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.
BRITISH MP Tulip Siddiq, niece of Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has branded an ongoing corruption trial in Dhaka as a “farce” built on “fabricated accusations and driven by a clear political vendetta”.
Siddiq, who represents Hampstead and Highgate for the governing Labour party, resigned as a minister earlier this year after allegations against her family surfaced.
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) alleges she obtained a 7,200 sq ft plot in a diplomatic zone through “abuse of power and influence”.
In a statement on social media, Siddiq said: “The so-called trial now underway in Dhaka is nothing more than a farce. The allegations have repeatedly shifted, yet I have never been contacted by the Bangladeshi authorities, received a court summons, any official communication, or evidence.”
The former UK government anti-corruption minister said if the proceedings, which began in Bangladesh on Wednesday (13), were a genuine legal process, the authorities would have engaged with her or her legal team and presented their alleged evidence.
“Instead, they have peddled false and vexatious allegations that have been briefed to the media but never formally put to me by investigators. Even my offer to meet Bangladesh’s chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, during his recent visit to London was refused,” said Siddiq.
“Such conduct is wholly incompatible with the principles of a fair trial that we uphold in the UK. I have been clear from the outset that I have done nothing wrong and will respond to any credible evidence that is presented to me. Continuing to smear my name to score political points is both baseless and damaging."
In her resignation letter to prime minister Keir Starmer back in January, she pointed out that his Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests had not found her in breach of the UK’s Ministerial Code and asserted that she had not “acted improperly”.
“This conduct is wholly incompatible with the principles of a fair trial we uphold in the UK. I have done nothing wrong and will respond to any credible evidence. Continuing to smear my name to score political points is baseless and damaging,” she alleged.
Siddiq, 42, is the daughter of Sheikh Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana and among several family members indicted in the case, which began this week. She maintains the charges are politically motivated.
People click photographs beside an unmanned combat aerial vehicle on display at a military exhibition during Pakistan's Independence Day celebrations in Islamabad on August 14, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the United States wanted to explore areas of economic cooperation with Pakistan, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons, as the country marked its independence day on Thursday (14).
Rubio’s greetings came after Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s second visit to the US last week, where he met political and military leaders.
“We look forward to exploring new areas of economic cooperation, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons, and fostering dynamic business partnerships, which will promote a prosperous future for Americans and Pakistanis,” Rubio said in a statement.
“The United States deeply appreciates Pakistan’s engagement on counter-terrorism and trade,” he added.
Pakistan and the US have renewed their ties after several years of strained relations. Both countries resolved their differences over levies, and the US announced 19 per cent tariffs on Pakistani goods.
This week, the two sides held a counterterrorism dialogue in Islamabad and agreed to deepen cooperation against groups including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban.
In Islamabad, president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Shehbaz Sharif called for unity as Pakistan celebrated its 79th Independence Day. Sharif raised the national flag at the Pakistan Monument, and special prayers were offered in mosques for peace, solidarity, and prosperity.
Buildings in Islamabad and other cities were decorated with national flags and lights.
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FILE PHOTO: Irish Garda police officers stand on duty on Parnell Street, in Dublin. (Photo by PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images)
AN INDIAN man living in Dublin, who was assaulted by a group of teenagers over the weekend, has said he will return to India following the incident. He added that members of the Indian community in Ireland are feeling increasingly unsafe.
The man, who did not wish to be named, told Irish media he was attacked by three people last Sunday (10) evening while walking home from Fairview Park. One attacker, riding an electric scooter, kicked him in the stomach.
As he tried to walk away, two others joined in, hitting him repeatedly. Even after he fell to the ground, the attackers continued to punch and kick him. One assailant took his metal water bottle and struck him above the eye, causing a deep cut and heavy bleeding.
He was taken to hospital, where he received stitches for his injuries. Irish police have confirmed they are investigating the case, which is the latest in a series of violent assaults on members of the Indian community.
The victim said his parents in India urged him to come home after the attack, and he has now made arrangements to leave. He added that many friends are “scared to go outside” and some are also planning to return to India.
India’s ambassador to Ireland, Akhilesh Mishra, met senior Irish police officers on Wednesday (13) to discuss the attacks. The meeting followed a statement from Irish president Michael D Higgins, who “unequivocally” condemned the “despicable attacks”, calling them contrary to national values.
The Archbishop of Dublin also denounced the “truly shocking” and “unprovoked” assaults.
Citing security concerns, the Ireland India Council postponed its annual “India Day” celebrations, which were due to take place in Dublin on Sunday (17).
An Garda Síochána said investigations are ongoing and it is liaising with the victims in each case.
A-LEVEL students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland have achieved record-high results outside of the Covid years, with boys overtaking girls in the top grades for the first time since 2018.
Figures released on Thursday (14) showed that 28.3 per cent of entries were awarded an A or A*, up from 27.8 per cent last year and well above the 25.4 per cent seen in 2019. Almost one in ten results — 9.4 per cent — achieved the highest A* grade, the largest proportion since the top grade was introduced in 2010, excluding the pandemic years.
More than 340,000 teenagers received their grades this morning, while the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) confirmed a record number had secured university and college places.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said, “Today is a time for celebration as young people up and down the country collect their exam results. Every young person should have the opportunity to achieve and thrive. This government won’t stand by and accept the entrenched inequalities that continue to blight the life chances of too many young people, especially those from white working class backgrounds who have long been overlooked.
“We’re already taking decisive action and making encouraging progress. With great options from degree apprenticeships and high-quality technical qualifications to traditional university routes, we are giving young people the tools they need to get great jobs, fill talent gaps, and help drive economic growth as part of our Plan for Change.”
London mayor Sadiq Khan congratulated students and encouraged those disappointed with their grades to seek advice from teachers, parents or the National Career Service. “I wish you all every success as you now take your next step in life,” he said.
This year, 28.4 per cent of boys’ entries achieved an A or A*, compared with 28.2 per cent of girls’. Boys also extended their lead in the highest A* grade, with 9.9 per cent compared with 9.1 per cent for girls. Girls continued to outperform boys across more subjects overall, especially in psychology, biology, sociology, art and design, and economics, and more girls achieved grades C and above.
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said: “Today marks the beginning of doors opening for thousands of students. The increase in applications confirms that people rightly recognise the value of going to university, and it is particularly positive that we have seen an increase in students from the least advantaged backgrounds.”
Claire Thomson of exam board AQA said the differences between genders “bounce around a bit over time” and were likely due to “multi-faceted and complex” causes.
According to reports, mathematics remains the most popular A-level subject for the 12th year running, with entries rising 4.4 per cent to 112,000. Psychology stayed in second place, followed by biology. Business studies entered the top five for the first time, while physics jumped from ninth to sixth place.
Jo Saxton, chief executive of UCAS, said students were becoming more strategic about their subject choices, with a rise in STEM and business-focused studies reflecting career considerations. “Students are super savvy. They are clearly thinking about what they imagine their future career might look like,” she told Times Radio.
London recorded the highest share of A or A* grades at 32.1 per cent, while the north-east had the lowest at 22.9 per cent. The gap between these regions has grown to 9.2 percentage points, the widest since the current grading system began in 2010.
Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Big differences in attainment between regions, reflecting socioeconomic factors, remain a massive challenge. We have to stop merely talking about these issues and actually address them with investment in communities suffering from generational disadvantage.”
The results raised questions about whether grade inflation could be returning, but Ofqual chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham insisted that standards had not changed. “We can be absolutely confident that the standard of work required to get any grade at A-level is the same this year as it was last year,” he said.
While students celebrate, many face rising university costs. From September, tuition fees for full-time courses in England will rise to £9,535 — the first increase since 2017.
Despite economic pressures, UCAS has assured students that universities have “student protection plans” in place to safeguard their studies.
Queen Elizabeth’s School students with their results
Queen Elizabeth’s School shines
Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, has marked its 20th consecutive year of outstanding A-level results, with more than 95 per cent of grades at A*–B throughout this period.
This year, 98 per cent of grades achieved by the school’s largest ever Year 13 cohort of 174 boys were in the top range. Over half of all grades (51 per cent) were at A*, a four per cent rise on the best pre-pandemic year, while 85 per cent were A* or A. In all, 51 boys – 29 per cent of the year group – achieved straight A*s, a statement said.
Headmaster Neil Enright praised the results, saying: “Huge congratulations go to our students on these brilliant results. At Queen Elizabeth's we see consistent excellence every year, with our boys securing places on highly sought-after courses at world-leading universities.”
This year, 49 boys (28 per cent) gained offers from Oxford or Cambridge. Overall, 62 per cent hold offers from QS World Top 10 universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London and UCL. Twenty-two of the 24 Russell Group universities made offers to the pupils.
Popular degree choices included mathematics, medicine, engineering and economics, with 14 boys taking up computing courses at top universities. More students are also choosing degree apprenticeships, with offers from companies such as Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Deloitte, Jaguar Land Rover and PwC, the statement added/
Enright credited the school’s academic and co-curricular programmes for the breadth of success. He said support would continue for leavers in the coming weeks and looked forward to welcoming them into the school's connect alumni network.
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'This was the fourth time in less than a year that a BAPS temple has been targeted' (Photo: Facebook)
THE signboard of a Hindu temple was defaced in Indiana, US, an incident described by the Indian consulate as "reprehensible".
The "hateful act" took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood city, the temple's official public affairs account said in an X post on Tuesday (12).
This was the fourth time in less than a year that a BAPS temple has been targeted, it said.
In the latest incident vandals defaced the main signboard of the religious site. The attack took place last Sunday (10), just days before the Hindu festival of Krishna Janmashtami, which falls on Saturday (16).
The Indian Consulate in Chicago has strongly condemned the incident, describing it as "reprehensible" in a statement posted on social media platform X. The consulate confirmed it has contacted local law enforcement authorities and demanded "prompt action" against those responsible.
"Desecration of the main signboard of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Greenwood, Indiana, is reprehensible," the consulate stated. Officials have raised the matter with police and called for swift justice.
The consul general personally addressed a gathering of worshippers and local leaders, including the mayor of Greenwood, "calling for unity & solidarity, and vigilance against miscreants there."
This latest attack continues a troubling pattern of hate crimes targeting Hindu religious sites across America. The BAPS Swaminarayan organisation, which runs temples worldwide, confirmed this was the fourth time one of their temples had been targeted in recent months.
"For the fourth time in less than a year, one of our Mandirs has been desecrated by a hateful act," the temple's public affairs division said in a statement. "The anti-Hindu hate crime against the BAPS Mandir in Greenwood, IN has only strengthened our community's resolve, and we remain united in our stand against anti-religious behaviour."
The organisation described the vandalism as both a "hateful act" and a "hate crime," emphasising the community's determination to stand firm against religious bigotry.
In March this year, another BAPS Hindu temple in California was similarly vandalised by unknown attackers. At the time, India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called the act "despicable" and urged American law enforcement to take strong action against the perpetrators.
The repeated targeting of Hindu temples has drawn criticism from American politicians as well. US Congressman Nick LaLota condemned the latest incident, stating: "Religiously motivated crimes like these must be condemned and those who commit them must be held accountable. Live and let live!"
Despite the attacks, worshippers and religious leaders have emphasised their commitment to maintaining their faith and practices. The temple administration noted that the vandalism has actually "strengthened our community's resolve" rather than intimidating them.
According to reports, these incidents highlight growing concerns about religious tolerance and safety for minority communities in the US.
The BAPS operates numerous temples across America and has generally enjoyed peaceful relations with local communities.
Local authorities in Indiana are continuing their investigation into the latest incident, reports added.
(with inputs from PTI)
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Sheikh Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Radwan Mujib, and daughter Saima Wazed
A COURT in Bangladesh on Monday (11) heard cases brought by the anti-corruption organisation against former leader Sheikh Hasina and her family, including her daughter who has served as a top UN official.
Three officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) read out testimonies in three separate cases over an alleged land grab of lucrative plots in a suburb of Dhaka.
Hasina, 77, fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after weeks of studentled protests against her autocratic rule.
She has defied orders to return from India, including to attend her separate and ongoing trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity, over the deadly crackdown on the uprising.
Hasina has been named in six corruption cases, along with her US-based son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her daughter Saima Wazed, who has been serving as the WHO’s southeast Asia chief in New Delhi. “If found guilty, Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and Saima Wazed could face up to 14 years in prison,” ACC lawyer Khan Mohammad Mainul Hossain said.
Wazed is on leave from the WHO and a new official has taken up a post as “officerin-charge”.
In total, six cases have been filed of alleged corruption connected to Hasina.
Among those named in other cases, some slated to be heard later in August, are Hasina’s sister, Sheikh Rehana, and her children – including British MP Tulip Siddiq.
Siddiq resigned as the UK government’s anti-corruption minister in January, denying any wrongdoing after being named in multiple probes in Bangladesh.
Siddiq’s lawyers have said the allegations against her are false.
The previous week, witnesses in the trial of Hasina detailed horrific violence and denial of medical treatment, speaking on the eve of the anniversary of her ouster. Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024, according to the UN.
Philosophy student Abdullah Al Imran, 25, said on August 4 that his left leg had been blasted “wide open” by gunshot during the protests, describing how it had been left “barely attached to the rest of my body by a thin layer of skin”.
Imran told the court how, when Hasina visited the hospital ward where he was recovering, he told her he had been shot by the police.
He said he overheard Hasina give the order of “no release, no treatment”, referring to injured protesters.
“I didn’t understand the meaning of the order at first, but later I did – as my surgery was repeatedly delayed,” Imran said, adding he was not given the right antibiotics, and his parents were blocked from moving him to a private hospital.
“My leg started to rot,” he said, and showed the court his still bandaged leg. “People couldn’t stand the stench coming from it.” Another witness described how she was blinded in one eye when police fired at close range, the third to give evidence detailing the brutality of the crackdown.
Prosecutors have filed five charges against Hasina – including failure to prevent mass murder – which amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law. Hasina is on trial in absentia alongside two other accused, her former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, also a fugitive, and ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who is in custody and has pleaded guilty.
Hasina is defended by a state-appointed lawyer, but she has refused to accept the authority of the court.
Last Tuesday (5), Bangladesh’s interim leader marked one year since the overthrow of Hasina’s autocratic regime by calling for people to seize the “opportunity” for reform. Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old leading the caretaker government as its chief adviser until elections, also announced the polls would be held in February. (AFP)