Holiday for all schools, PU colleges in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi today

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

MANGALURU, AUGUST 13, 2018 00:00 IST

Deputy Commissioners of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have declared holiday for all schools and pre-university colleges in the two districts on Monday in view of the heavy to very heavy rainfall warning.

A release from the Department of Information and Public Relations here said that the holiday is applicable to all anganwadis and polytechnic colleges and not for degree colleges.

Udupi Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis said on Sunday that according to the weather department warning, heavy to very heavy rainfall exceeding 115 mm accompanied with heavy winds is likely to occur in the coastal belt in 24 hours.

Meanwhile, an India Meteorological Department bulletin said on Sunday that heavy to very heavy rain is likely to lash the coastal region till Wednesday. The coastal belt is likely to receive heavy rainfall exceeding 65 mm on August 16 and August 17.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the south-west and central Arabian Sea.

“Strong winds from westerly to north-westerly direction, with speeds reaching 25-35 kmph gusting to 45-55 kmph occasionally, is likely along and off Karnataka, Kerala coast and over Lakshadweep area,” the department said.

High waves in the range of 3 m to 3.8 m are forecast up to 11.30 p.m. on Monday along the Karnataka coast. Current speeds will vary between 55-104 cm/sec, it said.

Heavy rain lashed several parts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi on Sunday.

How smartphones are making us miserable

Excessive Use Leaves People Distracted & Drained And Makes Even Eating Less Enjoyable

Toronto:  TOI 13.08.2018

Our digital lives and excessive smartphone use may be making us more distracted, distant and drained, a study has found.

For instance, even minor phone use during a meal with friends was enough to make the diners feel distracted and reduced their enjoyment of the experience, researchers said. “People who were allowed to use their phones during dinner had more trouble staying present in the moment,” said Ryan Dwyer, of the University of British Columbia in Canada.

“Decades of research on happiness tell us that engaging positively with others is critical for our well-being. Modern technology may be wonderful, but it can easily sidetrack us and take away from the special moments we have with friends and family in person,” Dwyer said.

Researchers conducted two studies — a field experiment in a restaurant and a survey. The restaurant experiment included more than 300 adults and university students in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Participants were either asked to keep their phones on the table with the ringer or vibration on or to put their phones on silent and place them in a container on the table during the meal.

After eating, the participants filled out a questionnaire detailing their feelings of social connectedness, enjoyment, distraction and boredom, as well their phone use during the meal.

The researchers found that people who had their phones easily accessible not only used them more, but they also reported feeling more distracted and enjoyed the experience less.

The survey portion included more than 120 participants, who were surveyed five times a day for one week and were asked to report on how they were feeling and what they had been doing in the 15 minutes before completing the survey.

Results showed that people reported feeling more distracted during face-to-face interactions if they had used their smartphone.

The students also said they felt less enjoyment and interest in their interaction if they had been on their phone.

“The survey findings were especially notable because of the negative effects of phone use among university students, who are commonly known as digital natives,” said Elizabeth Dunn, of the University of British Columbia.

Another study found that compassionate people spend less time on social media than people who are more self-centered and narcissistic. In addition, people with lower emotional intelligence, or those who have difficulty identifying, describing and processing their emotions, used social media more often than those who are more in touch with their feelings, according to the study.

“People who are uncomfortable with their own and others’ emotions may be more comfortable online,” said Sara Konrath, from Indiana University in the US. PTI




TIME TO SWITCH IT OFF

Kerala gets ₹100cr relief from Centre

Preliminary Estimates Peg Loss At ₹8,316Cr Due To Landslides, Floods & Rain

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kochi:13.08.2018

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday announced an immediate central flood relief of ₹100 crore to Kerala. Singh, who made an aerial survey of affected areas in Idukki and Ernakulam districts, said the rains and floods had caused “massive damage” to the farming sector and infrastructure like roads and power.

Singh was accompanied by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union minister of state for tourism K J Alphons and other senior government officials in reviewing the situation.

“Kerala is facing unprecedented floods. Never before in the history of independent India has the state witnessed such massive floods. It was back in 1924 when Kerala faced such a big calamity. The floods have damaged crops, infrastructure and individual property as well. The tourism sector has also been hit,” Singh said.

Singh said the Centre was sensitive to the state’s needs and it would leave no stone unturned in ensuring support. He visited a relief camp in Elanthikara, Paravur and interacted with those housed there before attending a meeting with Vijayan, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and officials.

The Kerala government had submitted a memorandum to Singh, seeking the urgent sanction of ₹1,220 crore from the national disaster relief fund to meet the situation. Vijayan said preliminary estimates suggested that Kerala suffered a loss of ₹8,316 crore in the rain, floods and landslides.

Meanwhile, rain lashed several parts of the state since Sunday morning after a brief lull, posing problems to relief work in affected regions. However, the water level in Idukki and Idamalayar dams has come down.



WORDS OF HOPE: Union home minister Rajnath Singh interacting with the residents of the flood relief camp in Elanthikara, Paravur, on Sunday. Minister of state for tourism K J Alphons (in blue) is also seen along with Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan (behind Rajnath)

DMK announces ₹1cr flood relief
Chennai :

The DMK working president M K Stalin on Sunday announced a ₹1 crore flood relief, on behalf of his party, to the Kerala government for carrying out relief measures to those affected in heavy rain and resultant floods. He also expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.

“Unprecedented floods in Kerala have affected many people and has caused damage to properties worth several crores of rupees. The party’s working president M K Stalin has decided to contribute ₹1 crore to Kerala chief minister’s relief fund,” a DMK statement said.

“I have just spoken with @CMOKerala to enquire about the flood situation. On behalf of DMK trust, we have made a contribution of ₹1 crore towards #KeralaFloodRelief. Our thoughts are with those who are affected by the floods and landslides,” Stalin later tweeted.

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has already announced a contribution of ₹5 crore to carry out relief works in the rain ravaged Kerala as a mark of support to the neighbouring state. TNN

‘Damaged passports to be replaced free of cost’
New Delhi:

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday announced that passports damaged in floods in Kerala will be replaced free of cost by the government.

“There are unprecedented floods in Kerala causing huge damage. We have decided that as the situation becomes normal, passports damaged on account (of) floods shall be replaced free of charge. Please contact the concerned Passport Kendras,” Swaraj tweeted.

Kerala has been reeling under massive floods in which over 35 people have lost their lives and thousands of people were rendered homeless. Around 10 of the 14 districts in state have been affected by the floods. PTI

Pregnant for the 10th time, woman flees health centre as docs suggest birth control

Sambath.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Trichy: 13.08.2018

A pregnant woman whose delivery date was approaching disappeared with her family members from a primary health centre (PHC) despite pleas from doctors for her immediate hospitalisation. The curious incident happened in Vethiyangudi near Aranthangi when the woman identified as Aarayi, 52, wife of Anandan, 56, learned that she was pregnant on being treated for low hemoglobin.

Already a mother of nine, Aarayi was unaware that she was carrying her tenth after 13 years as she visited the PHC at Singavanam after developing uneasiness. Doctors said that she disappeared when they suggested immediate hospitalization and a birth control measure after the delivery.

She has been living with her husband and five of her children in a 60sqft house in Vethiyangudi near Aranthangi for over five years now. The nomadic family moved from place to place and never stayed anywhere for far too long. While four of her children are married and living with their family, Aarayi fell pregnant but was not aware of it. Doctors said she was under the impression that she had attained menopause and would never bear a child again.

According to local residents, Aarayi delivered all her nine children at home and didn’t want to go to hospital for her tenth delivery due on August 18. They said she may have wanted to avoid doctors as PHC workers were insisting that she undergo family planning surgery. Aarayi came to the PHC with extremely low haemoglobin about four months ago. She was then taken to Pudukkottai Medical College Hospital where she was given two units of blood. Since then she was missing only to be found a couple months ago, M Ayyappan, medical officer Singavanam PHC, told TOI. “We found her two months ago and took her to Aranthangi hospital. She disappeared from there too and was found again 10 days ago. Her blood pressure was high and we asked her to get admitted to Pudukkottai government hospital. She has been missing since then,” said Singavanam.

DMK, AIADMK rivalry spills over to Bharat Ratna

D.Govardan @timesgroup.com

Chennai: 13.08.2018

The decades-old bitter political rivalry between the two major Dravidian parties, DMK and AIADMK, has now spilled over to awarding Bharat Ratna to the stalwarts from both the sides – DMK president M Karunanidhi, who passed away on August 7, and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa, who died on December 5, 2016.

Following the death of nonagenarian leader Karunanidhi, demands came to the fore last week asking the Centre to honour his services to society for seven decades by awarding him the Bharat Ratna.

DMK MP Tiruchi Siva raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha last week and several other MPs supported him. TNCC president S Thirunavukkarasar too issued a statement the same day, backing their demand.

On Sunday, the AIADMK too joined the fray in seeking the Bharat Ratna for Jayalalithaa. The party reminded the Centre of the pending demand of the AIADMK for conferring the honour on the former chief minister.

In a post on social media, AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan noted that newspapers have carried a lot of information about the Bharat Ratna and listed out recipients of the award from Tamil Nadu that included C Rajagopalachari, C V Raman, K Kamaraj, MGR, APJ Abdul Kalam and M S Subbulakshmi.

“After the sad demise of Puratchi Thalaivi Amma on December 5, 2016, the general council of AIADMK met on December 29, 2016 and passed a unanimous resolution, urging the Union government to accord Bharat Ratna for Amma. The state cabinet also passed a resolution urging the Centre to confer the highest civilian award on her,” Maitreyan said in his Facebook post, while adding that the AIADMK MPs also raised the issue in both the houses of Parliament in January and February 2017.

More than 600 days have passed since Jayalalithaa’s sad demise, Maitreyan wrote in his post. He added, “The AIADMK cadres, Amma loyalists and the people of Tamil Nadu are eagerly awaiting the response of the NDA government in this regard on conferring Bharat Ratna on their beloved people’s chief minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma.”

After holidays, air fares to Gulf hit ₹30k

Travellers Opt For Cheaper Flights From Delhi, Mumbai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK: 13.08.2018

Chennai:

Air fares to West Asia and Europe are heading to stratospheric levels, boosted by high demand from flyers heading back from the country after the September holidays.

Due to high fares via Chennai, travel agents have started to route travellers to Europe via Mumbai and Delhi. Fares to Chennai are already high because of tourist traffic.

One-way fare has touched ₹30,000 for non-stop flights on Chennai-Dubai route while the fare is ₹16,000 to ₹18,000 on flights with a stopover in Delhi or Mumbai. This is an all time high for the season, say travel agents.

There are only four direct flights to Dubai, three flights to Abu Dhabi and two flights to Doha. The one way fares are in the range of ₹19,000 to ₹30,000 for most of the days next month. One-way fares to the Gulf should be in the range of ₹12,000 to ₹15,000 during this season. In contrast, one-way fare to Singapore is in the range of ₹4,000 to ₹10,000. The travel time to both the Gulf and Singapore is more or less the same from Chennai. However, there are seven flights between Chennai and Singapore every day and a majority of travellers are tourists heading to Southeast Asia.

Seats to West Asian destinations are costlier on weekends because of the number of tourists heading to these destinations for short holidays.

Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said, “Flights are going full to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. This has increased the fare. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also transit hubs for travelling to Europe and the US. Seats are full because the number of people travelling to the US is also high.”

He also said flights out of Chennai are the costliest. “It is cheaper to fly from Mumbai and Delhi. Many travel agents have started to route passengers through these gateways,” he added. The best fares are also not available though bookings are made much in advance.

Flights via Delhi or Mumbai to Europe are cheaper than direct flights from Chennai. The high round trip fares have started to impact tourists. Chennai has direct flights to Paris, London and Frankfurt. These flights are not enough to handle the demand, said an airport official. Passengers also do not enjoy convenient travel for the money invested in the ticket because low-cost carriers like IndiGo and Air Arabia, which do not offer free food and beverages and other inflight facilities, are also expensive.

Majority of the tourists fly to Europe and the US till mid-November which is the best time to visit after which the weather there gets cold and snowy.

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