Bangladesh govt. orders ‘no mask, no service’ policy

In China, Durga Pooja was celebrated with traditional fervor and gaiety at the Indian Embassy in Beijing. Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Misri addressing the gathering which was also attended by the top diplomats from Bangladesh and Nepal said, Durga Pooja reminds us of our shared heritage in the Indian subcontinent. The central message of this festival, the victory of good over evil is timeless and ever relevant, he added. Ambassadors of Bangladesh and Nepal in China also shared their festival greetings through a recorded message. A joyous Indian Community led by Beijing Bongs gathered from various parts of China to get soaked in the pious aura of goddess Durga with traditional pooja amid the beats of ‘Dhaak’. At the event, Chinese artists performed Kathak dance and also a soulful music performance was given by artists from Chinese Conservatory of Musicon a Yanqin – Chinese equivalent of Santoor. 

-The Bangladesh government has decided that no service will be provided to people who don’t wear masks. The cabinet meeting Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina decided that no one will be allowed to enter offices without the mask. It decided that all offices must install notice boards saying ‘no mask, no service’ in order to control the spread of COVID-19 virus in the country. Briefing media after the Cabinet meeting in Dhaka on Sunday, the Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said that people at all public and private offices, social institutions, haat-bazars, shopping malls, other establishments, educational institutions, mosques or other places of worship throughout the country must use mask in view of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, reports the official news agency BSS.

-In Uttarakhand, the date of closing of portals of four shrines for the winter season has been announced on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami. Uttarakhand Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board said today that this year, the portals of the Badrinath temple will be closed for the winter on November 19. The portals of Gangotri will be closed on November 15, Govardhan Puja, the next day of Diwali, while portals of Yamunotri and Kedarnath shrines will be closed on November 16, Bhaidooj.The Additional Chief Executive Officer of the Board, B D Singh, said the auspicious time for closing the portals of the Char Dham shrines is arrived at through astrological calculations by local temple bodies and priests. Besides these Char Dham shrines, the portals of Tungnath temple will be closed on November 4. The four Himalayan pilgrimage sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, collectively called the Char Dham, located in Garhwal Himalayas, are among the most revered pilgrimages in the Hindu tradition and attract hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year.

-India’s restaurant chains have clawed back most of their business lost to Covid-19 since they began reopening beginning June 1, recovering up to 70% of their pre-pandemic sales.Renewed confidence and receding restrictions have brought customers back to restaurants, even as home delivery still remains the preferred option for a large number of people. Restaurant chains in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Indore and parts of Punjab have made a robust comeback, while those in the large markets of Delhi-NCR and Mumbai continue to grow slowly. As social distancing norms and fear of infection keep many people off physical outlets, restaurant owners are considering compact outlets, delivery-friendly locations and delivery-only brands. Estimates indicate the lockdown forced 30% bars and eateries to shut.

-The second specially modified Boeing 777 aircraft, part of the Air India One fleet for VVIPs including the President, Vice President and the Prime Minister, landed on Sunday.The aircraft can fly between the US and India without having to stop for refuelling. The first modified aircraft had arrived on October 1 after being delayed by more than a month; officials had cited certain “operational issues” with the aircraft.The two aircraft - Boeing 777-300 ERs - had joined Air India’s fleet in 2018 and had been sent to a Boeing facility in Dallas for customisation.The modified aircraft are set to match the US President’s Air Force One in terms of security measures.