FDA grants emergency authorization for Lilly antibody treatment

The drug, known as a monoclonal antibody, mimics the body's natural defenses against the virus.

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U.S. coronavirus cases top 10 million

The milestone comes as the U.S. over the weekend set new records for daily number of cases and more than 1,000 deaths.

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Karnataka colleges reopen on Nov 17, students and staff to undergo mandatory tests

Education

In addition to the mandatory masks rule, teachers will have to wear a visor too.

TNM Staff

PTI

The Karnataka government on Monday released standard operating procedures (SOP) that have to be followed as colleges across the state are due to reopen from November 17  for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. All staff and students will have to undergo RT-PCR tests three days prior to the college re-opening, according to the new guidelines. The SOP says that Ccolleges should map closest primary health centres so that students and staff can get tests done for free.  In addition to the mandatory masks rule, teachers will have to wear a visor too. During the first phase of reopening, colleges won’t be allowed to keep their canteens and libraries open, and this will be applicable until further notice. The class leaders have been asked to keep a check of fellow students in case anyone exhibits any COVID-19 symptoms. Cultural activities and other activities like NCC and NSS cannot commence now. Further, respective college authorities have been asked to regularly spray and sanitise door-knobs, lift buttons, handrails, chairs and benches with disinfectants regularly. All educational institutions in the state have been closed since mid-March when the state government announced a lockdown in wake of the pandemic followed by more stringent lockdowns announced by the union government. It may be recalled that the reopening of colleges was decided on October 23 following a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, who holds the Higher Education portfolio. As announced by the government earlier, students can choose to attend the online or offline classes as part of a blended learning process mode. So far, schools in the state have been ordered to remain closed. A decision to partially reopen schools for 9-12 standard students in October was deferred due to a spurt of cases among students and teachers in northern Karnataka. Earlier in October, the advisor to the Karnataka government on education reforms, Professor MR Doreswamy had also advised the government to reopen degree colleges first before reopening schools. He had said that in the next phase pre-university colleges can be opened, and schools only in the final phase.

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Biden touts vaccine developments, but warns end of pandemic battle ‘still months away’

The president-elect's statement came shortly after his transition team announced on Monday a Covid-19 transition advisory board.

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Pfizer says its coronavirus vaccine is more than 90 percent effective

The better-than-expected result is the first Phase III data from any of the four candidates now in the final stage of testing in the U.S.

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Families approach UNHCR over abduction of Rohingya refugees in Bengaluru

Crime

A first information report (FIR) was registered at the Amruthahalli Police Station on November 5.

Prajwal Bhat

Six members of the Rohingya community staying in Bengaluru were allegedly abducted and assaulted by an unknown gang for not paying hafta for carrying out ragpicking work in Bengaluru. The issue was brought to the notice of police officials and the gang released five of the six Rohingya community members after receiving a ransom of Rs 40,000. Police are on the lookout for Dil Mohammed who is still missing.  A first information report (FIR) was registered at the Amruthahalli Police Station on November 5. The families of the abducted persons approached the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees through a Bengaluru-based NGO Law and Policy Research Institute. In the letter written by Zia Nomani, Program Director, Law and Policy Research Institute (LAPRI, on behalf of the families, it was mentioned that a group of 7 individuals -  Hilal,  Masoom, Javed, Ali, Farooq, Kukan and one unknown person  - came to the Rohingya settlement in Dasarahalli in Bengaluru on October 27 demanding "hafta" for carrying on ragpicking work in the area. "At  that  time,  reportedly, few Rohingyas were present and spoke with the above mentioned 7 individuals. Mr Anwar Hussain, Mr. Dilwar, Mr Mohd  Zubair, Mr Abdul  Salam, Mr Mujibullah,  Mr Mohd Zakir, Mr Mohd Farooq and Mr Arif refused to pay any money as license to carry on rag picking work. They refused to pay any  money as license to carry on rag picking work,"  read the letter. The letter mentioned that the refugees had not faced any such demand even though they were living in Bengaluru for over seven years now. "Upon refusal, all of them were brutally  assaulted.  One  Mrs Maryam,  who  is six months  pregnant  and  other  women  including Mrs. Arfa Begum, Mrs Ismat Ara, Mrs. Minuwara and Mrs Senuwara were also assaulted," read the letter from Zia Nomani. It alleged that six members of the community were abducted and five of them were released later in the week. Dil Mohammed (not to be confused with Dilwar who refused to pay the money) is currently missing from the community and the police are on the lookout for him.   Mobile phones and Rs 40,000 were taken from the community members by those who carried out the assault, the letter added. The letter to the UNHCR stated that there are 40 Rohingya families living in Bengaluru's Dasarahalli for around 7 years. The letter stated that the residents in the community were recognised as refugees and carried UNHCR cards with them. It stated that the refugee cards of many residents had expired and they were yet to be renewed due to the pandemic.  "The  Rohingya  community  now  fears  that  there  might  be  a  backlash  on  them  as  they  have taken  steps  against  the  illegal  assault  and  harassment  by  the  neighbouring  community.  In  this background, this representation requests UNHCR’s assistance," read the letter appealing to authorities to help stop harassment faced by Rohingya refugees. It also called for recognised refugees to be protected and given legal support.

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Tejasvi Surya fined Rs 250 for not wearing mask: Karnataka govt

Court

The fine was paid on November 7, the Karnataka government confirmed in a submission to the High Court.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka government on Monday informed the High Court that Bengaluru South MP and the National President of BJP Yuva Morcha Tejasvi Surya was fined for appearing in a public rally without wearing a mask on September 30. The fine was paid on November 7, the state government confirmed in a submission to the High Court. It was registered in Vyalikaval police station limits in Bengaluru.  The development comes after the High Court on Thursday asked the state government if it had levied fines on Tejasvi Surya and other political leaders for not wearing masks during political rallies. Chief Justice Abhay Sreenivas Oka and Justice Vishwajith Shetty are hearing a petition filed by advocate Ramesh Puthige raising allegations that directives for COVID-19 management laid down by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) were not followed or implemented in Karnataka. During the case, the petitioner had argued that celebrities in Karnataka were not pulled up for flouting distancing norms and failing to wear masks. The High Court bench raised questions about photographs showing Tejasvi Surya without a mask during a rally on September 30. On this day, Tejasvi Surya was seen addressing a public gathering from atop a vehicle.  The state government in its submission also stated the details of 684 people fined for not wearing masks during the campaigning for the bye-election in RR Nagar in Bengaluru last week. It also specified there are 18 non-cognisable reports of cases where people were found without masks at a public event.  Apart from Tejasvi, several other political leaders have been found addressing the public without wearing masks or following distancing rules. This includes  Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President DK Shivakumar and former Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu, when he held his office as the state health minister. Read: Did you collect fines from Tejasvi, others for not wearing mask? HC asks K'taka govt

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