At the Wagah-Attari border in Punjab, the BSF has announced that public access to the daily Beating Retreat ceremony will resume from Wednesday. The event had been suspended for two weeks due to “Operation Sindoor” and resumed on Tuesday. However, going forward, BSF personnel will not shake hands with Pakistani Rangers, nor will the border gates be opened during the flag-lowering ceremony.
RBI to Release New ₹20 Notes with Governor’s Signature
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will issue new ₹20 notes bearing the signature of Governor Sanjay Malhotra. The new notes will retain the design and features of the existing ₹20 notes, including the image of Mahatma Gandhi and the Ellora Caves on the reverse side.
The RBI clarified that all existing ₹20 notes will continue to be valid, regardless of the governor’s signature.
Businessman Arrested for Espionage for Pakistan
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh-based businessman Shahzad has been arrested for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). His arrest follows the detention of a popular YouTuber, Jyoti Malhotra, in Haryana.
The Special Task Force (STF) revealed that Shahzad had traveled to Pakistan multiple times and had been involved in smuggling goods across the border. He also supplied Indian currency and SIM cards to ISI agents.
Lawyer Assault Case: Adv. Baillin Das Granted Bail
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 May Withdraw from Asia Cup Amidst Tensions with Pakistan
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.
Massacre in Gaza: Over 150 Killed in Israeli Attacks
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.
BBC to End Television Broadcasting, Go Fully Online by 2030
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.
Seaplane Services to Resume in Maharashtra
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.
Private bus owners to go on indefinite strike
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.
Do not sell Pakistani flag and related items; Notice to Amazon India and Flipkart
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.
