1. In a shocking pronouncement, a judge of the Madras High Court has allowed a man convicted of raping a minor girl to “settle” the issue through mediation. The minor was pregnant as a result of the rape and had given birth to a child. Taking the convicted man’s appeal into consideration, the judge has told a mediation centre to help both parties reach a compromise. The man had been sentenced to 7 yeas in jail.2. The newest member of the BJP from Tamil Nadu is Charles Jose Martin – son of alleged lottery scam kingpin, Santiago Martin. A lottery scam spanning multiple states, Santiago faces 32 cases in Kerala itself. TN BJP leader, Tamilisai Soundararajan confirmed the news while few other leaders reacted in surprise when they heard about the new induction.3. The Karnataka government has moved the Supreme Court against the recent decision of the Karnataka High Court acquitting TN CM J Jayalalithaa. One of the main premise for the appeal was considering that Karnataka had not been given an ample chance to act as prosecutor in the case. The petition also called the Karnataka HC’s judgement “illegal” and said that on revaluation, her disproportionate assets would go up from 8% to 76%.4. A 21-year-old disabled woman was killed after she was run over at Chengalpet on Tuesday morning by her own company’s bus. While she was crossing the road in front of the bus, the bus moved forward after which she received grievous injuries.5. A Colombian national, Edwin Enrique has been caught carrying 2.35 kg of cocaine and worth Rs. 11 crore in Chennai. He had entered the country after forging documents. Considering the pure form of the seized goods and its origin, it meant that Enrique was working under orders from the dangerous Bogota-based cocaine cartel, said a Narcotics Control Bureau official.6. A Supreme Court-appointed panel has directed Kerala to carry out two important works to help finish the strengthening efforts for the Periyar dam. It said Kerala needs to lay a road from the Periyar dam site to Vallakadavu. It has also said that electricity supply must be given to help TN carr out the strengthening works. The works are essential to increase the dam’s storage level to 152 feet.7. A number of parents gathered at a Trichy school on Tuesday after allegations from Muslim students who were observing the Ramzan fast that they were made to drink Nilavembu extract. Nilavembu (wild turmeric) has been introduced as a part of corporation efforts to protect students from diseases like dengue. Around 100 parents and relatives gathered at the school raised slogans. When some members of the Christian community gathered in turn, police intervened and the issue was resolved.