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Abhimanyu debuts, carries howdah; Mysuru Dasara celebrations mellow in 2020

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The ten-day festival concluded on Monday with the Jamboo Savari procession. It ended in just 40 minutes.

Abhimanyu carries the 750-kg golden howdah with the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari during the Jamboo Savari in Mysuru.

MYSURU: The 411-year-old historic Mysuru Dasara celebrations and the Jamboo Savari procession, which usually attracts lakhs of people, was reduced to a simple ritual sans people and pomp this year amid the pandemic fear. The ten-day festival concluded on Monday with the Jamboo Savari procession. It ended in just 40 minutes.

The Dasara procession is held on ‘Vijayadashami’, signifying the victory of good over evil.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa performed the Nandi Dhwaja puja between 2.59 pm and 3.20 pm and prayed for the good health of the people and to protect them from Covid- 19 and floods.

He said though the government was forced to restrict the scale of the celebrations, they did not compromise on tradition.

He added that the government would celebrate Dasara in a grand manner next year.

Yediyurappa, accompanied by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the heir of Mysuru royal family, District minister S T Somashekar and Mayor Tasneem, offered floral tributes to the presiding deity Chamundeshwari, which was placed in the golden howdah. Followed a 21-round gun salute..

The key attraction was the ‘Jamboo Savari’, the procession of the city’s presiding deity Goddess Chamundeshwari, mounted on a golden howdah (seat) on the caparisoned elephant Abhimanyu.

This was Abhimanyu’s debut and he was accompanied by other caparisoned elephants. As the elephants continued their march, there were performances of Chande Mela, stilt walking, Veeragase Kunita and Chilipili Gombe.

The Health Department’s tableau on Covid-19 was about creating awareness about the disease. And then came the Nadaswara team. Unlike the five-km-long procession from the Mysuru Palace to Banni Mantapa, the Jamboo Savari was taken out to a distance of less than 300 m within the palace premises.

What struck those watching it live on TV was the absence of cheering crowds and the general festive mood. Thanks to Covid-19, the Jamboo Savari was held in the presence of a limited audience, a handful of politicians and less than half a dozen cultural troupes.

There were no long queues, people on trees or high-rise towers as the roads around Mysuru Palace were barricaded and entry was restricted. The Covid-19 guidelines like social distance were strictly followed and only a maximum of 300 visitors were allowed. Earlier, in the day Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar took out the Vijaya Yatra to offer Banni puja at the Bhuvaneshwari temple within the palace premises.

High on power and ego, Bihar Government has deviated from its path: Sonia slams Nitish Kumar

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The Congress chief stated that farmers, youth, labourers, brothers and sisters of Bihar are not just in Bihar but all over India and all over the world. Slamming the Bihar Government, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said, high on power and its ego, the current state government has deviated from its path. She asserted that the public is with Congress Mahagatbandhan (grand alliance).

“High on power and its ego, current Bihar Government has deviated from its path. Neither their saying nor doing is good. Labourers are helpless, farmers are anxious and youth are disappointed. The public is with Congress Mahagatbandhan and it is the call of Bihar,” said Sonia Gandhi.

“The fragile state of the economy is overshadowing the lives of the people. The sons of the soil are in serious trouble today,” she further stated.

“Dalits and Mahadalits have been left in a bad condition. Backward sections of society are also victims of this plight. The voice of the people of Bihar is with the Congress Grand Alliance. This is the call of Bihar today,” she added.

The Congress chief added that the governments of Delhi and Bihar are ‘captive governments’ – demonetisation, lockout, trade-off, economic bandit, farm-barn captive, bread-employment detention. Therefore, against the captive government, the people of Bihar are ready for the creation of a new Bihar, she added.

“Now the change is in the air because change is passion, energy, new thinking and power. Now the time has come to write something new. Bihar has qualities in its hands, skill, strength, power of construction, but unemployment, migration, inflation, starvation have given them tears and blisters in their feet,” she said.

“Words that cannot be said have to be said with tears. Policy and governments cannot be created on the basis of fear and crime. Bihar is a mirror of India, a hope. India believes, passion is passion. Bihar is the pride and pride of India,” she added.

The Congress chief stated that farmers, youth, labourers, brothers and sisters of Bihar are not just in Bihar but all over India and all over the world. Today, the same Bihar is ready for new changes in its villages, towns, cities, farms and barns for its glory and future.

“That is why I said that the wind of change is in the air. The inked finger of the vote now stands with the question. The question is unemployment, to save farming, about bread and employment. The question is about education and health. The question is of industry. The question is to stop the unbridled crime. The question is on dictatorial governance,” she said.

“That’s why today is the time – to move from darkness to light, from lie to truth, from present to future. My appeal to the people of Bihar, called the land of knowledge, is to vote for the candidates of the grand alliance and build a new Bihar,” she added.

Bihar Assembly elections will be held in three phases — October 28, November 3, and 7, and the counting of votes will take place on November 10.

COVID-19 Update India’s total cases surge to 79,46,429 with 36,469 new cases, 488 more deaths

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The total number of active cases now stands at 6,25,857 after a decrease of 27,860 in the last 24 hours.

With 36,469 new COVID-19 infections, India’s total cases surge to 79,46,429. 488 more patients succumbed to the virus, taking the toll to 1,19,502. The total number of active cases now stands at 6,25,857 after a decrease of 27,860 in the last 24 hours. The number of cured cases now stands at 72,01,070 with 63,842 new discharges.

Nine arrested for cricket betting in Vijayawada , police seize Rs 7.5 lakh

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Vijayawada police busted online cricket betting racket and arrested nine persons for organising betting at an apartment in Murali Nagar under Penamaluru police station limits on Saturday. 

VIJAYAWADA: Vijayawada police busted online cricket betting racket and arrested nine persons for organising betting at an apartment in Murali Nagar under Penamaluru police station limits on Saturday.
 
The accused were identified as V Kalyan Chakravarthi (39), K Ravi Kiran (42), M Kesava Reddy (33), K Chandrasekhar (26), R Srinivas Rao (31), T Sudhakar (40), P Kutumba Rao (43), Md Kalillulah (45) and T Siva Shankar (28), all residents of Vijayawada. They formed a team and organising betting on IPL matches for the past one month.

Addressing the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP – L&O) V Harshavardhan Raju said that the Commissioner’s Task Force (CTF)  received information that the accused were organising cricket betting from a rented apartment in Murali Nagar and caught them red-handed while taking bets from punters. He said five persons are bookies and the rest are sub-bookies, operators and cash collecting agents. 

“The accused were using a betting app called ‘Cricket Mazza’ available on Google Play Store and accepting bets using referrals through their friends and relatives. The accused were caught as they were placing bets on cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Night Riders,” said DCP Harshavardhan Raju. The police also seized Rs 7.5 lakh cash, a TV, one laptop, a communicator device and 13 mobile phones from their possession. “A case has been registered against the accused under AP Gaming Act and they will be produced in the court on Monday,” the DCP added.

Karnataka government will give free Covid vaccine, says DyCM

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Once a Covid-19 vaccine is successfully tested and gets the official nod, the State Government will give it to the people free of cost, he reiterated.

COVID Vaccine

Under fire from the opposition for announcing free Covid-19 vaccination for the Bihar electorate in its Assembly poll manifesto, leaders from the ruling BJP in Karnataka are now in a damage-control exercise.  

Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan on Saturday declared in Belagavi that the State Government will provide Covid-19 vaccination free of cost to all the people of Karnataka once it is ready after successful trials.

Speaking to media persons at Belagavi airport, Ashwath Narayan hit out at former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for challenging the government to announce free Covid-19 vaccination for the people of Karnataka. “The State Government is already treating Covid patients free of cost and all health care facilities to people from all classes are being provided,” he pointed out.  

“The government has taken these decisions in the interest of people and to control Covid-19 from spreading,’’ DyCM Ashwath Narayan said. Once a Covid-19 vaccine is successfully tested and gets the official nod, the State Government will give it to the people free of cost, he reiterated.

To a question on why his party announced the free vaccine for the people of Bihar ahead of the elections there, he reasoned, “It has been done to take the people into confidence and give them hope of coming out of the crisis.

But our opposition leader here (Siddaramaiah) is politicising the issue to gain some mileage out of it.” On Siddaramaiah’s objection to reopening of degree colleges, Ashwath Narayan said, “He too was Chief Minister earlier and I didn’t expect such a reaction from him. Colleges are being restarted after considering the prevailing conditions and by taking all the necessary safety precautions.’’ There will be online and offline classes and students, in consultation with their parents, can opt for either of them, he stressed.

He claimed that the guidelines drawn up for the offline study system has been welcomed by students and parents. “The opposition parties, which never carried out any task effectively during their tenure in the past, should stop teaching us now, he said.

Will prolong the pandemic: WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus warns against ‘COVID vaccine nationalism’

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Several dozen vaccine candidates are currently being tested in clinical trials, ten of which are in the most advanced ‘phase-III’ stage involving tens of thousands of volunteers.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

BERLIN: The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday called for global solidarity in the rollout of any future coronavirus vaccine, as the number of cases soared across the world.

In a video address at the opening of the three-day World Health Summit in Berlin, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the only way to recover from the pandemic was together and by making sure poorer countries had fair access to a vaccine.

“It is natural that countries want to protect their own citizens first but if and when we have an effective vaccine, we must also use it effectively. And the best way to do that is to vaccinate some people in all countries rather than all people in some countries. Let me be clear: vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic, not shorten it,” he said.

Scientists around the world are racing to develop a vaccine against COVID-19, which has killed over 1.1 million people. Several dozen vaccine candidates are currently being tested in clinical trials, ten of which are in the most advanced “phase 3” stage involving tens of thousands of volunteers.

The European Union, the United States, Britain, Japan and a slew of other nations have already placed large orders with the companies involved in developing the most promising vaccines. But concerns are growing that countries with smaller wallets could be left at the back of the queue.

The WHO has launched an international scheme known as Covax to help ensure equitable access to jabs, but it has struggled to raise the funds needed.

The WHO on Sunday reported a third straight day of record new infections across the world, calling on countries to take further action to curb the spread of the disease. The agency’s figures showed that 465,319 cases were declared for Saturday alone, half of them in Europe. “This is a dangerous moment for many countries in the northern hemisphere as cases spike,” Tedros said.

But he added that people weren’t powerless against the virus, stressing the importance of social distancing, hand washing, and meeting outdoors instead of inside. “Again and again we have seen that taking the right actions quickly means the outbreak can be managed,” he added.

Speaking at the same summit, which is being held online this year, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his video message called the pandemic “the greatest crisis of our times”.

“We need global solidarity every step of the way. A vaccine must be global public good Vaccines, tests and therapies are more than life savers. They are economy savers and society savers,” he said, echoing the plea for developed countries to support those with fewer resources.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar tests positive for COVID-19, hospitalised

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He also said the party workers and citizens need not worry about his health and that he will be back among all after a brief period of rest.

Ajit pawar

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is admitted in a hospital here on the advice of doctors.

In a message, Pawar said his health condition is fine.

“I have tested positive for COVID-19. My health condition is fine. As a precautionary measure I have admitted self to Breach Candy Hospital on the advice of doctors,” the NCP leader said.

He also said the party workers and citizens need not worry about his health and that he will be back among all after a brief period of rest.

On Thursday, Pawar tested negative for coronavirus but was in home quarantine as a precautionary measure.

In the last few months, over a dozen Maharashtra ministers have tested positive for the viral infection.

They include Jitendra Awhad (housing), Ashok Chavan (public works department), Dhananjay Munde (social justice), Varsha Gaikwad (school education), Eknath Shinde (urban development) and Nitin Raut (energy).

Ministers Hasan Mushrif (rural development), Sunil Kedar (animal husbandry), Balasaheb Patil (cooperation), Aslam Shaikh (ports, textile), Bacchu Kadu (MoS for school education), Abdul Sattar (MoS-rural development), Sanjay Bansode (MoS-environment) and Vishwajeet Kadam (MoS for cooperation) had also contracted COVID-19.

Holidays to be cancelled, syllabus will remain same: DyCM Dr Ashwath Narayan

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The minister announced a combination of online and offline classes for colleges, which will open for students on November 17. Here are the excerpts.

BENGALURU: From what went into deciding on a hybrid system of holding classes in colleges, to his ideas on syllabus and examinations for colleges, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Ashwath Narayan, who is also the Higher Education Minister, reveals all during an interview with The New Sunday Express. The minister announced a combination of online and offline classes for colleges, which will open for students on November 17. Here are the excerpts.

It was keeping in mind the concerns of students. Each has his or her own preference. Because of Covid, many may opt for online classes, while many others don’t think they learn properly online and prefer offline. We have given both options for students. Also, how practical classes can be conducted online? So, we have kept practical classes offline. The UGC has made provisions, while MHA too has allowed restarting of colleges. We are taking all precaution. 

Students can be infected at any place, not necessarily at the college. At the institution, we would have taken all measures, physical distancing, thermal scanners, masking, sanitising, limited numbers, etc. At the same time, online classes too will be strengthened. 

Till now, we were on holidays. We are now going to cut down on vacation for online and offline classes. There will be no vacations. Classes will go on. The number of classes will be as per the calendar of events which is as per the syllabus. There will be exams and classes. The evaluation system can always be simplified, but let them learn properly. We have to serve the purpose of education. UGC has given calendar of events for exams and also issued broad guidelines. We will have coordination between universities.

Lecturers are extremely happy as they have not stepped into a college for months. Many are already working online and now they have to physically come to colleges. The economy has opened up and activities are going on all around. Offline classes are more of a demand from students. 

First, we will start with degree, then gradually PUC, then SSLC and then others in lower classes. The SOP for exams will be similar to what we had for other examinations held recently. SOP formed for physical distancing will be followed for offline classes too.

We will see what will be the number, how many will enrol and how many want to come back. We will decide based on that. Whoever wants to come back, we are allowing them. So far, hostels were quarantine and COVID centres. College authorities have learnt how to manage the centres and they can adopt similar methods for offline classes. They will give safety the priority.

Stormwater drain work stinks, complain RR Nagar residents

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Friday’s rain took a toll on citizens of South Bengaluru, with homes and roads flooded and vehicles damaged.

A boy recovers his bicycle from the muck | Meghana Sastry

BENGALURU:  Friday’s rain took a toll on citizens of South Bengaluru, with homes and roads flooded and vehicles damaged. The residents blamed BBMP officials for not desilting drains leading to flooding. 
With rain lashing for over five hours, from 1.30 pm to 7 pm, many localities in Rajarajeshwari Nagar were flooded up to 3 feet high. Water from the nearby Vrishabhavathi Valley entered people’s homes, causing damage to their electrical appliances and furniture. It took hours for residents to bale out water.

The frustrated and angry residents blamed BBMP officials for not cleaning up the stormwater drain and removing encroachments along rajakaluves. Hosakerehalli, Nayandahalli, Basavanagudi, Bommanahalli, Kengeri, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Bommanahalli and surrounding areas were the worst affected in Friday evening rain. The residents shared pictures with BBMP engineers and joint commissioner, who helped in flushing out water in some areas. “But they attended to only some localities and ignored many others. A few hours after the rain, water level receded and flooding came down in the night. We could not step out of our house till Saturday morning,” a resident said. 

Residents of apartments at RK Colony in Bilekahalli on Bannerghatta Road have complained to the BBMP about overflowing drain since May, but officials have failed to address the issue. When sheets of rain fell on Friday evening, the existing problem only got worse, making the lives of residents miserable. 

The residents alleged that the underground drainage system has not been done properly and even a short spell of rain causes flooding. Suresh Prakash, a resident, said, “When we complained about the drain, officials said that they had to desilt the lines, that go to Madiwala Lake. It has been six months since we complained, and the officials are yet to address the problem.”He said, “On Friday, the whole place started to stink and it was difficult to even breathe. We had to wait till rainwater to drain by itself. Children and adults are at a high risk of contracting diseases.”

Rupee falls 16 paise to 73.77 against US dollar in early trade

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The local unit opened at 73.77 at the interbank forex market, down 16 paise over its last close. On Friday, the rupee had settled at 73.61 against the greenback.

The rupee depreciated 16 paise to 73.77 against the US dollar in opening trade on Monday as muted domestic equities and strong American currency weighed on investor sentiments

The local unit opened at 73.77 at the interbank forex market, down 16 paise over its last close. On Friday, the rupee had settled at 73.61 against the greenback.

“Governments across Europe have imposed stricter measures to contain the virus as cases have surged to record highs on account of the second wave. We could see the risk sentiment sour on account of this development,” said Abhishek Goenka, Founder and CEO, IFA Global.

Goenka further added that market participants would look to adjust their positioning across asset classes ahead of the US elections next week.

“We could see some risk on bets being rolled back. The overall mood is likely to be that of caution. Markets would also become less hopeful of a pre-election agreement on fiscal stimulus between the Democrats and the White House,” he said.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, rose 0.16 per cent to 92.91. On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex was trading 80.91 points lower at 40,604.59 and the broader NSE Nifty fell 27.65 points to 11,902.70.

Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the capital market as they purchased shares worth Rs 906.93 crore on a net basis on Friday, according to provisional exchange data. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, fell 1.72 per cent to USD 41.05 per barrel.

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