The Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district has declared a public holiday on August 17 in observance of the Nagara Panchami festival. This holiday applies to all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, as well as government offices across the district, according to an official notification from the DC office. https://www.prajavani.net/district/dakshina-kannada/nagarapanchami-dakshina-kannada-district-holiday-announcement-4199948

High blood pressure is no longer limited to the elderly and is increasingly affecting youth. While high salt intake and genetics are known causes, experts warn that sedentary lifestyles, lack of sleep, mental stress, obesity, smoking, and alcohol are major contributors. Often called a 'silent killer' due to its lack of symptoms, hypertension can damage the heart, brain, and kidneys. Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, and monitoring sodium in packaged foods are essential for control. Regular medical check-ups are advised even in the absence of symptoms. http://zeenews.india.com/kannada/health/high-blood-pressure-warning-not-just-salt-or-family-history-these-daily-habits-can-raise-your-bp-risk-393694

Renowned astrologer Chirag Daruwalla provides the daily numerology forecast for numbers 1 to 9. The report highlights that people born under numbers 1, 3, 5, and 9 will experience financial gains and success in their ventures. Conversely, individuals with numbers 4, 7, and 8 are advised to be cautious with their investments and control their temperament to avoid conflicts. The predictions cover aspects of career, health, finance, and family relationships for the day. https://kannada.news18.com/photogallery/astrology/success-day-for-two-numbers-daily-numerology-16-august-2026-ganesha-grace-by-chirag-daruwalla-avh-2468855.html

The Karnataka cabinet has approved 'Sandhya Kiran', a new contributory cashless health insurance scheme for retired government employees under 70 years of age. The scheme provides coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary healthcare. Around 4.93 lakh beneficiaries, including dependents, are expected to benefit. Retired employees will contribute 1.25% of their basic pension, while the state government will cover 30% of the treatment costs. Additionally, the government is considering extending free treatment facilities to APL cardholders in government hospitals. https://kannada.timesnownews.com/news/sandhya-kiran-scheme-karnataka-over-3-lakh-pensioners-to-benefit-from-new-healthcare-plan-article-155609941

Minister Priyank Kharge has made a surprising statement regarding the recent encounter of hunters in Chamarajanagar. His remarks have sparked curiosity and discussion within political circles concerning the investigation and the circumstances of the incident. https://kannada.news18.com/videos/chamarajanagar/priyank-kharge-on-chamarajanagar-encounter-case-psp-2470295.html

India's 80th Independence Day celebration in New York, held alongside the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, set a Guinness World Record. The event featured a display of over 1,300 American flags surrounded by Indian tricolors to form the number '250'. Organized by the Federation of Indian Associations and supported by Zoho, the event at Veterans Memorial Park in Parsippany highlighted the strong bilateral ties and the diaspora's role in bridge-building between the two nations. https://www.prajavani.net/news/world-news/new-york-india-independence-day-guinness-world-record-4199045

On the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, Deputy CM and Tumakuru District In-charge Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara hoisted the national flag at Mahatma Gandhi District Stadium. He highlighted the success of the state government's five guarantee schemes. Under Anna Bhagya, 22.25 lakh beneficiaries in the district were supported, while 23.52 crore women traveled for free under the Shakti scheme. Additionally, 6.19 lakh women received benefits under Gruha Lakshmi, and 8 lakh households benefited from the Gruha Jyothi free electricity scheme, involving a total expenditure of hundreds of crores for regional welfare. https://www.varthabharati.in/tumkur/tumakur-2268192

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Independence Day speech at the Red Fort, highlighted India's massive progress in the energy and infrastructure sectors over the last decade. He noted that piped gas expanded from 70 to 700 cities, and solar capacity jumped from 2 GW to 160 GW. Under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, 50 lakh homes adopted solar power. Additionally, 70% of railway electrification was completed in the last 10 years, and India has launched its first hydrogen-powered train, marking a new era in sustainable energy. https://tv9kannada.com/videos/pm-modis-independence-day-address-indias-progress-in-energy-and-infrastructure-1225439.html

Bollywood actor R. Madhavan shared a video on Instagram discussing parenting and children's learning. He highlighted Prof. Sugata Mitra's 1999 'Hole in the Wall' experiment, where slum children in Delhi taught themselves to use computers without formal instruction. Madhavan advised parents to stop rushing to answer every question, instead providing tools and encouragement so children can learn through exploration and their own mistakes. https://www.prajavani.net/entertainment/cinema/r-madhavan-shares-sugata-mitra-experiment-on-child-learning-4199193

The movie 'The Lady Killer', starring Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar, has become one of the biggest flops in Indian cinema history. Produced with a budget of 45 crore rupees, the film managed to collect only 60,000 rupees at the box office. Director Ajay Bahl stated that due to budget constraints, half of the screenplay including the climax was not filmed, leading to its release in an incomplete state. Furthermore, no major OTT platform purchased its digital rights, forcing the producers to release it for free on YouTube. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/cinema/bollywood/2026/Aug/14/biggest-flop-movie-in-indian-cinema-history-with-45-crore-budget-earned-only-60000-at-box-office