External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated in Rajya Sabha that India and the US have historically differed on Pakistan, emphasizing that this divergence is longstanding and not exclusive to the current government. He recalled being present when the US advocated for General Musharraf and concessions on Kashmir. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s national policy of bilateral dealings and no mediation, adding that “no talks with terror” should also be a national stance. His remarks followed criticism from Rahul Gandhi over US President Trump’s lunch with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir. Jaishankar defended India’s diplomatic approach and reiterated that differences with the US on Pakistan have persisted across administrations. (PC: Mint)

Union Minister Jitendra Singh told the Lok Sabha that the forthcoming NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite—India’s first joint mission with NASA—will be a “game‑changer” in disaster monitoring and response . Once launched on July 30, 2025 from Sriharikota aboard GSLV‑F16, NISAR’s dual‑frequency radars will penetrate fog, cloud, and ice layers to deliver precise Earth‑observation data every 12 days . Singh highlighted applications across landslides, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, aviation, and shipping sectors. Data will be accessible globally—within 1–2 days routinely and within hours during emergencies—enabling faster policy decisions and humanitarian response. (PC: PTI)

A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami waves across the Pacific, prompting evacuations in Hawaii, Japan, Russia, and California. Waves up to 5 feet have already hit Maui and Oahu, with officials warning surges may reach 10 feet. Hawaii Governor Josh Green urged residents to seek higher ground, emphasizing the threat spans the entire island chain. Japan evacuated 1.9 million people; one fatality reported. Russia’s Severo-Kurilsk saw 16-foot waves and declared a state of emergency. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed widespread impact. President Trump urged Hawaiians to act immediately. Tsunami warnings remain active across multiple Pacific nations, with waves arriving every 12 minutes.

A major controversy erupted ahead of the fifth Test at The Oval as India head coach Gautam Gambhir clashed with chief curator Lee Fortis, who restricted Indian players from approaching the pitch. Gambhir responded sharply, questioning Fortis’ authority. Tensions escalated further when a viral 2023 photo surfaced showing Fortis standing on the pitch with England’s coach, exposing alleged double standards in treatment. Ex-cricketer Irfan Pathan criticized the apparent bias, calling it colonial in tone. India’s coaching staff played down the incident, but the issue sparked widespread debate online and in cricketing circles. (PC: NDTV)

In the early hours of July 30, 2025, tsunami waves triggered by a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula reached Northern California, marking the first impact on the continental U.S. Waves up to 1.5 ft were recorded in Crescent City and Arena Cove, while Bay Area gauges detected about 1 ft . A tsunami warning was active for the northern coast from Cape Mendocino to the Oregon border, while the rest of California remained under an advisory . Officials warned of a build-up of waves through high tide and urged residents to avoid beaches, harbours, and low-lying zones for the next several hours. (PC: India Today)

Since late June 2025, Pakistan has been ravaged by a deadly combination of glacial lake outburst floods, cloudbursts, and relentless monsoon rain, claiming at least 293 lives and injuring over 600 people across the country from the Himalayan north to southern plains . Critical infrastructure, homes, roads, and local economies have been severely damaged. Rescue teams evacuated over 500 tourists stranded by a cloudburst, while authorities issued urgent alerts amid forecasts of another impending monsoon spell. Climate vulnerabilities, accelerated glacier melt, and inadequate early warning systems have heightened the scale of devastation. (PC: The Times of India)

As the long-anticipated India–U.S. trade agreement awaits final approval, U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted on a direct call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before signing off, according to informed sources . While the deal's draft is endorsed by both sides—including U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal—it remains pending on Trump’s desk for over a week . The sitting Prime Minister, currently attending India’s monsoon parliamentary session, is expected to coordinate with Washington for this decisive conversation. Following the call, a formal announcement is expected to usher in the agreement. (PC: Reuters)

A magnitude‑8.7 (later revised to 8.8) earthquake struck roughly 125 km southeast of Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky, at a shallow depth of 19 km, marking the strongest in the region since 1952 . The quake generated tsunami waves of 3–5 metres, flooding Severo‑Kurilsk and damaging infrastructure including a kindergarten; several minor injuries were reported in Kamchatka . Tsunami warnings and evacuations were issued across the Pacific—including Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and parts of the U.S. West Coast, Guam, and Micronesia . In Japan, officials forecasted waves up to 3 metres and advised coastal evacuations; no major damage was reported yet . The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of persistent wave activity and issued alerts from California to Chile, underscoring elevated risks across multiple continents 

ISRO will launch the joint NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite on July 30, 2025, using the GSLV-F16 rocket from Sriharikota. Weighing around 2,393 kg, NISAR will be placed in a 743 km Sun-synchronous orbit. This first-of-its-kind collaboration combines NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band radars to capture high-resolution, all-weather images of Earth every 12 days. Designed to monitor changes in land, vegetation, glaciers, and disasters, NISAR represents a major leap in climate and disaster research. After a 90-day calibration phase, it will begin scientific operations, marking a $1.5 billion milestone in Indo-US space cooperation.

19-year-old chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh will be felicitated by the Maharashtra government after making history by winning the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup, becoming the first Indian woman to do so. In a gripping all-Indian final in Georgia, she defeated Koneru Humpy and clinched her Grandmaster title, becoming India’s 88th GM and only the fourth Indian woman to achieve the feat. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde praised her as a symbol of Maharashtra’s sporting spirit. Deshmukh credited her success to intense focus and inspiration from sports films, marking a defining moment for Indian women’s chess on the global stage. (PC: The Hindu)