other eminent individuals

Akshay Kumar makes spectacular entrance into the auditorium with female bikers, sporting pink as an ode to woman empowerment

Run4Niine has been simultaneously organised across 500+ cities and 20+ States in India

Megastar and the Pad Man of India Akshay Kumar flagged-off Run4Niine at Sahara Shaher in Lucknow – the largest nationwide run to take place in India to end taboos around menstruation – on the 8^th of March to mark International Women’s Day 2019.

An initiative by Niine Sanitary Napkins, the made-in-India affordable yet premium sanitary napkins brand, Run4Niine was supported by the Niine Movement which launched the nationwide #18to82 campaign movement to bridge the gap between the 18% of menstruating females in India who use sanitary napkins, and the 82% predominantly engaging in unhygienic and unsafe alternatives such as old cloths, rags, hay and even ash.

The pan India event saw over 1,00,000 participants across more than 500 cities in 20 states in India including Lucknow, Gurgaon, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Raipur, Visakhapatnam, Ludhiana, Panjim, and Howrah. Participants from across all genders, ages and abilities, ran, jogged, walked and wheeled for the noble cause of highlighting the importance of safe menstrual hygiene practices and to break the taboo associated with periods.

In Lucknow, over 4,000 participants joined megastar Akshay Kumar at Sahara Shaher for the run, followed by a special concert by singer, songwriter and performer Darshan Raval who performed some of his most popular songs at the event aimed to smash the stigma on menstruation.

Akshay Kumar took his commitment to supporting fem-force to a new level when he was seen sporting pink trousers at Run4Niine as he made his grand entry into the auditorium joined by the famous all-women biker group, on their motorbikes. He then took to the stage for a series of interactions with strong women empowerment champions.

Speaking on stage about his association with Run4Niine, megastar Akshay Kumar said, “I am excited to be partnering with the Niine Movement to encourage an open and unashamed discussion on menstruation with my fellow citizens, pad heroes, change makers and pathbreakers for the Run4Niine. Each one of us that takes part in Run4Niine helps to create an unstoppable force that will beat the stigma around periods.”

Discussing the significance of the event taking place to mark International Women’s Day Akshay Kumar added “International Women’s Day is a significant day for women and girls across the world; a day when women are not only celebrated for their achievements and contributions in all sectors of life but a cold reminder of the inequalities that exist in our society which have kept girls and women back for centuries. International Women’s Day serves as a fitting day for Run4Niine, where EVERYONE can come together in solidarity to tackle menstrual taboos.”

Run4Niine is an initiative by Niine Sanitary Napkins, a challenger brand in the menstrual hygiene sector of India. Co-founded by leading Gorakhpur social-entrepreneurs, Amar Tulsiyan and Gaurav Bathwal and Kanpur entrepreneur Sharat Khemka, the brand entered the market with products that have leveraged the innovation and expertise of international experts in the United States who have extensive experience in designing products in the sanitation and hygiene space. Niine Sanitary Napkins is also the first sanitary napkin brand in India, which comes with a disposal bag and the first to launch a Period Tracker app.

Speaking about the Run4Niine Lucknow, Amar Tulsiyan said, “My heartfelt gratitude to so many thousands of people across hundreds of cities who took part in Run4Niine. I was also glad to see so many boys and men joining hands to raise their voice against the stigma around menstruation. The Chain of Niine has never been stronger, and I’d like to thank JCI India, FOGSI, Mr Akshay Kumar, for their support. People usually run for their own fitness and health. This International Women’s Day they ran for awareness of health of woman of country especially during menstruation. Niine was created to break the silence and the stigma around periods in India. Today I can truly say that we are not alone in that wish, and that we are one step closer to improving menstrual hygiene awareness for all.”

Speaking about the significance of the Run4Niine, Amreesh Chandra, Vice Chairman, CEL and Global Ambassador of Niine said, “Run4Niine is truly a landmark moment for the Niine Movement, and for the conversation around menstrual hygiene as a whole. The enthusiasm that the run has received across cities shows the real support across India for breaking the taboos around menstruation. As an educationist I am sure Niine will play a major role in the eradication of girl absenteeism in schools on account of menstruation. I would like to thank our partners JCI India, FOGSI for their strong support and Sahara for a beautiful venue for a noble cause, and other organisations and everyone who has registered to Run4Niine, showing the world that India will no longer be silent about periods.”

Run4Niine is being organised in the support of esteemed partners and is powered by JCI India, the non-profit organisation encouraging young people to be active responsible citizens and to take the ‘Let’s Talk About Periods’ message to the streets of hundreds of cities. It is supported by Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), a long-term partner of Niine and one of the largest membership-based organizations for specialized professionals within the field of obstetrics and gynaecology in India, who have also been organising workshops in several cities where Run4Niine activities are taking place to help encourage more people to take an active role. Run4Niine national partners include: Fortis Hospitals as medical partner across the cities they are present, and Coca-Cola as beverage partner across 10 cities including in Lucknow.

Speaking about their role in taking the Run4Niine message to hundreds of cities across India, JCI India 2019 President Shirish Dundoo and JCI India 2018 President Arpit Hathi, who are mobilising support for Run4Niine across cities jointly said: “JCI India is proud to have a partner like Niine for the initiative ‘Run4Niine’. It has been brilliant to see so many young people across the country taking action and running, walking and more to show their support for menstrual hygiene awareness. It is shocking that there is still a stigma and taboo about periods that restricts women and girls across India – but the Run4Niine has shown that people across of India – young and older seek a change for the better. We are pleased to have played a role in this and look forward to working with Niine on future initiatives. JCI India has association with Niine with common interest to address the women health issues.

We are associated to bring awareness among women for proper menstrual hygiene. Our aim is to educate women across the country to overcome the taboo of menstruation. We ensure that sanitary awareness reaches those most in need under the Prayas program. We are promoting women’s health awareness with this project as a part of Impact 2030 which is integrated into the UNSDG (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals). Let’s all Inspire youth, Inspire leaders, and inspire Change to create an impact in society and bring awareness about menstrual hygiene in women and girls. On this International Women’s Day let’s all support our sisters through this Prayas and Run4Niine for a better world.”

FOGSI 2018 President, Dr Jaideep Malhotra and FOGSI 2019 President, Dr Nandita Palshetkar jointly said: “We are extremely proud to be associated with Run4Niine and truly believe in their vision to tackle menstrual taboos. We will be conducting workshops across India to help encourage people to start a dialogue on periods.”

Innerwheel Club District 312 and Rotary International District 3120 have been actively supporting the Niine Movement’s mission and have organised runs in several cities across North India. Innerwheel Club District 312, District Chairperson, Mrs. Shalini Talwar and Mrs. Alka Past District Chairman jointly said: “We are delighted to partner with Niine Movement and support Run4Niine. It is very important that we encourage candid conversations surrounding women’s health; conduct sessions on gender, sexuality, and menstrual hygiene management, which will help young children understand menstruation as a clean and natural biological process.”

Rotary International District 3120, District Governor Rtn Stuti Agrawal and President Rotary Club Lucknow jointly said: “We have been working with the Niine Movement to raise awareness of menstrual hygiene for over a year and more than eve before we are committed to ending every taboo around menstruation. Run4Nine has been an incredible opportunity to bring together everyone for one cause.”

Run4Niine is also supported by WaterAid India, an international not-for-profit determined to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation, and UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Speaking about the importance of menstrual hygiene awareness, Farrukh Khan, Regional Manager (North), WaterAid India said, “Menstrual hygiene management is an important area of work for WaterAid. We use an approach that is comprehensive and focuses on addressing taboos while also creating an enabling environment to foster change. We believe that the issue needs a holistic approach that addresses all aspects, be it ensuring access to products, infrastructure or safe disposal of waste.”

Speaking about UN Women’s work in menstrual hygiene awareness, Nishtha Satyam, Deputy Representative, UN Women India MCO, said “Access to sexual and reproductive services and information is linked to all the aspects of women empowerment. The fact that only 18% of the women in India have access to sanitary napkins is a stark reminder of the efforts required to uproot misinformation at a grassroots level. Menstrual hygiene is also a sanitation matter. We need to provide more WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) facilities for women and girls, so that they can access all spaces in a safe and dignified manner. UN Women is pleased to support Niine Movement’s nationwide ‘Run4Niine’ this International Women’s Day.”

Other supporters of Run4Niine include Sahara Group of Companies including Sahara Hospital and Sahara Shaher; Food Partner Buttercup Bungalow Bakery, Levana Hotels, Cappuccino Blast; Hospitality Partner Levana Hospitality with the kind support of Director Rahul Agrawal; Medical Partner Sahara Hospital; Hygiene Partner Freshca, Media Partners Big FM, India News. Run4Niine associates include Rotary International District 3120 and District Governor Rtn Stuti Agrawal, Innerwheel Club District 312 and Chairperson Mrs. Shalini Talwar, Chairperson; JCI India and especially JC Ashwini Kumar, President Zone 3 (U.P, East, West Bengal, Bihar & Jharkhand) based out of Lucknow; FOGSI’s Dr. Uma Singh, President FOGSI Lucknow and Dr. Preeti Kumar, Senior FOGSI Member; National Cadet Core (NCC) and Major General A. K. Sapra, Addl Director General, U.P; Srijan Foundation and its Founder Amit Sraikwal; Chetna Institute of Mentally Handicapped Children and its Founder Mrs. Alka Bansal; Jute for Life and its Founder Anjali Singh; U.P. Mahila Samakhya, a Government of U.P. Initiative; Pad Bank NGO by College Students of Bareilly inspired by the film Pad Man and the Rehabilitation Institute of Visually Impaired.

For further information on Run4Niine, log on to: www.niine.com/run4niine
8th March 2019
Worrld We Want launches to revolutionise Global Impact Sector through cross-sector collaboration – Sterling Media
As UN Secretary General Warns of Dysfunctional World, Worrld We Want promotes collaboration for a better world through revolutionary ideas and responsible goals

193 world leaders adopted The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, an ambitious plan to end global poverty, tackle climate change and reduce inequalities by 2030. In response to the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ warning at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos 2019 that the world’s problems are becoming more ‘integrated’ but its responses more ‘fragmented’ and ‘dysfunctional’, an ambitious new organisation aimed at revolutionising the social impact and advocacy sector through cross-sector collaboration is launching to empower the next generation of leaders, businesses and change-makers to support social good causes.

Worrld We Want (WWW) is a global impact enterprise launched to unlock the collective strength of people, ideas, networks and technologies to accelerate achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

2019 represents a fast-changing world, where the assumptions and rules of old no longer apply, and where new ideas are born every day. As the UN Secretary General highlighted in Davos, issues of climate change and inequalities remain the world’s biggest challenges due to a lack of cooperation. The rise of social justice activism and corporate social responsibility reflects a generation imbued with the desire to do well by doing good. WWW has been launched with the aim of harnessing that sense of purpose to convert into meaningful action, combining revolutionary ideas with responsible goals.

With an international team of experts based in the UK, India, USA, Hong Kong and the UAE, WWW has been co-founded by Teji Singh and Natasha Mudhar, seasoned entrepreneurs and the driving force behind the award-winning global business communication strategy consultancy Sterling Group.

WWW is powered by “Accelerator” ventures aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on convening leading organisations, corporations, public figures including celebrities, campaigners and thought leaders around the world to awaken social consciousness and drive meaningful change. Ventures include identifying and enabling the change makers of the future through events, indexes, mentorship and incubation initiatives, empowering the world’s citizens through supporting open data policies, harnessing the power of celebrity and pop culture to entertain and inspire audiences and supporting critical impact projects through an ethical investment fund. “Accelerator” ventures include:

W: More than a consultancy, W will help businesses to turn their social good initiatives into a movement, through storytelling, communication strategy and encouraging cross-sector collaboration. With W’s guidance, more businesses will understand how they can do well by doing good, and how to create clear and compelling narratives that reflect what audiences really care about.

CHANGE4GOOD: Change4Good will look to the change makers of tomorrow. With the solutions to tackling complex challenges likely to come from creative, idealist, ambitious and energetic minds, Change4Good will showcase young leaders who are already making a difference. This will culminate with the launch of a Globe Shakers index profiling young change makers.

POWERTOPEOPLE: PowerToPeople will aim to support open data initiatives to empower the world’s citizens and provide solutions to major global issues. Through working together to build a strong data ecosystem, PowerToPeople will create the opportunity for everyone to access the knowledge they need to help to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS: WWW will also have an expert service that will help companies to craft CSR strategies and become more trustworthy, accountable and responsible. Businesses will be given guidance on how to modify leadership, values and actions to craft a credible Corporate Social Responsibility strategy for today’s corporate world, respecting the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit

PopularCulture4Good (PC4Good): Pop Culture is a useful tool that can be used to develop a national and international communication strategy. PC4Good will help businesses to use the power of celebrities – from artists, musicians and film stars to cultural leaders -to bring attention to social good causes and to create impactful change

W Impact Investment Fund: The W Impact Investment Fund is a global consortium that has been set up to support critical impact projects, backed by investors seeking sustainable finance and green investment portfolios. Through ethical investment, the fund will help to create action and impact around the world. Supporting critical impact projects around the world through ethical investment.

Tashan: An ethical lifestyle and wellness retail brand with the core values of creating style with substance, centred around a planet conscious way of life. Tashan will aim to be a noble model for retail – creating a value driven enterprise, sustainably sourced and ethically created for the modern consumer.

Speaking about the launch of Worrld We Want, Co-founder and Chairperson Teji Singh said: “Worrld We Want represents an exciting opportunity to convene changemakers from around the world and help to create new ones, all working to achieve the sustainable development goals. Now is the time to take action, and it will take our collective expertise, resources and willpower to build a better future for the world. We look forward to working with our partners and businesses to create truly effective global impact through cross-sector collaboration.”

Co-founder and CEO Natasha Mudhar said “We are proud at last to unveil Worrld We Want. After years of bringing brands closer to their purpose, with WWW we aim to turn that purpose into action, by supporting new ideas for global impact and social good across sectors. The UN Secretary General is right that a dysfunctional and fragmented response from the world only makes challenges more difficult to overcome. Most of today’s social challenges are too complex for any single individual or institution to solve. And that’s why we believe cross-sector collaboration is the game changer for social change. We believe that by working together, with revolutionary ideas and responsible goals, we can build the best possible world – the worrld we want.”

Find out more: https://worrldwewant.com/
6th February 2019
Winner of DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 announced – Sterling Media

‘No Presents Please’ originally written in Kannada by noted author Jayant Kaikini and translated into English by eminent translator Tejaswini Niranjana has been announced as the winner of the prestigious DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 at the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet in Kolkata, India. The DSC Prize has always encouraged writing in regional languages and translations, and this is the first time that a translated work has won the prize. This magnificent book gives us a protagonist that is vivid yet full of contradictions, spirited yet lonely, embattled yet big-hearted – the city of Mumbai. Empathy and survival are the constant, codependent themes that unify every strand of this extraordinary book, creating a shimmering mosaic of a conflicted city that is as kind as it is, at times, cruel.

In a glittering award ceremony, the US $25,000 DSC Prize was awarded to Jayant Kaikini and Tejaswini Niranjana along with a unique trophy by eminent writer Ruskin Bond. As per the prize process, the prize money would be equally shared between the author and the translator. The world’s literati including writers, publishers, media and literary enthusiasts who had gathered for the Award Ceremony at the iconic Victoria Memorial Hall enthusiastically applauded the winner of the DSC Prize 2018.

The six shortlisted authors and books in contention for the DSC Prize this year were Jayant Kaikini: No Presents Please (Translated by Tejaswini Niranjana, Harper Perennial, HarperCollins India), Kamila Shamsie: Home Fire (Riverhead Books, USA and Bloomsbury, UK), Manu Joseph: Miss Laila Armed And Dangerous (Fourth Estate, HarperCollins, India), Mohsin Hamid: Exit West (Riverhead Books, USA and Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House, India), Neel Mukherjee: A State Of Freedom (Chatto & Windus, Vintage, UK and Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House, India) and Sujit Saraf: Harilal & Sons (Speaking Tiger, India)

Jury Chair Rudrangshu Mukherjee, speaking on behalf of the jury said, “The jury decided to award the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 to ‘No Presents Please’ by Jayant Kaikini which has been translated by Tejaswini Niranjana and published by Harper Perennial. The jury was deeply impressed by the quiet voice of the author through which he presented vignettes of life in Mumbai and made the city the protagonist of a coherent narrative. The Mumbai that came across through the pen of Kaikini was the city of ordinary people who inhabit the bustling metropolis. It is a view from the margins and all the more poignant because of it. This is the first time that this award is being given to a translated work and the jury would like to recognize the outstanding contribution of Tejaswini Niranjana, the translator.”

Malavika Banerjee, Director of the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet, made the opening address and welcomed the DSC Prize to the city of Kolkata. As part of the evening program, the 5 member international jury panel of the DSC Prize was introduced, the shortlisted authors read excerpts from their books, and culminated with Ruskin Bond, the Chief Guest for the ceremony, presenting the trophy to the winner of the DSC Prize 2018.

Administered by the South Asian Literature Prize & Events Trust, the prestigious DSC Prize for South Asian Literature has helped to raise the profile of South Asian writing around the world by rewarding authors who write about the region. The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature which was instituted in 2010, is an established international literary prize that awards the best work in South Asian fiction writing each year. The past winners have been from various countries and their work has reflected the importance of South Asian culture and literature.

Congratulating the winner, Surina Narula, MBE and co-founder of the DSC Prize said, “My heartfelt congratulations to author Jayant Kaikini and translator Tejaswini Niranjana for winning the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 for their brilliant book ‘No Presents Please’. It was a pleasure reading the shortlist. The challenges faced by the authors to weave their protests against the wave of anti globalization into their writings of seemingly harmless pieces of literature could be seen through their work, migration being a major theme this year. The DSC Prize has completed eight years and reading South Asian literature written in English including translations has enabled larger global audiences to understand the issues globalization has brought about. The jury as usual has to do the difficult task of selecting the better amongst the best. My congratulations to the jury for their excellent choice of the winner.”

The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 was judged by a diverse and distinguished five member jury panel comprising eminent figures drawn from the international literary fraternity who have worked in or around South Asian literature and issues. This year’s international jury panel included Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Jury Chair, Professor of History and the Chancellor of Ashoka University and an internationally acclaimed historian of the revolt of 1857 in India, Nandana Sen, a writer, actor and child-rights activist and author of six books, who has worked as a book editor, a poetry translator, a screenwriter, and a script doctor, Claire Armitstead, who has also been a theatre critic, arts editor and literary editor, Tissa Jayatilaka, who was the Executive Director of the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission and is the author of several publications and has translated and edited many journals, and Firdous Azim, Professor of English at BRAC University, Bangladesh, whose research has focused on women’s writings in the early twentieth century Bengal.

25th January 2019
India runs with Period-Positive vision for Run4Niine – Sterling Media

Megastar and India’s very own ‘Pad Man’ Akshay Kumar has joined forces with the Niine Movement to announce the launch of Run4Niine in up to 500 cities in India on the 8^th of March 2019 to mark International Women’s Day.

Run4Niine expands the nationwide #18to82 campaign initiated by the Niine Movement, to bridge the gap between the 18% of menstruating females in India who use sanitary napkins, and the 82% predominantly engaging in unhygienic and unsafe alternatives such as old cloths, rags, hay and even ash. This will be achieved by tackling the age-old taboos associated with menstruation in India, which have resulted in school dropouts for girls to severe reproductive health ailments.

Run4Niine aims to ensure no woman or girl is left behind in society due to her biology, whilst also engaging the men and boys of India to help show support for the cause. As an inclusive initiative, Run4Niine will bring together both genders, across all ages, backgrounds and of all abilities – to run, walk, jog and wheel across their cities, and help break the silence associated with menstruation and to join the Chain of Niine.

Run4Niine partner Junior Chambers International (JCI), the non-profit organisation encouraging young people to be active responsible citizens, will help take the ‘Let’s Talk About Periods’ message to the streets of India and in up to 500 cities, made possible through JCI’s chapter networks.

The Pad Man of India and Niine Movement champion Akshay Kumar will flag off Run4Niine in Lucknow. In addition to starting this unique nationwide campaign, Akshay Kumar will also be a part of a special event extravaganza where guests will be entertained and inspired to talk about the importance of menstrual hygiene awareness.

Speaking about his association with Run4Niine, megastar Akshay Kumar said, “When I made the movie Pad Man, I was hoping for it to turn into a conversation. But today, after a year, I can proudly say that it has grown to become a phenomenal movement, truly at a grass roots level. I am therefore excited to announce my partnership with the Niine Movement to take this to the streets of India and invite my fellow citizens, compatriots, change makers and pathbreakers to join me for Run4Niine, to raise awareness and initiate action on menstrual hygiene. Each of us when joined together will form a chain – an unstoppable force fighting an improbable stigma.”

Speaking on the significance of the event taking place to mark International Women’s Day Akshay Kumar added “International Women’s Day is a significant day for women and girls across the world; a day when not only women are celebrated for their achievements and contributions in all sectors of life but a cold reminder of the inequalities that exist in our society which have kept girls and women back for centuries. International Women’s Day serves as a fitting day for Run4Niine, where EVERYONE can come together in solidarity to tackle menstrual taboos.”

The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), a long-term partner of Niine and one of the largest membership-based organizations for specialized professionals within the field of obstetrics and gynaecology in India, also supports Run4Niine. FOGSI workshops will be set up in each of the cities where Run4Niine activities will be taking place, to help encourage more people to take an active role.

Run4Niine marks the next step in the Niine Movement’s 5-year ambitious plan for action on menstrual hygiene awareness, which is to engage the youth. The inclusion of young children – both girls and boys – in Run4Niine represents everything at the heart of the Niine vision. At its core lies the belief that engaging the future minds of India in their formative years now, will make for a better tomorrow.

The Niine Movement and Niine Sanitary Napkins, the made-in-India, affordable yet premium sanitary napkins brand was co-founded by leading Gorakhpur social-entrepreneurs, Amar Tulsiyan and Gaurav Bathwal and Kanpur entrepreneur Sharat Khemka. Speaking about the launch of Run4Niine, Amar Tulsiyan said, “I am delighted to be launching Run4Niine. The first event of its kind, we aim to galvanise the population into action and hope to get every woman, man and child running to break the taboos around menstrual hygiene. I would like to thank JCI and FOGSI for their support to help extend the reach of Run4Niine further, and to thank Mr. Akshay Kumar for his continued support. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to work with such esteemed organisations and brilliant minds and we look forward to expanding our partner footprint further to truly create a Chain of Niine.”

For further information on Run4Niine, log on to: www.niine.com/run4niine

25th January 2019
BOARDROOM POWER SUIT – EMPOWERED WOMEN NO LONGER NEED A POWER SUIT

As the obstacles facing women in business become clearer, global communications and brand strategy specialist Natasha Mudhar, Global CEO of business consultant Sterling Media takes aim at the board room power suit and argues that women shouldn’t need to dress to impress in order to be heard.

A recent report found that FTSE 100 companies saw no change in the number of women in the board room whilst FTSE 200 companies saw a sharp drop, highlighting that despite discussions of the gender pay gap, the glass ceiling remains firmly in place. There are many more obstacles that stand in the way of women’s success in business, ranging from unequal pay to corporate fashion. Case in point: the power suit. Sounds like something from a Marvel flick. But the reality is, the boardroom ‘power suit’ is more sixties pin-up than Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman.

For years, as the Global CEO of Sterling Media – a multi-disciplinary, global business services and communications consultancy specialising in brand strategy – I have felt the need to dress in a certain way in order to be taken seriously amongst my male counterparts at important boardroom meetings. Whether it be launching iconic brands like Aston Martin in India or listing a corporate powerhouse on the London Stock Exchange, I have always held my own when it comes to success in a male dominated industry like marketing and advertising. Would I have been able to do so had I turned up to the planning meetings in a dress and pearls? I fear not.

I have always had my own style, and fashion plays a big part in my life. However, when learning my trade in the communication agency, I soon found that my idea of style began to sub-consciously change, involuntarily. I would attend meetings with the top names of the luxury industry looking to offer the brand strategy services of Sterling Media, and find that the chief sitting at the head of the table would hardly even aim a glance in my direction. It was only once I began speaking would his eyes widen, his posture soften and the opaque bubble clearly surrounding me would pop. Only then would he pay me the attention. I may have won that contract for Sterling Media but it wasn’t without its collateral damage.

The sheer fact that I felt like he wasn’t lending me the respect he was showing to the men around the table touched a nerve with me. Before you knew it I was wearing clothes that I imagined would make look more serious and as a business consultant ‘should’– cue the emergence of the ‘Boardroom power suit’. I was keen to be taken seriously, and I felt the only way to do so was to begin dressing as close to the males in the room as possible. How wrong it that? I felt like an element of my individuality was taken from me.

It’s only now that I have spent over a decade as a business consultant in the marketing and advertising industry that my portfolio does the talking. I have built up a profile that digs deeper than the clothes I wear, but there is no doubt that I was forced to buy into the power suit culture in the opening years of my career.

Now that the topic of equal pay and diversifying the corporate and global communications world with more women leadership is being openly discussed, I feel it’s the perfect time to address the power suit, and spread the message that women needn’t have to dress a certain way in order to be heard.

This is not advocating turning up to job interviews and board meetings donning a pair of joggers and a tee and expecting anything more than a scowl and a literal and metaphorical door slammed in your face, but it is saying that women should feel comfortable in their own individual style.

There is a difference between corporate wear and the power suit. I believe that as long as somebody, male or female, is dressed in a smart way – they should be judged on what is coming from their mouths, not what is on their feet.

Women should feel free to express themselves with their own choice of clothing, and the boardroom power suit is a regressive stereotype which has no place in business. We should be able to address a room, which may happen to be full of men, and be shown the common courtesy of acknowledgment regardless of attire.

21^st Century business is not about fitting in. It’s about individuality, drive, passion and innovation – regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or social class.

Let’s add dress sense to that list.

13th December 2018
THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPARENCY IN BUSINESS

by Natasha Mudhar.

There is wisdom in the old adage “honesty is the best policy”, especially for businesses. We live in an increasingly connected world, where openness and truthfulness is praised and secrets are viewed with suspicion. For businesses and brands, this has meant a concerted effort must to appear honest, and meet public expectations – or face the consequences.

A good example of the cost this can have is the Volkswagen Emissions scandal, which led to resignations, plummeting stocks, and a tarnished brand reputation. Other organisations have also fallen foul of concealing facts for years that ultimately damage their brand significantly once discovered.

Transparency in an international organisation can often be the simplest and most beneficial route for a company. It saves money through avoiding crisis management and helps to enhance a brand’s reputation with the right brand strategy. Furthermore, it can strengthen the general public’s trust in an organisation. This is something that governments around the world have been benefitted from.

The UK government for example has instigated a number of initiatives to improve transparency and accountability, including the freedom of information act, improving the availability of open data, and giving people a right to data. This kind of openness has encouraged greater public participation in decision-making, and it is something businesses have been trying to replicate with varying levels of success.

A transparent business is a more purposeful business; it is a business that an audience feel they can trust and one that shouts authenticity in everything they do. It is no accident that the rise in transparency in business has coincided with the popularity of corporate social responsibility. Honest practices demand businesses and brands to be more responsible; there can be no sustainability or responsibility without transparency.

This relationship between corporate social responsibility and transparency in business highlights the fact that corporate honesty is synonymous with three other concepts: trust, responsibility, and accountability.

Together these help to support sustainable growth for any organisation, and can result in better business management, increased innovation, greater profitability and of course a positive impact on social good. Much of this is rooted in an understanding of the importance of knowledge and the importance of sharing that knowledge through a strong communication strategy and influencer marketing so that it is available, accessible and usable.

Whilst these are noble goals for any organisation, it needs to be actively pursued to have a lasting impact and maintain trust with its customer base. Corporate social responsibility goes beyond being a global PR or brand strategy. Recent controversies around social media companies like Facebook regarding secret personal data collection as well as the proliferation of harmful and potentially election-swinging fake news stories have undermined the image the company seeks to portray of an open, user-friendly and trustworthy platform.

The focus for companies seeking to be transparent has to be on putting credible social, environmental and ethical data in people’s hands, so that they are able to make more informed – and therefore better – decisions. For businesses, an added benefit is the multi-plier effect it creates: consumers will ideally become more loyal with greater demand for products from a trusted source of relevant and truthful information; employees – the growth engine of companies – will be motivated to work more efficiently to meet demand, and so forth. A good example is the commitment to open data and accessibility that private corporations like Monsanto have demonstrated, with plans for openness within the agricultural sector that would benefit many customers and communities.

The importance of trust and dissemination of trustworthy business practices and information to consumers and employees ties into the key concept of responsibility. Companies have a responsibility to their stakeholders, and that includes a willingness to share detailed information on the business and its activities. This responsibility also extends to making this information easily accessible to consumers, highlighting the importance of creating an open platform, where everyone irrespective of position/background can be heard and can hear others too. The recent popularity of petition platforms on government websites demonstrates this.

The result of greater trustworthiness and responsibility is that the customer base is able to grow more aware of their issues and rights, enabling them to hold organisations accountable, whether they are governments or private sector companies. As businesses become increasingly transparent, accountability can be a powerful motivator in remaining so; the impact of the digital revolution on transparency is such that we will always leave a data footprint – and as many companies and individuals have discovered in the past year, the truth will come out sooner or later.

The ever-growing need for transparency within businesses within our increasingly connected and data-driven world also highlights an essential need for the private and public sector to work collaboratively. Through working together, businesses and governmental organisations are able to provide universal access to knowledge and information that’s available, useable and accessible. This also extends to collaboration between commercial enterprises and not-for-profits.

Transparency can seem like a daunting step for traditionally private businesses. But with more organisations ranging from tech giants to socially conscious enterprises committing to being trustworthy, responsible and accountable to their customers, it is increasingly clear that it is possible be both transparent and commercial; to be honest and successful. Never has there been a better time for an organisation to be doing well by doing good – in full view of the public with nothing to hide.

Miss Natasha Mudhar, Global CEO, Sterling Media, the global business and communications consultancy, bringing brands, individuals and companies closer to their purpose.

13th December 2018
Portugal Attracts London Filmmakers with Cash Rebate Scheme by the Country’s Tourism Bodies

• Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism Ana Mendes Godinho and key figures in Portugal Tourism & Film unveil exciting new incentive at FOCUS 2018 to attract more film productions to Portugal.
• Portugal announced as the Best Destination in the World at the World Travel Awards
• Portugal’s new cash rebate at 30% is one of the most competitive systems in Europe.
• The investment strategies extend beyond tourism with focus on technology, filmmaking, innovation, and sustainability.

Visit Portugal and Pic Portugal, the brands responsible for the international promotion of Portugal as a filming location launched by the country’s national film agency ICA – Instituto do Cinema e Audiovisual (Film and Audiovisual Institute), has unveiled its cash rebate systems to attract global filmmakers and productions at FOCUS 2018, Meeting Place for International Production.

Now in its fourth year, FOCUS 2018 took place at the Business Design Centre, London between the 4th and 5th December to bring together industry professionals from across the creative industries including film, TV, advertising, animation and interactive. Attendees from over 60 countries attended the two-day trade event designed to present an opportunity for new inspiration for filming locations.

Funded by the Portugal Tourism Board, the new filming incentive is in line with Portugal’s wider tourism strategy to drive investment and tourism towards the country. The film strategy complements Portugal’s recent booming tourism industry, business incentives and the roster of high-profile events such as the Web Summit.

Since introducing the cash rebate in September of this year, Portugal has already received applications from 20+ projects applying for the scheme from countries as diverse as USA, Brazil, France, and India. Currently, 15 of these productions have already been approved with the others currently under evaluation from the respective governing body, resulting in a €25M investment in Portugal.

The initiative has already seen several films shift production to the country, including Fatima (2015) by Italian director Marco Pontecorvo, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018) which was directed by US-born film director, Terry Gilliam and was the final film at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Next year will also see Frankie (formerly entitled A Family Vacation) which sees well-established actors and producers’ film in the country in time for its 2019 release. Previous films shot in Portugal include Bollywood film “Jab Harry Met Sejal”, and the American historical drama starring Academy Award winner Christian Bale “The Promise”.

Ana Mendes Godinho, Secretary of State for Tourism for Portugal along with Antonio Padeira, Director of the Portuguese National Tourist Office and Maria Mineiro, Vice President of the Portuguese Film Institute, spoke at a special presentation introducing the #CantSkipFilmingInPortugal campaign and the competitive cash rebate incentive for filmmakers and productions.

The rebate applies to film, television and VOD productions with the minimum Qualified Portuguese Production Expenses (QPPE) of €500,000.00 (around £436,373.00) for fiction and animation and €250,000.00 (around $218,171.00) for documentaries and post-production. The rebate rate is also determined by a cultural test that focuses on the project’s characteristics. In addition, film productions will have no shortage of access to skilled multi-lingual professionals with experience from both film and television, studio facilities and equipment in Lisbon and Porto, courtesy location scouting and co-production treaties with more than 50 countries including all Portuguese speaking countries.

Speaking about the incentive, Ana Mendes Godinho, Secretary of State for Tourism for Portugal said, “We are happy to welcome you to Portugal to hear of your ideas for filming.” Highlighting Portugal’s advantages, she said, “We have just elected the Best Destination in The World at the World Travel Awards, and soon we will be the best filming location. We have learned from the mistakes and success of others, so we are in the best position. We needed to make it fast, so it takes only 20 days to approve the project and 30 to pay the rebate. We’ve set up a special fund belonging to the tourism board to guarantee payments.

We’ve put in the commitment to make this work and Portugal has learned from the past and is ready to be in the forefront of your minds for the future.”

Long hours of sunlight and 300 days of sunshine, a variety of locales ranging from the dramatic grandeur of the historic castles, cathedrals, and churches to the shimmering glass of modern buildings, and the natural wonder of the country’s mountains, forests, lagoons are some of the reasons film productions come to Portugal. Speaking about Portugal’s appeal as a filming location, Maria Mineiro, ICA’s Vice-President said, “Filmmakers can enjoy sunnier days which give them more time to film, as well as a variety of wide, and diverse scenery to enjoy. We have affordable prices compared to Europe and are a stable and safe country with English speaking staff.”

Antonio Padeira, Director of the Portuguese National Tourist Office drew attention to Portugal’s benefits beyond film, highlighting the country’s culture, history and diversity, saying “Portugal has 1000 years of history, with palaces, Roman culture, exquisite buildings, the home of music in Porto, breath-taking landscapes, from valleys and lagoons to hills and the ocean.”

Stationed on the FOCUS exhibition floor with a standout booth, Pic Portugal showed delegates the benefits of Portugal’s accessible locations and affordable cost of living. A Happy Hour networking event also took place, providing the opportunity for attendees to ask more questions about Portugal’s highlights as a filming destination and find out more about the country’s newly announced incentive system.

Earlier this year, ten US producers and studio representatives, from Disney, HBO, Warner, Paramount, and other notable companies, visited several locations in Portugal in a visit arranged by Pic Portugal and VisitPortugal which proved to be a success as the country now looks to establish itself as a leader for film productions.

The PicPortugal cash rebate incentive system is on a first-come-first-serve basis, with eligibility determined by a cultural test.

For more information visit PicPortugal.
#CantSkipFilmingInPortugal

5th December 2018
VOTE 100, THE FIGHT FOR THE FEMALE VOTE

2018 marks the 100^th anniversary of Women winning the right to vote. With every suffragette, is a girl or woman who is part of her legacy. With every year that passes, more and more females from across the globe are achieving success in all sectors and from all walks of life because of the dedication, passion and commitment of many women 100 years ago who wanted change.

Innovators and heroines such as Sophia Duleep Singh and Emmeline Pankhurst cemented their places in history as they fought for the equal rights of women, which throughout the 20^th century sparked further revolution as women began to have more choice and freedom over their lives. There is no doubt that they did for us in the past has, 100 years on, helped to create a positive present and future for us.

The impact of the suffragette movement is so profound as it connects to woman’s rights movements which has a multiplier effect on the lives of women at home and at work. This includes the right to divorce, access to contraception and sexual freedom and equal pay in the workplace. Today, over 70% of women aged between the ages of 16-64, are in work compared to just one tenth of married women in the 1930s. There are now female politicians, doctors, police officers and lawyers who are all contributing to much a more positive society. They also continue to excel in education, often out performing boys in a number of subjects.

At the turn of the 21^st century, there has been a growing influence of women in businesses, both as entrepreneurs and members of the board. As their presence continues to grow businesses have been enjoying the benefits of much fresher and innovative marketing and advertising approaches. This would never have happened if it wasn’t for the suffragettes who disrupted the status quo and brought about change for women to achieve a greater role in society for what had been a long and established patriarchal establishment.

The issues these women battled against are exactly what brand strategy experts Sterling Media echoes today. The company was founded by Teji Singh and now headed by Natasha Mudhar, who both defied expectations as strong Asian women working in the Global communications sector.

Business consultant Sterling Media works with major global organisations like the UN and grassroots local champions as well as convening various sectors – including government, corporate, media, celebrity and civil society – to make an impact on the ground. Amongst their best examples of this was the global launch of the Spice Girls’ endorsed short film promoting girls and women rights #WhatIReallyReallyWant, which broke the internet with over 150million views in a matter of a few days.

The issues these women battled against are exactly what business consultant and global communications experts at Sterling Media echoes today. The brand strategy agency was founded by Teji Singh and now headed by Natasha Mudhar, who both defied expectations as strong Asian women working in the communications sector.

Sterling Media works as a business consultant with major global organisations like the UN and grassroots local champions as well as convening various sectors – including government, corporate, media, celebrity and civil society – to make an impact on the ground. Amongst their best examples of this was the global communications launch of the Spice Girls’ endorsed short film promoting girls and women rights #WhatIReallyReallyWant, which broke the internet with over 150million views in a matter of a few days.

Granted, there is still a lot of work to be done as many girls and women are not given the same rights as men. Only recently, women in Saudi Arabia were allowed to drive and many women are still not being paid the same as men in most countries, but with the likes of Angela Merkel being one of the most powerful leaders in the world, and Saudi-Arabia’s best known film maker being nominated for an Oscar, it is clear that the future is bright. We need to establish more positive role models – both male and female – so that young people can follow in their footsteps and can help bring about the next wave of change. Women are already independent and strong enough to face the world, not all of them are given that opportunity to show it. It is female-led brand strategy and global advertising agencies like Sterling Media that are not afraid to face these issues head on, and from what they have shown so far, will no doubt become the spearhead for women’s rights and equality movements across the globe.

21st November 2018
International Wrestlers Return To Pakistan To #FightForPeace at Ring Of Pakistan Season 2K18 – Sterling Media
Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18 announced after success of first ever International Wrestling Tournament in Pakistan.

Over 20 International Wrestlers from around the world expected to be in attendance including Tiny Iron, Cyanide, Tango Tim Wylie and former WWE superstars Chris Masters and Tom La Ruffa, with American Performing Artist Jonny Loquato to host event.

Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18 is envisioned as a symbol of community cohesion and promotes peace and harmony through sport.

Following the success of Pakistan’s first International wrestling event across three cities, Pakistan’s official professional Wrestling promoters, the Ring of Pakistan has announced the launch of Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18. Founded with the aim of promoting professional wrestling in Pakistan and using the sport as an accelerator for encouraging peace, Ring of Pakistan represents an international-level platform for wrestling fans and athletes alike.The recently founded Ring of Pakistan’s multi-fold vision is to promote professional wrestling in Pakistan, to provide a platform to local athletes and enhance the international image and reputation of Pakistan through a sports-led brand strategy. Where there was previously no formal body to promote wrestling in Pakistan, Ring of Pakistan has achieved success, recognised by the Pakistan Sports Board and working in accordance with international standards to launch Pakistan’s first professional wrestling event.
Last year’s inaugural wrestling event saw more than 20 international wrestlers come to Pakistan, including the likes of famous professional names including former WWE superstars Wade Barrett, and Carlito. This year Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18 is bigger and better, taking place at two shows over the course of a week in December, with even more international wrestlers taking part. The first show takes place at the KMC Sports Complex, Karachi on the 7^th December, whilst the second show takes place in Alhamra Cultural Complex, Gaddafi, Lahore on the 9^th December. Ring of Pakistan Season 2k18 will be the biggest sports entertainment event to be held in the history of Pakistan. The event will be hosted by American performing artist Jonny Loquato, who will also act as ring broadcaster and observer.

Professional Wrestling is the most watched sport around the world, and has a sizable Pakistani audience, despite being a ‘western’ sport. Wrestling has a bigger social media presence in the country than any other sport, beating even Cricket. In addition, sports play a vital role in individuals’ social development, and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. This is why in addition to establishing a strong official platform for wrestling and reforming the sport industry in Pakistan, Ring of Pakistan’s brand strategy is to use professional wrestling as a means of highlighting modern Pakistan’s status as a peaceful and sports loving nation to the rest of the world.

The event is a symbol of community cohesion and promotes peace and harmony within the country through sport. With opportunities and entertainment for young people lacking within Pakistan, particularly within deprived areas such as the tribal belt, they have previously been vulnerable to exploitation and radicalisation.

By holding a truly international event in the country for a hugely popular sport like wrestling, Ring of Pakistan has been able to give confidence to young people and a sense of inclusion. Furthermore, Ring of Pakistan’s ultimate aim to work with schools to inspire local youth will help to create the next generation of athletes and secure Pakistan’s status abroad as a sporting nation.

Speaking about the Ring of Pakistan, Imran Shah, Director said “We are very excited about the Ring of Pakistan hosting another international wrestling event this December. After the success of our inaugural event, it is clear that there is a huge appetite for professional wrestling within Pakistan, and we look forward to expanding this platform even further with an event that is even bigger and better than the first.

As the most watched live sport in the world, we believe that professional wrestling is a uniquely powerful sport that can help to bring the nation together, and project the image of a sports-loving Pakistan around the world.”

For further information on Ring of Pakistan and their wrestling-led brand strategy for Pakistan visit: https://rop.com.pk/
20th November 2018
DSC Prize Shortlist For South Asian Literature 2018 Announced – Sterling Media
The much-anticipated shortlist for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 has been unveiled at a special event, which took place at the London School of Economics & Political Science. Now in its 8th year, the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature is one of the most prestigious international literary awards specifically focused on South Asian fiction writing.

The announcement evening also featured a special panel discussion moderated by Claire Armitstead, Associate Editor, Culture, for The Guardian on the Importance Of Literary Prizes, with Alexandra Pringle, British publisher and editor-in-chief of Bloomsbury Publishing, and Sathnam Sanghera, British writer and author.

Administered by the South Asian Literature Prize & Events Trust, the prestigious DSC Prize for South Asian Literature has helped to raise the profile of South Asian writing around the world by rewarding authors who write on the region. Founded in 2010 by Surina Narula and Manhad Narula, the winning author is awarded a US $25,000 prize.

This year the prize received a record 88 entries which included stunning portrayals of migration, war and the pain of displacement, poignant love stories, the exploration of new found relationships and identities, and vivification of the personal struggles, hopes and aspirations that symbolize the urgent and divisive realities of contemporary South Asian life. The shortlisted entries contending for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2018 are:

Jayant Kaikini: No Presents Please (Translated by Tejaswini Niranjana, Harper Perennial, HarperCollins India)

Kamila Shamsie: Home Fire (Riverhead Books, USA and Bloomsbury, UK)

Manu Joseph: Miss Laila Armed And Dangerous (Fourth Estate, HarperCollins, India)

Mohsin Hamid: Exit West (Riverhead Books, USA and Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House, India)

Neel Mukherjee: A State Of Freedom (Chatto & Windus, Vintage, UK and Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House, India)

Sujit Saraf: Harilal & Sons (Speaking Tiger, India)

The prize received close to a quarter of the submissions from publishers based beyond South Asia and from countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia etc, highlighting the growing interest of publishers and authors across the world in South Asian writing. The shortlisted entrants reflect this global interest, including British-Pakistani author Kamila Shamsie and Indian origin author Neel Mukherjee who are both based in the UK. Pakistani origin author Mohsin Hamid is based between Pakistan, UK and the USA, whilst Sujit Saraf is based in the USA. The growing global importance of South Asia coupled with the sweeping changes that are affecting the lives of the people here has encouraged more and more diverse writers to write about this region.

Speaking on the occasion, Jury Chair Rudrangshu Mukherjee, said, “Being the chair of the jury of the DSC Prize has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life. I say this for two reasons. One is the sheer intellectual excitement of reading, evaluating and discussing these works of fiction. The other is the interactions I had with my four colleagues on the jury. I know I learnt an enormous amount from all of them and for this I am profoundly grateful to all of them. Evaluating these books reminded me once again of the importance of reading in human lives.”

This year’s international jury panel includes Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Jury Chair, Professor of History and the Chancellor of Ashoka University and an internationally acclaimed historian of the revolt of 1857 in India , Nandana Sen, a writer, actor and child-rights activist and author of six books, who has worked as a book editor, a poetry translator, a screenwriter, and a script doctor, Claire Armitstead, who has also been a theatre critic, arts editor and literary editor, Tissa Jayatilaka, who was the Executive Director of the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission and is the author of several publications and has translated and edited many journals, and Firdous Azim, Professor of English at BRAC University, Bangladesh, whose research has focused on women’s writings in the early twentieth century Bengal.

Commenting on the shortlist, Surina Narula, co-founder of the DSC Prize said, “My heartfelt thanks and commendations to the jury panel for the detailed deliberations over the last few months, and coming up with such a good shortlist. The longlist announced last month was an impressive list, it must have been a challenging task for the jury to bring this down to a shortlist of 6 books. The shortlist represents the very best of South Asian fiction writing, and the depth, creativity and unique narrative of each of these novels is indeed both impressive and inspirational. My congratulations to each one of the shortlisted authors and translator and I wish them the very best for the final award ceremony”

Following the announcement of the shortlisted entries, the jury will convene again to select the winning author, ahead of the final award ceremony to be held at the Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet which would take place in Kolkata, India between Jan 22 and Jan 27, 2019.
15th November 2018
Pic Portugal Promotes Filming Opportunities & Benefits at FOCUS 2018

• Pic Portugal to emphasize the country’s appeal as a filming location, spotlighting its historic locales to lagoons with the #CantSkipFilmingInPortugal campaign

• Portugal’s new cash rebate is one of the most competitive systems in Europe

Pic Portugal, the brand responsible for the international promotion of Portugal as a filming location launched by the country’s national film agency ICA – Instituto do Cinema e Audiovisual (Film and Audiovisual Institute), has unveiled plans to present and highlight one of the most competitive film cash rebate systems in Europe to attract global filmmakers and productions at FOCUS 2018, Meeting Place for International Production, taking place at the Business Design Centre, London on the 4th-5th December.

Funded by the Portugal Tourism Board, the new filming incentive is in line with Portugal’s wider tourism strategy to drive investment and tourism towards the country. The film strategy complements Portugal’s recent booming tourism industry, business incentives and a roster of high-profile events such as the Web Summit.

The rebate applies to film, television and VOD productions with the minimum Qualified Portuguese Production Expenses (QPPE) of €500,000.00 (around £436,373.00) for fiction and animation and €250,000.00 (around $218,171.00) for documentaries and post-production. The rebate rate is also determined by a cultural test that focuses on the project’s characteristics. In addition, film productions will have no shortage of access to skilled multi-lingual professionals with experience from both film and television, studio facilities and equipment in Lisbon and Porto, courtesy location scouting and co-production treaties with more than 50 countries including all Portuguese speaking countries.

Now in its fourth year, FOCUS 2018 brings together industry professionals from across the creative industries including film, TV, advertising, animation and interactive. Attendees from over 60 countries will attend the two-day trade event which gives industry makers the chance to interact with content makers, film commissions, production services, and location providers. The event represents a key calendar event for location scouts and providers, presenting an opportunity for new inspiration for filming locations.

At FOCUS, Pic Portugal seeks to emphasize Portugal’s appeal for productions as a filming location with the #CantSkipFilmingInPortugal campaign. Long hours of sunlight and 300 days of sunshine, a variety of locales ranging from the dramatic grandeur of the historic castles, cathedrals, and churches to the shimmering glass of modern buildings, and the natural wonder of the country’s mountains, forests, lagoons are some of the reasons film productions come to Portugal. Films shot in Portugal include the coproduction fantasy/drama, “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote”, Bollywood film “Jab Harry Met Sejal”, the American historical drama starring Academy Award winner Christian Bale “The Promise” and the upcoming American-French drama “A Family Vacation.”

To highlight the advantages of filming in Portugal, Pic Portugal will be on the FOCUS exhibition floor with a standout booth. Attendees and delegates can also expect to discover the benefits of Portugal’s accessible locations and affordable cost of living. Pic Portugal will be hosting a Happy Hour event, which will showcase Portugal’s highlights as a filming destination and introduce the country’s newly announced incentive system. The rebate is set to be fully unveiled at a 3 pm session at FOCUS 2018, on the 4th December.

Speaking about Portugal’s appeal as a filming location, Maria Mineiro, ICA’s Vice-President said, “We are delighted to be bringing Portugal to FOCUS 2018. Portugal has a world of opportunities and locations to offer filmmakers from around the world and we hope that more people will see that in greater detail at our booth.

Our cash rebate system is one of the most attractive and competitive across Europe and we look forward to be the first port of call for producers in the future.”

Visit the Portugal Booth at the Business Design Centre, London on the 4th-5th December

14th November 2018
‘Let’s Talk’ Event 2018 in Antalya Tackles Taboos Around Women’s Health

• The First Lady of Turkey, Emine Erdogan, joins the conversation at the Let’s Talk! awards evening and vows to continue her efforts to advance women’s rights in the country.
• The global initiative led by Natalia Vodianova and UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, saw a plethora of thought leaders, change makers and policy shapers gather with the goal of galvanizing further progress on women’s health and gender equality.
• ELBI co-founder, philanthropist, campaigner & model Natalia Vodianova announced an exciting new partnership with Flo Health, which would see significant funds raised for UNFPA to help educate women and girls in India.
• Dr. Nagham Nawzat Hasan, a Yezidi activist and gynecologist from Iraq, and Adwoa Aboah, British Model and Activist, are among the on-ground changemakers from across the world honoured at glittering award ceremony.

An ambitious new global initiative aimed at ending the stigma and taboos surrounding women’s health took place in Antalya, Turkey on the 25th and 26th of October. A crucial podium for discussion and innovation, the 2018 “Let’s Talk!” was hosted at the Maxx Royal Resorts Kemer.

The two-day Davos style forum began with a keynote address by Natalia Vodianova, the supermodel activist, campaigner and founder of ELBI, to kick-start the event’s proceedings and usher in the agenda of the Let’s Talk! conversation. The event saw a number of key interactive discussions take place amongst panelists, special guests and key speakers from Fashion to Sport, Private Sector to Public Policy and Government, who announced their personal pledges for helping continue the Let’s Talk! movement, as they sought to delve into a range of critical issues including menstrual, reproductive and mental health.

The panel discussions were followed by an awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of individuals at the forefront of tackling the taboos, with the guest of honour Her Excellency Emine Erdogan, the First Lady of Turkey. Awardees included Dr. Nagham Nawat Hasan, a Yezidi activist and gynecologist from Iraq, Adwoa Aboah, British Model and Activist, Anja Rubik, Model and Founder of SexEd PL and Dilek Sabanci on behalf of Special Olympics Turkey.
Hosted by Natalia Vodianova, the initiative was powered by her digital charitable giving platform ELBI, and was held in partnership with UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, with the support of partners including Turkish Airlines, Maxx Royal Resorts and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB).

Opening the day’s event, Natalia Vodianova said: “This is an issue which needs to be addressed, not just from a political point of view, but from a societal standpoint. No matter which culture you are looking at, there are issues surrounding the attitudes towards women’s health. In India, 45% drop out of school in sixth grade due to their periods, and the attitudes are also damaging in Europe.

I want no young girl around the world to feel ashamed of something so natural and I believe that the beginning of discussion can be the crucial vehicle for destroying the taboos. Every word has the power to be an empowering tool.”

Alanna Armitage, UNFPA’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia said: “We are extremely proud to partner with Natalia Vodianova on this first global Let’s Talk! event. It has been a resounding success: we heard incredible stories of bravery and creativity that serve as inspiration for others. We have made connections that will spark new initiatives for change. And we are grateful for the many concrete pledges for follow-up action participants made. I’m delighted that Let’s Talk! has become such an important component of the growing global movement to dismantle taboos and stigma around women’s health and enable women and girls to shape their lives free from discrimination, fear, and shame.”

9.30am – 5.30pm Friday, 26th October 2018 Let’s Talk! Panel Discussions
Panel One – The Role of Government & Civil Society in Changing how we View Stigma

The day of panels began shortly after Natalia’s opening remarks, starting with a discussion on the role of government and civil society in changing the way we view stigmas of women’s health.

Hosted by Canadian model, CEO of WomenOne and advisor to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Dayle Haddon, the panel brought together a group of health specialists, activists and government officials. Activist and model Anja Rubik, Health Science Professor Dr. Zeynep Simsek, Assistant Minister for Health in Serbia Dr Danijela Urosevic, Director Institute of Women’s Studies, Arab World, Lebanese American University, Lina Abirafeh, world-renowned surgeon and founder of the Endo Foundation Dr. Tamer Sekin, Executive Director of the association ROMA S.O.S, Nesime Salioska and UNFPA India’s Dr. Nilesh Deshpande were present on the panel.

Dr. Nilesh Deshpande shared how he would progress the Let’s Talk! cause. He said, “I vow to set up many self-sustaining units to promote public health and raise awareness of women’s health issues across India. It is my duty to help girls and educate them in menstrual health by providing vital access to products.”

Anja Rubik talked about her fight against taboo in her native Poland with her #SEXEDPL campaign. She said, “I was once shunned by the church and the government for my efforts to promote awareness surrounding women’s health. Now I am giving 1,000 of my best-selling books to teachers in Poland to engage with how schools are educating children on sexual education.”

Panel Two – We Need to Talk! Shifting the Narrative on Stigma and Taboos via Media and the Private Sector

The second panel of the day was hosted by Africa50 Infrastructure Fund’s Carole Wainaina – who welcomed Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Turkey, Seda Domanic; Sevda Alkan of Sabanci University Corporate Governance Forum, Dean of Fashion at Parson’s School of Design New York, Burak Cakmak; Senior Editor at The Economist Anne McElvoy; Head of Company Communications at P&G Turkey Ayca Turgay; Chief of Private Sector Partnership Branch for UNFPA New York Mariarosa Cutillo and Chief Science Officer for Flo Health Inc. Anna Klepchukova.

Moderator Carole Wainaina highlighted the need to “make the uncomfortable comfortable”, stating her belief that “if stories have shaped taboos, they can reshape them too.”

Mariaosa Cutillo discussed the need to stop taboos from holding back young girls. She said, “We need to invest in the 10-year-old girl. It is the 10-year-old girl who will save the world.”

Other panelists shared their own personal stories of meeting stigma and taboo. Sevda Alkan spoke of meeting women in rural villages around Europe who did not know enough about their rights, whilst Anna Klepchukova highlighted the fact that as a girl, friends would come to her for knowledge on sexuality education because they wouldn’t get this information from their parents or teachers.

P&G’s Ayca Turgay also drew attention to the power of media and messages, spotlighting a recent P&G campaign. She said, “Before the campaign, only 19% of young women and girls associated with being a girl with positive attitudes. After our campaign that rose to 76%.”

Panel Three – GURLS Talk

Women’s rights activist and founder of GURLS Talk, Adwoa Aboah brought her highly influential and respected forum ‘GURLS Talk’ to Antalya, where she looked to assess the pressures and mental struggles for young women of today’s society. During a highly interactive and insightful panel, Iraqi Social activist and youth advocate Anmar Khalid, women’s rights activist Jeta Berisha from Kosovo (UNSCR 1244), Dr. Kathryn Abel and her daughter, expert through experience, Auden Edwardes discussed the stigma associated with girls’ health, including mental health.

Adwoa Aboah stressed the importance of talking, saying that “We need to educate our children, our society and each other by sharing stories and supporting each other”.

Anmar Khalid also highlighted how the right environment is key for breaking down stigma. He said, “We need to create an environment and community space, where it is encouraged to talk about sexual and mental health, and fight for it. In Iraq, many have often felt fear of the consequences of discussing such taboos.”

Jeta Berisha highlighted the high cost of breaking taboos, however, saying that “I defied my family as my first major move. I lost a lot of people in my life, but it is for a greater good. I knew I had to. I was too passionate.”

Professor Kathryn Abel also commented on how these issues are subjected to stigma from the medical profession. She said, “The combination with sexual and mental health is often avoided but most relevant. The lack of sympathy and understanding within medicine is heavily contributing to the disempowerment of women.”

Panel Four – It’s Not Fair Play. The Role of Sport in Reducing Inequality and Discrimination on and off the Pitch

The final panel of the day saw figures in the world of sport assess the role of sport in reducing inequality and discrimination on and off the pitch as part of their commitment to tackling the worldwide taboos of women’s and mental health. Hosted by David Evangelista, President of Special Olympics Europe Eurasia, the panel also featured Yuri Sviridov, Marketing & Communications Department Director, FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Mario Leo of Result Sports Company, Friederike Karcher, Head of Division, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Ozlem Kaymaz, Sportswoman and Miss Turkey 1992.

David Evangelista opened the panel, highlighting how “Every sport is an equaliser.”

Friederike Karcher agreed, discussing the versatility of sport in tackling a range of issues. She said, “There are many topics that you can play very well through sport.”

Yuri Sviridov discussed how FC Shakhtar Donetsk are helping to break down taboos in the sport. He revealed the surprising figures that only 5000 girls play football in Ukraine compared to 1million in the UK and 9million in the USA. He said, “We take the opportunity to promote gender equality and girls in football” and committed to creating a Shakhtar Donetsk women’s team.

Mario Leo also cautioned against bringing expertise into countries without giving them the proper tools for continuous improvement and development. He said, “Power needs to be unlocked from within.”

Ozlem Kaymaz signified the power of sport, stating “Sport made me who I am today.” Praising its universal language, she said “Sport is the only field in which you can get out there and practice what has been discussed at Let’s Talk! today.”

Discussing the event, Alanna Armitage, UNFPA’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said: “We’ve highlighted that we live in difficult times. We’ve agreed that government is essential for tackling stigma in society. We’ve seen that media has created stigmas but is also driving progress in breaking them down. We’ve also seen that we need to do more to protect those who protect others from stigma.” Thanking host Natalia Vodianova, she also pledged UNFPA’s commitment to continue to support the Let’s Talk! campaign.

Natalia Vodianova closed the day panels with the announcement of a new partnership between Let’s Talk! and Flo Health, which would give UNFPA access to funds raised from the 40 million Flo community to help educate women and girls in India about their health and access to menstrual hygiene products.

WOMEN’S HEALTH TABOOS SMASHED WITH NEW PLEDGES & PARTNERSHIPS AT 2018 “LET’S TALK!” PANEL & AWARDS CEREMONY

The evening concluded with a glittering awards ceremony in the presence of Her Excellency Emine Erdogan, the First Lady of Turkey, to celebrate and commemorate the inspirational activists and campaigners from across the world working towards women’s health and rights across the world.

Speaking about her commitment to her work in tackling women’s rights issues including early and forced marriages, Her Excellency Emine Erdogan, the First Lady of Turkey said: “Issues such as early marriage and female genital mutilation are harming the dignity of humanity. The health of women cannot be separated from human rights.”

Gracing the occasion was also Natalia Kanem, UNFPA’s Executive Director. She said: “How proud we are to partner with Natalia on the Let’s Talk! a campaign, which contributes to the culture shift towards full gender equality that we need to bring it all together. Thank you, Natalia, for using your phenomenal influence to make it all happen!”

On collecting her award, Adwoa Aboah, activist, model and founder of GURLS Talk said: “It’s vital that we keep coming together to have these conversations.”

Join the conversation!
#LetsTalkAboutIt

29th October 2018
STERLING MEDIA’S GLOBAL CEO NATASHA MUDHAR DISCUSSES WORKPLACE DIVERSITY

By Natasha Mudhar

As a business owner myself, I hugely appreciate the importance of diversity within the workplace – this fosters motivation, which in turn encourages creativity and productivity. In addition, an equal environment makes employees feel comfortable and secure in their jobs, which will only mean positive things for the workplace. At global communications experts Sterling Media, one of the leading brand strategy and advertising agencies in London we pride ourselves in being a diverse company, with equality taking a prized place in our values.

Be it through unconscious bias or simple scepticism, employers from all backgrounds too often find reasons not to diversify their workforce and can even be dismissive of the companies that do. As a result, we are finding today a great deal of underemployed and untapped talent who have yet to be given the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Being one of the premier brand strategy and global advertising agencies we find diversity such a key facet of Sterling Media’s DNA.

Our approach and attitude to our work is built on open-mindedness, and our best successes have been achieved when we call upon the diversity of thought within our own workplace. This is often something which is overlooked by many sectors, as diversity quotas often focus on outward physical differences, rather than the variety of cultural and skill-based experiences that a diverse team can provide a business. A truly diverse workforce goes even further than that, and an open-minded approach means being willing to pull upon people of all levels of ability. At Sterling Media, we’ve built a global communications environment that utilises the strengths of all our employees, regardless of any personal challenges they may have.

Diversity has no limitations – it encompasses a range of elements, be it gender, race, ethnicity or age. A diverse environment enriches an organisation by enabling for an interaction of ideas. This is especially relevant for an international global communications business and advertising agency like ours, which engages with a global audience. We operate with an international team from countries including Switzerland, Netherlands, India, Jamaica, Italy and not to mention the UK. That’s our secret to brand strategy success.

Miss Natasha Mudhar, Global CEO, Sterling Media, the global business and communications consultancy, bringing brands, individuals and companies closer to their purpose.

11th October 2018
UFO MOVIEZ STEPS UP TO SUPPORT THE CINEMA MEDIUM AND “FEED OUR FUTURE”, A NEW GLOBAL CINEMA ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN FOR THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP)

UFO Moviez today announced its support for “Feed Our Future,” a powerful new advertising campaign aimed at getting global cinema audiences to tackle global hunger by supporting the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the world’s leading humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide. With the support of Facebook, “Feed Our Future” was launched via a Facebook Live from Facebook’s Mumbai office, and was hosted by renowned television personality Mini Mathur and featured: critically acclaimed filmmaker R Balki, the Founder of Feeding India Ankit Kawatra, celebrity chef and award-winning author Vicky Ratnani, Mr. Siddharth Bhardwaj, Chief Marketing Officer & National Sales Head, UFO Moviez and megastars Sonam Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza.

“This is the first time in India that a campaign of this magnitude has run towards a global cause,” said Sanjay Gaikwad, Managing Director of India’s largest digital cinema network UFO Moviez. “We’re happy to address the issue of global hunger in India with the World Food Programme. Cinema is the most impactful medium to deliver such a message to the audience in a highly captive environment. To add to this, UFO Moviez is the largest in-cinema advertising network and will run the emotionally stirring 60sec ad film across its screens for eight weeks.”

The 60-second cinema advertisement was conceived by advertising legend Sir John Hegarty and The Garage Soho. It was directed by acclaimed film director Lynne Ramsay and produced by award-winning production company Somesuch & Co. SAWA, the Global Cinema Advertising Association, in association with WFP, will air “Feed Our Future” on cinema screens in more than 30 countries with a call to action to download WFP’s mobile-app, ShareTheMeal.

The advertisement shows a bustling news conference with journalists vying to interview the recipient of a breakthrough medical research award. But the journalists learn that there was ultimately no medical breakthrough – the chilling conclusion reveals that Miriam Adeke, the young woman in question, had in fact died of hunger when she was only eight years old.

“The creative challenge here is to find a way of engaging the audience without resorting to endless images of starving children. Creating empathy by reminding the viewer that when a child dies, we all lose,” said Sir John Hegarty.

Inspired by the cinema advertisement’s message, Facebook is bringing the campaign to life through an integrated digital campaign. Borne from a “Hack for Good” at the recent Cannes Lions Festival for Creativity, the Facebook Messenger experience was created by a team of award-winning creatives from across the industry and Facebook’s Creative Shop to give viewers the opportunity to engage with the character from the advertisement and learn more about hunger. At a time when 821 million people – roughly one in nine of the global population – still go to bed on an empty stomach, this new digital integration will bring the offline online by connecting viewers with the cinema advertisement and the issue in an exciting new way.

“Hunger is a major global issue,” said Cheryl Wannell, CEO of SAWA. “It is therefore fitting that the Cinema medium, with its global reach, should be proactive in driving awareness for the World Food Programme. Millennials who are educated, socially aware and a hard to reach demographic, make up a large part of the Cinema audience and these are the people that can and will facilitate change. Since 2015, the Cinema Medium has stepped up to support the Sustainable Development Goals and we are committed in 2018 and beyond to make the World Food Programme famous by using the power and impact of the Cinema Medium. SAWA encourages other mediums to do likewise.”

The Facebook Messenger experience will enable viewers to engage with the ad’s main character, Miriam Adeke, to learn more about her story and the issue of hunger by searching ‘ShareTheMeal’ on Messenger.

“Three million children die every year of hunger or malnutrition,” said Corinne Woods, Director of Communications, Marketing and Advocacy of the United Nations World Food Programme. “When partners like SAWA and their members step up, it helps us create a movement and generate support for our work to ensure that every child has the vital food and nutrition they need – not only to survive – but also to thrive.”

Thanks to UFO Moviez’s generous support, the advertisement will air on UFO Moviez’s screens across India for the next eight weeks, and the message about aiming for a world with Zero Hunger will be heard by millions across India. For more information about the “Feed Our Future” advertisement and campaign, and to learn how to get involved in creating a world with Zero Hunger, please visit: www.wfp.org/feedourfuture.

5th October 2018
“LET’S TALK!” – PHILANTHROPIST, CAMPAIGNER & SUPERMODEL NATALIA VODIANOVA JOINS UNFPA TO LEAD GLOBAL SYMPOSIUM ON TACKLING TABOOS AND EMPOWERING WOMEN
The 2018 “Let’s Talk!” event will convene thought leaders, influencers, activists and global policymakers who are challenging women’s health taboos with the goal of galvanizing further progress on women’s health and gender equality.

The two-day event is powered by the charitable giving platform ELBI and will run in partnership with UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. The event will comprise a Davos-style forum with high profile speakers and an awards ceremony to recognise the outstanding endeavours of change makers fighting globally for women’s health, choices and rights.

ELBI co-founder, philanthropist, campaigner & model Natalia Vodianova will host the event and bring together a number of special guests.

An ambitious new global initiative is launching to end the stigma and taboos around women’s health by providing a crucial podium for discussion and innovation – “Let’s Talk!” 2018 will take place on 25th-26th October 2018 at the Maxx Royal Resorts Kemer in Antalya, Turkey.

The two-day event has been developed with the ambition of creating an open platform to discuss issues such as the impact of societal taboos on sexual and reproductive health and women’s equality. The occasion will also celebrate and support the people and companies who are at the forefront of changing social norms based on rights, equality and inclusiveness.

Hosted by philanthropist, campaigner and model Natalia Vodianova, the initiative is powered by her digital charitable giving platform ELBI, and will be held in partnership with UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency. The event will take place with the support of partners including Turkish Airlines, Maxx Royal Resorts and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB).

Stigma and taboos around women’s health are pervasive in most societies and their effects have serious negative consequences, sometimes putting lives at risk. Taboos around menstruation, for example, can lead to women not having access to hygiene products, being deterred from taking part in school or sports activities, and risking infections and other complications.

Taboos around health education can also lead to young people not knowing how to protect themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, or early pregnancy. Stigmas around the sexual and reproductive health of persons with disabilities can lead to a lack of adequate maternal health services, and fear of repercussions for talking about domestic violence can result in women not seeking help despite being in an abusive relationship.

The event will commence with a networking reception on the 25^th October and continue with a day-long forum on the 26^th October, convening a series of global guests and influencers who share the common goal of removing the obstacles which currently prevent women from the prospect of a healthy future. The select group of courageous policy makers, influencers, entrepreneurs and activists will join Natalia to share and build on their ideas and innovations aimed at improving the lives of millions of women.

In the evening of 26th October, a special awards night will recognise outstanding achievements in combating taboos and stigmas around women’s health. This ceremony will celebrate some of the world’s most pioneering and progressive minds in the fight to empower women from all corners of the globe. From patrons of the battle against domestic violence to beacons of hope in the education of menstrual hygiene, the MAXX ROYAL Let’s Talk About It Awards will provide recognition for their inspirational endeavours. The event will be streamed live on Elbi and UNFPA social media channels, and viewers will be able to donate to UNFPA causes throughout the stream and through Elbi’s App.

Speaking about the 2018 “Let’s Talk!” event, Elbi founder Natalia Vodianova said: “I am very proud to be launching the “Let’s Talk!” initiative with ELBI and our partner UNFPA. A year ago, I began holding conversations with friends and colleagues about the taboos around periods and am so excited to broaden this conversation and bring it to a global level.

Too often women’s health issues go unheard and unnoticed because of unwarranted stigmas and taboos which have let far too many women down for generations. Now is the time to take a stand and begin to make strides in liberating women around the world, opening new doors and providing fresh opportunities. The changes we make now can help shape the destiny of future generations.

The event also represents an opportunity to acknowledge and recognize activists and advocates, who are making real progress for women’s health around the world, for their achievements.”

Discussing the event, Alanna Armitage, UNFPA’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said: “We are excited to partner with Natalia and ELBI on breaking the stigma and taboos that still surround women’s health. Any lasting change requires a cultural shift, and this is why engaging influencers and innovators is so important.

The “Let’s Talk!” initiative provides an excellent platform to bring together change makers from across society — governments, private sector, civil society, celebrities — and share and celebrate their successes in creating a world where women can exercise their right to health and well-being without discrimination, stigma or taboo.”
1st October 2018
TAKE TO THE SKIES & SMASH THE STEREOTYPES IN PARWAAZ HAI JUNOON
Fly alongside Pakistan’s greatest pilots and discover what it is to be a hero of the skies in the hotly anticipated film Parwaaz Hai Junoon, produced by Momina & Duraid Films and HUM Films in association with the Pakistan Air Force. A story of youth, courage, love and patriotism, Parwaaz Hai Junoon promises to be a rousing tribute to Pakistan’s Air Force and is set to release worldwide on 24^th August 2018.

Produced by Momina & Duraid Films and written by author and screenwriter Farhat Ishtiaq (Bin Roye), Parwaaz Hai Junoon is the coming of age story of a girl who has an ambition to be a pilot. Parwaaz Hai Junoon marks the second production from Momina Duraid, the force behind 2015’s critically acclaimed film Bin Roye, one of Pakistan’s biggest international hits, particularly in the UK.Momina Duraid is a household name for Urdu drama lovers across the world and is the creative genius delivering ground breaking content like Humsafar, Zindagi Gulzar Hai, Udari, Sang-e-marmar, and many others. She specialises in social impact projects like women empowerment and is always a hit with the audiences. Hence the expectation from Parwaaz Hai Junoon is for it to be a film with a soul, which separates it from competitors this Eid.Ace director Haseeb Hasan makes his directorial debut on the big screen after enjoying huge success on the small screen. The film cast is a unique blend of fresh-faced and talented young stars alongside established veterans that include Hamza Ali Abbasi, Hania Amir, Shaz Khan, Kubra Khan, Syed Shafaat Ali, Adnan Jaffer, Sikandar Vincent, Rachel Viccaji, Mustafa Changezi, Sabeena Syed, Asif Raza Mir, Hina Bayat, Shamoon Abbasi, Farhan Ali Agha and Rasheed Naz, with a special appearance from Marina Khan. After capturing many hearts on the small screen, Ahad Raza Mir follows the footsteps of his father and grandfather by making a debut on the big screen.The film follows Sania (Hania Amir), a young cadet who must fight against preconceived notions of gender roles to pursue her dream of becoming an ace pilot. Through her empowering journey, the audience will discover the human side of the Air Force, its pilots, and their families. Pakistani superstar Hamza Ali Abbasi, who is also known for his social activism, essays the role of a fighter pilot. The film depicts the daily lives of cadets at a typical Air Force Academy, including laughs and mistakes along with the development of the core values of integrity, courage and honour.The film also subverts the misinformed clichés that appear in international media about Pakistan through depicting the country’s fight against terrorism. Parwaaz Hai Junoon smashes the stereotypes that surround Pakistan to instead showcase the role Pakistan plays in safeguarding the region from terrorist threats.
The film’s soundtrack features music composed by first time music director Azaan Sami Khan, son of the acclaimed music maestro Adnan Sami Khan and contributions from Mustehsan Khan (Bulyyea), as well as Coke Studio favourites including Atif Aslam (Tham Lo). Both Bulyyea and Tham Lo are already a hit with the audiences.

Camaraderie, commitment, honour and discipline are just some of the things these cadets will learn during their time at Pakistan’s Airforce Academy. Parwaaz Hai Junoon will break stereotypes and soar high.

Produced by Momina & Duraid Films and distributed by HUM Films, Parwaaz Hai Junoon is set to release worldwide on 24^th August 2018.
10th August 2018
A NEW ERA FOR UK-SAUDI ARABIA RELATIONS WITH FRIENDLY POLO MATCH AND FIRST INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON SAUDI VISION 2030 AT BMG SUMMER RETREAT
Investment opportunities presented by Saudi Arabia discussed at Forum

Prince William leads BMG Financial Polo-team to victory in friendly UK-Saudi match.

Basil Al Ghalayini, CEO of BMG Financial Group, hails “a new era for Saudi Arabia.”

BMG Economic Forum marks the first major international Economic Forum focused on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

The BMG Summer Retreat includes two events; the Economic Forum on July 11th at the London Stock Exchange & BMG Foundation Polo Cup at Cambridge Polo & Country Club on the 12th.

The first major international economic forum focused on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 took place in London this week at the BMG Economic Forum. Taking place at the London Stock Exchange, the event saw key figures in business and finance convene to discuss the wealth of opportunity available in Saudi Arabia.

The BMG Financial Group is licensed by the Saudi Capital Market Authority to offer financial services including investment banking and advisory research to clients. BMG provides corporate advisory services to medium and large business clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, initial public offerings and more. The company has a wealth of experience across sectors including insurance, real estate, retail, telecommunication, oil & gas, aviation and consumer finance.

Donald Brydon, Chairman, London Stock Exchange Group

The forum’s opening speech was delivered by Donald Brydon, Chairman, London Stock Exchange Group, who hailed Saudi Arabia’s forward thinking leadership, and highlighted the country’s investment in SMEs, saying “The London Stock Exchange is committed to being strategic partner with the Kingdom to help deliver the Saudi Vision 2030 and beyond.”

Highlights of the Forum included a variety of panels including the Business and Financial Environment in Saudi Arabia, Investments in the UK post BREXIT and Wealth Management panel.

Speaking about the BMG Economic Forum, CEO of BMG Financial Group, Basil Al Ghalayini, said “This is a new era for Saudi Arabia. An era of great opportunities coupled with great challenges.” He added, “Through this forum today, I am sure we can highlight these opportunities and learn how to manage these challenges.”

CEO of BMG Financial Group, Basil Al Ghalayini receives the plaque of London Exchange Opening from Robert Barnes

The Economic Forum formed the first part of BMG’s Summer Retreat which was followed the net day by the 22^nd BMG Polo Cup, organised by the BMG Foundation. The BMG Foundation has been bridging East and West through sport, music and art for over 20 years. The vision of the Foundation is to transcend differences through the common language of culture. Taking place at Cambridge Polo & Country Club, the BMG Polo Cup is considered the oldest joint Saudi-British charitable social and diplomatic event.

The 22^nd BMG Polo Cup on Thursday saw a friendly polo match between a BMG Financial team captained by HRH The Duke of Cambridge Prince William and featuring John Steven Ziegler, Jaime Huidobro and Amr Zedan, against a team representing the Cambridge Polo County Club led by Charlie Wright, featuring Hugo Taylor, Hissam Ali Hyder and Jasper Upton.

The BMG GCC Polo Cup was born of a conversation between HRH The Prince of Wales and Basil Al Ghalayini, the Chairman of BMG Foundation, in the 1990s. In response to the need for closer and more significant cultural and sporting interactions between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, Basil Al Ghalayini worked to create a platform to facilitate this, whilst simultaneously supporting the most worthy of causes.

The riveting match saw Prince William lead his team to victory with a score of 10 to the Cambridge club’s 8. Following the match, both teams received mementos from Prince Sultan Khalid Alfaisal Alsaud and Chairman of the BMG Foundation Basil Al Ghalayini who praised the exciting match, saying “It had the highest amount of goals in a match in the event’s history, and Prince William and Saudi polo star Amr Zedan played very well.”

Underlying the whole event was charitable giving. In addition to The Duke of Cambridge Prince William’s charities, the Summer Retreat supports BMG Foundation’s key charitable initiatives, including the Foundation’s Safe Driving, Water Conservation and Health Awareness campaigns. The annual Polo Cup has raised millions for charity.
17th July 2018
‘Chain Of Niine’ To Shackle Period Taboo at the Niine Menstrual Awareness Conclave
High level panels featuring actress Shabana Azmi, Member of Parliament Meenakshi Lekhi, Avinash Kumar, Director Programme and Policy, WaterAid India, Dr Jennifer Butler Deputy Regional Director,United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and more voice their support for greater action against the period taboo.

Megastar Akshay Kumar turns rock star as he sings about Menstrual Hygiene Awareness and honours Pad Heroes from across India for their work.

Attendees pledge their support for the Chain of Niine and to be a part of the Pad Man Army to break the period taboo.

To mark World Menstrual Hygiene Day, megastar Akshay Kumar and a host of activists, politicians, advocates and national change-makers came together to launch the Niine Movement, an ambitious five-year plan aimed at tackling the taboos surrounding menstruation. With the announcement of the Chain of Niine at the inaugural Niine Menstrual Hygiene Awareness Conclave in New Delhi, India, the nation-wide movement aims to raise awareness on the importance of menstrual hygiene across the country. The Menstrual Awareness Conclave saw renowned film personalities, academics, policymakers, government officials, activists, medical experts, business stalwarts, NGOs, and thought-leaders, convene to discuss the impact that stigma and taboos have had on menstruation, and which have held girls and women back for centuries from achieving their potential and living a life of respect and dignity. Supported by Television Partner and leading Hindi news channel News18 India, and online partner Firstpost, the Menstrual Awareness Conclave saw two keynote panels take place providing an essential platform for collaboration, innovation and cooperation as panelists discussed sustainable solutions for tackling menstrual issues across India.

Indian superstar Akshay Kumar, who’s most recent award winning film Pad Man tackled the issue of menstrual taboo, recently began his support of the Niine Movement with the launch of the nationwide campaign #18to82 to bridge the gap between the minority that are able to adopt hygienic practices and the large majority who are not able to make an informed choice in these matters.As one of India’s most respected and reputed social change and women’s empowerment advocates, Akshay Kumar took to the stage to interact with the audience, sharing never before heard experiences of his time filming Pad Man and explaining why he was so compelled to not only star but produce a film on periods.In one of the most memorable moments of the conclave, he also performed a rock anthem about menstrual hygiene entitled ‘Let’s Talk About Periods’, which encapsulated the enclave’s strong message on breaking the menstrual taboo and starting a discussion around.

As part of the Niine Movement’s commitment to educate and raise awareness of menstruation across all genders and age groups, Akshay Kumar also spotlighted the work of menstrual hygiene champions – Pad Heroes – from across India. These Pad Heroes from a variety of backgrounds shared their extraordinary efforts to improve menstrual hygiene awareness in their local communities, and were presented with 5 Lacs by Akshay Kumar on behalf of the Niine Movement to support their continuing work.Speaking about his support of the Menstrual Awareness Conclave, Akshay Kumar earlier said: “The Niine Menstrual Awareness Conclave is a crucial assembly of minds, influencers and menstrual awareness champions – convening under one roof with the common goal of tackling the urgent issues, taboos and stigmas associated with menstrual health and hygiene. We, as a collective society, can only implement change once we initiate discussion, and the conclave on International Menstrual Hygiene Day is a fitting platform for us to truly empower a nation of women. Together we can ensure that every woman and girl has the right to manage her period safely and with dignity.”The Menstrual Awareness Conclave also featured two high-level panels engaging prominent and expert panellists. The first panel was Chaired and Moderated by Poonam Muttreja, the Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India (PFI), which has been at the forefront of policy advocacy and research on gender, population, health and development issues in India. With taboos surrounding menstruation preventing women and girls from achieving empowerment, respect and dignity for centuries, the first panel delved deep into the socially constructed origin of the menstrual stigma and the physical impact this can have on girls and women, in particular reproductive and urinary tract infections. If neglected, these infections can have long term consequences including increased vulnerability to other infections and in extreme cases can leave women vulnerable to infertility.Poonam Muttreja spoke to eminent panellists focusing on the importance of menstrual hygiene management awareness and practice and the work already being conducted on ground to tackle the issues and address the barriers. Some of the panelists included film actor and women’s rights activist Shabana Azmi, Avinash Kumar, Director Programme and Policy, WaterAid India, an NGO which aims to transform the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people by improving access to WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) services, Nishtha Satyam, Deputy Representative, UN Women India MCO, Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from New Delhi Constituency, BJP National Spokeswoman, Supreme Court lawyer and socio-political activist and Dr. Jaideep Malhotra, President of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI).Voicing her support to the Niine Movement, and calling for a nationwide action, Shabana Azmi said: “In a country where 70% women suffer reproductive illness due to unhygienic methods of handling menstruation, not only free-pads distribution but, a series of efforts taken on the individual and community level can only help uprooting the cause. It requires a change in mind-set, breaking of taboos surrounding menstruation talks and creating platforms for more open conversations through workshops and awareness programmes. There is also a need to offer encouragement to social entrepreneurs working towards menstruation issues.”

Agreeing with Shabana Azmi, Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament also emphasised the need to approach the societal issue with a scientific lens, and said: “Issues around menstruation are not really related to patriarchy but deals with a mindset and that needs to be changed in a scientific way. We should rather focus on usages of organic and biodegradable pads than simply using a random pad made of plastic which eventually will harm our eco-system and food chain. Scientific and eco-friendly methods of making pads should be encouraged.”According to UNESCO, 20% of girls drop out of school upon reaching puberty the second, most common cause of absenteeism after household work. The second panel will focus on the safety and security of girls after they reach puberty in the school environment, an important concern for girls and their families that needs to be addressed in building a healthy ecosystem in which girls and women feel empowered to make healthy choices with respect to menstruation.Chaired and Moderated by activist and the Regional Coordinator, India of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Shivani Wazir Pasrich, the panel featured educationists and menstrual hygiene management experts to discuss the challenges within the education sector, which included the need for separate toilets for boys and girls with access to clean water, and the importance of advocating for better menstrual health practices at schools. The panelists included Dr Bindu Rana, CEO and Founder of Millennium Education Management, the largest education company in India, veteran educationist Lata Vaidyanathan, Director, TERI Prakriti School, woman empowerment champion Raseel Gujral and Dr. Jennifer Butler, Deputy Regional Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Asia Pacific and OIC UNFPA India and Bhutan. UNFPA has been assisting the Government of India in addressing adolescent health concerns, improving access to life skills education and health services, strengthening delivery of SRH services and advancing reproductive health and rights and preventing gender discrimination and harmful practices.The Niine Movement and Niine Menstrual Awareness Conclave were conceived by social entrepreneur Amar Tulsiyan. Speaking about the launch, founder Amar Tulsiyan said: “Niine signifies the Nine months of beautiful journey towards motherhood which can only take off after periods. Menstruation is a divine boon of nature which should be celebrated and not be ashamed of. This is where the core philosophy of the campaign rests upon. “ With regards to the taboo surrounding menstruation, he added: “Menstrual hygiene awareness is an issue that is severely under-represented in this country, as demonstrated by the amount of women who still do not use proper menstrual hygiene products to manage their periods. Even amongst the 18%, they lack awareness of the importance of using clean sanitary napkins and not to reuse the product, which is why as part of our theory of change, we need to enrol existing menstrual hygiene product users and those who don’t in a supportive, taboo free environment to create an open forum for discussion and deliberation. With Niine’s Menstrual Awareness Conclave, I am hopeful that we can inspire and motivate everyone to support the cause as I believe that we can all make a difference and break the taboo around menstruation by talking, educating and collaborating. That’s what the Niine Movement is all about. ”

The Niine Movement is supported by Jagran Pehal and Radio City.For further information on the Niine Movement or to join, log onto www.niine.com
28th May 2018
CWEIC welcomes The Gambia’s return to the Commonwealth – Sterling Media
- The Gambia re-joined the Commonwealth on 8^th February 2018 after their application was unanimously supported by the other 52-member states.
- President Adama Barrow has been invited to attend the Commonwealth Business Forum organised alongside the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
- CWEIC believes The Gambia has great potential for economic growth and prosperity and is a welcome addition to the Commonwealth network.
- The shared values, regulatory systems and language, makes trade costs on average 19% lower between the 53 Commonwealth countries.
Just 9 weeks before the Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) comes to the UK for the first time, The Gambia has re-joined the Commonwealth.

The Chairman of the CWEIC, Lord Marland, has welcomed The Gambia’s return to the Commonwealth and has invited the President Adama Barrow to give a keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum and lead a delegation of Gambian businesses. The invitation only Forum will attract over 800 senior business and Government leaders from across the Commonwealth.

Participants in CBF will explore how businesses can maximise the opportunities presented by the Commonwealth Factor, which estimates that trade costs are on average 19% lower between Commonwealth countries due to the shared values, regulatory systems and language.

Commenting on The Gambia’s return to the Commonwealth CWEIC Chairman, Lord Marland of Odstock said: “I am delighted that in the months before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and the 11^th Commonwealth Business Forum the Commonwealth is expanding its membership. The Gambia has a rich heritage and deep-rooted links with the Commonwealth, and I am very much looking forward to working with them to increase trade and investment across the Commonwealth. I would be delighted if President Barrow were to agree to give a keynote address at the Forum and lead a delegation of Gambian business”.

Intra-Commonwealth trade, which was estimated to be worth $525 billion in 2015, is projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2020. CWEIC’s ambition is to encourage and grow intra-Commonwealth trade and investment and assist member organisations in developing high quality trade and investment opportunities.

The CWEIC is also due to announce the first round of confirmed speakers for the CBF. All speakers at the Forum have personally been invited by Lord Marland of Odstock, Chairman of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, and are considered to be leaders in their chosen field.
12th February 2018
LONDON’S FIRST BARRE CLASS ON ICE – Sterling Media

Ice Rink Canary Wharf and luxury D&D restaurant, Plateau, have announced an exciting collaboration with the explosive new fitness brand DEFINE.London, to bring a barre class to the ice, followed by a plant-based Botanical Brunch on the 3^rd February.

The event will see DEFINE.London founder, Ashley Verma, take to the ice to lead an hour-long session at Ice Rink Canary Wharf later this month. The class, which will take place under the emphatic Canary Wharf skyline, will be followed by a well-earned Botanical Brunch, courtesy of luxury French restaurant Plateau.

Former American Broadway actress, Ashley Verma, will be welcoming people to the ice to take part in a class made up of two 30-minute sessions, on yoga mats (without the need for ice skates!). The first of the sessions will be comprised of a half hour barre-based full body workout, incorporating a combination of postures inspired by ballet and other challenging fitness disciplines. Guests should be prepared for a head-to-toe body blazing session combining an intense mix of isometric moves, thigh and glute sequences, chiselling arm and abdominal moves, and elongating stretches throughout the class – all aimed at increasing strength and flexibility.

The second session will be a relaxing 30-minute stretch class to help increase muscle control, flexibility and range to ultimately allow muscles to recover, all whilst taking in the spectacular scenery of the ice rink, fairy-lit trees and towering buildings around Canada Square Park.

After the session, Ashley will be hosting the group at the D&D London restaurant, Plateau, for the restaurant’s recently launched Botanical Brunch. The menu offers a supreme concoction of brunch classics with the addition of new vegan dishes including Crushed avocado on sourdough toast; Buckwheat galette with spinach and salsify; Beetroot tagliatelle, smoked beetroots topped with toasted pine nuts; and Almond milk ‘riz au lait’ for dessert. Guests will be welcomed by a cocktail of Tanqueray botanical gin and FeverTree’s Indian tonic, or a choice of Seedlip mocktails including the Garden Mojito or Hibiscus & Elderflower spritz.

The collaboration is part of D&D London’s Mindful City campaign, a series of activities and events throughout January and February focusing on wellness and fitness for the body and soul, together with the launch of Plateau’s botanical Saturday brunch menu – available for guests to enjoy until the end of March with a selection of healthier and vegan options on the menu. #MindfulCity18.

This unique workout session on the ice comes ahead of the highly anticipated launch of DEFINE.London’s Fitzrovia studio in February. Through years of teaching fitness in New York, highly sought-after fitness expert Ashley Verma incorporated what she already knew with her physical therapy routines to launch the DEFINE.London brand, which now has 10 unique class concepts under its umbrella. With a core remit to ‘Aspire to Inspire’, DEFINE.London is changing the way we see the fitness game. Classes will be led by the music, maintaining an upbeat mood and ensuring exercise is fun and inspiring.

This exciting new luxury fitness brand is perfectly reflected by the impressive ambiance of the ice rink it is scheduled to host a session on. Ice Rink Canary Wharf is London’s longest-running seasonal ice venue, open for 16 weeks spanning from the 4^th November – 24^th February. As it stands, Ice Rink Canary Wharf not only ranks as the longest in London at 80 meters but is also the only remaining seasonal ice rink open in the capital city. The clear, cathedral-style roof means skating can continue regardless of the weather.

Speaking ahead of the event, DEFINE.London founder Ashley Verma said: “We are extremely excited for this special, unique event. It’s not every day that you have a fitness session on the ice, so I cannot wait to get out there. What better place to do it than the iconic Ice Rink Canary Wharf as well – the scenery is truly something to behold.

“What’s more, we are incredibly grateful towards the D&D restaurant, Plateau, for opening their doors to welcome us for brunch – the menu looks incredible and I can’t wait to try their dishes. Now it’s just a case of choosing what to have!”

Lorraine Crighton-Smith at Ice Rink Canary Wharf, said, “We are delighted to host this high energy barre class to the ice. At this time of year, fitness and self-improvement is at the forefront of many of our customers’ minds. This day is the ideal opportunity to do something for your physical and mental well-being whilst still having fun.”

27th January 2018
PAD MAN FEVER HITS THE UK AS TWINKLE KHANNA GETS THE NATION TALKING PERIODS

Pad Man fever well and truly took over the United Kingdom ahead of the worldwide release of the film on the 9^th February. Britain was introduced to the most unconventional of Superheroes as the Indian bestselling female author, woman empowerment champion and film producer Twinkle Khanna took to prime-time television and the prestigious Oxford Union to discuss the need tackle period poverty and period taboos.

Pad Man is inspired by the story of one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential entrants Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural welder from India with a unique, eccentrically mad edge who turned incredible inventor by providing women with access to high-quality and affordable sanitary pads 20 years ago.

Highlights of Twinkle’s whistle-stop visit to the UK included a meeting with Nobel Peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Popularly known to her readers as Mrs Funnybones, which also doubles up as the title of her first book and columns, Twinkle Khanna’s debut book Mrs Funnybones sold over 100,000 copies. This feat made her the highest-selling female author in India with her second book, The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad, landing at number two on Amazon India’s bestseller list. The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad featured a number of short tales, one of which was the story of a man who invented a machine to make low-cost sanitary pads. Recognising a fundamental need to have this story shared to a wider audience, Twinkle had turned producer to develop it for the big screen.

The result is her latest endeavour, Pad Man, a feature film on menstrual hygiene based on the life of social entrepreneur and activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, who revolutionised sanitary hygiene in rural India 20 years ago. Pad Man traces Arunachalam Muruganantham’s international journey from an outcast exiled from society for his endeavours to delve into such a taboo subject, to becoming a super-hero of India’s modern history, as he followed his dream to bring a menstrual hygiene revolution to India.

Twinkle’s visit to the UK got off to a glamorous start with a photo-call in a London hotel alongside leading Bollywood actress and star of Pad Man Sonam Kapoor. Media interest was high as photographers and journalists flocked to London to capture the pair, which was followed by several high profile interviews.

The focus later shifted to the world renowned Oxford Union as Twinkle prepared for her highly anticipated speech at the prestigious Oxford Union Society. Approaching its 200th anniversary, The Oxford Union has an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford, with the aim of promoting debate and discussion not just within the University, but across the world. Twinkle joined an esteemed list of former participants including US Presidents Reagan, Nixon, and Carter, as well as Sir Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein and Malala Yousafzai to name but a few. Twinkle’s appearance highlighted The Oxford Union’s fine tradition of hosting worldwide personalities from meaningful fields.

Marking the first time an Indian film has ever been showcased at the institution, the audience were presented with the official trailer of Pad Man before Twinkle took to the spotlight. The trailer generated a rapturous response of laughter when in the trailer lead actor Akshay Kumar remarked that if a man bled for the amount of time a women did as a result of menstruation, he would die.

Twinkle engaged the audience by explaining why the world needed to know about Pad Man’s story and the importance of spotlighting issues relating to menstrual hygiene.

“My primary motivation to make a movie on menstruation was to bring awareness to a subject that so far has been tucked away in shadows and much like Voldemort is never mentioned.”

Twinkle made the audience chuckle as she gave her solution to the prevalence of taxation on menstrual products around the world, stating “I think all women should just move to Canada: we get tax free tampons and blemish free Trudeau, and what more could any woman want?”

Twinkle described her hopes for the film, saying “With Pad Man, I am hoping it is more than a movie – it’s a movement: where women are no longer held back or embarrassed by their biology.”

Answering questions from The Oxford Union Vice President Sabriyah Saeed, Twinkle said: “One of the things I really wanted from this movie, which I think we are already on the way to achieving, is to make it a conversation starter. We want all members of the family to discuss this topic, including the men, even if it is merely to decide whether they should go and see Pad Man or not!”

Responding to questions about how the next generation can end the cycle of period taboo, Twinkle said “I think mothers and parents both have to lead by example…” Using her own experiences as a mother as a reference, she added “There should be no forbidden territory – you should be able to speak about anything.”

Twinkle also shared her views on the idea of making a film about a man solving problems for women. She pointed out that there are many women who solve issues, saying “There are a lot of women doing things for fellow women – but is anyone really listening to them?”. Twinkle recalled that it was Muruganantham’s conservative background that made the Pad Man story so unique, “Do men need to step up and solve women’s problems? I don’t think so – as you can see in what’s happening right now in the world, women seem to be giving men a sucker punch and pushing them down very well by themselves” she added.

When asked if the film’s profits would be going to charity, Twinkle said that a proportion of the revenue would, referring to an anecdote from the real Pad Man himself, “Muruganantham himself said something very smart about it. He had a conversation with Bill Gates, and he said: what you do is charity and what I do is social entrepreneurship. It’s the same thing as giving people fish or teaching them to fish. So what he does is he makes machines that help women earn a livelihood, and if our movie does not make any money, and if we give away all of our profits, then nobody will make a movie based on content again. And that would be a shame, wouldn’t it?” The answer received applause, highlighting the film’s commitment to Muruganantham’s ethos for creating lasting change.

The power of Twinkle’s message and that of Pad Man was clear during the course of the evening itself; when handed sanitary pads at the beginning of the evening, much of the audience, most notably the male members, balked at the idea. By the end of Twinkle’s speech and Q&A session, the audience were asked to raise sanitary pads aloft for a photo opportunity, to which nearly the entire audience duly obliged.

In the lead up to the speech, Twinkle met with Nobel Peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. Speaking at the meeting, Malala mentioned to Twinkle: “I’m really excited to see the film Pad Man, and am looking forward to seeing the trailer shortly because the message behind the film is truly inspiring.”

On Friday 19^th January, Twinkle took to the airwaves to spread Pad Man’s message across television, appearing on BBC News’s Victoria Derbyshire programme, ITV News, BBC News, Al Jazeera and Channel 4 News.

On BBC 2’s Victoria Derbyshire show Twinkle’s trademark wit and passion for the project shone through as she discussed the importance of issues around menstrual hygiene. Answering a question on the why menstrual products incur taxes worldwide, Twinkle said “There’s a GST tax of 12% in India and even that’s something I’ve been talking about repeatedly, because brooms don’t have tax, so apparently in India it’s more important to keep your house clean than your body – I don’t understand that.”

“But again I want to reiterate it’s not just India, there have been many states across America where Viagra is tax free but tampons are taxed because policies are made by 65 year old men with erectile dysfunction.”

UK viewers were impressed by the project and Twinkle’s passion for the subject. One viewer tweeted “Fantastic interview with @mrsfunnybones on #VictoriaLIVE can’t wait to see #padman. Fascinating story of determination and public awareness around issues women face.” Another tweeted “@mrsfunnybones is ace! Can’t wait to watch Pad Man!”

Both ITV and BBC devoted special attention within their news reports to the film, which aired during the highly watched midday and 6pm broadcasts, highlighting the urgency and global nature of period taboo and period poverty. In an interview on ITV News, Twinkle described the progress the film has already made, “One of the things that motivated me to make this movie, it’s already begun this conversation about menstruation.”

Twinkle also took part in an ITV News Facebook Live Q&A with host Nina Nannar, preceded only by UK Prime Minister Theresa May during last year’s general election campaign. The Q&A covered some of the taboos that exist around periods, deeply entrenched in cultures around the world, and how the film Pad Man hopes to tackle them. Twinkle said “To me the most important thing about Pad Man is the fact that in India, already the conversation has started. Something that people do not address, and it is not something I have heard men talking about, is suddenly talked about all the time and even if they are talking about whether or not to see Pad Man, they are addressing something they have not.”

Twinkle was joined on the Q&A by period campaigner Manjit Gill, founder of the charity Binti International, who have been raising similar issues in the UK. Twinkle visited Binti International following her TV appearances to learn more about their work, and saw first-hand their excitement for the release of film like Pad Man.

Channel 4 News also compiled a report on the film and an interview with Twinkle on their evening weekend broadcast. Speaking to Channel 4 News presenter Cathy Newman about the significance of a film like Pad Man for the fact that it deals with women’s issues traditionally seen as taboo, Twinkle said “We’re in a very interesting time in history, where for the first time you have women whose voices are being heard, strident women…it’s a very good time to be a woman.”

Twinkle’s mission to open up the topic of menstruation for discussion has been a success, and with the UK public now aware of Pad Man, excitement is growing for the film.

Dubbed ‘Superhero hai yeh Pagla’, Pad Man is the world’s first feature film on menstrual hygiene inspired by the story of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential entrants Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural welder from India with a unique, eccentrically mad edge who turned incredible inventor by providing women with access to high-quality and affordable sanitary pads 20 years ago.

Produced by Mrs Funnybones Movies, SPE FIlms India, Kriarj Entertainment, Cape of Good Films and Hope Productions, Pad Man is written and directed by ad-man turned film-man R Balki (Paa). It is billed as the most progressive family entertainer yet, starring international megastar Akshay Kumar (Toilet: Ek Prem Katha) who assumes the titular role of Arunachalam Muruganantham to once again showcase his commitment to social entertainers. He is joined by critically acclaimed actresses Sonam Kapoor (Neerja) and Radhika Apte (Kabali).

One for the mad ones, the ones who are crazy enough to change the world, Pad Man is the one-of-a-kind feature film, tackling the taboo and stigmas attached to menstrual hygiene through the art of entertainment.

Pad Man releases in cinemas worldwide on the 9^th February to inspire all the cape-less heroes amongst us, through SPE Films, India.

22nd January 2018
Not Your Avenger Superhero Film – “Pad Man” A Man, A Mission, A Movie.

A superhero is a heroic stock character, who is dedicated to protecting their public and fighting evil and oppression at all costs, often single handily. However, contrary to popular folklore, not all superheroes wear capes and can sometimes blend in with the conventional public.

Here’s introducing the inspiring story of one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential entrants Arunachalam Muruganantham, a rural welder from India turned incredible innovator and inventor, who certainly wasn’t wearing a cape when he was moved to provide women with access to high-quality and affordable sanitary pads 20 years ago. His story has been fictionalised for its silver screen debut with Pad Man, releasing in cinemas around the world on 9^th February 2018.

Produced by Mrs Funnybones Movies, Sony Pictures Entertainment, India, Kriarj Entertainment, Cape of Good Films and Hope Productions, Pad Man is written and directed by ad-man turned film-man R Balki (Paa). It is billed as the most progressive family entertainer yet, starring international megastar Akshay Kumar (Toilet: Ek Prem Katha) who assumes the titular role of Arunachalam Muruganantham to once again showcase his commitment to social entertainers. He is joined by critically acclaimed actresses Sonam Kapoor (Neerja) and Radhika Apte (Kabali).

The story of Arunachalam Muruganantham was first fictionalised in the Founder of Mrs Funnybones Movies, Twinkle Khanna’s award-winning book of short-stories, The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad. A renowned vocal women empowerment champion, interior design entrepreneur, best-selling author, newspaper columnist and producer, Twinkle Khanna then felt compelled to project Arunachalam Muruganantham’s story to a wider audience by co-producing Pad Man under her banner Mrs Funnybones Movies.

Pad Man traces Arunachalam Muruganantham’s international journey from an outcast exiled from society for his endeavours to delve into such a taboo subject, to becoming a super-hero of India’s modern history, as he followed his dream to bring a revolution to menstrual hygiene in India. Akin to the tagline of the film Superhero Hai Yeh Pagla (He’s a Crazy Superhero), Pad Man is nothing short of an impulsive, flamboyant and driven entrepreneur extraordinaire, who refused to give up in the wake of scrutiny and ridicule, using his resilience and initiative to invent India’s low-cost sanitary napkin making machine. An extreme enigma in his home town, Arunachalam Muruganantham’s super-heroic efforts led to a business that today employs hundreds of women across India.

Issues relating to menstrual hygiene are a global phenomenon. Whether this is a result of the stigma and taboo resulting in the marginalisation and disempowerment of women in societies, the economic and social impact of “period poverty”, to the consequences on women’s health, there is a need to educate both men and women on the impact and to ensuring all women have menstrual dignity. Committed to the cause of women empowerment, Arunachalam Muruganantham faced the risk of isolation and marginalisation as he challenged the stigma and stereotypes associated with menstrual hygiene head-on in order to improve the lives of thousands of women. As is the case with many superheroes, it’s the element of social segregation that makes Arunachalam Muruganantham’s story so special. He is challenged by the extreme backlash of a bigoted society stuck in its ways, to liberate and empower women across the country – just like a superhero.

Whilst his exterior may resemble that of a regular man, Arunachalam Muruganantham is the paradigm to the theory that not all heroes wear capes! Pad Man is a tribute to every ordinary and simple man and woman, who dare to dream and impact the lives of millions of others. Pad Man releases in cinemas worldwide on the 9^th February 2018 to inspire all the cape-less heroes amongst us, through Sony Pictures Entertainment, India.

15th January 2018
BIG WIN FOR GLOBAL BUSINESS CONSULTANCY STERLING MEDIA AT BRITISH MEDIA AWARDS 2017

STERLING MEDIA’S COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN FOR #WHATIREALLYREALLYWANT WINS SILVER PRIZE FOR “VIDEO PROJECT OF THE YEAR” AT BRITISH MEDIA AWARDS 2017

The global PR and viral campaign for the film #WhatIReallyReallyWant by Project Everyone, supported by Getty Images and SAWA and launched by the international communications agency Sterling Media, was awarded the Silver prize for Video Project of the Year at the British Media Awards 2017. Taking place at The Hilton Park Lane on 3^rd May 2017, the British Media Awards recognise ‘excellence and innovation’ across the industry. Other shortlisted nominees included fellow winners Shotglass Media and New Scientist, as well as The Guardian and The Economist.

On the 20th anniversary of the release of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe video, the campaign marked twenty years of Girl Power with the updated version “#WhatIReallyReallyWant”. The film reflects the voices of girls and women all over the world telling world leaders what Goals they ‘really really want’ to be achieved to help improve their lives. The campaign was supported by Getty Images and SAWA. The video received support from high profile personalities such as Spice Girls Victoria Beckham, Melanie C and Emma Bunton on Social Media, the public and international media to help it generate a spectacular 150 million views online in just a few days of its launch. The video was the 3rd highest trending topic in UK on Facebook in the first 24 hours after release.

Sterling Media managed the global communications campaign for #WhatIReallyReallyWant, playing a vital role during its development alongside Project Everyone. Sterling Media was able to make an impact on the film through securing talent such as Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, who opens the short film with a spirited performance. Sterling Media launched the film globally, securing coverage for #WhatIReallyReallyWant and the Global Goals in mass media across Europe, USA, India, the Far East, Australia and Africa.

In September 2016, World Leaders marked the first anniversary of the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. These Global Goals are a mighty plan to end poverty, fix climate change and address inequalities over the next 15 years, but they will only succeed if they address the needs of the most marginalised first, particularly those of girls and women. Issues like quality education, an end to violence, an end to child marriage and equal pay for equal work need to be at the top of every government’s agenda in order to give the Goals the best possible start.

Founded by renowned filmmaker Richard Curtis for the United Nations and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Project Everyone launched the United Nations’ Global Goals signed by 193 world leaders at the UN General Assembly in September 2015. Project Everyone, with partners from across the world, convened the first Global Goals campaign to fight and achieve Goals which are salient, financed and focused on girls and women.

Speaking about the recognition of #WhatIReallyReallyWant at the British Media Awards, Natasha Mudhar, CEO and MD of Sterling Media said: “On behalf of everyone at Sterling Media, we are honoured to have received the Silver Prize for Video Project of the Year at the British Media Awards. We would like to thank the judges at the British Media Awards and the event organisers, as well as congratulate our fellow award winners. We are delighted that the film #WhatIReallyReallyWant, launched with our partners at Project Everyone, is receiving wider recognition. Sterling Media was launched with the mission of brining brands closer to their purpose and we hope the accolades and response that #WhatIReallyReallyWant film has received are indicative of the wider positive impact it has made.”

Sterling Media is an international business and communications consultancy established in 1995 to represent countries, corporates, consumer brands, celebrities, charities, governments and thought-leaders. The company is recognised for being at the nexus of convening government, corporate, media, NGOs and celebrity, to help develop incisive business and communications strategies to bring clients closer to their purpose and ultimately the people they wish to reach.

Watch the film #WhatIReallyReallyWant: here

27th May 2017
INDIAN CRICKET CAPTAIN VIRAT KOHLI BATS FOR CHARITY AT FUNDRAISING GALA DINNER IN LONDON

The Virat Kohli Charity Ball to be held on Monday, 5^th June 2017 at the HAC Ground

The Virat Kohli Foundation, an organisation headed by India’s cricket captain and one of the most dominant batsmen in international cricket, will host the Virat Kohli Charity Ball, on Monday, 5^th June 2017 at the iconic HAC Ground, London.

Touted to be one of the biggest charity-sport events of 2017, The Virat Kohli Charity Ball will raise vital funds for charitable causes, for the empowerment of the underprivileged in India.

Coinciding as it does with Kohli leading the Indian team in the UK this Summer for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017, the star-studded night will bring together some of the greatest names in the game, both past and present, and many other renowned personalities.

The event will comprise a VIP champagne reception, surprise star appearances and world-class entertainment interspersed with a lavish three-course gourmet cuisine. There will also be a live auction where the guests will be able to bid for luxury products and cricket memorabilia close to the heart of the star batsman and his contemporaries.

Speaking about the event in London, Virat Kohli says: “I am honoured and excited that London will be the first international city to host my Foundation’s Charity Ball, in aid of the charitable causes that I hold dear to my heart. The event is a manifestation of my dream to bring about a transformative change in many lives by supporting the underprivileged sections of society. I look forward to joining hands with the public in London to raise a substantial amount.”

Owing to the high calibre venture, tickets for The Virat Kohli Charity Ball will be sold at a first-come-first-serve basis, with prices ranging from £1,950 to £2,750 for a table of ten, depending upon the table tier.

For ticket and sponsorship enquiries, contact: +44(0)7949 254 623 viratkohli@sterlingmedia.co.uk

20th May 2017
GODAN CALLS FOR COLLABORATION IN OPEN DATA SPACE ON SECOND DAY OF GFIA EUROPE 2017
Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition (GODAN) Executive Director André Laperrière demonstrates the economic impact of open data such as the $2.1billion benefit to US farmers after opening of satellite data.

President of Dutch Top Sector at Agri&Food Dr Aalt Dijkhuizen discusses the success of the Dutch agricultural sector as a result of the public and private sector partnerships.

President of Crop Science Division, Bayer AG Liam Condon agrees with GODAN’s need for an open system and pledges commitment to innovation, sustainability and responsibility post-merger.

GODAN’s André Laperrière closes GFIA Europe 2017 with call to the private sector to help ‘unleash data at a global scale.’

UTRECHT, Wednesday 10^th May, 2017: The Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition (GODAN) initiative, a 500 member organisation supported by national governments, non-governmental, international and private sector organisations that propagates for open data in agriculture and nutrition to scientifically combat world hunger and food security, partnered with the Global Forum of Innovation in Agriculture (GFIA) to promote innovation and open data on the closing day of GFIA Europe, the world’s largest dedicated expo of sustainable agriculture solutions.

André Laperrière, Executive Director, GODAN delivered a keynote speech for the GFIA Europe opening session titled “Visionaries Shaping the Future Agriculture Innovation Landscape”. He was joined by Dr Aalt Dijkhuizen, President of Dutch Top Sector Agri&Food, and Liam Condon, President of Crop Science Division, Bayer AG who discussed the importance of pushing the agriculture innovation agenda to the next level to enable competitive and sustainable food production.

During the opening session Laperrière discussed the importance of the open data revolution demonstrating the impact that the adoption of open data has on agriculture around the world. He said “Data has no value per say, it’s what you make of it that gives its value. It’s the way you shape it and the way you convey it to those who can make use of it.” Laperrière pointed to case studies including the ESOKO mobile service in 16 countries across Africa, which gives 350,000 farmers access to weather data and market data on their phones which has resulted in a 25% net increase in income for farmers across those countries.

The impact was also demonstrable in the US where the number of daily downloads of satellite imagery increased from 50 to 6000 after the data was made free. “They estimate in the US alone last year the economic benefits of using open satellite for the farmers was $1.7billion, plus $400million additional from their referral industry, so that’s $2.1billion in one year.” Laperrière added.

Laperrière reiterated the importance of making sure the open data revolution is accessible to all, saying “What’s important is to empower people in a way, a form, a shape that they will understand, that makes sense for them and meets the needs that they have. That’s the new revolution.”

Dr Dijkhuizen spoke of the challenges ahead, noting that a growing population and the expectation that the demand for vegetables, dairy and meat to double, saying “We have to produce in the coming 40 years more…than in the 4000 years behind us.” He also spoke of role sustainable agriculture plays in The Netherlands, which after a century of development has become the 2^nd largest exporter of food in the world after the US, highlighting the role of the ‘Golden Triangle’ – the collaboration between government, the private sector, and science- saying “we see that as the key behind the Dutch success, to have those three in line and going for the same objective is very important.”

Dr Dijkhuizen also spoke of the Dutch Top Sector Policy, started by the government in 2010 and based on the principles of the ‘Golden Triangle’, which is aimed at increasing economic growth and improving competitive growth, and built on a public and private sector partnership, demonstrating the success of partnerships when applied to industry.

Liam Condon also spoke of the issues facing food production, saying that “from a production point of view today, we are not living in a world where we are making the most efficient use of natural resources.” He offered solutions in form of focusing on technology and innovation, discussing the variety of new developments that are set to benefit the industry, stating that it is “a combination of all of these technologies and innovation where we are really going to be able to get to the next level of innovation.”

Condon also set out the vision for Bayer’s future merger with another agricultural giant, forming a new entity that is committed to innovation, sustainability, social responsibility and a focus on tailoring services to smallholders. He fully agreed with André Laperrière’s call for an open data revolution stating that this new entity “needs to be an open system -this cannot be a closed system otherwise we would never get it to the level of…sustainability that we require.”

Speaking during the closing ceremony, Laperrière reiterated the importance of agriculture to delegates, stating “Agriculture is dear to all of us, simply because it is the future of humanity. It is probably the only industry without which the world would just not exist.”

Laperrière went on to implore the industry to work together and keep innovating to tackle the problem of declining resources: “What we need to do is to innovate. To be creative, to find new ways to do things, to do less of what doesn’t work and to do more of what works well. And for this, we need to share knowledge. We need to help each other, we need to work together.”

After highlighting examples, Laperrière closed the session by saying “My message to all of you and everyone at GODAN and its 500+ members is – let’s set data free. Let’s make it the next revolution for all of us.”

Other highlights from the day included keynote sessions on developing sustainable agricultural technologies for emerging markets and accelerating agtech adoption on the farm.

GFIA, which launched in 2014 by the Abu Dhabi government, seeks to leverage partnerships with the world’s powerful organisations including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Bank, to show the world how technology gives us the only real chance of feeding nine billion people without destroying the environment.
11th May 2017
OPEN DATA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS – DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS OF GFIA
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NETHERLANDS, GODAN & CORPORATE SECTOR PAVE THE WAY FOR OPEN DATA IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO IMPROVE INNOVATION, PROFITABILITY & FOOD SECURITY AT GFIA EUROPE, THE WORLD’S LARGEST DEDICATED EXPO OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE SOLUTIONS.

• Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition (GODAN) partner The Government of the Netherlands pledges support from the private sector to expand the “Data Cube” initiative to further stimulate innovation.

• The Dutch Minister for Agriculture, H.E. Martijn van Dam confirms the role of open data in not only positioning The Netherlands’s agriculture sector as being one of the most innovative and productive compared to other parts of the world, but to demonstrate open data’s role as addressing the global food security challenge.

• The global agribusiness Syngenta spotlighted their ‘Good Growth Plan’, made up of six ambitious principles including the restoration of 10 million acres of degraded farmland, to welcome other private sector companies to join hands to lead the way in increased productivity and improved living standards.

• GODAN convenes eminent industry figures such as from The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Government of the Netherlands at a special VIP lunch to discuss how open innovation and pre-competitive spaces may benefit all.

UTRECHT, Tuesday 9^th May, 2017: The Global Open Data for Agriculture & Nutrition (GODAN) initiative, a 500 member organisation supported by national governments, non-governmental, international and private sector organisations that propagates for open data in agriculture and nutrition to scientifically combat world hunger and food security, partnered with the Global Forum of Innovation in Agriculture (GFIA) the world’s largest dedicated expo of sustainable agriculture solutions, to spotlight the business case for open data.

Open innovation, including open data, is figuring more prominently in food and agricultural businesses’ strategies as is the conversation around pre-competitive spaces and how they may benefit all. Through a partnership with GFIA, GODAN is showcasing stories of the impact and value of open data in agriculture, food and nutrition for businesses to help them make profitable strategic decisions. With the support of its industry-leading members, GODAN is also exploring how open data and standards can foster open innovation and collaborative research as has been seen in other industries.

GFIA Europe 2017: New ideas to face old challenges

The first day of the inaugural GFIA Europe event saw many highlights including the keynote sessions, which featured discussions around climate change and food security and how they have shown the importance of the introduction of new agricultural technologies and the development of existing ones.

The opening session was led by The Dutch Minister for Agriculture, H.E. Martijn van Dam who spoke of the myriad of challenges faced by the world and the need to innovate and find new ways to produce food.

The Government of Netherlands is a major advocate of the case for open data and recently launched a “Data Cube” to provide a system by which government data is made available to the population, especially within the agriculture industry. The initiative will expand through public private partnerships, and the Government has extended support to the private sector globally to expand the adoption of open data.

Minister van Dam confirmed the role of open data in being a key driver in positioning The Netherlands’s agriculture sector as one of the most innovative and productive compared to other parts of the world. He invited other nations to follow suit and open data to establish leadership in innovation similar to the Netherlands where its agriculture industry is 20 times more productive than some global competitors as a result of embracing open data, and to address the global food security challenge.

The Minister for Agriculture spoke of The Netherlands’ aim to lead food production within 10 years. “We support and encourage this merging of data…and agriculture” he said, citing the recent purchase of data sets for farmers. Discussing the advancements in the Netherlands in the kind of crops planted and used for food production – including seaweed – Minister van Dam said “It’s not only about innovating agriculture – we need to change the menu.”

He adds: “We have to operate smarter and more sustainably”, warning that the consumption and production at the current rate would mean “we will need another planet”.

The first day of the GFIA conference also saw the confirmation of the successful launch 104 micro satellites from GFIA sponsor Planet. The 104 satellites will help to provide free agricultural data to the entire Earth, supporting Europe’s Copernicus programme and NASA’s own monitoring capabilities and creating even more in-depth data.

High-level Lunch: GODAN makes the business case for Open Data

GODAN hosted a special VIP lunch with the support of the GFIA Secretariat and the Global Partnerships Forum, to highlight how the private sector has an important role in using, generating and reshaping data to help consumers make more informed choices to grow the world economy. The focus is not just on the food chain but to provide a better way of life for people and planet.

The lunch revolved around two key themes: ‘Why open data is good for business’, and ‘What role can pre-competitive spaces play’, convening high-level individuals to discuss the business case for opening data and how open innovation and pre-competitive spaces may benefit all. The lunch was chaired by Amir Dossal, President, Global Partnerships Forum and speakers included:

Frans Lips (DG Agro & Nature, Ministry of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands)

Alec Griffith (R&D IS AIS Service Lead, Syngenta)

Bill Haraka (Managing Director and Co-Founder, TEC-IB)

David Cockram (Senior Director, Global Regulatory Science and Innovation, Abbott Nutrition)

Gilles Boumeester (Global Head of Rabobank Food & Agri Research and Advisory)

The lunch opened with an introduction from André Laperrière, Executive Director of GODAN, who introduced what the initiative stands for; “When I think of GODAN I think of talent; I think of progress; I think of empowerment. I think of more than 500 partners united on facts/data based strategic decisions.” He underlined the importance of open data in agriculture by informing guests that “The future of the world, it’s survival you might say…is in your hands.”

Frans Lips, DG Agro & Nature, Ministry of Economic Affairs, The Netherlands, spoke of the warm support for the GODAN within the Dutch government: “The principles of GODAN to make data available, accessible and usable are something The Dutch cabinet embraces.”

Lips also highlighted the use of agri-parcels by the government, and the plan to create a system that would allow all Dutch citizens to access open data. He also called for a greater consideration of farmers in business, adding that they believe “that a farmers should be an integral part of new business propositions.”

Alec Griffiths, R&D IS AIS Service Lead, Syngenta, used the lunch to spotlight Sygenta’s ambitious ‘Good Growth Plan’, made up of six principles including the restoration of 10 million acres of degraded farmland, the cultivation of 5 million acres of biodiversity hotspots, an increase in the productivity of small holder farmers by 50%, training 20million farm workers in proper practices and enabling safe working conditions for farm workers. Griffiths described the “silos of wisdom” and data in their archives, saying “what we’re learning now is that there are lots of opportunities through looking at our data.”

Other speakers included Bill Haraka, Managing Director of TEC-IB, who highlighted the use of open data and technology in fighting tree diseases and pests. Pointing out the challenges faced in safeguarding food production, Haraka said “people say ‘let’s grow food on Mars’; why not start doing it efficiently on Earth?”

David Cockram, Senior Director, Regulatory Science & Innovation at Abbott Nutrition shared how data could be used for policy purposes, including the enhancement of public health using open data to augment USDA’s existing nutrient database, greatly expanding the amount of nutrition reference data.

Giles Boumeester, Global Head of Rabobank Food & Agri Research and Advisory also highlighted the key challenges facing the widespread application of data and technology in the agriculture industry, identifying untested value proposition, the lack of an ecosystem of data and the unresolved question of data ownership as obstacles to the adoption of technologies by farmers. Boumeester points out that “Data helps us to understand the financial output of customers be it farmers or others in the value option.”

André Laperrière closed the session praising the desire for cooperation with open data. He also pointed out the difficulty of open data application in agriculture in its current form, saying “nutrition goes beyond the fork and before the farm”, and discussing the need to ensure farming and end products are safe, as well as bio-diversity and the entire open data ecosystem.

GFIA Europe 2017 continues tomorrow with further sessions. André Laperrière, will open GFIA Europe with a keynote speech on the theme of “Visionaries Shaping the Future Agriculture Innovation Landscape”, which will be an opportunity to hear the vision of individuals pushing the agriculture innovation agenda to the next level to enable competitive and sustainable food production. He will also participate in the closing plenary.

GFIA, which launched in 2014 by the Abu Dhabi government, seeks to leverage partnerships with the world’s powerful organisations including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the World Bank, to show the world how technology gives us the only real chance of feeding nine billion people without destroying the environment. GFIA Europe 2017 concludes tomorrow on the 10^th May.
10th May 2017
EXCLUSIVITY MEETS OPULENCE WITH THE WORLDS RAREST SPIRITS AT THE HYDE
~The newly launched bar The Hyde is offering guests the world’s finest and exclusive whiskeys and cognacs, most of them from the rarest collections ever produced, collectively worth over £100,000 ~

The Hyde, London’s newest, exclusive public house, at The Royal Park Hotel – a Roseate House Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel comprising three renovated, mid-19th century Grade II listed townhouses, has now expanded its refined luxury experience by introducing a collection of some of the world’s most exclusive, rare and fine Whiskeys and Cognacs behind its counters.

Connoisseurs can sample the selection of fine spirits valued over £100,000, some as old as 125 years, and a few being the last remaining bottles in the world, at The Hyde.

The list of offerings includes:

North of Scotland 1971: Bottling Note – Only a few bars in the UK have the North of Scotland on sale, as the only way of obtaining it is via auctions. This particular bottle does cannot be found often, and is sold exclusively by private sellers.

Macallan M Decanter – Only 1750 bottles of this very exclusive whiskey were produced. Its value is further enhanced by the fact that only a limited number of countries are provided an allocation of the Macallan, and The Hyde happens to hold one of the few bottles in London.

The Balvenie 40 Years Old – Is one of the top 15 most expensive whiskeys in the world, The Hyde Bar is the only bar in the London holding The Balvenie.

Strathisla 1949 – It is not often that one finds a 1940s-vintage single malt Scotch whisky these days, with this one coming from Strathisla distillery, the oldest highland distillery in Scotland. The Hyde Bar is the only place in London one can sample this.

Glenlivet 1961 – A very rare and collectable bottle by Gordon & MacPhail, a vintage Glenlivet 1961 is available exclusively at The Hyde.

Carsebridge 52 Years Old – This very rare bottle of Whisky is available only on auctions from private sellers. However, The Hyde is one of the only few places in the UK which offers this for its customers.

Old Mock 1916 – An old bottle of historic bourbon brand Old Mock, distilled and bottled at the world famous No.17 distillery in Louisville, Kentucky back in 1916, it was released in 1933, and happens to be a true piece of bourbon history available only at The Hyde.

Canadian Club 1892 – The Hyde is the only venue in UK with offering the Canadian Club 1892, as most can only be found hidden away with private sellers, popping up once in a blue moon at an auction.

Old Overholt 6 Years Old 1942 Bottling note –Rarer than Pappy, The Hyde is possibly the only establishment offering the whiskey. Available only from private sellers there are not many left in the world.

Schenley Reserve 1940 – The finest Whiskey from American shores, one can rarely find it in the UK. It is known to be amongst a handful of 5 star hotels and a few private collectors.

Tesseron Extreme – One of the last family independents cognac producers bring a very exclusive bottling to the market with only 7 available in UK. After a double distillation in small coal-heated copper pot stills, the eaux-de-vie is of exceptional quality and a character and unrivalled anywhere. This is then slowly aged for over three generations in the prized Limousin oak cask barrels.

Louis Royer Eloge – Only 300 were ever produced, with 12 allocated in UK of which three bottles belong to Roseate Hotels and Resorts. Every drop of Eloge has been carefully aged for decades in the Paradis Cellar of the house, which has truly enhanced the richness and complexity of the cognac. Eloge is an exquisite and unique Cognac, extraordinarily powerful with both intense and mellow aromatic notes. Its remarkable bouquet unveils a rich and complex “rancio”, the signature aroma of grand old cognacs, and offers an exceptionally long lasting finish and therefore rightly named the Holy Grail for all cognac lovers.

The Hyde invites you to experience a part of history or maybe just celebrate the spirit of life with any of the listed fine, smooth and exclusive whiskeys at offer behind its counters.

The Hyde is open daily for drinks between 12.00pm and 11.00pm. For bookings please contact: +44 (0)20 7479 6600 or visit: www.thehydebar.com
27th April 2017
FILM BIOPIC DRAWING ON THE ESTRANGED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE LAST KING OF PUNJAB

MAHARAJAH DULEEP SINGH – SET FOR INTERNATIONAL RELEASE WITH ‘THE BLACK PRINCE’

• Based on the true story of the last King of Punjab, one of the most powerful and prosperous Kingdoms of the 19th century before it was annexed by Britain. Releasing in cinemas worldwide on 21^st July 2017

Produced by Brillstein Entertainment (Academy Award winning film 12 Years A Slave), THE BLACK PRINCE, a period drama written and directed by Hollywood filmmaker Kavi Raz and filmed widely across the UK and India, carefully captures the tragic, yet fascinating true story and legacy of Maharajah Duleep Singh, providing a visual narrative of one of India’s most noble kings, and his fragile relationship with, Queen Victoria, who was Godmother to his children.

Acclaimed singer-poet Satinder Sartaaj marks his acting debut in THE BLACK PRINCE, essaying the character of Maharajah Duleep Singh with eloquence. He is joined by an esteemed cast of acting stalwarts including Jason Flemyng (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch) as Dr. Login, the foster parent for the Maharajah, English stage, screen actress Amanda Root (The Iron Lady), who portrays the bold role of Queen Victoria; and veteran actress Shabana Azmi (City of Joy) as Rani Jindan, the exiled King’s mother. The film also features Keith Duffy, David Essex OBE, Canadian actor Rup Magon and Sophie Stevens in supporting roles.

As the last King of Punjab, THE BLACK PRINCE chronicles Maharajah Duleep Singh’s lifelong struggle and daring journey of self-discovery in order to reclaim his identity, his faith, and the Kingdom that was rightfully his. This ultimately leads him to meeting his mother after 13 years of her being in exile. THE BLACK PRINCE spotlights Queen Victoria’s cordial relationship with Maharajah Duleep Singh, as he begins adjusting and embracing the English culture he was drawn to at the age of 15. The film also sheds light into his upbringing as an aristocrat in the UK who converts to Christianity under the influence of his foster parents, but later longs to return to his Kingdom, mother and roots. His character, as it evolves is torn between two contrasting cultures – his royal ancestry from the Kingdom of Punjab as its last King, set against his upbringing in the UK as he embarks in a new journey of exile, away from his mother.

THE BLACK PRINCE is also poised to create a wave of intrigue in India and the UK as the story touches upon the historically significant and priceless Kohinoor diamond, which was purportedly gifted by a young 13-year-old Maharajah Duleep Singh to Queen Victoria in a ceremony held in 1850, at Buckingham Palace, London.

The Black Prince releases internationally in cinemas on 21^st July 2017.

14th April 2017
NOSH DETOX LAUNCHES INFUSIONS CLINIC ON KING’S ROAD
NOSH DETOX LAUNCHES INFUSIONS CLINIC ON KING’S ROAD

After revolutionising the detox and weight-loss industries with a series of innovations and market firsts, Nosh Detox, the UK’s first ever home detoxification and weight-loss delivery service of non-pasteurized Juice Diets, Detox, Nutritional Plans and coaching, has now launched the Nosh Infusion Clinic in its new location on King’s Road, Chelsea.

Based at the Chelsea Health Store on King’s Road, clients of Nosh Detox can now immediately benefit from a range of healing services, including the Nosh Infusion Clinic’s signature IV infusions. Clients can receive a tailor made concoction of intravenous nutrition infusions. The infusions are administered via an IV vitamin drip, a small plastic tube that is inserted into the vein using a needle, which is then left in so that the fluid can be given directly to the blood through the vein.

The Nosh Infusion Clinic on King’s Road also has several other treatments on offer including vitamin injections and the Oligoscan, an advanced medical gadget rapidly tests for mineral deficiencies, oxidative stress and toxic metal build up is available with tailored results in 1 minute.

The clinic provides the ultimate in liquid solutions for optimum health. Promoting healing from the inside out, this modern medical phenomenon delivers the vital vitamins and minerals that every 21^st century person needs via a short series of injections or IV vitamin drips. Each infusion has been expertly created by founder, Geeta Sidhu-Robb, to create a truly bespoke experience for each client addressing their specific needs.

In one visit to the clinic, clients can also receive a full medical report on site, which helps to craft the unique combination of vitamins in the infusion. In as little as 30 minutes, clients have felt the positive effects of the infusions.

Some of the treatments available at the Nosh Infusion clinic include:

Fitamin Booster Infusion – The Fitamin Booster drip provides a cocktail of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to help support and strengthen the immune system. An ideal solution if you’re surrounded by illness, and can’t afford the time to be caught by a cold!

Diet and Detox Infusion – Are you on a diet and still struggling to lose those excess pounds with no success? Nosh Detox’s Weight Loss Booster Drip can support you on your journey and help you break through a weight loss plateau.

Best Hangover Cure’ vitamin complex – The Hangover Cure includes Vitamin B, Vitamin C Sodium, Potassium and Magnesium. Vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), folic acid, B6 and B12, help combat hangovers symptoms.

Vitamin B12 Shot – It is commonly believed that only intramuscular vitamin B12 is effective for treating vitamin B12 deficiency. In fact, in some situations oral treatment is not appropriate. Intramuscular vitamin B12 is more appropriate in cases of deficiency when there is neurological involvement and in patients with digestive disorders including, diarrhoea or vomiting.

Anti-Aging Injection – a combination of vitamins designed to support the body’s natural skin regeneration processes. As we age our body slows down the skin cell regeneration process. The synthesis of collagen declines after the age of 25 as well.

“In Nosh Infusions the highest quality vitamins and minerals are added to a solution containing the same salt concentration as our blood. By formulating our infusions in this way we ensure maximum absorption in around 20 to 30 minutes. Intravenous vitamins are immediately available for cellular use as soon as they are injected into the veins. Optimum nutrition of this quality and efficacy does not come cheaply of course. Administered by health professionals and formulated by scientists, this is the kind of advanced science normally only available to high performance athletes and sportsmen and women.” – Says Geeta Sidhu-Robb, CEO and Founder of Nosh Detox.

Nosh Detox specialises in non-pasteurized juice diets, detoxification, nutritional plans, coaching; and now, tailor made infusions. With a celebrity clientele including Gwyneth Paltrow, Georgia May Jagger, Poppy Delevingne and Madonna, the award-winning company provides made to order bespoke products composed of the freshest ingredients and is supported by experts worldwide. The extensive list of ‘super detox’ products on offer can tackle every issue from problematic skin, weight, indigestion, stress and infection to fatigue and even hangovers.

With the new quick fix infusions developed by Nosh Detox, clients can immediately identify the problem and begin treatment instantly – no more waiting anxiously for a phone call or re-booking appointments to receive the required treatment. It is easy to see how the company is so popular with Hollywood’s A list.

Nosh Detox’s Infusion Clinic can be found Chelsea Health Store, 400 King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW10 0LJ . For more information on Intravenous Vitamin (IV) Drips and Nosh Infusion Clinics please contact: 0207 235 5000 or visit: www.infusionclinic.co.uk
12th April 2017
MEET “BADRINATH KI DULHANIA”!

This Holi let the colours of love fill your screens with India’s first love franchise ‘Badrinath Ki Dulhania’, releasing on 10^th March 2017 through Fox Star Studios.

Produced by Karan Johar and Fox Star Studios, Badrinath Ki Dulhania is billed as a romantic comedy drama. The sequel to the vastly popular Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Badrinath Ki Dulhania is a hardcore “desi romance” which takes fans on a roller coaster ride of emotions from fun, love and laughter to heartbreak, angst and tears.

Starring India’s next-gen superstars Varun Dhawan as Badrinath Bansal and Alia Bhatt as Vaidehi Trivedi, audiences will watch them lock horns and melt hearts in a film that is more than just your average ‘boy meets girl’ love story. It’s the coming together of raw and refined with a touch of ‘desi-pan’ and a ‘hatke’ definition of ‘pyaar’, which is sure to win hearts the world over.

Badrinath Ki Dulhania is written and directed by Shashank Khaitan (Humpty Sharma ki Dulhania, Ishaqzaade), whose directorial ventures have garnered praises from both critics and audiences alike.

The music for the film has been composed by an eclectic mix of directors including Amaal Mallik, Tanishk Bagchi and Akhil Sachdeva. Taking Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt’s crackling chemistry to new heights is a special twenty-first century re-boot of the super-hit 90s track Tamma Tamma Loge.

Synopsis:

Badrinath Ki Dulhania is a story of Badrinath Bansal from Jhansi and Vaidehi Trivedi from Kota and what happens when the two of them meet.

Even though they both belong to small towns, their mind-set about gender roles in society and about life in general are diametrically opposite.

This leads to a clash of ideologies, despite both of them recognizing the goodness in each other.

Will they be able to overcome circumstances to accept their love for each other? Will they be able to surpass the expectations and pressures of their small-town families to be together?

Answers to these and many more such questions make for an interesting journey of love, laughter, emotions and madness called Badrinath Ki Dulhania.

Join Badrinath in his mission to find his Dulhania – a journey of love, laughter, and lunacy!

Badrinath ki Dulhania is the holi movie of the year and is produced by Karan Johar and Fox Star Studios.

1st March 2017
TRAILER OF AKSHAY KUMAR’S UPCOMING COURTROOM DRAMA JOLLY LL.B 2 MAKES AN OUTSTANDING IMPACT!

TRAILER OF AKSHAY KUMAR’S UPCOMING COURTROOM DRAMA JOLLY LL.B 2 MAKES AN OUTSTANDING IMPACT!

The trailer of megastar Akshay Kumar’s upcoming courtroom drama Jolly LL.B 2 released today and the reactions are outstanding! The film that is inspired by true events, gives audiences a taster into the story of the blunt, abrasive and yet oddly compassionate Jagdishwar Mishra, aka Advocate Jolly (Akshay Kumar), a small-time, struggling lawyer who moved from Kanpur to the city of Nawabs, Lucknow, to take on the establishment.

Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the trailer of Jolly LL.B 2 was first unveiled to over a hundred thousand fans who participated in a unique digital interaction that enabled them to exclusively preview the trailer ahead of its official public release. A first for Indian cinema marketing, social media platforms went into meltdown as fans took to Twitter and Facebook to applaud the film, causing the hashtag #JollyLLB2Trailer to trend at number one position in India within minutes.

Some of the audience’s reactions included:

Critics and media alike also applauded the courtroom dramdy with comments such as:

Indian Express: Full of humour, action and Akshay again showing that he is not afraid to step out of his comfort zone, the trailer makes for a great watch.

bollywoodlife.com This Akshay Kumar starrer is a perfect blend of goofiness and hard hitting cinema

The Times of India: Akshay Kumar is promising as Jolly in ‘Jolly LLB 2’ trailer

DNA: Akshay Kumar promises to give us the biggest courtroom drama ever!

India Today: Akshay’s performance as a slimy lawyer hints at nothing but greatness.

Taran Adarsh: Packs a SOLID PUNCH!

Inspired by true events, the absorbing trailer showcases a gamut of emotions from comedy to drama to thrill, giving audiences a glimpse of anarchy, mayhem and underhandedness in a courtroom setting. Akshay Kumar is seen buttressing his legal arguments with rhetoric’s necessary to establish his case, many of which will become signature dialogues. In a courtroom scene where in his portrayal of Advocate Jolly, Akshay Kumar is in the course of an argument with veteran actor Annu Kapoor who plays the role of the ruthless Advocate Mathur. In Akshay Kumar’s inimitable style, he raises the ante for tongue in cheek humour as he poses a frivolous question pertaining to one of Bollywood’s top stars, Salman Khan, and whether he will ever get married, leading to a courtroom in chuckles.

However on the other hand, Saurabh Shukla, who reprises the role of Justice Surendralal Tripathi, grins in irritation. Through the glimpses that we see in the trailer, it’s evident that Jolly is a lawyer with no scruples and that he will go to any level to win a case, affirming that “A good lawyer never returns the fee”. Audiences get a glimpse of Advocate Jolly’s underdog persona, as he attempts to catapult himself to the top of the legal food chain. However he seems to go to an extreme when he takes on an infamous case and wins, as a result freeing a criminal who committed a much bigger crime. This leaves Jolly in a quandary and the rest of the film’s plot revolves around Jolly’s struggle to find justice as he undergoes a moral transformation of sorts to set things on the right path.

Akshay Kumar is clearly leading the charge in the second instalment through the character of Advocate Jolly – right from his unforgettable appearance where he sports a thick moustache with well-oiled side parted hair, to his exceptional comic timing which has become second nature to him, he steps into the character with aplomb to deliver a role which many are saying will further cement his position as India’s most versatile artist.

The trailer also introduces the leading lady of the film Huma Qureshi, who plays the role of Jolly’s love interest. The trailer release of Jolly LL.B 2 has already laid the ground for welcoming Jolly and his inimitable ways to the big screen, who will not only leave a smile on your face but will also make you look at society and system through a very subtle satirical filter. Jolly LL.B 2 releases in cinemas on 10 February 2017 through Fox Star Studios.

27th February 2017
REDEFINING THE AFTERNOON TEA EXPERIENCE AT THE HYDE AT THE ROYAL PARK HOTEL – A ROSEATE HOUSE HOTEL

~From signature English Breakfast Teas produced by the last independent, family-run tea garden in the mountains of Malawi, hand-crafted Dragon Well Long Jing Green Teas, pressed into the shape of a feather, fine sandwiches, The Hyde’s speciality Lemon Curd and towers of Macarons, all served on the finest Bone China, specially created by Narumi of Japan~

The most quintessential of British dining traditions is being elevated to new heights with the Afternoon Tea offering at the newly launched bar and small eats kitchen – The Hyde at The Royal Park Hotel – A Roseate House Hotel.

The Afternoon Tea experience at The Hyde is more intimate and luxurious than just scones and cream – it can actually begin with a glass of Laurent Perrier champagne or maybe a cocktail from the bar’s award winning mixologist.

Guests will be offered a selection of the finest loose leaf teas, catered and curated from independent tea plantations and gardens by fair-trade farmers from across the world. Some of the sophisticated signature offerings include English Breakfast Tea produced by the last independent, family-run tea garden in the mountains of Malawi, to the Dragon Well Long Jing Green Tea which is painstakingly hand-crafted, pressed into the shape of a feather, and sourced directly from the famed terroir of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

The fresh aromatic brew is further completed by the selection of fine sandwiches which may include Lapsang Souchong Smoked Salmon and Lemon Cream Cheese on Beetroot Bread or Daylesford Organic Chicken, and Tarragon Mayonnaise on Curry Bread – all served on grand silver cake stands with homemade scones, accompanied by the very best Cornish clotted cream, homemade strawberry jam and The Hyde’s speciality Lemon Curd.

In addition to the sandwiches and scones, The Hyde also offers a sweet trolley accompanied by homemade cakes and fancies, freshly prepared each day by the Head Pastry Chef Dovile, who joined the bar via the critically acclaimed Little Viet Kitchen and Independent Bakeries in London. Overseeing the trolley, Dovile packs it with delights such as Valrhona Chocolate and Rum Coupe, Basil Gâteau aux Fraises, Banana and Salted Caramel Éclair and Coffee and Walnut Cake. A tower of Macarons, heavily laden with the handmade sweet delicacies forms the centrepiece of the sweet trolley. Delicious flavours include Chocolate and Chilli Ganache, Coconut and Lime, Pistachio and seasonal Rhubarb.

All of The Hyde’s offerings are served on the very finest Bone China. The bespoke pattern and design was specially created for The Hyde by Narumi of Japan, who have been producing the most elegant bone china since 1911. Over a century of craft has gone into the items that beautifully complement the Hyde’s luxurious afternoon tea experience.

The Hyde is open daily for Afternoon Tea, between 2.30pm and 6.00pm. For bookings please contact: +44 (0)20 7479 6600 or visit: www.thehydebar.com

12th February 2017
AASHNI + CO’S EXCLUSIVE WEDDING SHOW RETURNS TO THE DORCHESTER HOTEL, LONDON

THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR LUXURY COUTURE BRIDAL WEAR –

Sunday 8^th January saw the return of the AASHNI + CO Wedding Show at The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London. Spotlighting the latest bridal, occasion wear and couture collections from the top tier of the Indian and Pakistani design spectrum, Sunday’s event included a breath-taking exhibition of the best national and internationally renowned designs from industry designers including Anamika Khanna, Anushree Reddy, Elan, Gaurav Gupta, Sabyasachi, Tarun Tahiliani, Monisha Jaising, Rimple and Harpreet Narula, Jade and ASAL by Abu Sandeep.

With January historically being the peak time that summer brides and grooms in the UK browse for and select their wedding attire, Sunday’s event gave UK audiences the unique opportunity to meet the attending fashion talent, personalities in their own right across South Asia’s fashion landscape. Boasting an elegant showcase of the latest designs highlighting the exquisitely constructed pieces, the show allowed the audience to truly experience the form, fit and detail of each garment.

The AASHNI + CO Wedding Show has been created by Aashni Anshul Doshi, Founder and Creative Director of AASHNI + CO, a beautiful concept store in the heart of London’s Notting Hill. The high-end boutique was established with the purpose of providing access to visionary designers of South Asian origin for the residents of the UK. Aashni extended her retail vision to the bridal arena, to produce an uber-luxe wedding show that captured the design pulse of her clientele.

Speaking about the show, Aashni Anshul Doshi said: “It has been a spectacular show, surpassing even last years, and I thank our incredible designers. We had a great response from attendees who had the chance to see a bridal outfit to make their special day even more memorable. What’s more the experience was enhanced further by the creative support of the award-winning floral artist and design consultant Zita Elze – Zita is an integral part of the show and my extension.

I think the best part about this event is that it allows people to meet the designers behind their wedding outfits and if they wish to have a bespoke creation. Our show makes that possible and demonstrates you don’t have to travel to India for the right designer outfit.”

Renowned designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee said, “Aashni is a great friend and her show is very well put together and organised. It feels like coming home. There is absolutely no stress and things are seamlessly planned. A lot of people in London were excited to see my latest debut collection with Christian Louboutin for shoes and handbags. I also showcased my very celebrated firdaus collection that has done well all over the world. I am very happy to bring this to London.”

Famous for pieces that combine the finest fabrics with exquisite craftsmanship, and designs for a range of international stars including Beyoncé in Coldplay’s “Hymn For The Weekend” music video, designer Abu Jani of the renowned designers Abu-Sandeep said: “It has been great to come to the 2017 AASHNI + CO Wedding Show and to introduce our latest brand ASAL to the UK audience. We were enthused by the interest attendees had in our designs which is testament to the strong interest in Indian fashion in the UK. We hope pieces from our collection have helped to make some wedding days extra special.”

Creating paradigm shifts, blurring boundaries, questioning identities and norms within, deconstructing duality and flights of fantasy have always remained the plot of the Gaurav Gupta narrative. Gaurav Gupta said, “Aashni is the only one in this part of the world who organises this kind of show bringing the best from the Indian fashion industry. She is a progressive and forward thinking woman and I resonate with her thought. She is able to give a full range of outfits to all the Asian brides in London. Our collection is futuristic and is a newer take on Indian fashion making it more experimental in a very sophistic way.”

Also at the show was Rimple Narula of the label Rimple & Harpreet Narula. They are the designer due for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next magnum opus, Padmavati, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapur and Ranveer Singh. Rimple Narula said: “This is our third time at the show and I think London is become pretty much the second largest market when it is compares to India, looking at how fashion savvy Asians are and their overwhelming response which has been really good.”

Launched in 2015, the AASHNI + CO Wedding Show has earned itself the reputation of introducing discerning wedding buyers to ensembles that are distinct and exquisite in form, whilst providing a unique shopping experience that is reframing the cultural and fashion zeitgeist of brides and grooms to be. The AASHNI + CO Wedding Show is proudly supported by Zita Elze, Sony TV, Akshayapatra, Bazaar Bride, KHUSH Wedding and Hello! Pakistan.

Garments on exhibition at the show will be available to purchase from the AASHNI + CO store in Notting Hill: 47 Ledbury Road, London W11 2AA.

27th January 2017
CATCH A SPECIAL VIDEO OF DEEPIKA INTRODUCING HER CHARACTER SERENA UNGER IN “XXX: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE” HERE!

Catch a special video of Deepika introducing her character Serena Unger in xXx: Return of Xander Cage here!

Leading Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone makes her Hollywood debut as Serena Unger in the eagerly anticipated action movie xXx: Return of Xander Cage in cinemas on Thursday 19^th January 2017.

Deepika plays the role of a secretive xXx operative from India, the enigmatic Serena Unger. She’s bold and beautiful with a bad-ass attitude.

Speaking about her character, Deepika Padukone explains: “When you first meet Serena you don’t know whose side she’s on. I think she’s a representation of women in today’s world – she is independent, she’s intelligent, she can stand up for herself. She’s always observing, always learning.”

Deepika stars alongside Vin Diesel and going by her feisty avatar, he sure will meet his match. Deepika adds: “I think what draws Xander to Serena is the fact that he sees a lot of him in her. You realise how similar they are to each other and then you see how they work together as a team. Slowly you discover she’s there for a larger mission.”

Synopsis:

The third explosive chapter of the blockbuster franchise that redefined the spy thriller finds extreme athlete turned government operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) coming out of self-imposed exile and on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon known as Pandora’s Box. Recruiting an all-new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself enmeshed in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of world governments. Packed with the series’ signature deadpan wit and bad-ass attitude, xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE will raise the bar on extreme action with some of the most mind-blowing stunts to ever be caught on film.

Catch Deepika Padukone in xXx: Return of Xander Cage in cinemas on Thursday 19^th January 2017

16th January 2017
PRESENTING “THE HYDE” AT THE ROYAL PARK – A ROSEATE HOUSE HOTEL
London’s thriving bar scene has recently had a magnificent upgrade as the elegant and upscale bar, ‘The Hyde’, opens its doors to the public at The Royal Park – A Roseate House Hotel, a luxury boutique hotel comprising three renovated, mid-19th century Grade II listed townhouses. Visually delighting and catering exquisitely to the taste and feel of the bar’s guests, The Hyde offers a restorative and all-encompassing intimate sensory experience.

The Hyde: Bar

As a traditional hotel bar, The Hyde offers discerning locals and seasoned travellers to London a refined dining and cocktail experience, a place to meet and entertain with excellent personal service and the opportunity to explore the culture and history of London. Already a favourite with international guests, such as from the United States and France, and with no other luxury bar in close vicinity, The Hyde currently fills a void with its inimitable character.

The Hyde is an intimate and exclusive retreat, a space you enter not to be seen, but to enjoy outstanding service and unique comfort within the exclusive confines of a traditional British Townhouse Hotel, whilst relishing some of the best libations London has to offer. This is matched only by a contemporary food offering which complements the bar experience rather than dominating it.

Owned and operated by the Bird Group – India’s leading business conglomerate with diverse national and international businesses across a portfolio of travel-tech, aviation services, hospitality, retail and education – the hotel is managed under the purview of Dr. Ankur Bhatia – Executive Director, Bird Group. Speaking about the Bird Group’s venture into the UK, he said, “The Royal Park – A Roseate House Hotel provided the Bird Group with an opportunity to establish itself within the hospitality sector beyond India, where we already opened and operate two luxury hotels in New Delhi. We are also exploring further developments.”

Elaborating on the character of The Hyde, Dr. Bhatia said, “The bar was a conversion of two lounges at the entrance of The Royal Park – A Roseate House Hotel. While it was important to update the space, it was equally important to retain the character of a 19th century town house.”

The Hyde has also curated an eclectic mix of melodies, from upbeat lounge to cocktail, offering a varied selection of music across its different time bands, including lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.

The Hyde: Beverages

The Hyde offers some of the world’s finest wine and spirits including The Balvenie 40, Yamazaki whiskey, Tesseron Extreme cognac and spirits from the prohibition bourbon list. The overall beverage and wine selections on the menu were created by The Hyde’s finest, globally recognised Bartenders. The Hyde’s signature cocktail, a luxurious combination, of calvados, homemade salted butter hazelnut liqueur, Dubonnet and Laurent Perrier Champagne is award winning in its own right. The bar’s cocktail list is a crossover of traditional classics interspersed with product creations that are off the beaten track, from small artisanal producers whose passion for their work translates into unique and exclusive products.

The Royal Park – A Roseate House Hotel has a chic garden terrace perfect for cocktail parties and barbeques for up to 30 people in the summer months. In the autumn and winter months, the vibrant colours of the courtyard bring the garden to life, adding a new dimension to the outdoor space.

The Hyde is open daily for drinks from Midday until Midnight and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Hyde: Dining

The exquisite beverage offering is enhanced by the bar’s small plates menu, specially curated by the Head Chef Matt McKiernan who joined from the group’s 5 Star The Forbury Roseate in Reading where he was the Senior Sous Chef in the Kitchens that won 2 AA Rosettes and were recommended in the world-renowned Michelin Guide.

The food is freshly prepared using the finest produce available and is designed and served to be shared by the table, further promoting the bar’s philosophy of creating a relaxed, intimate experience tempered sharply with top notch service.

The bar also offers a unique and exclusive afternoon tea experience with chic selections on the menu.

The following service times are observed for dining at The Hyde:

Breakfast Monday-Sunday 06:30am – 11:00am

Lunch Monday-Sunday 12:00pm – 14:00pm

Dinner Sunday-Thursday 18:00pm – 10:00pm

Dinner Friday and Saturday 18:00pm – 11:00pm

Afternoon Tea Monday-Sunday 14:30pm – 18:00pm

The Hyde: Interiors

Offering the best of British – classic sophistication meeting artistic magnetism – The Hyde is piped as London’s pinnacle of luxury cocktail bar destination. Presenting a refined yet cosy surrounding with a grand open fire place, the space is complemented with a design that re-invents the traditional hotel bar, whilst still retaining the character of a 19th century British townhouse. With walls adorned with original period features and artwork, it is enhanced by luxurious furniture and a fireplace to celebrate, relax and unwind, offering an exclusive retreat away from the cut and thrust of bustling central London.

Embracing a quintessentially British décor with a modern feel, The Hyde, like the rest of The Royal Park Hotel – A Roseate House Hotel, has fine picked genuine Georgian antiques. The furniture is made of old mahogany or rosewood and has been individually selected to fit perfectly, suiting equally the size and aesthetics of The Hyde.

The bar’s interior was created by the in-house design team at Roseate Hotels and Resorts, along with design inputs from Mrs. Smriti Bhatia.

Speaking about the design and the interiors, Dr. Ankur Bhatia said, “The Ethos was to create a space that worked well at different times of the day by creating an elegant but cosy space for lunch or afternoon tea, whilst lending itself superbly to the dimly lit intimacy of cocktails or dinner in the evening. We didn’t want to create another upmarket London Bar with an awkward food offering; we imagined a harmony of a beautiful interior, outstanding spirits selection served by experienced and talented bar tenders, tempered keenly with a food offering that complemented the drinking experience as much as the latter complemented the food. The original features of the building with its high ceilings and grand open fire places served as inspiration to enhance them with luxurious furnishings, fabrics and antique pieces of furniture.”

The Hyde: Location

Located in the quiet tree-lined area of Westbourne Terrace, bordering Hyde Park and Marble Arch, the 19th century British townhouse hotel is the capital’s cultural treasure-trove, offering guests a composition of rich history and sublime elegance.

Westbourne Terrace was once described as ‘quite the finest street in London’; John Constable, son of the famous landscape artist, once lived there, and Oscar Wilde married at St James’ Church across the historic street.

The Royal Park – A Roseate House Hotel is ideally located for shopping high street and haute couture fashion. Oxford Street, Bond Street, Mayfair and Knightsbridge are all close by, home to renowned international designers. Stepping out of the hotel, guests will have access to the exclusive shops of Westbourne Grove and the famous Portobello market where stalls sell everything from antiques and vintage clothing to fruits and vegetables. A short taxi or London Underground ride takes guests to the West End theatres or the ‘must-sees’ on every visitors list – The Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London, Madame Tussauds, the British Museum and the V&A, Lords Cricket Ground and the Marylebone Cricket Museum to name a few.

The royal parks including, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park are one of the largest green spaces in Central London and just a stroll away. The Serpentine Gallery, Marble Arch, Notting Hill, Kensington Palace, Speakers’ Corner and Diana – Princess of Wales, Memorial Walk are all within walking distance.The hotel is easily accessible from London’s airports, road or rail. Heathrow Airport is a 15-minute direct train journey away on the Heathrow Express from Paddington Station, a 5 min walk from the hotel. The Central Line that runs from Lancaster Gate Station is also a short walk from the hotel.
10th January 2017
WATCH THE SPECTACLE UNFOLD AS MEGASTAR SHAH RUKH KHAN DISRUPTS THE STATUS QUO IN AND AS RAEES IN CINEMAS 25TH JANUARY 2017

International megastar SHAH RUKH KHAN is poised to open 2017 with gusto as the eagerly anticipated drama RAEES, releases internationally on 25^th January 2017.

Directed by National Award Winning filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, RAEES promises an unabashed approach to storytelling, riveting dialogues, and power-packed performances by an ensemble of critically acclaimed talent.

Co-produced by two of India’s most innovative film and entertainment companies, Red Chillies Entertainment and Excel Entertainment, RAEES marks the companies’ second venture since they collaborated on the international super-hit Don 2. They bring to RAEES their combined creative ingenuity, already evident with the film’s gripping trailer, which broke the Internet with over 21 million views in just 24 hours of its release. The film is released in the UK through Zee Studios International, the international film distribution arm of the entertainment and media conglomerate Zee Group.

With performances that have garnered both critical and audience acclaim alike in landmark films such as Chak De India, Swades, Devdas, and most recently in the coming of age tale Dear Zindagi, Shah Rukh Khan’s acting prowess, superstar persona and futuristic approach to filmmaking has continually redefined Indian cinema to take the world’s largest film industry to global shores and elevate it to even greater heights.

As an artist, Shah Rukh Khan continually reinvents himself and this time in RAEES, the undisputed King of Bollywood will captivate fans in a unique avatar who is revered, feared and loved with equal measure.

He essays the role of Raees, a man who built an entire empire from scratch in early 1980s to 1990s Gujarat. Less of a gangster but more of an impresario, Raees gains popularity and trust through his sharp, entrepreneurial and ruthless business mind, eventually turning him into the single most powerful man in the state. His unfettered determination, guided by a heart of gold, earns him a cult following.

The film chronicles three phases of Raees’s life – his meteoric rise and relationships forming the epicentre of a gripping narrative, reflected in three distinct looks which Shah Rukh Khan dons in the film. Whether it’s the actor’s bearded appearance, kohl-lined eyes, him sporting casual garments such as jeans and checkered shirts that later shift to him wearing traditional Pathani suits, his role and thus appearance portrays a gradual progression of his character.

The film eventually takes an unexpected turn when Raees’ business empire becomes challenged by police officer ACP Majumdar, a role portrayed by critically acclaimed, award-winning actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Gangs of Wasseypur, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Lunchbox), who adds his trademark panache to the film. Shah Rukh Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s eclectic pairing has already become a strong defining element and talking-point for the film.

RAEES also stars renowned actress Mahira Khan who makes her Indian film debut and Atul Kulkarni known for his National Award Winning performances in films such as Hey Ram and Chandini Bar.

Cinematographer K.U. Mohanan captures a cinematic canvas that takes audiences on a nostalgic journey to 1980s India.

The original score has been composed by one of India’s most recognised emerging talents Ram Sampath (Delhi Belly, Talaash), who pens an engaging melody for Raees’s album. Ensuring that the mercury levels rise further is a special appearance by actress Sunny Leone, who will enthral audiences with a sensational dance. The track vaunts bling and bang.

7th January 2017
STERLING MEDIA: YEAR IN REVIEW 2016

2016 will go down in history for many things but an uneventful year will not be one of them! For brand strategy and business consultant Sterling Media it has been a year of impactful events that have seen the global communications company go from strength to strength. Here are some of our highlights from the last year:

JAMIE OLIVER’s FOOD REVOLUTION DAY LAUNCH IN AFRICA & INDIA

In May, Sterling Media teamed up with Jamie Oliver’s Food Foundation to bring Food Revolution Day to a global audience. Sterling CEO and brand strategy specialist Natasha Mudhar was appointed India and Africa director for the campaign and so Sterling Media set out to find the right faces to launch the campaign in India, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Kenya.

Through working with local household names such as Jacqueline Fernandez and Chef Kunal Kapur in India, Waje and Chef Eros in Nigeria, Juliani and Chef Ali in Kenya, and Alikiba and Marion Elias in Tanzania, Sterling Media was able to help India and African nations play their part in Food Revolution Day, participating in the global Facebook streaming event that took place on the day, with over 115,296,411 million people taking part.

#WHATIREALLYREALLYWANT CAMPAIGN

Girl power went global in July as Sterling Media in partnership with Project Everyone, SAWA and Getty Images launched the #WhatIReallyReallyWant campaign. Inspired by the 20^th anniversary of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe, the new film payed homage to the original music video and raised awareness of the UN’s Global Goals and Gender equality.

Directed by MJ Delaney of Moxie Pictures, #WhatIReallyReallyWant featured artists from around the world including Gigi Lamayne and Moneoa from South Africa, Seyi Shay from Nigeria, Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez from Sri Lanka, M.0 from the UK, Taylor Hatala from Canada and Larsen Thompson from the USA.

Making its exclusive debut at the Cannes Lions Festival in May, the film became an internet phenomenon upon release, receiving over 1,377,958 on Youtube, 106 million views on Facebook, and over 38 million impressions. Sterling was also able to gain support on the campaign from celebrities including three of the original Spice Girls. Sterling Media spearheaded the global communications for the campaign, securing coverage on both UK and US television as well as print coverage around the world.

GODAN

September saw business consultant Sterling Media become the official media partner for the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition, and handle global communications for the GODAN Summit 2016. Sterling Media used a variety of methods to raise awareness for the GODAN summit and associated petition, including encouraging university students in both the US and UK to sign the petition, the creation of infographics to be shared on social media, blog posts for partners of GODAN, outreach to social media influencers and vloggers and more.

Members of the Sterling Media team also travelled to New York to manage communications at the GODAN Summit, where they were able to arrange high level media opportunities with figures such as the US Secretary of Agriculture. The summit was a success and gained interest from the BBC and Fox News.

STERLING AWARDS

It has proven an award-winning year for Sterling Media as we have won a number of awards for our work! The Asian Media Awards awarded the Creative Media Award to Sterling for the #WhatIReallyReallyWant campaign!

LEADERS OF BOLLYWOOD BUSINESS:

This year Sterling Media continued to lead the way in UK Bollywood film promotion, handling the UK releases of hit films including Airlift, Kapoor and Sons and Baar Baar Dekho. Some of our highlights from this year included:

AKIRA: This martial arts action film starring Sonakshi Sinha kicked her way into the UK cinema in early September. To launch the film, Sterling Media created partnerships with local martial arts clubs across the UK that would see anyone with tickets for the film receive special offers on martial arts training sessions.

AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL – the eagerly awaited Karen Johar film starring Aishwarya Rai and Ranbir Kapoor was the must-see release of Diwali 2016. To launch the film in the UK, Sterling Media worked with the biggest Diwali events in London, Birmingham and Leicester as well as local club nights to display a personalised message from one of the film stars, Ranbir Kapoor. In addition, promotional materials included flyers and standees were distributed to the events to raise awareness.

CLIENT COVERAGE

It has also been a good year for many of our long-standing clients, who have received great media coverage thanks to Sterling Media’s brand strategy efforts. Here are some of our client highlights from the year:

Whilst the results of the Brexit vote may have sent shockwaves through the business world, it has provided many opportunities for our corporate clients including Rational FX and Sun Global Investments, whose expert commentary on current economic affairs have been covered across UK and international media.

We have also secured extraordinary coverage opportunities for clients such as Sister Sledge’s barnstorming performance on ITV’s The X Factor, and Nosh Detox founder Geeta Sidhu Robb’s participation in the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire Show EU Referendum debate special.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2017

As we reach the end of 2016, Sterling Media is already looking ahead to 2017! We have a range of exciting campaigns and projects that we can’t wait to share with you! We look forward to working further with our current clients and the ones we haven’t met yet! In the meantime, everyone at Sterling Media would like to wish you a Happy New Year!

28th December 2016
STARS LIGHT UP THE RED CARPET FOR BATTERSEA DOGS & CATS HOME’S ANNUAL COLLARS & COATS GALA BALL

Incredible Performances from Iconic Music Group Sister Sledge & Spellbound leave guests captivated

Thursday, 3^rd November, 2016, LONDON: The world’s most famous animal rescue, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, once again wowed the world last night with the return of its star-studded Collars & Coats Gala Ball at the iconic Battersea Evolution in London.

Celebrating its eighth successful year, the high-profile event is a highlight of the autumn social calendar, and is consistently regarded as one of the most unique and eagerly anticipated charity events.

The annual charity extravaganza saw a host of UK and international stars take to the red carpet for this worthwhile cause to raise vital funds for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s work in rescuing and re-homing abandoned dogs. This year’s star line-up, from the world of TV, music, film, sport and fashion, included: Battersea Ambassadors Dame Jacqueline Wilson and David Gandy, and friends of the Home, Craig Revel Horwood, Dr Christian Jessen, Julien Macdonald, Guy Henry, Danielle Bux, Hilary Alexander,Caroline Quentin, Hilary Devey, Charles Worthington, Harry Hill and Leah Weller, and the iconic music group Sister Sledge. Guests and stars were welcomed by the popular ‘Battersea Doggie Guard Of Honour’ – a red-carpet parade of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s pooches.

Britain’s Got Talent gymnastics troupe Spellbound opened the glittering event with a breath-taking performance. Battersea ambassadors and supporters including David Gandy, Dr Christian Jessen, Craig Revel Horwood, Guy Henry, and Dame Jacqueline Wilson united on stage to highlight the work and achievements of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Other highlights of this year’s event included a spectacular performance by headline act Sister Sledge who brought their legendary R’n’B and disco hits to the dance floor. Performing their knockout hits We Are Family, Lost In Music, He’s The Greatest Dancer and Rise and Shine, as well as performing their new single Woman are the Music of the World which has become an anthem for women and girl empowerment, the fabulous trio of Debbie, Kim, and Joni Sledge led the dazzling line up of entertainment.

High profile guests and celebrities also enjoyed the opportunity to bid for an array of money can’t buy experiences at the event’s exclusive auction.

Speaking about the return of the gala, Claire Horton, Battersea’s Chief Executive said: “The Collars & Coats Gala Ball is a truly unique event, celebrating our animals and raising money to care for the 8,000 dogs and cats that come through our gates, abandoned and terrified each year. Once again, we’re thrilled that so many supporters and friends of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home gave so generously of their time to make the event so successful.’’

The Headline Sponsor of this year’s Collars & Coats Gala Ball was Vitabiotics SuperDog. SuperDog is committed to maintaining health and vitality in dogs, and is from the pet division of pioneering British company Vitabiotics. The Gala’s Champagne Reception was exclusively sponsored by Medivet the Vet with almost 30 years’ experience. Medivet is passionate about providing amazing client and patient care throughout their 141 practices.

It costs Battersea over £10m to care for its dogs and cats every year, and with no government funding, the Collars & Coats Gala Ball is all about helping to increase awareness of the important work the charity does each and every day of the year to offer a second chance in life to thousands of animals. Last year over 8,000 dogs and cats needed Battersea’s care and attention to help find them the best possible new homes.

For further information on Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and to pledge donations, please visit www.battersea.org.ukor call 0207 627 7883.

27th November 2016
THE GLOBAL OPEN DATA FOR AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION (GODAN) INITIATIVE TO CONVENE A SUMMIT OF LEADERS, HEADS OF STATE, CAMPAIGNERS AND OTHER INFLUENCERS.

AIMED AT ENCOURAGING THE OPENING OF DATA IN AGRICULTURE & NUTRITION TO END WORLD HUNGER.

LONDON & NEW YORK, 15th August, 2016: Worldwide, nearly 800 million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition – that’s one in every nine people – with the majority being women and children. GODAN, or the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition initiative, was formed to support and encourage the proactive sharing of open data to make information about agriculture and nutrition available, accessible and usable for unrestricted use worldwide, to deal with the urgent challenge of ensuring world food security.

The largest-ever event dedicated to open data in agriculture and nutrition, GODAN Summit 2016 will take place on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York in September. Natasha Mudhar, Media Spokesperson for GODAN, said: “Open data is key to innovation in agriculture and nutrition – and hence, in promoting food security – by improving farming methods, enhancing food production and providing better information and advice on nutritional methods.

“GODAN’s powerful and pivotal public summit event will advance the agenda for open data in agriculture and nutrition.” GODAN Summit 2016 will invite the public to attend the event and join over 330 GODAN partners, including the Governments of the United States, Kenya, and the United Kingdom, ONE campaign, and Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH). Some of the exciting features of GODAN Summit 2016, include:

GAME-CHANGING SPEECHES: The two-day summit will see high-octane speeches by world leaders and innovators who will share their thoughts on how to end world hunger through open data. A number of high profile, active campaigners will also join the discussion.

GODAN HACKATHON: A radical hackathon will bring together software and agricultural innovators to create the beginning of the end of world hunger. Aimed at next generation innovators, university students and young entrepreneurs, the hackathon will generate ideas on how to better utilize and collect data to improve our global food system.

OPEN-DATA ONLINE REVOLUTION: Along with partner Global Citizen, GODAN has set up an online petition with the aim of garnering 1 million signatures. The petition calls on international governments, the private sector and civil society to provide open data on agriculture and nutrition and end world hunger. The petition will be handed over at a meeting at the United Nations in New York, in September. People can extend their support by signing the petition today: http://summit.godan.info/petition/

EXHIBITS: GODAN Summit 2016 will include exhibits to showcase agriculture and nutritional data, with participants illustrating the use of open data sources, and the importance of open data. Participants interested in announcing the release of newly opened data sets will be welcome as well.

A rapidly growing initiative, GODAN focuses on building high-level policy, and encourages collaboration and cooperation among existing agriculture and open data activities by bringing together stakeholders to solve long-standing global challenges in food and nutritional security. Over 330 partners, including national governments and non-governmental, international and private sector organisations, have committed to a joint statement of purpose to promote the proactive sharing of open data to make information about agriculture and nutrition available to all.

The GODAN Summit 2016 takes place on 15th and 16th September in Hilton Midtown Hotel, New York. To register, click here: http://summit.godan.info/

To sign the petition to help end world hunger now, visit: http://summit.godan.info/petition/

To become a GODAN partner, click here: www.godan.info/becomeagodanpartner

22nd August 2016
THE GLOBAL OPEN DATA FOR AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION (GODAN) INITIATIVE LAUNCHES ONLINE PETITION WITH GLOBAL CITIZEN

IN ORDER TO MEET THE UNITED NATION’S GLOBAL GOAL 2 – ZERO HUNGER – BY 2030

LONDON & NEW YORK, 12th August, 2016: Worldwide, nearly 800 million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition. For the first time in human history, we have the knowledge and the tools to put an end to it. Open data makes that knowledge available to everyone.

GODAN, the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition initiative, has launched an Open Data Online Revolution in partnership with Global Citizen. The GODAN Open Data Online Revolution empowers stakeholders and world leaders to unlock the data necessary to solve the challenge of global food insecurity.

Members of civil society, end hunger campaigners, high profile personalities, the media and other supporters will sign an online petition to drive the importance of open data. The petition will be handed over at a meeting at the United Nations in New York, in September. Each signature is a step closer to achieving the UN’s Global Goal 2 – Zero Hunger. Results from the petition will be unveiled at GODAN’s ground-breaking, annual summit in New York on 15th and 16th September, where world leaders, researchers, farmers, students and public, private and non-profit organisations will convene to showcase the impact of open data around the world.

“We must make the world’s accumulated agriculture and nutritional information available to everyone. This information is often locked away and unseen in government, private sector and civil society datasets. It needs to be identified and set free,” says Natasha Mudhar, Media Spokesperson for GODAN.
With open data, a mother in Malawi can choose the best seeds to sow in order to achieve a plentiful harvest to feed her hungry family; a commercial farmer in the United States has the right data to enrich his soil to produce more bountiful crops; the smallholder farmer in Tanzania will better understand and anticipate adverse weather conditions; the food manufacturer can produce healthier products; the nutritionist is able to offer better advice.

Farmers, agricultural organizations, researchers, policy makers, governments, and other private sector and civil society stakeholders should all be involved in building a food secure world. By signing the online petition, the public can also play a key part in achieving this.

The GODAN Summit 2016 takes place on 15th and 16th September in Hilton Midtown Hotel, New York. To register, click here: http://summit.godan.info/

To sign the petition to help end world hunger now, visit: http://summit.godan.info/petition/

To become a GODAN partner, click here: www.godan.info/becomeagodanpartner

12th August 2016
FOOD REVOLUTION DAY 2016 REACHES 115 MILLION!

Food Revolution Day breaks record for longest-ever Facebook Live campaign and reaches 115 million.

Sterling Global Managing Director, Natasha Mudhar has been appointed India and Africa Director for Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Campaign.

From London to Australia and Canada to Tanzania, Jamie was joined by the following well-known chefs and personalities from 10 different countries, all of whom carried out Facebook Live broadcasts from the around the world to help make history:

The marathon had 115,296,411 million people participate around the world! Click on the links below to catch up and see the events as they rolled out on Food Revolution Day – Friday 20th May 2016.

Food Revolution Day was also supported on social media by Coldplay, James Corden, Kate Hudson, Nicole Scherzinger, Rio Ferdinand, Paloma Faith, Niall, Zoella, Jim, Tanya, Louis, Pixi Woos, Haste Kicthen, Olly Murs, Ronan Keating, , Marlon Roudette, Cascada, Cornelia Pletto, Palina Rojinski, Holger Stromberg, Chris Mears, Naomie Harris, Jake Paul, Emmanuelle Chriqui and Keltie Knight.

Offline and on the ground, the day also marked the two billionth meal being served to children in India by the Akshaya Patra Foundation (watch here and read more here), and Food Revolution ambassadors and supporters hosted thousands of events across the globe. Check out stories, videos and photos shared from around the world with #FoodRevolution.

“Food Revolution Day 2016 was incredible! We’ve already reached over 50 million people on Facebook, we’ve got almost 700K revolutionaries signed up to the Food Revolution Hub and we’ve raised awareness of the child nutrition crisis that touches every corner of the globe. I truly believe that change only happens when people come together and I am inspired today to keep the pressure on businesses and governments to put our kids first.” – Jamie Oliver

* Article updated with latest figures as of May 23rd

23rd May 2016
Backed by Stars, Unprecedented UN Campaign Seeks to Mobilize Millions to End Illegal Trade in Wildlife

Ban Ki-moon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Gisele Bündchen and Yaya Touré among those aiming to spur action to protect endangered species

The United Nations, backed by A-list celebrities from across the globe, has launched an unprecedented campaign against the illegal trade in wildlife, which is pushing species to the brink of extinction, robbing countries of their natural heritage and profiting international criminal networks.

“Each year, thousands of wild animals are illegally killed, often by organized criminal networks motivated by profit and greed,” said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “I call on all Governments and people everywhere to support the new United Nations campaign, Wild for Life, which aims to mobilize the world to end this destructive trade. Preserving wildlife is crucial for the well-being of people and planet alike.”

#WildforLife, launched at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) in Nairobi in front of environment ministers from every corner of the planet, aims to mobilize millions of people to make commitments and take action to end the illegal trade.

The campaign is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and World Bank are also on board as supporters.

Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez is fighting for tigers, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, is tilting for sea turtles; and four-time African Footballer of the Year Yaya Touré (Manchester City, Ivory Coast), also a UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, is backing elephants.

Brazilian model and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Gisele Bündchen said: “It saddens me that in the 21st century, with all our knowledge and power, we are still hearing stories of wildlife facing the possibility of extinction at the hands of man. It is clear to me that a radical global shift needs to occur and it will take everyone accepting the challenge to support the UNEP Wild for Life campaign. Knowledge is power and now is the time to set our minds to ending all illegal wildlife trade before the choice is no longer in our hands. Today, I am giving my name to change the game for sea turtles.”

“Few who see a tiger, elephant or rhino in the wild forget the experience,” said Ms. Fernandez. “People can be equally inspired by seeing them on television or in films, and these moments make us want to explore our nature’s wonders and can turn us into conservationists, scientists and people who care about the natural world around us.

“Kids’ rooms all across the globe are filled with stuffed likenesses of these iconic species. Wouldn’t it be tragic to know they disappeared in our lifetime? The illegal trade in wildlife is threatening these majestic beasts, and we have to join forces to stop it. Today, I am giving my name to change the game for tigers. Join me and do something amazing.”

Ms. Fernandez is also being joined by major celebrities from China, Indonesia, Lebanon and Viet Nam battling to conserve species such as orangutans, tigers, rhinos and helmeted hornbills and calling for citizen support to end the demand that is driving the illegal trade.

Between 2010 and 2012, 100,000 elephants were killed for their ivory in Africa. Three rhinos are killed every day, and the Western Black Rhino has already gone extinct. Pangolins – scaly anteaters – are the most illegally trafficked mammal in the world. Great apes are already locally extinct in several African nations.

The campaign asks participants to find their kindred species and use their own spheres of influence to end the illegal trade, however it touches or impacts them.

Profits from the illegal wildlife trade sometimes go into the pockets of international criminal networks, threatening peace and security, and damaging the livelihoods of local communities who depend on tourism.

Stopping this trade is also crucial to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as it threatens countries’ biodiversity and people’s livelihoods, and disturbs peace. SDG 15 in particular calls for the protection of wild fauna and flora as well as the ecosystems that they depend on – including targets on combatting and addressing the supply and demand of illegal wildlife products.

Politicians, celebrities and business leaders will be making pledges during UNEA-2 and in the run-up to World Environment Day (WED), which is themed “Go Wild For Life” to tie in with the campaign. Angola, the global host of WED, will be making significant pledges to tackle the illegal ivory trade at the event.

Steppenwolf’s lead singer, John Kay, donated the use of Born to Be Wild – one of the top three international music licenses of all time for Universal Music – to the campaign.

Join the campaign by visiting www.wildfor.life and using the #Wildforlife hashtag on Twitter to share your kindred animal and pledge.

20th May 2016
SUN GLOBAL AND ZYFIN LIST WORLD’S FIRST INDIAN FIXED INCOME ETF ON LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE

Sun Global Investments Limited and ZyFin Holdings Pte. Limited (ZyFin) today confirm the listing of the world’s first Indian fixed income ETF, the LAM Sun Global ZyFin India Sovereign Enterprise Bond UCITS ETF, on the London Stock Exchange.

The LAM Sun Global ZyFin India Sovereign Enterprise Bond UCITS ETF (the Fund) offers British and international investors exposure to a basket of Indian public sector corporate bonds. The fixed income ETF will be Europe’s first physically replicating Indian ETF backed by real underlying securities as opposed to notional securities or derivatives.

The Fund tracks the performance of the ZyFin India Sovereign Owned Enterprise Bond Index based on cutting edge research and contains bonds from companies of national interest that are majority-owned by the Government of India, so-called Sovereign Owned Enterprises (SOEs). The corporate bonds are denominated in Indian rupees, have an AAA rating and a residual maturity between 4 to 20 years with current average maturity of 8.97 years. Although partly state owned, the average yield of the portfolio is close to 8.23% (in INR) which is higher than the yield of Indian sovereign bonds. All the bonds in the Index are equally weighted, and no more than one bond from a company is included.

While ‘Masala Bonds’ provide exposure to a single corporate issuer, the Fund will offer exposure to a basket of securities with the highest credit rating through a SOEs only portfolio. In addition, investors will benefit from a larger market size and enhanced liquidity through listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Sanjay Sachdev, Executive Chairman at ZyFin, commented:

“We are excited to be launching the world’s first Indian fixed income ETF today as part of our product line of innovative ETFs intended to give investors cost-effective and transparent access to investment opportunities in emerging markets. The launch of the Fund will give international investors the ability to invest in these difficult to access but well researched AAA rated Indian Sovereign Owned Enterprises. Building on our many years of macro analytical research expertise in this field, we see our task as offering investors around the world attractive investment opportunities.”

Mihir Kapadia CEO of Sun Global Investments Limited said:

“We’re pleased to be able to provide global investors access to high quality bonds via this new, innovative ETF at attractive yields at a time when developed bond market yields are at very low levels and in fact negative in Germany or Switzerland. The listing reflects our view that Indian nominal yields are among the highest in the world and the macroeconomic fundamentals for India remain very attractive with India expected to overtake China next year as the world’s fastest economy”.

11th March 2016
SISTER SLEDGE JOIN HANDS WITH ANNIE LENNOX TO LEAD CARE INTERNATIONAL’S ‘WALK IN HER SHOES’ MARCH

In the spirit of celebrating women empowerment and spotlighting the inequalities and injustice that millions of women face around the world, Sister Sledge, the iconic music group famed for their award-winning, worldwide hits such as We are Family, Lost in Music and World, Rise and Shine, lent their voices and support in solidarity for International Women’s Day and a range of initiatives, to globally recognise the achievements of women as well as highlighting the issues faced by them in society.

The group brought forth a strong message of love, family and female empowerment by participating in various events and panel discussions, convening citizens, public figures, renowned personalities and business leaders.

Kick-starting the group’s activities this week was the Care International’s ‘Walk In Her Shoes’ march in London, which took place on Sunday 6th March 2016. Sister Sledge joined influential female figures such as Annie Lennox, Bianca Jagger and Helen Pankhurst, the great-granddaughter of the Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, who led the march ahead of International Women’s Day. The event comprised of music, keynote speeches by Helen Pankhurst and Bianca Jagger, who outlined the proceedings and importance of the event along with The Rt. Hon. Justine Greening, UK Secretary of State for International Development. A Q&A panel with guests was hosted by The Daily Telegraph’s Women’s Editor Emma Barnett, featuring eminent speakers such as Annie Lennox, Leyla Hussein (an award-winning campaigner on FGM and gender right) and Natasha Walter, author, founder Women for Refugee Women, followed by a Comedy performance from Bridget Christie.

Everyone then assembled for the walk over Millennium Bridge and reconvened at The Scoop for Sister Sledge’s finale performance of their greatest hits. To get everyone in the disposition for women empowerment, Kim Sledge also recited powerful words by Sojourner Truth, an African American Abolitionist born into slavery, who escaped with her infant daughter and in 1862 became one of the first pioneers for women’s rights, adding a truly global dimension to the female change-makers in the world.

On International Women’s Day itself, Sister Sledge participated in a panel discussion with BBC Radio 1 DJ and broadcaster, Gemma Cairney as part of the South Bank Centre’s WOW Festival. Cairney discussed the music industry with Sister Sledge, while laying emphasis on the inequality in representation of women in the industry and the difficulties faced by them trying to break into the industry.

Sister Sledge raised awareness of the struggles that women face in daily life – and on issues of growing inequality in society, which has become a serious matter and is something that must be addressed. The group spoke about their experience in the music industry and their own personal struggle of entering the industry in an age and time when it was a male dominated business. Debbie Sledge spoke about her faith in family values while expressing her love for her sisters worldwide.

On Saturday 12th March, Kim Sledge will be participating in the panel discussion, ‘Redressing the Balance: Women, Power and the Arts’, focused on pressing issues of inequality in the arts industry by raising questions which challenge the current convention on these issues, whilst emphasising how to address the imbalance and celebrate the creative power of women. The panel will comprise of industry experts including Barbara Hulanicki, Fashion Designer and Founder of Biba, Sandeep Virdee, Artistic Director of Darbar Festival and choreographer and dancer Jasmin Vardimon.
Sister Sledge will also headline the WOW Festival’s flagship variety show, Mirth Control on Sunday 13th March, which will bring together comedy and music in one exhilarating night hosted by Sandi Toksvig. Other guests include Sharon D. Clarke, Bonnie Langford, WOW Jazz Orchestra, Peggy Seeger, and the all-female amateur WOW Orchestra conducted by Sue Perkins and Sian Edwards.

Sister Sledge will also unveil exclusively to the audience, a full play of their soon to be released track – Women Are the Music of the World (WAMOW) – released in April 2016.

Speaking about their participation in the International Women’s Day events Joni, Debbie and Kim Sledge: said: “This International Women’s Day was very special to us. Being a part of an array of incredible events that celebrate women empowerment is something we Sisters have always been committed to.

Music can truly unite people across the globe and these projects are fantastic ways to help encourage, empower and inspire other young girls and women to break glass ceilings.

We have also been excited to share a tiny glimpse of our forthcoming track Women Are The Music of the World (WAMOW) at events such as Walk in Her Shoes and also the forthcoming WOW Festival.

We have truly met so many WAMOW’s this week, women that are strong, confident and beautiful and that’s what, through our music, we aim to celebrate.”

The WOW – Women Of The World events (11th, 12th and 13th March) are free and open to ALL – The lively programmes will include female drummers, spoken word artists and entertainers, and live music from Sister Sledge, making this a family-friendly occasion for all. Be a part of this special event with legendary musicians and WOW veterans who are dedicated to changing the world and inspiring others to do the same. For further details please visit careinternational.org

9th March 2016
WORLDS FIRST FREE MONEY TRANSFER COMPANY XENDPAY GROWS TENFOLD IN TEN MONTHS

The world’s first free money transfer company Xendpay has today announced that, following the introduction of its unique “Pay What You Want” service, its transactions volume has increased by ten-fold in just 10 months.

Transferring more money in August than in the entire previous period, Xendpay has also reported that it now transfers $1m (£650,000) every day, marking a landmark milestone for the company. As a result, Xendpay estimates that to date, it has saved customers over $2.7m (£1.75m)that would otherwise have been lost in bank fees, hidden costs and unnecessary charges.

According to the World Bank, the global average cost of sending money internationally is approximately 9% of the total transfer value, a figure often much higher if money is being transferred to less developed countries. However, through the use of transparent foreign exchange rates and a “pay what you want” fee model, the average cost of sending money via Xendpay is just 0.4%, the cheapest rate in the UK’s money transfer market.

The costs for Xendpay to deliver the service are met by voluntary “tips” by users as a sign of appreciation for the savings made. Xendpay has found that 86% of users choose to pay for the service, with 72% of users paying the suggested fee or more. Due to the success of its Pay What You Want model, Xendpay is predicting that by 2020, it can save customers £60 million in costs over the course of the next five years.

Delighted with Xendpay’s growing prominence in the market, CEO and Founder Rajesh Agrawal said: “As Xendpay has shown, money transfers fuelled by voluntary contributions are no longer a pipe dream. Because of our success, traditional money transfer outlets can no longer justify their high hidden costs or unnecessary charges, and must recognise the need for a more egalitarian industry. By using and sharing the Xendpay experience, customers join in taking real a_ction for a better global economy; ensuring more money reaches its intended destination”

Word of mouth marketing is often viewed as the most credible form of advertising – largely because it is customer led and cannot be bought. Recognising this, Xendpay has benefited from their development of a marketing strategy which understands the power of word of mouth and channels it to maximise its exposure. The acquisition numbers are supported by the service’s Net Promoter Score which stands at over 75 and its immensely successful referral scheme, both proving that Xendpay is a trusted and reliable platform.

“Xendpay’s growth demonstrates a rare brand success story, mostly relying on a ‘word of mouth’ marketing strategy. Steering Xendpay clear of gimmicky stunts, we have always wanted our service and its mission to speak for itself, reflecting our honest ethos whilst empowering our users to spread the word to their family and friends. No matter how big a marketing budget may be, it cannot match the power of recommendations”, Mr Agrawal added.

Committed to reducing the cost of money transfers globally, Xendpay has been recognised in the financial services sector as a social cause, and was recently accepted as a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to a_ction. Xendpay, now available in 180 countries and 48 currencies, is part of the Rational Group of Companies, which has made transfers worth over $5billion (£3.25billion), since its inception in 2005.

26th February 2016
AKSHAY KUMAR’S AIRLIFT UNSTOPPABLE AT THE INTERNATIONAL BOX OFFICE
Indian cinema megastar Akshay Kumar has once again enthralled audiences with his latest film ‘Airlift’, a tense drama based on the true life events during the Gulf War of 1990 which witnessed the world’s largest human evacuation in history. Released just before India’s 67th Republic Day, the film captures the sheer brilliance of the unspoken heroic mission of India which has become an ‘AIRLIFT’ing experience.

Airlift opened to phenomenal reviews, word of mouth and box office takings in India, and has continued its winning streak in all major international box offices over the weekend, opening to record breaking numbers.

Touted as as Akshay Kumar’s PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME, Airlift has become Akshay Kumar’s highest grossing first week ever, surpassing his previous hits such as Rowdy Rathore, Houseful 2, Gabbar, Special 26, Singh Is Bling, Baby and Brothers.

The international box office for Indian cinema has historically been dominated by family dramas, rom-coms and romance genres, but despite Airlift’s thriller-esque screenplay, it has emerged a triumphant success as it entered its second weekend.

Continuing to capture the hearts and minds of millions of fans internationally, the impressive stats for the film’s performance to date include USA and Canada where it took USD $ 844, 454 and CAD $ 219, 770 respectively; the UK, where it made £208, 627; the Middle East saw it rake in a record USD $1.5 million (AED 5,200,000 approx); Australia saw it take $ 345, 250 AUD; New Zealand, where it broke it also broke previous records set by Akshay’s films, taking a very impressive $ 105, 863 NZD; the box office in Fiji Islands took FJD 48368 and rest of the world USD $375,500, amounting to an aggregate and ever increasing sum of approximately USD $3.4 million.

Speaking about the success of the film internationally, Mr Sunil Shah, Head of Film Division at B4U, said, “We are very proud of the response we have received for ‘Airlift’ internationally and the box office figures are hugely remarkable for a film of this genre. The success of Airlift internationally clearly conveys a trajectory in the changes in film consumption – the international audience for cinema is expanding and becoming more accepting of other genres – and as a company we are delighted to be at the forefront of this emerging trend.

The aim for us as distributors is to release a film, help widen its reach and appeal and ultimately to positively impact the box office. Despite distributing a film starring one of India’s greatest film actors, the strategy we adopted was qualitative over quantitative to reflect the concept of the film, selecting the most appropriate sites and markets.

Since the narrative of Airlift is transient and can resonate with migrants and any individual who has been displaced in their country as refugees, it strikes an emotional chord with audiences, thus we reflected this nuance in our publicity and marketing campaign which helped us to captivate and engage audiences.”

Airlift is an edge-of-the-seat entertaining thriller, directed by Raja Krishna Menon and stars Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur (Homeland, The Lunchbox). The story, based on a true event, is set in 1990 in Kuwait, the time of the Gulf War when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. The film has Akshay Kumar, playing Ranjit Katyal, a wealthy and powerful Indian businessman, who initially considers himself a Kuwaiti rather than an Indian. But after finding himself and the lives of his family in danger, eventually becomes the man who helps evacuate 170,000 Indians from Kuwait and brings them back safely to India. Over 59 days, 488 Air India commercial airliners were flown into a war zone to evacuate 170,000 Indians and bring them back home safely making this the largest human evacuation in history, which has also found its way to the Guinness Book Of World Records.

Here are just some of the outstanding reviews and comments the film has received:

Taran Adarsh tweeted: “#Airlift is a must must watch. One of the finest films to come out of the Hindi film industry. Just do not miss this one!”

Popular UK presenters Raj and Pablo from BBC Asian Network say: “Akshay is simply outstanding”

Top UK Asian website Punjab2000 said: So many positives can be taken from this dramatic film

Gulf News say: “Airlfit is Raw and Real”

First Post said: “Akshay Kumar nails the role of an unsung hero in this heart-stopping thriller”

Movie critics Shubha Shetty from Mid-day gave the film 4 stars, Saibal Chaterjee from NDTV 4 stars and Taran Adarsh 4.5 stars

B-Town has also been sending a wave of positive comments to Akshay Kumar and those involved in the project:

Rishi Kapoor – Saw Airlift.Brave film by director.Bhushan/Nikhil tops.Akshay,Nimrat work effortlessly.That George was good. Film Instils patriotism.See it!

Prabhu Deva – @akshaykumar sir superb, team work superb, loved it! #Airlift

Varun Dhawan – Saw #airlift. Really loved the film. .@akshaykumar best.lovely to see @NimratOfficial on screen congrats@TSeries @nikkhiladvani @RajaMenon

Anupam Kher – Congrats to the cast & crew of AIRLIFT. @akshaykumar your performance is of International level. Your graph as an actor is Inspirational.:)

Karan Arjun – #airlift is a heartwarming film about the triumph of the human spirit!! @akshaykumar in his career best portrayal was the soul of the film.

Hrithik Roshan – Happy Republic day! #Airlift is so deserving of all d success. Congrats @akshaykumar @mrsfunnybones n team. My Republic Day well spent!

Catch the video highlighting some of the brilliant reviews the film has garnered:
https://www.facebook.com/akshaykumarofficial/videos/10153634561098283/?theater

Airlift is released by B4U and is on general release internationally.
29th January 2016
Driving innovation within the fin-tech sector for businesses

• Hidden money transfer fees cost sMEs a sum of £4billion every year

• Xendpay Business offers small and medium-sized businesses first “pay what you want” money transfer service

• Start-ups have the hardest time in negotiating competitive fees with banks and this is where they require the most help – Xendpay Business could save start-ups and sMEs £Ms in money transfer costs

Xendpay, the world’s cheapest online money transfer service, has today announced the launch of Xendpay Business which for the first time will enable sMEs to make international money transfers for a fee of their choice.

Introducing the company’s successful “Pay What You Want¹” model to the international business payments market, Xendpay’s new service removes the requirement for sMEs to pay an initial mandatory fee for money transfers and the company estimates that it could save businesses ££££s in transfer fees in its first year alone.

Despite an increasing number of UK businesses engaging in international trade over recent years, now accounting for over 15% in the non-financial sector, a recent survey of small businesses found that more than 80% of small businesses didn’t know the true cost of foreign exchange through their banks. Extraordinarily, the cost to sMEs for an international transfer made through their bank could cost up to 6%, in addition to hidden fees incorporated in the spread of the foreign exchange transaction. In total, hidden fees are estimated to cost sMEs a sum of £4billion, highlighting the extent to which banks are overcharging their customers.

sME’s currently tend to turn to other players like Paypal who they believe will offer a better deal along with the ability to integrate and help collect funds but their fees are still extraordinarily high; Xendpay Business is here to change that. As strong believers in brand loyalty, the firm are confident that their competitive offering and understanding of the struggles of being an sME or start-up will ensure that clients continue to benefit time and time again from this new tailored service.

Speaking about the launch of Xendpay Business, Paresh Davdra, CEO and co-Founder of Xendpay, said: “It’s been an incredible year for Xendpay. We are the first company to have scrapped compulsory fees in response to the industrywide lack of transparency and endemic rip off prices. I knew we could do better while still remaining viable.”

Xendpay’s “Pay What You Want” model, which aims to empower the users of financial services for the common good, has been endorsed by Wikipedia Founder

Jimmy Wales and was recently accepted as a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action. Since the introduction of the model just over a year ago, Xendpay has seen its number of users and transactions increase twelve fold and has saved its customers over $3.2m (£2.1m) that would otherwise have been lost in uncompetitive or hidden bank fees.

Paresh Davdra said: “As Xendpay has shown, money transfers fuelled by voluntary contributions are no longer a pipe dream. By using and sharing the Xendpay experience, customers join in taking real action for a better global economy; ensuring more money reaches its intended destination.”

As a start-up entrepreneur himself, Davdra is committed to supporting entrepreneurs and start-ups to thrive in business, supporting a number of ventures including the Princes Trust to empower young Britons and International Widows Day to help provide financial and education resource to widows in developing nations who are often marginalised from the community.

Xendpay is available in over 180 countries and 48 currencies and is part of the Rational Group of Companies, which has made transfers in excess of $10billion since its inception in 2005.

27th January 2016
Harrods Unveils Superbrands

To showcase the most seasoned and luxurious international brands including Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Dior, Harrods is delighted to announce the completion of Superbrands, a new luxury department dedicated to outstanding international brands.

For over 160 years, Harrods has been a destination for stand-out collections, presenting customers with the most exclusive pieces from luxury brands around the world. Leading designers have showcased their collections in Harrods, in a world-famous womenswear department that has continued to change and evolve over the years. To continue the Harrods legacy of luxury and innovation, Superbrands has now opened with the finest selection of womenswear and accessories.

Designed by Make Architects, this elegant and contemporary space stands apart from the rest of the renowned Harrods building, also known as the “Terracotta Palace”. In the stunning surroundings of marble walls, columns and floors, customers will find 17 exceptional boutiques, each with its own distinct décor. The interiors are beautifully designed, custom-made to suit the look and feel of the individual brands. Brands like Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Ralph & Russo display their most exclusive pieces in colourful and imaginative ways, showcasing them in their windows.

Harrods Fashion Director of Womenswear, Accessories, Fine Jewellery and Childrenswear, Helen David, comments, “We are absolutely delighted to launch Superbrands; this unrivalled space houses the World’s most revered brands and is dedicated to the very best in luxury Womenswear and Accessories. This magical space has allowed us to expand each of the brands’ product offerings and create ‘world of’ shops within Harrods, allowing our customers an unrivalled luxury experience within their favourite brands. This new area further demonstrates our commitment to bringing our customers the ultimate shopping experience housing brands’ finest creations.”

As guests walk along the corridors, they will find a range of boutiques that are truly exceptional, not only in their selection of products but also in their inspired design. For those who enjoy the art and expertise that goes into making such beautiful and timeless pieces, Superbrands is a sensational place to see these pieces in all their splendour.

26th January 2016
ABC YOUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH WITH NOSH DETOX DELIVERY
Alkalise, Balance and Cleanse your body into better health naturally and effectively with the NEW ABC Plan served by healthy eating company NOSH Detox Delivery.

Brought to you by the specialists dedicated to preparing delicious, fresh, homemade, gluten and dairy free meals, snacks and juices that are sent straight to your door, the NOSH ABC Plan is conveniently designed to improve your health and wellbeing by synchronizing your body’s rhythm with food and drink as you Alkalise, Balance, and Cleanse your system. Serious about your health, the Nosh ABC Plan supplies your body with all the essential nutrients it needs, so that you lose weight naturally, healthily and with ease.

The NOSH ABC Plan – How it Works:

The ABC Plan is split into two parts on a weekly basis. Designed to help your body rehydrate and eliminate toxins during the first three days, Nosh provides you with a liquid diet until 4pm, followed by a balanced meal in the evening. To help heal and rejuvenate essential parts of the body over the last three days, a raw food diet is provided until 4pm, followed by a balanced meal in the evening. All specially prepared meals, snacks and juices are conveniently delivered to your door every night.

The NOSH ABC Plan Helps With:

Gut balancing, colitis and digestive problems including IBS

Boosting fertility

Pre and post pregnancy health symptoms including convalescing

Natural weight loss

Improving general health and well-being

Throughout the program, a NOSH representative is at hand to help you through the physical and emotional stages while your body reaches a state of healthy balance.

On completion of the plan, NOSH also offers a suggested menu of appetising meals to ease you into eating well without overloading your system.

Essentially, the NOSH ABC Plan is a precise combination of the Nosh Juice Fast and Nosh Diet, so you reap the benefits of both programmes. As this diet is less rigorous than the Juice Fast, it can be continued for longer (from 6 days to 6 weeks) to give your body more time to heal, rejuvenate and in turn, optimise your general health and maintain body weight.

NOSH ABC Plan – Sample Menu

Days 1-3 (liquid until 4pm)

Breakfast (smoothie): Nosh Breakfast Smoothie (oats, banana and soya)

Snack (small smoothie): Rose’s Superfood Smoothie – shot of Vitamin C

Lunch (soup): Roasted Mediterranean vegetables and lentil soup

Snack (smoothie): Delicious Comfort Smoothie

Dinner (protein, carbs and salad): Bacon and pea risotto with garden fresh water cress

Days 4-6 (raw food and drink until 4pm)

Breakfast (smoothie): Granola with soya yogurt

Snack (small smoothie): Rose’s Superfood Smoothie – shot of Vitamin C

Lunch (salad): Mixed vegetable salad

Snack (nuts): Omega 3 and 6 seed mix

Dinner (protein, carbs and salad): Chicken cassoulet and mixed greens

NB: All meals, snacks and smoothies provided on the A, B, C Plan are dependent on seasonality and availability of ingredients used to ensure flavour and quality is never compromised
26th December 2015
END7’S HOW TO SHOCK A CELEBRITY VIDEO RECEIVES OVER 7 MILLION VIEWS!

In a hard-hitting video, celebrities from around the world call for support in the global effort to control and eliminate seven diseases that plague more than 1 billion people around the world, including 500 million children. In the video, international actors and musicians witness the devastation neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) cause and encourage their fans to be part of the solution. The video is part of theEND7 campaign, a public awareness initiative dedicated to controlling and eliminating the seven most prevalent NTDs by 2020.

Emily Blunt (“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” “Devil Wears Prada”); Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”, “Les Miserables”, “My Week with Marilyn”); Tom Felton (“Harry Potter” series); Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South African pop star); Tom Hollander (“Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Pride and Prejudice”); and Priyanka Chopra (leading Bollywood actress and international recording artist) are featured in the video. These celebrities join a growing cast of supporters including Katy Perry, Ewan McGregor, Alyssa Milano, Norah Jones, Rosanna Cash, Paula Abdul and Stella McCartney to help raise public awareness about NTDs.

“NTDs are tied to nearly every major development issue today, including childhood nutrition, maternal/child health and water and sanitation” said actor Eddie Redmayne. “For example, washing with contaminated water can lead to blinding diseases such as Trachoma, which is particularly infectious amongst young children. 50 pence/cents is all it takes to treat and protect one child a year from having to live with this painful disease. Be a part of something big: Together we can see the end of seven NTDs in just seven years.”

END7 is the first global public awareness campaign dedicated to NTD control and elimination and relies heavily on individuals spreading the word and getting involved through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. It aims to raise the public awareness and funding required to cover the cost of distributing medicine and setting up treatment programs for NTDs. END7 is encouraging supporters to sign a pledge to inspire global policy leaders and philanthropists to take action and help end these diseases by 2020.

It costs approximately 50 cents/pence to treat one person against the seven most common NTDs for an entire year. Pharmaceutical companies have donated billions of pills to treat these diseases and many programs use existing infrastructure, such as schools and community centers, as distribution points, making NTD treatment one of most cost-effective public health initiatives available today.

“In India alone, nearly 700 million people are at risk for elephantiasis and more than 200 million children are at risk for worm infections,” said Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra. “Through the END7 campaign, we can offer a solution that will change the lives of millions of people living in poverty in Asia and around the world. I am proud to be a part of the global effort to end these diseases.”

The seven most common NTDs—hookworm, ascariasis (roundworm), trichuriasis (whipworm), schistosomiasis (snail fever), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness) and trachoma—infect more than one in six people worldwide, including more than 500 million children. They cause blindness, massive swelling in appendages and limbs, severe malnutrition and anaemia. NTDs prevent children from growing and learning. They reduce adults’ economic productivity and ability to care for their families, keeping communities trapped in a cycle of poverty and disease.

“We are building a movement that allows nearly everyone to play a part in making these diseases history,” said Dr. Neeraj Mistry, managing director of the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases. “Since last January’s London Declaration we have seen a significant increase in support for NTD control and elimination among global leaders. What we need now is for the general public to get involved in our cause.”

The END7 campaign was launched in 2012 by the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, an initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute. Wunderman UK leads the creative direction for the campaign, which includes this latest video along with the campaign’s website, Facebook hub and previously released “Mission in a Minute” video.

To watch the video, entitled END7: How to Shock a Celebrity, and learn more about the END7 campaign, visit www.end7.org.

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2nd December 2015