The Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, was presented in the Assembly on December 12. The bill sets penalties and jail terms for hate crimes. The BJP and other opposition members strongly opposed it, shouting “no” when consent to table the bill was requested by Speaker U.T. Khader. Home Minister G. Parameshwara introduced the bill to stop hate speech and crimes that spread hatred or disharmony against any person or group. In Bengaluru, Uber has made metro rides easier. From December 10, Namma Metro passengers can buy tickets directly through the Uber app using QR codes. This new feature uses the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and allows UPI payments. It also shows real-time metro info. This service is already live in Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Uber also started Uber Direct, a B2B logistics service on ONDC’s network. Union Minister Jitin Prasada revealed on December 9 that India’s arecanut imports from Least Developed Exporting Countries (LDECs) dropped from 32,238 tonnes in 2022-23 to 21,160 tonnes in 2024-25. This fall happened after the Minimum Import Price rose from ₹251 to ₹351 per kg in February 2023. The arecanut imported from LDECs like Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan now makes up only about 1.5% of India’s domestic production of 14 lakh tonnes.