15th September, 2023 - The Bengaluru Commute Podcast. News update : Namma Metro news; Ganesh Chaturthi update; Dengue; BBMP news update; Shuchi scheme; INDIA bloc; Telangana news; USA news; G20 summit
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Transcript:
Welcome to The Bengaluru Commute Podcast, your only companion on the streets of Bengaluru.
Bengaluru Local news
1. For today, the 15th of August, let's begin with updates from the city. The statutory safety inspection of two stretches awaiting commissioning on Namma Metro's Purple Line is likely to happen on September 21. Following reports about the postponement of the exercise, a director of BMRCL met the commissioner of Metro railway safety AM Chowdhary during the day and requested him to decide on a fresh date as early as possible. Metro commuters have been eagerly waiting for the two stretches - KR Pura-Byappanahalli on the eastern side and Kengeri-Challaghatta on the west, to be integrated into the Metro network.
2. In other headlines, the row over the sharing of Cauvery river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is now threatening to disrupt supply to Bengaluru city. With the level in the KRS reservoir fast depleting following the release of water to Tamil Nadu, BWSSB had written to Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited (CNNL) to set aside Bengaluru's share of water for the rest of the year. Chairperson N Jayaram also requested officials to ensure the storage of sufficient water both in Kabini and KRS reservoirs for Bengaluru's potable needs. BWSSB supplies Cauvery water to nearly 70-80% of Bengaluru.
3. In some more news, Bengalureans are facing a pricier festive season this year, not just due to soaring Ganesha idol and festival essentials costs, but also due to a steep increase in pulse prices caused by a weak monsoon. Pulses, a key ingredient during festivities, have seen a 20-30% price surge. Tur dal, used for 'obbattu,' was Rs 130-135/kg in June-July, and now sells for Rs 165-175/kg. Similarly, green gram has risen from Rs 95-100/kg to Rs 130-135/kg, with other pulses experiencing average increases of Rs 30-40/kg.
4. Up next, in compliance with the high court's ban on flex banners and hoardings in the city, the BBMP is taking action against Ganesha pandals displaying non-eco-friendly materials. Pandals can opt for cloth or other eco-friendly alternatives for publicity, but such displays should be set up on the celebration day near the idol pandals and removed after immersion. The Palike's Ganesha festival guidelines advise citizens to avoid PoP idols, thermocol, and plastic, emphasizing proper waste segregation and disposal at BBMP collection centers.
5. Now, onto other news, more than 4,000 dengue cases have been reported in Bengaluru in the past few days, with a rise in the number of infections among children. Doctors say the number of infants being admitted with high-grade fever is increasing, with temperatures hovering between 103° and 104°F. Cold hands and feet can be a sign of serious illness, indicating a leak phase. Symptoms like vomiting three or more times, rashes in the body, or bleeding should also not be ignored.
6. Moving on, scientists have found that highly abundant naturally occurring plant-based polyphenols or PPs — a type of compound like tannic acid found in twigs of trees like oak — can help create a cost-effective strategy for combating Alzheimer’s disease. The findings are part of a new study by researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), published in the journal, Chemical Sciences. Pointing out that Alzheimer’s is a widely prevalent progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by cognitive decline, the researchers said that it remains poorly understood despite decades of dedicated research.
7. Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court recently ruled that the definition of "family" in the Karnataka Civil Services (Appointment on Compassionate Grounds) Rules, 1999 does not include sisters. The court dismissed the claim of a woman seeking compassionate appointment in place of her deceased brother. It pointed out that according to rule 2(1)(b), only the widow, son, or daughter living with a deceased male government servant and dependent on him are considered family members. The court's decision upheld the rules followed by government companies, including Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Ltd (KPTCL) and Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom).
8. On a different note, as many as 20 lakh girls in Karnataka, aged between 10 and 18 years and enrolled in government schools and colleges, will get free sanitary pads from October under the Shuchi scheme. On September 11, the government rolled out the Shuchi Nanna Maitri scheme in Dakshina Kannada and Chamarajanagar on a pilot basis. Around 15,000 girls in these districts will get menstrual cups free of cost. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “If it works out well, it will be extended across the state next year."
National News
1. Moving on to the national news. PM Modi strongly criticized the INDIA bloc, asserting that the alliance had sinister intentions to undermine and dismantle the foundations of Sanatan Dharma, one of the world's oldest religions. He said, "Today they have openly started targeting Sanatana, tomorrow they will increase the attacks on us. All 'Sanatanis' across the country and the people who love our country will have to be alert. We will have to stop such people."
2. Meanwhile, police detained 17 fake "qazis" in different operations in the Hailakandi district of Assam, as the police continued their crackdown on child marriage. A senior official of Lala police station said the arrested had no official registration required for the job. It is learned that the police have seized 10 "kabul namas" from them. An official at Hailakandi Sadar police station said the detained persons are being interrogated, and further action will be taken as required.
3. In more news, two days after 10 students from Gandhi Medical College (GMC) were suspended for allegedly ragging a group of freshers, it has come to light that the 30 first-year students were summoned to the seniors’ rooms, 2 weeks ago, at around 2 a.m., and forced to consume alcohol, smoke cigarettes and even strip. Dr. K Ramesh Reddy, director of medical education, Telangana, confirmed that the complainants had “indicated” such acts of ragging and termed the act as a gross “violation of human rights”.
4. Shifting our focus, after five years of investigation, Telangana's women's safety wing and anti-human trafficking unit have resolved the enigmatic case of a 36-year-old married woman who disappeared from Humayunnagar in 2018. She meticulously erased her digital footprint and adopted a new identity, including marriage to another man while working for an NGO in Maharashtra. The breakthrough came when her Aadhaar card was updated last month, revealing changes in language, religion, and husband's name. This led to the discovery of her bank account details, followed by a digital investigation that exposed her new identity on social media.
5. In a general weather update for the country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted very heavy rains in several parts of the country including Central, East India, West India are likely to witness very heavy rains in the coming days due to low-pressure condition building over the northwest and west-central Bay of Bengal.
International News
1. Turning our attention to international news, the US has assured India of a quick investigation into the death of Andhra Pradesh student Jaahnavi Kandula, who was struck by a speeding police patrol car in Seattle in January. India had "strongly" taken up the case with the Biden administration after a recently released bodycam video showed Officer Daniel Auderer "joking and laughing" about her death. He also dismissed any implication that a fellow officer might be at fault and that a criminal investigation wasn't even necessary. Auderer called Jaahnavi a "regular person" who had "limited value".
2. In ongoing news, at the G20 gathering in New Delhi, President Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia exchanged a warm handshake. The Biden administration is working overtime to consolidate what is arguably Washington DC’s most significant advantage over its great power rivals, especially China. More specifically, the US has been pushing hard to forge a deal in which Washington DC would give formal security guarantees to Saudi Arabia, and, in return, the Saudis would establish diplomatic ties with Israel, with Israeli concessions to the Palestinians.
3. In a recent development, according to a research report by the Federation of American Scientists, "Pakistan continues to gradually expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, more delivery systems, and a growing fissile material production industry. Analysis of commercial satellite images of construction at Pakistani army garrisons and air force bases shows what appear to be newer launchers and facilities that might be related to Pakistan's nuclear forces." The scientists have estimated that Pakistan now has a "nuclear weapons stockpile of approximately 170 warheads".
4. In some positive news, a team of students from the Academic Motorsports Club Zürich, Swiss universities ETH Zürich, and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, has broken the world record for the fastest acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph in an electric vehicle (EV). Their car, which they built from scratch, bested the previous record set by a team of students in Germany by more than a third. Known as the Greenteam, the previous record holders, a team of 20 students from Germany, achieved the feat in 1.461 seconds.
Business News
1. Let's now look at some business stories. Alarm bells over Pratt & Whitney's unending woes for its engines powering the Airbus A320neo family planes are now ringing globally. The DGCA has taken up the issue of three Pratt & Whitney engines’ inflight shutdowns on as many IndiGo flights “in quick succession” between August 29 and September 3, 2023, with the engine-maker. It has directed “urgent intervention of the highest level for suitable mitigation” by PW and also asked it to see if the engine deterioration could be detected at an early stage through some tests.
2. In more business news, Tesla has begun heavy component sourcing from India and is expected to ship parts worth $1.7-1.9 billion this year. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said while the company finalizes its launch plans for the market, it is already sourcing significantly from India, indicating the robustness of the manufacturing processes and quality of production. The carmaker revived its plans to manufacture and launch cars in India a couple of months ago, after abandoning the project last year.
3. Next up, in some tech news. Apple's iPhone 15 will cost much more in India than in the US and Dubai, despite some models being manufactured in India. iPhone 15 Pro Max (1 terabyte) is priced at Rs 1,99,900 in India - 51% higher compared to the US price of $1,599. The price in Dubai is AED 3,399, a shade lower than in India. The difference is more stark when it comes to the flagship Pro versions, which attract 22% import duty. The base variant of the iPhone 15 Pro in India is priced at Rs 1,34,900 compared to Rs 82,917 in the US.
4. Moving on, in a move indicating a strong intent for gender balance and the significance of a hybrid work culture, 3.4 lakh women - about 38% of total employees - were hired by 100 firms that emerged as 'best companies for women in India' in 2023, according to a study by Avtar & Seramount. At a panel discussion, Aditya Mittal, CHRO, Citi South Asia, said that of big inflection points in the history of work, it was Covid that really pushed the boundaries on flexibility, which remains sustainable post-pandemic too, adding, "The first time, the employee has won."
5. In market news, the domestic equity market snapped the five-day losing streak as Sensex recouped its lost ground and closed 78 points higher on fag-end value buying in banking, energy, and financial stocks. Halting its five-day losing streak, the 30-share BSE benchmark rose 78.94 points or 0.14 percent to close at 57,634.84 points, with 17 of its constituents ending in the green. The 50-share NSE Nifty advanced 13.45 points or 0.08 percent to settle at 16,985.60 points. The rupee declined 13 paise to close at 82.78 against the US dollar.
Entertainment News
1. Over to news from the entertainment world. The Odisha Economic Offences Wing (EOW) said that they will question Bollywood actor Govinda in connection with a massive Rs 1,000 crore pan-India online ponzi scheme investigation. According to authorities, the scam involved Solar Techno Alliance (STA-Token), which had an online presence in multiple countries. The company allegedly operated an illicit online Ponzi scheme by posing as a crypto investment venture. As a result, it collected an unauthorized deposit to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore from over 2 lakh individuals across India.
2. In news from Hollywood, during a performance on 'The Tour' in Sacramento, Nick Jonas scolded fans for throwing objects onstage. A video captured the moment when fans threw bracelets at him while he was singing. Nick gestured for them to stop and continued performing. This incident highlights the dangerous trend of throwing objects at performers during concerts. Other artists such as Bebe Rexha and Harry Styles have also experienced similar disruptions.
3. Meanwhile, in some news from regional cinema, popular actor Vijay Sethupathi revealed the title of actor Sathish and Suresh Ravi's film with debutant director Praveen Saravanan. The film has been titled 'Mustafa Mustafa' after the popular song from 'Kadhal Desam', and is billed as a ‘friendship comedy’ that revolves around four people caught in a sticky situation. Monica Chinnakotla and Manasa Chowdary play Sathish and Suresh’s romantic interests, respectively.
Sports News
1. In sports news, Sri Lankan's legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has picked his favourite team for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup starting from October 5 in India. Speaking on the ANI Podcast, 'GOAT' of spin, Muralitharan picked up four teams that can win the World Cup this year. According to him, India has an advantage in the tournament while Australia, England, and Pakistan also have the potential to clinch the coveted trophy.
2. In more sports updates, Ranjan Chowdhury is back to take charge of Bengal for the upcoming Santosh Trophy. Chowdhury is currently employed as coach of Bhawanipore FC, who have made it to the Super Six stage of the ongoing CFL Premier Division. The coaches' committee of the Indian Football Association went through a number of applications before settling on Choudhury. According to the IFA's criteria, a potential candidate must be an 'A' license holder and should have the experience of coaching for at least five years.
3. Wrapping up sports news, Japanese female referee Yoshimi Yamashita will make her debut at the men's Asian Cup in Qatar next year, marking a significant step forward and a historic development for gender equality in sports officiating. Yoshimi, who had already been selected as a referee for the 2022 men's World Cup in Qatar, is among the five women chosen to officiate at the prestigious regional championship scheduled for January-February.
Bengaluru Buzz
Switching gears to local events. There are many events ongoing and upcoming in Bengaluru this week
1. Pet lovers, this one's for you! Enjoy an incredibly fun day at the "PET GALA event" and bring along your fur buddies to the Jayamahal Convention Centre, Jayamahal Palace on the 17th of September at 10.00 a.m.
2. Get ready to enjoy a fun evening out with friends as renowned DJ Alex Kennon, performs live at the GYLT, Hennur- Bagalur Main Road on the 16th of September at 3.00 pm.
3. You can also catch the incredible Rajasekhar Mamidanna in his latest outing, performing live at the Mother Tekla Auditorium, Ashok Nagar on the 17th of September at 6.00 pm.
4. Experience a blend of innovation, sustainability, and visionary cocktails, presented by Asia's top bars in partnership with The Soul Company and Beam Suntory in an extravaganza, happening at the Copitas, Four Seasons Hotel, Mekhri Circle on the 16th & 17th of September at 7.00 p.m.
5. Enjoy a relaxing session of Yoga with the "Surya Namaskar and Yoga Workshop" happening at the Fusion Waves Music Academy, Electronic City on the 17th of September at 7.00 pm.
Bengaluru Weather
1. And finally, the weather in Bengaluru. Storms with thunder and lightning are anticipated in the afternoon. The chance of rainfall is high. However, precipitation will be light. The highest temperature will be a moderately hot 27°C, while the lowest predicted temperature is a pleasant 20°C. The maximum heat index, which combines relative humidity and air temperature, is estimated at 29°C. The day's high temperature is predicted to adhere to September's average peak of 28.3°C.
That’s all for now on The Bengaluru Commute Podcast for today. I’m Anupama. If you enjoyed this episode, please do follow me on your favourite podcast and player, and leave a rating and a review as well. It helps other listeners to discover the show, and I would just really appreciate it. Even better if you know someone who would enjoy the podcast, share it with them. Make your commute truly extraordinary. The Bengaluru Commute podcast skill is now available on Alexa! All you have to do is to download the skill from your Alexa app and look for the Bengaluru commute podcast.
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Producer: Anupama Rajarathnam
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Voiceover: Anupama Rajarathnam
Script: Prathiksha Nehru
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