Puttur girl Anusha N bags 'IRIS -2018 Grand Award’; to participate in USA science fair

Amaravati, May 7: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said that Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has assured him to offer immediate help to stranded Andhra fishermen.

Around 300 Andhra Pradesh fishermen are stranded on the coast of Malpe village in Udupi district.

"Karnataka CM has responded very positively and assured to offer the stranded fishermen immediate help. The fishermen hail from Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh.

Yediyurappa has also said that their team was also contacting Andhra Pradesh authorities to safely bring them back to their home state," Naidu said in a statement on Twitter.

In a separate letter to Yediyurappa, Naidu lauded the tremendous efforts that the government of Karnataka has been putting to fight COVID-19 and expressed his solidarity with the people there in this critical time.

Naidu said that many Telugu people that have migrated to other states for work were facing various problems due to the COVID-induced lockdown.

"In this backdrop, I would like to bring to your notice that around 300 fishing folk from Srikakulam District are stranded in Malpe Village, Udupi District, Karnataka. Their families, relatives and well-wishers are deeply worried for their safety and well being," Naidu said.

The TDP chief said that on behalf of those families and on his own behalf, he would appeal for sending the stranded fishermen back to their respective homes.

"In case that is not possible, I request you to provide them with shelter, food, water, medical aid and other essential commodities until the end of COVID lockdown," TDP chief said in a letter.

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 20: The Kerala government announced the relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in two zones, allowing among other private vehicles movement in an odd-even basis and dine-in services at hotels from Monday.

State police chief Loknath Behera said the relaxations of restrictions imposed would come into effect in the Green and Orange-B zones in the state from Monday,an official release said.

Earlier, the Left government had colour-coded 14 districts of the state into four zones-- Red, Green, Orange-A and Orange-B, for containing the Covid-19 pandemic. Red zone comprises Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. In this zone, a complete lockdown will be in place until May 3 while two entry and exit points are allowed for carrying essential commodities to coronavirus hotspots. Orange-A zone comprises Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Kollam while orange-B zone comprises Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Wayanad.

The lockdown will be in effect until April 24 in this zone and then partial relaxation will be allowed. Kottayam and Idukki come under the Green zone, in which lockdown will be in effect until April 20 and then regulations will be eased. However, large gatherings, the functioning of educational institutions, religious functions, celebrations and travel outside the district will not be allowed in this zone.

Not more than 20 people are allowed to take part in weddings and funerals, according to government instructions. On the functioning of courts, the release said, "Courts in the Green and Orange-B zones will re-open on April 21 while that in Orange-A zone will start functioning from April 25. The courts will function with 33 per cent of staff. The cases will be heard via video conferencing."

Meanwhile, the Bankers' Council has announced that banks will function as per the usual timings from Monday in the state except four districts falling under the Red zone. The Transport Ministry has clarifiedthat public transport won't be allowed to ply in the state during the lockdown period. "Inter-district travel will not be allowed despite relaxations in the state, but essential services such as medical services, food supplies will not be stopped. However, in case of emergency, inter-district travel will be allowed with an affidavit prepared by the traveller," Behra said in a release.

On the implementation of the odd-even scheme for private vehicles, the police said, "Vehicles with odd numbers will be permitted on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Those with even numbers will be allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays." Woman drivers travelling solo or with dependants are also exempted from it, police said. On Sundays, only those working for essential services are allowed to use their vehicles.

All education institutions, cinema halls, shopping malls, public parks, bars, places of worship will remain closed in all zones of the state. The health department and local administration, which carry out sanitation work before the monsoon, are allowed to operate. Four-wheelers are permitted to carry two passengers besides the driver and in case of a two-wheeler, only the driver will be allowed while the pillion rider is allowed in case the person is a family member.

On Dine-in services, a government order said it is allowed at hotels and restaurants until 7 PM in Green and Orange-B zone from Monday and in Orange-A zone from April 24. However, take-away counters can function until 8 PM, it said. Kerala on Sunday reported two positive cases of Covid-19 in the state taking the total number of affected to 401 while the health department announced that 13 people were cured.

As part of the Indian Overseas Congress Mera Bharat Mahaan NRI Series, a Facebook live Global Conference was facilitated by Dr Arathi Krishna, Dy. KPCC NRI Chairman and Mr. Mohammad Mansoor President IOC Bahrain on 30th May, 2020.

In the one and half hour live interaction, questions and answers were addressed by DK Shivakumar, President of PCC Karnataka and attended by hundreds of participants, accumulating an impressive 300K people viewing the live broadcast across the globe.

The event was inaugurated with a welcome address by the inspiring and innovative IOC chairman Sam Pitroda followed by the motivational speech of AICC Secretary Shri Himanshu Vyas, IOC US President Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian and former KPCC NRI Dy Chairman Dr. Arathi Krishna by whom Shivakumar was introduced.

The event was remarkably successful with maximum interaction of global congress family members and straight forward answers by Shivakumar. 

He emphasized on the present political issues in India and the Indian government's negligence in handling the crisis related to Covid-19 and the indefinite lockdown. He added at present, that the Congress is playing a frontline, constructive role by addressing and articulating the Covid-19 issues and offering critique-based solutions to the government as a responsible opposition party.

The insightful meeting covered the congress strategy and the rebuilding of the KPCC, as well as discussed counter corrupt and hatred politics of current regime along with the role of constructive opposition, etc.

IOC Bahrain President Mr. Mohammad Mansoor thanked IOC Chairman Sam Pitroda, AICC Secretary  Himanshu Vyas for their role in strengthening the party and motivating the team; former KPCC NRI Dy Chairman Dr. Arathi Krishna for introducing the guest; IOC global IT Cell Chairman Manoj Shinde, along with Dananjay and Vinay for professionally managing the event;  IOC US President Mohinder and  Karnataka Chapter President Gauri Shankar for emphasizing the guest of honour; Ms Sofiya Sharma and Ms Vijya Nadela for beautifully moderating the event and all the distinguished guests and Presidents of IOC and KPCC wing Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Germany and other countries who were present on the online meeting and especially  Mr. Althaf,  PA to DKS and Mr. A.N.Nataraj Gowda in charge of KPCC IT Cell for helping facilitatethe online meeting.