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.
Pakistan's security agencies arrested 17 suspects in connection with the suicide blast in a high-security zone mosque in Peshawar that killed 101 people, including 97 policemen, as Army chief Gen Asim Munir vowed zero tolerance for terror groups and directed his generals to eliminate the threat of militancy.
A Taliban suicide bomber who was present in the front row during the Zuhr (afternoon) prayers on Monday blew himself up, causing the roof to collapse on the worshippers.
Sources said that the security agencies have arrested 17 suspects involved in the devastating blast - deadliest attack on the security personnel in decades in Pakistan.
The arrests have been made from close vicinity of the Police Lines area and the suspects were shifted to interrogation cell for investigation, sources told PTI on condition of anonymity.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), known as the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the suicide attack, saying it was part of a revenge attack for slain TTP commander Umar Khalid Khurasani who was killed in Afghanistan in August last.
The development comes as Pakistan's top generals vowed that perpetrators will be brought to exemplary justice.
General Munir, who presided over the 255th Corps Commanders’ Conference held at general headquarters in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, said that the military was determined to eliminate the threat of militancy from the country.
The army chief referred to the Peshawar mosque attack and said that "such immoral and cowardly acts cannot shake the resolve of the nation rather reinvigorate our determination to succeed in ongoing war against terror with zero tolerance for any terrorist entity," according to a statement issued by the army.
General Munir, who on Monday was in Peshawar along with Prime Minister Shebhaz Sharif following the suicide bombing, "directed all commanders to continue focus on anti-terrorism operations in coordination with intelligence and law enforcement agencies with renewed resolve till the time we achieve sustainable peace," the statement said.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah told parliament on Tuesday that 97 policemen were among the dead.
He said that past policies were responsible for terrorism plaguing the nation. "We created mujahideen but they have become terrorists," he said, referring to the Afghan war against the erstwhile USSR.
The blast shocked residents in Peshawar - once known as "the city of flowers".
The policemen took out a protest rally in Peshawar on Wednesday demanding fair and transparent investigation into the deadly bombing. The speakers of the rally demanded formation of a joint Investigation team to probe the blast.
They also demanded exemplary punishment to elements involved in the devastating bombing that killed innocent people, mostly policemen.
The rally was largely attended by people from a cross section of the society.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has urged all political forces to unite against terrorists who are targeting not a sect or particular segment of society but the entire nation.
Asif was on Tuesday asked by journalists outside the parliament building about the possibility of any fresh operation against the militants.
He said that the high-level National Security Committee (NSC) would decide about launching a military operation to eliminate militancy.
"This is a decision that the National Security Committee will take. Such things can be decided at a forum (like the NSC) which is able to take such major decisions," he said.
Addressing the parliament on Tuesday, he urged all political forces to unite against terrorists who are targeting not a sect or particular segment of society but the entire nation.
"There is a need to create a consensus like (at the time of) the Zarb-e-Azb operation against this kind of terrorism. It is being hoped that the prime minister would take a step in this direction," the defence minister said.
Zarb-e-Azb was launched after the Peshawar school bombing of 2014 which had killed around 150 people, mostly students. During the operation, the security forces killed and expelled militants.
Asif said that the latest bombing in Peshawar was no less a tragedy than the 2014 Army Public School massacre and a similar consensus was needed by politicians from all parties.
He also said that Pakistan had suffered over USD 126 billion in economic losses and 83,000 deaths including, armed forces personnel, police officials and others but the world had not acknowledged it.
He accused the previous government of Imran Khan of holding talks with the Taliban.
"Two years ago, we were briefed that we can talk to these people (the terrorists). Later, they were allowed to settle in the country," he said.
He questioned who should be held responsible for the bloodshed in Peshawar.
LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.
Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”
The comments drew criticism from migrant communities and the media. Tebbit later defended his stance in 2005 following the July 7 bombings in London, which involved suspects of Pakistani heritage. Speaking to the Today programme, he said, “We have generated home-grown bombers; a combination of the permissive society together with a minority population deeply rooted in its own moral code.” He added that better inner-city schooling could have helped integration.
In 2014, Tebbit said his views had changed. In an interview with the BBC, he praised British Asian players for energising cricket and said it helped them feel part of the nation. “Not only that, but it encourages the generations of British-born Asians to feel part of the nation – and those of long British ancestry to welcome them into our team,” he said.
He also suggested a new test for migrants based on whether their ancestors fought for the UK during World War II.
Tebbit served as MP for 22 years, held senior roles in government, and retired from the House of Lords in 2022. He was injured in the 1984 IRA bombing in Brighton, which paralysed his wife. Tributes were led by Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel, who described him as a “titan” and a “giant” of Conservative politics.
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Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.
FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.
The report, issued by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), did not draw conclusions or assign blame for the June 12 crash, but stated that one pilot was heard asking the other why he had cut off fuel. The second pilot replied that he had not.
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner was on its way from Ahmedabad in western India to London when it crashed, killing 260 people. Among the dead were 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground.
Switches moved one after another
The 15-page report said that after the aircraft reached its top recorded speed, "the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec".
"In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff. The other pilot responded that he did not do so," the report stated.
The aircraft quickly lost altitude following the switch movement.
The switches then returned to the "RUN" position, and the engines appeared to regain power. However, "one of the pilots transmitted 'MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY'," the report said.
Air traffic controllers asked the pilots what was wrong, but soon observed the crash and alerted emergency responders.
Investigation focused on fuel switches
Earlier this week, specialist website The Air Current reported that the probe had "narrowed its focus to the movement of the engine fuel switches", while also stating that a complete analysis may take several months or more. It added that the focus of the investigation could still change.
According to the AAIB report, the US Federal Aviation Administration had issued an information bulletin in 2018 about "the potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature".
The issue was not considered an "unsafe condition" requiring a more serious directive, and Air India told investigators it had not conducted the suggested inspections as they were "advisory and not mandatory".
Air India was found to be compliant with all airworthiness directives and alert service bulletins on the aircraft, the report noted.
The bureau said there were "no recommended actions to B787-8 and/or GE GEnx-1B engine operators and manufacturers", indicating that there were no immediate technical concerns with either the aircraft or the engines.
The AAIB said the investigation is ongoing and that further evidence and information have been "sought from the stakeholders".
Boeing said in a statement that it would "continue to support the investigation and our customer", adding, "our thoughts remain" with those affected by the crash.
Air India stated that it was "working closely with stakeholders, including regulators".
"We continue to fully cooperate with the AAIB and other authorities as their investigation progresses," the airline said in a statement posted on X.
Passenger details and international assistance
The UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requires that a preliminary report be submitted within 30 days of an accident by the country leading the investigation.
Investigators from the United States and the United Kingdom have also joined the probe.
The aircraft was carrying 230 passengers — including 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian — along with 12 crew members.
Dozens of people on the ground were also injured.
One British passenger survived and was seen walking out of the wreckage. That person has since been discharged from hospital.
Initial figures released by health officials in Gujarat put the death toll at 279, but forensic experts later revised the number after identifying multiple scattered and severely burnt remains.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)
A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.
The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.
One Chinese research ship drew attention due to its repeated presence in the Indian Ocean and proximity to areas of recent naval operations. “While not broadcasting AIS, its RF signature was consistent and traceable, enabling our systems to monitor its movement over several days … We suspect that this prominent Chinese research vessel was likely operating with strategic intent,” the report quoted Unseenlabs.
The company said the vessel was likely engaged in seafloor mapping, acoustic environment analysis, and identifying submarine transit corridors—activities that can support surveillance and anti-submarine warfare operations.
The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. In this instance, the vessel was in international waters, 120 nautical miles from Indian military zones.
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(From left) Malcolm Anderson (RHS, head of sustainability) Clare Matterson (RHS director general), Lorraine Bishton (Subaru UK and Ireland, managing director) Andrew Ball (director, Big Fish Landscapes) Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews with the medals
BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
“It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests,” said Jewlsy Mathews, who was born in Britain of parents from Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its lush vegetation.
Mathews, partner in a design studio set up by her Irish husband Mike McMahon, made her debut at the Chelsea Flower Show last year. The balcony and container garden submitted with her husband won a gold medal.
It was one of three gardens “pre-selected” for viewing by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
This year at Hampton Court, their show garden was visited by Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh.
Its jali wall is “inspired by some fine examples of India’s exquisite architecture”.
The circular structure inspired by jali screens in India
Speaking after being awarded five medals at Hampton Court, Mathews told Eastern Eye: “This is the first time a garden has ever received all the RHS judges’ awards. It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests. They used to cover 20 per cent of the UK, and now it’s dwindled down to one per cent, so we really wanted to highlight the importance of these landscapes and their beauty.”
Jewlsy and Mike
She explained their medals tally: “We got a gold for the garden, and then we won the best construction award, the best show garden award, and with that, we won the Tudor Rose award. That’s a prize not given every year. It’s for exceptionally high point scoring by the judges. Our gold was a very high gold rather than borderline gold. The Tudor Rose wasn’t given last year. It’s only given some years, so it’s an infrequent award.”
She added: “Probably the one that means the most to us is we also got the environmental innovation award.”
Jose Mathews Payyanat
Last year Mathews explained her family connection with Kerala: “My mum and my dad are both from Kerala. My mum, Lucy Mathews Payyanat, was from Kanjirappally. My dad, Jose Mathews Payyanat, is from Champakulam which is near Alleppey (Alappuzha).” Jewlsy and her husband, have a flat in Ernakulam, near Cochin, in Kerala, which they visit regularly.
Their London apartment has two balconies, where they have created the effect of a small jungle, called a “junglette”, which they sought to reproduce at Chelsea.
The garden at Chelsea was also a tribute to her mother who passed away in September 2023. Mathews and her husband were in Kerala when they heard their submission for Chelsea had been accepted, news they were happy to share with their mother before she passed away.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, at the garden
Some of the stones used in Hampton Court this year have come from her father’s garden, and “will be returned to him when the festival is over”, said Mathews.
McMahon said that “you would normally have a solid brick wall around your garden with a door through it. Here we used a jali wall, which is common in India. The way the brick is stacked we let light through, which creates dappled light on the forest floor, similar to what you would have in a forest. But then the holes in the brick also act as one big, giant, insect hotel, which promotes nature and biodiversity. The brick wall is incredibly complicated as a structure. That’s why we won the best construction award.
“And at the front, in lieu of having a door, which you would normally have, we have water as the threshold into the garden instead.”
At Chelsea last year, McMahon recalled, “we used jungle type plants. All the plants here (at Hampton Court) are native to either Britain or Ireland. You can see a massive big tree trunk. Its purpose is to guide your eyes upwards, so you start looking at all those plants growing on the trees. And we have lots of ferns growing on top of the garden wall called polypodies.”
Their Hampton Court garden – it’s supported by Subaru UK and Ireland – has incorporated Silver Birch, Scots Pine, Fox Gloves, Devil’s Bit Scabious, and the Common Polybody, a tough evergreen fern with leathery, deep cut fronds.
“This is only the second garden we have designed,” revealed McMahon. “The judges were very, very impressed. I said to them neither of us has any formal training in horticulture. We just read a lot of books on plants.”
Meanwhile, his wife’s message to British Asians, other than to take up gardening, was to treat their garden or a balcony – “whatever outdoor space you have” – as an extra room to the house.
“Sometimes this gets forgotten because people concentrate on the inside of the house,” she said. “Actually, it’s another room which bring you more joy than people give credit for. There are so many barren balconies in cities. As we saw with our garden (at Chelsea) last year, it’s such an opportunity to create extra space.”
She went on: “It’s really a space for contemplation and quiet and reflection, and all the things that make us well minded and healthy. When you walk into such a space, you’re not like, ‘Oh gosh, I’ve got to do the laundry and the housework, all sorts of life clutter. It’s where you can be calm and still.”
They have given advice to people on how they can make their own rainforest garden. They have offered such tips as: incorporate layers like a rainforest; create a moist, humid microclimate; use native species; encourage wildlife; and let nature be the designer.
The couple display their medals
Mathews said: “We have used 13 different kinds of fern.”
She drew attention to the mushrooms that had started to appear in the dark corners of the garden.
The couple say in a formal note: “The design embraces the full vertical potential of the space, with planting structured across forest-like layers: ground, understory, and canopy. Epiphytes grow on and through tree trunks and the perforated jali wall, while a planted trough crowns the top of the wall. Oxalis acetosella and Polypodium vulgare are trained to grow up the sculptural fallen logs, reinforcing the sense of a forest reclaiming its own. Plants emerge from crevices, spill through openings, and root on vertical surfaces— mirroring how nature slowly takes over ruins. This immersive, layered planting celebrates the sculptural variety and form of native ferns, using them as both structural and textural elements throughout the garden .”
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Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England
Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups
Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend
Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.
The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.
According to the Met Office, this is the third heatwave of the summer and while temperatures may not surpass July’s earlier peak of 34.7°C, this wave is expected to be more widespread.
Increased health risks for vulnerable groups
The UKHSA has warned of a likely increase in illness and mortality, especially among older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions. The agency advises the public to keep cool, stay hydrated and check in on vulnerable family, friends and neighbours.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) echoed these concerns. Its policy director Steve Cole said:
“Heat is no longer just a holiday perk, it’s a growing public health risk. We’re seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities.”
Hosepipe bans come into force
As the dry spell continues, hosepipe bans are being introduced in multiple areas to manage water supply. Yorkshire Water implemented restrictions on Sunday, while South East Water confirmed similar measures would begin in Kent and Sussex from 18 July.
Under the restrictions, residents are banned from using hosepipes to:
Water gardens or plants
Clean vehicles
Fill swimming or paddling pools
Top up ponds or clean outdoor surfaces
Yorkshire Water said the ban was necessary to protect supplies, with dry conditions expected to persist. South East Water reported record levels of drinking water demand since May, leaving reservoirs and underground stores under pressure.
Customers who breach the restrictions could face fines of up to £1,000.
Official advice during the heatwave
Authorities are urging the public to take precautions during the heatwave. Recommended steps include:
Drinking water regularly
Staying in the shade during peak sun hours
Wearing light, loose-fitting clothing
Using high-factor sunscreen
The Met Office continues to monitor the situation, with updated forecasts expected throughout the weekend. This latest heatwave adds to growing concerns about climate resilience and health risks associated with prolonged periods of extreme weather in the UK.