India has urged Bangladesh to reconsider demolishing the ancestral home of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh. Built by his grandfather, Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury, the house symbolizes the shared cultural heritage of India and Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed regret over the demolition and offered assistance for restoration, suggesting it could be converted into a museum. Local residents and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have also voiced strong opposition. The century-old building had been abandoned for years. Bangladesh authorities plan to replace it with a semi-concrete structure for academic activities. (PC: India Today)

The UK government secretly relocated 4,500 Afghans after a 2022 data breach exposed nearly 19,000 individuals at risk from the Taliban. The leak, involving names and contact details, came from an MoD official’s mistake and was only discovered when details appeared on Facebook in 2023. A secret resettlement scheme costing £400 million was launched but kept under a super-injunction until lifted by a High Court judge this week. Defence Secretary John Healey issued a public apology. The scheme is now closing, but relocation offers already made will be honoured. Hundreds remain stranded in Afghanistan despite the breach. (PC: BBC)

India’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar said he helped postpone Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya’s execution in Yemen through discussions with Islamic scholars. “Islam has a law allowing the victim’s family to pardon a murderer,” he said. Priya’s July 16 execution was deferred after Yemeni scholars, contacted by the Mufti, agreed to mediate with the victim’s family. The Mufti also informed India’s central government and PMO of these efforts. Priya was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her Yemeni business partner. The postponement offers more time for negotiations towards a possible pardon under Islamic law. (PC: HT)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has nominated Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as Ukraine’s new prime minister in the most significant government reshuffle since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Svyrydenko, 39, gained prominence through high-stakes negotiations with the US over rare minerals. If approved, she will replace Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s longest-serving PM since independence. Zelenskyy said, “I have proposed Yulia Svyrydenko to lead the government and renew its work.” Shmyhal is set to become defence minister. Analysts say the move aims to refresh Ukraine’s leadership amid war fatigue and strengthen its economy and defence ties with key allies, especially the United States. (PC: Al Jazeera)

Air India will gradually restore its international flights after scaling back operations following the June 12 Boeing 787 crash that killed 260 people. From August 1, select routes like Delhi-Zurich, Delhi-Tokyo Haneda, and Delhi-Seoul Incheon will resume increased frequencies. Full operations are planned from October 1. The “safety pause” allowed precautionary checks on Boeing 787 aircraft amid airspace issues. Some routes like Bengaluru-London and Delhi-Nairobi will remain reduced or suspended until September 30. Air India will operate 525+ international flights weekly across 63 routes, contacting affected passengers for rebooking or refunds. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump asked Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy if Kyiv could strike Moscow using US weapons, a new report says. The question came during a phone call on July 4, just one day after Trump spoke with Russian President Putin. Trump was said to be unhappy with Putin's response and later pushed Ukraine to act. He also talked about sending long-range missiles and Patriot systems to Ukraine. Trump warned Russia of strong tariffs if no peace deal is reached in 50 days. He said billions in US weapons will soon go to NATO allies and some may head to Ukraine. (PC: India Today)

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would “cope with new sanctions” after Donald Trump threatened 100% tariffs if Russia fails to agree to a Ukraine peace deal within 50 days. Lavrov questioned Trump’s motives during a press conference in China, saying, “We want to understand what the US President is moved by.” Earlier, Russian officials called Trump’s ultimatum “unacceptable.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Trump’s remarks “personally concern” President Vladimir Putin. Trump warned of “very severe” secondary tariffs, accusing Russia of prolonging the war. Russia said it needs time to analyze Washington’s latest threats. (PC: HT)

US President Donald Trump has announced a major arms deal for Ukraine, pledging billions in weapons including Patriot air defence systems, funded by NATO allies. Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump warned Russia of “very severe tariffs” within 50 days if President Putin refuses to sign a peace deal. Trump expressed frustration over Putin’s evasiveness, citing ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities. Rutte praised the move, calling it a game-changer for Ukraine’s defence. The Kremlin responded coolly, while Russian society expressed disappointment over Trump’s shift. Ukrainians cautiously welcomed the support, hoping it signals stronger US commitment amid relentless missile and drone strikes. (PC: BBC & KESQ)

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom-4 crew are set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off California at 3:01 pm IST today. Their SpaceX Dragon capsule undocked from the ISS on Monday at 4:45 pm IST. Axiom Space confirmed live coverage of the splashdown will begin at 2 pm IST. Shukla completed seven microgravity experiments during the mission, marking a milestone for India. His parents expressed hope for a safe landing. Union minister Jitendra Singh said India eagerly awaits his return. The mission launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on June 25 and conducted over 60 studies. (PC: HT)

The UK will resume processing Syrian asylum claims, ending a 7-month pause imposed after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Asylum Minister Dame Angela Eagle said the Home Office had updated guidance and would now assess claims case-by-case. More than 7,000 Syrians have been in limbo during this period. Ministers hope forced returns could begin this year. Campaigners warn Syria remains unsafe for many. The UK’s updated policy says security risks alone don’t justify asylum. The move follows Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s visit to Syria, the first by a UK minister since the 2011 uprising began. (PC: BBC)