Journalism in Pakistan: Al-Islam (1948) ed. by Ghulam Ali Chunara, Platinum Jubilee Review (1951) ed. by A.J. Chunara, Fidai Chronicle (Dacca, 1953) ed. M.R. Karwa. Mahrab (1954), Paigham (1955) ed. by Muhammad Ali B. Sayani, Parwaz (Dacca), Sargam (1958) ed. Kassim Ghari, Ismaili Mirror (1962), Ismaili World (1964) ed. by Sadruddin J. Hemani, Al-Qandeel (1965) from Peshawer, Al-Ismailia (1967) ed. by Noor Ali B. Mithani. Shinning Stars (1980). Phoolvadi (1980). Sevak (1989) ed. S.K. Tejani.
The Ismailia Association for Pakistan also published Ismaili Bulletin (1974) and it was followed by Hidayat (1982). These were followed by the Waezeen Digest.
Journalism in United Kingdom: The Ismailia Association for U.K. published Ilm in 1975 and Al-Misbah in 1981. The Ismaili Council for U.K. also brought forth Ismaili Forum in 1980, and also UK Ismaili in 1984.
Journalism in United States: The Ismaili Council for the United States brought out Roshni and The American Ismaili in 1980, and The American Waezeen Digest in 1987.
Journalism in East Africa: The Jubilee Bulletin started in 1945, which earned the name of Ismaili Prakash in 1947. The Diamond Jubilee Souvenir published in 1946. It was followed by Majlis. In 1950, with the existence of Ismailia Association for Kenya in Nairobi, the Africa Ismaili started and shifted its venue very soon from Mombasa to Nairobi. Africa Ismaili was the first communal journal in Africa to complete 25 years, which formerly used to appear as Ismaili Prakash.
Meanwhile, a journal Education Bulletin appeared in 1939 from Mombassa and disappeared very soon. The same position with the following journals:- Old Boys Education Bulletin (1939), Old Boys (1945), Pukar (1945), Nuten Jyoti (1946), Bhawi Praja (1947), Mithi Mauj (1947), Paigham (1948), Awaz (1950), Imamat (1956), My Flag (1956) Awake (1964), etc.
A weekly paper also appeared in Mombasa in 1938, known as Africa Tribune which last for 12 months. Hence, none among the above survived more.
In Nairobi, the most prominent among the short-lived papers were:- Zahur (1939), edited by A.M. Sadruddin, Zaban and Awaz (1945), Al-Hussain (1947) and Waezeen Digest (1960), etc.
In 1933, Uganda had Ismaili Yuvak which disappeared very soon as if it had never published. Kismu and had Ismaili Welfare Bulletin in 1940, also printed one Una Voc (one voice) between 1965 and 1966. In 1953, Uganda magazine, Ismaili News, started in 1953 and continued till 1960.
From different centers, some other magazines also appeared, including Special Number from Jinja in 1946.
Tanzania was rich in its contribution. The famous journals were:- Africa Comrade (1925), Ismailia Bhagyodaya (1925), Jagrutti (1931), Chatanya Yug (1932), Tarun (1932) ed. by Ghulam Ali Pirbhai, Mithi Mauj (1933), Chaitanya Yuga (1933), Young Tanganika (1934), Shafiq. (1934), edited by A.M. Sadruddin. Gulshan-e-Ilm (1935), ed. Jafar Ali Sufi. Ismaili Voice (1936), edited by A.M. Sadruddin, Ismaili Mission Message (1940), Paigham (1948), On the March (1968). Mission Digest (1962) ed. by Abdul Hussain Daya and Sultan Ali Muhammad in Kisumu, Kenya. Ismaili Bagyada'i, etc. All of them disappeared within a few years, some of them lasted only a few months.
The Ismailia Association for Tanganika started Khidmat and Platinum in 1951, which later merged into Ismaili Crescent in 1961. African Sentinel edited by missionary Haji Muhammad Fazal, started in 1941 and continued till 1944 in Tanzania.
Among minor publication from up-country centers was Unity in 1959 from Mwanza. In addition, the Ismailia Association for Portugal published Al-Noor from Lisbon in 1980, Al-Kitab in 1985; and Al-Hidayat (1984) by Ismailia Association for Zaire.
Journalism in Canada: The first renowned magazine published from Vancouver was Hikmat (1976) by Ismailia Association for Canada. The Canadian Ismaili appeared in 1976, and Ismaili Canada in 1995 by Ismaili Council for Canada. The Al-Risalah also began from Montreal in 1981.
Journalism in India: Ismaili Sitaro, (1908) ed. Lalji Bhai Devraj, Khoja Bandhu, Khoja Mitr (1910), Khoja Hitvardak (1910), Satpanth Prakash (1916) ed. by Lalji Bhai Devraj, Ismaili Aftab (1919), ed. by V.N. Hood, then N.M. Budhwani in Dhoraji, Ismaili Akhbar (1920), Khoja Saundariya (1920), Ismaili (1923) ed. A.J. Chunara, Satpanth Prakash, Ismaili Darpan, Ismaili Prakash, Ismaili Bhomiyo, Khoja Sansar (1924), Hindi Panch Himayati (1924) by Verteji. Khoja Reformer (1925). Khoja Vahevar (1925), Awaaj, Nizari (1925) ed. by Chunara, Mith-i Mauj, Yuwan, Fidai (1927), ed. by G.H.S. Thaver Pir Muhammed, Yuvan (1930), Dass (1930) ed. by Kader Hussain Merali Manji, ed. by Jafar Ali Mukhi Hasan. Khoja Jagrutti (1933), Vishal, Drashti (1935), Searching Light (1940), Al-Islah (1943) ed. by Chunara. Momin Bandhu (1948) ed. by Ismail Rajan, Al-Amin, Zulfikar Ismaili, Dass, Elan (1950) ed. by Badruddin Hemani, Ismaili Digest (1950), Aina (1950) ed. V.N. Hooda, Volunteer (1950) ed. by B.T. Chhatriwala, Waezeen Digest (1951), Platinum Jubilee Bulletin (1951), ed. by A.C. Rahmatullah, Jagrutti (1955), Fidai Darshan (1968) ed. by H.H. Wadiwala Khoja Bulletin (1970), Ismaili Abhyuday, Nur-i Roshan (1977), etc.
The first Urdu fortnightly journal appeared in Rawalpindi in 1924, entitled, Ismaili Sadaqat edited by Mubarak Ali Ashiq Ali. The first Sindhi journal was My Flag published by Muhib Ali Mitha in Hyerabad, Sind in 1935.
Journalism in Middle East: The first monthly journal, Al-Ghadir started from Beirut in 1953, edited by Mustapha Ghaleb.
Making calculations, we see the one journal has martyred itself for the community once every two years. Out of all these, only the Ismaili Aftab was able to complete a span of 25 years. It would be not an exaggeration to say that the weekly Ismaili was the only shinning example of Ismaili Journalism, for having been able to complete 50 years of the existence. The weekly Ismaili ended in the year 1995 after a long span of 72 years. Presently, The Ismaili Canada, The Ismaili India, The Ismaili Africa, The Ismaili United Kingdom and The Ismaili Pakistan are being published under respective National Councils.
If investment over personal use is the primary reason for purchasing a property then the French leaseback scheme could be right for you. The scheme created by the French Government in the 1970's was designed to increase the amount of short term accomodation in France as there has always been a chronic shortage. This could be either tourist accomodation in holiday resorts or business accomodation in city centres in large business hubs. The scheme involves you buying a property freehold and then granting the lease of it for 9 to 11 years to a management company who pay you a fixed guaranteed rental income in return. You also save substantially on French tax and have a low risk no hassle investment.
Refunded VAT: One of the great bonuses of this scheme is that the purchaser gets a full refund of the TVA (VAT) of 19.6% if it is a new build property which is either refunded 6-9 months after completion or paid and recalimed by the developer. At the end of the initial lease period the holiday company usually reserves the right to lease it again until the 20th year after its construction but this is very rarely insisted upon if the client is not in agreement. If you choose not to lease your apartment out again or sell it then you will have to pay a proportion of the TVA according to how many years are left outstanding from the first 20 years. For example, if the property has been under lease contract for 11 years and there are therefore 9 years remaining, then the amount of TVA that must be paid back to the French government is 9/20ths of the TVA. After 20 years TVA is no longer payable. Remember, if you sell the property during its lease contract then it must be sold with the contract intact to a likeminded individual who is prepared to see the contract through.
Guaranteed return on investment: The guaranteed investment return will typically be around the 5% mark net of all costs tax-free as you benefit from non-professional lessor of furnished property status (LMNP). This in effect means that you will receive as much interest as you would in a high yielding savings account as well as the opportunity to gain from capital appreciation of the property.
Personal Use: As the owner of a leaseback property you are often allowed to retain some weeks for personal use in return for a slightly lower rental income. If you choose not to use the weeks then you will usually get a higher annual yield.
The management company: An experienced management company will take care of the entire maintenance of the apartment or villa, usually with hotel services available such as reception, house linen, well-kept gardens, swimming pools and 24hr security.
Furnishing: Furnishing, decoration and electrical appliances are all supplied and maintained by the management company.
Accounting impacts during the loan's term:
-Deductibility of the loan interest
- Deductibility of miscellaneous expenses (property taxes)
- Amortisation deductibility; 3.3% per year for 30 years, however they are deferred and not imputable in regard to the business income.
After the loan's term the deferred amortisation can be imputed and set against the received net rents.
Notary Fees and sales process: The sales process is the same as for new build/renovated properties with the same notary fees: 3% on new builds and for refurbished leaseback properties you will have to pay the usual 7-8% notary fees on the property before refurbishment working out at between 4% and 6% of the value of the purchase price.
Better than Timeshare: Unlike time share schemes the owner actually sees a return on his/her investment through annual rental yields and also appreciation in the value of the property which can be substantial- so it is not money down the drain. The bonus with the leaseback scheme is that the property is well maintained and you have no responsibility for changing of linen and cleaning- you simply turn up and enjoy it!
Both Ibrahim Lodhi & Nick Dowlatshahi are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Ibrahim Lodhi has sinced written about articles on various topics from Religion, Nutrition and Pets. Mumtaz Ali Tajddin S. Ali is an popular Ismaili Scholar, He has written many articles on Ismaili Imam, Ismailism, and