The FDA cycled through three different top lawyers, a personnel shake-up driven by ongoing clashes between the agency and the HHS department that oversees it,
from Health Care https://ift.tt/2LHPqiG
via IFTTT
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Watch: Actor Darshan clicks photos of tiger at wildlife reserve
The actor can be seen capturing the movements of a tiger which is a few metres away from him.
Youtube/Public Music
Kannada actor Darshan, in a now viral video, can be seen capturing a tiger on camera while on a safari. In the minute-long video, he is seen capturing the movements of a tiger which is a few metres away from him. The Challenging Star was at Kabini recently. His love for animals is well-known to his fans. He also owns a farmhouse in Mysuru where he has a studio. The actor is the brand ambassador for the Karnataka Forest Department. The video was shared by the actor’s fan page and later went viral. Darshan has been spending his time in the forests of Karnataka as he is yet to resume shooting for films that were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdown. The star had also visited the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in August and stayed there for a couple of days. The sanctuary is located in Chikkamagaluru and he stayed with his friends. The actor had hosted an exhibition of the wildlife photographs that he'd clicked at Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger reserves. The proceeds from the exhibition that was held in Mysuru in 2019 were donated to the Forest Department for the welfare of forest guards and watchers. The actor recently made an announcement that Roberrt will hit screens on March 11. Roberrt will be one of the biggest releases in Sandalwood post lockdown. The film directed by Tharun Sudhir was supposed to release in the summer of 2020. However, it was delayed owing to the pandemic. Darshan stars opposite Asha Bhat in the film. The actor made the announcement on his social media page through a Facebook Live. Darshan declared in the Live video that no matter what happens, his film Roberrt will release on the big screen only and that there is no question of the 50% occupancy guideline stopping them from going ahead with the release. He further asked his fans to not gather outside his home and assured them that he will visit the entire state as promised and meet them.
from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3bxetzV
via IFTTT
‘The world’s eyes on us’: Capt Zoya and Capt Thanmei on flying SF-Bengaluru nonstop
The flight, recorded as the longest commercial flight operated by any Indian airline, landed in Bengaluru early Monday morning.
Twitter/Air India
Marking a new milestone in Indian aviation history, Air India’s longest flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru landed in Kempegowda International Airport at 3.45 am on Monday, January 11. The flight — the longest commercial one operated by any Indian airline — was operated by an all-women crew comprising Captain Zoya Aggarwal, Captain Papagiri Thanmei, Captain Akansha Sonaware and Captain Shivani Manhas, who have been lauded for the feat. The direct distance between the two cities is 13,993 kilometres, with a time zone change of around 13.5 hours. Depending on the wind speed, the flying time is roughly over 17 hours. TNM spoke to Captains Zoya and Thanmei, the flight’s commanding pilots, who recalled the journey, flying across the pole region and succeeding as women in a male-dominated industry. An opportunity of a lifetime When Captain Thanmei first heard she would be flying the new route connecting the two Silicon Valleys of the world, she was over the moon. “I am extremely humbled that I received this opportunity to be on this inaugural flight,” she said. “This flight was the most challenging one because the whole world’s eyes were on us and this was the first time, we were doing it.” Zoya described the flight as an “amazing” experience. The flight was the first direct, non-stop flight between the west coast of the United States and southern India, a long-pending demand from passengers. The biweekly flight will take off from Bengaluru to San Francisco on Mondays and Thursdays, and leave San Francisco for Bengaluru on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The polar route Incidentally, the route takes flight across the North Pole, an ambitious endeavour for which the pilots have been training for a year. Turning it into a reality felt surreal, Zoya said. She added that they broke the world record for flying over a polar route, connecting diametrically opposite cities of the world, a “proud moment” for the team. Captain Thanmei said while the journey was not difficult to make, it was definitely challenging, she added. She elaborated that they cannot fly if the necessary components — cosmic radiation levels, solar radiation, navigation aids, fuel temperature and others — are not in line with the obligatory values. She noted that years of rigorous training teach them to recognise any fault with the aircraft. This flight tested their knowledge and experience of so many years, she said. Captain Zoya notes, “Within the polar region, it becomes more difficult owing to the extreme weather conditions. We are legally bound to carry equipment specially built for the polar regions, such as polar suits. One cannot step out of the aircraft without a polar suit. There is an extensive list of parameters that we have to take into account before we fly over the polar region.” Thanmei further added that while she has extensive experience flying long-haul flights, flying over the polar region is very different. The route of flying over the North Pole, the pilot said, is an unswerving one. Unlike other routes, the polar route saves tonnes of fuel, in turn reducing the flight’s carbon footprint. “There’s a zone in the polar region that can affect the communication of the pilots with the base. We have to take into account the weather, wind direction and solar radiation. We also have to look out for technical issues that may jeopardise the flight. Moreover, in case of emergencies, we have to consider if the facilities the airports can provide,” she said. Subsequently, giving an insight into the planning, Thanmei said that the route changes according to the weather conditions. “You do not know until the last moment if you will fly from the polar region or will you go a little farther. We have been flying these routes (Delhi-New York) and this is just an addition [to the existing routes].” Zoya further fleshed out that it is not just the pilots who go through rigorous training but also the cabin crew. She said that it’s the cabin crew who manage the passengers, and in case of any emergency, they have to tend to them. “The cabin crew are the first who respond to any queries of the passengers. If there’s a sick patient on the flight, it is they who have to manage it and give them temporary respite until we can land or at least divert. Because of the polar region’s extreme conditions, the operation was riskier. Thankfully, we did not have a sick passenger on this flight,” she added. A team of women Speaking on their all-women crew in the cockpit, Captain Thanmei said, “Air India has always tried to empower the women employed there, and cockpit crews and cabin crews consisting of all-female employees have carried passengers across the globe. This flight has further boosted it.” Zoya recalled how she had to toil to rise from a reserved background where women were expected to always stay in the shadows of men. “Life would be a flatline without challenges. As a pilot, no two days are the same for us and we have to be trained thoroughly for every challenge.” She nonchalantly said that without challenges, they would not have grown or evolved. “Achieving this feat was possible because we struggled,” she said. The pilots have been called an inspiration by many around the world. Thanmei said, “I would like to tell every woman, every girl out there that if they have a dream, it’s possible. Just dream big and work hard to achieve it.” Zoya attributed her success to god’s grace and hard work. “Every reality begins with a great dream and every great dream begins with a great dreamer and that is you,” she said.
from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2LG3t8s
via IFTTT
University of Hyderabad fills vacant master’s seats after aspirant writes to UGC
Deshdeep Dhankhar, an aspirant who was ranked 36 in the unreserved list, had written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) over the issue.
Image for representation
A month after aspirants on the waitlist of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) raised complaints that the university had closed the admissions to its master’s courses early, the university filled up its vacant seats by inviting candidates from the waitlist. Deshdeep Dhankhar, an aspirant who was ranked 36 in the unreserved list, had written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) over the issue. He had argued that the university had closed its admissions before other universities released their entrance rank lists. Read: Aspirants urge University of Hyderabad to reopen admissions to master’s seats The UoH Students’ Union highlighted the concerns raised by Deshdeep and said that the issue extended to aspirants for the MPhil and PhD seats as well. The students’ union, in a letter shared with the media, said that 2020 was an unusual year with a health emergency and urged the university to consider filling up vacant seats. The UGC wrote to UoH later in December asking it to fill its vacant seats. Speaking to TNM, Deshdeep said, “After the struggle, around 10 students from multiple departments in master’s courses got admission in the University of Hyderabad. For this basic issue of fulfilling vacant seats, it took support from all around, from the UGC to officials from the Education Minister’s team.” Deshdeep added that he was lucky in his fight because as he was based in New Delhi, it allowed him to approach the UGC. “I feel I could fight this battle for higher education because I was in a privileged place like Delhi where I could approach the UGC and educational institutions physically. Many of my fellow students from smaller towns in India didn’t have any option other than mailing officials and waiting endlessly for a response,” he added. Deshdeep is now concentrating on catching up with the course work since he has missed over a month of classes in the master’s course.
from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3q9r1Sb
via IFTTT
Bengaluru suburban rail project: Work on airport line delayed, activists dismayed
The Railway Board had approved the project on condition that the airport link be ready in three years in October 2020.
Representational image
Rail activists in Bengaluru are disappointed that K-RIDE (Karnataka Rail Infrastructure Development Company), which is building the suburban rail project has prioritised work on the other lines over the airport line. Though K-RIDE- – which is a joint venture between the state government and the Union government – has also named the airport line as ‘corridor 1’ on its website, the two other corridors are seemingly given higher priority. Activists say that while building the network of four corridors is important to solve the traffic problem plaguing Bengaluru city holistically, work on the airport corridor should have been prioritised for several reasons. It may be recalled that the Union Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs had approved four corridors of the much-delayed suburban rail project in October 2020. At that time, even the Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) had asked K-RIDE to finish work on the airport line in three years, and rest of the work in six years. The three other approved corridors are: Byappanahalli-Yeshwantpur-Chikkabanavara; Kengeri-Cantonment-Whitefield; and Heelalige-Byappanahalli-Rajanukunte.Rajkumar Dugar, convenor of Citizens 4 Citizens, said, “The peak hour traffic demand for the airport corridor is 30-50% higher than the other three corridors. Hence, this must be taken up first. This corridor also has existing metro stations nearby at two places along its route – KSR (City) and Yeshwantpur. These metro stations can effectively extend its reach to the entire functional metro network.” He added that the traffic issues in the city will also be countered most by this line as this will not only be used by flyers alone. “This corridor is not meant only for the airport commute. It will also cater to local en route commuters just like the other corridors. In the past few years, Bengaluru has seen growth in its northern part, and this corridor will help speed up economic activity where Bengaluru is expanding. Plenty of new major projects are being planned in the northern part of Bengaluru and these will get a boost.” Further, with only minimal land acquisition requirements, K-RIDE could have ensured that the train chugs to the airport terminal within the stipulated time of three years, activists say. Is the state govt pushing for a metro? Krishna Prasad of the Karnataka Railway Vedike, another activist, said, “This is concerning as all us activists were happy to know that the airport line will be made first. What we hear now is that the Heelalige line is being worked upon. So, we will organise and meet railway officials and elected representatives on this issue. We feel the state government wants to push for metro rail even though the Union government is yet to approve the alignment.” It may be recalled that currently the only non-road way to reach the airport is using the South Western Railway-run rail link which runs only five trains per day. From the station, commuters have to board a bus run by the airport to reach the terminal. Prasad added, “The airport desperately needs an alternative to the road connection. From the South Western Railway service to the airport, one has to take the shuttle bus to the airport from the halt station. This existing train line will not be feasible for senior citizens or people with heavy luggage.” Alignment for the proposed metro line to the airport is yet to be finalised and has been pending with the Union government that is questioning feasibility for the project. Then, even in the best-case scenario, even if work begins now, the airport metro line will take at least six years to be ready. Already six corridors of metro lines (including extensions) are marred by huge delays. What K-RIDE has to say According to sources, K-RIDE is now set to begin work on the Byappanahalli-Yeshwantpur- Chikkabanavara and Heelalige-Byappanahalli- Rajanukunte lines. K-RIDE Managing Director Amit Garg confirmed the development. A K-RIDE official on condition of anonymity claimed, “We have begun work on these two lines as directed by the state government. This does not mean that we are dropping the airport line. We will take up work on that line soon. For us, all the four corridors are equally important. It is not that it is less important as we will work on that after other corridors.’
from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2LFvtt0
via IFTTT
Toyota Kirloskar Motors withdraws lockout at Bidadi plant, union to continue strike
However, none of the demands of the striking employees have been addressed, and the employee union continues to protest.
Toyota Kirloskar Motors announced on Tuesday that it is withdrawing the lockout at its Bidadi plant in Karnataka. The lockout first began on November 10, was briefly withdrawn and was resumed on November 23, and has been on since as workers continue to protest over workload and unfair processes. Of Toyota Kirloskar’s total staff at Bidadi of nearly 6,000, around 3,500 are part of the Toyota Kirloskar Motor Employees Union. The lockout started because of an increase in workload, with TKM allegedly wanting to raise the number of cars produced from 300 to 360 without any increase in manpower or timings. The increase in workload, the union had alleged, was unscientific and illegal and was put in place without enough technical study and led to a protest. Over two months since the protests began, TKM has said that after a meeting with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr Ashwathnarayan and having observed “a gradual improvement in safety situation, both inside and outside the company premises”, the lockout has been withdrawn, and operations will be enhanced from the second shift on Tuesday. TKM said in a statement that employees will have to “sign a simple undertaking for good conduct and report to work”. However, a member of the Toyota Kirloskar Motors Employees Union said that of the 3,500 members who were on strike, around 300 people have agreed to sign the undertaking and return to work, and the remaining will continue to be on strike. With employees having to sign an undertaking and the 66 employees being suspended, the Union alleges that none of the striking employees' demands have been addressed so far. Toyota had called the strike by the employee union illegal, which is why the lockout was announced, and said that limited production was resumed at the time with 1,200 employees who had signed an undertaking. “...the company had resumed production with over 1200 team members who had expressed their intention to work with discipline, through a simple undertaking of good behaviour,” TKM said in a statement. The union meanwhile has maintained that the lockout was illegal and has expressed disappointment at the company's unilateral decision to commence operations without addressing their concerns. "The workers were not on strike. Our various attempts to invite the attention to this issue was not at all responded by Management. We have evidence of it. The management's conditions are anti-labour and we want to make it clear, although Management has tried to ignore the Union," the union send in a statement, reacting to the withdrawal of the lockdown. The union has also demanded that all employees should be paid full compensation during the lockdown period. Further, despite the lockout being withdrawn, the suspension pending enquiry of 66 unionized employees for “serious misconducts” will continue and domestic enquiries will be conducted adhering to the principles of Natural Justice. “The safety and well-being of all our stakeholders and especially our employees being of utmost importance to us, and we would like to emphasize that basic discipline will continue to be the cornerstone of our business principles and we will not compromise on behaviour and acts that threaten Toyota’s safety philosophy and its brand value in the country,” Toyota’s statement said. Watch our news documentary from Bidadi earlier Toyota workers’ strike in Bidadi enters 36th day, no resolution in sight Toyota workers’ strike in Bidadi enters 36th day, no resolution in sight Posted by TheNewsMinute on Monday, December 14, 2020 Read: Ground report: 37 days in, why Toyota Kirloskar workers in Bidadi continue to protest Also read: Politics, industry, workers' rights: The balance K’taka needs to strike post Wistron
from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3buEIHh
via IFTTT
Karnataka receives 6.48 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine
The vaccine doses will be stored at the government facility in Bengaluru’s Anand Rao Circle.
Karnataka Health Department
Karnataka on Tuesday received 6.48 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine, which arrived in 54 boxes at the Kempegowda International Airport. This is the first consignment out of the total of 7.95 lakh doses that the state government is expected to receive in the first phase of vaccine disbursal. The doses received on Tuesday will be stored in the government storage facility near Anand Rao circle in Bengaluru, Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Dr K Sudhakar said. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Tuesday, the Health Minister said that the Serum Institute’s vaccine ‘Covishield’ has been approved by the DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India) and that the Union government has purchased 1.1 crore doses of the vaccine at a cost of Rs 210 per dose. “This is the cheapest vaccine in the world. Serum Institute of India in Pune is supplying the vaccine at a cost of Rs 231 crore. Karnataka will get 7.95 lakh doses of Covishield in the first phase,” he said. Each dose of vaccine contains 0.5 ml and each vial contains 10 doses of vaccines. The second dose should be given 28 days after the first dose. The vaccine is expected to generate the virus’ resistance in the body and is safe, Minister Sudhakar said. Watch: Covishield vaccine arrives at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport “In order to avoid misuse, the words ‘Not for sale’ are being written over the vial. Health warriors will get the vaccine on priority. All guidelines will be followed while giving the vaccine. Every person who is vaccinated will be kept under observation for 30 minutes after vaccination,” he added. Read: Karnataka vaccine drive: How the logistics will work In the first phase, vaccines will be administered to frontline workers and the Health Department said that 6,35,986 healthcare workers have registered themselves for the vaccination in the first phase. Other than healthcare workers, police and Revenue Department officials with comorbidities will also be identified for vaccination, TNM had earlier reported. The government has identified two primary storage facilities in Bengaluru and Belagavi for the disbursal of the vaccine to districts located in the northern and southern parts of the state. Apart from these two primary facilities, five regional storage facilities have been set up in Chitradurga, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi and Bagalkote districts in order to ensure that the vaccine disbursal occurs smoothly.
from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2K611Yq
via IFTTT
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)