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.
AIR INDIA on Thursday (2) started operating its advanced A350-900 aircraft on non-stop flights between Delhi and Newark Liberty International Airport, following the recent launch of A350 services to New York. This move upgrades all flights between Delhi and the New York area with the airline's modern interiors, featuring private business class suites, premium economy seating, and an enhanced inflight entertainment system, a statement said.
To celebrate the occasion, Air India’s cabin crew explored New York city, revisiting famous landmarks immortalised in both hollywood and bollywood films. Dressed in their new uniforms designed by Manish Malhotra, the crew recreated scenes from iconic movies, connecting the airline's journey with the city’s cinematic heritage.
Crew members at Gapstow Bridge in Central Park
At Rockefeller Plaza, they paid homage to the legendary “Lunch atop a skyscraper” photograph, embodying the spirit of innovation and adventure. In Central Park, they visited the Gapstow Bridge, a picturesque location featured in Home Alone 2 and The Devil Wears Prada.
The crew also posed on the grand steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, famous for its appearances in Gossip Girl and Ocean’s 8. At Times Square, they soaked in the vibrant energy of the city under its iconic neon lights, reminiscent of scenes from Vanilla Sky and Kal Ho Naa Ho.
Air India crew strolled the busy sidewalks of Times Square
Other stops included Sutton Place Park under the Queensboro Bridge, where they recreated a scene from Woody Allen’s Manhattan, and The Pierre Hotel’s Rotunda Room, where Scent of a Woman’s unforgettable tango sequence was filmed. They even paid tribute to New York's iconic yellow taxis, a symbol of the city’s ceaseless energy, featured in countless films.
Through this journey, Air India celebrated its growing connection with New York while highlighting the cultural significance of the city’s landmarks.
Crew members in front of iconic yellow cabs in New York
UK's economy grew more than expected in the second quarter, though at a slower pace than the first three months of 2025, as US tariffs and a higher UK business tax weighed on activity, official data showed on Thursday.
Gross domestic product rose 0.3 per cent in April-June, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, above analyst forecasts of 0.1 per cent growth. This followed a 0.7 per cent rise in the first quarter.
“Today’s economic figures are positive with a strong start to the year and continued growth in the second quarter,” said finance minister Rachel Reeves.
“But there is more to do to deliver an economy that works for working people,” she added, after a challenging first year in power for the Labour government.
The ONS said growth in construction and services in the second quarter helped offset a fall in production.
“Growth was led by services, with computer programming, health and vehicle leasing growing,” said Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics.
Data released on Wednesday showed UK unemployment at a four-year high of 4.7 per cent in the second quarter.
The slowdown comes after the government raised the UK business tax from April, when US President Donald Trump’s 10 per cent baseline tariff on most goods also took effect.
Citing risks from US tariffs, the Bank of England last week cut its key interest rate by a quarter point to 4 per cent.
“The weak global economy will remain a drag on UK GDP growth for a while yet,” said Ruth Gregory, deputy chief UK economist at Capital Economics.
“The full drag on business investment from April’s tax rises has yet to be felt. And the ongoing speculation about further tax rises in the (UK) autumn budget will probably keep consumers in a cautious mood,” she added.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
Donald Trump and Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
INDIA expects trade discussions with the United States to continue despite Washington raising tariffs on its exports to 50 per cent over New Delhi’s purchase of sanctioned Russian oil, two lawmakers said on Monday, citing a briefing to a parliamentary panel on foreign affairs.
Last week, US president Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods because of India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. This brought the total duty on Indian exports to 50 per cent, among the highest for any American trading partner.
“Our relations with the US are multi-dimensional, and should not be seen only through the prism of trade,” one lawmaker said, quoting the foreign secretary’s briefing to the panel.
Panel chair Shashi Tharoor, an opposition Congress party leader, said trade talks would proceed as planned.
“As of now, there is no change in the existing plans for the sixth round,” Tharoor said, referring to a scheduled visit of a US trade delegation to New Delhi from August 25.
Earlier, junior finance minister Pankaj Chaudhary told lawmakers that about 55 per cent of India’s merchandise exports to the United States would be covered by the new tariff. His estimate included the initial 25 per cent levy, he said in a written reply to a lawmaker.
“The Department of Commerce is engaged with all stakeholders” for their assessment of the situation, Chaudhary said.
Goods trade between the United States and India was worth about $87 billion in the last fiscal year, according to Indian government estimates.
The panel also discussed reported remarks by Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on nuclear threats in South Asia during a visit to the United States.
“Nuclear blackmail will not work with India, and no party, or representative disagrees with this view,” Tharoor said, adding that the external affairs ministry had condemned the comments.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Keep ReadingShow less
AMSA said India, Brazil, the USA, the EU, the UK, China, Malaysia, Mexico, Canada and Australia had taken strong protection measures for their steel industries. (Photo: Getty Image)
ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), part of Lakshmi Mittal’s steel group, said it is still considering closing its long steel production business as it waits for the South African government to implement a rescue plan for the domestic industry.
In January, AMSA announced plans to stop operations at its long steel manufacturing plants, affecting over 3,500 jobs. The Industrial Development Corporation later stepped in with some measures.
Despite this, AMSA reported a R500 million loss for the six months ended June 2025, according to its consolidated financial statements released this week.
“ArcelorMittal South Africa continues to face significant challenges with no improvement in market conditions over the previous period. The prolonged negative international steel cycle remains, ensuring that global and domestic steel markets remained under pressure in spite of some price improvement, notably in China during July,” the company said.
It said the possibility of closing the long steel plants, announced in November last year, still existed to ensure viability. “Enhancing the balance sheet will depend on the outcome of the ongoing IDC transaction. Should a sustainable solution not be reached, the company will proceed with the planned permanent wind-down of the longs business.
“In that event, ArcelorMittal South Africa will promptly initiate monetisation of assets, including Saldanha Steel, the Tubular Mill, the Vereeniging Bar Mill, ArcelorMittal Rail and Structures, and other non-core properties. Proceeds will be applied to strengthen the balance sheet, to reduce debt, and will be reinvested into the flats business to support improvements in earnings and cash flow in order to preserve core business continuity,” it added.
AMSA said India, Brazil, the USA, the EU, the UK, China, Malaysia, Mexico, Canada and Australia had taken strong protection measures for their steel industries.
It said the South African government had introduced initiatives but there had been limited progress in implementing measures that addressed constraints.
The company cited major rail service interruptions caused by cable theft, leading to locomotive failures. It said it had offered to help with security on key rail routes and taken other cost and mitigation steps.
“On two occasions during the past six months, the risk of uncontrolled blast furnace stops arose due to major rail service interruptions. Additional unplanned road transport had to be deployed, resulting in higher direct, operational, and handling costs of some R317 million, more than double that of R127 million in 2024,” AMSA said.
With regular power cuts from state-owned Eskom, losses during the period rose to R41 million from R25 million a year earlier.
AMSA said South Africa could maintain and grow a viable steel industry if government commitments were turned into real and immediate action. “The top two priorities currently are to ensure that there is a vibrant level of steel demand accessible to South African steel producers; and second, that the high levels of imports are dramatically reduced,” it said.
It added that about 68 per cent, or 5,18,000 tonnes, of current steel imports could be produced locally. “Once these priorities are addressed, the industry will be in a much stronger position to progress with investment to improve localisation levels with the aim of completely replacing imports, while turning attention to the issue of decarbonisation,” it said.
The company also said action against illicit trade and corrupt and collusive dealings was not being addressed.
AMSA was formed from the former state-owned steelmaker Iscor, which Mittal turned around before acquiring.
(With inputs from agencies)
Keep ReadingShow less
Balaji has been Group chief financial officer of Tata Motors since November 2017 and a non-executive director on JLR’s board since December 2017.
JAGUAR LAND ROVER (JLR) has appointed PB Balaji as chief executive officer (CEO), effective November 2025. He will succeed Adrian Mardell, who is retiring after three years as CEO and 35 years with the company.
N Chandrasekaran, chairman of Jaguar Land Rover PLC, Tata Motors and Tata Sons, said: “I would like to thank Adrian for the stellar turnaround of JLR and for delivering record results. I am delighted to appoint Balaji as the incoming CEO of the company. The search for a suitable candidate to lead JLR has been undertaken by the Board for the past few months and after careful consideration it was decided to appoint Balaji. He has been associated with the Company for the past many years and is familiar with the Company, its strategy and has been working with the JLR leadership team. This move will ensure that we continue to accelerate our journey to Reimagine JLR.”
Mardell said: “These three years have been a great privilege. Together with the incredible JLR workforce, we have cemented JLR’s position in the automotive industry during a time of incredible change. I would like to thank everyone in JLR and the extended Tata Group, and wish Balaji every success in his new role.”
Balaji said: “It is my privilege to lead this incredible company. Over the past 8 years I have grown to know and love this company and its redoubtable global brands. I look forward to working with the team to take it to even greater heights. I thank Adrian for his immense contributions and wish him well for his next innings.”
Balaji has been Group chief financial officer of Tata Motors since November 2017 and a non-executive director on JLR’s board since December 2017. He has 32 years of experience in automotive and consumer goods industries and has worked in Mumbai, London, Singapore and Switzerland.
Keep ReadingShow less
Thursday’s rate reduction marked the BoE’s fifth cut since it began a rate-trimming cycle in August 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE BANK OF ENGLAND on Thursday reduced its key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4 per cent, the lowest level in two and a half years, as it looked to support the UK economy amid continued concerns over US tariffs.
The central bank also forecast that the British economy would grow by 1.25 per cent this year, a slight improvement from its earlier estimate of 1 per cent.
"The direct impact of US tariffs is milder than feared but more general tariff-related uncertainty still weighs on sentiment," the BoE said in a statement.
In May, London and Washington reached an agreement to cut tariffs of more than 10 per cent imposed by US president Donald Trump on certain UK-made products imported by the US, especially vehicles.
Thursday’s rate reduction marked the BoE’s fifth cut since it began a rate-trimming cycle in August 2024.
"Interest rates are still on a downward path, but any future rate cuts will need to be made gradually and carefully," said BoE governor Andrew Bailey.
The BoE’s primary objective is to maintain the UK’s annual inflation rate at 2.0 per cent. However, the most recent data showed inflation had risen to an 18-month high in June.
The Consumer Prices Index climbed to 3.6 per cent, with motor fuel and food prices remaining elevated.
Weak economy
Official data showed the UK economy contracted for a second consecutive month in May, and unemployment reached a near four-year high of 4.7 per cent.
The contraction has been attributed in part to prime minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government raising UK business taxes from April. That same month, the country became subject to Trump’s 10 per cent baseline tariff on most goods.
Finance minister Rachel Reeves welcomed the BoE’s decision.
"This fifth interest rate cut since the election (win by Labour in July 2024) is welcome news, helping bring down the cost of mortgages and loans for families and businesses," she said in a statement.
Last week, the US Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, resisting political pressure from Trump to lower borrowing costs to stimulate the US economy.
Asked about tariffs, Fed chair Jerome Powell said at a press conference, "We're still a ways away from seeing where things settle down."
The European Central Bank is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at its next meeting, as eurozone inflation remains close to its two per cent target. However, economists have noted this could change depending on the impact of Trump’s tariffs on the euro area.