With the recent changes in FAR (Floor Area Ratio) guidelines by the Karnataka government, Bengaluru’s real estate market is to witness taller buildings in the coming years. The Bengaluru skyline will likely see an entirely new shape through the easing of construction regulations, with the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) making it possible to purchase a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of up to 5.2. The city will benefit from increased vertical development to utilize land more efficiently and stimulate economic development along industrial corridors in the outer ring of the city. Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is an important real estate metric parameter based on which it is determined how much maximum total built-up area in a building with all floors combined is allowed on a specific plot of land. FAR norms are important because they regulate urban density, building height, and development intensity. If the FAR ratios are high, it means buildings with denser construction and which are taller. On the other hand, lower ratios are allowed in cities to manage the infrastructure-population ratio.FAR = Total Building Floor Area ————————- Gross Plot AreaHigher Floor Area Ratio (FAR) norms, which are 4.0 or higher, are being adopted to promote vertical growth, redevelopment, and densification near transit hubs. Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Noida have increased these limits to maximize land usage, often allowing developers to purchase extra FAR. The real estate market and home buyers will experience a totally different landscape that will change how land, investment, and infrastructure will come together in the next decade due to this change in FAR.

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According to Ajay Singh, Senior Director- Sales and Strategy, Jenika Ventures, ” This creates opportunities for this type of industrial development by enabling vertical factories, multi-level storage warehouses, and office parks to be constructed on a smaller footprint, thereby preserving valuable real estate and increasing economic activity in the same geographical location. As a result of the new regulations, land in KIADB-notified regions will be used more rationally, and as land availability becomes increasingly scarce along Bengaluru’s growth corridors, vertical growth of the same type will significantly reduce the need for extensive land acquisition, while at the same time providing even greater opportunities for increasing the economic viability of the growth corridor (or area of development). Notably, the policy aims to encourage the development of integrated townships that incorporate manufacturing facilities, logistics centers, commercial areas, and housing for workers.”For the developer, a higher FAR means better project economics, as it translates into a larger saleable or leasable area on the same land. For the institutional investor, it means better scalability and potential value growth. For the larger ecosystem, it translates into job creation and development-driven growth, which can lead to increased economic activity and improved community infrastructure.Residential market implications“Although the initial impact will be seen in the industrial corridors, the secondary effect may have a bearing on the residential market in the long run. With the rise in employment density and commercial activity in the KIADB (Karnataka Industrial Development Board) sites, it is only a matter of time before there is a greater demand for residential projects in the area. Professionals working in factories, data centers, logistics parks, and office campuses may seek better-designed residential projects in the vicinity of the new industrial hubs. This will also help to reduce the congestion on roads in the Bengaluru city center while further developing the micro-markets in the peripheral areas. This presents an opportunity for the residential real estate investor to take advantage of the projects that are currently being developed around the industrial corridors and their infrastructure,” adds Singh.How this is going to benefit the investorsThe new FAR policy holds significant soaps for real estate investors and homebuyers. Increased land value potential: The increase in permissible built-up areas is going to increase the land valuations.Improved rental opportunities in mixed-use developments: As integrated townships continue to expand, demand for both residential rentals and commercial leasing is expected to rise alongside job creation and economic activity.The ruling of the Karnataka government for allowing FAR up to 5.2 indicates a shift towards vertical growth. This trend is going to lead to vertical and efficient land use. The government is in a position to transform Bengaluru’s peripheral areas into future-ready growth drivers by aligning industrial growth with comprehensive development. Home investors, in particular, will see that the policy is more than just a sign of taller buildings; it is a sign of shifting demand patterns, decentralized employment nodes, and emerging residential growth areas. Research-driven investment choices in these areas can unlock significant long-term value.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday it launched the seventeenth wave of attacks under “Operation True Promise-4”, targeting strategic sites in Israeli-controlled territories that managed to bypass the US-made THAAD missile defence system, one of Washington’s most advanced missile defence systems THAAD, as the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States continues.Despite the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior officials, Iran has continued to fire projectiles at targets in Israel and across the Middle East. The situation has raised concerns for the United States and its allies, including Israel and Gulf countries, which depend heavily on air defence systems to stop incoming attacks.

Western forces rely on several systems to intercept missiles and drones. The most important among them are THAAD interceptors, Patriot missile systems and the Standard Missile family used by US naval forces. Israel also uses its own Arrow interceptor systems. However, these defences are under growing strain as the conflict continues.Many interceptors have already been supplied to Ukraine during its war with Russia. Others were used in the Red Sea to protect shipping from attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces. Additional systems have been deployed in the Indo-Pacific to defend South Korea and Taiwan from possible threats from North Korea and China, according to news agency PTI.

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What is THAAD?THAAD, short for Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence, is one of the most powerful missile defence systems operated by the United States. It is designed to intercept short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during the final phase of their flight.According to the US department of defense, THAAD) is a key element of US ballistic missile defense and employs interceptor missiles, using “hit-to-kill” technology, to destroy threat missiles.The system can destroy incoming missiles at distances of around 150 to 200 kilometres. Unlike traditional missile defences that explode near their targets, THAAD interceptors use kinetic energy. This means they destroy incoming missiles by colliding directly with them in mid-air.

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The system relies on advanced radar and targeting technology. Its AN/TPY-2 radar can detect and track missile threats at very long distances. In forward-based mode, the radar can track targets up to around 3,000 kilometres away. In terminal mode, it focuses on missiles descending toward their targets.According to the US Congressional Research Service, the US military currently operates seven THAAD batteries. Each battery includes six truck-mounted launchers with eight interceptors each, along with radar and command systems that coordinate missile defence operations.THAAD batteries can also work with other missile defence systems, including Aegis systems on US Navy ships and Patriot missile batteries deployed on land. Together, these create a layered defence designed to intercept missiles at different stages of flight.The system can be rapidly deployed by large US military transport aircraft such as the C-17 and C-5, allowing it to be positioned quickly in areas facing missile threats.

West Indies celebrates (Getty Images)

MUMBAI: Forced to stay back in India following the end of their campaign in the T20 World Cup, the West Indies team might finally be able to fly home on a chartered flight on Friday with assistance from the International Cricket Council, TOI has learnt.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The departures of both West Indies and Zimbabwe were delayed after the situation in West Asia led to widespread flight cancellations and airspace closures, disrupting key transit hubs. “West Indies are likely to fly back home via a chartered flight on Friday, with assistance from the ICC. The details of this chartered flight arrangement are being worked out,” a source said.

Another source said ICC chairperson Jay Shah, CEO Sanjog Gupta and the head of events have been in regular contact with Cricket West Indies and the team management to ensure a safe return.West Indies head coach Darren Sammy posted on X on Wednesday: “I just wanna go home,” reflecting the team’s frustration at being stranded in Kolkata. The Caribbean side had been scheduled to leave soon after losing their final Super 8 match to India in Kolkata.Late on Thursday, Cricket West Indies (CWI) released a statement confirming the development. “During a high-level call earlier today, it was confirmed that a charter flight is currently being arranged for the team’s departure from India, with the expected departure scheduled within the next 24 hours. The departure time remains subject to final air traffic approvals,” the statement said.Zimbabwe leave in batchesZimbabwe, also stranded after exiting the Super 8, have begun returning home in batches after the ICC arranged alternate routes following the cancellation of their flight via Dubai. The team is travelling to Harare via Addis Ababa, with the first group leaving on Wednesday and the final group scheduled to depart on Friday afternoon, Zimbabwe Cricket said.South Africa nextThe ICC is also working on South Africa’s return travel after their semifinal loss to New Zealand. A source said the team is most likely to fly via Ethiopian Airlines, with Emirates and Etihad gradually restoring routes.

India’s Sanju Samson greets spectators as he returns to the pavilion after his dismissal by England’s Will Jacks during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 second semifinal cricket match between India and England, at the Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. (PTI)

TimesofIndia.com in Mumbai: “Dukhi mat ho bhai… kabhi bhi mauka aa sakta hai (Don’t be disheartened, opportunity can come anytime),” were former India captain Rohit Sharma‘s comforting words when he met Sanju Samson before India’s T20 World Cup opener against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium around a month ago. Little did he know then that the player, who was nowhere close to making the playing XI, would keep India alive in the tournament not once but twice. The backstory, the ups and downs, and the battle for the slot are now in the past, as the wicketkeeper-batter has timed his form perfectly and emerged as a force to reckon with at just the right time.If the unbeaten 97 in Kolkata against the West Indies was calm and controlled, the 89-run knock in Mumbai was pure dominance. Two contrasting knocks resulted in the same outcome for India, a win. As he settled into the chair for a refreshing interaction with the media, the 31-year-old reflected on the two innings but kept his responses measured because there is “one more step to go.”

“It feels really great and also relieving that I have been trying for a few years to do something like this for my country. I have been waiting with a lot of patience, a lot of inner work, a lot of training and a lot of practice. So definitely I should be very grateful, but I also feel that we have one more step to go. If we do that, then I think all the work and everything was worth it.“So I feel that one more innings should be really good. And yes, I think the last innings definitely played a good role in this innings as well. I knew I was timing the ball really well and making good decisions. I thought that if you are in form, you should definitely contribute to your team in this game as well. So that’s how I prepared for today and things came together very nicely,” said Samson.

Sanju Samson of India bats during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Semi-Final match between India and England at Wankhede Stadium on March 05, 2026 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)

He was within striking distance of scoring back-to-back hundreds for the side, especially in a World Cup, but he chose to look at the brighter side, valuing the match-winning contribution more than the milestone. The Kolkata run chase forced him to bat a certain way due to the regular fall of wickets, but he realised early that domination would be the key while batting first in the semi-final on an absolute belter of a pitch.From 12 boundaries and four sixes in Kolkata to eight boundaries and seven sixes in Mumbai, the intensity remained the same in both outings. The strike rates were in similar territory, but the approach was dictated by the match situation and what would work best for the team at that moment.“Last match was all about taking the team along. As soon as we built momentum, wickets kept falling in the last game, so I had to finish it off till the last ball. But this game was completely different. When you are batting first in Wankhede, you know that no score is enough here, so I just wanted to capitalise on as many fours and sixes as possible for the team,” explained Samson.

Sanju Samson of India celebrates reaching his half century during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Semi-Final match between India and England at Wankhede Stadium on March 05, 2026 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)

The last time India and England faced each other in a bilateral T20I series, Samson was troubled by Jofra Archer with some short-pitched bowling. But the opener came well prepared to take on the speedster. A stable base and slight alterations to his initial movement have allowed him to get into better positions, and he used the depth of the crease well to avoid being rushed by the extra pace and bounce available early in the innings.In that T20I series, Archer dismissed Samson three times in 23 balls. But Thursday’s contest went the opener’s way as he made the most of an early reprieve off Archer’s bowling to punish the bowler. Thirty-nine runs off just 14 balls, including three boundaries and four sixes, ensured that the highly anticipated battle between the former IPL teammates had a clear winner.“It was definitely playing in my mind. Last time when we played them at home, we played five games against England and Jofra was definitely a very effective bowler at that time. So I had to do some preparation and be a bit clearer in my head about how I was going to face him. I tried to apply that today. He is definitely a world-class bowler.

Sanju Samson of India bats during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Semi-Final match between India and England at Wankhede Stadium on March 05, 2026 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)

“You need to respect what he does and at the same time you need to be confident as well. I was a bit more confident because I had just played a really good innings a couple of days ago. I needed to take that confidence forward and that helped me tackle the bowlers today,” said Samson.Having played over 300 T20 games, Samson has often started conversations about his batting but failed to sustain them due to inconsistency. The decade-long wait for his maiden T20 World Cup appearance ended in unusual circumstances as Abhishek Sharma was unavailable due to illness. However, he is now the rightful owner of the top-of-the-order spot. While some burden is off his shoulders after two back-to-back Man of the Match performances, he remains focused on Sunday’s title clash.“One more match, then I’ll feel very light,” came his response when asked whether he felt relieved after the match-winning innings.

Rohit, who tried to keep his former T20I teammate in good spirits on February 7, would have been a proud man watching the action unfold from the stands on Thursday.“It’s a long tournament,” the former India captain had said on February 7 while hugging Samson, who assured him that he was fine. The smile was a distraction, but the eyes told a story.That story, however, was rewritten within a few weeks and the next video clip of the two talking is now keenly awaited.

England’s Jacob Bethell (ANI Photo)

England’s young batter Jacob Bethell delivered a stunning performance in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi final against the India national cricket team at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. Although England eventually lost the match by seven runs, Bethell’s sensational century turned the chase into a thrilling contest and etched his name in the record books.Fastest 100s in T20 WC (by balls taken)33 – Finn Allen vs SA, Kolkata, 2026 SF45 – Jacob Bethell vs IND, Mumbai WS, 202647 – Chris Gayle vs ENG, Mumbai WS, 201650 – Chris Gayle vs SA, Johannesburg, 200750 – Harry Brook vs PAK, Pallekele, 2026Chasing a massive target of 254, Bethell produced a fearless knock of 105 from just 48 balls. The left hander attacked from the start and kept England in the hunt with a series of powerful strokes. His innings stood out as the highlight of England’s chase as the team finished on 246 for seven.

The century was historic for multiple reasons. Bethell registered the fastest hundred by an England batter in T20 World Cup history. His fifty also came in just 19 balls, which is the joint fastest half century in T20 World Cup knockout matches. Finn Allen had earlier reached the same milestone in 19 balls against South Africa in the first semi final of the tournament.The 19 ball fifty also became the fastest by an England player in T20 World Cups, surpassing the previous record held by Will Jacks, who had reached a half century in 21 balls earlier in the competition against Italy.Despite Bethell’s extraordinary effort, England could not complete the chase. Earlier in the evening, India had posted a massive 253 on the board. Sanju Samson led the charge with a blistering 89 from 42 balls, while Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma also chipped in with quick runs.India’s bowlers held their nerve in the final stages of the chase. Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah delivered a disciplined spell, finishing with figures of 1 for 33.The match also created history with the combined total of 499 runs becoming the second highest match aggregate in men’s T20 internationals. Despite ending on the losing side, Bethell’s record breaking century will be remembered as one of the most explosive knocks of the tournament and the fastest ever by an England batter in a T20 World Cup.

Priyanka Chopra is heading to the Oscars!After taking over the Golden Globes red carpet, the actress is now gearing up to present an award at the upcoming Oscars ceremony on March 15. Reacting to the announcement, Priyanka shared the post on her handle and captioned it as, “The 2026 Academy Awards.”Chopra last presented an award at the Golden Globes, where she was joined by K-Pop superstar Lisa, who made her acting debut with the hit series ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3.

‘Iron Man’ reunion

An ‘Iron Man’ reunion may just be coming to the Oscars with Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. set to present at the show. While it remains unclear if they will share screen-space in the upcoming ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, the two have been listed as presenters for the awards show. In an oficial post on their handle, the Academy executive producers revealed a new batch of presenters Thursday, including Anne Hathaway, Will Arnett and Paul Mescal.

Other stars presenting awards

They join the previously announced group of last year’s best actor winners Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison and supporting actor winners Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldana. The Oscars frequently have the previous year’s winners present Oscar trophies in the acting categories.Over the past weeks, actors including Chris Evans, Javier Bardem, Maya Rudolph, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore and Kumail Nanjiani, were also announced as presenters for the 98th annual Academy Awards.More presenters will be announced ahead of the March 15 ceremony, which will be hosted by Conan O’Brien. The show will air live on ABC beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Pacific.Last year’s show saw Saldana, Madison and Culkin become first-time Oscar winners. Brody won his second best actor trophy, for his role in “The Brutalist.”

Who is nominated for an Oscar this year?

‘Sinners’ is this year’s leading nominee, breaking the record for most nominations by a single film with 16.This year’s nominees for best actress are Jessie Buckley for ‘Hamnet’, Rose Byrne for ‘If I Had Legs I’d Kick You’, Renate Reinsve for ‘Sentimental Value’, Emma Stone for ‘Bugonia’ and Kate Hudson for ‘Song Sung Blue’.The best actor nominees are Timothee Chalamet for ‘Marty Supreme’, Leonardo DiCaprio for ‘One Battle After Another’, Ethan Hawke for ‘Blue Moon’, Michael B. Jordan for ‘Sinners’ and Wagner Moura for ‘The Secret Agent’.In the supporting actor categories, the nominees are Jacob Elordi for ‘Frankenstein’, Sean Penn and Benicio del Toro for ‘One Battle After Another’, Stellan Skarsgard for ‘Sentimental Value’ and Delroy Lindo for ‘Sinners’.The supporting actress nominees are Elle Fanning and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for ‘Sentimental Value’, Amy Madigan for ‘Weapons’, Wunmi Mosaku for ‘Sinners’ and Teyana Taylor for ‘One Battle After Another’.

Who is performing at the show?

The show will feature live performances of best song nominees ‘Golden’, from ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, and ‘I Lied to You’, from ‘Sinners’.