Thiruvananthapuram: Adv. Baillin Das, accused of assaulting a female lawyer, has been granted bail by the Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate Court. The charges against him include insulting womanhood, wrongful restraint, and assault.
The court granted bail with conditions, including a prohibition on influencing witnesses. The incident took place on May 13, and Das was arrested on May 16.
India is likely to withdraw from the upcoming Asia Cup in September, as indicated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision is reportedly part of an effort to isolate Pakistan in the cricketing world amid ongoing India-Pakistan tensions.
The BCCI believes the move will have serious financial implications for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). India has also pressured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to impose stricter conditions on Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the Indian military has stated that there will be no immediate military talks following the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
Israel has continued its brutal attacks on Gaza, targeting residential areas and refugee camps. Over 150 people have been killed in the latest offensive, making it one of the deadliest in recent times. More than 500 people have been killed in Gaza in just one week.
In Northern Gaza, an airstrike on a house in the Jabalia refugee camp killed nine members of a single family. 36 people died in an attack on Al-Mawasi’s safe zone, while 56 were killed in airstrikes in Khan Younis and surrounding areas.
Israel launched the new offensive shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump left the Middle East. Israel claims the operation aims to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and taking control of Gaza, but the ceasefire talks in Doha are now in jeopardy.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced that it will cease broadcasting its television channels by 2030, transitioning entirely to digital platforms. BBC CEO Tim Davie made this announcement, stating that popular channels, including BBC News, will no longer be available via traditional television broadcasts.
The decision comes as part of a broader digital transformation strategy. The BBC, which completed 100 years of service, was founded in 1922 and began operating under the name “BBC” in 1927. Known for its extensive reach, the BBC employs over 21,000 people globally.
Mumbai: Maharashtra is set to relaunch seaplane services that were initially started in 2014 but later discontinued. The state’s Tourism Development Department is overseeing the revival of this project.
The services will be operated on eight routes, with tenders for the same already invited. The company operating the service will bear the entire project cost. To ensure financial security, the government has set two options: full payment to the company within five years or a guaranteed minimum revenue within three years.
Only seaplanes less than 12 years old with 9 to 19 seats will be permitted. The service is expected to boost connectivity to popular tourist destinations like Alibaug, Ratnagiri, and the Konkan region. The estimated cost of the project is ₹490 crore, and ticket prices are expected to be around ₹4,000.
Kottayam: Bus operators’ federation office bearers have said that they are being forced to stop bus services, demanding that the limited stop permits of long-distance buses that have been operating in the state for ages be renewed in a timely manner, that the student concession be made only for genuine students and that the ticket fares of students be increased, and that the brutal actions of the motor vehicle department and the police, which are imposing huge fines on bus owners on trivial grounds, be stopped.
The federation office bearers have submitted representations to the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister, including the ministers, on several occasions, raising demands for the survival of the bus industry. Federation President K.K. Thomas has gone on a hunger strike at the Secretariat and the federation members have held protest meetings and demonstrations in three areas of the state, but no positive action has been taken so far from the government.
They said that the federation was forced to suspend the service because the government was taking steps to disrupt public transport. In this situation, the office bearers said that they will announce the method and date of the strike within three to four days after consulting with other bus owners’ organizations and labor organizations.
Federation State President K.K. Thomas. State General Secretary Hamsa Erickunnan, Joint Secretary Palamuttam Vijay Kumar, Kottayam District President Jackson C. Joseph and Secretary Suresh attended the press conference in Kottayam.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued notices to several e-commerce companies, including Amazon India and Flipkart, for selling Pakistani flags and related products. In its notices to Ubukai India, Etsy, The Flag Company and The Flag Corporation, the regulatory body has said that the sale of Pakistani flags and products will not be allowed. It has also been reported that the companies have been directed to remove such items from their platforms. Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi spoke about this.
“The CCPA has issued notices to @amazonIN, @Flipkart, @UbuyIndia, @Etsy, The Flag Company and The Flag Corporation regarding the sale of Pakistani flags and related products. Such insensitivity will not be tolerated. E-commerce platforms are hereby directed to remove all such content immediately and comply with national laws,” the Union Minister said in a post shared on X.
E-commerce firms including Amazon India and Flipkart have not yet responded to the issue. India-Pakistan relations have been strained following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 people.
Apart from Amazon and Flipkart, the government watchdog has also issued notices to Meesho, OLX, TradeIndia, Facebook, IndiaMart, VardhanMart, JioMart, KrishnaMart, Chimia, Talk Pro Wali Talkie and Maskman Toys.
Kochi: Two CISF officials arrested in the case of a youth who was killed by a car in a dispute over giving way to a vehicle in Nedumbassery have also been suspended. The action is being taken by the SF South Zone DIG following an internal investigation conducted by the CISF.
Senior CISF officials will also investigate the incident. Further action will be taken based on this report. In addition, high-ranking officials have informed that the police will fully cooperate in the investigation.
The tragic death has been reported to be Ivin Jijo (24), a native of Thuravoor, Angamaly. Ivin is the CAFS chef at the airport. The accident took place while he was returning home after work at night. An argument broke out between the CISF officials and Ivin regarding giving way to a vehicle, which led to an argument and scuffle, and Ivin started filming a video on his phone, which led to the incident.
Then one of the officers knowingly pulled the car forward. Ivy, who had fallen onto the bonnet after being hit by the car, was dragged for a kilometre and then pushed against a wall. Ivy, who was seriously injured, later died.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 15, 2025: The Kerala Forest Department is organizing Jungle Bells, an environmental study camp aimed at fostering awareness about environmental conservation and wildlife protection among children. The camp, designed for students in classes 8 to 11, will be held from May 26 to 28, 2025, in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Jungle Bells camp will feature a range of engaging activities, including educational classes on forests, the environment, and climate, as well as trekking, surveys, forest visits, and cultural programs. The camp will be led by forest department officials, environmental activists, teachers, and other experts.
Through a blend of learning and recreational activities, the camp seeks to cultivate environmental awareness, scientific understanding of forests and wildlife, resistance to substance abuse, teamwork, leadership, creativity, and personal development in children.
Interested students can submit their applications via email to [email protected]. For more details, contact 0471-2529145. The deadline for applications is May 20, 2025.
India has successfully developed a new system to counter drones, named ‘Bhargavastra’. The counter-drone system was tested at Gopalpur’s Seaward Firing Range, where it achieved all designated targets. The test was conducted in the presence of senior military officials.
The system uses micro rockets for intercepting drones, with three tests conducted in Gopalpur. Two tests involved launching one rocket at a time, while the third test featured a salvo mode, launching two rockets within two seconds. All four rockets performed as expected, achieving the required launch parameters, according to a statement by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited.
‘Bhargavastra’ is designed to detect and neutralize small, approaching drones within a range of 2.5 kilometers. It can be deployed seamlessly in diverse terrains, including high-altitude regions up to 5,000 meters above sea level, meeting the unique operational requirements of India’s armed forces.
