The Udupi district administration has declared a public holiday on Monday, August 17th, in observance of the Nagapanchami festival. This holiday applies to all educational institutions, including schools and colleges, as well as government offices throughout the district, as per the official announcement from the Deputy Commissioner's office. https://www.varthabharati.in/udupi/nagara-panchami-holiday-in-udupi-district-on-august-17-2268544

Molakalmuru MLA N.Y. Gopalakrishna stirred controversy by suggesting the taluk should be merged with Andhra Pradesh for better development. During an event in Chitradurga, he expressed frustration over being denied a ministerial post and the lack of industrial growth in the region. However, after the video of his speech went viral, he issued a clarification stating that it was a slip of the tongue while discussing the development of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, and he had no intention of suggesting a merger with another state. https://www.varthabharati.in/chitradurga/mla-gopalakrishna-2268545

At the 36th annual general meeting of the Kuppepadavu Bidi Workers' Association in Bajpe, Federation General Secretary J. Balakrishna Shetty urged workers to prepare for a protest. He highlighted that despite a 2024 government order to increase the minimum wage by 17 rupees, employers have failed to implement it, thereby deceiving the workers. The meeting emphasized the need for collective action to secure rightful benefits. https://www.varthabharati.in/DakshinaKannada/--2268542

Haryana Police have sealed the Punjab-Haryana border at Khanauri to prevent farmers from carrying out their 228-km 'Kisan Bachao Padyatra' towards Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The march, led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), protests a proposed India-US trade deal. Authorities have deployed five-layer barricades and restricted traffic, stating that no permission was granted for the march, leading to high tensions at the border. https://www.varthabharati.in/National/haryana-police-close-khanauri-border-to-stop-farmers-march-to-delhi-2268528

Toyota India has launched the Aero Black Edition for its popular Urban Cruiser Hyryder SUV. Priced at Rs 31,999 as a styling package, it offers a complete Midnight Black exterior theme with blacked-out grill garnish, headlamp surrounds, and tailgate trims. The package is available for G(O) and V grades in both NeoDrive and Strong Hybrid variants. There are no mechanical changes to the 1.5-litre engines. This is a limited-time offer available at dealerships nationwide until stocks last, aimed at customers seeking a premium and aggressive aesthetic for their vehicle. http://zeenews.india.com/kannada/business/toyota-hyryder-aero-black-edition-all-black-avatar-what-makes-this-new-edition-special-394032

The trailer for the highly anticipated movie 'Mirzapur' starring Pankaj Tripathi and Divyenndu has been released. The trailer showcases the intense power struggle and raw action in the city of Mirzapur, highlighting the iconic roles of the lead actors. It has generated significant buzz among fans on social media platforms. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/videos/2026/Aug/16/mirzapur-the-movie-hindi-trailer

Trent Rockets defeated Kavya Maran-owned Sunrisers Leeds by 8 wickets to win the 2026 Women's The Hundred final at Lord's. Sunrisers were bowled out for a meager 91 runs due to a batting collapse. Trent Rockets chased down the target in just 54 balls, losing only 2 wickets. Sophia Dunkley scored 41 runs while Beth Mooney remained unbeaten on 31 to secure the victory for the Rockets. https://tv9kannada.com/sports/cricket-news/the-hundred-womens-final-2026-trent-rockets-vs-sunrisers-leeds-lords-results-1225955.html

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar visited Bihar and praised its democratic process, stating that voter turnout in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections surpassed that of major nations like the USA, UK, and Japan. He highlighted that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and voter list digitization model originated in Bihar. During his visit, he will interact with booth-level officers at Nalanda University and inaugurate the Electoral Literacy Club 2.0 and the 'ECINET' digital ecosystem in Patna. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/nation/2026/Aug/16/sir-contributed-to-record-bihar-poll-turnout-says-cec-gyanesh-kumar

The Indian women's hockey team played out a 2-2 draw against China in their World Cup match in Amstelveen. Navneet Kaur and Deepika scored for India, giving them a 2-1 lead in the first half. China equalized through penalty strokes and corners. A controversial decision in the final quarter denied India a penalty corner, leading to frustration from coach Sjoerd Marijne. India will face South Africa in their next match on July 18. https://www.prajavani.net/sports/other-sports/india-china-women-hockey-world-cup-draw-4199801

Students in Jharkhand have been protesting for 23 days against alleged irregularities in job recruitment exams. In Ranchi, protesters burnt effigies of CM Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi, and Tejashwi Yadav during a torchlight procession from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Bollywood actress Kunika Sadanand visited the site to support the candidates, including those on a hunger strike. Protesters accused the JMM-Congress government of playing politics with their future and threatened to besiege the CM's residence if their grievances aren't addressed. https://www.prajavani.net/news/india-news/jharkhand-exam-malpractice-students-protest-hemant-soren-effigy-4200024