Greetings Curry Lovers!

As the end of the year 2002 rapidly approaches, we have been reviewing the past few months. Beyond a doubt, Asians have been the hottest market sector this year, so much so, that we were wondering (in fashion parlance) if "brown has become the new black"?

2002 has ended with some excellent news about the commencement of peace talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) that have a real hope of ending the conflict which has been raging for almost two decades. Britain has welcomed the talks with UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw meeting Professor G L Peiris of Sri Lanka, who will be leading the peace talks, in London earlier this month. At about the same time, two British film makers have created controversy with the launch of their graphically violent film about the conflict. Screened at the Oslo Film Festival in November 2002, 'In the Name of Buddha' launched nationwide in the UK last week. Based partly on fact, the film is a gritty tale of Tamil boy 'Siva' who escapes the conflict to seek refuge in the UK.

JACK STRAW MEETS SRI LANKAN MINISTER	BRITISH FILM ABOUT SRI LANKAN CONFLICT
The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw met Professor G L Peiris, Sri Lankan Minister of Constitutional Affairs. Professor Peiris is the Minister leading the government delegation at the peace talks. read more	A film that has caused widespread controversy 'In the Name of Buddha' portrays the conflict between native Tamil people and the Sri Lankan army and Indian peacekeeping forces. read more

Those of you interested in some "lighter" movie entertainment still have a chance to see 'Anita & Me', an adaptation of Meera Syal's hilarious book of the same name which is showing now nationwide. *** SPECIAL OFFER ***. As lovers of special offers, we have 10 copies of the book Anita & Me, plus a unique CD featuring Sanjeev Bhaskar singing 'Volare' in his own inimitable way, to give away FREE! All you have to do is answer a simple question.

Apart from Sanjeev Bhaskar who may have many strings to his bow (except singing that is!), we applaud another hero - Sripathi Rao, the central character in Anita Rau Badami's 'The Hero's Walk'. Winner of the Commonwealth Prize for Literature for this book, Ms Badami is a strong challenger for the position of best South Asian Author...... if there was such a prize!

ANITA & ME BY MEERA SYAL	THE HERO'S WALK BY ANITA RAU BADAMI
'Anita & Me' is a novel about Asian life in a small Midlands town in the 1960's. The Kumars are the only Punjabi family in the town. Dutiful daughter Meena wants nothing more than to be the best friend of local lewd beauty Anita Rutter. read more	Men get a raw deal when it comes to South Asian literature. They are portrayed as drunken abusers, crooked desperadoes, weirdos, philanderers, or cold and unfeeling husbands! So it is refreshing to encounter Sripathi Rao in Badami's tale 'The Hero's Walk'. read more

Never ones to refuse a party invite, book launch or the opening of an envelope(!), we were delighted to be invited to the launch of 'Creative Business', an eminently readable business book about New Media. Co-authors Paul Nero and Neeta Patel (now where have we heard that name before?) have drawn on the art of traditional story telling to recount its importance in the high-tech business world of today. At yet another launch party, the Metropolitan Hindu Police Association celebrated their formation - a group that will undoubtedly play a key part in the dissemination and knowledge transfer about Hindu culture.

'CREATIVE BUSINESS' BOOK LAUNCH	HINDUS UNITE IN THE METROPOLITAN POLICE
An eclectic group of business people gathered to celebrate the launch of 'Creative Business'. The newly launched book is the first to compare content creation for new digital media to the old-fashioned story telling of print and TV. read more	Hindus within London's Metropolitan Police Service have united to form the first Hindu Association. At the ceremony Commander Cressida Dick reiterated the group's importance in the police force. read more

And Asian culture is what redhotcurry.com is all about.....well apart from curry that is! We were delighted to note that Kikapu has launched a range of 'African Farm' products in the UK, currently available at many ethnic food stores throughout the country. The company is dedicated to sustainable farming methods and poverty reduction in Africa. So now, you can have your curry and ensure that those in Africa can eat it too! (Well OK, my clichés are being stretched a bit thin....but it is the end of the year!). The link to South Africa continues with Sharon Lutchman, a South Africa born Asian artist, planning an exhibition of her paintings in London in January 2003. Entitled 'Sporting Image' the exhibition will feature major sportsmen like Nasser Hussain who will be leading the England team to the Cricket World Cup in South Africa in Spring 2003.

ETHICAL FOODS FROM THE AFRICAN FARM	SPORTING IMAGE - SHARON LUTCHMAN
Little discussed are the issues of ethical farming. Kikapu Ltd, a company dedicated to sustainable farming methods and poverty reduction in Africa, has joined forces with Taste of Thailand, South Africa to create a new range of 'African Farm' products. read more	Nasser Hussain (England Cricket Captain) is one of the sporting heroes whose portraits will be featured in Sharon Lutchman's exhibition, SPORTING IMAGE which will run at The Lennox Gallery in London from 28th January - 8th February 2003. read more

And 2003 is occupying our thoughts now. Will the Asian flavour continue into the New Year? Well at redhotcurry.com we will certainly do our best to ensure that it does. Which only leaves me to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you for your continued support and kind emails. Carry on clicking away and keep sending us your emails - we do read them all.

Our special free gift offer for new users who sign-up is also going swimmingly well, so why not tell a friend? They might be grateful for the suggestion!

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year.