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 news 1 Let's begin with an election update. After three days of negotiations, Karnataka chief ministerial contenders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar have agreed to a compromise formula. Siddaramaiah is set to become the chief minister while Shivakumar will be his deputy and retain the state party chief position. The details of the power-sharing arrangement, including any rotation period, are yet to be confirmed. 2 In more election news, Siddaramaiah, a Kuruba leader, will be sworn in as the new chief minister in Bengaluru on May 20th, serving his second term. Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar's firm positions made the process challenging. Reports of Shivakumar being offered deputy chief minister and portfolios were denied. Siddaramaiah's selection as CM, backed by 85 MLAs, was expected. 3 In other headlines, Bengaluru experienced low turnout in the recent assembly polls, with a notable rise in voters opting for the NOTA option. Official data reveals that 0.7% of voters (2,69,763 individuals) chose NOTA, marking a 7.4% increase from 2018. Constituencies on the city's periphery showed higher NOTA votes, impacting close contests in some areas like Mahadevapura. 4 Up next, the 5% rebate on property tax payment, which expired in April, is likely to be extended until June 30th. The BBMP is requesting approval from the state government following requests from former corporators. The BBMP aims to collect Rs 4,690 crore from property tax in the 2023-24 budget. 5 Moving on, a new model road project is underway in Bengaluru's Peenya Industrial Area, funded by Radiall through its CSR initiative. PotHoleRaja, known for improving road infrastructure across cities, will collaborate with BBMP for execution. The road will include an efficient drainage system, utility trenches, clear road markings, reflectors, and disabled-friendly footpaths. 6 Now, onto other news, a tourist in her 40s, whose age and nationality were not revealed, died of a brain haemorrhage while in the city, but saved the lives of six people by donating her organs. According to the State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization, or SOTTO, Sparsh Hospital in RR Nagar successfully transplanted the liver, left kidney, heart valves, corneas, and skin to other patients. The donors were chosen based on a waiting list. 7 Meanwhile, Bengaluru has been selected for the national Cycle to Work challenge, promoting sustainable mobility. As part of the Cycles for Change campaign, the city has been shortlisted for the cycle2work program, engaging with companies to encourage employees to cycle to work and offering rewards. Tech companies are embracing cycling, with employees advocating for cycling-friendly facilities in offices. 8 On a different note, the butterfly park at Bannerghatta Biological Park is offering free entry on Mondays till June 5th for visitors traveling by government bus. Otherwise, the entry charge ranges from Rs 30 to Rs 50. Proof of travel is required for free entry. This initiative is part of the Lifestyle for Environment campaign by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, promoting environmental awareness and encouraging the adoption of eco-friendly habits. Local events Switching gears to local events. There are many events ongoing and upcoming in Bengaluru this week. 1 Aakash Mehta will be performing his stand-up comedy show titled "Nasty" at the Drunkling Comedy Club, Koramangala. The show is scheduled for May 19th at 10 PM. 2 Shuffle dance workshops are happening every Friday from 7:30 to 8:30 pm at Lahe Lahe, Indiranagar. 3 But wait, there's more. Participate in meditation, mindfulness, Reiki healing, connection with breath and body, and holistic healing at the New Moon Healing Circle at Shoonya Mari in Sudhama Nagar on May 19th at 6:30 PM. 4 Experience Pottery with Families every Sunday at Lahe Lahe in Indiranagar. Explore the tactile experience of natural clay and learn hand-building techniques. 5 Enjoy an Acoustic Ghazal Night featuring Rishabh Verma and Vidhit Arora at Lahe Lahe in Indiranagar on May 20th at 7:30 PM. National news 1 Moving on to national news. The Indian government has conducted a mini-reshuffle, moving Kiren Rijiju from the law ministry to the low-key Ministry of Earth Sciences, while Arjun Ram Meghwal has taken Rijiju's previous post. Meghwal will have independent charge as a Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice, as well as Parliamentary Affairs and Culture. 2 Meanwhile, A US court has granted permission for the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian businessman of Pakistani origin, to India. Rana is accused of involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. India filed a complaint in June 2020, and the Biden Administration has supported and approved Rana's extradition. The court order certifies Rana's extraditability, and India's National Investigation Agency is ready to initiate proceedings to bring him to India. 3 In more news from around the country, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced plans to meet Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati for the second round of border talks. The meeting, expected to take place on May 24th, aims to address the remaining differences between the two states. Sangma emphasized the need for peace and finding solutions to ongoing problems at the interstate border. 4 Shifting our focus, the Supreme Court of India will monitor rescue and relief efforts in Manipur following ethnic violence that has caused at least 70 deaths. The court aims to maintain law and order and restore confidence. It expressed concerns about a single judge's decision on the Meitei community's scheduled tribe status and will continue to oversee the situation, requesting an updated report from the state government. International news 1 Turning our attention to international news. Pakistan's Punjab interim government has claimed that 30 to 40 terrorists are hiding at the Lahore residence of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, giving him a 24-hour ultimatum to hand them over or face action. The National Accountability Bureau has summoned Imran Khan and his wife for an investigation in the Al-Qadir Trust case, but Khan is likely to submit a written response instead of appearing in person. 2 In more news today, G7 leaders have gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, to discuss tighter sanctions on Russia and address concerns about China's "economic coercion." The summit aims to forge a united front on various pressing issues. Ukraine's conflict with Russia and the need for stronger sanctions will be a key focus. Discussions on China will focus on economic resilience and diversifying supply chains to counter potential economic blackmail. 3 In a recent development, with the approval of Senate Bill 14, Texas is set to become the largest US state to ban medical treatments for transgender children. Despite opposition and protests, the bill passed in the Texas Legislature, prohibiting hormone treatments, surgeries, and medical support for transgender minors. The bill awaits the governor's signature and is part of a series of proposals targeting transgender individuals in Texas. 4 In other news, The Quad Summit in Sydney has been cancelled, but the navies of the United States, India, Australia, and Japan will participate in advanced Malabar 2023 exercises off Australia's east coast from August 11th to 22nd. The drills will focus on anti-submarine warfare operations amid concerns over China's aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific. The India-US military exercise program was also reviewed, emphasizing collaboration and interoperability between the two forces. Business news 1 Let's now look at some business stories. India is considering importing 1.25 million tons of oil to replenish its strategic reserves, following the US' example. The specific grades and suppliers are yet to be decided. Low prices and global demand concerns have prompted both countries to boost their reserves. India plans to fill a quarter of its storage capacity across two sites with a budget allocation of Rs 5,000 crores. 2 In more business news, Netflix revealed that its ad-supported plan has attracted nearly five million global users, doubling its membership since earlier this year. The streaming giant, during a virtual "Upfront" presentation to advertisers, emphasized its show lineup, viewer demographics, and new productions like "Griselda" and upcoming seasons of popular originals such as "Stranger Things." Netflix's total subscriber count reached a record high of 232.5 million in April. 3 Moving on, news broadcaster NDTV, under Adani Group's control, plans to launch nine news channels in different Indian languages. This expansion marks their entry into regional markets beyond English and Hindi. NDTV aims to obtain licenses for these channels and will announce the launch dates upon approval. The TV news market in India is fragmented but holds a significant share of ad volumes. 4 To round off business news, starting from July 1, 2023, all payments made to foreign vendors or payments in foreign currency using international credit cards will be subject to a higher rate of Tax Collected at Source (TCS) at 20%. The Indian government has expanded the scope of the Liberalised Remittance Scheme to include transactions conducted through credit cards outside of India. Previously, TCS on such transactions was taxed at 5%. Entertainment news 1 Over to news from the entertainment world. The Delhi High Court has ordered Twitter to provide details of accounts leaking clips from Shah Rukh Khan's upcoming film, Jawan. The production house behind the film, Red Chillies Entertainments Pvt. Ltd., sought disclosure of the account users' information, including IP addresses and phone numbers. The court also instructed YouTube, Twitter, and Reddit to block and remove any infringing content. 2 In more news, the Malayalam film, 2018: Everyone is a Hero, directed by Jude Anthany Joseph, has received critical acclaim from both critics and audiences, alike. The performances of the cast, direction, screenplay, music, production design, and CGI/VFX are highly praised. It grossed 100 crores after 11 days of release and is the highest-grossing Malayalam film of the year and third-grossing Malayalam film of all time, to date. 3 In news from Hollywood, Loki season 2 will premiere on October 6th, bringing back the beloved God of Mischief and continuing the Multiversal mayhem. Following Loki, the action-packed Echo series will debut on November 29th, featuring Alaqua Cox's Maya Lopez and appearances by Vincent D'Onofrio's Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) and Charlie Cox's Daredevil. Marvel Studios aims to keep fans captivated with their expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sports news 1 In sports news, struggling Hyderabad will face Bangalore in a must-win match on May 18th. Bangalore, with hopes for a top-four finish, will rely on skipper Virat Kohli's return to form. Hyderabad, already out of the race, will aim to salvage pride in their remaining two games. 2 In ongoing news, World number seven Holger Rune caused an upset by defeating Novak Djokovic at the Italian Open, while Iga Swiatek's winning streak ended due to a leg injury. Rune won against Djokovic for the second time, and Swiatek retired during her match against Rybakina. Rybakina will face Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals. 3 Wrapping up sports news, Manchester City dominated Real Madrid in a 4-0 victory, securing their place in the Champions League final. Bernardo Silva scored twice, while an own goal by Eder Militao and a late strike from Julian Alvarez completed the triumph. City is now only three wins away from replicating Manchester United's historic treble. Weather 1 Last, but not least, Bengaluru is experiencing scorching temperatures with an average of 33.1°C in May. The lack of rain can be attributed to factors like vegetation loss, the urban heat island effect, and unsustainable urbanization. In the past, rain would usually occur when temperatures exceeded 34°C, but this pattern has not been observed recently. 2 And finally, the weather in Bengaluru. The evening of May 18th is expected to be mostly cloudy with a high temperature of 30°C and a low temperature of 25°C. Moving on to May 19th, the daytime will be generally clear, with a high of 34°C. However, during the night, it will become partly cloudy with a low temperature of 22°C. 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.