Monthly Archives: September 2026

How Bengaluru’s costly metro, auto, taxi commute adds to peak housing options

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Bengaluru’s expanding Namma Metro network offers commuters a faster and more predictable alternative to the city’s congested roads, but its relatively high cost and limited reach also add to the financial burden on residents.

Compared with Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, Bengaluru has a smaller rail-based commuter network and lacks the extensive suburban railway systems that allow workers in those cities to live much farther from employment centres while keeping commuting costs relatively low.

For a commuter travelling about 15 km one way by Namma Metro, including an estimated cost for first- and last-mile connectivity, the monthly expense is around ₹3,520 for 22 working days. For someone earning ₹20,000 a month, that amounts to nearly 18% of monthly income. At a salary of ₹50,000, the same commute would account for about 7%.

Bengaluru has a smaller rail catchment

The difference becomes more pronounced when the distance between homes and employment centres is considered.

Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai have long-established suburban rail networks that extend well beyond their core urban areas. Workers can live 50 km or more from central business districts and still commute by rail. Delhi’s extensive Metro network also connects the city with major parts of the National Capital Region.

Bengaluru’s rail network, by comparison, currently provides a much smaller practical commuter catchment. The metro connects areas such as Whitefield, Kengeri and Madavara with the city, but the rail-accessible distance from the core remains considerably shorter.

This has implications for housing. In cities with extensive suburban rail, workers can move farther from expensive central areas and still reach employment hubs at relatively low transport costs. Bengaluru’s smaller rail network gives commuters fewer such options.

Metro offers reliability, but at a premium

A comparison of monthly rail-based commuting costs for a 15-km one-way journey puts Bengaluru at roughly ₹3,520, compared with about ₹2,772 in Delhi, ₹2,200 in Chennai, ₹1,980 in Mumbai and ₹1,760 in Kolkata. The figures include assumptions about working days and last-mile connectivity and are therefore indicative rather than universal household expenses.

The underlying difference is partly historical. Mumbai and Kolkata inherited extensive suburban railway networks built decades before their modern metro systems. Chennai also has a long-established suburban rail network. These systems carry large numbers of passengers over long distances at comparatively low fares.

Bengaluru’s mass-transit infrastructure developed later and has relied heavily on Namma Metro. While the metro can provide more predictable journey times in a city known for severe road congestion, commuters bear a larger share of the cost through metro fares and connecting transport.

Road-based alternatives can be substantially more expensive. A 15-km daily commute by autorickshaw can cost more than ₹14,000 a month, according to the analysis, while app-based cabs and other road options also carry higher costs. A private car may cost around ₹6,000 a month when fuel, maintenance, depreciation, parking and other expenses are taken into account.

The comparison highlights a central trade-off for Bengaluru commuters: Namma Metro may not offer the lowest commuting cost among major Indian cities, but it provides greater predictability in a city where road congestion can make travel times highly uncertain.

Dubai declares 10-day mourning after death of Ruler’s brother Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid at 76

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Dubai has declared 10 days of official mourning following the death of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, younger brother of UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Ahmed, 76, died on Monday, September 21, according to the Dubai Ruler’s Court. Flags across the emirate will be flown at half-mast throughout the mourning period.

Sheikh Mohammed paid tribute to his brother in a message on social media, praying for his soul and offering condolences to his family.

Sheikh Ahmed’s military and public service

Born in 1950, Sheikh Ahmed was the youngest son of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the former Ruler of Dubai.

He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK and later joined Dubai’s Central Military Command, eventually becoming its commander-in-chief. He subsequently served as Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police and Public Security.

Beyond his military and security roles, Sheikh Ahmed was involved in business, real estate and sport. He served as Group Chairman of ARM Holding and was associated with the Dubai Real Estate Centre.

Long association with Al Wasl and horse racing

Sheikh Ahmed was closely associated with Al Wasl Sports Club and served as its president for decades. He was among the figures involved in the club’s formation in 1960, and under his long leadership Al Wasl became one of the UAE’s prominent sporting institutions.

He was also involved in Dubai’s horse-racing sector and helped establish Jebel Ali Racecourse and the Dubai Racing Club.

The UAE leadership and other officials offered condolences to Sheikh Mohammed and the Al Maktoum family following Sheikh Ahmed’s death. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed condolences, describing Sheikh Ahmed’s contributions to society as something that would be remembered.

Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar claims state will be split into four

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Uttar Pradesh Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar has claimed that the state will eventually be divided into four parts, with a separate Purvanchal state having a Chief Minister from the Rajbhar community.

Addressing a public meeting in Ambedkarnagar on Sunday, Rajbhar said the proposed four regions would be Purvanchal, Madhyanchal, Bundelkhand and Harit Pradesh.

“In the coming days, the state is going to be divided into four parts. The day a separate Purvanchal state is created, the first Chief Minister will be a son of the Rajbhar community,” he said.

Rajbhar also referred to what he described as a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He claimed that the division of Uttar Pradesh could be taken up after the completion of the caste census.

Rajbhar links state division to caste census

Rajbhar said he had discussed the issue of sub-categorisation within the 27 per cent OBC reservation quota with the Prime Minister.

“Once the caste census is completed, there will be no problem in carrying out the division. We will divide the state after the caste census. This is what the Prime Minister of the country said,” Rajbhar claimed.

There has been no corresponding announcement from the Centre or the BJP confirming a plan to divide Uttar Pradesh into four states. Rajbhar’s remarks therefore represent his stated position rather than an announced government decision.

Demand for smaller states has a long history

The demand for dividing Uttar Pradesh has been raised several times, with proponents citing the state’s size and regional administrative concerns.

In 2011, the Mayawati-led BSP government passed a resolution in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly proposing that the state be divided into four regions. The proposal did not progress at the Centre.

Rajbhar’s latest comments come ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and have brought the long-standing debate over the state’s reorganisation back into focus.

White House Launches ‘Trump TV’ As Media Fight With CNN, Politico Escalates

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The White House has launched a 24/7 streaming service called “TRUMP TV: The Essentials Station”, giving viewers direct access to President Donald Trump’s speeches, administration announcements and other official footage as his administration faces a growing dispute with major US news organisations.

The digital channel went live on Monday evening on the White House’s YouTube platform, hours after CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a federal lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision to block their reporters from White House access. The White House says the new service will bring the administration’s “biggest moments” together in one place and update the feed in real time.

The launch comes as the traditional White House television pool has effectively been disrupted. ABC, CBS, Fox News, NBC and CNN had shared responsibility for providing video coverage of presidential events, but the four networks other than CNN suspended their participation after CNN was removed from a scheduled pool assignment.

Trump TV follows ban on three news outlets

Trump announced last week that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, accusing the organisations of publishing what he called “FAKE NEWS”. Their reporters were subsequently denied entry and had their press credentials confiscated.

The three organisations have challenged the restrictions in federal court, arguing that the administration violated First Amendment protections by restricting their access in response to their reporting. The White House has defended its position, arguing that press organisations do not have an automatic right to special access to the White House.

The dispute has now affected the traditional system through which television networks collectively provide footage of the president. The White House has its own video operation and can distribute footage directly, making the new streaming service particularly significant at a time when independent television coverage of presidential events is being disrupted.

White House builds direct-to-viewer media channel

The Trump TV feed includes recent announcements, presidential remarks and footage from earlier Trump appearances. The first programming included footage from Trump’s July appearance at Mount Rushmore and his 2025 inauguration.

The White House has presented the platform as a way for Americans to see presidential events and administration material that may not receive television airtime. Deputy Assistant to the President Kaelan Dorr described it as a livestream of the administration’s “greatest hits, unfiltered”, according to reports.

The development marks a further shift toward the White House communicating directly with audiences through its own digital channels rather than relying entirely on traditional news organisations to distribute presidential footage.

That shift is unfolding alongside an unresolved legal battle over press access. CNN, MS NOW and Politico are seeking to restore their access, while the administration maintains that the outlets can continue reporting on the president even without the access it previously provided.

The immediate significance of Trump TV, therefore, extends beyond the launch of another streaming feed. It gives the White House a direct distribution channel at a moment when the administration’s relationship with several major news organisations has entered a new and legally contested phase.

Reuters/Ipsos figures show Trump’s approval rate falling to 32% from Jan 25 rating of 47%

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President Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen to 32%, the lowest level of his political career, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. The figure marks a 15-point decline from the 47% approval recorded shortly after his second inauguration in January 2025, with economic concerns and the war with Iran emerging as major issues in the latest survey.

Approval Erodes From Second-Inauguration High

The latest reading extends a broader decline in Trump’s approval rating over the past 18 months, despite brief periods of recovery. The Reuters/Ipsos figures show his approval moving as follows:

  • January 2025: 47% shortly after his second inauguration
  • March 2026: 36%
  • August 2026: 33%, matching his previous first-term low
  • September 14, 2026: 35%
  • September 21, 2026: 32%

At 32%, Trump’s current approval rating is three points below former President Joe Biden’s lowest Reuters/Ipsos rating of 35%, recorded in October 2024.

The latest decline also extends to Trump’s Republican base. His approval among Republicans fell from 82% to 73% in a week, according to the poll.

Cost of Living Emerges as Key Pressure Point

Economic concerns are particularly pronounced in the latest survey. Only 17% of Americans approve of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, while even among Republicans, 51% disapprove of his performance on the issue compared with 44% who approve.

The war with Iran is another area where the administration faces weak public support. Just 34% of respondents approve of the US strikes on Iran, while 82% expect the conflict to continue for an extended period. The conflict has also coincided with higher fuel prices, adding to concerns about household costs.

Trump retains substantially stronger support on immigration. Seventy-nine per cent of Republicans approve of his handling of the issue, although approval falls to 36% among Americans overall. His handling of crime receives 35% approval nationally, compared with 50% who disapprove.

The political impact is also visible in the generic congressional ballot. Democratic candidates lead Republican candidates 43% to 35% among respondents, an eight-point gap that represents the largest Democratic advantage recorded by Reuters/Ipsos this year.

The poll does not establish that economic concerns or the Iran conflict alone are responsible for the shift in voting preferences. It does, however, show that Trump’s overall approval has declined alongside weak ratings on several issues that are central to his second-term agenda, while Democratic candidates currently hold an eight-point advantage on the generic congressional ballot.

California Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Historic El Niño Season

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California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide state of emergency as forecasters warn that a strengthening El Niño could bring severe winter storms, flooding and coastal damage to the US state.

The proclamation, issued on Monday, will allow state agencies to accelerate preparations, mobilise resources and protect communities ahead of potentially intense weather conditions. Forecasters expect the developing El Niño to become very strong and possibly the strongest on record, according to the governor’s office.

The emergency measures direct agencies to prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stockpile supplies and help local authorities reduce the risks of flooding, landslides, debris flows and coastal hazards. The California National Guard may also support flood response, search-and-rescue operations, engineering and logistics if required.

State prepares for severe winter weather

El Niño is a natural climate pattern caused by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific. It can alter global weather patterns and increase the likelihood of wetter and more intense winters in California.

The governor’s office said the state could face repeated rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, mountain snow, large waves, coastal flooding, power outages and damage to roads and homes. Coastal areas could be particularly vulnerable when storms coincide with high tides.
State agencies have been instructed to position flood-fighting equipment, including sandbags and pumps, while transportation officials prepare traffic-control, road-closure and snow-removal equipment along vulnerable routes. Environmental agencies will also work with local authorities to speed up flood-protection and landslide-prevention measures.

“We are preparing for this El Niño early because every Californian deserves to be safe in their home, connected to their community, and protected when severe weather comes,” Newsom said.

Officials have urged residents to sign up for emergency alerts, assess their flood risk, clear drains and gutters, prepare emergency supplies and make evacuation plans. They also warned people never to drive through floodwater because roads may be deeper, faster-moving or damaged beneath the surface.
El Niño poses wider economic risks

The warning comes as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, or ECLAC, cautions that an extreme El Niño could cause losses equivalent to at least 2 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product and push an additional 4.8 million people into poverty.

In a report titled The Effects of El Niño in Latin America and the Caribbean and Recommendations for Addressing It, the Santiago-based agency said a high-intensity event could affect energy, agriculture, fisheries and infrastructure.

ECLAC Executive Secretary Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs warned of “severe economic and social repercussions” if the climate pattern reaches high intensity. The agency said the largest economic losses would probably occur during the first year, although the effects could continue for several years.

Declining household incomes could also increase poverty levels towards the end of the decade, ECLAC said.

While El Niño does not guarantee a particular storm or a uniformly wet winter, officials say the developing event raises the risk of dangerous weather across California and other parts of the Americas.