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.
Lucknow Super Kings survived an unbeaten blitz of 67 by Rinku Singh to edge Kolkata Knight Riders by one run and qualify for the Indian Premier League play-offs on Saturday (20).
Nicholas Pooran's 58 guided Lucknow to 176-8, a total that was threatened by Rinku, a left-hand batsman, who smashed four sixes in his 33-ball knock but Kolkata ended on 175-7.
"First reaction is satisfaction," Lucknow skipper Krunal Pandya said after the win.
"We never gave up, we were put under a lot of pressure but credit to the boys. At one stage, they were 61-1 but I've seen it before that at this level, two-three tight overs and we're in the game."
The result ensured a top-two finish for Chennai Super Kings, who hammered hosts Delhi Capitals by 77 runs in their march to the play-offs in the first match of the day.
Four-time champions Chennai, led by M S Dhoni, will take on holders Gujarat Titans, who top the 10-team table, in the first qualifier.
The winner will head straight to the final in Ahmedabad on May 28 and the loser playing the winner of the "eliminator" between teams three and four in the second qualifier.
"There is no recipe as such," Dhoni said on his team's success in the T20 tournament.
"You try to pick the best players and try to give them the best slot. You use them in the manner where they have most chances of succeeding and groom them in the areas where they are not as strong."
Two-time champions Kolkata bowed out of the race for the top four, leaving five-time champions Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals fighting for the remaining spot.
Kolkata began strongly to put Lucknow in trouble at 73-5 before the left-handed Pooran hit back in his 30-ball blitz to guide his team to 176-8 at Eden Gardens and was named man of the match.
In reply, England's Jason Roy, who hit 45, and Venkatesh Iyer gave Kolkata a brisk start in their stand of 61 in 5.5 overs before the Lucknow spinners hit back.
Kolkata lost track after Roy's wicket but Rinku, who became an IPL sensation with his five sixes off five balls last month, made Kolkata dream again even when they needed 41 off the last two overs.
In the opening match, New Zealand's Devon Conway (87) and Gaikwad (79) set up Chennai's win with an opening stand of 141 to steer the team to 223-3.
Skipper David Warner hit a valiant 86 but Chennai kept down Delhi, who are coached by Ricky Ponting, to 146-9 and finish the group stage with eight wins.
The season remains special for Dhoni, who is believed to be playing his last season and has attracted huge crowds wearing the teams' yellow as a tribute to the legendary cricketer.
Dhoni, 41, though has kept the fans guessing and still not clarified on his swansong.
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
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RUSSIAN oil major PJSC Rosneft Oil Company is in early discussions with Reliance Industries to sell its 49.13 per cent stake in Nayara Energy, an Indian energy company that operates a 20-million-tonnes-per-year oil refinery and 6,750 petrol pumps, sources familiar with the matter said.
The deal, if finalised, would see Reliance overtake state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to become India’s largest oil refiner. It would also provide Reliance with a significant expansion in fuel retailing, where it currently holds a relatively small presence.
The talks, however, are still at a preliminary stage and may not lead to a final agreement, primarily due to differences in valuation, according to three sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
Top Rosneft executives have visited India at least three times in the past year, including stops in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, to hold talks with potential buyers.
Rosneft is seeking to exit Nayara, which it acquired in 2017 (then Essar Oil) for approximately $12.9 billion (around £10.2bn).
Western sanctions have made it difficult for the Russian firm to repatriate earnings from its Indian operations. A suitable buyer, ideally with significant international revenues or foreign ownership, would be able to process cross-border payments more easily.
Reliance, a major exporter of petroleum products, fits that profile. However, a spokesperson for the company said: “As a policy, we do not comment on media speculation and rumours. Our company evaluates various opportunities on an ongoing basis.”
UCP Investment Group, a major Russian financial firm, which holds a 24.5 per cent stake in Nayara, is also looking to sell. The remaining shareholders include Trafigura Group (24.5 per cent) and a group of retail investors. Sources said Trafigura may also consider exiting the company if a deal is struck, possibly on the same terms.
Rosneft had initially valued Nayara at $20bn (approximately £15.8bn), a figure considered too high by most interested parties.
Adani Group declined the opportunity, citing both the high price and its existing agreement with TotalEnergies to limit future investments in fossil fuels.
Saudi Aramco has also expressed interest in Nayara, which would support its long-term goal of securing a downstream presence in India, the world’s fastest-growing oil market. However, Aramco too finds the valuation steep. Talks between Rosneft and Aramco reportedly have not advanced beyond initial engagement.
Nayara may make the most strategic sense for Reliance. The company already operates two massive refineries at Jamnagar, Gujarat, with a combined capacity of 68.2 million tonnes per year, located near Nayara’s facility in Vadinar. Acquiring Nayara would help Reliance surpass IOC’s total refining capacity of 80.8 million tonnes per year and significantly increase its retail footprint.
Nayara’s 6,750 fuel stations contrast sharply with Reliance’s 1,972 outlets in a market with over 97,000 petrol pumps. “Oil refining alone is not profitable — unless you have marketing, you can’t make money,” said one industry official.
While Rosneft has reportedly reduced its asking price to $17bn (around £13.4bn), the valuation remains a sticking point for interested parties. No formal offers have been announced, and Rosneft has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
(PTI)
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Police officials visit the site after a stampede near Shree Gundicha Temple, in Puri, Odisha, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (PTI Photo)
AT LEAST three people, including two women, died and around 50 others were injured in a stampede near the Shree Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha, Indian, on Sunday (29) morning, according to local officials.
The incident occurred around 4am (local time) as hundreds of devotees gathered to witness the Rath Yatra (chariot festival), Puri district collector Siddharth S Swain confirmed.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Six are in a critical condition, and remain unconscious, hospital officials said.
According to authorities, chaos broke out after two trucks carrying materials for religious rituals entered the densely packed area near the temple chariots of Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities. Many devotees had assembled in the early hours to catch a glimpse of the deities when the 'Pahuda' (ceremonial cloth) covering their faces was to be removed.
The victims were identified as Basanti Sahu (36) from Bolagarh, and Premakant Mohanty (80) and Pravati Das (42) from Balipatna.
Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi issued a public apology via social media platform X, seeking forgiveness from devotees for the tragedy.
"Due to the intense eagerness of devotees to see Mahaprabhu (Lord Jagannath), an unfortunate incident occurred amid the jostling and confusion. My government and I apologise to all devotees. We extend our condolences to the bereaved families and pray to Lord Jagannath to give them strength to bear this grief," he posted.
Majhi added that any security lapses would be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible would face strict action.
“This negligence is unpardonable. I have ordered an immediate inquiry and directed officials to take strong, exemplary action against those found guilty,” he said.
Odisha’s law minister, Prithviraj Harichandan, confirmed that the director general of police, Y B Khurania, is leading the investigation. He also said the situation at the Gundicha Temple has returned to normal and devotees are now offering prayers peacefully.
Majhi chaired an emergency meeting with his deputies to assess the situation and review safety measures.
Opposition leader and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik criticised the state government, calling the stampede “a glaring failure of administration.”
“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the three devotees who lost their lives. This tragedy, coming a day after chaotic scenes during the Rath Yatra in which hundreds were reportedly injured, shows the government’s inability to manage the event,” he wrote on X.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the incident, blaming it on “negligence and mismanagement.”
“I am deeply saddened by the stampede during the Rath Yatra, which has claimed three lives and left at least 50 injured. This comes after reports that 500 devotees were injured just a day earlier. The failure to ensure crowd safety is inexcusable,” he posted.
Health officials said one critically injured person has been transferred to SCB Medical College in Cuttack, while five others remain in intensive care.
A bereaved husband, whose wife died in the stampede, told reporters that many people fell while rushing to see the deities. “There were no police officers around. An ambulance was parked about a kilometre away, and we had to carry the injured to it ourselves,” he said.
On Saturday (28), the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra had reached the Gundicha Temple, considered the “aunt’s home” of the deities. The chariots had begun their journey from the 12th-century Jagannath Temple, 2.6 km away, as part of the annual festival.
The return journey, known as the 'Bahuda Yatra', is scheduled to take place on July 5.
(Agencies)
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Glastonbury 2025 delivers heat drama and mystery with Pulp reunion rumours and Kneecap row
You think you're coming to Glastonbury for the music. That’s what you tell yourself. But then, by Day 4, it’s Saturday afternoon, the sun’s hammering down like it’s got a personal vendetta against pasty Brits, and the air’s thick with sunscreen, spilled cider, and pure anticipation.
Something big’s brewing. Something secret. Something that makes you feel like you're standing on the edge of history, or at least a really, really good party. There’s joy and rebellion here. Tears and beer. Political fire and surprise reunions.
Then somewhere between the late-night raves, the 2 AM ska-techno-klezmer, and the silent sobbing during Lewis Capaldi’s return, it hits you: Glastonbury isn’t just about who’s playing. It’s about who you become when you’re here.
Festival goers at Glastonbury festival 2025Getty Images
1. The Pyramid Stage Whisper: Is Jarvis REALLY Back?!
That prime-time slot at 6:15 PM listed as "Patchwork"? Nobody’sbuying it. Everyone thinks it’s a secret Pulp reunion. The rumour mill is wild,and SecretGlasto is dropping heavy hints.Ester from Norwich has been waiting at the front since earlymorning. She said, “If it’s not Pulp, I’m starting a riot. Or just crying intomy warm cider.”Could it really be Pulp, after 30 years? Backup guesses areHAIM or Chappell Roan, but the Pulp energy is strong. So, don’t miss it!
Pyramid Stage crowd swells ahead of the mystery Patchwork act rumoured to be Pulp Instagram/glastofest
2. Kneecap & the firestorm: Music, politics & “everyone is welcome”
Irish rap trio Kneecap hit the West Holts stage at 4 PM and stirred up big controversy. One of the members, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is out on bail for serious charges linked to Hezbollah.
PM Keir Starmer criticised their booking, and a leaked letter from music execs added pressure.
But Glastonbury stood firm. Emily Eavis said, “Everyone is welcome here.” Over 100 artists, including Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C., and even the rumoured Pulp, signed a counter-letter in support.
The BBC will still air the set live (though it might delay it on iPlayer). Expect pro-Palestine chants, strong emotions, and a packed crowd. Arrive early!
Kneecap welcome as political tension surrounds their setGetty Images
3. Survival mode: Glasto in the heat
It’s 26°C today, with 30°C expected tomorrow. The UK Health Security Agency has issued an amber heat alert. Stay safe:
• Drink water often. There are over 800 taps, so use them.
• Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen. Keep reapplying.
• Find shade, like on Dragon’s Tail hill or other quiet zones.
• Watch for signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness, nausea, fainting.
Saturday night is packed, and you’ll need to choose carefully:
• Neil Young & Chrome Hearts (Pyramid, 10 PM): Classic songs like “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man.” He’s unpredictable but a true Glastonbury icon.
• Charli XCX (Other Stage, 10:30 PM): Wild Brat energy, chaos, and late-night dancing. The Other Stage is bigger this year but getting there will be tough, so take a side route.
• Doechii (West Holts, 10:45 PM): Experimental and innovative. If you want something new and exciting, she’s the one to catch.
No easy choices here. Just decide what kind of night you want.
• Fat Dog (2 AM set): A wild mix of ska, techno, and klezmer. Already being called “show of the weekend.”
• Lorde : Did a surprise morning set at Woodsies, performing tracks from her upcoming album Virgin.
• The Binnies : 17,000 hand-painted bins around the site. Artist Sarah Lawrence painted one “for someone who never got to Glastonbury.” Powerful stuff, right?
• Lewis Capaldi : Came back to the Pyramid stage Friday. He pushed through and finished songs he’d struggled with before. Said, “I’m f---ing back, baby.” Huge moment.
• South East Corner (Afternoon): Busy with day raves. Expect big crowds.
•Kneecap (4 PM, West Holts): It’ll be packed. Have a backup plan: Bob Vylan is on at 2:30 PM.
• Kate Nash (9 PM, Left Field) and Scissor Sisters (10:30 PM, Woodsies): Very likely to be one-in, one-out entry. Get there early.
• Charli XCX : Main routes will be packed. Use alternate paths to avoid the jam.
Crowds of festival-goers fill the pathways during day three of Glastonbury festival 2025Getty Images
7. A look at what’s coming: Sunday & beyond
• Sunday Showdown: Olivia Rodrigo (Pyramid, 9:45 PM) vs. The Prodigy (Other Stage, 9:45 PM). Two different generations, one final choice.
• 2026 Fallow Year: No Glastonbury next year. The land and the cows are taking a break. Emily Eavis said they packed “two years into one” for 2025. So make this one count!
The heart of it all (a different kind of sign-off)
Glastonbury 2025 isn't just a festival. Right now, in the dusty, sun-baked field, it feels like the whole messy, beautiful, infuriating, glorious world squeezed into one place.
Jarvis Cocker might step into the light after decades. A band plays under a political storm cloud, testing what "welcome" really means. An old man sings about gold hearts while a pop futurist throws a Brat party across the way. Kids paint bins for loved ones gone.
We’re all sweating buckets, navigating human rivers, and maybe crying during Capaldi.
It’s contradictions crashing together. It’s the sheer, exhausting effort of being here, present, in the heat and the noise and the magic. It’s imperfect. It’s overwhelming. It’s political. It’s personal. It’s a hundred thousand stories colliding under a relentless sun.
That’s the Glastonbury paradox. It asks everything of you: your stamina, your choices, maybe even your convictions.
And in return? It gives you this: the pure, unfiltered, slightly chaotic pulse of right now. Hold onto it. Because in this field, today, everything feels possible.
Even a Pulp reunion.
Especially a Pulp reunion.
See you at the Pyramid. Bring water.
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Trump shakes hands with Modi during a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on February 25, 2020. (Photo: Getty Images)
TRADE talks between India and the US have hit a roadblock over disagreements on duties for auto components, steel and farm goods, Indian government sources said to Reuters, dashing hopes of reaching an interim deal ahead of president Donald Trump's July 9 deadline to impose reciprocal tariffs.
Here are the key issues at play:
HURDLES TO A TRADE DEAL
India's dependence on agriculture – a major source of rural jobs – has made it politically difficult for New Delhi to accept US demands for steep tariff cuts on corn, soybean, wheat and ethanol, amid risks from subsidised US farm products.
Domestic auto, pharmaceutical, and small-scale firms are lobbying for only a gradual opening of the protected sectors, fearing competition from US firms.
The US is pushing for greater access to agricultural goods and ethanol, citing a significant trade imbalance, along with expanded market access for dairy, alcoholic beverages, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
"LACK OF RECIPROCITY"
Despite India offering to cut tariffs on a range of farm products, give preferential treatment to US firms, and increase energy and defence purchases, Indian officials say they are still awaiting substantive proposals from Washington amid Trump's erratic trade policies.
Indian exporters remain concerned about US tariff hikes, including a 10 per cent average base tariff, 50 per cent on steel and aluminium, and 25 per cent on auto imports, as well as a proposed 26 per cent reciprocal duty that remains on hold.
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
Indian policymakers see the US as a preferred partner over China but remain cautious about compromising policy autonomy in global affairs.
The US is India’s largest trading partner and a major source of investment, technology, energy, and defence equipment.
TENSIONS OVER PAKISTAN
India remains wary of deeper strategic ties after Trump’s perceived tilt toward Pakistan during a recent conflict between the neighbours, which raised doubts about US reliability.
GROWING INDIAN EXPORTS TO US
New Delhi is confident exports will continue to grow, especially in pharmaceuticals, garments, engineering goods and electronics, helped by tariff advantage over Vietnam and China.
India's goods exports to the US rose to over $87 billion in 2024, including pearls, gems and jewellery worth $8.5 billion, pharmaceuticals at $8 billion, and petrochemicals around $4 billion.
Services exports – led by IT, professional and financial services – were valued at $33 billion in 2024.
The US is also India's third-largest investor, with over $68 billion in cumulative FDI between 2002 and 2024.
US EXPORTS TO INDIA
US manufacturing exports to India, valued at nearly $42 billion in 2024, face high tariffs, ranging from 7 per cent on wood products and machinery to as much as 15 to 20 per cent on footwear and transport equipment, and nearly 68 per cent on food.
According to a recent White House fact sheet, the US average applied Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff on farm goods was 5 per cent compared to India’s 39 per cent.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)