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 father of a 10-year-old British-Pakistani girl on trial in London for her murder on Friday (8) said his wife told him to confess to killing his daughter.
Urfan Sharif, 42, is accused of murdering Sara Sharif on August 8 last year, alongside her stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, and the girl's uncle, Faisal Malik, 29.
All three deny the charge and of causing or allowing her death.
A jury at the Old Bailey court was told that all three left the family home in Woking, southwest of London, the day after Sara died and flew to Pakistan.
Sara's body, which had multiple fractures, bruises, burns and bite marks, was found by police after a tip-off from Sharif in Islamabad.
Giving evidence for a fourth day, he said he was devastated by her death but agreed to leave because Batool had told him Sara had been beaten by another of his children, and he feared the consequences for them.
Before leaving, he wrote a note taking the blame. "Whoever sees this note, it's me Urfan Sharif who killed my daughter by beating," it read.
But Sharif told the jury that the confession was dictated by his wife. "I was merely writing, the wording was not mine," he said, insisting he took the blame to protect his other children.
Before leaving on August 9, 2023, Sharif left the house keys under the doormat, so the police would not have to break through the door, and had resolved to tell the authorities about Sara when he was out of the country.
A recording was played in court of Sharif's garbled phone call to police in the UK after arriving in Islamabad. "I killed my daughter, I killed my daughter," he said.
Instructing police to the house, he said he "left in a panic" and added: "I promise I'll come back".
One month later, Sharif, Batool and Malik returned to the UK and were arrested.
Rowling dismisses Watson's recent conciliatory tone as a calculated shift.
The author argues Watson's life of fame and wealth has left her ignorant of real-world issues.
A 2022 BAFTA speech and a poorly received note are cited as a major breaking point.
Rowling contrasts her own past poverty with Watson's privileged upbringing.
She firmly states that public disagreement from former collaborators warrants a public response.
The bitter divide between J K Rowling and the stars of her Harry Potter world has just gotten much deeper. In a raw and personal online post, the author tore into Emma Watson, attacking not just her opinions but her character. Rowling branded the actress as "ignorant," claiming her life of fame has left her utterly disconnected from reality. This comes immediately after Watson made a public attempt to soften their long-running and very public disagreement on transgender rights, a move that seems to have only made the Harry Potter feud worse.
J K Rowling calls Emma Watson ignorant as old and new feminism collide in a bitter public feud Getty Images
What did Emma Watson say about J K Rowling?
It all started on a podcast, with Watson chatting to host Jay Shetty about navigating personal relationships amid public disagreement. She spoke about hoping to keep loving people she doesn't necessarily agree with, a comment widely understood to be about Rowling. She fondly referred to the author as “Jo,” talking about treasuring their shared past. It sounded like a peace offering, or maybe she’s just tired of the whole mess. “I will never believe that one negates the other,” she said, trying to hold two opposing ideas in her hands at once. It was gentle. It was careful. And Rowling clearly hated every second of it.
This is where things got really nasty. She basically called Watson a rich kid who has no idea how the real world works. “Emma has so little experience of real life she’s ignorant of how ignorant she is.” She then drew a sharp line between their lives: Watson, a multimillionaire since her teens, versus Rowling herself, scribbling away in poverty while creating the entire Potter universe.
Her point? Watson can afford to champion certain ideologies from a cushy, protected bubble. Rowling, claiming her own gritty past, says she understands what’s really at stake for vulnerable women in public spaces. It’s the classic “you’ve never had it tough” argument.
— (@)
What was the final straw for J K Rowling?
Turns out, it was something years ago. She revealed the true "turning point" wasn't just Watson's public criticism, but a moment during the 2022 BAFTA Awards. Watson was on stage, and made a little quip about being there “for ALL the witches,” which everyone read as a sly dig at Rowling. But then, according to Rowling, Watson sent her a note. The note read: "I’m so sorry for what you’re going through."
It arrived when Rowling felt most exposed. She says the threats were at their worst; graphic promises of death, rape, and torture flooding in. Her security team had to tighten everything down. The fear for her family's safety was a constant worry. In that climate of genuine terror, Watson's note felt like a slap in the face. From Rowling's perspective, it was a hollow gesture, a one-line sympathy card offered after Watson had publicly poured fuel on the very fire causing the chaos.
— (@)
The generational lens shaping this conflict
Rowling's views come from a place of real struggle. She remembers living in poverty and struggling for everything. When she speaks of women's shelters and safe spaces, she is referring to physical protection for women based on their biological sex. These are real things to her, and she feels they should be safeguarded.
Watson sees things differently. She represents a newer way of thinking. Her focus is on identity and making sure everyone feels included. Her work with the UN and her public comments show this. She believes how people identify themselves is what matters most. For younger people, this makes perfect sense. For Rowling's generation, it can seem like it ignores real-world dangers.
Emma Watson reflects on her fallout with JK Rowling Getty Images
Two different ways of speaking out
Their conflict also shows how the rules for famous people have changed.
Watson's approach is modern. She is careful with her words, choosing to let her deeds speak for her. This works well today, where social media rewards this kind of subtle support.
Rowling slams Watson’s privileged perspective in trans rights clash revealing how generations see activism differentlyGetty Images
Rowling does things the old way. She writes long posts explaining exactly what she thinks. She isn't afraid to start a debate or stand alone in her opinion. She acts like someone who expects people to read her full argument and engage with it directly.
They're not just disagreeing about issues, they're using completely different playbooks from different times. One speaks in careful hints and shared understanding, the other in direct arguments and clear lines. No wonder they can't hear each other.
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EA to be acquired by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners
Shareholders to receive £166 per share, 25% above market value
Deal marks largest all-cash sponsor take-private investment ever
EA to remain headquartered in California under CEO Andrew Wilson
Transaction expected to close in early 2027
EA agrees to £43bn all-cash takeover
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA), the studio behind blockbuster franchises such as FIFA, Battlefield, and The Sims, is set to go private after agreeing to a £43 billion acquisition by an investor consortium made up of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.
Shareholders will receive £166 per share in cash, a 25% premium on EA’s recent market price. PIF, which already owns 9.9% of the company, will roll its stake into the deal. Once completed, EA will no longer be listed on public markets.
Largest all-cash take-private in history
The deal is the biggest all-cash sponsor-led take-private transaction ever. The consortium has said it will use its experience in gaming, technology, and sports to support EA’s growth and innovation, aiming to create new opportunities for players worldwide.
Executives react
EA chief executive Andrew Wilson said the acquisition recognises “the extraordinary work” of the company’s teams and will help the studio “unlock new opportunities globally.”
Turqi Alnowaiser of PIF highlighted the fund’s commitment to gaming and esports, while Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban praised EA’s strong revenue growth and cash flow. Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners, called EA “an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and bold vision for the future.”
What happens next
The deal has been approved by EA’s board and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approval and shareholder consent. Funding will come from a mix of consortium equity and £16 billion in debt financing. EA will remain based in Redwood City, California, with Wilson staying on as CEO.
About EA
EA is a leading developer and publisher of video games for consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. Its portfolio includes some of the industry’s most recognisable brands, such as EA SPORTS FC, Apex Legends, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies. In fiscal 2025, the company posted £5.9 billion in revenue.
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He will also receive an on-target yearly bonus of 150 per cent and a long-term incentive grant equal to 7.25 times his salary.
BRITISH drugmaker GSK on Monday named Luke Miels as its CEO designate. He will take over from Emma Walmsley, who steps down after nine years leading the company.
Miels will formally assume the role on January 1. He will be responsible for steering GSK towards its target of generating more than 40 billion pounds ($53.78 billion) in annual sales by 2031.
Remuneration
Miels’ annual base salary will start at 1.38 million pounds, lower than Walmsley’s 2025 salary of 1.43 million pounds, according to GSK’s annual report.
He will also receive an on-target yearly bonus of 150 per cent and a long-term incentive grant equal to 7.25 times his salary.
Who is Miels?
Miels, 50, joined GSK in 2017 as chief commercial officer. He has overseen the company’s global medicines and vaccines portfolio, which generates annual sales of over 20 billion pounds across more than 100 countries.
He is an Australian national, holding a biology degree from Flinders University and an MBA from Macquarie University. He began his career as a sales representative at AstraZeneca before moving into senior roles at Sanofi and Roche.
Career path
AstraZeneca 1995 – 2000: Sales and marketing roles
Sanofi-Aventis 2004 – 2006: Vice President, Sales Metabolism, New Jersey, USA 2004: Integration Officer, North America, Sanofi/Aventis merger 2003 – 2004: General Manager & Managing Director, Aventis Thailand 2002 – 2003: General Manager & Managing Director (Acting) 2000 – 2001: Head, Strategic Planning and Portfolio Management
Roche Pharmaceuticals 2009 – 2014: Regional Head, Asia Pacific (Shanghai, then Singapore) 2006 – 2009: VP/Head of Metabolism & Anemia Global Marketing, Switzerland
AstraZeneca May 2014 – August 2017: Executive Vice President, European business Earlier: Executive Vice President, Global Product and Portfolio Strategy, Global Medical Affairs, and Corporate Affairs
GSK September 2017 – Present: Chief Commercial Officer
(With inputs from Reuters)
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BAFTA nominee Imran Perretta explores fractured youth in 'Ish'
BAFTA-nominated filmmaker explores fractured friendship in Ish
Inspired by his own teenage experiences and friendships
Cast two real-life best friends as the leads
Film tackles race, policing and belonging in Britain
Returning to the friendships of youth
Imran Perretta, the London-based artist and BAFTA-nominated filmmaker behind The Destructors, says his new work Ish was born out of reflection on his own teenage friendships. “It was an excuse to go back to those times and relive what it means to have friendships that are so deep in your teenage years,” he explains. “Even though what happens between the boys is difficult, there’s also joy and heartbreak.”
Portraying the stop-and-search
At the heart of the story is a police stop-and-search that shatters the relationship between two boys, Ish and Maram. Perretta was determined to avoid sensationalism. “I wanted to shoot that scene in a way that reflected how it unfolds in real life—the pauses, the waiting, the trauma of seeing a young boy step out. I didn’t try to overthink it. I just wanted to give it the rhythm and emotional weight it has in real life.”
Friendship, self-determination and identity
Although friendship and identity frame the film, Perretta prefers to speak of “self-determination”. He explains: “Identity as a notion is manifold. Really, it’s about finding yourself in a nuanced way. I wanted the actors to bring themselves to it. That way it becomes more contemporary, more true to their experience as young people.”
Writing from life, but letting go
The film draws heavily on his own life, a challenge he found both personal and universal. Co-writing with Enda Walsh allowed him to step back. “Sometimes when you write from your life, it can feel problematic, like you’re lying to make it fit a narrative. Sharing the writing meant I didn’t have to hold on so tightly. And when the boys played it out, it became their story. That was freeing, both creatively and personally.”
Casting real friends
For Perretta, authenticity was key. He and casting director Laura rounded up nearly a thousand boys in Luton, seeking non-actors rooted in the community. The final choice was serendipitous: Farhan and Yahya, who not only impressed in auditions but turned out to be real-life best friends since nursery. “The chemistry was off the charts. They’d been building it since they were kids. We didn’t have to work on it at all.”
Perretta was determined to avoid sensationalismBFI
Contributing to wider conversations
Perretta hopes Ish resonates beyond cinema. “My practice has always been to look at how government policy and state power affect people’s intimate lives. With stop-and-search, I want people to see the young person at the centre of it, to understand how it can change their life, their sense of self, their relationship with authority. It’s not a spectacle—it’s deeply personal.”
Supporting the young cast
Though the subject matter was heavy, Perretta insists the young cast carried it with remarkable maturity. His role, he says, was more like an older brother. “Film sets are pressurised environments. Our job was to make sure the boys felt valued, so they could express themselves freely. None of them had acted before, but they gave everything of themselves. It felt like a family.”
Perretta insists the young cast carried it with remarkable maturityBFI
The importance of silence and stillness
Moments of quiet are as vital as the dramatic ones. “Life is filled with silence and stillness, and so are friendships. Falling asleep under a tree, waiting at a bus stop, drifting off after watching something troubling—those moments carry their own weight. They’re just as important as the high drama.”
What audiences should take away
Ultimately, Perretta wants Ish to prompt reflection. “I hope audiences think about their own friendships and heartbreaks. And I hope they see that it’s okay to leave a relationship, whether with a best friend or a parent—that grief can be a positive energy. Beyond that, I want people to stay aware of the lives of young people, and the very adult things they have to contend with.”
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Smoke billows from a burning market area at Guimara in Khagrachari district of Bangladesh on September 28, 2025, after it was set ablaze during a clash between Hill and Bengali residents over the alleged rape of a female student. (Photo: Getty Images)
AT LEAST three people were killed and dozens injured on Sunday in clashes in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of southeastern Bangladesh after protests over the alleged gang rape of a schoolgirl.
Violence spread from Khagrachhari town to Guimara despite restrictions and the deployment of security forces.
Police confirmed the deaths but did not disclose the identities of the victims. Witnesses reported homes and businesses were set ablaze during the clashes between Indigenous groups and Bengali settlers.
The home ministry said 13 army personnel and three policemen were among the injured.
Protesters alleged that the army fired on demonstrators, while the military denied responsibility and blamed the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF), a rebel faction, for the violence. The interior ministry said weapons were being smuggled into the region from outside the country.
The unrest adds to political tensions as interim leader Muhammad Yunus prepares for elections in February, the first since Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted in 2024.
Key takeaways:
Three deaths and dozens injured: Clashes broke out in Khagrachhari district following protests over the alleged rape of a schoolgirl. The violence spread to Guimara, 36 km away, despite the deployment of army, police and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel.
Victims not identified: Police confirmed three fatalities, but doctors at Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital did not clarify whether the dead were Indigenous people or Bengalis.
Rape case triggered unrest: The alleged gang rape took place on September 23. A Bengali teenager has been arrested with army assistance and is being held on six-day remand for questioning.
Blame and counter-blame: Protesters accused the army of opening fire on demonstrators. The army denied this and instead accused the UPDF rebel faction of instigating the clashes and firing shots.
Government response: Interior ministry chief Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said arms were entering the region from abroad. The home ministry pledged legal action against those responsible and urged residents to remain calm.
Background of unrest: The Chittagong Hill Tracts saw a decades-long insurgency that ended with the 1997 peace accord. Rebel groups like the UPDF rejected the deal and continue to demand autonomy, contributing to sporadic violence in the region.