Shooting for Rakshit Shetty’s ‘777 Charlie’ nears completion

Sandalwood

Director Kiranraj posted pictures on Twitter after the first part of the final schedule was shot in Kashmir.

TNM Staff

The first part of the final leg of shooting for Sandalwood flick starring actor Rakshit Shetty – 777 Charlie – was completed on Friday. In a tweet, Director Kiranraj K said, “Happy Wrap Up! We've successfully completed the first part of the final schedule in the land of unimaginable beauty!” The crew is currently in Kashmir for the shoot. They had halted shooting in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown. In October this year, shooting was resumed.  ಕಾಶ್ಮೀರದಿಂದ ಶಿಮ್ಲಾವರೆಗಿನ ಕೊನೆಯ ಹಂತದ ಮೊದಲನೇ ಭಾಗದ ಚಿತ್ರೀಕರಣ ಯಶಸ್ವಿಯಾಗಿ ಮುಗಿಸಿದ್ದೇವೆ Happy Wrap Up! We've successfully completed the first part of final schedule in the land of unimaginable beauty!#777ಚಾರ್ಲಿ #777Charlie pic.twitter.com/Zz5VjZnzkG — Kiranraj K (@Kiranraj61) December 11, 2020 Starring Rakshit Shetty in the role of a disillusioned, lonely bachelor, and a starry-eyed Indie pup, Charlie, the film explores how the energetic puppy, with his ways as a troublemaker, offers Rakshit Shetty’s character Dharma, a new perspective to life. Aimed at tugging at the heart-strings by showcasing the relationship between the dog and his human, the film is expected to portray how Dharma finds meaning to a lonely existence.  Interestingly, the film also stars Sandalwood’s “Humble Politician” Danish Sait in a supporting role. The TV presenter and comedian who became an Instagram sensation after his play-acting comedy series took on the everyday lives of Bengalureans stuck at home during the lockdown. In July this year, director Kiranraj had revealed that Danish would play a role he has “never done before” and that it would be a crucial one in the film.  “I owe my career in films to Rakshit Shetty. If he hadn’t produced my first film, Humble Politician Nograj wouldn’t have happened. I had to do this for him. He is my brother and I can never say no to him. I am glad I got 777 Charlie,” Danish Sait had told TNIE after his role in the film was announced.  Tamil actor Bobby Simha is making his Sandalwood debut in 777 Charlie with a cameo. The film also has actors Sangeetha Sringeri and Raj B Shetty of Ondu Motteya Kathe fame and is expected to be Rakshit Shetty’s next big release.   

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Will promulgate ordinance for anti-cattle slaughter Bill in 2-3 days: Yediyurappa

Controversy

Yediyurappa said he has asked for the adjourned Legislative Council to be convened as “important issues” need to be discussed in the Council.

TNM Staff

PTI/Representation Photo

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday said that the state government would promulgate an ordinance for the anti-cattle slaughter Bill in 2-3 days. “Since the Legislative Council is not cooperating, we will take the ordinance route,” Yediyurappa said. He also asked for the adjourned Legislative Council to be convened on December 15 and 16 in order to deliberate pending issues. Yediyurappa spoke to the media outside his official residence 'Cauvery' after performing Gau Puja along with his family members. He questioned the Legislative Council Chairman’s decision to declare the session adjourned when there were issues that needed to be deliberated.  "We are going to convene two more days of the Legislature Session starting from Tuesday next week. I have written to Governor Vajubhai Vala seeking his approval. How can the Chairman declare sine die (proceedings adjourned with no accurate date to reconvene) when there are important issues to be discussed?," he questioned, adding that the move by Chairman Pratapchandra Shetty was uncalled for. Yediyurappa said that the party would like to discuss the anti-cattle slaughter bill in the Council.  Yediyurappa said that the Business Advisory Committee meeting of the Legislative Council had decided that the session must be held till December 15, when the Council session began earlier this week on December 8. “Chairman Pratapchandra Shetty was also party to this decision. We were in favour of continuing the session to complete the work. But he has abruptly ended it. We will call for a two days session from Tuesday," he added. Yediyurappa said that the Chairman announcing the adjournment was a tactic to avoid the no-confidence motion tabled in the Council against Pratapchandra Shetty. The BJP had submitted the notice to the Chairman as per the rules a fortnight ago, he said.  Despite BJP signatory members, Ayanooru Manjunath repeatedly demanding the chairman to take up their notice Wednesday onwards, it did not find mention in the agenda till Thursday. However, the contentious Bill to ban cow slaughter in the state was listed, but the BJP did not table it and instead, the BJP demanded Shetty take up no-confidence motion first. Congress members objected to this, stating that the House cannot take up an issue that is not mentioned in the agenda. At this juncture, Leader of the Council Kota Sreenivasa Poojari and Deputy Chief Minister Lakshman Savadi repeatedly appealed to Chairman Shetty that the Bill to ban cow slaughter could be taken up on Friday as the concerned minister, Prabhu Chauhan was not there to table the Bill. While Congress and BJP members were still sparring over the matter, Shetty announced that the House was adjourned sine die.

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Bengaluru to have 50-storey twin towers govt building in the next 2 years

Infrastructure

The buildings will come up near Anand Rao Circle and are estimated to cost Rs 1,251 crore.

IANS

Representation photo

Karnataka will sign an agreement with Central government's blue-chip company National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) to build 50-storey twin tower project worth Rs 1,251 crore in Anand Rao circle in Bengaluru, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Govind M. Karajol said here on Friday. Accompanied by officials concerned, Karjol inspected 8.5 acre government land parcel in which already Public Works Department and Health and family welfare Departmen offices are situated here. Speaking to reporters here, Karjol clarified that the state government was not incurring any expenses to execute this project. "The project itself is executed at a 60:40 ratio. 40 per cent of the office space will be utilised by the Central Government offices while state government will utilise remaining 60 per cent to accommodate its offices," he said. The Deputy CM said that the twin tower will house various government offices that are presently working on rented premises. "This would be convenient for the public as well as to the both governments. The government will be saving lot of money in terms of paying rent, while people including employees will be saving lot of time as most of the offices will be located in one place and conveniently linked to Metro stations and City bus stations," he explained. He added that the total built-up area of this project is estimated to be 23.94 lakh sq. ft. which will come up in 8.5 acre land parcel owned by the PWD department. Karjol said that the all offices will be vacated soon as the government intends to complete this project in two years time from the day of foundation stone laying ceremony. It may be recalled that Karnataka cabinet on December 7 had given administrative approval to a Rs 1,250-crore plan to construct twin towers with government offices in Bengaluru. The complex will come up on 8.5 acres belonging to the health department at Anand Rao Circle and accommodate departments of both state and central governments. Each tower will have 50 floors. Though CM Yediyurappa had announced the project while presenting the budget for the current fiscal. He had estimated that the project would cost Rs 400 crore, but the figure approved by the cabinet on December 7 is substantially higher. The PWD officials told reporters that when Yediyurappa had announced this projects, it was planned as 25 storey twin tower project, but after several rounds of deliberations, the project was scaled up to 50-storey twin tower in October, hence the cost of the project swelled according this size of the project too. The source added that the project would also have skywalks from three metro stations located in the vicinity. It would be developed on the PPP model, with not less than 50 floors in each tower. Sources claimed that the PWD was working out a project to link three modern skywalks, running up to a few kilometres, to ensure access to offices for metro commuters. These skywalks would link Kempegowda metro station at Majestic, Mantri Square Sampige Road station and Vidhana Soudha metro station.

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KSRTC and BMTC employees hold flash protest, services disrupted in Bengaluru

Protest

The flash protest was held by employees as talks with the government regarding their demands failed on Thursday.

IANS

PTI/Representation Photo

The talks between the transport union leaders and Karnataka government held here failed to end the standoff between the two parties leading to the employees launching a flash protest on Friday, which led to suspension of bus services in several parts of Bengaluru.  The transport unions' by inviting the recognised employees union and not inviting those who had called for strike led to day-long confusion and forcing the Karnataka government to list out all those leaders who had called for a flash strike. Bus services hit With thousands of employees of state-owned transport corporations continued their strike for a second day here on Friday pressing various demands resulting in disruption of services. Many government buses did not operate due to the stir by transport corporation employees demanding salaries on par with state government employees among others. The transport system in the city was badly hit as all buses operated by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation did not ply from the Central Bus Stand, Traffic and Transit Management Centres at various locations, big bus stands and various depots. Many commuters, including students and passengers from other parts of the country were stranded at the Central bus stand and other bus stands in the city as buses stayed off roads owing to the strike. Passengers who had booked tickets in KSRTC buses to other parts of the state reached the bus stand only to find services affected. At Yeshwanthpur in the city, the agitating employees staged a unique protest by cooking food on the road and ate on the road under the sun. Talks with government fail After the first round of meeting with the union leaders and officials concerned here, Deputy Chief Minister Lakshman Savadi said that they had invited union leaders who are officially heading recognised unions of these corporations. "We invited them and held talks as per the Supreme Court guidelines. But we have taken corrective steps by inviting those leaders who have called this strike on Saturday," he said. Savadi, who holds the transport portfolio, made another round of appeal to agitating employees to give up their strike and return to work besides convening a meeting of leaders again on Saturday to break the logjam. He assured the employees of government considering their demands but in the same breath he also reminded them that the government had paid their salaries even during the lockdown when the buses did not operate. The Dy CM said that the state government would take steps to releasing ex gratia of Rs 30 lakh to employees who died during the pandemic duty. "All four corporations have suffered a loss of about Rs 3,000 crore. But despite the losses, the government took proactive measures to pay the salary of employees of the corporations. Salaries have been paid in cooperation with the government and the corporations," he said. He added that while in another state, there was a pay cut of up to 25 per cent, but Karnataka has not taken such a step only to not cause any trouble to our employees. In a statement released by his office, Savadi said that a meeting of officials has been convened to consider the demands of the employees. According to sources in the transport department, no BMTC bus was operated in the city whereas only 32 per cent of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and less than 35 per cent of other transport corporations buses were operational on Friday. The agitation was by and large peaceful barring a few sporadic incidents of stone pelting on government buses at Nelamangala in Bengaluru, Kalaburagi city and Channapatna in Ramanagar district.  

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Karnataka allocates Rs 82 crore to buy oxygen generators at COVID-19 hospitals

Coronavirus

A measure taken as the government is gearing up for a second wave of infections.

PTI

PTI/Representation Photo

Gearing up for a possible second wave of coronavirus in the state, the Karnataka government has approved over Rs 82 crore for the purchase of oxygen generator for various hospitals, testing kits and drugs among others, Health Minister K Sudhakar said on Friday. The government wanted to equip itself adequately to meet any exigency in the next three months when the state might witness another surge, he said, asking people to take all necessary precautions, including avoiding large congregations. "We have decided to have oxygen generators in 10 district hospitals, 30 taluk hospitals. We have given administrative approval to buy oxygen generators.... at an estimated cost of 37.72 crore," Sudhakar told reporters after chairing the COVID-19 Task Force meeting. The government has also sanctioned Rs 45 crore for purchase of equipment, including ten lakh rapid antigen test kits at a cost of Rs 11.32 crore, and emergency drugs worth Rs 22.50 crore, he said. "Just because the positivity rate of coronavirus is less, we should not believe that we can escape the second wave. The Technical Advisory Committee (on COVID-19) has recommended enhancing the testing," he added. As the second wave might occur from December 20 to January 2 next year, the minister recommended avoiding new year celebrations, marriages, religious events and cultural programmes where a large number of people may congregate. As of Thursday, the state has reported 8.97 lakh positive cases, including 8.66 lakh discharges and 11,912 deaths. The Health Minister warned private hospitals against overcharging patients for anti-viral drug remdesivir. While each vial of it was available in government hospitals for Rs 1,800, the private hospitals were charging Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 per vial, he added. "We will initiate disciplinary action against the hospitals if we come to know about sale of the injection at an exorbitant price," the minister said. He added that the government has also restructured the COVID-19 Task Force by appointing Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol as its chairperson. The other members of the task force are Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar, Mines and Geology Minister C C Patil, and the Chief Secretary of Karnataka, T M Vijay Bhaskar. The Task Force held a detailed meeting with the officials from the districts of Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ballari, Yadgir, Dakshina Kannada, Belagavi, Bidar, Haveri and Udupi, which Sudhakar said were conducting less tests. Under no circumstances, targeted testing should be reduced. On the plans for delivery of the vaccine once it was available, Sudhakar said a new mobile application has been developed. The officials have been asked to input details of vaccine administering centres in the application and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) portal. The first vaccine beneficiaries of the vaccine will be the front-line workers including healthcare personnel in private and government hospitals treating COVID patients.

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FDA authorizes first Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use

The Pfizer vaccine proved 95 percent effective in a massive clinical trial.

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U.S. government buys another 100 million doses of Moderna vaccine

The expanded order would ensure continuous vaccine delivery through the end of June 2021, at a total cost of $3.2 billion, the Trump administration said.

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