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** Lake rejuvenation: BBMP wins award

The Earth Day Network India, an environmental organization, gave the ‘Earth Day Network Star Municipal Leadership’ award to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for rejuvenating 18 lakes in the city and taking up development of seven more.

The civic body was nominated for the award by the Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust. Usha Rajagopal from PNLIT said that the trust’s partnership with the BBMP began in 2009. “Our partnership has been fruitful and we were happy to nominate BBMP for the award,” she said.

** PAI 2021: State bags overall rank of 7

It is down 3 spots from last year

Karnataka dropped to the seventh rank in the Public Affairs Index 2021 with a score of 0.121. It was in the fourth position last year.

The sixth edition of PAI was released on Friday. Apart from looking at governance performance in the context of sustainable development defined by equity, growth and sustainability pillars, PAI 2021 also features analysis of five Centre-sponsored schemes that aid in key development parameters of health, education and livelihoods (Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, National Health Mission, Integrated Child Development Services, Samagra Siksha Abhiyan, and Midday Meal Scheme)

** Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar buried next to his parents

The final rites were completed by 8 a.m.

Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar, who died on October 29, was buried with State honours next to his parents Dr. Rajkumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar at Kantheerava Studio on October 31 in the presence of family, friends, colleagues from the film industry and dignitaries. The sombre ceremony concluded by 8 a.m.

** Magnum founder Sudhir Ghate passes away

The company was a nationally renowned institution in public relations and advertisement

Sudhir P. Ghate, founder, chairman and managing director of Magnum Intergrafiks Pvt. Ltd., passed away in Mangaluru on October 22. He was 64. He leaves behind his wife, a son and a daughter.

He was active in politics and had served as general secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha in 1995. He was closely associated with senior BJP leaders, including A.B. Vajpayee, Sushma Swaraj, and Murli Manohar Joshi.

** Mass singing of Kannada songs a hit in coastal belt

One group went by boat into Arabian Sea to render the songs

The mass singing of three Kannada songs as desired by the State Government in the runup to Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations was a big hit in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts with thousands participating in the events.

Barisu Kannada Dimdimava, Jogada Siri Belakinalli and Huttidare Kannada Nadalli Huttabeku, which highlight Kannada language and the culture of the State, were rendered by the groups.

** Students of Bengaluru polytechnic can now study in US

Three-year fee for the course will be Rs 20 lakh per student and include tuition fees, boarding and lodging, local travel and medical insurance.

The department has chosen two courses, Tourism & Hospitality and Cyber Security, which will be offered in partnership with Montgomery County Community College, Pennsylvania. 

** JNCASR-Bengaluru scientists devise way to convert carbon dioxide to methane without toxicity

Bengaluru scientists have devised a toxic-free method that converts the most common greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO2) to methane (CH4) – known to be the cleanest fossil fuel – a process that can effectively help in reducing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels which is a major climate change concern.

The scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, achieved this using non-metal catalysts, unlike procedures that are in use, which are found to release toxic gases in the process.

In doing so, the scientists, led by Professor Tapas Kumar Maji from the Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit of JNCASR, have designed a cost-effective metal-free catalyst to achieve the conversion by absorption of visible light.