The Times of India News

Karnataka faces a stark reality of child marriages, with thousands of attempted and solemnized unions recorded. Despite its tech image, the issue spans urban and rural areas, driven by tradition, poverty, and safety fears. The government is intensifying efforts with new committees and awareness drives, aiming for zero child marriages.

India is rapidly building a robust semiconductor ecosystem, attracting significant investments and initiating pilot production for advanced chips. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted this progress, emphasizing the nation's ambition to transition from a services-based IT industry to a product-based one. Leveraging its extensive digital infrastructure, including UPI and 5G, India aims for self-reliance in high-performance computing and AI.

Bengaluru police busted a transnational cybercrime syndicate, arresting 21 suspects who impersonated Microsoft support to defraud American and UK citizens. The fraudsters targeted at least 150 victims, extorting an average of $10,000 each by citing fake FTC violations and demanding payment in Bitcoin. Three kingpins remain at large.

Karnataka has introduced a bill to combat hate speech and crimes, proposing up to 10 years in jail and a Rs 1 lakh fine. The legislation empowers authorities to remove harmful online content and aims to foster societal harmony. It defines hate speech as a serious offense, with provisions for victim compensation.

Karnataka government has tabled the Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, aiming to curb dissemination of content causing disharmony. The legislation proposes stringent punishments, including imprisonment up to 7 years and fines, for hate speech and crimes. It also empowers authorities to remove such material from online platforms.

Karnataka government has tabled a new bill in the Assembly to prevent hate speech and hate crimes. The proposed legislation defines hate speech broadly, including expressions causing disharmony or ill-will based on various biases. Penalties range from fines up to Rs 1 lakh and jail terms up to 10 years for offenders.

Bengaluru's tech hub status belies its dangerous streets for pedestrians, with nearly 28% of road fatalities involving walkers. Preventable causes like rash driving and poor infrastructure contribute to over 200 pedestrian deaths annually, a grim trend persisting despite enforcement efforts.

Apartment association office-bearers in Bengaluru highlighted confusion over legal frameworks, incomplete builder handovers, and financial transparency issues at a recent seminar. They called for clearer government guidelines and standardized handover protocols to address governance gaps in the city's housing sector.

A nursing student's gang-rape accusation against a cab driver near Bengaluru's Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal has been debunked. Police found CCTV footage and WhatsApp chats suggesting a consensual encounter. The student reportedly fabricated the story to conceal scratch marks from her boyfriend, admitting to the false claim during questioning. The driver maintains his innocence.

Lucky Ali performs to an adoring crowd in Bengaluru, his hometown; The singer-songwriter paused the concert to help a fan propose to his partner, directing the spotlight onto the couple and serenading them a rendition of O Sanam