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.
A 10-year-old girl endured a "brutal campaign of abuse" in the weeks leading up to her death, a court has heard.
Sara Sharif sustained numerous injuries, including bruises, burns and broken bones, and began wearing a hijab to conceal facial injuries, it emerged on Tuesday (15).
She was found dead in her bed at the family home in Woking on August 10, 2023.
A post-mortem examination found "signs of traumatic head injury", apparent scald burns on the inside of her ankles and bite marks - five to her left lower arm and one to her inner thigh - that were "probably human".
Other injuries included to Sara's ribs, shoulder blades, fingers and 11 separate fractures to the spine.
Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 42, is currently on trial at the Old Bailey, alongside her stepmother, Beinash Batool, 30, and her uncle, Faisal Malik, 28.
All three have pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.
According to reports, Sara started wearing the hijab in January 2023, seven months before her death. A neighbour noted it was "unusual" as she was the only member of the extended family to wear the religious headscarf.
Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones KC said Sara wore the hijab to hide injuries on her face and head from others.
Her primary school noticed a bruise under her left eye in June 2022, another on her chin, and a dark mark near her right eye in March 2023, the court was told.
When asked by teachers, Sara gave different stories about how she got the injuries and used her hijab to cover her face, Emlyn Jones KC said. Later, she was withdrawn from school and started home schooling in April 2023.
A woman who lived near the family's former home in West Byfleet reported hearing “disturbingly loud” sounds of hitting, along with “heart-wrenching screams” from a young girl. The jury heard that Batool often shouted abusive phrases in the house.
The neighbour also mentioned hearing loud bangs from the flat that sounded like someone was being hit. She noticed Sara often putting nappies and rubbish into their bins outside.
Chloe Redwin, another neighbour, said she heard loud smacking noises from Sara’s house, followed by the distressing screams of young girls. Over the screams, she would hear the mother shouting, “shut up,” and sometimes further smacking noises would follow. The family moved to Woking in late February or March last year.
A neighbour, Judith Lozeron, reported hearing an unusual noise on August 6, two days before Sara’s death.
She described it as a single high-pitched scream that lasted a few seconds and ended abruptly, sounding like someone in pain; she added, “it didn’t sound good.”
The court heard that Batool had ordered rolls of parcel tape from Amazon, which was found on bundled plastic bags in a bin.
Using photographs of a mannequin the same size as Sara, the prosecutor said it was clear these were homemade hoods that had been taped over Sara’s face and head.
He explained that the plastic was stained with Sara’s blood, and a cricket bat found in the garden also had her blood on it.
Her hair, pulled out by the root, was discovered on the parcel tape, and her DNA was found on a vacuum cleaner handle.
In May 2021, Batool messaged her sister, accusing Urfan of beating Sara and said the girl was “covered in bruises, literally beaten black.”
She expressed concern for Sara, saying, “the poor girl can’t walk.”
This shows that Sara was being hurt for at least two years before her death, and Batool was aware of it but did not intervene, the prosecutor argued.
He added that Sara’s death resulted from the actions of all three adults in the house; the regular abuse and mistreatment of the little girl could not have continued without their cooperation and support.
He said Sara could not have been restrained without supervision, implying it required teamwork. If the main person restraining her left, the others would have likely freed her.
The court previously heard that after the three defendants left the country, Urfan called Surrey police from Pakistan and admitted, “I beat her up; it wasn’t my intention to kill her, but I beat her up too much.”
The day before Sara's body was found, her father, step-mother and uncle left the UK for Pakistan with Sharif's five other children.
The jury was played a recording of a "calm" phone call on the evening of August 8, 2023 in which Batool asks about booking flights to Islamabad.
Sara's body was found in the family's vacant house after an emergency call, apparently from Pakistan, alerting officers was made by a man identifying himself as the father.
A note from her father found next to her body appeared to contain a confession, the prosecutor told jurors.
"Love you Sara," said the note, which was shown to the jury. A second page added: "Whoever see this note its me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating.
"I am running away because I am scared but I promise that I will hand over myself and take punishment."
Another page read: "I swear to God that my intention was not to kill her but I lost it." A handwriting expert who analysed the note concluded it was written by Urfan.
The three defendants were arrested in September last year after disembarking from a flight from Dubai.
INDIAN cricket has signed Apollo Tyres as its new lead sponsor after fantasy sports platform Dream11 ended its contract following a government ban on online gambling.
The men's team travelled to the United Arab Emirates for the ongoing Asia Cup without a sponsor on their shirts after Dream11 exited the deal, which was worth about $44 million and was set to run until 2026.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the new contract with Apollo Tyres runs until March 2028. While the value was not disclosed, the board said it is higher than the previous deal.
"The new partnership, secured after a rigorous bidding process, represents a substantial increase in sponsorship value, signifying the immense and growing commercial appeal of Indian cricket," the BCCI said in a statement.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said, "We are excited about this being Apollo's first major sponsorship in India cricket, which speaks volumes about the sport's unparalleled reach and influence. This is more than a commercial agreement; it's a partnership between two institutions that have earned the trust and respect of millions."
Apollo Tyres Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Neeraj Kanwar said, "Cricket's unmatched popularity in India and worldwide makes it an honour for us to become the national team lead sponsor of Team India."
The Apollo Tyres logo will appear on the jerseys of the Indian men's and women's teams across all formats.
Last month, the Indian parliament passed a law banning online gambling. The government said gambling platforms had caused financial distress, addiction and even suicide, and were linked to fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing. Fantasy sports apps such as Dream11 continue to operate, though for prizes and not cash.
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Sydney Sweeney reportedly offered £45m for a leading role in a major Bollywood film
The package includes £35m in fees and £10M in sponsorship deals
Filming is tentatively planned for early 2026 across New York, Paris, London, and Dubai
The project could make Sweeney one of the highest-paid Hollywood stars to join Indian cinema
A record-breaking offer
Hollywood actor Sydney Sweeney has reportedly been approached with a staggering £45M deal to star in one of the most expensive Bollywood films ever produced.
The 28-year-old Euphoria and The White Lotus star is said to have been offered £35m in fees plus an additional £10m through sponsorship agreements.
Details of the proposed project
The untitled film would cast Sweeney as a young American celebrity who falls in love with an Indian star. Filming is expected to begin early next year, with international locations including New York, Paris, London, and Dubai.
Industry insiders describe the project as an effort to bring Indian cinema to an even larger global audience, with Sweeney’s involvement seen as a move to elevate its international appeal.
Industry perspective
A source close to the negotiations said: “Sydney was shocked by the offer at first — £45m is an incredible sum. But the project is intriguing, and it could elevate her global profile even further. Nothing has been decided yet, but it’s a huge opportunity and she is weighing her options carefully.”
A step into Bollywood
If she accepts, Sweeney would join other international stars who have crossed into Bollywood, including Priyanka Chopra and Shilpa Shetty. The Indian film industry has increasingly sought crossover projects to expand its global reach.
Recent career highlights
Sweeney, who rose to fame on HBO’s Euphoria and The White Lotus, has recently been building her film career. Her latest project, Christy, sees her portraying US boxing champion Christy Martin, the first female boxer to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Speaking about the physically demanding role, Sweeney said: “Every single fight you see, we’re actually punching each other. I always believed that you wouldn’t be able to make it feel real if it’s a stunt double or if it’s faking the hits.” Christy is set for release on November 7.
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Nvidia boss Jensen Huang has said he is “disappointed” following reports
China’s Cyberspace Administration has reportedly ordered tech firms to stop using Nvidia’s AI chips
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says he is “disappointed” but will remain “patient”
Huang is visiting the UK alongside other tech leaders during Donald Trump’s state visit
Nvidia became the world’s first $4tn company earlier in 2025 amid the AI boom
Huang responds to reported China directive
Nvidia boss Jensen Huang has said he is “disappointed” following reports that China has told its leading technology firms to halt purchases of the company’s artificial intelligence chips.
Speaking to reporters in the UK, Huang added that he would remain “patient” in light of the reported order from China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration. “There are a lot of places we can’t go to, and that’s fine,” he said.
Background to chip restrictions
Nvidia is the world’s leading chipmaker, central to the global AI boom with its processors powering data centres worldwide. China, meanwhile, has been working to develop its own semiconductors as part of a broader AI strategy to reduce reliance on US technology.
The company had already faced restrictions in China. Its most advanced chips were previously banned from sale to the country before US President Donald Trump reversed the decision in July. As part of an unusual arrangement, Nvidia must pay 15% of its Chinese revenues to the US government.
Financial Times report
According to the Financial Times, China’s Cyberspace Administration recently told domestic technology firms — including major players such as DeepSeek, Tencent and Alibaba — to stop buying Nvidia’s specially designed China-market chips.
Shares in Nvidia were down more than 1% in pre-market trading following the news.
Support for US policy
Asked about the geopolitical tensions, Huang said he would support the US as it sought to resolve the issues and would convey the same message directly to President Trump if asked.
Huang is one of several technology leaders, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, attending Trump’s state visit to the UK. They are expected to join a state banquet on Wednesday evening.
UK investment and tech collaboration
Despite the reported setback in China, Nvidia has continued to expand its footprint elsewhere. The company recently announced it would supply chips to the Stargate UK data centre, a major project in north-east England involving OpenAI, Arm and NScale. The commitment forms part of a broader UK-US technology pact.
Valuation milestone
Nvidia became the first company in the world to surpass a $4tn (£2.9tn) market valuation earlier this year, underscoring its dominance in the AI sector even as geopolitical tensions shape its global reach.
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Tagenarine Chanderpaul. (Photo by PAT HOELSCHER/AFP via Getty Images)
BATSMEN Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze were recalled to the West Indies ranks when they were named in the squad to tour India on Tuesday (16) while left-arm spinner Khary Pierre is included for the first time.
The two-Test series, with matches in Ahmedabad and Delhi, marks the West Indies' first tour to India since 2018 and forms part of the World Test Championship.
Neither Chanderpaul nor Athanaze were involved in the recent series against Australia but have been included to bolster the top-order batting.
"The return of Tagenarine Chanderpaul is to help transform our fortunes at the top of the order given the recent struggles, with Alick Athanaze being added for his strengths and qualities against spin bowling," said head coach Daren Sammy.
Pierre, meanwhile, has been included as the second specialist spinner in the squad after strong performances in the West Indies championship, where he claimed a chart-topping 41 wickets at an average of 13.56.
"Khary is included for the first time as our second spinner in what we expect to be helpful conditions," said Sammy.
Another left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who has not figured since the second Test against Pakistan in Multan in January, has been rested for this red-ball series to focus on the upcoming limited-overs schedule which includes the T20 World Cup in February and March.
West Indies, who are ranked eighth in the Test rankings, face a stiff test against the fourth-ranked side who are always so strong on home soil.
"Playing in the subcontinent always presents a challenge and we have selected a team to be competitive in these conditions." said Sammy.