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.
AN INDIAN national is among four persons arrested by US immigration authorities over charges related to sexual assault.
Jaspal Singh, 29, an Indian citizen was arrested on January 29 in Tukwila, Washington.
Singh is charged with “assault with sexual motivation”, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Seattle said in a release last week.
The other individuals arrested are citizens of Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. All four will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
“Protecting our communities, and preventing further victimisation is of paramount importance to ICE throughout the Pacific Northwest,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle field office director Drew Bostock.
“These arrests reinforce the message that the presence of illegal criminal threats will not be tolerated.”
President Donald Trump kicked off his second term in office with an ambitious immigration agenda, promising to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and seal off the US southern border.
Since then, Trump administration officials have swiftly moved to strip temporary protections for migrants and delegate more authority to federal and state partners.
More than 8,000 people have been arrested by federal immigration authorities since Trump’s inauguration. Administration officials have not shared exactly how many undocumented immigrants they’re aiming to arrest this year, but daily apprehensions have already surpassed last year’s daily average under president Joe Biden, CNN reported.
Army personnel patrol outside Nepal's President House during a curfew imposed to restore law and order in Kathmandu on September 12, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
Nepal’s president and army in talks to find an interim leader after deadly protests
At least 51 killed, the deadliest unrest since the end of the Maoist civil war
Curfew imposed in Kathmandu, army patrols continue
Gen Z protest leaders demand parliament’s dissolution
NEPAL’s president and army moved on Friday to find a consensus interim leader after anti-corruption protests forced the government out and parliament was set on fire.
The country of 30 million faced unrest this week after security forces clamped down on rallies by young anti-corruption protesters, leading to widespread violence on Tuesday.
At least 51 people were killed in the violence, the deadliest since the end of the Maoist civil war and the abolition of the monarchy in 2008.
The military took control of the streets on Wednesday, enforcing a curfew, as army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and president Ramchandra Paudel held talks with political leaders and representatives from the youth protest movement known as “Gen Z.”
Search for interim leader
Disagreements between factions remain, but 73-year-old Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first woman chief justice, has emerged as a key candidate.
"A meeting has been scheduled for this afternoon with the president, the army chief, former chief justice Sushila Karki, our representative Sudan Gurung and one legal expert," Nimesh Shrestha, who was part of the Gen Z protest, told AFP.
Karki told AFP that "experts need to come together to figure out the way forward", adding that "the parliament still stands."
However, Gurung, a youth activist, said on Thursday that their "first demand is the dissolution of parliament."
In an address to the nation, President Paudel said that "a solution to the problem is being sought, as soon as possible."
Curfew in Kathmandu
Army patrols continued for a third day in Kathmandu on Friday. The protests and unrest also triggered a mass jailbreak earlier in the week.
"I was very afraid and stayed locked inside my home with family and didn't leave," said Naveen Kumar Das, a painter-decorator in his mid-40s.
With a brief lifting of the curfew on Friday morning, residents went out to buy food and essentials.
"It was a really tense time and we just stayed indoors," said Laxmi Thapa, 32, who came out with her husband to refuel their motorbike. "We came out as things have improved."
Deadly crackdown
At least 21 protesters were among those killed, many during Monday’s police crackdown on demonstrations against corruption and governance problems, which began after a ban on social media.
On Tuesday, protesters set fire to parliament, government buildings and a Hilton Hotel. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, 73, resigned, and the army took over security in the streets.
The army said on Friday that more than 100 guns looted during the protests had been recovered.
Police spokesman Binod Ghimire told AFP that over 12,500 prisoners who escaped from jails across the country during the unrest "are still at large."
Call for change
Nepal’s economic challenges have fuelled discontent. More than 40 per cent of the population is aged between 16 and 40. A fifth of people aged 15-24 are unemployed, according to the World Bank, and GDP per capita is $1,447.
Gen Z protesters continue to debate the country’s political future.
"We started this movement so we could make a better Nepal," said James Karki, 24. "And I am positive that the army will listen."
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Winds could reach 70–80mph in the most exposed coastal areas
Met Office issues yellow warning from 8pm Sunday to 6pm Monday
Winds could reach 70–80mph in the most exposed coastal areas
Travel disruption and risk of falling debris expected
Residents urged to secure outdoor items ahead of stormy conditions
Strong winds expected across southern and western UK
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning ahead of the weekend, with winds of up to 80mph forecast to affect large parts of the UK. The alert will be in place from 8pm on Sunday until 6pm on Monday.
The warning covers much of west and southwest England and Wales, along with the entire southern coast of England. It also extends up the west coast towards Manchester. Gusts of 60mph are likely inland, rising to 70–80mph in exposed coastal areas and hilltops.
Monday morning peak
Forecasters expect the strongest winds on Monday morning, gradually moving east during the day. The Met Office has warned of delays to transport and the potential for injuries or danger to life from falling debris.
Residents in affected areas are advised to prepare by securing garden furniture, sheds, bins and other loose items.
Weather outlook before the storm
Before the weekend, Thursday will bring wind and rain to northwest Scotland, with a mix of sunshine and blustery showers elsewhere. Some showers may be heavy, with hail and thunder possible in western regions.
Friday is expected to remain breezy, with overnight showers along western coasts. Saturday could bring heavier downpours and isolated thunderstorms, alongside stronger winds and coastal gales.
Cooler but drier in the east
Eastern parts of the UK are likely to see brighter and drier spells, though temperatures will stay on the cooler side. London can expect highs of around 17–18°C across both Saturday and Sunday.
Forecasters monitoring Atlantic low pressure
Paul Gundersen, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “We have been monitoring a deepening area of low pressure over the North Atlantic that might bring impactful weather to the UK, most likely on Sunday and Monday. At present, a named storm is unlikely.”
Charlie Kirk, 31, shot dead at Utah Valley University during a student event; shooter still at large.
FBI falsely announced an arrest, later retracting the claim, raising questions about investigation handling.
Retired Canadian Michael Mallinson wrongly accused online as the shooter; misinformation spread rapidly on social media.
Security at the event was minimal, with no bag checks.
The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a student event at Utah Valley University has left the nation shaken and investigators scrambling. The 31-year-old was fatally shot in the neck while answering questions under a campus tent, in what officials are calling a sniper-style attack. The shooter remains at large, and the aftermath has exposed investigative missteps, rampant misinformation, and a dangerous level of political vitriol that threatens to push an already polarised America closer to the edge.
Charlie Kirk shot dead at Utah Valley University Getty Images
Manhunt or mismanagement?
While Kirk’s body was still en route to the morgue, the FBI announced an arrest. FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that a “subject” was in custody, then later wrote that the individual had been released after interrogation, statements that conflicted with those of other local officials and added to early confusion about whether a suspect was actually detained.
Within hours, the Bureau retracted the statement. No shooter was in custody. Instead, one man, George Zinn, had been detained and charged only with obstruction before being released; officials say he was not tied to the shooting. The actual assassin remained at large, likely dressed in dark clothing, armed with a rifle, and vanished from a rooftop roughly 137–183 metres from the stage. Authorities later said they recovered a bolt-action rifle believed to have been used.
This embarrassment for the agency came on the same day three former senior FBI officials filed a federal lawsuit alleging politically motivated firings and accusing leadership, including Director Kash Patel, of politicising bureau personnel decisions.
— (@)
Digital witch hunt
While investigators combed through footage and witness statements, the internet took matters into its own hands.
Michael Mallinson, a 77-year-old Canadian retiree, became the face of the assassination online after a fake Fox News account posted his photo alongside the caption: “This is the shooter.”
The post went viral. Thousands shared it. Hate poured in. Even automated tools and chatbots (including xAI’s Grok) echoed the false identification proving how AI and social platforms can amplify misinformation in real time.
Mallinson was nowhere near Utah. He had not left Toronto. On YouTube, creators used footage of Kirk’s killing as clickbait. On Telegram and fringe platforms, users celebrated his death.
Graphic footage circulated widely, reposted by some YouTube and TikTok channels and amplified on fringe and encrypted platforms, where pockets of users celebrated the killing. The assassination was not just a news event, it became content.
— (@)
Security failures laid bare
Kirk was a controversial figure. He knew it. His team knew it. Yet security at the event was shockingly lax. Students and attendees say no bag checks were conducted. While Kirk had private security alongside six university officers, the setup was more suited to crowd control than to the threat of a long-range attack. The shooter used that exposure to their advantage
The killing has reverberated far beyond Utah. Donald Trump called Kirk “legendary,” while Turning Point affiliates in the UK and Australia declared him a martyr. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blamed “the international hate campaign of the liberal left,” while Italy’s Giorgia Meloni called it “a deep wound for democracy.”
This swift politicisation has in fact deepened divides, with experts warning that framing the death in martyrdom terms risks fuelling further violence.
— (@)
The human toll
Behind the politics, violence and digital noise remains the wreckage of a young family. His wife Erika now faces raising two children who were close enough to hear the shot that killed their father. Public figures offered condolences and leaders across the political spectrum described it as a tragedy and warned against political violence.
Charlie Kirk’s assassination is more than a criminal case. It is a failure of security, a test of law enforcement credibility, and a mirror held up to the toxic speed of misinformation. The shooter is still free, and the questions are multiplying about safety, accountability, and how political violence is inflamed.
Charlie Kirk stands in the back of the room as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing in ceremonyGetty Images
The investigation will eventually name a suspect. But no arrest will erase the fact that a man was gunned down in front of his family, and that the aftermath, from false custody claims to viral lies, has made a fractured nation feel even more unstable. Not in abstract political terms, but in the daily lives of people who now fear rallies, campuses, and speech. That is the cost we can least afford to ignore.
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Prince Harry visits the Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London, in London, Britain, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Suzanne Plunkett
PRINCE HARRY had tea with King Charles on Wednesday (10) at their first meeting in 20 months, in what may prove a first step toward ending a much-publicised rift between father and son.
Harry, the Duke of Sussex, last saw his father in February 2024, shortly after it was announced that the king was undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles, 76, had a private tea at Clarence House in London with his son on Wednesday.
Harry, 40, travelled directly to an Invictus Games event in London after the meeting. Asked by a reporter about his father, he said: "Yes, he's great, thank you."
Harry flew into Britain on Monday (8) for a series of engagements, and earlier on Wednesday visited a research centre which specialises in improving treatment for victims with blast injuries.
Since Harry and his American wife Meghan moved to California in 2020 where they now live with their two children, they have been highly critical of the royal family and the institution in interviews, TV documentaries and Harry's autobiography Spare.
Harry had some particularly barbed comments for Charles and his elder brother, heir-to-the-throne Prince William, leading to a total breakdown in his relationship with his family.
"Of course some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course they will never forgive me for lots of things. But you know ... I would love reconciliation with my family. ... There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. And life is precious," he told the BBC.
"I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile."
Buckingham Palace and Harry's representatives had been tight-lipped ahead of the prince's visit to Britain about whether there would be a meeting with the king.
However, Charles' communications chief and Harry's media representatives were pictured in July at a secret meeting in London in what newspapers suggested might be the first steps towards a reconciliation.
Historian and author Anthony Seldon said mending their relationship was important for the monarchy and for both Charles and Harry as individuals.
"The king is the king, but he's also a human being and a loving father," Seldon told Reuters. "I think the rift will have caused both of them a lot of anguish. So if that can be healed, at least in part, now or subsequently, then that's all to the good."
(Reuters)
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The commemoration event honoured two South Asian WW2 veterans who died this year, Havildar Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt MBE and Sergeant Mohammad Hussain.
TWO South Asian Second World War veterans were honoured at a commemoration event in London on Wednesday, September 10. The ceremony paid tribute to Havildar Major Rajindar Singh Dhatt MBE and Sergeant Mohammad Hussain, who both died this year.
The event, hosted by British Future and Eastern Eye with support from the Royal British Legion, also launched My Family Legacy, a project to raise awareness of South Asian contributions in the world wars and preserve family stories for future generations.
More than 2.5 million people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka served in the Second World War, forming the largest volunteer army in history. New polling by Focaldata, released alongside the launch, found that only half of the UK public – and fewer than six in ten British Asians – know that Indian soldiers served in the war.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said: “We should never forget what we all owe to those who won the second world war against fascism. South Asian soldiers were the largest volunteer army in history. Ensuring that their enormous contribution is fully recognised in our national story remains important work in progress. My Family Legacy aims to help people to find, document and tell these family stories of courage and contribution, service and sacrifice in the world wars.”
Gail Walters, Director of Network Engagement at the Royal British Legion, said: “Honouring the South Asian soldiers who served in Britain’s World Wars is about remembering their bravery and also gives a fuller picture of our shared history. The service and sacrifice of South Asian soldiers are integral to Britain’s national story and helped build the country we are today.”
Amrit Kaur Dhatt, granddaughter of Havildar Major Dhatt, said: “It is so important to capture stories of Commonwealth and ethnic minority soldiers, like my grandfather’s, because they were left out of mainstream history. I find that even the disparity and awareness between VE and VJ Day remains shockingly significant. But remembering isn’t just about the past. It is about shaping the future. And I fear that today’s society clearly hasn’t learnt enough from history. Baba Ji had always hoped that future generations would never have to see the devastation that they [war veterans] had to endure.”
Ejaz Hussain, granddaughter of Sergeant Hussain, said: “As the last soldiers of the war fade before our eyes, it remains imperative that we capture their stories. We - as a country and a people - are blessed to be here today, enjoying liberty and safety directly because of the sacrifices of those from the greatest generation, of which my grandfather was one.”
Journalist Sangita Myska said: “Honouring the service given by South Asian soldiers is vital to understanding the intertwined and complex relationship forged by our forebears with Britain.”
Actor Adil Ray OBE said: “This is the greatest war story that’s never been told. Millions of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs from India, today’s Pakistan and Bangladesh fought two world wars, fighting for our freedom. We owe everything to Major Dhatt and Sergeant Hussain and their fellow soldiers. Their history is our history.”