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 INDIAN artist Anish Kapoor will host a solo exhibition at Liverpool Cathedral from Saturday (10) to 15 September, as part of its centenary celebrations. This event marks Kapoor’s first solo show in a UK cathedral and his first major exhibition in Liverpool since 1983.
Kapoor, known for his innovative works that challenge traditional forms of painting, sculpture, and architecture, will present his exhibition titled Monadic Singularity.
The exhibition will feature works spanning the last 25 years of his career, including Sectional Body Preparing for Monadic Singularity (2015), a large-scale sculpture never before seen in the UK. Additionally, a kinetic wax sculpture will be displayed in the Cathedral’s main space, with other works integrated throughout the venue.
The exhibition creates a dialogue between contemporary art and the sacred space of Liverpool Cathedral, inviting visitors to reflect on deeper spiritual themes. Kapoor expressed that showing his works in the Cathedral is a complex undertaking, given the space's physical and spiritual dimensions.
He said, "The works I have chosen to show here are situated between body and materiality and geometric immaterial, which I refer to as the non-object. I hope this conjunction of object and non-object in this immense and potent space will be cause for reflection on the nature of religious experience and the human condition.”
Over the last forty years, Kapoor has crafted renowned public sculptures including Cloud Gate in Chicago, Sky Mirror in Nottingham, and Temenos in Middlesbrough.
The Dean of Liverpool, the Very Reverend Dr Sue Jones, welcomed Kapoor’s exhibition, highlighting the Cathedral's role as a place of encounter and inviting the public to experience Kapoor’s work within its historic setting.
"As we commemorate the centenary of our Cathedral’s consecration, it is a privilege to welcome the iconic Anish Kapoor to our sacred space. This exhibition promises to be a profound meeting of creativity and spirituality, inspiring all who visit," he said.
The exhibition is supported by Culture Liverpool, the Liverpool BID Company, Lisson Gallery, Boodles, and others, with additional backing from the department for culture, media and sport, and Arts Council England.
A COUNCILLOR was on Friday (15) acquitted of encouraging violent disorder for saying far-right activists should have their throats cut amid riots last year, drawing claims from right-wing politicians of a hypocritical "two-tier" justice system.
Ricky Jones made the comments at a counter-protest in London after three girls were murdered in Southport last summer and he was suspended by the Labour party.
Jones, 58, was cleared by a jury following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court. He had made the remarks to a crowd gathered near an immigration advice centre in London after reports that far-right supporters were planning a protest.
"They are disgusting Nazi fascists ... We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all," he said, running a finger across his throat.
Jones gave evidence that he did not intend his words to be taken literally and said his comments referred to far-right stickers with hidden razor blades found on a train.
Right-wing politicians and activists said his case was an example of how Britain had an unfair police and justice system, with those who voice concerns about immigration treated differently to those who support liberal or left-wing causes.
They contrasted Jones' treatment with that of Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor who was jailed for 31 months for inciting racial hatred for a post urging mass deportation of migrants and the burning of their hotels.
Unlike Jones, she had pleaded guilty to the offence.
Misinformation on social media last year said the teenager who committed the Southport murders was an Islamist migrant, fuelling days of violent riots including attacks on mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers.
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Onlookers gather near a destroyed bridge after flash floods on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on August 15, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
HEAVY monsoon rains triggered landslides and flash floods across northern Pakistan, leaving at least 169 people dead in the last 24 hours, national and local officials said on Friday (15).
The majority of the deaths, 150, were recorded in mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the National Disaster Management Authority.
Nine more people were killed in Pakistan Kashmir, while five died in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, it said.
The majority of those killed have died in flash floods and collapsing houses.
Five others, including two pilots, were killed when a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government helicopter crashed due to bad weather during a mission to deliver relief goods, the chief minister of the province, Ali Amin Gandapur, said.
The provincial government has declared the severely affected mountainous districts of Buner, Bajaur, Mansehra and Battagram as disaster-hit areas.
In Bajaur, a tribal district abutting Afghanistan, a crowd amassed around an excavator trawling a mud-soaked hill, AFP photos showed.
Funeral prayers began in a paddock nearby, with people grieving in front of several bodies covered by blankets.
The meteorological department has issued a heavy rain alert for the northwest, urging people to avoid "unnecessary exposure to vulnerable areas".
In Indian Kashmir, rescuers pulled bodies from mud and rubble on Friday after a flood crashed through a Himalayan village, killing at least 60 people and washing away dozens more.
Scientists said climate change has made weather events around the world more extreme and more frequent.
Pakistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and its population is contending with extreme weather events with increasing frequency.
The torrential rains that have pounded Pakistan since the start of the summer monsoon, described as "unusual" by authorities, have killed more than 320 people, nearly half of them children.
In July, Punjab, home to nearly half of Pakistan's 255 million people, recorded 73 per cent more rainfall than the previous year and more deaths than in the entire previous monsoon.
(With inputs from AFP)
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Hitchin residents can look forward to a fine and settled weekend
Mostly dry conditions expected across Hitchin with clear to partly cloudy skies.
No rain forecast from Friday through Sunday.
Temperatures will peak at 28°C on Friday before easing slightly over the weekend.
Moderate breezes throughout, with winds up to 19mph.
Weekend outlook
Hitchin residents can look forward to a fine and settled weekend, with dry conditions and a mix of clear and partly cloudy skies from Friday through Sunday. The absence of rain and comfortable temperatures will make it an excellent opportunity for outdoor activities.
Friday: Warmest day of the weekend
Friday will bring partly cloudy skies with the warmest temperatures of the weekend, reaching a high of 28°C and dipping to 16°C overnight. Humidity will sit at around 67%, ensuring a comfortable atmosphere. Winds of up to 17mph will provide a refreshing breeze.
Saturday: Mild with a steady breeze
On Saturday, conditions will remain partly cloudy, with temperatures easing slightly to a high of 25°C and a low of 15°C. Humidity will rise marginally to 69%, though the air will remain comfortable. Winds may pick up to 19mph, adding a gentle breeze to the day.
Sunday: Clear and settled finish
Sunday will be the clearest day of the weekend, offering bright skies and calm conditions. Temperatures will peak at 24°C before falling to 12°C overnight. Humidity will reduce to around 65%, while winds will ease to 16mph, making for a serene close to the weekend.
Commuting conditions
With no rainfall predicted and only moderate winds, commuters should find conditions favourable whether travelling by car or bicycle. Cyclists should be mindful of breezier spells on Friday and Saturday.
Best time for outdoor plans
The dry and mild forecast makes this weekend ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, picnics, or visits to local parks. The clear skies on Sunday in particular may appeal to those planning barbecues or longer walks. Residents are advised to stay hydrated on Friday, when higher temperatures are expected.
Virgin Media customers reported severe pixelation during Liverpool’s season opener at Anfield.
The disruption lasted for more than 15 minutes, causing many to miss Hugo Ekitike’s first-half goal.
Fans took to social media to complain, criticising the service cost and reliability.
Virgin Media apologised, confirming the issue has since been resolved.
Broadcast disruption frustrates fans
Liverpool fans were left frustrated after a major broadcast fault affected Virgin Media’s coverage of the club’s first Premier League home game of the season against Bournemouth.
Viewers complained of a heavily pixelated screen and frozen coverage from around the 15th minute of play, with the problem lasting well into the first half. The fault meant many missed Hugo Ekitike’s 37th-minute goal, which gave Liverpool the lead.
Fans vent on social media
Supporters voiced their anger on X, formerly Twitter, describing the feed as “unwatchable”.
One viewer said: “First match of the season ruined. Unacceptable when paying £120 a month for the service.”
Another user, Andy Lycett, wrote: “Anyone else’s Virgin Media gone all squiffy? It’s like watching it on a dodgy stick.”
Julie B added: “Unbelievable! 30 minutes into the football and Virgin Media fails on TV and online! We pay all that money plus extra for Sky Sports and this happens on the first match of the season.”
Others confirmed that rebooting their television boxes and Wi-Fi routers did not resolve the problem.
Virgin Media response
In a reply to affected customers, Virgin Media confirmed it was aware of an issue impacting Sky Sports channels.
A spokesperson said: “We apologise to customers who experienced pixelation issues with their television services earlier this evening. Our teams worked swiftly to identify the fault and have now restored services to normal.”
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Benjamin Netanyahu with JP Singh last Sunday (10).
EVEN as he holds late night cabinet meetings to plan his war in Gaza, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is fond of ordering chicken tikka and tikka masala from an Indian restaurant in Tel Aviv called Tandoori.
“They are his favourites,” according to the restaurant’s celebrity owner, Reena Pushkarna, “but no coriander – he is allergic to coriander.”
This is one of the little takeaways from a visit to Israel last week by an Indian journalistic delegation, which had an exclusive interview with Netanyahu for about 45 minutes.
It is quite clear that Netanyahu is keen to strengthen diplomatic and especially defence and intelligence ties with India. He was warmly received in India in 2018. That was a year after Narendra Modi visited Israel in 2017, the first Indian prime minister to do so.
India recognised Israel in 1950, but full diplomatic relations with exchange of ambassadors were not established until 1992. During Operation Sindoor and India’s recent conflict with Pakistan, Israel gave its full backing to Delhi.
Netanyahu’s government described the operation as a “measured and decisive response to terrorism”, adding “Israel supports India’s right for self-defence. Terrorists should know there’s no place to hide from their heinous crimes against the innocent.”
Netanyahu meeting Indian journalists
It draws a parallel with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, while India views terrorism through the prism of cross-border infiltration in Kashmir.
While public opinion in India appears to be against the rising civilian death toll in Gaza, Modi’s government believes its strategic interests lie in not condemning Netanyahu for what others consider to be mounting “genocide” of Palestinians.
This is the background against which Netanyahu met the Indian ambassador in Tel Aviv, JP Singh, last week.
Afterwards, Netanyahu posted a message on X: “I met today in my office in Jerusalem with the Ambassador of India to Israel, JP Singh. We discussed strengthening and expanding cooperation between Israel and India, particularly in the fields of security and economics – an important partnership based on shared values and interests. Afterwards, I held a meeting with a group of senior journalists from India and answered their questions.” According to the Indian embassy in Israel, Netanyahu “stressed the need to further deepen the India-Israel strategic partnership. Ambassador Singh conveyed the greetings of prime minister Narendra Modi and assured to strengthen the positive trajectory of the bilateral relations between India and Israel.”
It was also pointed out that last month, “India’s defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held a bilateral meeting with the director general of the Israel ministry of defence, Amir Baram, in New Delhi. The two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation with a long-term perspective. They concurred to work towards developing an institutional framework for further deepening of defence ties. The Israeli DG condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and conveyed full support for India’s fight against terrorism.”
Bilateral trade has more than doubled since 2013, reaching $5 billion (£3.7bn) in 2024. Of the 85,000 foreign workers who arrived in Israel to replace Palestinian labour following Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, about 25,000 are from India.
The journalists, who visited Israel at the invitation of the Israeli embassy in Delhi, included Aditya Raj Kaul, TV9 Network; Zakka Jacob, CNN-News18; Vishnu Som, NDTV; Abhishek Kapoor, Republic TV; Siddhant Sibbal, WION; Shubhajit Roy, Indian Express; and Manash Pratim, PTI.
Kaul said Netanyahu told him that “Israel wants more Indian workers because they are sensible and Israel is trying to remove bureaucratic hurdles”.
In his report, Roy, diplomatic editor of the Express, said: “Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump his ‘terrific friends’, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he would give Modi ‘some advice but privately’ on how to deal with Trump. At the same time, he said, ‘There is a basic understanding in the relationship between India and the US. The basis of the relationship is very solid. It will be in the interest of India and the US to arrive at a common ground and resolve the tariff issue. Such a resolution will be good for Israel as well as both countries are our friends.’ His remarks came a day after Trump doubled the tariff on India, citing its purchase of Russian oil.
“Calling for greater cooperation on intelligence sharing, countering terror and high-technology, he said he would like to ‘quickly wrap up mutual defence and economic agreements’.
Reena Pushkarna, owner of Tandoori in Tel Aviv
“On India-Israel defence cooperation, Netanyahu said, ‘Israel supplied military equipment to India before (Operation Sindoor). All of them worked well. Israeli equipment used during Operation Sindoor were battle proven. We don’t develop them in labs, but on the battlefield. So they are battle-tested. We have robust defence cooperation. It is on a pretty solid foundation.’
“Asked about cross-border terrorism, he said, ‘It is a problem. India is a huge country and it is not easy to have surveillance all over. We are ready to help India on air surveillance systems. Besides intelligence, we need the physical capability to get the terrorists before they strike.’”
Roy’s report went on: “On India’s ties with Israel, Netanyahu said, “Our relationship with India is very strong and I am saying this from my heart. We are seeking to seize the opportunity for the future. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India’s so-called policy of neutrality has changed and India and Israel are witnessing great friendship. I would like to come to India soon. I miss India. There is huge scope for further expanding our cooperation including in areas such as intelligence sharing, countering terrorism and high-technology. We have developed a lot of technology in screening data and social networks. We are cooperating in this domain with India as well. We would like to quickly wrap up mutual defence and economic agreements. We would like to open up the bureaucratic constraints for Indian workers and caregivers, they are beloved, they are part of our society and family. We would like to have direct flights between Tel Aviv and Bangalore, so that we can reach in six hours.’”
Another member of the delegation, Kapoor, who is executive director of Republic TV, appeared impressed with the Israeli prime minister: “Essentially what Benjamin Netanyahu said was that ‘peace has to happen on our terms’. I really liked when he said the world respects its strength, the world respects your capacity to carry your will. Everything else comes next. You have to win first and then the alignments, realignments can take place. That was my most important takeaway. He was supremely confident in his body language. We came back satisfied because he took all questions, even some critical ones.”
The enterprising Kapoor also went to Tandoori where he interviewed Pushkarna, who recalled the occasion in 2017 when Netanyahu came in with Modi for a meal. The Israeli prime minister said he hoped for “the same magic” as the time he had come in for his first date with Sara Ben-Artzi, whom he later married.
Meanwhile in India, Naor Gilon, Israel’s ambassador in Delhi, was slapped down after he objected to Frontline, an English language fortnightly published by the Hindu group, carrying comments from both Israeli sources and a Hamas spokesman.
Frontline’s editor Vaishna Roy said: “It is unprecedented and it’s not a good omen. We’re seeing a sudden rise in a certain kind of propaganda, which refuses to admit a single voice of dissent.