Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that if the Central Government had not revoked the special status and statehood of J&K in 2019, people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would have sought to merge with India. Speaking at an Independence Day event in Srinagar, he highlighted the turmoil in PoK and defended the decision of his ancestors to join India in 1947. He reiterated his government's commitment to restoring statehood. The BJP criticized his comments as 'irresponsible' and political. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/nation/2026/Aug/15/pok-would-have-joined-jk-if-jammu-and-kashmir-cm-omar-abdullahs-statehood-pitch

Mangalore Forest Mobile Squad officials seized a truck illegally transporting timber in Keyyur, Puttur. The accused, Ismail, was arrested for transporting Kiralu Bhogi logs from Nettaru without permission. The seized truck and timber are valued at approximately 5 lakh rupees. A case has been registered following the operation led by Forest Range Officer Santosh Rai. https://udayavani.com/district-news/keyyur-illegal-timber-transportation-detected-accused-along-with-logs-and-lorry-seized-370245

Vijayalakshmi Darshan, wife of actor Darshan, requested fans to stop chanting 'D-Boss' slogans during a wedding ceremony. She expressed embarrassment and urged fans to maintain decorum and stay calm considering the current situation, as such behavior could cause further trouble for the actor. This advice follows a similar warning from Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar. https://kannada.asianetnews.com/sandalwood/vijayalakshmi-darshan-warns-d-boss-fans-over-slogans-at-wedding-gvd/articleshow-hgtkf3s

Students protesting against alleged recruitment exam scams in Jharkhand have announced plans to burn effigies of CM Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi. Entering their 23rd day of protest, the students claim the JMM-Congress alliance failed to address their demands. They plan to burn effigies across 24 districts and surround the CM's residence on August 20. Protesters have also demanded that Congress withdraw its support for the JMM if their grievances remain unaddressed. https://www.prajavani.net/news/india-news/jharkhand-exam-malpractice-protest-effigy-burning-threat-4199944

The article explains simple scientific methods to test the freshness of eggs at home without breaking them. The 'Water Float Test' is the most reliable: fresh eggs sink and lie flat, while spoiled ones float due to enlarged air pockets. Other methods include the 'Shake Test' to listen for liquid movement, the 'Light Test' using a mobile flashlight to spot dark spots, and the 'Smell Test' to detect sulfur odors. Consuming rotten eggs can lead to food poisoning, vomiting, and stomach pain. https://kannada.asianetnews.com/food/how-to-check-fresh-or-rotten-egg-water-float-test-tips-kannada/articleshow-roii3lf

Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced that 'Nammura Habba – Bengaluru Jatre', a 10-day cultural festival, will be organized in December. Following Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's instructions, the event aims to showcase various arts and cultures from different states, similar to the recent 'Independence Festival' at Vidhana Soudha. The goal is to provide a cultural feast for residents and attract domestic and international tourists to witness the region's rich heritage. https://www.prajavani.net/district/bengaluru-city/bengaluru-jathre-cultural-festival-december-4199991

Bangladesh's victory over Australia has significantly altered the WTC points table, pushing India down to 5th place. To qualify for the WTC Final at The Oval in 2027, India now needs to win at least 7 out of their remaining 9 Test matches against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Australia. Currently, Australia leads the table followed by South Africa and New Zealand, while Bangladesh has surged to the 4th spot. https://kannada.timesnownews.com/sports/how-can-india-qualify-for-the-wtc-final-2027-qualification-scenario-article-155704096

During the first district-level Women's Poetry Conference in Kalaburagi, senior writer Shakuntala Patil Javali demanded better representation for women writers in literary academies. She emphasized that feminist literature is crucial for social progress and called for the preservation of monuments dedicated to women Vachana poets. She also urged the government to establish study chairs for women's literature in universities and provide special recruitment for women under Article 371(J) in the Kalyan Karnataka region. Nine women achievers were honored with the 'Vatsalya Kavya Gaurava' award during the event. https://www.varthabharati.in/kalaburagi/kalaburagi-a-platform-and-representation-in-academies-are-essential-for-women-writers-shakuntala-patil-javali-2268524

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan H.V. has declared a government holiday for all schools, colleges, and government offices in the district on the occasion of the Nagara Panchami festival. The decision follows a request by Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath, who urged the government to grant a holiday as the festival is traditionally significant for families in the district to perform Nagaraadhane at their ancestral roots. https://publicnext.com/news/district/mangalore/education/kn/mangaluru-the-dakshina-kannada-district-district-has-declared-a-public-holiday-on-the-occasion-of-nag-panchami-1284947

Four rare 15th-century paintings by Renaissance master Antonello da Messina were stolen from a regional museum in Sicily, Italy, during the Ferragosto holidays. The thieves bypassed sophisticated security systems to steal panels from the 'San Gregorio Polyptych' (1473) and the 'Pietà'. The museum's director described it as an immense loss to the art world. While the artworks are difficult to sell legally due to their fame, experts suggest they might be used as collateral in criminal activities. Italian authorities are currently investigating the heist, which occurred shortly after other high-value artworks were recovered in separate cases. https://kannada.asianetnews.com/world-news/thieves-bypass-alarms-at-mume-museum-to-steal-priceless-15th-century-art-gdp/articleshow-ou0pbb7