MEN reporters Yakub Qureshi and John Scheerhout provided live updates, including video and photographs.

More than 700 people attended the funeral of the former chairman of governors at Heybrook Primary School, Mohammed Sharif Baleem, who passed away after losing his battle with lung cancer aged 76.

Little Sahil Saeed was safely back in his mother's arms today after his two-week kidnap ordeal finally came to an end.

The five-year-old, kidnapped two weeks ago by an armed gang during a family holiday in Pakistan, was reunited with his overjoyed mum Akila Naqqash last night.

Domestic violence doesn't just affect women in the UK but a growing number of Asian men are also suffering as one Bangladeshi born father-of-three found when he married his British spouse and came to the UK seven-years-ago.

]]> news http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1200817_asian_mens_domestic_abuse_hell?rss=yes#comments 2010-03-18T12:01:54 http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1200773_delight_as_sahil_is_reunited_with_father_?rss=yes

The five-year-old boy freed by kidnappers in Pakistan after his family paid a £110,000 ransom was “really happy” to be reunited with his father today, a spokesman for the British High Commission said.

Sahil Saeed, who was released on Tuesday after being snatched at gunpoint in Pakistan two weeks ago, met Raja Naqqash Saeed at the home of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad.

Senior sources confirmed that GMP officers – working with police in Pakistan and Spain – helped ‘facilitate’ a payment.

The English Defence League rally in Bolton will go ahead on Saturday after the Home Secretary said he had no power to ban it.

The council was hoping that Alan Johnson would outlaw the demonstration on safety grounds, fearing violence could erupt in the town centre.

A Spanish newspaper said two Pakistanis and a Romanian woman were arrested in the town of Constanti, near the north-eastern city of Tarragona.

The hunt for the kidnap gang who snatched five-year-old Sahil Saeed has switched to Spain after part of the ransom was paid there.

It is understood that the family of Sahil’s mother, Akila Naqqash, managed to raise the cash. Sahil, from Oldham, was kidnapped two weeks ago while on holiday in Pakistan when his family were held at gunpoint by robbers.

Omar Shah of Little Horton was arrested and charged after the incident at the Cube Nightclub on Ivegate in November 2009. He was convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, GBH and two counts of ABH.

A man accused with his twin of shooting dead a young dad told an ambulancewoman about the killing after trying to take his own life, a jury was told.

Brett and Jordan Francis, 26, of Birch Avenue, Chadderton, deny murdering Amran Khan, 29, in a row over £12,000 of drugs money.

The Woodley Off-Licence had also failed to comply with underage sales legislation and was associated with anti-social behaviour.

The man remains in custody after being arrested earlier today.

Sarfraz Khan from Birmingham died from serious head injuries on Tuesday 16 March 2010 in hospital where he had been since the incident on Friday 12 March in Long Street, Sparkbrook.

The awards recognise the commitment of individuals across communities who help make the north west a better place to live and work.

Parveen Akhtar of Blackburn was just five years old when she last met her mum Yasmin Hussain in Bradford.

The four suspects stole a substantial quantity of jewellery from Shaandar Zewar Jewellers in the Barkerend area on Monday 8 March at 11am.

Nomi Jewellers in Yorkshire Street was raided last weekend when a gang broke into the store through the window of the catering business next door before clearing out the stock.

A medical student who killed his best friend in a ‘tragic’ car accident has been spared jail.

Mohammed Adriece, 23, of Greengate Street, Glodwick, Oldham, was trying to overtake another vehicle at 45mph on Oldham Road when his Volkswagen Golf careered out of control and smashed into a bus.

Identical twins have gone on trial accused of shooting dead a father-of-two in a row over a drugs debt.

Jordan and Brett Francis, 26, of Birch Avenue, Chadderton, are alleged to have murdered their pal Amran 'Manny' Khan, 29, on September 18.

Organised by The Open Society Justice Initiative and the School of Law at King’s College London, the conference will look at the challenges presented to security services and policy makers to ensure that stop and search powers are used effectively without infringing people’s rights or damaging fragile community relations.

The Bishop of Bolton is among a delegation who will meet government ministers ahead of a rally by the right-wing English Defence League on Saturday.

The Rt Rev Chris Edmondson will travel to London with senior councillors and faith leaders to discuss concerns with Alan Campbell, parliamentary under-secretary of state for crime reduction.

Mohammed Ghani, owner of Zaidy’s takeaway on Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, was ordered to close the doors of his premises at 11pm after customers were seen buying hot food after midnight.

Organised by BritBangla in partnership with British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and supported by BRAC UK, the theme of the evening was the recognition and achievements of Bengali women from the past and present.

Birmingham man, Kelsoom Bi, appeared before Hyndburn Magistrates after he repeatedly ignored requests and an improvement notice issued by Hyndburn Council ordering him to carry out remedial work on his property on Richmond Road, Accrington.

In December 2008, officers in Rochdale searched seven addresses in Wardleworth and Littleborough as part of a 14-month investigation into the supply of class A drugs and money laundering.

Plans have been submitted by the committee at Medina Mosque for the redevelopment and demolition of a factory on Clydesdale Street, Coppice.

British Transport Police are now appealing for information about the incident which happened around 7.20pm on Saturday, February 20, following the League Two football match between Accrington Stanley and Bradford City.

The march began and ended at the Grimshaw Street Mosque.

Faisal Mohyud-Din, 18, and Mohammed Azeem, 21, hugged continuously for 24 hours and fifteen minutes to earn their place in the Guinness Book of Records.

The announcement to approve the construction of the new homes in east Jerusalem has coincided with the visit to Israel by US Vice President, Joe Biden.

The Football Festival, on May 2, will see more than 60 teams from across the borough compete for the top spot.

Atif Munir, the owner of Jays Booze Bonanza in Frederick Street, Denton, and James Pasco, the designated premises supervisor, appeared before Tameside magistrates on March 3.

Around 300 people were at Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield to celebrate spring with an old tradition - throwing coloured powder and water at each other.

Great Places Housing Group has launched its great communities project and now needs enthusiastic committee members.

The dinner was held at Lal Qila Restaurant in Wilmslow Road, Manchester and was organised by Komal Adris, a key Labour Friends of Palestine executive committee member based in Bolton.

A surgeon who accidentally removed 90 per cent of a baby's bladder will be allowed to perform operations in the future.

Dr Pierina Kapur caused irreparable damage to a seven-week-old girl's urinary tract during a 'catastrophic' hernia operation in 2008.

]]> news http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1199926_botched_op_doctor_can_still_practice_?rss=yes#comments 2010-03-11T17:23:05 http://www.theasiannews.co.uk/news/s/1199909_teenager_sexually_assaulted_in_accrington?rss=yes Police are appealing for witnesses after a 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in Accrington.

Around 8.30pm on Sunday 7 March, the teenager was walking along the path between Lonsdale Street and Scaitcliffe Street, known locally as the "black path", when she was approached from behind by a man.

A racist thug who launched a random attack on a stranger in the street during a morning drinking session has been jailed.

Graham Smith, 23, of Acre Lane, Oldham, began hurling abuse at his 53-year-old victim as the man walked along a road in the town.

The Punjabi Law Minister told reporters this morning that Sahil, from Shaw in Oldham, was found safe yesterday. But detectives in the area say that he has not yet been found and that the search was continuing.

The event has been organised by the Hyndburn inter-faith forum and speakers will include Mike Tull from Marsden Heights, Pendle and Anjum Anwar who works on community cohesion and understanding at Blackburn Cathedral.

The 10 men and one woman were arrested when officers visited a number of addresses in the Lancashire and Greater Manchester areas this morning.

Thousands of people across the country have joined internet campaigns demanding the release of Oldham youngster Sahil Saeed.

The five-year-old was snatched by armed robbers from his grandmother’s house in Pakistan on the last day of a two-week family holiday with his father.

A conman who was jailed for selling big-match football tickets that didn’t exist has been accused of cheating United supporters out of hundreds of pounds in a new scam.

Amrik Gill, 23, from Chorlton, was locked up and ordered to pay thousands in compensation after appearing in court THREE times last year for conning fans over the internet. Now United supporters desperate for tickets for the Reds’ Carling Cup Final against Aston Villa claim they were ripped off by Gill.

The President is visiting the UK as a guest of the government. He met with Mr Malik at the Houses of Parliament where the minister underlined the UK’s support for Somalia.

A special presentation took place at Mere Hall where employees were rewarded for their outstanding commitment and contributions to fellow employees, customers and the wider community, over the last 12 months.