Bolan: Terrorists hijack a train in Pakistan, take 120 passengers hostage. 6 soldiers were killed in the attack. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has taken responsibility for the attack. They hijacked the Jaffar Express train from Bolan. The terrorists have warned that if there is a military operation, the hostages will be killed.
After stopping the train by setting off an explosion on the railway track, the terrorists gradually took control of the train. There are reports that the engine driver was attacked and injured and that the terrorists who boarded the train opened fire.
The train was going from Quetta to Peshawar with 400 passengers when it was attacked. There are unconfirmed reports that the women, children, and Baloch locals on the train have been freed, and that only those who were part of the Pakistani army, police, Anti-Terrorism Force, and Inter-Services Intelligence have been taken hostage.
Thiruvananthapuram: Sathya Sai Trust Executive Director K N Anandakumar, accused in the half-price fraud case, has been arrested. The action of the Crime Branch comes after the Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The Crime Branch team had reached Anandakumar’s house in the afternoon and taken him into custody. He was taken to the hospital for a medical examination after he said he was undergoing treatment. After the examination, the doctors informed that there were obstacles to arrest him.
It has been found that Anandakumar is the main mastermind behind the fraud by promising to give him a two-wheeler at half the price. In the complaint filed by Kannur Seed Society Secretary A Mohanan, a native of Pallikkunnu Edachery, 7 people including Anandakumar have been named as accused. Charges of breach of trust and cheating have been filed. Anandakumar is the second accused in the case. The first accused is Ananthu Krishnan.
Kochi: The number of aircraft owned by Air India Express has crossed 100. Air India Express Managing Director Alok Singh flagged off the 100th aircraft in Bengaluru.
Earlier this month, Air India Express had flagged off its 100th aircraft to the newly opened Hindon airport. Air India Express is the only airline operating from two airports in the national capital, New Delhi and Hindon. Bengaluru is the main hub of Air India Express with over 445 flights a week. The 100th aircraft features Mural art, a traditional mural art of Karnataka.
Alok Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said that the arrival of the 100th aircraft is a significant milestone in the growth and transformation of Air India Express. Within three years of privatisation, the airline has completed a series of major changes, including a merger with another low-cost airline, more domestic, Gulf and South-Eastern routes, and the acquisition of more fuel-efficient and modern aircraft. He also said that their strong presence in small towns and cities, which play a vital role in the growth of the country, is playing a crucial role in the growth of the Indian aviation sector.
Thiruvananthapuram: Revenue Minister K. Rajan informed the Assembly that the government and the opposition will move forward together for the flood-hit Mundakai-Churalmala township in Wayanad and construction will begin on the 27th by laying the foundation stone.
The lists prepared now are not final. All the complaints raised will be addressed and all possible solutions will be found. The minister was responding to the opposition’s urgent resolution notice.
However, the opposition walked out of the House, saying that the government is ignoring the disaster victims and that problems that could have been resolved by the government without providing them assistance are being wrapped up in red tape and not being taken a decision.
New Delhi: Two organizations have been banned in Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Home Ministry has banned the Action Committee (AAC) led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM) led by Masroor Abbas Ansari.
The ban was imposed on the grounds that these organizations were involved in activities that posed a threat to the sovereignty, integrity and security of India. The charges of inciting violence, promoting hatred against the Indian government and encouraging armed attacks have also been filed against these organizations. The ban is for 5 years. The order in this regard will come into effect immediately.
It’s no simple feat to take TV programs to the top of TAM ratings, especially in today’s competitive landscape. There are numerous channels that Malayalam viewers love, but not all programs on those channels become favorites. However, when a program captures their interest, viewers stay glued to it until the very end. This is how many programs gain popularity.
There’s a kind of magic behind making TV shows successful. Each channel employs its own strategies, and the skills of the people working behind the scenes play a crucial role in this. Among those who have played a major role in popularizing numerous programs and serials is Gireesh Chandran, a native of Thiruvananthapuram. Now celebrating his silver jubilee in the TV industry, Gireesh Chandran began his career as an Assistant Producer in 2005 at Asianet’s Entertainment Channel.
Two decades later, the same strategist who once worked against Surya TV to improve Asianet’s ratings has now joined Surya TV as the Head of Programming, bringing fresh ideas and success strategies to elevate the channel once again.
First Show: Believe It or Not
In 2005, when Gireesh Chandran joined Asianet as an Assistant Producer, his debut program was Believe It or Not. During this period, TV channels were fiercely competing for audience attention. Remarkably, Gireesh’s very first program became a massive hit, earning him a secure spot at Asianet for the next 20 years.
Following this success, he took charge of other shows like Suprabhatham and Akathtalam. Later, he joined Asianet’s Fiction Department, where he worked alongside Fiction Head Sharath Chandran.
Serials That Rewrote Asianet’s History
At the time, Surya TV dominated the market with hit serials like Minnukettu, Kayamkulam Kochunni, Kavyanjali, and Kaanakkinavu, all scoring TAM ratings between 15-20 points. Meanwhile, Asianet’s prime-time slots were struggling with ratings below 5 points.
Determined to change this, Gireesh dedicated himself to research and strategic planning, working like a relentless machine to find ways to improve Asianet’s performance. His efforts ultimately resulted in serials that reshaped the channel’s destiny.
Swami Ayyappan – The Game-Changer
The mega-hit serial Swami Ayyappan marked a turning point for both Asianet and Surya TV. Gireesh was behind the planning and execution of several hit serials that followed, including Ente Manasaputhri, Rahasya, Nombarappoovu, and Swami Ayyappan. These shows paved the way for Asianet’s remarkable comeback.
One of Gireesh’s standout contributions was Autograph, a show that became an all-time top non-prime-time serial at 6:30 PM, breaking records and rewriting history.
The Rise of Gireesh in the TV Industry
With Autograph, Gireesh became a prominent figure in the television industry. Despite facing heavy criticism and even smear campaigns, Gireesh’s potential was recognized by Asianet’s management, particularly by channel head K. Madhavan, who continued to provide him with key opportunities.
Gireesh’s dominance in the serial industry continued, with the classic mega-hit serial Kumkumapoo emerging from his creative vision. This serial was scripted by Pradeep Panicker and directed by Praveen Kadakkavoor, with G. Jayakumar producing. Gireesh successfully introduced Jayakumar—known for producing Malayalam films—into the TV industry through Kumkumapoo.
Subsequently, Gireesh played a significant role in launching major serials like Parasparam, Chandana Mazha, and Neelakuyil, all of which became huge commercial successes under Jayakumar’s production.
Key Collaborations and Notable Serials
Gireesh also mentored producer Ramesh Babu from Raison Pictures, who later produced successful serials such as Sthreedhanam, Bharya, Mounaragam, and Patharamatt.
Gireesh’s strategic moves helped numerous children’s serials like Kuttichathan and Balaganapathi climb the rating charts.
His ability to identify fresh talent and provide opportunities to new production houses, directors, and scriptwriters contributed significantly to Asianet’s golden run in the industry.
Major Productions Led by Gireesh Chandran
Here are some of the most prominent productions guided by Gireesh:
Among Gireesh’s many achievements, Karuthamuthu holds the distinction of being the most widely remade serial across multiple languages.
Top-Rated Serials That Dominated the Charts
Gireesh’s influence is evident in numerous serials that claimed the number one position in Malayalam television:
Ente Manasaputhri Autograph Harichandhanam Kumkumapoo Chandana Mazha Paarijatham Parasparam Vanambadi Sthreedhanam Karuthamuthu Ammayariyathe Santhwanam Mounaragam Ammakkili Swami Ayyappan Gireesh Chandran’s exceptional contributions and strategic expertise have made him a driving force behind some of the biggest hits in Malayalam television history. His ability to blend creative storytelling with clever programming strategies continues to inspire the industry.
Film makeup artist Ranjith Gopinathan, who was caught in Idukki with hybrid cannabis, has been suspended from FEFKA. Ranjith Gopinathan, known as RG Wayanad, was caught with 45 grams of high-potency cannabis.
The Excise had received confidential information that drug dealing was taking place widely at film locations centered around Vagamon. Based on this, a vehicle inspection was conducted on the Kanjar-Vagamon road. Ranjith was caught by the Excise while he was going to the film location called Attahasam, where filming was taking place, in a wagon. 45 grams of high-potency hybrid cannabis kept in a bag in the trunk of the car was seized. A search of Ranjith’s house in Kochi found cannabis stems and seeds. An excise search was also conducted at the makeup studio in Panampilly Nagar.
An investigation is underway to find those who gave Ranjith hybrid cannabis, worth more than one crore per kilo. Ranjith has worked as a makeup artist in many films including Elesham, Romanjam, Jaaneman, etc.
Damascus: Civil war intensifies in Syria. The number of people killed in clashes between supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and security forces has exceeded 1,000.
The victims were members of the minority Alawite sect. About 750 of the dead were civilians. In addition to these, 125 security personnel were also killed. It is reported that 148 people from armed groups supporting Assad were killed.
The country is currently experiencing the most severe violence since the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024.
There are also reports that many people have already fled the area in the wake of the conflicts. The Alawites make up about ten percent of the Syrian population. The Alawites are a sub-sect of Shiite Muslims.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has announced its admission schedule for the 2025-26 academic year, signaling the start of an important journey for many families. If you’re a parent seeking admission for your child, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you through the process. We request you to check https://kvsangathan.nic.in/en/admission/ updated information
The application process for Class 1 and Balvatika is entirely online.
Visit the KVS online admission portal and carefully fill in the application form.
ensure that all scanned documents are of the correct size and format.
Stay Informed About Selection Lists:
Keep track of the dates for the release of selection lists.
Be prepared for potential waiting lists and subsequent rounds of admissions.
Admissions for Higher Classes:
Information regarding admissions to class 2 and above will be available on the individual Kendriya Vidyalaya websites. So it is important to check with the local school.
Important Tips:
Read the official KVS admission notification thoroughly.
Ensure you have a stable internet connection during the online application process.
Keep copies of all submitted documents and application forms.
Remain aware that admission is based on seat availability.
By following these steps, you can increase your chances of securing admission for your child in a Kendriya Vidyalaya.
New Delhi: The ED has issued notices to 11 Indians deported from the US for illegal immigration. The ED has issued notices to 10 people from Punjab and one from Haryana. They have been asked to appear for questioning at the ED’s Jalandhar office on various dates.
The action is part of a case investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED has asked them to appear for questioning as part of its investigation against 15 agents involved in the illegal smuggling of people from India to the US.
The process of deporting illegal immigrants began after Donald Trump took office as US President in January. In February, a military aircraft landed in India with illegal immigrants three times.
