The legendary television series 'Malgudi Days', directed by the late actor-director Shankar Nag, has completed 40 years. Based on R.K. Narayan's short stories, the series first aired on Doordarshan in 1986. Filmed in Agumbe, Shimoga district, it featured iconic performances by Master Manjunath as Swami and a memorable soundtrack by L. Vaidyanathan. The series remains a cultural milestone in Indian television history. https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/sandalwood/celebrating-40-years-of-malgudi-days-how-shankar-nag-directorial-magic-brought-rk-narayan-world-to-life-in-agumbe-1211989.html

The Muslim Educational Institutions Federation (MEIF) has invited applications for free seats and scholarships from economically backward, talented Muslim students for higher education. The scheme covers MBBS, BDS, Engineering, UPSC, KAS, NIT, IIT, B.Ed, and LLB courses. This opportunity is available for students in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Shimoga, Hassan, and Uttara Kannada districts who are eligible for Zakat. Rank-based selection will be prioritized for those who studied in MEIF or government schools. The last date to apply is July 31. https://www.varthabharati.in/DakshinaKannada/meif-allocate-free-seats-for-higher-education-to-deserving-students-applications-invited-2261529

H.R. Basavarajappa, President of Karnataka State Farmers' Association, has urged the state government to declare Karnataka as drought-hit due to lack of rainfall. He demanded free distribution of seeds and fertilizers for farmers and the resumption of irrigation projects stalled by unpaid electricity bills. Additionally, he criticized the proposal for a high-tech township in Bidadi, advising Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar not to seize fertile lands from small farmers. https://publicnext.com/news/district/shimoga/infrastructure/kn/the-entire-state-should-be-declared-drought-hit-h-r-basavarajappa-demands-1276201

A woman from the Hakki Pikki community in Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, allegedly sold her 20-year-old daughter in Senegal, West Africa, for financial gain. The family had traveled there to sell herbal products. After being subjected to torture, the victim recorded a video describing her plight, which went viral. With the help of the Indian Embassy and local police in Senegal, she has been rescued and is expected to return to India soon. Chikkamagaluru police have registered a case and are investigating the mother. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/karnataka/2026/Jul/18/hakki-pikki-woman-from-karnataka-accused-of-selling-daughter-in-senegal

Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar announced in Delhi that the state government is committed to conducting Gram Panchayat and GBA elections by December. He noted that the Supreme Court has provided a specific timeframe for these local body polls. Shivakumar emphasized that running local administrations solely through officials instead of elected representatives is not ideal for democracy, confirming that the government is ready for the electoral process. https://publicnext.com/news/national/india/politics/kn/gba-polls-will-be-held-by-december-cm-dk-shivakumar-1276185

The School Education and Literacy Department has directed government schools located in interior areas to install information boards on main roads. These boards must include the school's name, village, distance from the main road, and educational motto. The initiative aims to help newcomers and emergency services like ambulances and police reach schools quickly. Maintenance of these boards is mandatory, and they must follow a specific design with a sky-blue background and dark blue lettering to ensure visibility and durability. https://udayavani.com/district-news/directive-issued-installsignboard-school-namemain-road-898238

Rain has finally graced Yadgir district, bringing relief to farmers who were worried about their Kharif crops. While Surapur taluk and other areas received heavy downpours in the evening, some places like Yadgir city and Gurmitkal continue to experience cloudy weather. The rainfall is a significant boost for groundnut, pigeon pea, and green gram crops that were at risk due to the dry spell. https://publicnext.com/news/district/yadgir/nature/kn/varuna-shows-mercy-to-the-people-of-yadgir-1276172

A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Mexico-Guatemala border on Friday, with the epicenter located 48 km southwest of Aquiles Serdan at a depth of 15 km. Tremors were felt from Mexico City to El Salvador. While no immediate casualties or major damages were reported, residents in cities like Tapachula fled buildings in panic. Authorities are currently monitoring coastal areas for potential tsunami threats near the Suchiate River. https://www.etvbharat.com/kn/international/a-7-dot-3-earthquake-hits-mexico-guatemala-border-with-no-immediate-damage-reported-kas26071800510

The Taluka Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee President, Shivsharanreddy N, has issued a 15-day deadline for a comprehensive investigation into illegal charges collected by ration shop owners in Sedam. During a review meeting, it was alleged that owners are unlawfully collecting 10-20 rupees from Anna Bhagya scheme beneficiaries. Shivsharanreddy warned that licenses of shops found guilty should be canceled. The meeting also addressed concerns regarding overspeeding buses and accidents in the region, urging department officials to ensure transparency and accountability. https://sanjevani.com/collection-of-money-from-beneficiaries-at-ration-shop-taluk-guarantee-committee-chairman-shivasharanareddy-sets-15-day-deadline/

The Karnataka High Court has quashed the FIR registered against Bollywood actor Siddhanth Kapoor in connection with a 2022 rave party drug case in Bengaluru. The case pertains to a police raid conducted in June 2022, where the actor was detained on suspicion of drug consumption. Since no drugs were found in his possession and he was previously released on station bail, the court accepted his petition to quash the charges. Siddhanth, son of veteran actor Shakti Kapoor, had consistently denied all allegations. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/karnataka/2026/Jul/17/karnataka-hc-quashes-fir-against-siddhanth-kapoor-in-2022-bengaluru-drug-case-2