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Karnataka is the first State in India to implement the Supreme Court order on legalised will and Advanced Medical Directive (AMD) that can be executed by a living person who is of sound mind and body on medical advice, but there is not enough data on how many are using it, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao.

He was delivering the keynote address at ‘Good to go’, a literature festival around the theme of Death and end of life palliative care.

Noting that not only does the process ease the suffering of someone at the end of their life, but also helps their family and friends, he said, “There is a lot of guilt associated with it. They need a way of doing it to get a sense of closure. This process allows them to do that.”

‘Suggestions welcome’

The Minister, however, admitted that there is little data on how many people are using it or have come up with an AMD. “I hope hospitals start waking up to this. We also need to educate the hospitals as they are the ones to get this implemented and advice the patients,” he said.

“We have come out witha policy. But we can look at it again to see how to take it forward, implement it and, remove roadblocks,” he added, welcoming suggestions. 

Better implementation needed

The two-day Death Literatue Festival, organised by Pallium India, an NGO that aims to integrate palliative care and pain relief with health systems, and Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, is being held at Bangalore International Centre.

Speaking at the festival, Dr. Nagesh Simha, medical director at Karunashraya Hospice, noted that while Karnataka has done a lot towards introducing policies for palliative care and AMD, the implementation of the policies need to percolate further at all levels including government hospitals.

Smriti Rana from Pallium India, Dr. Rajani Bhat from Sparsh Hospital, Hardik Dua from Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, Sweety Thomas from Ajit Isaac Foundation and theatre artist Darius Sunawala spoke at the event.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

According to the research team, the new technique analyses the unique, surface-specific characteristics of stains, enabling experts to confirm whether blood found on clothing, bedding, or other materials in a crime scene is menstrual or non-menstrual.

A research team from Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, has come out with a new imaging technique that helps distinguish menstrual blood from non-menstrual blood.

The technique has been developed by Dr. Mayur Sudhir Balbudhe and Dr. B. Suresh Kumar Shetty, both from Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology; Dr. Adithi Shetty from Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; and Dr. Nayantara Arun Kumar from Department of Physiology.

The pre-print of their research paper has been posted on Research Square.

In a statement, Dr. Suresh Kumar Shetty said in forensic investigations, particularly in instances of sexual assault and domestic violence, the ability to differentiate blood types becomes crucial. The technique developed by the team analyses the unique, surface-specific characteristics of stains. Thus, it enables experts to confirm whether blood found on clothing, bedding, or other materials is menstrual or non-menstrual.

Such precision findings strengthen crime scene reconstruction and prevent misinterpretation of evidence, which could lead to wrongful suspicion or prosecution. This patented technique will ensure more accurate crime investigations, said Dr. Suresh Kumar Shetty, the KMC Mangaluru Associate Dean, who has been teaching Forensic Science in the college since 2005.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

He is one among the upcoming film-makers in the country. Having completed his MBBS from Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI), he chose a different avenue to build a career. While his fellow classmates chose to hold stethoscope as doctors, the youngster we are talking about joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune to realise his dream of becoming a film-maker.

Meet Dr. Chidananda S. Naik, son of Prof. R. Shekhara Naik, Head, Department of Food Sciences and Nutrition, Yuvaraja’s College, Mysuru and Vinoda Bai couple, residents of Kuvempunagar. His younger brother, Nagananda S. Naik, is employed at a MNC in Bengaluru.

Dr. Chidananda Naik has made news by winning the National Award for ‘Best Script’ for his directorial short movie ‘Sunflowers were the first ones to know…’ He had won the first prize in La Cinef section for Best Short Film at the 77th Cannes Film Festival last year. The short film had also qualified for the 97th Academy Awards (Oscar Award) in the Live Action Short Film category in 2024.

Star of Mysore caught up with Dr. Chidananda Naik to know more about his journey from a Medical Institute to Film Institute. Excerpts…

Star of Mysore (SOM): Having studied MBBS, what made you choose a career in film-making?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: I had never thought of becoming a film- maker. Watching a good movie used to make my day. Like every other child, I had minimum exposure to films and was watching them on televisions, movie theatres and VCDs. I used to be fascinated by movie posters stuck on the walls. When I was a part of Chinnara Mela summer camp at Rangayana, they made us watch ‘Dreams,’ a movie directed by Akira Kurosawa which inspired me a lot. However, I did not pursue much at that time. My parents were strict and disconnected cable TV connection during my 11th and 12th class days. Later, I developed a hobby of watching movies and started liking it not as a mere movie but I got connected to them emotionally. I started watching the interviews of actors and film-makers and the movies they were referring to; that is how I developed my interest in film-making.

SOM: How did your family react when you told them about your interest in movies?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: Firstly, my family thought I would pursue my career in films for a short period as break after I had completed my MBBS. Obviously, they were worried as we do not come from film background or know anybody from the fraternity. It was leap of faith. When I attended workshops by Girish Kasaravalli and others, I got to know about FTII and tried my luck to get into the institute. If I had failed, I would have still made a career in film-making by working as assistant to one of the Directors. I didn’t want to regret later of not trying to fulfill my dream. Now, things are looking good and my family is happy with the results so far.

SOM: Do you miss practicing medicine unlike your peers?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: Definitely yes. I am missing it every single day. After all, I have put so many years into studying medicine. Though I am not practicing now, whenever I get time I want to assist my friends in Operation Theatres to stay in touch with the profession. It is something which I am deeply connected and want to pursue.

SOM: What are your reasons to make independent movies and not commercial films?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: For a person to establish himself in the industry is not easy. There is a lot of struggle one has to go through which I have. I will stick on to my roots as I have grown up watching our kind of movies. Even today, I like going with friends to watch movies in theatres. For me, having the right balance between independent movies and mainstream movies are most important. People should watch movies in theatres. I strongly believe that movies should not be made only for commercial gains, rather it should connect with people emotionally.

SOM: How did ‘Sunflowers…..’ happen?

Dr. Chidananda Naik:  ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ was my final year diploma project at FTII. At the time of our joining we will get to know about our project. I was joined by one of my batchmates Manoj, also a Kannadiga, and we both decided to make a Kannada movie. During our brainstorming sessions, we decided to make ‘Sunflowers…’

SOM: Did you expect the short- film to achieve such a huge success?

Dr. Chidananda Naik: For me, Cannes was always a dream. Some of my favourite Directors like Quentin Tarantino, who have been successful in mainstream movies, have all started from Cannes Film Festival. The kind of response I got was tremendous. I had never thought foreign audience would applaud a Kannada short-film.

SOM: What was your initial reaction when your name was announced for National Film Awards?

Dr. Chidananda Naik:  I was working on another film of mine when one of my friends texted me a congratulatory message and that is when I realised that ‘Sunflowers…’ had won a National award. I was worried that when the film was not available in the public domain, how would it be recognised here. But I am happy that the Government of India has recognised our efforts and selected ‘Sunflowers…’ for the National Award.

source/content: starofmysore.com / SN Venkatnag Sobers

Subhash M Kamath, director of Abharan Jewellers, Udupi, has won the Club Gold Award in the wildlife category at the photography competition organized by Ora di Frame Circuit, recognized by the prestigious FIAP.

Subhash M Kamath’s award-winning photograph, titled ‘Hunger versus Hope’, captures two cheetahs chasing their prey at Masai Mara, Kenya. More than 50 countries participated in the international competition.

A well-known entrepreneur from Udupi, Subhash Kamath took up photography as a passion during the Covid lockdown, receiving training from internationally acclaimed photographer Focus Raghu. Alongside managing his business, he nurtured his love for photography, leading to this remarkable achievement.

Wildlife photography, a highly challenging yet fascinating field, demands patience, long hours of waiting, and deep knowledge of animals, birds, forests, and the natural environment. By excelling in this demanding art form, Subhash M Kamath has brought international recognition to Udupi.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

eBay’s approximately 65,000-square-foot new office will host a variety of functions, including technology and engineering.

The quality and diversity of talent in Bengaluru prompted the American e-commerce company eBay to choose the city over Hyderabad to set up its first Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India, said Mazen Rawashdeh, SVP & Chief Technology Officer, eBay. He was speaking to The Hindu ahead of the unveiling of the GCC.  

“The talent in India, in general, is amazing. We were debating between Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and we decided on Bengaluru as the quality and diversity of the talent is really attractive here…We want to open and expand our presence with the dev centre and attract top talent. It’s a world-class tier-1 tech dev centre for us,” he said. 

eBay’s approximately 65,000-square-foot new office will host a variety of functions, including technology and engineering, AI/ML, applied research, product development, product management, data analytics and more. According to Rawashdeh, the centre, which is expected to see upwards of 300 engineers, would play a strategic role for the company and would serve as a technology innovation hub similar to those in the U.S. and China. 

“Us coming to India at this point is not a business strategy. It’s not to expand eBay’s business in India,” said Mr. Rawashdeh, calling it a ‘180-degree shift’ from the company’s previous stint in the country.  

“We never exited India. We stayed here, but shrunk the footprint, and looked at supporting and augmenting the functions outside of India. This time the strategy is completely different,” he said. 

Clarifying that the centre would not simply serve as a supporting role, but would build, incubate and architect services and functions, including engineering, design and product development, he said that it will have a semi-autonomous team.

Mr. Rawashdeh added that the company is already in talks with the government and universities, similar to how it is done in the U.S.

“We intend to build those relationships, especially with the universities from a research and development angle. That would be a great pipeline to not only bring talent to the organization, but also leverage the tremendous experience and knowledge with the PhD students and do joint research with them,” he said. 

source/content: www.thehindu.com (headline edited).

The panels will occupy around 10 per cent of these two lakes and are expected to generate 20 megawatt power.

Doddabommasandra and Rachenahalli lakes in Bengaluru have been chosen for installing floating photovoltaic (FPV) panels to generate electricity.

The panels will occupy around 10 per cent of these two lakes and are expected to generate 20 megawatt power.

The project got the nod from Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) and the panels will be installed by Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL), revealed answers by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad had raised the question about city lakes selected for setting up FPVs, in the ongoing Assembly session.

“Doddabommasandra and Rachenahalli lakes in Yelahanka zone have been selected to set up solar panels to generate 1MW power,” Shivakumar said in his reply to Rizwan. He said nearly 20MW of power can be generated by setting up panels in 10 per cent of the lake area.

He said electricity generated by the floating solar panels can be used for the lake’s maintenance and also to power lamp posts in the surroundings. Apart from electricity generation, these panels would prevent evaporation of lake water, Shivakumar said. When Rizwan questioned the budget allocation for this plan, Shivakumar said the project is in its initial stages and that neither the state government nor Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike have reserved any funds for it.

Sources in the state government maintained that based on the outcome of this project, they plan to replicate the model to set up solar panels on select lakes across Karnataka.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

 Karnataka’s flagship Shakti Scheme, which provides free bus travel for women across the state, has earned a coveted place in the Golden Book of World Records for facilitating over 500 crore free rides.

The scheme, one of the five guarantee initiatives of the Karnataka government, was launched on June 11, 2023. Between that date and July 25, 2025, a staggering 5,04,94,76,416 women passengers availed free tickets and travelled across all four state-run road transport corporations. This historic milestone secured the scheme’s entry into the Golden Book of World Records.

Calling it a moment of great pride and joy, Karnataka’s Minister for Transport and Muzrai, Ramalinga Reddy, said, “Shakti is a bold and ambitious initiative for women’s empowerment. Its recognition by the Golden Book of World Records is a proud achievement for Karnataka.”

The minister also shared findings from a recent study conducted by the Sustainable Mobility Network under the title ‘Beyond Free Rides’, which evaluated women’s free bus travel across 10 Indian cities.

The study revealed that in Bengaluru, 23% more women employees were using government buses due to the scheme, while Hubballi–Dharwad recorded a 21% increase in women commuters.

The Shakti Scheme continues to be celebrated not only for easing transport access but also for significantly contributing to women’s economic mobility and empowerment.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Apple India has signed a long-term lease for 2.7 lakh sq ft in Embassy Zenith, Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, committing ₹1,010 crore.

In what’s being seen as a major vote of confidence in Bengaluru’s premium commercial real estate, Apple India has locked in a massive 2.7 lakh sq ft office space in the heart of the city.

The upcoming office, housed in Embassy Zenith on Sankey Road, Vasanth Nagar, will likely become Apple’s largest workplace in India, with space to seat over 1,200 employees. The long-term lease, stretching over 10 years, comes with a staggering ₹1,010 crore commitment, making it one of the largest single-tenant commercial lease deals in Bengaluru’s recent memory, the Business Standard reported.

According to documents accessed via Propstack, Apple India will occupy the 5th to 13th floors of the high-rise, covering a carpet area of 1.96 lakh sq ft, with a total chargeable area nearing 2.7 lakh sq ft. The lease kicks off with a monthly rental of ₹6.3 crore, pegged at ₹235 per square foot and includes a built-in 4.5 per cent annual escalation clause – ensuring rent bumps over the decade.

In addition, the tech giant has shelled out a hefty ₹31.57 crore as a security deposit, apart from recurring payments for common area maintenance and parking.

Some sources told the publication that the company is already eyeing further expansion within the same building, with plans to potentially acquire an additional 1.2 lakh sq ft spanning the ground to fourth floors – a move that could take its total footprint at Embassy Zenith close to 4 lakh sq ft.

The building is owned by Mac Charles (India) Ltd, an entity tied to Embassy Group, one of Bengaluru’s most prominent commercial real estate developers.

This marks Apple’s second major office space in the city. In 2021, the company had leased 1.16 lakh sq ft in Prestige Minsk Square on Cubbon Road, where it began operations in 2023.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

 Celebrated Bahrain-based Kannada radio jockey Kamalaksha Amin was conferred the Golden Iconic Award in Mangaluru, recognising his notable contribution to Kannada broadcasting and cultural promotion on the global stage.

The award ceremony was held at Hotel Ocean Pearl, Mangaluru, in a simple yet dignified gathering attended by prominent personalities from both Bahrain and the coastal city.

Abdul Razak Kote Hejamadi, managing director of a Bahrain-based metal company and president of the Dakshina Kannada District Muslim Welfare Association, felicitated Amin and praised his dedication to the Kannada community abroad.

“RJ Kamalaksha has kept the spirit of Kannada alive in the Gulf region. His work reflects both passion and purpose,” said Abdul Razak during the presentation.

Also present on the dais were Austin Santosh, former president of the Bahrain Kannada Sangha; P B Harish Rai, president of the Mangaluru Press Club; ASI Gopalakrishna Kundar of the police special unit; and engineer K P Manjunath Sagar, president of the International Cultural Saurabh Parishat.

The dignitaries jointly honoured RJ Kamalaksha Amin and extended their warm congratulations, acknowledging his influential voice in connecting Kannada-speaking audiences across borders.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

The initiative, launched on August 11, is aimed at offering a seamless transition between air and ground travel, according to Uber.

Uber, in partnership with Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), introduced India’s first dedicated Uber Black pickup zones at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), enhancing the premium travel experience for passengers at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

The initiative, launched on August 11, also covers Uber Comfort rides. It is aimed at offering a seamless transition between air and ground travel, according to Uber.

The new zones feature enhanced amenities such as water dispensers, charging stations, a staffed helpdesk kiosk, and trained on-ground personnel to assist passengers.

Uber stated that high-rated drivers and well-appointed vehicles are part of the service, ensuring a more refined commuting option for airport travellers. This marks the ride-hailing company’s first-ever Uber Black zone at any airport in India.

Arnab Kumar, Director of Business Development for Uber India and South Asia, said, “Bengaluru airport is one of the busiest and most important airports in India. With the introduction of Uber Black pickup zones for Uber Black and Uber Comfort, we are enhancing the travel experience from the moment passengers step out of the terminal.”

A BIAL spokesperson said, “The dedicated pickup zones for Uber Black and Uber Comfort are a step forward in our vision to deliver seamless, high-quality experiences at every stage of travel.”

KIA, which handled over 41.88 million passengers in FY 2024–25, is the busiest airport in south India, and the third largest in India. It recently surpassed 350 million cumulative passengers since its inauguration, and remains India’s leading airport for perishable cargo for the fourth consecutive year.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)