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 new study has said that male and Asian young people most likely to experience nerve damage from the use of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.
The study of patients admitted to hospital in England has revealed a predominance of young men of Asian ethnicity among those experiencing neurological harm.
The research, led by researchers from Queen Mary University of London, is the largest complete clinical case series of recreational users of laughing gas to date.
It investigated a group of 119 young individuals who experienced neurological problems as a result of using nitrous oxide.
The majority of patients (57 per cent) were of Asian or British Asian background, with the highest proportion found in London (73 per cent). People of Asian or Asian British ethnicity made up a large proportion of cases in east London (73 per cent), Birmingham (54 per cent) and Manchester (29 per cent).
White patients comprised 19 per cent of the total, followed by black patients at 7.5 per cent, and mixed race individuals at 6 per cent. In approximately one out of ten cases, ethnicity was either unknown or not recorded.
These patients were admitted to hospitals in three major cities in England—London (56), Birmingham (35), and Manchester (28)—between 2014 and 2022.
While the average age of those requiring treatment was 22, their ages ranged from 14 to 39. The study found that three out of four patients were male, although around a third of the patients in London were female.
Nitrous oxide (commonly known as ‘laughing gas’) is widely used as a painkiller in medicine and dentistry. It is also the second most commonly used recreational drug among 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK.
Its use is associated with spinal cord and peripheral nerve damage (myeloneuropathy) in some people, but this is mostly based on small studies.
According to experts, avoidable harm from laughing gas abuse is increasingly being observed worldwide. This may indicate genetic susceptibility to nerve damage caused by exposure to the gas, or other as yet unidentified social factors.
The primary symptoms observed were sensations of pins and needles in the arms and legs, which resulted from spinal cord and peripheral nerve damage identified through MRI imaging, the study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, has pointed out.
Challenges with bladder and bowel control, impaired balance, involuntary arm movements, erectile dysfunction, difficulties with memory and speech, visual disturbances, as well as episodes of nausea or vomiting are other symptoms.
According to a statement, nerve damage from nitrous oxide is thought to occur through inactivating vitamin B12, preventing the formation of myelin on nerve cells.
The study found a correlation between weekly consumption of nitrous oxide and elevated levels of methylmalonic acid. This biomarker suggests impaired functioning of vitamin B12, indicating that nerve damage is not solely attributed to a B12 deficiency but rather a functional deficiency. This means that there might be an adequate amount of B12 in the body, but its effectiveness is compromised.
The primary treatment method involves intramuscular injections of vitamin B12, although it is believed that these injections are only effective if the use of nitrous oxide is also discontinued.
In recognition of the significance of prevention, the researchers within this group launched a campaign called 'N2O: Know the Risks' to increase awareness among young individuals in east London about the neurological risks associated with nitrous oxide. It involves conducting workshops to educate the participants.
Although the UK government has recently prohibited the sale of laughing gas for public use, the researchers emphasise the need for thoughtful consideration in implementing policies aimed at users, who may already face disadvantages in terms of education and employment.
“While the study shows a high number of Asian individuals are affected, the influence of social factors on this must be appreciated alongside any possible genetic or dietary factors," said Devan Mair, fourth year medical student at Queen Mary who leads the campaign and first author of the paper.
"Legislation to control sales of nitrous oxide is important, however, criminalisation of nitrous oxide could further marginalise users, in turn prolonging the time taken to present with symptoms and so exacerbating neurological harm.”
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
AIR INDIA said on Tuesday that it had completed precautionary inspections of the fuel control switch locking mechanism on all its Boeing 787 and 737 aircraft, and no issues were found.
The inspections come amid an investigation into the Air India crash that resulted in the deaths of 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. The probe is focused on the fuel control switches of the Boeing 787 jetliner. A final report from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is expected within a year of the incident.
The fuel control switches manage fuel flow to aircraft engines, allowing pilots to start or shut them down while on the ground, or manually intervene during an in-flight engine failure.
Air India started voluntary inspections of the switches on July 12. Following this, India’s aviation regulator directed all domestic carriers to carry out similar checks. Some foreign airlines and regulators also followed suit.
A preliminary report issued earlier this month by the AAIB said the switches had almost simultaneously flipped from ‘run’ to ‘cutoff’ shortly after takeoff, leading to loss of engine power.
The report referred to a 2018 advisory from the FAA that had urged operators of certain Boeing models, including the 787, to inspect the locking mechanism on the fuel cutoff switches to prevent unintentional movement.
Both the FAA and Boeing have issued private notifications stating that the fuel switch locks on Boeing aircraft are safe, Reuters had reported.
Reuters also reported last week, citing a source, that a cockpit recording from the Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick suggested the captain had cut fuel to the engines.
The AAIB has said it is too early to reach any conclusions.
Air India uses Boeing 787 twin-aisle jets for long-haul flights, while its low-cost arm, Air India Express, operates Boeing 737 single-aisle aircraft.
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People crowd a street as firefighting trucks remain on standby outside a school where an Air Force training jet crashed in Dhaka on July 21, 2025.
Jet crash at school in Bangladesh kills 27, including 25 children
Classes cancelled at Milestone School and College following tragedy
National day of mourning declared by interim leader Muhammad Yunus
Military investigating mechanical failure in fighter jet
FAMILIES and teachers gathered at Milestone School and College in Bangladesh on Tuesday, a day after a training fighter jet crashed into the campus, killing 27 people, including 25 children, in the country's deadliest aviation incident in decades.
The Chinese-made F-7 BJI aircraft crashed on Monday just after pupils had been let out of class. The jet struck the school building, killing students and two others.
"So far, 27 people have died. Among them, 25 are children and one is a pilot," said Sayedur Rahman from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. He was updating an earlier toll of 20.
"Seventy-eight people are being treated in different hospitals," Rahman added. He is the special assistant to the ministry's chief adviser.
The military, which is investigating the crash, said more than 170 people were injured.
School remains shut after crash
Classes were cancelled on Tuesday. The school, usually full of activity, remained quiet.
"Along with the children, the school has lost its life," said Shahadat Hossain, a teacher whose son narrowly escaped the crash.
"There are two swings in front of the affected building. During lunch breaks and after school, children play there. Even yesterday, around the time the plane crashed, students were on those swings," he told AFP.
Milestone School and College has around 7,000 students. Abul Bashar, whose sixth-grade son attends the school, said his son’s best friend was among those killed.
"He came out just two or three minutes before the accident occurred," Bashar said.
"He couldn't sleep through the night and forced me to bring him to school this morning," he added. His son stood silently next to him.
Ongoing recovery and investigation
School staff have begun collecting students' belongings, including bags, shoes and identity cards, from the crash site.
Pahn Chakma, a senior police officer, said the armed forces are still searching the area.
"They will hand over the place to the police later, and we will then collect evidence, including any human remains or belongings of students and others," said Chakma.
Air Force personnel said the jet’s remnants were removed on Monday night, but they continue to search for more evidence.
"I don't know how long it will take to return to normalcy, to relieve the children from this trauma," said teacher Hossain.
On Monday night, the school held prayers at the campus.
National mourning declared
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus expressed "deep grief and sorrow" over the incident and declared a day of national mourning.
"The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable," Yunus said.
"This is a moment of profound pain for the nation."
The military said the pilot, flight lieutenant Towkir Islam, was on a routine training flight and "reportedly encountered a mechanical failure".
He attempted to steer the jet away from populated areas but, "despite his best efforts", the aircraft crashed into the two-storey school building, the military said on Monday.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Migrants swim to board a smugglers' boat in order to attempt crossing the English channel off the beach of Audresselles, northern France on October 25, 2024.
THE UK government on Monday launched a new sanctions regime targeting people-smuggling gangs and their enablers, which it described as the first of its kind globally.
Under the new regime, the UK will be able to freeze assets, impose travel bans, and block access to the country’s financial system for individuals and organisations involved in facilitating irregular migration. These actions can be taken without the need to rely on criminal or counterterrorism legislation.
The sanctions regime was first outlined by foreign secretary David Lammy in January. The government said it would work alongside powers included in the Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is yet to be passed.
Prime minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government is under pressure to fulfil its promise to stop the movement of tens of thousands of people arriving in small boats across the Channel.
“For too long, criminal gangs have been lining their corrupt pockets and preying on the hopes of vulnerable people with impunity as they drive irregular migration to the UK,” foreign secretary David Lammy said in a statement.
“That’s why the UK has created the world’s first sanctions regime targeted at gangs involved in people smuggling and driving irregular migration, as well as their enablers.”
The government said the new measures would apply to individuals and entities that provide small boats, fake documents, and financial services used by smuggling networks.
Chris Philp, who leads on security and immigration for the main opposition Conservatives in parliament, said further steps were needed to address the issue.
“The truth is you don’t stop the Channel crossings by freezing a few bank accounts in Baghdad or slapping a travel ban on a dinghy dealer in Damascus,” he said. “Swathes of young men are arriving daily, in boats bought online, guided by traffickers who laugh at our laws and cash in on our weakness.”
Starmer has recently signed agreements with France and Germany aimed at reducing the number of small boat arrivals, as he looks to counter the rise of the right-wing populist Reform UK party led by Nigel Farage.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Koolesh Shah (left) with UEA vice chancellor Professor David Maguire
The University of East Anglia (UEA) has conferred an honorary doctorate on Koolesh Shah, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to business, social impact, and community development.
The award was presented during UEA’s 2025 summer graduation ceremonies, celebrating Shah’s remarkable journey from a pioneering student in the early 1970s to the founder of London Town Group—an award-winning enterprise with significant holdings across residential, commercial, and hospitality sectors. His group is renowned for landmark projects, including Hotel Indigo London Paddington, the InterContinental Hotels Group’s first boutique hotel outside the United States.
Koolesh Shah
Beyond business, Koolesh Shah is deeply committed to philanthropy and public service. He chairs the Sri Aurobindo Trust, which has introduced Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy at SOAS, University of London, and played a vital role in completing the Matrimandir in Auroville. Through the Koolesh Shah Foundation, he supports education, healthcare, and community projects both in the UK and internationally.
Shah also serves as Co-Chairman of Conservative Friends of India, working alongside Sir Oliver Dowden MP to amplify British Indian voices in UK politics and strengthen UK-India relations based on shared values of enterprise, family, and opportunity.
Koolesh Shah’s achievements have been recognised with numerous awards, including Asian Hotelier of the Year, Philanthropist of the Year, and GG2 Social Entrepreneur of the Year.
Koolesh Shah
Speaking at the ceremony, Shah reflected on his journey: “UEA shaped my life… changed my perception… gave me a broader spectrum. The most important chapters in my story were the uncomfortable ones. Success isn’t about what you accumulate—it’s about what you help others become.”
This honorary doctorate not only celebrates Koolesh Shah’s impressive career but also his enduring commitment to creating value, inspiring others, and giving back to the community.
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Bangladesh's fire service and security personnel conduct a search and rescue operation after an Air Force training jet crashed into a school in Dhaka on July 21, 2025.
At least 20 killed, over 170 injured, including children
Aircraft reportedly suffered mechanical failure
Bangladesh declares national day of mourning
AT LEAST 20 people were killed and more than 170 injured after a Bangladeshi fighter jet crashed into a school in Dhaka on Monday. It is the deadliest aviation accident in the country in decades.
The crash took place at Milestone School and College when a Chinese-made F-7 BJI fighter aircraft slammed into the building shortly after students had been let out of class.
An AFP photographer at the site saw fire and rescue teams carrying away injured students on stretchers. Army personnel were seen assisting in clearing the debris.
According to a military statement, the crash killed 20 people, including the pilot, and injured 171 others. The incident occurred after the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure.
Shafiur Rahman Shafi, an 18-year-old student, said he heard a loud blast.
“There were two fighter planes... Suddenly one of the two planes crashed here (in the junior playground),” he told AFP.
“It created a boom, and it felt like a quake. Then it caught fire, and the army reached the spot later,” he said.
The private school provides education from kindergarten to senior secondary level.
Mohammad Maruf Islam, joint director of Dhaka's National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute, said most of the injured were between eight and 14 years old.
Grieving families gathered at the hospital, and volunteers lined up to donate blood.
Tofazzal Hossain, 30, said his cousin was among those killed.
“We frantically searched for my cousin in different hospitals,” Hossain told AFP.
“He was an eighth grader at the school. Finally, we found his body.”
The military said the pilot was on a routine training mission and “reportedly encountered a mechanical failure”.
“The exact cause remains under investigation,” it said.
The military added that the pilot tried to avoid a densely populated area but “despite his best efforts” crashed into the two-storey school building.
The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, announced a national day of mourning on Tuesday.
Yunus said he felt “deep grief and sorrow” over the crash in a post on X.
“The loss suffered by the Air Force, the students, parents, teachers, and staff of Milestone School and College, as well as others affected by this accident, is irreparable,” he said.
“This is a moment of profound pain for the nation.”
The crash is the worst aviation accident in Bangladesh in several decades.
The deadliest incident in the country occurred in 1984, when a plane travelling from Chattogram to Dhaka crashed, killing all 49 people on board.
Last month, a commercial aircraft crash in India killed 260 people.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives” in Dhaka.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have remained tense since Sheikh Hasina, a long-time ally of New Delhi, was ousted by protesters last year.
“India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance,” Modi posted on X.