School dress codes a contentious issue for some parents as academic year
When Karen Green sends her two daughters, aged nine and 12, back to school in September, she knows she’ll have to contend with their school’s dress code.The rules prohibit tops with straps narrower than the width of three fingers; skirts, shorts or dresses shorter than the length of extended fingertips when a student’s arms are extended down the sides of their body; and abdomen, back and shoulder-baring tops, among other things.Green believes the dress code unfairly targets girls in a certain age group — those in Grades 6 through 9, who are likely going through puberty.“It’s not my child’s issue to make sure that nobody knows she’s wearing a bra. It’s everybody else’s issue to accept what a growing girl’s body looks like, and to not be distracted by it,” says Green, whose children attend a school in Chatham, Ont.The message such dress-code rules send, she argues, is that as soon as girls start to develop, their bodies must be policed.“It is something that they must be completely aware of covering at all times,” says Green, adding that girls who develop earlier are not allowed to wear the same clothes as their friends. “It instills a sense of shame.”Every year stories surface of girls being told to go home to change into clothing that adheres to local dress codes.In one expert’s view, telling girls how to dress implies that it’s their job to make sure that boys aren’t distracted by their bodies, which is insulting to both sexes.“Boys are basically represented as prisoners of their hormones. (They) just can’t help it and it’s not their fault. Girls, on the other hand, are seen as the gatekeepers of morality,” says Shauna Pomerantz, a Brock University child and youth studies associate professor and author of “Girls, Style and School Identities: Dressing the Part.”Schools have used dress codes to “control” students, she added.“In many people’s minds, how you look equates to how you act,” Pomerantz says.Mark Sherman, the superintendent for the Lambton-Kent District School Board, where Green’s children attend school, says dress codes help create a “modest, business-like” atmosphere.He notes that principals are the ones who establish dress codes, which reflect community standards, and that the process includes consultation with parents.“(Dress codes) are defined by the communities that the schools operate in. It’s a process designed to get input from parents through the school council,” Sherman says. “They want to have a safe, respectful learning environment.”The Toronto District School Board also said their dress code policy is developed through “a conversation with the whole school community.” Spokesperson Shari Schwartz-Maltz acknowledged, however, that some schools haven’t updated their dress code in many years.For some parents, dress codes help create an environment where everyone can be comfortable.Toronto parent Terry Perdue, a single mother of five, recalls a November 2016 incident when one of her daughters was told by a teacher that her V-neck sweater was too low-cut to be worn on its own. Perdue also received a phone call from the teacher during the school day.“It was awkward,” she says. “The teacher explained to me that (her cleavage) was distracting the male children in the classroom.”Perdue says her daughter was in Grade 9 at the time, at a school that’s part of the Toronto District School Board. The school’s dress code, among other things, states that it is unacceptable for cleavage and undergarments to be showing.Her daughter’s undergarments weren’t exposed, but the teacher suggested she wear a T-shirt underneath the sweater, Perdue says. He also mentioned that her daughter was one of three girls in the class.Despite the fact that her daughter was embarrassed and offended by the incident, Perdue says she understood where the teacher was coming from. She describes her daughter as a bigger girl who developed early.“I think you should be able to wear whatever you feel comfortable in as a (girl), but you got to think of other people too, especially teenagers and all their hormones,” Perdue says. “You can’t be judgmental.”But one former school board chair rejects an argument often made in support of dress codes — that certain clothing that girls wear might make boys uncomfortable.“We need to raise (and educate) our boys to respect and not sexualize the clothing that (girls) choose to wear,” says Patti Bacchus, a former Vancouver School Board chair and trustee, who believes it’s important to include students in discussions about dress codes.Schools should focus on supporting students and ensuring they have the best learning opportunities available instead of policing the width of a shoulder strap, she says, arguing that she doesn’t see how dress codes improve learning.“I question the need for them,” Bacchus says. “We need to teach students to respect other students’ bodies, their individual rights and diversity.”
A new portrait of the Duke of Edinburgh is to go on display in the UK and Denmark next year.Painted by artist Ralph Heimans, Philip is shown in the imposing setting of Windsor Castle wearing the sash of the Order of the Elephant, Denmark’s highest-ranking honour.The Duke has a close association with the Nordic country as he was born a Prince of Denmark, as well of Greece, before becoming a naturalised British subject in the 1940s.His grandfather, George I of Greece, was a Danish prince born in Copenhagen, while his great grandfather Christian IX was king of Denmark from 1863 to 1906.Mr Heimans, an Australian-born artist who painted an official portrait of the Queen to mark her Diamond Jubilee, said: “I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to paint Prince Philip and hope the portrait does justice to his unique character.” The painting will form part of a retrospective exhibition of the artist’s work which is being staged at the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark next year.Part of the attraction aims to explore the historical and cultural connections between the royal families of Britain and Denmark. The portrait will also go on display in the United Kingdom some time in 2018. Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings.
The almost full length portrait of Philip has been set in the castle’s grand corridor and at the end of the walkway is the Tapestry Room where the royal’s mother, Princess Alice, and maternal grandmother Princess Victoria were born.The artist added: “Aesthetically, the natural light and heritage backdrop of the Grand Corridor at Windsor Castle provided a compelling mood. I hope people enjoy the work as much as I enjoyed producing it.”
Mr Hopkins was also scathing about the BBC’s decision show footage from the night of the attack.In the letter he said: “I fail to see any public interest in footage of such an explicit nature being aired with disregard to the feelings of those who matter most. “The programme team took considerable care to minimise offence whilst accurately portraying the severity of events.” Open letter from GMP Chief Constable, Ian Hopkins. https://t.co/od2EXWaMvu#TheNightOfTheBomb pic.twitter.com/Ay64VZRqE5— G M Police (@gmpolice) 23 May 2018 Prosecutors have applied to the Libyan authorities to extradite the younger brother of suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, and Mr Hopkins suggested the documentary could have an impact on the legal process. He wrote: “We asked repeatedly to view the footage so that we could work with the CPS, Coroner and our own family liaison officers to assess what legal implications it may have, but most importantly so that we could inform and support families. We were not permitted to do this at any point before broadcast.”He explained that it was for these legal reasons that GMP had declined to take part in the documentary. Thousands gathered in Manchester yesterday to remember those who died a year agoCredit:Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings.
GARDAÍ ARE SEEKING the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a 28-year-old woman.Thi Kim Anh Nguyen was last seen when she left her home in Dublin 12 last Friday.She is a Vietnamese national and is described as being 5’2″ in height, of thin build, with brown eyes and black hair.When last seen she was wearing blue denim jeans, a blue denim jacket, dark runners and she was carrying a backpack.Anyone with information is being asked to contact Crumlin Garda Station on 01 666 6200 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. Image: Garda Press Office Thi Kim Anh Nguyen was last seen when she left her home in Dublin 12 last Friday. Tweet thisShare on FacebookEmail this article Friday 29 Jun 2018, 4:59 PM 19,223 Views Thi Kim Anh Nguyen was last seen when she left her home in Dublin 12 last Friday. Image: Garda Press Office Share4 Tweet Email1 
http://jrnl.ie/4099839 Jun 29th 2018, 4:59 PM Short URL Gardaí appeal for information on missing 28-year-old woman Thi Kim Anh Nguyen was last seen when she left her home in Dublin 12 last Friday. By Hayley Halpin 9 Comments 
WASHINGTON — Another month of strong hiring drove the nation’s unemployment rate down to 3.8 percent — tantalizingly close to the level last seen in 1969, when Detroit still dominated the auto industry and the Vietnam War was raging.Employers added 233,000 jobs in May, up from 159,000 in April, the Labor Department reported Friday. And unemployment fell to an 18-year low.The report shows that the nearly 9-year-old economic expansion — the second-longest on record — remains on track and may even be gaining steam. Employers appear to be shrugging off recent concerns about global trade disputes.“The May jobs report revealed impressive strength and breadth in U.S. job creation that blew away most economists’ expectations,” said Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of the West.With the unemployment rate so low, businesses have complained for months that they are struggling to find enough qualified workers. But Friday’s jobs report suggests that they are taking chances with pockets of the unemployed and underemployed whom they had previously ignored.Roughly an hour before the employment data was released, President Donald Trump appeared to hint on Twitter that a strong jobs report was coming. “Looking forward to seeing the employment numbers at 8:30 this morning,” he tweeted.
Faced with new obstacles to its plan for a casino in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs revealed a backup plan Thursday: The tribal council will close its existing casino, at Kah-Nee-Ta Resort in a remote corner of its Oregon reservation, and build a temporary gaming establishment at Warm Springs on heavily trafficked U.S. Highway 26, which runs through the reservation and connects Portland with Central Oregon.The tribe’s hopes for quick federal and state approval of a casino in Cascade Locks, Ore. were dashed in January when U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced that he was putting off all decisions on acquiring land in trust for tribal casinos until at least this spring.Time ran out when Democratic former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber took office in January for a third term as governor. Kitzhaber, an avowed opponent of off-reservation Indian casinos, campaigned last year against a casino in the Gorge, telling a meeting of newspaper publishers in July, “I am opposed to it, period.”His predecessor, Democratic Gov. Ted Kulongoski, had signed a compact with the tribe in which tribal leaders agreed to share gaming revenue with the public, set up an $850 million scholarship fund, and preserve property it owns near Hood River for public use in exchange for Kulongoski’s approval of the Cascade Locks site.
Approximately 439,000 employees were paid less than the hourly minimum wage in April 2018, according to research by independent body the Low Pay Commission (LPC).The Non-compliance and enforcement of the national minimum wage: April 2019 report used up to date stakeholder and government evidence, including research such as the Annual survey of hours and earnings (ASHE) and the Labour force survey (LFS). The report also found that, of those employees who were underpaid, 369,000 were aged 25 or over in April 2018 and were paid less than the national living wage rate; this was set at £7.83 an hour between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019 and has now increased to £8.21 an hour as at 1 April 2019.Around 30,000 more employees were paid below the national living wage rate as at April 2018, compared to the previous year; 23% of eligible employees are paid either at or below this rate. Comparatively, 135,000 employees were paid below £7.20 an hour, the national living wage rate introduced in 2016.Bryan Sanderson, chair at the LPC, said: “We recently celebrated 20 years of the minimum wage; it has raised pay for millions of [employees], but it is essential that people receive what they are entitled to. It is also vital for businesses to be able to operate on a level playing field and not be illegally undercut on wages.“The government has made real progress with its enforcement of the minimum wage, but more needs to be done to ensure employers comply in the first place and [employees] know how to enforce their rights.”The LPC further found that women are more likely to be paid less than the minimum wage than men, and that the youngest and oldest staff are also more vulnerable to underpayment. The largest numbers of underpaid employees work in the hospitality, retail, cleaning and maintenance sectors, although childcare is the occupation with the highest proportion of underpaid individuals.The report notes that enforcement of the minimum wage, undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has benefited from improved funding; this has led to a record number of individuals being identified as underpaid, arrears being repaid and fines levied on non-compliant employers in 2017 to 2018. Despite this, the research believes that these overall figures were driven by a minority of cases, observing the challenge in targeting resources effectively.The LPC, which is comprised of employers, trade unions and experts, recommends that the government continue to invest in communications to both employers and employees regarding minimum wage compliance and enforcement. The report provides specific recommendations, guidance and information for employees and trade unions.The LPC has recommended that the government use all available opportunities to improve the measurement of underpayment and to investigate new methodologies for assessing the scale of non-compliance.Frances O’Grady, general secretary at the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said: “Every [employee] deserves fair pay for their work. There can be no exceptions to the minimum wage and there should be no hiding place for bad employers; that’s why the government must restart naming and shaming bad bosses who cheat their [staff] out of pay.”The figures quoted in the final report are subject to some caveats that have influenced the results, for example legitimate causes of underpayment, such as the accommodation offset, commission and bonuses, piece rates and incorrectly identifying apprentices. Plus, some salary sacrifice deductions will not be shown as part of the research.
Nellore: Former Nellore Urban Development Authority (NUDA) Chairman Kotamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy was taken into custody by Vedayapalem police and subsequently released on station bail for obstructing demolition process of a building owned by a TDP leader located in Venkateswarapuram on Tuesday. The incident crated tension for some time in Venkateswarapuram here when TDP leaders have staged protest against the house demolition. K Srinivasulu Reddy tried to thwart the demolition process and the cops shifted him to Vedayapalem police station. In fact, the officials of Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC) identified the building of former corporator as an illegal construction and tried to demolish it some time ago. Also Read – A mother abandoned newborn baby girl in Chirala Advertise With Us But, at that time TDP leaders obstructed the process and they resumed it freshly on Tuesday. Civic officials and police personnel went to the spot and started demolishing the building in the morning. Srinivasulu rushed to the spot along with party leaders and obstructed the process and the police warned him not to intervene in the issue which led to heated arguments between him and civic officials. Finally, police shifted him to Vedayapalem police station. Also Read – Fit India rally held in Vijayawada Advertise With Us The TDP leaders gathered in huge number at the police station and staged a protest demanding to release Srinivasulu Reddy and they released on the station bail in the afternoon. TDP senior leader Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy condemned the arrest of K Srinivasulu Reddy saying it as a very improper action when there are around 57 such houses in the survey number 2209 in Venkateswarapuram and the civic officials have only focused the house of the former Corporator Salma Jaheer. Advertise With Us Chandramohan Reddy alleged that the YSRCP government is only targeting structures of the TDP leaders due to political vendetta. He also stated that it is very unfortunate that police personnel are supporting the YSRCP leaders. Somireddy suggested YSRCP leaders to change their mindset and focus on welfare of people rather than targeting the TDP leaders.
Shahid KapoorInstagramEver since the release of the blockbuster hit Kabir Singh, Shahid Kapoor has been flying high and why not! The film, though received a lot of criticism, made a whopping Rs 270.43 crore at the box office in just a month. Shahid Kapoor’s performance is expected to sweep away many awards this year.Shahid Kapoor has reportedly hiked his fee to Rs 35-40 crores post the magnanimous success of Kabir Singh. However, Shahid has outrightly rejected the claims. Talking to an entertainment portal, Shahid said, “I have to sign a film to receive any money. I think the only people who are making money are Bhushan Kumar and Murad Khetani. I have exactly the same bank balance I had before Kabir Singh, I have to sign another project before I get paid.”In an interview with HT, talking about the backlash the film received for being misogynistic, Shahid said, “You can’t take a simplistic view of a very complex character like Kabir. There are many layers to him. Some layers are deplorable and terrible. And some layers are actually beautiful.””The layer of unconditional love, of love in which you are ready to destroy yourself was actually a very beautiful layer. The layer of violence and I never saw this as misogyny- because Kabir Singh’s violent streak was not towards any particular sex. His aggression was inherent in his personality, it was not gender-related. So I frankly felt that the criticism was a bit misplaced. There have been films in the recent past which had characters exhibiting similar traits but no one really picked on them this way,” added Shahid.Well, we might agree with what the character of Kabir Singh does in the movie but Shahid’s performance has made us believe that he truly deserves a much bigger amount.
With less than 100 days until Christmas, Whovians are getting a sneak peek at this year’s presents via a leaked holiday special story synopsis.Accidentally revealed by BBCShop.com, the Yuletide episode will reportedly feature a darker hue than previously expected.(Spoilers!)Two Doctors stranded in a forbidding snowscape, refusing to face regeneration. And a British army captain seemingly destined to die in the First World War, but taken from the trenches to play his part in the Doctor’s story.This is the magical last chapter in the Twelfth Doctor’s epic adventure. He must face his past to decide his future. And the Doctor will realize the resilience of humanity, discovering hope in his darkest frozen moment.It’s the end of an era. But the Doctor’s journey is only just beginning.Posted alongside the pre-order listing of the episode’s DVD, the summary has since been removed from the site.What does remain, however, is a hilariously scathing critique titled “How to ruin the return of the First Doctor,” penned by “The Real Thirteen”:“Oh, where to begin? Yes, I know I haven’t seen this yet, but that hardly matters. We all know how it ends: with the destruction of 50-plus years of storytelling at the altar of political correctness and Social Justice Warriors.“If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go ahead. Buy this thing,” the reviewer wrote. “I’m torn, because I want to see David Bradley pay the First Doctor, but I know it will irritate me because of how it will, inevitably, end. Hopefully, there will be a moment where I can just shut it off and not have to experience the travesty to come.“Boo.”Written by Steven Moffat and directed by Rachel Talalay, “Twice Upon a Time” marks the final chapter for much of the cast and crew, including showrunner Moffat, actor Peter Capaldi, and writer Mark Gatiss (who stars as said “British army captain”).Refusing to regenerate at the end of season 10 finale “The Doctor Falls,” the Twelfth Time Lord steps out of the TARDIS and into the snow, where he meets the First Doctor, portrayed by David Bradley.Together with some old friends—Ben Jackson (Jared Garfield), Polly Wright (Lily Travers), the deliciously daring Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie), and maybe even former companion Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman)—the pair must save the world (naturally) before each takes a new shape: Bradley (as the late William Hartnell) into Second Doctor Patrick Troughton, and Capaldi into Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker.Tune in to BBC or BBC America on Dec. 25 to see Team TARDIS in action. Also, stock up on tissues, and expect the unexpected, as teased by Moffat during last week’s London Screenwriters’ Festival.“If you are sane and rational, kindness is by far the best path. There isn’t anything rational about being vile and awful and evil. It’s not actually a good strategy,” he told the crowd, as reported by Digital Spy.“Prepare for that to be contradicted on Doctor Who on Christmas Day.”Eek!Fans can already pre-order a copy of the “Twice Upon a Time” Blu-ray or DVD, set for release on Feb. 20, 2018.Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Sept. 19 to correct the source of the leak, BBCShop.com.Let us know what you like about Geek by taking our survey. Stay on target HBO Max Scores Exclusive ‘Doctor Who’ Streaming RightsJo Tro Do Plo Plo No: ‘Doctor Who’ Welcomes Back Familiar Monster 
Kolkata: The anti-burglary section of Kolkata Police’s Detective Department solved three major burglarycases within a span of one month. The sleuths not only nabbed the criminals but also recovered around Rs 50 lakh of stolen money.According to a source in the detective department, the first case was registered in the last week of May at Posta police station against a person named Babulal Parekh, who had committed criminal breach of trust and duped his employer. He had fled away Also Read – Heavy rain hits traffic, flightswith Rs 34 lakh.Babulal, who was a resident of Rajasthan, had kept his cell phone switched off, which made it difficult for the sleuths to track his movement. The police used modern technology, tracked his bank accounts and finally managed to arrest him from Indore.A major chunk of the stolen money was also recovered.The second case was registered under Shakespeare Sarani Police station by one Sandeep Agarwal, a resident of Middleton Road.Around Rs 16 lakh was stolen from his house. Also Read – Speeding Jaguar crashes into Merc, 2 B’deshi bystanders killedThe prime suspect was carpenter Murshed Ali, who was working at Agarwal’s residence.Police raided his probable hideouts in Panskura and Barasat but on both the occasions he managed to elude them.The sleuths questioned his friends and relatives and learnt that Murshed was an alcoholic and regularly visited bars. Police identified a handful of bars in the city and laid a trap and ultimately nabbed him. They also recovered much of the stolen cash.The third case was the cracking of a theft case of Rs 9 lakh from an office under Jorasanko Police Station area. Soon, after investigations revealed the involvement of an insider in the job,police started interrogating the employees and matched their call records with their statement.One of the employees, Biswajit Pathak, after prolonged interrogation, finally broke down and confessed his crime. The amount was recovered from him.It may be mentioned that in all these cases the anti burglary team was led by the officer in charge of the squadChitradeep Pande.
The colours, shapes, and emotion have emerged from the very soul of the Capital city, and together they will converge at Open Palm Court gallery, Lodhi Road this autumn.As a part of a group exhibition, titled ‘Panorama-12’ – over 20 artists will bring to the viewers a varying range of interpretation of ranging contemporary issues of social relevance from September 1 till September 6.Curated by Priyanka Banerjee, Panoroma-12, literally meaning an unbroken view of a subject, celebrates the talent of the fresh and the new, and makes a compelling case for contemporary art in the city. Also Read – Add new books to your shelfThe exhibition delves into the contemporary issue of social relevance, such as feminism, ethical treatment of animals, spiritual harmony, global warming and so on. Nature, for instance, is explored through a mutually symbiotic relationship of flora and fauna.Urbanization and industrialization have exploited the natural layers of our ecosystem, and its awareness becomes paramount to awaken our collective consciousness. As each artist touches upon subject such as there that have paralysed the society, their canvas becomes a window for us all to explore the possibilities. This is one of its kind, the event is funded by the artists entirely on their own, therefore there is no question of dependence on sponsors. Also Read – Over 2 hours screen time daily will make your kids impulsiveDabbling in a diverse range of mediums – from watercolour, oil and pen and pencils to mixed media, theartists bring to their canvas emotions that reverberate with social significance.Mridul Chakraborty depicts the joyof festivity through his portrayal of human figures, whereas, Nilay Sarkar reverberates the same mood and shows happiness through vibrant andsoft colours used on his canvas. Then there is, Tapan Das, who harps on his love for nature through his abstract art along with other artists like Meghna, who emphasises on the adverse effects of global warming through her vivacious paintings or the works of Shalini Varshney’s – whose paintings portray spiritual harmony which is lost in our lives. Besides, Biswarajan Bhunia’s paintings resonate the same feelings of Shalini’s. Artists like Rama Sharma and Pooja Gujral have tried to bring colours and happiness into our stressful lives through their vibrant artworks. Another participating artist – Rajeev Semwal has tried to bring before us the songs of nature woven neatly through his traditional artworks.On the other hand, veteran artist Uma Bardhan deals with spirituality while the artworks of the veteran artist Archana Das are an impeccable blend of childlike innocence and adult wisdom.Pankaj Bharti’s paintings are thought-provoking and are beautifully executed with bright colours .Akshita Wason’s paintings done in mixed media portray the changes that are taking place in our environment.
Want to keep up to date with the latest traffic and travel news?Each day Stoke-on-Trent Live journalists bring you the latest news on the roads and railways across Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire, South Cheshire and further afield to help keep you on the move. For the very latest updates on roads including the M6, A500, A50 and more, visit our dedicated traffic and travel news channel here. We also run a live news feed each weekday, which you can access on our website’s homepage from 7am to 9pm from Monday to Friday. And for more as-we-get-it updates on the roads across the region and beyond, join The Sentinel’s traffic and travel Facebook group here.Key EventsLocation of closure19:0119:47Load clearedTraffic data company INRIX are now reporting the load has been cleared.19:21Traffic now expected to return to normal by 9pmTraffic England are now reporting travel conditions won’t return to normal until around 9pm.19:01KEY EVENTLocation of closureThe location of the affected stretch of the A500 UPDATE: All lanes are now open and the load has been cleared The lane is shut on the northbound carriageway of the D Road between junction 15 of the M6 motorway and the A34 Stone Road (Hanford interchange). Lane one of two is currently closed, according to Inrix, the traffic data company. The load is reported to have been shed at around 6.45pm. It is unclear what sort of load has been shed at this stage. Traffic England is currently reporting the load should be cleared between 8.15pm and 8.30pm – with normal traffic conditions set to resume at around the same time. This could cause delays for people travelling back into the city this evening. We’ll bring you live updates as we get them on the feed below. Read MoreAccident reported near Newcastle town centre
Tuscany, Italy – Reported by Elite Traveler, the Private Jet Lifestyle MagazineCastel Monastero in Tuscany is offering a new therapeutic program of renewal from Dr. Mosaraf Ali at the resort this spring. A specialist in Integrated Medicine whose international clientele includes Prince Charles, the actor Michael Douglas, Richard Branson, the Sultan of Oman, and many other high-profile individuals, Dr. Ali will oversee a unique approach to health and wellness, encompassing traditional and ancient healing techniques from the Himalayas and beyond. The exclusive, multi-day lifestyle program at Castel Monastero Spa is accompanied by special spa cuisine from Michelin-starred celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay.From the world’s tallest mountain range to the rolling hills of Tuscany, Dr. Ali’s holistic healing approach begins with an understanding of each client’s past, present and place in the world. The program taps Dr. Ali’s specialties in Ayurvedic medicine and naturopathy, eschewing quick fixes and combining oriental and traditional medicines – including some passed down by his Indian grandfather – to promote a return to fitness and the vital potential for health and wellness at every age. The healing concept is based upon nutrition, detoxification, movement and weight loss, with exclusive massages to aid in relaxation, recover tone and control the appetite.Dr. Ali and Resort Consulting Chef Gordon Ramsay collaborated to develop a special menu at Castel Monastero, specifically designed for guests who are staying on the Wellness Program. The special menu is tailored specifically for each guest, but incorporates local ingredients and special herbs and spices from the Himalayas.Dr. Mosaraf Ali’s exclusive Wellness Program launches March 19, opening day for the 2010 season at Castel Monastero.-Personalized checkup by Dr. Ali, who will be in residence at Castel Monastero on weekends through 2010 -Complete personalized menu from Consulting Chef Gordon Ramsay, including fasting days -Therapeutic yoga and Ayurvedic massage sessions daily at the Castel Monastero Spa. -Special detoxifying powder from Rajasthan to cleanse the body of impurities -Daily Himalayan herb fasting teaGuests are encouraged to complement the Wellness Program at Castel Monastero with cultural immersion of Chianti. The resort arranges daily excursions to visit nearby towns and villages including Siena, Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, and Radda, so guests can enjoy the wealth of Tuscany.Dr. Ali has studied around the globe, earning an MD in General Medicine with honors from Friendship University in Moscow and joining the Central Institute of Advanced Medical Studies for post-graduate study in acupuncture and other disciplines. In 1983 he opened the Center for Integrated Medicine in Delhi while training under eminent physicians. He was also Medical Director of Hong Kong’s main Complementary Medical Clinic and headed the Department of Integrated Medicine at The Hale Clinic in London.www.castelmonastero.com