Miscellaneous
Do you keep blaming your hectic life for not keeping up with the news?Do you wish there was a voice in your head telling you about what's going on in the city so you don't feel left out in a group? Listen to The Bengaluru Commute Podcast for news specific to namma Bengaluru! Listen during your commute to and from work, listen anywhere, at any time. Transcript:Welcome to The Bengaluru Commute Podcast, your only companion on the streets of Bengaluru. Local News1. Let's begin with some election news. Karnataka is eagerly awaiting the results of the assembly elections, with the possibility of a JD(S)-Congress alliance emerging once again. The JD(S) may play a decisive role in the formation of the government. Exit polls suggest a potential hung assembly. All parties have expressed confidence in their ability to form the new government, setting the stage for a close contest. 2. Moving on, the Bengaluru Traffic Police is preparing for the monsoon by equipping all officials with raincoats and umbrellas. Measures are being taken to address specific issues and blackspots through meetings with stakeholders and officers in the coming days, ensuring prompt response to traffic congestion during heavy rainfall. 3. Up next, Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project, or BSRP, has commenced groundwork for the Mallige Line after an eight-month delay. Utilities along the line have been shifted, and construction of piers is scheduled to begin soon. Land acquisition and preliminary work are progressing, and tenders for station construction and depot design are forthcoming. The project's timely completion is uncertain, and tenders for other lines await election outcomes and funding arrangements. 4. In other headlines, Bengaluru's National Common Mobility Card, or NCMC, introduced on March 25, 2023, is struggling to gain popularity among passengers. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has not yet accepted NCMCs on its buses, causing delays in implementation. Despite technical glitches, authorities remain optimistic about the card's potential to integrate different transport modes. 5. Now, onto other news, a 37-year-old woman in Bengaluru was assaulted by a driver near her residence on May 8th. The suspect, Ratan Kumar, was arrested by the police. The victim, living alone in Gantiganahalli, had been unaware of Kumar's intentions despite his repeated attempts to gain her trust. She suffered injuries but received medical care. Kumar confessed to targeting her after she moved into the building. 6. Meanwhile, the Consulate General of Italy in Bengaluru and Srishti Manipal School of Art and Design are collaborating to host EUROPA, an exhibition featuring renowned Italian illustrators. The event, held on Europe Day, will run from May 12th to 26th at Srishti's 'Rooh ground floor.' The exhibition will showcase 16 artworks and will be inaugurated by esteemed guests, including the Consul General of Italy, the Consul Generals of The Netherlands, Canada, and Japan, and the founder of Srishti. 7. In some conservation news, Bengaluru-based NGO, Bannerghatta Nature Conservation Trust, sent an open letter to PM Narendra Modi, raising concerns about unauthorized construction near Bannerghatta National Park and the delay in setting up the Eco Sensitive Zone, or ESZ, monitoring committee. The reduced ESZ threatens wildlife and ecology. The letter urges intervention and withdrawal of the 2018 ESZ notification. Here is Mr Sanjeev Pednekar, the founder of Prani- The Pet Sanctuary, telling us more. 8. On a different note, Vinod Gunasekaran, an MBA graduate from Mangalore University, launched Bengaluru's first Milk ATM, under his startup V Dairy Ventures. The 24/7 machine is currently installed in two apartments in Horamavu, and provides undiluted, unprocessed cow milk and accepts various denominations of currency. Customers can fill their own containers and can also use special debit cards for purchases. Expansion plans are underway for more Milk ATMs in Bengaluru and Karnataka. Local EventsSwitching gears to local events. There are many events ongoing and upcoming in Bengaluru this week.1. Sing your heart out at Karaoke Night at Marcopolo Cafe in Koramangala taking place from May 12th to May 17th. 2. Witness the enchanting show "Bending Reality - Magic, Mentalism & Mischief" featuring professional magicians Waseem, Sanjay, and Sathwik. Experience their elegant style of magic and mentalism at Artkhoj in JP Nagar on May 13th at 6 PM. Here is Sanjay, one of the artists, to tell us more about the show. 3. Punit Pania is set to perform live for his stand-up comedy show, "The Never Ending Tour," at the Hyatt Centric on MG Road on May 14th at 6 PM. 4. But wait, there's more. Celebrate Mother's Day with a special pottery workshop for moms and kids at Lahe Lahe on May 14th from 10 AM to 11 AM. 5. Gipsy Kings will be performing at BYG Brewsky Brewing Company in Hennur, Bengaluru. The concert is scheduled for June 4th at 4 PM, and will feature some of their greatest hits like Bamboleo, Un Amor, and Djobi Djoba. National News1. Moving on to the national news. Nurse Shanti Teresa Lakra, known for her service to primitive tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Jincy Jerry, an infection prevention and control expert in Dublin, have been selected as finalists for the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2023. Lakra aims to create an NGO for healthcare among the islanders, while Jerry's robotic system has improved nursing efficiency and patient care. The winners will be announced later on May 12th, International Nurses Day. 2. In some distressing news, despite an internal strike, the Pakistan Army is reportedly maintaining a significant number of terrorists in launchpads along the Line of Control (LoC) with India. The army is accused of sponsoring terrorism and activating Pakistani terror groups to disrupt the forthcoming G-20 meeting in the Kashmir valley. Troop numbers have not been reduced by the Pakistan Army in areas close to India. 3. In an update on international relations, President Droupadi Murmu accepted the credentials of new US Ambassador Eric Garcetti, as well as the envoys of Monaco and Qatar. Garcetti expressed his commitment to the strong US-India partnership and will focus on preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington and President Joe Biden's visit to Delhi. 4. Shifting our focus, the Indian government plans to launch a "Trusted Traveller Programme" for Indian passport holders at international airports. The pilot program will begin at Delhi and Mumbai airports this year, aiming to expedite immigration checks for pre-verified travelers. The program will eventually be implemented at 15 airports by 2027 and all airports by 2032. This initiative is intended to alleviate airport congestion and streamline the travel experience for Indian passport holders. International News1. Turning our attention to international news, China will dispatch Ambassador Li Hui as a special envoy to Ukraine, Russia, and other European countries starting May 15th to seek a "political settlement" for the war in Ukraine. Demonstrating its mediation role, China refrains from labeling it a Russian invasion and instead blames the US and NATO for provocation. President Xi Jinping emphasizes respecting sovereignty and promoting peace in the region. 2. In some ongoing news, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been granted a two-week bail by the Islamabad High Court in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Khan's appearance in court sparked protests, and he faces multiple charges, including treason and terrorism. Reports suggest that a police team is being sent to Islamabad to arrest Khan in connection with other cases. The court proceedings are ongoing. 3. In a recent development, according to a Kyiv-based NGO, Russia is luring recruits for its forces in Ukraine with salaries up to eight times the national average. Despite suffering troop losses, the Russian government is actively trying to boost numbers, offering average monthly salaries of 300,000 roubles, that's $3,941, for war-related positions. According to the NGO's research, online ads and extensive recruitment tactics are being employed. Business News1. Let's now look at some business stories. The Indian Directorate General of GST Intelligence, or DGGI, and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, or DRI, have discovered alleged Integrated GST evasion of ₹11,000 crores by 24 large importers. Some of the companies involved are in the steel, pharmaceutical, gems and jewellery, and textiles sectors. Tax fraud has been discovered based on data produced by the Advanced Analytics in Indirect Taxation. 2. Now, onto other news, global index provider MSCI has removed Adani Transmission, Adani Total Gas, and Indus Towers from its India index, triggering significant selling worth Rs 3,200 crores by passive funds. The decision, effective from May 31st, follows reduced free float and market cap concerns. Max Healthcare Institute, Hindustan Aeronautics, and Sona BLW Precision Forgings have been added to the index, attracting inflows. 3. In some latest updates about Twitter, Elon Musk has said he has found a new chief executive officer (CEO) to helm the social media giant he bought last year. With his viral tweet, the billionaire has triggered a frenzy on possible candidates. Linda Yaccarino, the head of advertising of NBC Universal, is said to be in the race to become the next Twitter CEO, Wall Street Journal reported. 4. In the share market on May 12th, despite starting in the negative, Indian stock indices NSE Nifty 50 and BSE Sensex recovered to close the session with modest gains. Nifty rose by 17.8 points to settle at 18,314.8, and Sensex closed at 62,027.9, up by 123.4 points. While certain sectors performed well, broader markets saw losses in Nifty Midcap 50 and Nifty Smallcap 50. Nifty Metal, Nifty Media, and Nifty IT also ended lower. Entertainment News1. Over to news from the entertainment world. Director Anurag Kashyap has unveiled the much-anticipated teaser of his police-noir drama 'Kennedy'. Although the teaser keeps the plot under wraps, it sparks curiosity among viewers. Featuring Sunny Leone and Rahul Bhatt, the teaser hints at a blood-soaked, action-packed film. 'Kennedy' will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 24th, where it will be screened in the "Midnight Screening" category. 2. In a box office update, the controversial film 'The Kerala Story' has had a successful first week at the box office, collecting over ₹81 crores. Despite not being screened in some states, the film's weekday collections have exceeded those of the opening weekend. Film trade analyst Taran Adarsh predicts a strong second week and expects the film to surpass ₹200 crore and possibly reach ₹250 crores in India. 3. Meanwhile, the official trailer for 'Modern Love Chennai' has been unveiled. The series, featuring work by six prominent Indian filmmakers, will debut on May 18th. It showcases diverse perspectives on love, starring Ashok Selvan and Ritu Varma. This adaptation of the renowned 'Modern Love' franchise marks India's third installment. Directors Bharathiraja, Rajumurugan, and Krishnakumar Ramakumar express their enthusiasm for presenting unique interpretations of love. Sports News1. In sports news today, Jos Buttler has been fined 10% of his match fees for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during the match between Kolkata and Rajasthan on May 11th. The incident occurred when Buttler showed dissent after getting run-out due to a mix-up with Yashasvi Jaiswal. Despite the incident, there were no issues between the players, and Jaiswal went on to score a record-breaking innings. 2. In some ongoing news, Indian wrestlers protesting sexual harassment allegations resort to crowdfunding as their initial funds of ₹24 lakh deplete. Within four days, they raised nearly ₹6 lakh in cash donations, avoiding digital payments to prevent controversy. The funds cover daily expenses like water and meals, with plans for a wrestling competition if the protest concludes before the funds run out. 3. Wrapping up sports news, Lionel Messi is expected to make a comeback for Paris Saint-Germain after a suspension, as his departure from the club looms. Following an unremarkable stint in France, Messi is likely to play in Saudi Arabia next season, following rival Cristiano Ronaldo. The details of the contract are being finalized. Weather1. Last, but not least, The Indian Meteorological Department has announced that the severe cyclonic storm 'Mocha' has become a very severe cyclonic storm. It is moving north-northeastwards and is expected to intensify further over the east-central Bay of Bengal. The storm is predicted to cross the southeast Bangladesh and north Myanmar coasts on May 14th with maximum sustained wind speeds of 150-160 kmph, gusting to 175 kmph. 2. And finally, in Bengaluru, on the evening of May 12th, expect mostly cloudy skies with a high of 30°C and a low of 24°C. May 13th will be partly cloudy, with a high of 33°C and a low of 21°C. May 14th will be mostly sunny during the day and have a pleasant evening, with a high of 33°C and a low of 21°C. No rain is expected over the weekend. 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 favorite 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. Subscribe to The Bengaluru Commute Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits:Produced by SpoolerProducer: Anupama RajarathnamAudio producer: Caanu ZazaVoiceover: Anupama RajarathnamScript: Sitara D.