News without the noise · Bengaluru Edition
Thursday, March 26, 2026 · 118 stories
A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has identified significant flaws and lapses in key revenue-generating departments in Karnataka, resulting in the loss of crores in tax revenue. The findings highlight systemic issues affecting state finances, which could impact public funding for services and infrastructure in Bengaluru.
An 84-year-old man with dementia who went missing from Veerannapalya on February 19 was located by Bengaluru police after a 25-day search operation. He was found injured in Bannerghatta after being hit by a two-wheeler and was identified through hospital records, leading to his reunion with family.
A 36-year-old woman and her younger brother were fatally stabbed in Bengaluru's Peenya police station limits following a dispute over an alleged illicit relationship. The 16-year-old accused, who is the son of the woman allegedly involved with the victims' relative, remains at large as police investigate the murder case registered against three individuals.
A shortage of commercial LPG cylinders in Karnataka, linked to supply constraints from the West Asia crisis, has forced hotels, households, and animal shelters in districts like Shivamogga, Kodagu, and Mysuru to switch to firewood for cooking. This has created a parallel informal firewood market with rising prices, including online sales via WhatsApp groups, while timber depots report doubled daily sales. The situation has particularly impacted the hospitality sector, with some establishments facing closure or resorting to black-market LPG cylinders priced at ₹6,000–₹7,000.
The central government has increased LPG cylinder prices in Bengaluru to ₹915.50 for domestic and ₹1,958 for commercial cylinders due to supply disruptions from the West Asia conflict. Households in areas with piped natural gas availability must switch within three months or face LPG supply discontinuation, while commercial usage is being curtailed by at least half. Officials assure adequate LPG availability and advise against panic booking, maintaining existing refill booking timelines of 25 days in urban areas.
In Karnataka's upcoming bypolls, 16 candidates withdrew nominations before Thursday's deadline, leaving 34 candidates across two constituencies. The contests include two Congress rebel candidates, one of whom was expelled from the party for derogatory remarks against leadership. Polling is scheduled for April 9 in Bagalkot and Davangere South constituencies.
The Air Canada CEO apologized for delivering an English-only condolence message after a fatal crash, following criticism from politicians and public figures. The apology addressed concerns that his lack of French overshadowed the grief of affected families.
The United States conducted its 47th attack on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, killing four people and bringing the total fatalities in Operation Southern Spear to approximately 163. Legal experts and human rights officials have criticized the campaign as extrajudicial killings, with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights holding a hearing to address human rights implications.
A Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google liable for damages in a civil trial over youth social media addiction, awarding $6 million total. The jury determined both companies were negligent in designing their platforms and failing to warn users about dangers, with Meta responsible for 70% of damages. The case involved a plaintiff who testified that using YouTube and Instagram from childhood exacerbated mental health issues including depression and body dysmorphia.
Two Indian Premier League cricket teams were sold to U.S.-backed consortia in separate billion-dollar deals on the same day. The Rajasthan Royals sold for $1.63 billion, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru sold for $1.78 billion, marking record valuations for IPL franchises.
Unlisted shares of Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd surged to record highs following billion-dollar sales of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals franchises, which triggered a valuation re-rating across the Indian Premier League ecosystem. The RCB deal established a new benchmark for IPL franchise valuations, with investors seeking to capitalize on the price gap between existing market caps and new transaction benchmarks.
A consortium of US-based investors has acquired the Rajasthan Royals cricket franchise for US $1.635 billion. The purchase includes ownership of all Royals-branded teams, such as the Paarl Royals in SA20 and Barbados Royals in CPL.