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Music composer and songwriter Hamsalekha was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sabar Bonda, a Marathi film, written and directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, which follows a man from the city who returns to his hometown following a death in the family, and reconnects romantically with his childhood friend Balya, won the best Indian Film honour at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes) that ended on Friday. Badiger Devendra’s Vanya won the best film in the Kannada segment.

Music composer and songwriter Hamsalekha was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Speaking on the occasion, Hamsalekha said even though the film festival has come to an end, there is no end to art itself. “Art is the beginning and not an end. Cinema is a collective art form. I am very happy to receive the award today. These film festivals are a testament to the growth of cinema every day. Films like KGF and Kanthara have propelled Kannada films onto the global stage,” he said. We need to protect democracy through art, because art has the capacity and responsibility to do it, he added.

Malayalam film Moham, directed by Fazir Razak, won second place in the best Indian film category, and Malayalam film Kaadu, directed by Suneesh Vadakumbadan, was adjudged third in the segment. Other winners include Lost Land Harawatan (Japanese), Shape of Momo (Nepali), and The Deepest Space in Us (Japanese) in the Asian cinema competition. The Republic of Pipolipinas (The Philippines) won a special jury mention and Marathi film Gondhal won the FIPRESCI Award.

Badiger Devendra’s Vanya, which premiered at the 56th International Film Festival in Goa, won the best Kannada film. The film portrays a father and daughter’s emotional fight to protect their forest homeland from the corporate mafia, oppression, and political exploitation. Kannada films Nam Saali, directed by Anil Revoor and produced by senior theatre artist Shankarayya R. Ghanti and Ravana Rajyadalli Navadampatigalu, directed by Ranga, won second and third places respectively.

Actor and director Prakash Raj, brand ambassador of the festival, said, all the languages in the world are bound by emotions because the heart of every language is its emotion. “Cinema is also a language, and we celebrate every emotion through cinema. We need these film festivals to provide a platform for people to come with different stories from different parts of the world. We need cinema to bring about issues that are contemporary to the society,” he said.

Festival director P.B. Murali said the eight-day film festival witnessed a footfall of over one lakh people. “We had 30-plus restored classics, 40-plus Asian films and created a community viewing experience this year,” he said.

Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao, speaking on the occasion, said every film should be released without censorship. “There should be freedom of expression in art. Kannada films should be also open and talk about every issue,” he said.

The film festival, which began on January 29, saw around 300 films from 70 countries. This year’s theme, Stree Yendare Ashte Sake (Is it enough to be a woman?) revolves around women’s empowerment.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Fresh off sealing a multi-crore deal, Vibha Harish, whose wellness brand has been acquired at an equity valuation of ₹375 crore, on turning a personal health challenge into a big win.

When a 20-something Vibha Harish started her entrepreneurial journey in 2019 after dabbling in a family arts and crafts business, she wasn’t really thinking of building a buzzy wellness brand. The idea popped up from her own experience of dealing with PCOS and understanding that when it comes to health, it cannot be treated in bits and pieces. Thus, began the building of Cosmix, a plant-based nutrition brand that an FMCG major recently acquired at an equity valuation of approximately ₹375 crore – taking a 60 per cent stake. “We were trying to reach more homes with clean ingredients. After speaking with multiple parties, we realised a strategic partner made the most sense which is how the deal came about,” says Harish.

However, the growth was never rushed. Until its majority acquisition, the brand remained bootstrapped, which, in a way, allowed space for growth without external pressure. “When you don’t have investors from day one, you’re not being told what to launch or what will sell faster. You’re forced to be mindful of spending, decisions and beliefs,” she says, adding that the slow and steady route eventually led to the partnership. “It wasn’t just money. We wanted someone who wouldn’t change our offerings.

Harish started the company at 24, with her now husband Soorya Jagadish joining the business two years later. The duo was also on Shark Tank Season 3 in 2024, returning with `1 crore for 1 per cent equity with the condition of 1 per cent royalty till the `1 crore is recouped.

Growing up around the health practises of her mother, a homoeopathic doctor, she believed that healing takes time and patience. “You can’t want good skin but not sleep on time, or want to build muscle without taking care of your gut. Health doesn’t work in silos, and no change happens overnight. So much of wellness marketing is driven by insecurity. You see quick fixes, miracle timelines and false guarantees that only make people, who are already insecure, feel worse. None of it is nourishing or honest. I felt there was a real gap for ethical communication,” she says.

Her family support played a crucial part in navigating the uncertainty of a new business amidst starting troubles and the pandemic. “When you start something new, you’re vulnerable. In those moments, you lean heavily on those around you like I did on,” she says.

Back in 2019 when she set up the fledging venture, Harish was walking down a supermarket aisle, finding that most of the beauty and nutrition-related products were focused on telling us how our bodies should be. “It was important to me to change that narrative. They come from within. And all that matters is how healthy you are. That’s what makes a difference,” Harish had said in an interview with CE in December 2019.

She hopes to continue making that difference with plans to increase the offerings with investment pouring in. “Five years from now, if people associate us with clean ingredients, that’s good enough for me,” she says.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

A farmer from Lakkundi village in Gadag district has fetched a record-breaking price of Rs 74,099 per quintal for his chilli crop, setting a new benchmark in the region’s agricultural markets.

The exceptional price was secured by Chandru Chabarabhavi, who attributed the achievement to the superior quality of his produce and organic farming practices.

Chandru cultivated the Kashmir dabba variety of chilli, using only cow dung as fertiliser. Chilli prices generally range between Rs 35,000 and Rs 50,000 per quintal, depending on quality. However, this year has witnessed an unprecedented surge, marking the highest price recorded in the past two years.

In January 2023, Sharanappa, a farmer from Kotumachagi, had secured Rs 70,499 per quintal, a record that has now been surpassed by Chandru’s Rs 74,099. Farmers in Lakkundi village celebrated the achievement by distributing sweets to mark the milestone.

Earlier, the highest recorded price for chilli stood at Rs 41,101 per quintal, achieved by a farmer in 2020. Market rates hovered around Rs 45,000 per quintal in November 2022, before rising sharply to Rs 70,499 in 2023, according to farmers.

The Byadgi chilli, cultivated extensively in the Haveri, Dharwad and Gadag regions, continues to command strong demand in domestic and export markets.

Expressing his joy, Chandru said, “I anticipated a good price, but I never imagined such a record-breaking amount. I have not yet decided how to use this money, but I plan to do so carefully, especially after suffering consecutive crop losses. My friends brought sweets, and we performed puja for my crop.”

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Smriti Mandhana delivered a captain’s performance of exceptional poise and power as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) women claimed their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title, defeating Delhi Capitals (DC) women by six wickets in a gripping final that was decided amid high drama in the last over at the BCA Stadium here yesterday.

Chasing a challenging target of 204 in a title clash, RCB were immediately under pressure, but Mandhana responded with fearless intent. The skipper smashed 87 off just 41 balls, striking 12 fours and three sixes, and ensured the asking rate never spiralled out of control.

After the early dismissal of Grace Harris (9), Mandhana found an ideal partner in Georgia Voll, who played a measured yet authoritative innings of 79 off 54 deliveries.

The Mandhana–Georgia partnership, worth 165 runs, became the defining passage of the final, dismantling Delhi bowling attack and swinging the momentum firmly in RCB’s favour. Even after Mandhana fell in the 19th over, the chase remained alive, though the tension inside the stadium was palpable.

A decisive moment came when Radha Yadav was offered a crucial lifeline, one that later loomed large in the context of the result. Attempting to loft a full delivery from Chinelle Henry, Radha mistimed the shot and the ball ballooned towards cover, where Minnu Mani failed to hold on despite getting both hands to it. The dropped catch not only spared Radha but also allowed RCB to scramble back for two vital runs, subtly tilting the balance in a contest ultimately decided by fine margins.

The match then reached a dramatic climax in the final over bowled by Shree Charani, with 10 runs required from six balls. Radha Yadav and Nadine de Klerk showed admirable composure under pressure. After trading singles and reducing the equation, Radha struck two consecutive boundaries.

Brief confusion followed as a bail was dislodged at the striker’s end, prompting a pause and hurried on-field discussions, before the umpires confirmed the boundary and Bengaluru’s victory with two balls to spare. Celebrations erupted as players and support staff poured onto the field.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

Bengaluru, VTU on Friday said it has signed an agreement with UK-based company Chiac ASI to introduce Artificial Super Intelligence, a technology considered to surpass conventional AI.

Visvesvaraya Technological University said it would be adopting ASI “for the first time as part of its efforts to prepare students for emerging technologies.”

“VTU has entered into an agreement with Chiac ASI, a company based in the United Kingdom. Chiac is the world’s first ASI research institution. At present, five major companies, including Meta and Microsoft, are engaged in research in this field,” it said in a statement.

The university said Chiac ASI has published significant research at an international conference on controlling the potentially dangerous behaviour of ASI using Indian sutras, for which it has received an award.

The academic and research agreement was signed by VTU Vice-Chancellor Dr S Vidyashankar and Chiac ASI CEO Chandrashekar Nagaraju.

Dr Vidyashankar said technology was advancing rapidly, and VTU was aligning itself with emerging trends.

“We are adopting Artificial Super Intelligence, which is expected to create a revolution by 2030, while also addressing concerns related to the rapid expansion of AI,” he said.

He added that under the agreement, Chiac ASI would offer free internships to more than 1,000 students and provide ASI textbooks to engineering college faculty for effective teaching.

“These are not ordinary books, but self-updating research textbooks that evolve as the field progresses. Workshops on ASI have also been conducted for faculty members of VTU-affiliated colleges,” he said.

Chiac ASI CEO Chandrashekar Nagaraju said that from a national security perspective, it was crucial for India to establish leadership in the field of super intelligence before 2030.

“The US and China are advancing rapidly in this area. Our goal is to develop one million engineering professionals in India to work in the ASI domain,” he said.

“As the world’s largest technological university, VTU has the potential to produce 4 lakh ASI-skilled engineers, which would be a significant contribution to the nation,” he said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

The budget’s focus on developing CER has been welcomed by experts.

To strengthen urban growth, the Union Budget has proposed setting up seven City Economic Regions (CER) across India, with Bengaluru selected from Karnataka.

In the budget presented on Sunday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Tier 2 and 3 cities, which need modern infrastructure and basic amenities, would be granted an allocation of Rs 5,000 crore per CER over five years.

“Cities are India’s engines of growth, innovation and opportunities. We shall now focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and even temple-towns, which need modern infrastructure and basic amenities. This Budget aims to further amplify the potential of cities to deliver the economic power of agglomerations by mapping City Economic Regions based on their specific growth drivers.

An allocation of Rs 5,000 crore per CER over five years is proposed for implementing their plans through a challenge mode with a reform-cum-results-based financing mechanism,” Sitharaman said. The budget’s focus on developing CER has been welcomed by experts.

“For industries to develop, they need to be given basic infrastructure like roads, electricity, water, communications and others. We guess a major share of the Rs 5,000 crore would be used for these in the CER,” D Rajasekhar, former director of Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) said.

“CER cannot be located far from a city. While we don’t know exactly where this is going to be set up, it is expected to be near Bengaluru, like in Peenya, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Kolar.”

He said the success of this initiative will depend on the location of the CER. “We cannot strongly say if the development will ease out the pressure on Bengaluru. All depends on the CER location and what the Rs 5,000 crore is spent on,” he said.

CREDAI Karnataka President Bhaskar T Nagendrappa, said, “Growth is where infrastructure is. The moment infrastructure expenditure increases, growth follows. CER is a welcome initiative in the budget”.

“The budget’s emphasis on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities is a welcome and much-needed shift. Growth is no longer metro-centric, and this focus will help decentralise talent, reduce migration pressure and create sustainable employment ecosystems closer to where people live,” said Subramanyam S, CEO, Ascent HR Technologies.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Ambulances rushing with blaring sirens to save lives during road accidents or medical emergencies are a common sight. However, when mishaps occur in the middle of the sea, the lack of facilities to immediately bring the injured ashore has often resulted in loss of lives. Addressing this long-pending concern, fishermen from Ullal in Mangaluru have launched the state’s first-ever ‘boat ambulance’ service, drawing widespread attention.

The emergency boat service has been initiated by the Ullal zone Nadadoni and Gillnet Fishermen’s Association. The objective of the service is to provide immediate first aid and swiftly transport the injured to the shore in cases of boat capsizing, fire accidents at sea, or sudden health emergencies among fishermen. Although there has been a demand for a sea ambulance along the coast for decades, government projects could not be implemented due to technical and financial constraints. In a notable move, fishermen have now come together to launch this service without waiting for government support.

The specially designed boat is equipped with a siren, red warning lights, a stretcher, oxygen cylinder, first-aid kit and life jackets. Arrangements have been made so that other boats give way upon hearing the siren. A public address system has also been installed, enabling communication with people along the shore, which proves helpful during emergencies.

Three trained personnel have been appointed to manage the service. They are capable of swimming even in harsh sea conditions. Preventing deaths caused by breathing difficulties during boat capsize incidents is one of the key objectives of this initiative. The boat ambulance allows for immediate first aid and quick transportation of the injured to the shore.

At present, one boat ambulance is in operation. The fishermen’s association aims to expand the service across the district by equipping the boats with more advanced medical facilities if financial assistance is provided by the government. This initiative has emerged as a model effort in safeguarding lives along the coast.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

In a personnel-friendly move, the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police (DG & IGP) has issued a circular on Thursday directing all unit heads to grant casual leave to police officers and personnel on the occasion of their birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

According to the circular, granting leave on such special occasions allows officers to relax emotionally, spend quality time with their families, and maintain a healthy balance between professional duties and personal life. The order states that this humane approach is expected to boost morale, reduce stress, improve job satisfaction, and enhance overall productivity within the police force.

The directive further notes that acknowledging personal events will strengthen loyalty, discipline, and organisational efficiency among police personnel.

All unit officers have been instructed to grant leave without fail to police officers and staff who apply for leave on their birthdays or wedding anniversaries. The circular comes into immediate effect.

The order was issued following a recommendation made by Mohan Kumar Danappa, a member of the State Police Complaints Authority, on December 4.

Sources said that the practice of granting leave on birthdays had earlier been followed during the tenure of former Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, but was later discontinued abruptly. While the provision of granting such leave at the police station level has existed, it has not been implemented strictly due to factors such as staff shortages and heavy workload.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

The tricolour was unfurled on a trial basis for a short while on Sunday February 1 evening on the state’s third tallest national flagpole, constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore near the private bus stand at Nellikatte, opposite the Mahalingeshwara Temple in Puttur.

The installation of the massive 80-metre-high national flagpole began on Sunday morning. Using a large crane, the flagpole was erected, and by evening, the national tricolour was hoisted briefly on a trial basis before being lowered. MLA Ashok Kumar Rai and others were present during the installation. Hundreds of people gathered at the site and watched the proceedings with keen interest.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Ashok Kumar Rai said it had been their dream to hoist the national flag at a great height in Puttur. He recalled that six months ago he had stated that Puttur would demonstrate what true patriotism means. He said that no other taluk-level Assembly constituency in the state has hoisted the national flag at such a height, and added that Puttur can proudly claim to have the state’s third tallest national flagpole at the taluk level.

He further said that within a week, lighting arrangements would be put in place and the national flag would be hoisted. The national flag, measuring 2,400 square feet, will be flown on the flagpole. Each flag costs Rs 60,000, and it will need to be replaced three times a year. Patriotism, he said, does not come merely from giving speeches, but can be nurtured only by creating such meaningful installations and systems.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

A day ahead of the Union Budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched “Justice for Karnataka — Fair Share, Strong Federalism” campaign and released nine posters highlighting the State’s long-standing demands, including the restoration of the tax share, reduced from 4.71% to 3.64% in Central tax devolution.

Among the other key demands are correcting the “flawed formula” of penalising development and population control and restoration of the use of 1971 population data in tax sharing, reduction in income distance weightage from 45% to 25%, setting right “the unrealistic GSDP base-year methodology” as IT exports inflate the State’s GSDP and distort fair comparisons.

The government mooted the adoption of a Panchayat devolution index in fund allocation for effective governance in local governments. It also sought a special package of ₹10,000 crore for the backward Kalyana Karnataka region, special grants for ecology, farmers and irrigation projects, and an increase in the State’s share of taxes to 50% and a cap on cess at 5% are part of the demands.

In a note, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government has placed its “Constitutionally grounded” demands before the 16th Finance Commission seeking justice in tax devolution and fiscal federalism, and expressed hope that the Budget will fulfill it.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)