Author: Rahul M

Karnataka revises fines for building plan violations; minor deviations up to 15% can be regularised with new rates and added FAR, parking penaltiesThe Karnataka government has introduced a revised penalty framework for buildings constructed in deviation from approved plans within urban local body jurisdictions. This move aims to streamline urban development while offering a path to regularise minor infractions.According to a recent government order, property owners with setback deviations of up to 15% from the sanctioned plan can now apply for revised building approvals by paying a stipulated fine. This initiative is intended to bring minor violations into compliance without…

Fried chicken is making American restaurants more money than ever, except at KFC — the very place that pioneered selling it by the bucket load across the country.Chick-fil-A fans swarm to its sandwiches and milkshakes, Popeyes’s launches go viral on social media, Raising Cane’s is drawing diners with its yellow Labrador mascot and 2.3 million TikTok followers, and McDonald’s now sells about as much chicken as it does beef.But KFC? “Invisible” and “irrelevant,” according to one of its leaders. It was the only major chicken chain where sales fell last year.“We used to be an American icon,” KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie said in an interview. “Somewhere along the…

The discovery, made by a student team from Tohoku University, offers new insight into how marine organisms are responding to rising sea temperatures in the Pacific. The presence of P. mikazuki in Sendai Bay, a region once considered too cold for this genus, is prompting scientists to revisit long-held assumptions about species range and biodiversity in Japanese waters. Physalia utriculus, known locally in the warmer southern seas, was once thought to be the only Physalia species in Japan. But that changed in June 2024, when several striking blue specimens were found stranded on Gamo Beach in Miyagi Prefecture. Their unfamiliar…

With the Karnataka Government keen on several development projects in districts neighbouring Bengaluru, increased compensation for land to set up a large Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) unit in the outskirts of Bengaluru has come under scrutiny. The Finance Department (FD) has warned that granting compensation above the price determined for the land would compromise the government’s pricing mechanism for land acquisition and lead to “a flood of proposals” from all departments where owners refuse the rate fixed by the government. The FD note, accessed by The Indian Express, was in connection with a Cabinet decision last Thursday that approved…

Show Quick Read Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during campaign rallies in poll-bound Bihar, alleging that the PM is “scared” of former U.S. President Donald Trump and “remote controlled” by big businesses. Addressing consecutive public meetings in Begusarai and Khagaria, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that Modi’s decisions, including demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), were designed to “destroy small businesses.” Gandhi also took a swipe at Modi’s “56-inch chest” remark, saying true strength lies in…

Karnataka plans a mega Tech Park in Mangaluru to create 11,000 jobs, boosting its ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative. Spread over 3.285 acres, the park will feature modern office spaces and amenities.In a significant push to decentralize Karnataka’s tech growth, the state government has announced plans for a cutting-edge Tech Park in Mangaluru under its ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative. The project, led by the Karnataka State Electronics Development Corporation (KEONICS), is expected to generate employment for approximately 11,000 people.The proposed facility will be developed through a public-private partnership under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. Spread across 3.285 acres near…

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the RJD–Congress Mahagathbandhan during his campaign in Bihar, accusing the opposition alliance of “political gundagardi” and alleging that the RJD had ‘snatched’ the chief minister’s post from the Congress at metaphorical gunpoint. “RJD ne Congress ki kanpatti par katta rakhkar CM pad chura liya,” Modi said, claiming that a high-stakes power struggle had played out in “closed rooms” just days before the state heads to the polls. The Prime Minister alleged that the Congress did not want an RJD leader to assume the chief minister’s position but was pressured…

Oura Health, the Finnish smart-ring maker, is the latest wearable company seeking to move into blood pressure monitoring.The startup says it plans to launch a Blood Pressure Profile study later this year, designed to detect early signs of hypertension — or elevated blood pressure — without displaying actual systolic or diastolic readings, as part of efforts to develop a future consumer feature. The study will track users’ data without a traditional cuff and provide information to help users better understand their potential risk levels.Oura said it received Institutional Review Board approval for the study, launching soon for U.S. users within the…

Located in the Pacific Ocean, the Coral Triangle covers 5.7 million square kilometers and stretches across the territorial waters of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. This zone functions like an “underwater highway,” connecting habitats and species across political borders and sustaining the livelihoods of over 120 million people. Scientists now recognize the Coral Triangle as the most biodiverse marine ecosystem on Earth. It offers a window into the evolution of marine life, supporting food webs and biological interactions that have developed over millions of years. Unlike anything else in the ocean—or on land—its…

As the festive season wraps up, the air turns visibly heavier with smog, smoke, and suspended particles — a mix that can take a serious toll on your eyes. The days after Diwali often bring a sharp dip in air quality, exposing the eyes to irritants that cause dryness, itching, and redness. Prolonged exposure to polluted air does not just cause temporary discomfort; it can lead to infections and inflammation if ignored. Here’s a look at the most common eye problems as shared by Dr. Kalpa Negiloni, Head of Clinical Research at Remidio linked to rising air pollution, how to…