Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
IDENTICAL twins Ella and Nina Patel, students at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy in Wolverhampton, have achieved nearly identical results in their GCSE exams, reported Express and Star.
The sisters, who have been inseparable in their studies and personal lives, were thrilled to discover just how closely their hard work had paid off.
Ella achieved six Grade 8s, three Grade 7s, and one Grade 6, while Nina earned five Grade 8s, four Grade 7s, and one Grade 6.
The slight difference in their results—just one grade higher for Ella in a single subject—did little to diminish their excitement. Both sisters were proud of their achievements and attributed their success to the many hours they spent revising together.
“We’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished,” said Ella. “We revised together most of the time, and it’s amazing to see how close our results are.”
According to reports, the British Indian twins’ academic journey has been closely intertwined from the beginning.
Throughout their years at St Edmund’s Catholic Academy, they have shared classes, study sessions, and even the same revision strategies. Their natural bond and mutual support have clearly played a role in their nearly identical academic performance.
“Our study sessions were always more effective because we had each other,” Nina added. “We could bounce ideas off one another and keep each other motivated.”
This is not the first time the Patel twins have shown a striking similarity in their academic achievements. Throughout their school years, they have often received similar marks on tests and assignments, demonstrating not only their academic capabilities but also their shared determination and work ethic.
The twins’ results are particularly impressive in a year when grading standards were expected to return to pre-pandemic levels.They said that they haven’t yet decided on specific career paths.
The number of students accepted into degree courses has increased this year, according to Ucas data. A total of 243,650 18-year-old applicants have secured places at universities or colleges, up from 230,600 last year—a 6 percent rise.
A FIRE that shut London's Heathrow airport in March, stranding thousands of people, was caused by the UK power grid's failure to maintain an electricity substation, an official report said on Wednesday (2), prompting the energy watchdog to open a probe.
The closure of Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, cost airlines tens of millions of pounds. It also raised questions about the resilience of Britain's infrastructure.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband called the report "deeply concerning", after it concluded that the issue which caused the fire was identified seven years ago but went unaddressed by power grid operator National Grid. Energy regulator Ofgem said it was "a preventable, technical fault".
As a result of the report, Ofgem launched an enforcement investigation into National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), which owns and maintains the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales.
Heathrow said via email that it was considering whether it wanted to pursue legal action, and that it expected National Grid to take "accountability for these failings." Heathrow itself, along with airline companies, could potentially face a hefty compensation bill for the disruption caused to travellers.
The report said a "catastrophic failure" on one of the transformer's high-voltage bushings at NGET's 275 kilovolt substation caused the transformer to catch fire, most likely due to moisture entering the bushing, sparking an electrical fault.
Despite detecting an elevated moisture reading in one of the bushings in 2018, which indicates an imminent fault that requires the component to be replaced, the company did not fix the issue, the report said.
The controls in place were not effective and failed to identify that no action had been taken, including during an opportunity in 2022 when NGET decided to defer basic maintenance, letting the issue go unaddressed, it added.
A National Grid spokesperson said that the company had a comprehensive asset inspection and maintenance programme in place and that it had taken further action since the fire.
"There are important lessons to be learnt about cross-sector resilience and the need for increased coordination," the spokesperson said.
Ofgem plans to review whether National Grid complied with the relevant legislation and licence conditions relating to the development and maintenance of its electricity system close to Heathrow.
The regulator will also commission an independent audit into National Grid assets to review whether the failings were a one-off or systemic, it said.
In an earlier response to the report, Heathrow blamed the incident on a "combination of outdated regulation, inadequate safety mechanisms, and National Grid’s failure to maintain its infrastructure".
Its own review found in May that the airport had responded well to the power outage, saying alternative choices would not have materially changed the outcome on the day.
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TRIBUTES have poured in for a 'kind-hearted' mother who tragically lost her life last week after being attacked in Leicester.
Nila Patel, 56, a British Indian woman described as a "beautiful, vibrant soul," died in hospital two days after suffering a head injury during an assault on Aylestone Road.
She was attacked shortly after a BMW overturned nearby at around 5.30pm last Tuesday (24). The incident left her with severe injuries, and despite medical efforts, she passed away in hospital. A post-mortem examination confirmed that the provisional cause of her death was a head injury.
Her children, Jaiden and Danika Patel, have spoken movingly about their mother’s life and the deep impact she had on those around her.
In a heartfelt statement, they described Patel as “one of the most kind-hearted people you could ever meet” and “a loyal friend, and an incredibly hard worker.”
They said: “We are heartbroken, but we want the world to know who our mum truly was - a beautiful, vibrant soul who deserved so much more.
“Mum was one of the most kind-hearted people you could ever meet. Her love was quiet but powerful - shown through warm meals, thoughtful words, and a smile that could light up any room. She always put others before herself, offering comfort without ever asking for anything in return. Even when life was hard, she carried on with strength, dignity and a smile on her face.
“She was a devoted mother, a loyal friend, and an incredibly hard worker. At home and in her career, she gave everything she had - never complaining, always giving. She raised us with patience, love, and unwavering support, and our greatest wish was always to make her proud.
“Mum’s life was full of love, and the stories we’ve heard from those who knew her have reminded us of just how deeply she touched the lives around her. She was truly rich in love and generosity. We will miss her more than words can ever express. We didn’t get the chance to say goodbye, and that pain is something we carry every day. But we will continue to speak her name with pride, honour her memory, and live by the values she taught us.
“Mum’s story matters. Her life mattered. We ask that anyone who hears her story helps us keep her name and memory alive.”
Meanwhile, Leicestershire Police have charged 23-year-old Michael Chuwuemeka, of Dover Street in Leicester, with the murder of Patel.
He appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court last Saturday (28). Chuwuemeka is scheduled to attend a plea and trial preparation hearing at Leicester Crown Court on September 26. A provisional trial date was set for February 23 next year.
He has also been charged with dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply Class B drugs, attempted grievous bodily harm related to an earlier incident on Welford Road, and assault of an emergency worker following his arrest.
Additionally, he faces a charge of causing actual bodily harm in connection with a separate victim in London in the early hours of last Tuesday.
Following the crash and subsequent attack, police cordoned off the area on Aylestone Road and launched an investigation. The force has since set up an online portal to encourage anyone with further information about the incident to come forward.
The death of Patel has deeply affected the local community. Friends and neighbours have remembered her as a warm and generous person who was always ready to help others.
(with inputs from PTI)
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Raw, grounded, and impossible to ignore; these films captured the year’s deepest emotions
These 10 films weren’t just hits; they started conversations and held up a mirror
Malayalam cinema leads the list, with 4 standout films pushing boundaries
Stories tackle caste, grief, gender, and class without sugar-coating
From indie gems to box office smashes, they prove truth sells too
Some films punch you in the gut. Others sit quietly with you after the credits roll, refusing to leave. This year, South Asian cinema has delivered both, and more. It hasn't been about larger-than-life heroes or formula plots. It's been about discomfort. Tenderness. Grief. Guts. From sun-drenched fields in rural Maharashtra to gritty courtrooms in Kerala, filmmakers across the region are telling stories with a kind of bravery that feels new and honestly overdue.
Here’s a list of 10 films from 2025 that haven’t just made money but also moved people. If you haven't seen these yet, fix that.
1. Ponman (Malayalam)
Dowry culture in Kerala? This black-comedy thriller doesn't just expose it, it truly sets it on fire. Basil Joseph is phenomenal as a gold broker trapped in a wedding scheme gone horribly criminal. Made on a small budget of £285,000 (₹3 crore), the film earned £1.73 million (₹18 crore+). Proof you don't need a mega-budget, just a killer story and guts. Beneath the dry humour is a grim look at how tradition twists into greed, and how no one comes out clean.
A heartbroken college dropout slides into online fraud to numb the sting of failure. But lies have limits, and this one drags him back to where it all went wrong. It’s funny, sad, and painfully honest about how young people drown quietly in pressure and heartbreak. And damn, did people watch – £14.2 million (₹150 crore) says they felt it too.
Imagine giving up everything for your sick mum. Now imagine your neighbours using that love to blackmail you. Moushumi Chatterjee, back after 12 years? Her performance is a quiet masterclass. You feel every sigh, every unspoken pain. It’s about sacrifice, rage, and the quiet grief of being trapped by love. You’ll want to call your mother after this one.
A failing basketball coach stumbles into teaching neurodivergent adults, and learns he's not the only one looking for redemption. It’s messy, warm, and awkward in the best way. No easy solutions, but plenty of real moments that catch you off guard. It’s warm, sometimes chaotic, but ultimately about seeing people truly seeing them. £9.5 million+ (₹100 crore+) and counting? People are feeling it.
Remember making stupid movies with your friends? These guys in 90s Maharashtra did it with pure, chaotic passion, spoofing Bollywood to save their video shop. In a dusty town where money’s tight but dreams run wild, a group of boys try to make a film with zero budget and all heart. It’s not about success, but about doing something that makes you feel alive. You’ll laugh, maybe cry, and definitely smile.
No songs. No glamour. Just Abhishek Banerjee, jaw clenched! A tribal mother and two estranged brothers tear through the filth of a child-trafficking ring. It’s grimy. It’s urgent. It exposes the rot of class privilege exploiting the desperate. And Banerjee? Forget “good.” This is career-defining. It’s the underrated gut-punch of the year.
A city guy grieving. A rural farmer. A 10-day funeral ritual. Oh, and they’re both gay, navigating isolation amidst tradition. Rohan Kanawade’s debut is revolutionary precisely because it’s so quiet. No grand speeches, just aching glances and shared silence. Won Sundance. Won Guadalajara. It’s a lot about loneliness, ritual, and finding softness in the most unlikely corners of grief.
Disgraced cop. Forty-year-old murder. The twist? It’s tangled up in the real history of Malayalam cinema. They used AI to recreate old film scenes and it was mind-blowing. Asif Ali’s great, but this is for Mollywood nerds. It’s niche, clever as hell, and made bank: £5.44 million (₹57 crore+). It’s a slow burn, like a love letter to film itself, coded in celluloid secret.
A teen falsely accused. A lawyer fighting caste bias inside the courtroom. Ram Jagadeesh holds up a mirror to legal corruption, and it’s ugly. Lawyers praised its real courtroom vibe. Sivaji’s villain might steal the show, but the rage against a broken system? That’s the real takeaway. It’s claustrophobic, brutal, and terrifyingly real.
Mohanlal. An old Ambassador car. Starts as a sweet family drama about his bond with the taxi... then spirals into a criminal nightmare. Mohanlal is just phenomenal, as usual. It’s Drishyam’s tension meets raw emotional realism. £22.4 million (₹235 crore) globally? Yeah, people connected. Hard. Director Tharun Moorthy keeps the pace slow and deliberate, letting the tension build quietly. Shobhana is understated but powerful, her presence brings a quiet weight to the story that stays long after it ends.
This isn't just a “top 10.” It's proof. Proof that right now, in cinemas and on your screens, South Asian stories are exploding with a courage and honesty that’s impossible to ignore. Malayalam’s on fire. New directors like Kanawade (Sabar Bonda) and Jothish Shankar (Ponman) are arriving fully formed, swinging hammers. Seven out of ten are staring down hard truths like displacement, caste, gender, corruption.
They don’t all have happy endings. Some don’t even have closure. But that’s what makes them matter. Because real life isn’t tied up in neat little bows, and neither are these films.
And sometimes, that’s all we need.
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington. (Photo: Reuters)
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) has completed the fourth review of Sri Lanka’s USD 2.9 billion bailout programme, allowing the country to access the next tranche of USD 350 million from the four-year facility.
The IMF had approved the nearly USD 3 billion bailout in March 2023 to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to restore macroeconomic stability, including fiscal and debt sustainability, during an unprecedented economic crisis.
The programme has helped Sri Lanka rebuild its foreign reserves and carry out debt restructuring negotiations with external creditors.
“The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the fourth review under the 48-month Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement, allowing the authorities to draw SDR254 million (about USD 350 million),” the IMF said in a statement.
With this latest disbursement, the total financial support provided so far under the facility stands at SDR1.27 billion (about USD 1.74 billion).
Economic reforms required under the IMF programme have resulted in widespread hardship, which the global lender has said is necessary to ensure long-term growth and stability.
The measures have been unpopular and contributed to the change of government in 2024.
The current administration, led by the National People's Power—which had earlier criticised the IMF's reform conditions and promised to review them—continues to adhere to the IMF-supported programme.
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Nothing has officially launched its most ambitious smartphone yet, the Nothing Phone 3
Nothing Phone 3 marks the company’s first true flagship, priced at £629.
Includes Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 chip, 16GB RAM and up to 512GB storage.
Introduces dot-matrix-style Glyph interface with interactive mini-games.
First Nothing device with IP68 water and dust resistance.
Full US launch with T-Mobile and AT&T support; limited 5G on Verizon.
Nothing has officially launched its most ambitious smartphone yet, the Nothing Phone 3. Priced at £629, the device signals the company’s shift into the premium flagship space, featuring high-end specs, a refined Glyph interface and a full-scale launch in the US. With its mix of performance upgrades and playful design, the Nothing Phone 3 is positioned to compete directly with the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S25.
Nothing’s flagship leap
Nothing is positioning the Phone 3 as its “first true flagship”. CEO Carl Pei emphasised the phone’s premium status during the launch, underlining that the device features a flagship chip, flagship camera, and flagship pricing to match. The company had previously operated in the mid-range segment, but now feels confident competing at a higher level.
Pre-orders open on 4 July, with general sales starting on 15 July via Nothing’s website and Amazon in the US. The phone is fully compatible with T-Mobile and AT&T, while Verizon customers will see more limited 5G support.
Specifications and performance
The Nothing Phone 3 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8S Gen 4 chipset. While not the most powerful chip on the market, it provides solid flagship-level performance. The phone includes up to 16GB of RAM, with 256GB of storage standard and a 512GB model available for an additional £79.
It also features a 5,150mAh battery built using silicon-carbon technology, allowing a large capacity in a slim body. Charging speeds include 65W wired and 15W wireless. The 6.67-inch OLED display is more than twice as bright as its predecessor and supports improved outdoor visibility. The device is also the first from Nothing to include an IP68 water and dust resistance rating.
Camera system: flagship on paper
The Nothing Phone 3 includes four 50MP cameras, three on the back and one front-facing. While the hardware specification is impressive, past Nothing devices have struggled with camera processing. Whether the Nothing Phone 3 can keep up with competitors in photography will become clearer after in-depth testing.
A new Glyph design
The rear Glyph interface has been a signature feature of Nothing’s design language. With the Nothing Phone 3, this system has evolved into a dot-matrix LED display called the Glyph Matrix. Rather than abstract light strips, the Matrix enables recognisable symbols and app-linked notifications, such as custom icons or emojis.
Although this approach is less visually striking than previous iterations, it introduces a new layer of usability. However, it draws comparisons with similar dot-matrix displays seen on Asus’s ROG gaming phones.
Whether the Nothing Phone 3 lives up to its promise will depend on how it performs in the hands of consumersYouTube/ Nothing
Glyph Toys and interactive features
Nothing has added a layer of playfulness through “Glyph Toys” — interactive features and games that use the Matrix display. These include spin the bottle, rock paper scissors, a stopwatch and battery indicator, all accessible via a haptic button on the back of the phone.
CEO Carl Pei described these features as a way to reintroduce fun into the smartphone space. He noted that the Glyph Matrix was designed with expandability in mind, and hinted that fan-submitted ideas — such as a magic eight ball — may influence future updates.
AI-powered tools and productivity
The Nothing Phone 3 brings back the Essential Key, a programmable side button introduced earlier in the 3A series. By default, it launches Essential Space, an AI-driven feature that scans screenshots to offer reminders and contextual notifications.
New AI tools also include real-time meeting transcription, summarisation, and a universal search bar that finds content across the device and answers general queries.
A careful yet confident step forward
With the Nothing Phone 3, the company makes its most serious move yet into the high-end smartphone market. The design may be more restrained than earlier Nothing devices, but the feature set reflects a strong effort to balance innovation with practicality.
By combining flagship hardware, AI integration, a refreshed take on the Glyph interface, and a US relaunch, Nothing is taking calculated steps to establish itself as a serious player among tech giants. Whether the Nothing Phone 3 lives up to its promise will depend on how it performs in the hands of consumers, but the company is clearly aiming higher than ever before.