Eateries shut at 9 places in Chennai

Eateries shut at 9 places in Chennai

Had Opened For Biz In Areas Where Curbs In Place

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.08.2021

About 40 restaurants and eateries were ordered to down shutters after they had opened for business on Saturday at nine locations in the city where Greater Chennai Corporation had announced a lockdown of markets and shops for the next ten days. Civic officials accompanied by police personnel went around these areas enforcing the lockdown.

The Chennai Hotels Association said the official communique from Greater Chennai Corporation did not include hotels in the list of business establishments that must be shutdown and appealed to the government to declare eateries an essential service and exempt them from the shutdown.

Association president Ravi said, "We have taken up the issue with Greater Chennai Corporation, seeking permission to continue to keep the restaurants open," he said, adding that the representatives will also be meeting the police in this regard.

On Friday, the civic body had announced closure of markets and shops at nine locations in the city for 10 days from July 31 in a bid to check the spike in Covid-19 cases. The areas include Ranganathan street, parts of North Usman Road, the area from Ratna Café to Bells Road in Zam Bazaar, Thiru-Vi-Ka-Park junction, the stretch from Anjaneya statue to Ambedkar statue in Red Hills, Kuralagam to Thanga Road junction on NSC Bose Road, Habibullah Raod, Pulipon Bazaar, Royapuram Market Kalmandapam Road, Royapuram water tank to Kamatchi Amman temple, and part of Aminijikarai market on Poonamallee high Road.

FIRST STEP: A health worker on Saturday collects swab samples for Covid-19 test during a fever camp at Usman Road, one of the places in T Nagar where the corporation has announced a lockdown of shops and other commercial establishments till August 9

Temples closed to devotees for 3 days

The Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) department on Saturday announced that devotees will not be permitted to congregate in major ‘Amman’ and ‘Murugan’ temples in the state from August 1 to August 3 to offer prayers for Aadi Krithigai. Senior officials said the government has taken the decision in view of Covid-19 cases rising. However, pujas will continue in the temples, which include Vadapalani Andavar temple, Kandaswamy temple at Kandhakottam, and Padavattamman temple at Padi in the city. Every year, Aadi Krithigai is celebrated in a grand manner in the six abodes of Lord Muruga in the state — Palani, Tiruttani, Swamimalai, Thiruparangundram, Tiruchendur and Palamuthircholai. TNN

Interviews for Anna Univ VC post on Aug 9

Interviews for Anna Univ VC post on Aug 9

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.08.2021

Anna University vice-chancellor search committee, headed by Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor M Jagadish Kumar, will interview shortlisted candidates on August 9. Ten candidates, including five professors from Anna University and two from IIT Madras, were shortlisted from the 160-odd candidates from across the country who applied for the post, sources said.

Candidates are likely to be asked to present their vision for the state’s premier technical university, including their plans for bringing in funds and improving the research output, during the interview. Following the interview, the search panel will recommend three names to governor Banwarilal Purohit.

Other members on the panel are retired IAS officer Sheela Rani Chunkath and former vice-chancellor of Madras University S P Thyagarajan.

The panel invited applications from candidates with 20 years of teaching experience in universities, postgraduate colleges and research institutions and minimum 10 years of experience as a professor in the university system. The application window ended on June 30.

Anna University vice-chancellor M K Surappa completed his three-year tenure on April 11 and the varsity is being run by a three-member convener committee for the last three months.

Anna University professors urged the search panel and governor to select a candidate with impeccable character and high academic credentials as vicechancellor.

E Balagurusamy, former vice-chancellor of Anna University, proposed eight measures to the governor to make the VC selection process more transparent. He suggested that former VCs be included in the search panel, a publicity blitz to attract maximum suitable candidates, publication of bio-data of all applicants, disqualification of candidates who try to influence, obtaining a clearance certificate from DVAC for shortlisted candidates and integrity certificate from former employers. He also suggested that the list of recommended candidates be placed in public domain for at least a week before the appointment order is issued.

Ten candidates, including five professors from Anna University and two from IIT Madras, were shortlisted from 160-odd applicants from across the country

CM to Centre: Draft PG medical edu rules undermine state role

CM to Centre: Draft PG medical edu rules undermine state role

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.08.2021

Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday wrote to Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya objecting to the draft Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations on the grounds that they sought to undermine the role of states.

The role of states in the admission of students under their own state quota is sought to be unilaterally removed, Stalin said. "It is unfortunate that such draft regulations have been formulated without a proper understanding of the current predominant role of state governments in this domain. The union government and the National Medical Council need to appreciate the fact that it is only the states which have heavily invested their own resources to create most of the PG seats," he said.

The CM pointed to Section 11.2 of the draft, which attempts to centralize and designate the directorate general of health services, ministry of health and family welfare, government of India, as the designated authority for counselling for State quota seats. This section is clearly contrary to the provision in the Section 15 of the Main NMC Act, 2019, which explicitly mentions that “the designated authority of the State Government shall conduct the common counselling for the seats at the state level”, he said.

Further, Section 10.1 and the sub-clauses under it are an attempt to introduce licentiate examination for enrolment in medical registers and making it serve as a NEET for admission to PG Courses.

"I am of the firm view that the status-quo should be maintained on the admissions for State quota PG admissions seats. I once again strongly reiterate our opposition to the draft Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2021, which hit at the very root of federalism," Stalin said.

The role of states in the admission of students under their own state quota is sought to be unilaterally removed, Stalin said in his letter to Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Apple adds UPI, RuPay, net banking for App Store payments in India: Report

Apple adds UPI, RuPay, net banking for App Store payments in India: Report

Apple has finally added new payment modes for Indian users (Bloomberg)

1 min read . Updated: 31 Jul 2021, 07:31 PM IST

Livemint, Edited By Vivek Punj

Indian users will now be able to employ domestic payment methods along with the international ones while adding funds to their Apple's stores

Apple has added new payment methods for Indian users purchasing applications and games on the App Store. These new payment modes include homegrown United Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay cards, as well as net banking.

The move will allow Indian users to employ domestic payment methods along with the international ones while adding funds to their Apple's stores. The balance can also be used to pay for streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and Apple's own services like Apple Arcade and Apple One.

Telegram now allows up to 1000 people to join a group video call

Telegram now allows up to 1000 people to join a group video call

By IANS On Jul 31, 2021

Image Credits: IANS

San Francisco: Encrypted messaging app Telegram has expanded its group video calling feature that now allows up to 1,000 people to join a group video call.

The company said that its group video call allows up to 30 users to broadcast video from both their camera and screen — and now 1,000 people can watch anything from online lectures to live rap battles.

“Group video calls now have up to 1,000 viewers, video messages record in higher quality and can be expanded, regular videos may be watched at 0.5 or 2x speed,” the company said in a blogpost.

“We have also added screen sharing with sound to all video calls, including 1-on-1 calls — and much more,” it added.

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The company said that it will keep increasing this limit until “all humans on Earth can join one group call and watch us yodel in celebration (coming soon)”.

“To start a group video call, create a voice chat from the info page of any group where you are an admin — then turn your video on,” the company said.

According to the blogpost, tapping on an expanded video message pauses it and allows you to fast forward or rewind the message in case you missed a word.

To record a video message, tap the Screen sharing that has been added to 1-on-1 calls as well, and now includes the sound from your device when broadcasting in any video call.

When switching on video during any call, you can swipe to choose a camera or share your screen instead — and use the video preview to make sure that everything is perfect before going live, the company said.

Onam 2021: Avoid crowds, Kerala health minister urges people as Covid cases surge

Kerala Health Minister Veena George (ANI)

 Updated: 31 Jul 2021, 08:45 PM IST

Onam 2021: Amid surge in Covid cases, Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday asked people to avoid crowds and if possible, even events, celebrations during Onam festival. She also urged people not to visit relatives to reduce the risk of Covid infection.

Kerala has been reporting more than 20,000 fresh Covid infections for the last few days, highest by any state in the country. Fearing the further surge, the health minister said that people should strictly avoid crowds and follow Covid protocols while organising and attending events and celebrations during Onam.

The minister also said that if possible, people should avoid going to any events or celebrations. Visits to relatives and family should also be avoided as much as possible especially if there are small children in the family, George said.

For the fifth consecutive day, Kerala recorded more than 20,000 fresh Covid cases on Saturday. It, however, saw a decline in fatalities and a fall in the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) to 12.31 per cent.

The state had recorded 100 deaths on Friday, while the TPR was 13.61 per cent. On Saturday, Kerala registered 20,624 fresh cases, pushing the infection caseload to 33,90,761, while 80 more deaths took the toll to 16,781.

As many as 16,865 people have recovered, taking the total number to 32,08,969, leaving 1,64,500 active cases. Malappuram was the worst affected district, logging 3,474 cases, followed by Thrissur (2693), Palakkad (2209), Kozhikode (2113), Ernakulam (2072), Kollam (1371), Kannur (1243), Alappuzha (1120),Kottayam (1111) and Thiruvananthapuram (969).

Of the new cases, 98 are health workers, 112 had come from outside the state and 19,487 were infected through contact, with the source of contact being not clear in 927 cases, the release said. In the last 24 hours, 1,67,579 samples were tested and the TPR was found to be 12.31 per cent.

Earlier in the day, the state health minister said that the state was not yet free from the second wave of Covid and therefore people should be extra cautious and vigilant against transmission of the infection to prevent a third wave from occurring.

HC seeks reply to plea on Jamia VC appointment

31.07.2021 

Delhi High Court on Friday sought response from the Centre, CVC and Jamia Millia Islamia on a plea challenging the appointment of the varsity’s current VC Najma Akhtar. The court issued notices to UGC and VC and asked the authorities to file their replies while listing the matter on September 22. PTI