India successfully completed the maiden flight test of 'Divyastra Mk3', its first indigenous jet-powered loitering munition. Developed by Kawa UAV Pvt. Ltd. (HoverIt) within one year, it uses a home-grown jet engine by DG Propulsion. Simultaneously, DRDO completed tests for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the teams, hailing it as a major milestone for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in defense. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/nation/2026/Aug/16/kawa-uav-successfully-conducts-maiden-flight-of-jet-powered-divyastra-mk3-loitering-munition-sources

Minister U.T. Khader praised Dr. Veerendra Heggade, stating that the rural development projects initiated by Dharmasthala have enabled women in coastal regions to lead self-reliant lives. Speaking at a convention in Farangipete, Bantwal, he emphasized the importance of children's education and health. The event marked the inauguration of new office bearers for self-help groups and honored achievers under the SKDRDP initiative. https://www.varthabharati.in/DakshinaKannada/--2268516

Following a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake on August 10, Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella requested US President Donald Trump to temporarily suspend import tariffs on Colombian products. The tariffs had recently increased from 10% to 12.5% in late July. During a 10-minute call, Trump expressed condolences for the loss of life, while Espriella sought economic relief for the disaster-stricken nation, specifically targeting tariffs on goods excluding coffee and oil. https://www.varthabharati.in/international/colombian-president-appeals-to-trump-to-halt-tariffs-in-the-wake-of-the-earthquake-2268521

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has questioned the legal status of the RSS. Responding to BJP leader BL Santhosh, Kharge asked under which law the organization exists and who owns its assets. He raised concerns regarding the management of its bank accounts, the framework for accepting donations, and the lack of audited financial statements. Kharge questioned why the organization, which claims to shape India's future, hesitates to establish clear public accountability. https://www.varthabharati.in/state/priyank-kharge-2268519

On Day 2 of the first Test against Sri Lanka, India reached 460/9 despite rain interruptions. Devdutt Padikkal starred with a magnificent 167, becoming the second Indian left-hander in the 21st century to score a Test century at No.3. KL Rahul contributed 82 runs, while Dhruv Jurel added 51. Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya took 4 wickets. Only 43 overs were bowled in the day due to rain, during which India added 172 runs. https://kannada.asianetnews.com/cricket-sports/ind-vs-sl-1st-test-day-2-highlights-india-460-9-at-the-end-of-day-2-gkn/articleshow-x6sx9f5

During Independence Day celebrations in Son Guradia village, Indore, two students fell ill after consuming laddoos containing worms. An 8-year-old girl noticed the infestation and alerted others, leading to an immediate halt in distribution. Authorities have sealed the sweet shop that supplied the laddoos and sent samples for testing. A video of the contaminated sweets has gone viral on social media, prompting a formal investigation into the preparation and supply chain. https://www.varthabharati.in/National/madhya-pradesh-worms-found-in-laddus-distributed-during-independence-day-celebrations-two-students-fell-ill-shop-sealed-2268517

Smartphones do not have a printed expiry date, but their longevity depends on software updates, battery health, and hardware performance. Typically, a phone lasts 3 to 5 years, while flagship models like Apple, Samsung, and Google Pixel offer support for up to 7 years. Key signs that it's time to change include the cessation of security updates, rapid battery drain, frequent app crashes, and system lagging. Security is compromised once the manufacturer stops providing patches. https://kannada.news18.com/photogallery/tech-trend/does-a-smartphone-have-an-expiry-date-here-is-the-information-ssr-ws-l-2470986.html

Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz created history by becoming the first Asian spinner to score a half-century and take a five-wicket haul in a single Test match on Australian soil. During Bangladesh's historic Test win against Australia in Darwin, Mehidy scored 65 runs in the first innings and took 5/66 in the second. He also reached the milestone of 100 wickets and 1000 runs in the World Test Championship (WTC). While Asian pacers like Kapil Dev and Wasim Akram have achieved similar feats in Australia, Mehidy is the first spinner from the continent to do so. https://kannada.news18.com/news/sports/in-australia-mehidy-hasan-miraz-becomes-1st-asian-spinner-with-50-and-5-wicket-haul-mbr-ws-b-2471008.html

Food safety officials conducted a raid at a McDonald's outlet in a mall on K.S. Rao Road, Mangaluru, following a similar inspection at KFC. During the raid led by Dr. Praveen, officials inspected the kitchen, storage, and food items like bread, buns, and sauces. While no expired products were found, it was discovered that vegetarian and non-vegetarian items were stored in the same freezer. Samples have been sent to the laboratory for quality testing. This drive, directed by Health Minister U.T. Khader, aims to ensure food safety in hotels and restaurants across the district. https://www.varthabharati.in/dakshinakannada/mangaluru-mcdonalds-food-outlet-raided-by-officials-2268522

Rishab Shetty is set to play Lord Hanuman in Prashanth Varma's upcoming pan-India movie 'Jai Hanuman'. Reports suggest that a top Kannada star might be cast in the pivotal role of Lord Rama after leading Telugu actors were unavailable due to prior commitments. The film, produced by Mythri Movie Makers, also stars Wamiqa Gabbi and is expected to release during Sankranti next year. The project was officially launched in Hampi. https://tv9kannada.com/entertainment/kannada-actor-to-join-rishab-shettys-jai-hanuman-movie-1225943.html