Pramod Thomas

Kochi

Senior Journalist @EasternEye. Ex @NewIndianXpress Author: A Shoe Named Revolution (Poetry/Amazon). Tweets are personal.

Articles

Labour attracts growing support from Asian business leaders

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

ASIAN businessmen have donated generously to the ruling Labour party and the Liberal Democrats in the first quarter of 2025, the latest data from the Electoral Commission has revealed. Property tycoon Maqbool Ahmed was the biggest Asian donor, contributing more than £75,000 to Labour, while Amin Hemani gave £50,000, and Lord Waheed Alli contributed £35,000 in January.
NHS rejects new Alzheimer's drugs over high costs

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

THE NHS said on Thursday (19) it will not offer two new treatments for Alzheimer's disease, citing high costs and "too small" benefits. Donanemab and Lecanemab have been hailed as breakthrough treatments for slowing down the symptoms of early-stage Alzheimer's, the most common type of dementia. They are active substances used to treat adults with mild memory and cognitive problems.
Survivors demand politicians step back from child sexual exploitation inquiry

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

TWO survivors of grooming gangs have called for politicians to step back and let women shape the new national inquiry into child sexual exploitation. Holly Archer and Scarlett Jones, who helped run a local inquiry in Telford, said the political fighting over vulnerable women must stop before the investigation begins, the Guardian reported.
Jonathan Badyal joins Manchester United foundation as new trustee

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

MANCHESTER UNITED FOUNDATION has appointed two new trustees to its board, including a communications expert with experience in music and government. Jonathan Badyal, a partner at Trafalgar Strategy and former Universal Music UK director of communications, joined the board in March alongside Professor Saul Becker from Manchester Metropolitan University, a statement said.
Sisters drown in Snowdonia pools during trip with friends

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

TWO sisters studying at the University of Chester have drowned in mountain pools while visiting Snowdonia with university friends, an inquest has heard. Hajra Zahid, 29, and Haleema Zahid, 25, were pulled from the water at the Watkin Pools at Eryri in the Nant Gwynant area of Gwynedd on June 11. The sisters, who were born in Pakistan but lived in Maltby, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, were both pronounced dead at the scene, according to reports.
Croydon couple dies in Air India crash after baby shower trip

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

A YOUNG couple from Croydon were among those killed in last week's devastating Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, it has been confirmed. Vaibhav Patel, 29, and his pregnant wife Jinal Goswami, 27, died when their flight crashed just moments after takeoff on June 12. Goswami was seven months pregnant with the couple's first child, reports said. The pair had travelled to Gujarat to celebrate their baby shower with family and friends.
India-UK free trade agreement brings business stability: Goyal

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

THE India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) brings "stability and predictability" for businesses in both countries, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday (18). During a session at the India Global Forum (IGF) UK-India Week titled 'Agreement to Action in the UK-India FTA', the minister shared his optimism around the "good marriage" agreed between both countries, which will lead to doubling bilateral trade in five years.
Pakistan army-backed firm joins race for national airline

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

TWO of Pakistan's leading business groups and a company backed by the powerful military will bid for the country's ailing national carrier, a divestment the government hopes will kickstart the privatisations of state-owned enterprises. The sale of Pakistan International Airlines will be the first major privatisation for around two decades, with the sale of loss-making state-owned enterprises a condition of last year's $7 billion (£5.5bn) bailout by the International Monetary Fund.
Indian schools among finalists for world’s best school prizes

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

FOUR Indian schools were on Wednesday (18) named among the top 10 finalists across different categories for the annual world's best school prizes, organised in the UK to celebrate schools' enormous contribution to society's progress. Schools from Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh were unveiled as contenders for membership of the Best School to Work programme to help schools attract and retain the best teachers. The worldwide winners across categories will be announced in October.
Fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi accuses India of kidnapping

1 week ago | easterneye.biz | Pramod Thomas

FUGITIVE jeweller Mehul Choksi accused India of orchestrating his kidnapping to extradite him on fraud allegations, with his lawyers telling London's High Court on Monday (16) that only India had the motivation and resources to do so. Choksi – who was arrested in Belgium in April – is wanted in India over his alleged involvement in one of India's biggest bank frauds at Punjab National Bank, which in 2018 announced it had discovered alleged fraud worth $1.8 billion (£1.29bn).