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 Bishop of Liverpool said on Thursday (30) he was stepping down from his post after a British broadcaster aired allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him.
His resignation comes just weeks after Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, leader of the world's Anglicans, also stepped down over failures in the Church of England's handling of a serial abuse case.
Channel 4 News reported two women had accused Liverpool Bishop John Perumbalath of "inappropriate behaviour".
He denies wrongdoing but said in a statement afterwards a "rush to judgement and my trial by media... has made my position untenable".
Perumbalath said he had decided to retire immediately to avoid a "long period of uncertainty" while the claims were further investigated.
"I do not wish this story to become a distraction for this incredible diocese and its people, whom it has been an honour and joy to serve," he said.
The bishop said that since the allegations were made in 2023 he had "consistently maintained that I have not done anything wrong and continue to do so".
He said a Church safeguarding team had investigated the allegations and had found them "unsubstantiated" and the first allegation was investigated by the police who decided to take no further action.
"Despite this, media reports have treated me as guilty on all charges and treated these allegations as fact," he added.
The resignation comes at a time of intense scrutiny for the Church of England after Welby's resignation.
His temporary replacement, the outgoing Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, the Church's second most senior cleric, has also faced calls to resign.
Critics say he mishandled a sexual abuse case when he was the Bishop of Chelmsford in southeastern England.
Welby quit after an independent probe found he "could and should" have formally reported decades of abuse by Church-linked lawyer John Smyth to authorities in 2013.
Smyth, who organised evangelical summer camps in the 1970s and 1980s, was responsible for "prolific, brutal and horrific" abuse of up to 130 boys and young men, according to the independent Makin Review.
It concluded the Church of England covered up the "traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks", which occurred in Britain, Zimbabwe and South Africa over several decades.
The Liverpool diocese said in a statement it acknowledged Perumbalath's "decision in taking this step for the good of the diocese of Liverpool".
"We continue working hard to support all those who have been affected by this story, it added.
India’s GDP grew 7.8 per cent in April-June, beating forecasts of 6.7 per cent.
US has double tariffs on Indian imports to 50 per cent, raising export concerns.
Consumer spending rose 7.0 per cent year-on-year, driven by rural demand..
INDIA’s economy expanded faster than expected in the April-June quarter, even as higher US tariffs on Indian imports are set to weigh on activity in the coming months.
The United States has doubled tariffs on Indian goods to as high as 50 per cent over New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. The move puts India among the hardest-hit US trading partners alongside Brazil, with economists warning that exports such as textiles, leather goods and chemicals could be affected.
Government data released on Friday showed gross domestic product (GDP) grew 7.8 per cent in Asia’s third-largest economy in the April-June period, compared to 7.4 per cent in the previous quarter. Growth was stronger than the 6.7 per cent expansion economists had forecast in a Reuters poll.
Gross value added (GVA), considered a clearer measure of underlying economic activity, rose 7.6 per cent in April-June, up from 6.8 per cent in the previous three months. GVA excludes indirect taxes and government subsidies.
At this pace, India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies, though the outlook for exports has weakened after US President Donald Trump’s tariff hike.
“The surprise acceleration in GDP growth in the April-June quarter means that the economy is still on course to expand by a world-beating 7 per cent this year, despite the upcoming hit from punitive US tariffs,” Capital Economics said in a note.
The Reserve Bank of India expects the economy to grow 6.5 per cent in the fiscal year ending March 2026. Earlier this month, it kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.50 per cent.
Consumer spending rises
Private consumer spending, which accounts for around 57 per cent of GDP, rose 7.0 per cent year-on-year in April-June, up from 6 per cent in the previous quarter. Growth was supported by higher rural spending and demand for durables and farm equipment such as tractors.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has pledged support for sectors affected by US tariffs and said it would propose tax cuts to boost domestic demand. Income taxes were reduced starting April.
“Private consumption is supported by tax relief, rate cuts, crops sowing, though households may defer discretionary purchases until proposed consumption tax cuts take effect in the festive season,” said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ICRA ratings agency.
Government spending increased 7.4 per cent in April-June, compared to a 1.8 per cent decline in the previous quarter. Capital expenditure grew 7.8 per cent, though some private firms held back investments amid global uncertainty following Washington’s tariff hikes.
Manufacturing output rose 7.7 per cent year-on-year in the first fiscal quarter, up from 4.8 per cent in the previous quarter. Construction expanded 7.6 per cent, down from 10.8 per cent. The agriculture sector grew 3.7 per cent, compared to 5.4 per cent in the previous three quarters.
US tariffs weigh on outlook
Economists warned that growth could slow once the impact of higher US duties is felt.
Indian government sources said New Delhi hoped Washington would reconsider the extra 25 per cent tariff imposed this week, which raised the duty on a range of imports to 50 per cent. However, there have been no signs of new talks.
The 50 per cent tariff could hurt exports and have a “domino effect on employment, wages and private consumption,” further affecting private investment and growth, said Madhavi Arora, chief economist at Emkay Financial Services.
Exporter groups estimate the tariffs could hit nearly 55 per cent of India’s $87 billion in merchandise exports to the US, while benefiting competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and China.
Some economists warn prolonged tariffs could reduce India’s growth by 0.6 to 0.8 percentage point over a year, as weaker exports limit its role as an alternative manufacturing hub to China.
While real GDP growth remains firm, nominal GDP growth—which includes inflation—slowed to 8.8 per cent in April-June after averaging almost 11 per cent in the previous eight quarters. Analysts say this may weigh on corporate profits and stock indexes.
India’s rupee fell to a record low of 88.30 to the dollar on Friday as US tariffs took effect, while benchmark equity indices were set for a second straight monthly decline.
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Anti-government protesters display Bangladesh’s national flag at Sheikh Hasina’s palace in Dhaka last year. (Photo: Getty Images)
BANGLADESH’s Election Commission (EC) on Thursday released a roadmap for the general election, expected to be held in February next year.
The poll schedule will be announced at least 60 days before the voting date, officials said.
“The Chief Adviser’s Office has asked us to hold the election before Ramadan. If I am not mistaken, Ramadan will begin on February 17 or 18. From this, you can calculate the probable election date,” EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters at a press briefing.
He said the commission was targeting the first half of February for the election. The roadmap, prepared in line with the directives of interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, received EC approval on Wednesday.
According to Ahmed, discussions with political parties and other stakeholders will be held by the end of September and could take “one to one and a half months” to complete.
The EC identified 24 key tasks in the roadmap, including amendments to laws such as the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the Delimitation of Constituencies Act, the Voter List Act, the Election Officers (Special Provisions) Act 1991, and the Election Commission Secretariat Act 2009. Other tasks include finalising the voter list in phases, setting policies for domestic and foreign observers and journalists, and registering new political parties.
The commission expects to announce the election schedule in the second or third week of December.
In a televised address on August 5, Yunus had said the 13th parliamentary election would be held in February before Ramadan.
The roadmap announcement came as the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed this year with apparent support from Yunus, raised objections to the planned polls.
Shortly after the EC’s briefing, the NCP said the roadmap reflected a “breach of promise” by the interim government.
“Announcing the roadmap before declaring the implementation of the ‘July Charter’ is tantamount to breaking promises,” former Students against Discrimination (SAD) leader and NCP Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb told a press conference. Flanked by other leaders, Adeeb warned that this could create “future crises for which the government must bear responsibility.”
The NCP, which emerged in February as an offshoot of SAD after leading the movement that forced Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League out of power on August 5 last year, has been demanding a new constitution through a Constituent Assembly, replacing the 1972 Constitution.
Jamaat-e-Islami has separately demanded that the polls be held under a proportional representation system to secure a larger stake in parliament. Both Jamaat and NCP have also called for the trial of Hasina and leaders of her regime for their alleged role in last year’s crackdown on the uprising.
Hasina is being tried in absentia at the International Crimes Tribunal on several charges.
Former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged as the largest party in the absence of Awami League, whose activities were disbanded by Yunus’s interim government.
Despite assurances by Yunus and his advisers of free and fair polls within the announced deadline, uncertainty has grown among political parties due to the stance of the NCP.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The Department of Health said the rollout would reduce missed days at nursery and school, cut time parents take off work, and save the NHS about £15 million a year. (Representational image: iStock)
CHILDREN in England will be offered a free chickenpox vaccine for the first time from January 2026, the government has announced.
GP practices will give eligible children a combined vaccine for measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) as part of the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Around half a million children each year are expected to be protected.
The Department of Health said the rollout would reduce missed days at nursery and school, cut time parents take off work, and save the NHS about £15 million a year. Research estimates chickenpox in childhood leads to £24 million in lost income and productivity annually.
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said: “We’re giving parents the power to protect their children from chickenpox and its serious complications, while keeping them in nursery or the classroom where they belong and preventing parents from scrambling for childcare or having to miss work. This vaccine puts children’s health first and gives working families the support they deserve. As part of our Plan for Change, we want to give every child the best possible start in life, and this rollout will help to do exactly that.”
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Most parents probably consider chickenpox to be a common and mild illness, but for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox can be very serious, leading to hospital admission and tragically, while rare, it can be fatal. It is excellent news that from next January we will be introducing a vaccine to protect against chickenpox into the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme – helping prevent what is for most a nasty illness and for those who develop severe symptoms, it could be a life saver.”
Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said: “This is a hugely positive moment for families as the NHS gets ready to roll out a vaccine to protect children against chickenpox for the first time, adding to the arsenal of other routine jabs that safeguard against serious illness.”
The eligibility criteria will be set out in clinical guidance, and parents will be contacted by their GP surgery if their child is eligible.
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Modi is on a two-day visit to Japan from August 29 to 30. (Photo: X/@narendramodi)
Modi says India and Japan will work together to “shape the Asian Century”
Japan to announce $68 billion investment in India over 10 years
Modi to attend SCO summit in China, meet Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin
India and Japan to deepen cooperation in trade, technology and security
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi on Thursday said India and Japan will work together to “shape the Asian Century,” as he began a two-nation visit that will also take him to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Speaking at a business forum in Tokyo, Modi said, “India and Japan's partnership is strategic and smart. Powered by economic logic, we have turned shared interests into shared prosperity.”
“India is the springboard for Japanese businesses to the Global South. We will shape the Asian Century for stability, growth, and prosperity,” he added.
Modi is on a two-day visit to Japan from August 29 to 30. Reports said Japan will unveil 10 trillion yen ($68 billion) in investments in India over the next 10 years. Bilateral trade is currently worth more than $20 billion annually, with the balance in Japan’s favour.
Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba said, “Japan and India are strategic partners who share common values such as freedom, democracy, rule of law, having cherished friendship and trust over many years.”
“Our economic relationship is expanding rapidly as Japan's technology and India's talented human resources and its huge market are complementing each other,” Ishiba told the forum.
Trade and investments
Modi and Ishiba were expected to announce that the number of Indians with specialised skills working or studying in Japan will double to 50,000 over the next five years. Investments will target areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and access to critical minerals.
On Saturday, the two leaders are scheduled to tour a semiconductor facility and a shinkansen bullet train factory. Japan is expected to assist India in its planned 7,000-kilometre high-speed rail network by 2047. A joint project to build the first high-speed rail link between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has faced delays and cost overruns.
Both India and Japan have also been hit by tariffs imposed by the United States. A 50 per cent levy on many Indian imports into the US took effect this week. Japan’s auto sector continues to face 25 per cent tariffs as a July trade deal reducing them is yet to come into force.
India and Japan, along with the United States and Australia, are members of the Quad alliance. The two sides are expected to upgrade their 2008 declaration on security cooperation during the visit.
Next stop: China
After Japan, Modi will travel to Tianjin in China on August 31 and September 1 to attend the SCO summit hosted by President Xi Jinping and attended by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
“From Japan, I will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping,” Modi said in his departure statement.
“India is an active and constructive member of SCO. During our presidency, we have introduced new ideas and initiated collaboration in the fields of innovation, health and cultural exchanges,” he said.
“I also look forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, President Putin and other leaders on the sidelines of the summit,” he added.
Focus on regional peace
The prime minister said he was confident that his visits to Japan and China would advance India’s national priorities.
“I am confident that my visits to Japan and China would further our national interests and priorities, and contribute to building fruitful cooperation in advancing regional and global peace, security, and sustainable development,” Modi said.
This will be Modi’s first visit to China since 2018. India and China, the two most populous nations, remain rivals competing for influence in South Asia and fought a deadly border clash in 2020. A thaw began in October last year when Modi and Xi met in Russia for the first time in five years.
(With inputs from agencies)
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People demonstrate near the Bell Hotel on July 20, 2025 in Epping, England. (Photo: Getty Images)
Government appeals against injunction blocking asylum housing at Bell Hotel in Epping
More than 32,000 asylum seekers currently housed in UK hotels
Labour pledges to end hotel use for asylum seekers before 2029 election
THE UK government on Thursday asked the Court of Appeal to lift a ban on housing asylum seekers at a hotel that has faced protests, warning the order could set "a precedent".
The Home Office is seeking to overturn a high court injunction issued earlier this month that requires authorities to remove migrants from the Bell Hotel in Epping, northeast London, by September 12.
The decision was a setback for prime minister Keir Starmer's Labour government, which is already accommodating 32,345 asylum seekers in hotels across the UK as of the end of March.
Protests began in July outside the Bell Hotel after an asylum seeker staying there was accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu has denied charges of sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, and harassment without violence.
Some of the protests turned violent and spread to other parts of the country. Epping Forest district council then took legal action against the ministry, arguing that the hotel had become a public safety risk and breached planning rules.
Other councils have suggested they may take similar steps, creating difficulties for the government, which is legally obliged under a 1999 law to house "all destitute asylum seekers whilst their asylum claims are being decided".
The Bell Hotel’s owner, Somani Hotels, and the Home Office argued that the site had previously housed asylum seekers between 2020-2021 and 2022-2024, and said the Epping protests were not linked to planning concerns.
Government official Becca Jones told the court that losing 152 spaces at the Bell Hotel would be "significant" for the limited accommodation pool.
"Granting the interim injunction ... risks setting a precedent which would have a serious impact on the secretary of state's ability to house vulnerable people," Jones said.
She added that the order could also encourage local councils looking to block asylum housing and "those who seek to target asylum accommodation in acts of public disorder."
Three senior Appeal Court judges said they would deliver their ruling at 2pm on Friday.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said councils run by his party would also pursue legal action against asylum housing.
Since Keir Starmer took office in July 2024, more than 50,000 migrants have crossed from northern France to the UK in small boats, adding pressure on the government and fuelling criticism from far-right politicians.
Labour has pledged to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers before the next election, expected in 2029, to cut government spending.