The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been ranked 3rd in the 2026 Global Airpower Rankings released by the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA), behind only the United States and Russia. The ranking marks the fifth consecutive year since 2022 that the IAF has been placed ahead of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which is ranked 4th. Despite the achievement, the report highlights key capability gaps, including a shortage of fighter squadrons and the need for faster modernisation. The findings underline both the IAF's growing strength and the challenges it must address.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the Indian community in New Zealand for preserving India's rich cultural heritage across generations during a community event in Auckland. He said the diaspora has kept Indian traditions alive while strengthening people-to-people ties between India and New Zealand. Modi appreciated cultural performances featuring Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Carnatic and Hindustani classical music, along with a rendition of Vande Mataram. Calling the event a vibrant celebration of India's diversity, he said the Indian diaspora continues to play a key role in promoting the country's culture across the world and deepening the friendship between India and New Zealand.

The BCCI will conduct a detailed review of India's disappointing T20 series defeat against England after the tour concludes. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the assessment will focus on the team's overall performance and future improvements, stressing that the board will not make any knee-jerk decisions. Despite growing criticism following the heavy losses, head coach Gautam Gambhir is not facing any immediate threat to his position. The review will examine the team's preparation, selection, and execution during the series. England sealed their first-ever T20 series win over India, prompting the BCCI to evaluate the team's direction ahead of upcoming international assignments.

Andy Burnham is set to become the United Kingdom's next prime minister after winning the support of 80% of Labour MPs. He secured 322 nominations, far above the 81 needed to enter the party leadership race. Burnham said he was "deeply grateful" for the backing and promised a new approach to politics. He is expected to become Labour leader after nominations close on July 16. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation last month. Burnham has promised to boost economic growth, improve public services and continue Britain's support for NATO, the United States and Ukraine. (PC: Reuters)

A viral audio clip has renewed concerns over racism faced by Indian truck drivers in Australia. The recording, first aired in an ABC investigation, includes abusive and violent remarks targeting Indians. Several drivers said racial abuse has become common on UHF radio channels used by truckers. Some said they now avoid using the radios despite needing them for road safety. Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner linked the problem to growing anti-immigration sentiment. Experts also said there is no official data showing Indian truck drivers are more likely to cause crashes than other drivers in the country.

The Delhi High Court has upheld actor Rajpal Yadav's conviction in a cheque bounce case and sentenced him to three months in jail. The sentence applies to seven cases and will run at the same time. The court also refused to grant him probation. Rajpal Yadav and his wife, Radha Yadav, have been directed to pay compensation to the complainant. The case began after a loan taken to produce the film Ata Pata Laapata was not repaid. The court gave the actor two months to approach a higher court against the judgment.

India made a strong start at the Asian U-23 Athletics Championships by winning five medals on the opening day. The country claimed one gold, one silver and three bronze medals. India won gold in the mixed 4x400m relay through Astik Pradhan, Sandra Mol Sabu, Sethu Mishra and Shravani Sachin Sangle. Bhartpreet Singh won bronze in the men's discus throw. Shivaji Parashuram Madappagoudra took silver and Vinod Singh claimed bronze in the men's 5,000m race. Prachi Devkar added another bronze in the women's 3,000m steeplechase. India has sent 53 athletes to the tournament.

FIFA is facing criticism after giving different punishments to England's Jarell Quansah and United States striker Folarin Balogun. Quansah received a two-match ban after his red card against Mexico and will miss England's World Cup quarter-final. Balogun, sent off for a similar challenge against Bosnia, avoided an immediate suspension after FIFA placed his one-match ban on probation. Former referees questioned the different decisions. "What everyone wants is consistency," former FIFA referee Jonas Eriksson said. FIFA has not explained why it treated the two cases differently. The decisions have sparked debate over fairness and transparency. (PC: Reuters)

At least 12 people have died and 23 are missing after a massive wildfire swept through southern Spain. Officials said four of the victims are believed to be British. The fire broke out near Los Gallardos in the Andalusia region and forced hundreds of people to leave their homes. Emergency teams continued to battle the blaze, which officials described as the region's worst wildfire. "If the wind picks up again, things could get complicated," a local mayor said. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire as search and rescue operations continue in the affected areas.

India's growing demand for GLP-1 weight-loss medicines has led to a rise in misleading products on e-commerce websites. Searches for "GLP-1" on major platforms show patches, powders and capsules that do not contain GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide or tirzepatide. Health experts warned that these products are not approved GLP-1 treatments and may not provide similar results. They said true GLP-1 medicines are prescription drugs and cannot be delivered through patches or drinks. Experts advised buyers to read product labels carefully and avoid confusing marketing terms like "GLP-1 support" or "GLP-1 booster."