World Trade Centre
© Faras Ghani 2005

Newton Street, Manchester
© Faras Ghani 2005

Clear the streets for the trains

AS IF having trams on our streets is not risky enough, plans are underway to allow trains to utilize the same tracks to come into Manchester city centre.

Suggested by the Mid-Cheshire Rail Partnership, the plans will allow trains from Northwich to use Metrolink tracks from Altrincham to Piccadilly rather than passengers changing from train to tram at Altrincham in order to get to Piccadilly.

This joint track-usage, common in Germany and Holland, is thought to save commuters 10 minutes journey time as well as allowing more frequent services to operate on that line.

“The tram-train concept is just one of the options available to us and we are researching it,” commented a spokesman for the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority.

Mid-Cheshire Rail Partnership is looking into how much it would cost and how many people would actually use the service before commenting on whether the project should go ahead or not.

“The idea is quite well-established in certain places on the Continent, but this has not been done here before. We think this is definitely possible, but we need more detail,” said John Kitchen, a rail officer.
© Faras Ghani 2005

Chain pulled on online music pirates

THE British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has received ₤50,000 as out-of-court settlement against twenty-three file-sharers in the UK.

The settlement came after the accused, aged between twenty-two and fifty-eight, signed High Court undertakings admitting they illegally shared files while promising not to do it again.

“We are determined to find people who illegally distribute music and to make them compensate the artists and labels they are stealing from,” declared Geoff Taylor, BPI General Counsel.

This first-of-its-kind action in the UK follows thousands of lawsuits against file-sharers in the US with a few culprits even facing prison sentences. According to BPI, its global campaign has resulted in a 45% decline of file-sharing activities using software such as Kazaa, WinMX, Imesh and Grokster.

The tussle between file-sharers and the music industry has made way for legal alternatives to enter the market. Apple’s iTunes and the resurgence of Napster, with a change of conscience, have allowed music lovers to download legally for a small fee.

“We hope people will now begin to get the message that the best way to avoid risk of legal action and paying substantial compensation is to stop illegal file-sharing, and to buy music online, safely and legally instead.”
© Faras Ghani 2005

Britain in a puff

6.3 MILLION people have died in England and Wales during the last fifty years as a result of smoking.

The figure, nearly the population of London, was released by Prof Richard Peto, an epidemiologist at Oxford University, ahead of the No Smoking Day on Wednesday.

“These shocking statistics illustrate the devastating impact of smoking on the lives of people across the country,” said Maura Gillespie of the British Heart Foundation

The findings came days after the UK was found to have the largest heroine seizure rate and the third highest number of heroine addicts in Europe during 2004 by a UN report. It was also revealed that UK had Europe’s highest amphetamine usage and the third highest ecstasy usage as well as an increasing cocaine usage.

Petra Maxwell, from a drug education charity DrugScope, reminded authorities that these drug problems have to be dealt with not only by cutting supply from countries such as Columbia and Afghanistan, but also by cutting demand.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw last month, after talks with the Afghan president in Kabul, announced that Britain would give around ₤52m to counter narcotics programs in Afghanistan over the next financial year.

Around 90% of the heroine in Britain and Europe is the produce of Afghanistan’s poppy field that has witnessed a 20-fold increase in production since allied forces took over.
© Faras Ghani 2005

Trash the Pakis!

A dog born in a barn is still a dog
A paki born in britain is still a fucking paki... !
(a british Policeman)

Paki - a term used to identify the likes of us...usually shouted across the road or from a speeding car with a side serving of wrath and disgust. A racist term in this wonderfully literate world of Promise-Land (Britain).
© Faras Ghani 2005

Disclaimer: the above-stated quote was taken from a Channel4 documentary shown on terrestial and does not necessarilly depict the views on other policemen or the UK police force. It is not a slander and the author cannot be held responsible for a non-delibrate libel attempt.

Manchester and Will Smith get HITCHed

"Britney Spears came to Manchester and she was amazed by the reception she got. I wanted to see it for myself.”

So said Will Smith as he acknowledged hundreds of screaming fans at the premiere of his film, Hitch, at the Printworks on Tuesday.

In an attempt to both win over neglected film fans and to enter the record books by attending three premieres in one day, Will attended premieres at Manchester and Birmingham before going for the big one at Leicester Square.

“I must have been to London about fifty times and I realise that UK is a lot bigger than London”.

And Manchester certainly showed Will that. Fans gathered in freezing conditions on either side of the red carpet to catch a glimpse of the Hollywood star. They were not disappointed as he, after having a police escort from the airport, signed autographs, had photographs taken and also, for some lucky female fans, had his lip prints etched on their cheeks.

Will Smith plays a love-doctor in the film and guarantees to ‘hitch’ men up with their love within three dates. He, however, meets his match in a gossip columnist, played by Eva Mendes, who refuses to fall victim of his charm.

Will assured fans that “This will not be the last time you will see Will Smith here in Manchester. I am definitely coming back”.
© Faras Ghani 2005

PakSoc Eid Gala 04

University of Manchester Pakistani Society is hosting the annual Eid Bash 2004 on the 23rd November at Sanam Restaurant in Rusholme.

This event offers students the chance to celebrate Eid collectively amidst traditional food and music under one roof.

The guest of honour this year will be the Council General of Pakistan with ‘Chacha’ Cricket and other celebrities also attending.Entertainment will be in the form of a DJ from Satan’s Hollow playing bhangra and R n B as well as a famous flute player flown in from London. All this while enjoying a served five-course meal.

All profits from the event will be donated to the Shaukat Khanam Memorial Fund headed by Imran Khan, former Pakistan cricket captain.

Tickets are priced at £8 (pre-booking) and £10 (limited availability at gates). For ticket purchase or more information contact Mehdi (07739396465) or email psa_manu@hotmail.com
© Faras Ghani 2005

Rusholme sees black. And a horse too

SATURDAY THE 19th of February, day of Ashura, witnessed the streets of Rusholme filled with grieving followers remembering fourteen-hundred year old martyrdoms.

Puzzled bystanders stood by as men and women in all-black walked through the streets accompanied by children carrying flags and a horse draped in cloth bearing Arabic scripture.

Ashura is the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram and on that day in 680 AD, at the battle of Karbala in Iraq, the Prophet’s nephew, together with seventy of his family members and associates, were martyred.

While some Muslims choose a peaceful recollection with a day of fasting and extra prayers, others turn to chest-thumping and back-whipping; an act they justify by claiming that if the Prophet’s nephew, and his followers, suffered greatly and gave up their lives to keep Islam’s banner upright, so should we, as a sign of tribute and remembrance.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the whole procession was peaceful and no reports of any incidents were received.

© Faras Ghani 2005

Halls follow Uni's footsteps in annoying students!

Construction at Mill Point, Manchester’s newest Halls of Residence, is finally nearing completion – two and a half months from the date students started moving in.

The re-layering of a part of the floor is the only work-in-progress after the opening of the student common room on the 6th of Dec. This, however, offers little consolation to the suffering students who have endured problems ever since the arrival date.

The move-in date itself was delayed by a week and students were informed of this while they queued up at reception, with their belongings, to acquire their room keys. The laundry room was delayed by two weeks implying the residents had to visit city centre laundrettes with high charges to get their washing done.

Mill Point did offer alternative accommodation to arriving students and also offered a week’s free washing as a consolation.

On the altered arrival day itself one of the lifts broke down and students were made to carry their stuff up eight flights of stairs. Upon arrival into their flats, a number of kettles and TV remote controls were missing and that took four weeks to sort out after numerous complaints.

“Despite the best efforts of Domain to ensure timely completion, we were let down badly by our contractor, David McLean, who unfortunately over-ran with the project,” said a spokesman for Mill Point.

Manchester City Council was blamed for the late arrival of Ethernet at Mill Point.

“It should have been available from the day students moved in but delays were experienced in acquiring approval from the Council with regards to digging up the public highway for the physical connection.”

A replacement fire blanket was requested by a flat because of an accident and after daily reminders it was not delivered four weeks into the initial request. After being questioned about it by the reporter, the flat had the blanket delivered the following day.

“Replacement fire blankets are always kept on-site in order that we can replace them immediately where necessary,” advised the same spokesman.

Lack of organisation? Lack of communication? Or just lack of fire blankets? On the whole, Mill Point has been a major disappointment in the students’ eyes.
© Faras Ghani 2005

Dubya and Blair: Mission Iran-Destruction

“Iran is a sponsor of terrorism and should realise it must not obstruct progress towards Middle East peace,” stated PM Tony Blair as he reflected upon George Bush’s platitude terming Iran “the world’s primary state sponsor of terror.”

2002; Afghanistan. 2003; Iraq. 2004; US Elections. 2005; Iran? Quite possible given the recent ‘victories’ on the battlefield as well as the ballot-field for the self-proclaimed world reformer, Mr Bush. Oh and there is the chance his devoted follower, Mr. Blair, would lend a helping hand, providing he gets a third term of course.

Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair are both confident Iran possesses the nuclear arms, based on intelligence reports and evidence, and is preparing to use them in a ‘not-so-friendly’ way.

Iranian officials, in turn, confirm that the nuclear power is aimed at generating electricity and had US claims and accusations termed baseless at the UN last November. Although Iran agreed to suspend uranium enrichment while the matter was resolved, US officials ‘wished’ for it to be terminated altogether.

The US has refused to rule out military action but will try to negotiate by diplomatic means.

A déjà vu perhaps of Iraq’s weapons-of-mass-destruction saga?
© Faras Ghani 2005

The End

dedicated to the loving memory of Murreum Sikander, the greatest friend i ever had, to all my future friends, to all my present friends, and to all those who kicked me in the bollocks and became my past.