** Mangaluru’s Ananya Singh, Nahush Sharan bring laurels to city in top beauty pageant

Two youngsters from Mangaluru have made the city proud in a beauty pageant.

Ananya Singh emerged the winner of Global Miss International India Universe 2021, while Nahush Sharan bagged the second runner-up spot in Global Mr International India Universe 2021. The pageant was held in New Delhi on November 11.

Ananya Singh is the daughter of Rajpal Singh and Pramila Belthangadi Sheshagiri born in Mangaluru. She was brought up in Dehradun. She did her graduation from Delhi University, and at present pursuing her masters at School of Social work Roshini Nilaya.

Nahush Sharan hails from Marnamikatte. He is pursing BBA in Jain University through correspondence. Nahush is son of Dilip Kumar and Sanjana N M.

** The myth and the mighty creatures

Renowned children’s author Bulbul Sharma attempts to offer a fresh perspective to various mythological characters in her new book

The 106-page book takes readers on a journey of ten creatures found in Indian mythology. But not all of them are evil. For a story of Tataka, you also have a tale of Airavata and Narasimha. Bulbul finds telling such stories rewarding. “You are shaping young minds with your words; it is a great responsibility too,” she notes, adding,

“Children’s literature allows a writer to explore so many different territories. You have to understand a certain topic and then distil that knowledge to enable children to understand it really well. Even when you are writing fiction, you have to go into a child’s mind to be able to relate to him or her and create a make-believe world for them.”

** Veep felicitates PES varsity prof who guided students to develop satellites

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu felicitated Dr Sambasiva Rao, a professor at PES University, for the launch of a micro-satellite earlier this year.

 Dr Sambasiva Rao had mentored a team of students, who successfully launched two micro-satellites, the latest of which went up this February.

The satellite was conceptualised and developed by students and was launched with the support of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). “That PES University is the second university in the country after IIT Bombay to achieve this spectacular feat speaks of their prowess in cutting-edge technology,” said Naidu.

** KVG Bank bags award for digitalisation

n recognition of its initiatives in Digital Financial Services in response to ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, KVG Bank was adjudged Best Regional Rural Bank under ‘Regional Rural Banks Category’ by ASSOCHAM, Mumbai.

According to a release, RBI regional director R. Gurumurthy handed over the award to KVG Bank chairman P. Gopi Krishna in Bengaluru on Monday.

** NIT-K develops e-bike for forest surveillance, commute

Its battery can be charged by solar power and the headlight doubles up as a torch

The National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NIT-K), Surathkal, has designed and developed an e-bike to ensure that commuting in the forests is eco-friendly in its true sense.

A unique feature of this bike is that its battery can be charged using solar power and it has a removable headlight which doubles up as a torch for using during night surveillance.

** Digital archive of school books launched

They are in multiple languages from India and other south Asian nations

Azim Premji University on Monday launched an open access digital archive of over 5,600 school books and related material from India and other countries in South Asia. The Schoolbooks Archive, as the platform is called, has material in multiple languages including Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Arabic, and other languages apart from English that span a period of more than 200 years.

** Efforts on to get heritage status for jackfruit tree

Aged around 250, it is said to be Karnataka’s oldest of this variety.

A jackfruit tree, aged around 250, located 40 km from Bengaluru, is believed to be State’s oldest tree of this variety and one of the oldest in the country. The tree at Janagere village in Magadi taluk is now in the limelight as agricultural and horticultural scientists are striving to get “heritage tree” status for it.

Ravish J.R., owner of the tree, has fenced it for protection. Villagers say that he is the 10th generation owner of the tree that has been protected not only by the family of owners, but also by the community.

** Aster Hospitals to offer free surgery for 100 underprivileged children

A 24X7 multi-lingual helpline has been set up to manage enquiries

To mark Children’s Day, Aster Hospitals in India launched the ‘Second Life – Because Little Lives Matter’ initiative.

A 24X7 multi-lingual helpline (+91 9633620660) has been set up in Kozhikode in Kerala to manage enquiries.