CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ■ ■ kochi l monday l july 22, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION biden quits u.s. presidential race Endorses Kamala Harris as the new nominee; first prez to abandon campaign for re-election over concerns of mental acuity aG E N CI E S @ Washington AFTER ignoring calls to quit the presidential race for weeks, US President Joe Biden on Sunday dropped out of the presidential election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new nominee. The dramatic announcement came less than a month before the Democratic National Convention, set to start on August 19. The 81-year-old was under tremendous pressure from Democrats following a disastrous debate perfor mance. Biden’s decision to leave the race, though not unexpected, would force Republican candidate Donald Trump to change his strategy . “While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden said in a letter on X while recovering from Covid at his beach house in Delaware. Biden said he would “speak to the nation later this week in more detail about my decision.” He later added that he was backing Harris — who is the first female, Black and South Asian vice president in US history and , will now be aiming to become its first female commander-in-chief. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” Biden said on X. “Democrats - it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.” Biden is the first president in US history to pull out so late in an election race, and the first to bow out because of concerns over his mental acuity and health. 14-year-old Nipah patient dies, state strengthens vigil to prevent spread Govt swings into action E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Malappuram The 14-year-old boy who contracted Nipah passed away while under treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Kozhikode on Sunday. A resident of Pandikkad in Malappuram, the boy was on a ventilator and suffered a cardiac arrest around 10.50am, said Health Minister Veena George. “The boy was in an unconscious state. The doctors tried their level best to save the boy . Unfortunately, he passed away around 11.30 am,” she said. Though the health department received monoclonal antibodies to treat the boy from the Indian Council of Medical Research on Sunday, he died before the doctors could administer it. Meanwhile, in a development that offers some relief, samples taken from seven people, including six on the contact list of the boy, tested negative on the day. Of the seven persons, six are friends of the deceased boy The seventh individual is a . 68-year-old man who is not on the contact list. “Three samples each from the seven individuals were tested. The results have come negative. The six children are currently under observation at Manjeri MCH, and the 68-year-old is under observation in Kozhikode MCH. The 68-year-old’s sample was tested because he had a fever,” Veena said. At present, 330 people, including 68 healthcare workers, 330 people, including 68 health workers, on contact list 101 people are in the highrisk category None in the family of the deceased boy has shown any symptoms of the disease According to Health Minister Veena George, all persons on the contact list will be tested The mortal remains of the Malappuram native who died of Nipah being shifted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital mortuary | Express The Nipah puzzle T’Puram: The recurrence of Nipah in the Kozhikode-Malappuram area continues to perplex authorities and experts alike. Despite directives from the government to conduct extensive surveillance in Kozhikode to understand the persistence of the virus since last September, there has not been much headway. P4 are on the contact list of the 14-year-old boy. Of them, 101 people are in the high-risk category No one in the family . of the deceased boy has shown any symptoms of the disease. The health minister indicated that the department may be able to identify the source of the infection soon. “Our team visited some areas where the boy visited with his friends. They ate hog plum from a tree in the area. A test will be conducted on Monday to identify the source,” Veena said. She said all persons on the contact list will be tested. “The process of collecting samples and testing them will continue. Samples from those showing symptoms will be tested first. A more detailed and clearer route map containing information about the deceased boy will be released soon. After reviewing the route map, those likely to be on the contact list should inform the control room. CCTV footage from the hospitals where the child was treated has been checked to ensure no one on the contact list is missed,” the minister said. Meanwhile, the health department on Sunday started a survey to identify people with symptoms of Nipah infection in Pandikkad and Anakkayam panchayats, where restrictions have been imposed. ● More on P4 Health dept starts a survey to identify people with Nipah symptoms in Pandikkad and Anakkayam panchayats A mobile lab from Pune Virology Institute will arrive in Malappuram on Monday for sample testing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urges people to cooperate with the health department to prevent the spread of the virus central team A central team will arrive in the state soon to assist in finding the source of the infection. The Union government has asked the state to speed up the Nipah prevention activities, including contact tracing and identifying others with infection. B’desh SC dials down govt job quota behind unrest A g en c i e s @ Dhaka The Bangladesh Supreme Court on Sunday pared back the contentious quotas for government jobs after days of clashes between students and security forces that have killed at least 155 people. Protests erupted after a lower court last month ordered that a scheme, that reserved 56% of government jobs for select applicants, be brought back. It had been scrapped by the Sheikh Hasina government in 2018 amid protests by youngsters. Critics accused the government of using the scheme to stack public jobs with loyalists to Hasina’s ruling Awami League. The Supreme Court on Sunday decided that the lower court’s order to reintroduce the scheme was “illegal”. The court curtailed the number of reserved jobs from 56% to 7%, AFP reported. It reserved 5% of all government jobs for the children “freedom fighters” who took part in the 1971 liberation war, down from 30%. One percent is reserved for tribal communities, and another one percent for people with disabilities. The remaining 93% of positions would be decided on merit, the court ruled. This, however, has failed to mollify university student leaders, with students calling for a complete abolition of the “freedom fighter” category . “We won’t call off our protests until the government issues an order reflecting our demands,” Students Against Discrimination, a student group leading the protests has said. Biden has endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. She must work to win support of 4,000 delegates and 700 super delegates Given Harris’ strong support among Black women, analysts say it would be risky for Democrats to pass her over for a white nominee Others that could be considered are: Governors Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer and Josh Shapiro RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @ New Delhi DROPPING hints that the Budget session of Parliament starting Monday is going to be stormy, the all-party meeting on Sunday saw Opposition parties demanding discussion on a number of contentious issues, including the NEET fiasco, the UP government’s order to eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route, among others. Misuse of central agencies, Centre-state relations, and Lok Sabha deputy speaker post were among the other issues the Opposition parties wanted discussion on. But what will put the BJP-led government in a tricky situation is the demand by the Opposition as well as some BJP allies JD(U) and LJP for special status for states. The JD(U), the BJD and the YSR Congress Party demanded the status for Bihar, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, respectively As many as 55 leaders from 44 parties attended the meeting. In a bid to signal its political outreach, the government had invited a number of smaller parties, including some having only one MP. While most opposition parties participated Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju and J P Nadda during the all-party meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh is also seen | PTI in the meeting, the Trinamool Congress chose to skip it. At the meeting, which lasted for over three hours, the Congress batted for the post of deputy speaker in the Lok Sabha for Opposition while the AAP raised serious concerns against the alleged misuse of central agencies such as ED and CBI. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who chaired the meet, appealed to all parties for the smooth conduct of Parliament. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government is willing to discuss all issues in accordance with the rules. Later, speaking to the reporters, Rijiju said: “As we prepare for the budget session, running Parliament smoothly is a collective responsibility .” Most Opposition parties criticised the Uttar Pradesh government’s fiat that eateries and shops along the Kanwar Yatra route must display owners’ names, terming it ‘communal and divisive’. The Budget session will have 19 sittings till August 12 when the government is expected to present six bills, including the one to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act. E X P RE S S READ Keralites ‘gherao’ Siddu on social media Shah calls Pawar ‘leader of corruption’ Kozhikode: Angered by the delay in rescuing Arjun Mooladikuzhiyil, who went missing in the landslide at Uttara Kannada, Keralites are flooding social media posts by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with comments over his government’s “inefficiency” in search operations. P5 New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched an unusually blistering attack on Opposition leader Sharad Pawar, calling him the ‘sargana of corruption’ (ring leader of corruption). In response, the NCP (SP) called the BJP “a washing machine” that legitimises corruption. Overseas edu market cooling down as countries get strict dents, many countries that were favourites of Keralites such as CanaThe mad rush for overseas educa- da, the UK and Australia, tightened tion from Kerala appears to be eas- rules in recent months. ing with many countries, including For instance, earlier, spouse and Canada, the UK and Australia, im- children could have gone with the posing stringent rules on admis- applicant. sions. Applications for student visas “Now, the main applicant is given are getting rejected more frequently the go-ahead but co-applicants’ visas than ever. are not approved,” Renu said. As a ripple effect, many private Sulal Mathai, founder of ACET agencies that Migration & Edumushroomed in cation Services, Students 2018 26,456 Kerala in the past said Australia too 3-4 years to cater to imposed stricter going 2019 30,948 the large number rules from July 1 abroad of students going for students comfor 2020 15,277 (Covid impact) abroad for higher ing there for edustudies education, are faccation. Now, any from 2021 20,000 ing the heat, with student coming to Kerala 2022 30,000 several of them on study in Australia, the verge of closhould have 29,000 sure or laying off staff, say industry Australian dollars (`16 lakh) for exveterans. penses in the bank account, an in“There could be at least 4,000 pri- crease from 24,000 Australian dollars vate agencies in Kerala for “study (`13 lakh). abroad business” alone. Their Australia has also banned ‘onnumber will come down to 2,000 in a shore visa application’, which allows matter of months. At least one major people coming to the country on visfirm is laying off 150 people,” said iting visa apply for student visas. Renu A, managing director of God- “The rules were very lenient earlier, speed, a Kochi-based immigration allowing anyone who came to Ausand study abroad firm functioning tralia to apply for onshore student since 2015. visas. They completely banned it ● More on P4 Following the heavy rush of stu- now,” said Mathai. R A J E S H A B R A H A M @Kochi What next With Biden stepping aside, Democrats will technically begin an open convention next month Stormy Budget session from today as BJP allies join Oppn to raise heat consultants face crisis Soldiers and special forces stand guard at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh | AFP Trump quickly reacted, saying Biden had not been “fit to run” or “fit to serve” as president. House Speaker Mike Johnson also called for Biden’s resignation. “If Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president. He must resign immediately he said. ,” Biden spent more than three weeks resisting calls to step down following the shock of the June 27 debate, at one point insisting that only the “Lord Almighty” could convince him to back out. To show he was up to the job, he gave a number of interviews, but P9 made further gaffes.
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