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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Siddaramaiah says that his government’s guarantee schemes are ‘transforming the trajectory of Karnataka’s development’.
Amid criticism by the Opposition BJP and JD(S) that guarantee schemes had rendered Karnataka ‘bankrupt’, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought to argue in his Independence Day address that the State’s economy was robust, bolstered by its welfare schemes. This, he underlined, was despite ‘facing discrimination in distribution of resources from the Centre’.
Delivering the Independence Day address at the Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru on Friday, the Chief Minister said the State ranks first in the country in per capita income. Over the past decade, the State has achieved a growth of 101% in this indicator, from ₹1,01,858 at constant prices in 2013–14 to ₹2,04,605 in 2024–25.
Countering the argument that capital expenditure had taken a back seat owing to guarantees, he said, “This year, we have allocated ₹83,200 crore for capital expenditure. Karnataka is among the leading States, with 20.1% of its budget dedicated to infrastructure development.”
Impact of good rains
The Chief Minister sought to argue that Karnataka focused on both agriculture and industry. He said that bountiful rains this year had particularly helped in augmenting agricultural and horticultural production. “Compared to previous years, in 2024–25, we have broken all previous records in agricultural and horticultural output,” he said.
Pointing out that the previous government sought to privatise APMCs, handing over farmers’ livelihoods to corporate capitalists, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “In contrast, our government strengthened APMCs, resulting in record arrivals of 164 lakh tonnes of agricultural products in 2024–25, a remarkable increase of 447%. This is the highest in the history of Karnataka’s APMC.”
The government has allocated ₹51,339 crore for the agriculture sector in the 2025–26 Budget, an increase of 52.34% compared to 2022–23.
Listing out measures for the industrial and tourism sectors, the Chief Minister said 18 industrial areas covering 44,166 acres have been declared Special Investment Regions. “Investors have expressed interest in bringing in over ₹10 lakh crore in investments. Out of this, 48% has already been processed under Single Window IT Platform. Karnataka remains among the nation’s leading industrial States, with the manufacturing sector contributing 23.6% to the State’s GSDP, and our State ranks second nationally in foreign direct investment,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
On the other hand, he said that his government’s guarantee schemes are ‘transforming the trajectory of Karnataka’s development’.
For better distribution
“Surveys by leading national institutions reveal a stark truth: the wealthiest 10% of our population hold 80% of the nation’s wealth, yet they contribute only about 3% of the GST collected. The remaining 90% ordinary people, who work daily for food and clothing, shoulder nearly 97% of GST payments. How can any economy sustain itself under such circumstances? It is with the intention of finding answers to these very questions that we launched the guarantee schemes and other welfare programmes. Our government is spending more than ₹1.12 lakh crore on welfare measures, including guarantee schemes, subsidies, incentives, scholarships, social security pensions, and other social programmes,” he said.
“The ideology of Manuvad asserts that only the powerful should thrive while the rest remain as labourers and subordinates, an idea similar to Social Darwinism. In contrast, our Constitution stands firmly for Samvidhanvad, the principle that the weakest and most vulnerable must receive priority,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
‘Committed to caste census, internal quota’
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the decision to conduct a social and educational survey of the backward classes (popularly called caste census) through the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission was taken to understand people’s living conditions.
“Only accurate data can shape policies that transform lives and future schemes, which can provide special representation and targeted justice. To ignore this would be to betray both our Constitution and our freedom struggle. Hence, our government is serious about internal reservation within the Scheduled Castes and conducting a socio-educational survey of the backward classes,” he said.
Bannerughatta Biological Park, Bengaluru, on Thursday, August 14, celebrated World Elephant Day 2025, in collaboration with India Post, the Post Crossing Welfare Society of India, Rotaract District 3191, Rotaract Atria Institute of Technology, and the Rotaract Club of Bangalore Jayanagar.
Centered on Human-Elephant Coexistence, the event highlighted the roles of mahouts, kawadis, and night watchers in elephant care. A veterinary officer spoke on the deep bond between elephants and their mahouts, followed by a biologist sharing insights on a recent elephant translocation to Japan.
A special set of elephant-themed postcards was launched by Chief Guest K. Prakash, Chief Postmaster General, Karnataka Circle, and A.V. Surya Sen, Executive Director of BBP. Retired mahouts Mota and Bhaskar were honored for their service, and solar-powered lamps were distributed to night watchers by members of the Rotary Club. The day ended with a thoughtful discussion on elephant welfare between park officials and mahouts.
An official said the train carrying PM Modi would be operated by a woman loco pilot; school children will also be on board and Mr. Modi is expected to interact with them, the official said.
Bengaluru’s long wait for the Yellow Line of Namma Metro finally ended on Sunday, August 10, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 19.15-km corridor linking R.V. Road to Bommasandra. The Prime Minister also flagged off the Vande Bharat Express between Bengaluru and Belagavi, along with two other Vande Bharat services launched virtually.
The Yellow Line, a key metro link connecting the city’s IT hub in Electronics City and expected to significantly ease traffic congestion at notorious bottlenecks like the Silk Board junction, has been plagued by delays since construction began in 2017. Originally envisioned in the 2011 Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the project was initially scheduled for completion by December 2021. However, setbacks including protracted land acquisition, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and delays in rolling stock supply from Chinese manufacturer CRRC Nanjing pushed the timeline by nearly four years.
A packed schedule for the Prime Minister
Mr. Modi arrived in Bengaluru on Sunday morning at HAL Airport and then travelled by helicopter to the Indian Air Force Training Command in the city, where he was received by Governor Thawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. His first stop was the Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station in Majestic, where he flagged off three Vande Bharat Express trains — the KSR Bengaluru–Belagavi service, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–Amritsar service, and the Nagpur (Ajni)–Pune service, the latter two launched virtually.
Following the railway event, the Prime Minister proceeded to Ragigudda Metro Station to inaugurate the Yellow Line. There, he flagged off the inaugural service, tried out the QR code-enabled ticket vending machines, and boarded the metro to Electronic City. Speaking to The Hindu, a Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) official said the train was piloted by a woman loco pilot. “Schoolchildren, metro officials and some members of the public were also on board, and Mr. Modi interacted with them during the journey,” the official said while adding the commercial operation to be starting from August 11.
At the end of his metro ride to Infosys Foundation Konappana Agrahara Metro Station, the Prime Minister moved to the IIIT Auditorium in Electronics City Phase 1. There, he laid the foundation stone for Namma Metro’s Phase 3, also known as the Orange Line, and addressed a gathering.
Phase 3 to expand network to 222 km
Phase 3 will be fully elevated and is planned to serve underserved areas along Magadi Road and the western portion of the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Once completed in 2029, it is projected to accommodate 7.85 lakh daily commuters and will extend Bengaluru’s metro network to 222.2 km, according to BMRCL officials. The project has cleared all mandatory hurdles, receiving Union Cabinet approval in August 2024.
Political slugfest ahead of the launch
The inauguration also became a stage for political one-upmanship. At Ragigudda Metro Station, Congress supporters raised slogans in favour of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Hours before the inauguration, Mr. Shivakumar accused the BJP-led Central government of contributing only 20% towards the cost of the Yellow Line, claiming the State government bore the remaining 80%. In certain cases, he said, the Centre’s contribution was as low as 11%.
Speaking to reporters, he urged the Prime Minister to sanction at least ₹1 lakh crore for Bengaluru’s development, stating that the State government had funded the entire land acquisition despite the Centre being expected to share 50% of the cost. “Even though Bengaluru is the country’s second-highest tax-paying city, the grants we receive are minimal,” he said, adding that Ahmedabad receives a 20% share of tax allocations compared to Bengaluru’s 10%. “We should be treated like other major cities and considered alongside the national capital.”
Mr. Shivakumar also criticised BJP MPs from Karnataka, alleging they had failed to secure meaningful grants for the State. “Posting on X and appearing in photos is not an achievement. BJP MPs should focus on bringing funds instead of playing politics,” he said.
A vital corridor
Built at a cost of ₹7,610 crore, the Yellow Line adds 16 stations to Namma Metro’s network, expanding the operational length to 96 km. The fully elevated line incorporates the city’s first driverless train technology, though services will initially be operated by loco pilots.
BMRCL officials expect the Yellow Line to carry over 2.5 lakh passengers daily once the full fleet of trains is delivered and operational. The corridor integrates with major metro lines at key junctions: R.V. Road (Green Line), Jayadeva Hospital (Pink Line), and Central Silk Board (Blue Line, Phases 2A & 2B).
Another notable feature is its integration with the city’s first double-decker flyover between Silk Board Junction and Ragigudda Metro Station, designed to ease one of Bengaluru’s most congested stretches.
The Yellow Line is expected to bring much-needed relief to thousands of employees working in Electronic City, a major IT cluster hosting several multinational companies. By offering a direct metro connection from the southern residential areas to the IT hub, the line could significantly cut commuting times, reduce dependence on private vehicles, and ease pressure on the city’s overburdened road network.
Delayed project
When construction began in 2017, expectations were high that the Yellow Line would be operational within four years. However, the project encountered several roadblocks. Land acquisition delays slowed initial progress, while the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted labour supply, construction schedules, and logistics.
A major blow came from delays in receiving rolling stock from CRRC Nanjing, the Chinese manufacturer contracted to supply the train. In 2019, CCRRC was awarded a ₹1,578-crore contract to supply 216 metro coaches, with the condition that it establish a manufacturing facility in India, a commitment the company failed to meet.
This non-compliance significantly slowed the project, prompting the BMRCL to issue multiple notices to CRRC and even consider invoking a ₹372-crore bank guarantee. To break the deadlock, CRRC entered into a partnership with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, which allowed train deliveries to resume.
At present, the Yellow Line has only three train sets in operation. A fourth set is en route from the Titagarh facility and is expected to be delivered to Bengaluru Metro by mid-August, officials said.
