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.
THE chairman of Malhotra Group PLC, Meenu Malhotra DL, has been appointed as the first-ever Honorary Consul of India for the North East. Indian high commissioner to the UK, Vikram K Doraiswami, made the announcement on Friday (30).
Under the new role, Malhotra will focus on building links across industries such as pharmaceuticals and green energy, and promoting cultural, political, and tourism initiatives between the UK and India.
Malhotra has been an informal supporter of international students for over 20 years. In his new role, he will also help businesses in the North East to engage with India.
“It is a great honour to be able to represent both countries,” said Malhotra.
The new offices for the Consulate of India have been set up in the former Parrish’s department store on Shields Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, now renamed ‘India House’. The building was officially opened by the high commissioner on Friday.
Over the past 45 years, Malhotra has supported the Indian community and diaspora in North East England and in India.
According to a statement, the entrepreneur has worked closely with the Consul General Offices in Birmingham for over a decade and looks forward to strengthening this relationship to benefit communities in the North East of England.
Malhotra’s family migrated 43 years ago from Ludhiana in Punjab, India, and settled in England. He came to the UK soon after completing school. He honed his trading and business skills early in life. Despite being born in a wealthy family, he started his life in UK humbly, first as a paper shop boy and then with a drapery shop.
Investing his savings, Malhotra started acquiring properties to have a side rental income. By 1986, he already had acquired his first care home.
Formally established in 1991, Malhotra Group PLC deals in the property, leisure and care segment, particularly in the northeast parts of the UK while its Indian arm, Malhotra Realty Private Limited (MRPL), is a real estate developer exploring opportunities in India.
Now, he is leading a series of major developments, starting with the acquisition of Imperial Golf Estate, a 300-acre, 18-hole golf course in Ludhiana, Punjab, purchased through India's National Company Law Tribunal.
The project will involve a £150 million investment to develop over 700 villas and apartments, a shopping mall with various outlets, a health farm with spa facilities, and a luxury hotel.
Another project, The Wilton, is a 2,000,000 sq ft city centre development in Ludhiana, featuring a shopping mall, hotel, cinema, and 600 homes, which is already underway. The third project, Malhotra Square, also in Ludhiana, is a £10-12m development with 111 shops.
In the UK, Malhotra Group is known for its growing presence in hospitality, with investments in restaurants, bars, and hotels. The group, opearating under the banner of Prestwick Care, also owns and manages more than a dozen care homes in Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Gateshead, North Tyneside and Northumberland.
He and his family were ranked 86th in the Asian Rich List 2024, published by Eastern Eye, with an estimated wealth of £150m.
Swiatek completes full set of Grand Slam semi-final appearances
Polish eighth seed will meet Bencic in last four
Swiatek extends record over Samsonova to 5-0
The balls kept on listening to Iga Swiatek on Wednesday as the Polish eighth seed walloped Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 7-5 to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time.
After years of nightmare outings at the spiritual home of lawn tennis, Swiatek appears to have finally conquered her grasscourt demons as she said the "ball has been really listening" to her at Wimbledon this year.
That was certainly in evidence on Wednesday as from the moment Swiatek launched into a 105mph ace to save break point in the opening game, the ball dutifully obeyed the Pole as winner after winner flew off her racket.
"Honestly, it feels great. I have goosebumps after this win. I am super happy and super proud of myself and I will keep going," a thrilled Swiatek told the crowd after setting up a semi-final showdown with unseeded Swiss Belinda Bencic.
"I really enjoy playing (on grass) this year and hopefully it is going to last as long as possible. I worked really hard to progress here on this surface."
From 2-2 in the first set, the five-times Grand Slam champion suffocated her Russian opponent on a hot and sticky Court One, winning seven games in a row with some ferocious forehands from the baseline that left Samsonova gasping for air.
There was simply no place to hide for Samsonova, who does not like discovering the identity of her opponents until the 11th hour, as Swiatek won all of her first serve points during the opening set.
Swiatek must have thought she would be back in her rented Wimbledon home before too long to tuck into her favourite dish -- pasta tossed with strawberries and yoghurt -- as she led 6-1 3-0.
However, Samsonova clung on for dear life despite surrendering her serve twice in the second set by misfiring double faults on break points.
The 19th seed, who was inspired to pick up a tennis racket after watching compatriot Maria Sharapova playing on TV, managed to break the Swiatek serve not once but twice to level the second set at 4-4.
The fightback failed to throw off Swiatek, however, as the Pole never dropped her incredible intensity and continued to threaten to take the racket out of her opponent's hand with the astonishing power she was generating from the baseline.
So loud was the thundering 'thwack' sound as her racket made contact with the ball that startled spectators were often jolted in their seats. It also unnerved Samsonova, whose Wimbledon hopes crumbled under 38 unforced and 16 forced errors.
Four games later it was all over as Swiatek skipped around the court in celebration after hitting a brutal service return winner to complete her full set of semi-final appearances at the four majors.
"Right now it's tough to understand what happened exactly," said Samsonova, whose bid to reach a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time ended in heartbreak as she succumbed to a fifth successive defeat to Swiatek.
"It's incredible what I have achieved, but right now I cannot feel it.
"Today Iga was at top level. Everyone knows that she's the one who I would love to beat. In the future, maybe...," she added as her voice trailed off.
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Hasina left for India at the end of the student-led protests and has not returned to Dhaka, where her trial for alleged crimes against humanity began on June 1. (Photo: Getty Images)
SOME leaked audio recordings suggest Bangladesh’s former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently on trial in absentia, ordered a deadly crackdown on protests last year.
According to the United Nations, up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 when Hasina's government cracked down on demonstrators during an attempt to stay in power.
Hasina, 77, left for India at the end of the student-led protests and has not returned to Dhaka, where her trial for alleged crimes against humanity began on June 1.
The BBC Eye Investigations team analysed leaked audio recordings alleged to be of Hasina. The recordings form a key part of the prosecution’s evidence.
In a recording dated July 18, 2024, a voice alleged to be Hasina is heard instructing security forces to "use lethal weapons" against protesters and saying "wherever they find (them), they will shoot".
The BBC reported that forensic audio experts found no evidence that the recordings had been edited or manipulated, and said it was "highly unlikely to have been synthetically generated".
Police in Bangladesh also matched the voice in the recordings to verified samples of Hasina’s voice.
‘Denies the charges’
The protests started on July 1, 2024, when university students called for changes to the public sector job quota system.
At the time, removing Hasina from office appeared unlikely, just months after she won a fourth straight term in an election that lacked genuine opposition.
However, the demonstrations gained momentum and tensions escalated after police carried out a deadly crackdown on 16 July.
Hasina’s state-appointed lawyer, who said they have not had any contact with her, has moved to dismiss the charges.
Her now-banned party, the Awami League, said it "categorically denies the charges that its senior leaders, and the prime minister personally, directed the use of lethal force against crowds during the protests of last summer".
The party said the violence was the result of “breakdowns in discipline among some members of the security forces on the ground in response to instances of violence", which led to a “regrettable loss of life”.
Hasina was also convicted of contempt of court in a separate case on July 2 and sentenced to six months in prison. She remains in India.
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The doctors had previously accepted a 22 per cent pay rise covering 2023 to 2025, which brought an end to earlier rounds of strikes.
JUNIOR doctors in England will go on strike from 25 to 30 July, their union said on Wednesday, after the British government said it could not meet their demand for an improved pay offer this year.
The doctors, also known as resident doctors, make up a large part of the medical workforce. They were offered an average 5.4 per cent pay rise but are seeking 29 per cent, saying this is needed to reverse years of real-terms pay erosion.
Health minister Wes Streeting described the strike as "completely unreasonable" in a statement after the five-day walk-out was announced. In a letter to the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors’ union, he said the government could not go any higher on pay this year.
"The NHS recovery is hanging by a thread, and the BMA are threatening to pull it," he said. "The BMA should abandon their rush to strike and work with us to improve resident doctors' working lives instead."
The doctors had previously accepted a 22 per cent pay rise covering 2023 to 2025, which brought an end to earlier rounds of strikes.
The new strike action is likely to cause further disruption to thousands of appointments and procedures at hospitals across Britain, at a time when the government has said it is making progress in improving services at the state-funded National Health Service.
"Without a credible offer to keep us on the path to restore our pay, we have no choice but to call strikes," the co-chairs of the BMA's resident doctors' committee said in a statement.
The BMA said it had met Streeting on Wednesday, but the government wanted to focus on non-pay aspects of doctors' work.
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Kajol says star kids face harsher pressure as Ibrahim Ali Khan gears up for Sarzameen
Kajol says today’s star kids face intense pressure to succeed immediately.
She compares their experience to her own, where she had time and space to evolve.
The actor is starring as Ibrahim Ali Khan’s mother in the upcoming film Sarzameen.
Kajol stresses the importance of reinvention and praises new actors for adapting beyond films.
Kajol believes the new generation of star kids in Bollywood are under far more pressure than actors from her era. The actress, who will soon be seen in Sarzameen alongside debutant Ibrahim Ali Khan, said young actors today are expected to prove themselves instantly, and harsh judgement follows if they don’t.
Kajol discusses star kids and the changing rules of BollywoodGetty Images
Star kids today face harsher scrutiny online
According to Kajol, it’s no longer enough to simply enter the industry with a known surname. The expectations are sky-high, and the backlash is immediate. “Whether or not your parents are famous, trolls will criticise you. But people tend to pay more attention when a star kid is involved,” she said in an interview.
She acknowledged that while she had the privilege of time and multiple films to grow into her career, younger actors now operate in what she calls a “do-or-die” environment. “They’re well prepared for it, I’ll give them that. But we could be a little kinder,” she added.
Kajol will play the mother of Ibrahim Ali Khan, son of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, in the patriotic drama Sarzameen, which will release on JioCinema on 25 July. Ibrahim’s first appearance in Naadaniyan was widely panned, sparking brutal comments online. Kajol’s remarks come at a time when the debate around nepotism and online trolling of celebrity kids is louder than ever.
The Maa actor also spoke about the importance of reinvention in a fast-changing industry. “You have to unlearn what you’ve learned before. Try new things. Keep moving,” she said, emphasising that staying relevant today means doing more than just films.
She pointed out that unlike earlier times, actors now pursue diverse paths to build their brand, from digital content and entrepreneurship to fashion and endorsements. “My kind of longevity might not apply to this generation. But they’re finding their own ways to last,” she said.
Kajol opens up about the pressure today’s actors face in the industryGetty Images
The bigger picture: Criticism, reinvention, and resilience
Kajol’s comments reflect a growing awareness among senior actors about the evolving pressures in Bollywood. With online trolling, increased media scrutiny, and instant judgment shaping careers, young actors, especially those from film families, are constantly navigating a high-stakes space.
Still, Kajol remains optimistic. “They’ll keep doing different films and other things. It won’t just be about the movies anymore,” she said, noting how the meaning of longevity in Bollywood is being redefined.
Samsung unveils Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Z Flip 7 FE at Unpacked event in New York
Galaxy Watch 8 series revealed with upgraded health and fitness tracking
AI and performance take priority across devices
All products available for pre-order now, releasing on 25 July 2025
New York event showcases Samsung’s foldable future
Samsung Unpacked July 2025, the company’s second major launch event of the year, took place today in New York and brought a strong focus on foldables and wearable innovation. Leading the announcements were the next-generation Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 series, alongside a reimagined Galaxy Watch 8 lineup. All devices are now available for pre-order and will be released globally on 25 July.
The event reinforced Samsung’s commitment to flexible form factors and AI-powered experiences, with its foldables and wearables receiving notable upgrades in design, display, performance, and health tracking.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 leads with power and portability
The flagship announcement was the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which Samsung described as its “thinnest, lightest, and most advanced” foldable yet. Weighing just 215g, the device is lighter than the Galaxy S25 Ultra but retains a premium 8-inch AMOLED inner display and a 6.5-inch cover screen.
Running on the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, the Fold 7 boasts significant performance gains, particularly in AI and graphics. Camera improvements include the first 200MP sensor on a Galaxy Z device, while AI features such as Gemini Live and Circle to Search highlight Samsung’s growing investment in smart interaction.
Available in Jetblack, Blue Shadow, and Silver Shadow, with an exclusive Mint colour on Samsung’s website, the Fold 7 starts at £1,749 and comes in storage options up to 1TB.
Galaxy Z Flip 7 and FE bring flexibility to more users
Samsung also introduced the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the more affordable Z Flip 7 FE. The standard Flip 7 arrives with the largest and brightest FlexWindow yet, measuring 4.1 inches with up to 2,600 nits of brightness. Inside is a 6.9-inch main display, an improved 4,300mAh battery, and a dual camera setup featuring a 50MP wide lens.
The Flip 7 is the first in the series to support Samsung DeX, bringing desktop-like productivity to a foldable clamshell.
For those seeking a more budget-friendly option, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE retains key features, including a 6.7-inch main screen and 50MP FlexCam, starting at £799.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at £949, available in Jetblack, Blue Shadow, Coralred, and an exclusive Mint variant on Samsung.com.
Galaxy Watch 8 series focuses on wellbeing
Alongside the foldables, Samsung used the Samsung Unpacked stage to launch its Galaxy Watch 8 series, with a strong emphasis on health and performance.
The standard Galaxy Watch 8 is 11% thinner than its predecessor and features 3,000 nits peak brightness, a new 3nm processor, dual-frequency GPS, and upgraded BioActive sensors. Features include improved sleep tracking, a Vascular Load monitor, and an Energy Score that combines physical and mental data to provide wellness insights.
Other models in the series include the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, which revives the rotating bezel design, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which boasts Samsung’s longest battery life in a smartwatch and comes in premium titanium finishes.
Galaxy Watch 8 starts at £299 (Bluetooth) and £349 (LTE)
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic starts at £449 (Bluetooth) and £499 (LTE)
Galaxy Watch Ultra starts at £579, with up to 64GB of storage
AI integration across the board
Artificial intelligence played a key role in Samsung’s announcements, with One UI 8 on Android 16 powering many of the new features. Gemini Live, Samsung’s multimodal AI assistant, allows contextual queries based on what’s on screen. Circle to Search, a tool allowing users to circle content to get real-time information, has also received upgrades for smoother performance in apps and games.
- YouTube YouTube/ Samsung
Looking ahead: tri-fold on the horizon?
While not formally launched, Samsung hinted at its next frontier—a potential tri-fold display device. Though no dates or specs were confirmed, teasers shown during the event suggest that the company’s foldable ambitions may soon expand beyond the familiar Flip and Fold categories.
With Samsung Unpacked 2025 complete, the tech giant has once again positioned itself at the forefront of foldable innovation and wearable wellness, setting the tone for the rest of the year’s mobile landscape.