Greetings Curry Lovers!
We are in a sombre state of mind this week given the recently announced research that shows that South Asians are not averse to under-reporting their tobacco use - from the odd few cigarettes to the more common tobacco-filled paan - it seems we all need to be weaned off the dreaded weed. In the same week that the NHS announced that it was to extend its pharmacy pilot scheme, offering 40 new sites £75,000 each to help patients get the best out of their medicines; the Office of Fair Trading announced a Major Investigation into Private Dentistry. Based on a super-complaint by the Consumer's Association, the OFT will be reviewing dental pricing and access to services.

Anti-Tobacco campaign targets Asians.	Pharmacists to help GP's save time.
Government research shows that South Asians are not averse to under-reporting their smoking and tobacco use. A worrying trend given the smoking statistics read more	40 new pilot pharmacies will each get £75,000 of funding to support GPs and help patients get the best out of their medicines read more

Still on the subject of tobacco, anyone remember the furore over Bernie Ecclestone and his donations to the Labour party? Last week saw continued pressure on Tony Blair's government to explain the Prime Minister's role in the Lakshmi Mittal deal to buy the Romanian Steel-making business, Sidex. A case of "no smoke without fire" we wondered? (Well OK, it's been a bad week for puns). We also ponder this week in our poll whether the UK Prime Minister should be writing letters on behalf of businesses at all.

For those singularly focussed on money, you may be glad to read that migrants do make money for UK Plc - some £2.5 billion in 1999/2000 to be exact. So much for the "smoke screen" about migrants consuming more than their fair share of public services like healthcare. For those more concerned with their own purse rather than the privy purse....we recommend Alpesh Patel's 5 Hot Tips for Trading Online. And if your trades don't work out as planned, worry not, 28 major credit card companies have announced that they will change the way they advertise their introductory rates of interest (the APR). From TAR to APR in a few short paragraphs (maybe we haven't quite lost it yet!)

Migrants make money for the UK	5 Hot Tips for Trading Online
Migrants to the UK contributed around £2.5 billion to the Exchequer in 1999/2000 according to a report published by the Home Office. read more	Is there anyone left in the UK who does not have an e-brokerage account? You'll find it difficult to find any British Asian who doesn't trade online. read more

For those who simply haven't got what it takes for trading online, how about another way to make money? B4U and Sulekha.com have come together to offer talented men and women worldwide the chance to write a movie script. The contest entitled 'Write Angle' is the first initiative of its kind in Indian entertainment. The winner of the contest will win $4000/Rs. 2 lakhs, a globally telecast interview, a paid trip to Mumbai, India and a chance to see his or her idea produced into a feature film or a TV movie.

And from a chance of a lifetime to 'Half a Life', V S Naipaul's latest book. It seems that Sir Vidia - winner of the Nobel prize for literature last year - is something of a "curmudgeon at large". An official from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations organising a International literary festival at the Neemrana Fort in Rajasthan is reported to have said, "Naipaul is fantastically rude. It is difficult to organise a festival with him as an invitee. No one knows who he is going to snub next." Admittedly, Naipaul declaring that "the best Indian writing comes from writers living abroad" is more conducive to a shortened half a life! He added fuel to the fire by stating "My life is short. I can't listen to banalities". 'Never a truer word was spoken' we think.