Belthangady police have arrested a 28-year-old rickshaw driver named Shubharaj for allegedly raping a 16-year-old college student. The matter came to light when the girl, experiencing stomach pain, was taken to the hospital by her mother and found to be pregnant. A POCSO case was registered on July 18 following a complaint. The accused was apprehended in Laila village on July 19 and has been remanded to judicial custody by the Mangaluru POCSO court. https://www.varthabharati.in/DakshinaKannada/belthangady-girls-rape-case-accused-subhraj-arrested-2262244

Prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk has been hospitalized by Delhi Police during a protest, placing the leadership responsibility on Abhijit Deepke. As the CJP plans a march to Parliament on the first day of the monsoon session, Deepke faces a major challenge in maintaining the movement's momentum without Sonam. Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, and Arvind Kejriwal have criticized the government's action, calling it undemocratic and an attempt to suppress peaceful protests. https://www.prajavani.net/news/india-news/sonam-wangchuk-hospitalized-delhi-protest-leadership-4133500

Director Duniya Vijay has released the first song 'Kandamma' from his upcoming film 'City Lights'. He praised the lead actor Vinay Rajkumar as 'Bangara' (Gold) for his character and talent. The film marks the debut of Vijay's daughter, Monisha Vijaykumar, as the lead actress. The song is composed by Charan Raj and sung by Sanjith Hegde. Vijay expressed his happiness over the chemistry between the lead pair and shared his appreciation for the Rajkumar family scion's dedication. https://kannada.news18.com/news/entertainment/duniya-vijay-daughter-monisha-vijay-kumar-vinay-rajkumar-city-lights-kandamma-song-release-rvj-dvp-2-2451215.html

Social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for 21 days in Delhi, has laid down conditions to end his protest. He demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak scandal and sought assurances that the issue will be discussed in the upcoming Parliament session. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court dismissed a plea to move him from Safdarjung Hospital to a private facility, stating the government has the right to provide medical care as his health declined. His condition is currently stable under 24-hour observation. https://tv9kannada.com/national/sonam-wangchuk-wife-sets-conditions-to-end-21-day-hunger-strike-and-demands-neet-scam-action-1214136.html

Director Duniya Vijay has released a new song titled 'Kandamma' from his upcoming movie 'City Lights', starring Vinay Rajkumar and Monisha Vijay. During the launch, Vijay shared an anecdote about a playful disagreement he had with his daughter regarding this specific song. The music is composed by Charan Raj with lyrics by Nagarjuna Sharma. Vijay thanked the technical team for their hard work during the press meet. https://tv9kannada.com/videos/duniya-vijay-talks-about-kandamma-song-ft-vinay-rajkumar-monisha-vijaykumar-city-lights-movie-1214561.html

Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar expressed deep condolences over the demise of Chennamma Deve Gowda, wife of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda. He hailed her as the pillar of support behind Deve Gowda's successful political journey, noting her selfless role in managing the family away from the limelight. He prayed for strength for the family to bear this loss. https://newsfirstlive.com/state/bengaluru/chennamma-deve-gowda-death-cm-dk-shivakumar-pays-emotional-tribute-to-hd-deve-gowdas-wife-12177113

The article discusses the rise of radical right-wing theatre in India, which is challenging progressive traditions by infiltrating cultural institutions. It highlights how plays like 'Vibhajanya Vibhishika Tamas' at NSD are being critiqued for distorting humanitarian themes into ideological propaganda. The piece argues that this new form of theatre focuses on spectacle and Hindutva ideology, moving from external censorship to internal control of artistic bodies like the Ministry of Culture and drama schools, posing a significant challenge to the aesthetic and creative ideals of traditional political theatre. https://www.varthabharati.in/nimma-ankana/the-rise-of-radical-right-wing-theatre-in-india-2260923

MESCOM has announced scheduled power outages on July 21 across major parts of Mangaluru and Udupi due to emergency maintenance work. Affected areas include Mangaluru, Mudabidri, Manipal, and surrounding regions with timings ranging from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Additionally, parts of Chikkamagaluru will face power cuts on July 22 for link-line works. Residents are advised to charge electronic devices and plan accordingly. https://kannada.news18.com/news/mangaluru/mescom-mangaluru-udupi-power-cut-today-svl-local18-ws-l-2451785.html

The play 'Adalu Badalu Kanchi Kadalu', written by Lakshmipathi Kolar and directed by Uday Sosale, explores the history of folk memories and marginalized communities. It depicts the metaphorical journey of the indigenous goddess Koravi and her transition into the mainstream religious framework as Maramma. Performed by the 'Ajivika' troupe, the play questions the Sanskritization and Vedic influence on local deities and practices like Daivaradhane in coastal Karnataka. It serves as a creative dialogue between tradition and modernity, urging the audience to rethink their cultural identities. https://www.varthabharati.in/rangadholaginda/unearthing-native-memories-2262323

The Karnataka government has proposed a ban on the sale of junk food in school and hospital canteens to combat rising cases of obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases. Public health experts have welcomed the move, highlighting how aggressive marketing affects children's food choices. Health Minister U.T. Khader announced the proposal to ensure only nutritious food is available within school premises up to class 10. Experts emphasized that alongside the ban, effective implementation of nutrition education and strict food labeling policies are essential for long-term health benefits. https://www.kannadaprabha.com/karnataka/2026/Jul/21/junk-food-ban-in-karnataka-schools-hospitals-a-step-towards-preventive-healthcare-say-experts