Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has won widespread admiration for a heartfelt gesture toward Venezuelan earthquake survivor Andres Milles ahead of Portugal’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash with Spain. Andres, who lost his family in the June 24 earthquake and underwent a leg amputation after being rescued from the rubble, had expressed his dream of owning Ronaldo’s Panini World Cup sticker. After learning of his story, Ronaldo sent a personal video message encouraging the boy’s recovery, invited him to attend one of his matches, and promised to meet him in person. Reports also say Ronaldo is sending Andres a signed Portugal jersey.

Scientists have identified a banyan tree in Bihar’s Munger district as the oldest accurately dated banyan tree known so far, estimating its age at around 700 years through scientific analysis. The discovery represents a significant breakthrough in dating tropical trees, a long-standing challenge because of their complex growth patterns and the absence of clear annual growth rings. Researchers believe the finding could reshape methods for studying ancient tropical trees while strengthening conservation efforts for ecologically and culturally significant heritage sites across South Asia and beyond. The landmark study provides a reliable scientific benchmark for understanding the longevity of banyan trees and highlights the importance of preserving centuries-old natural landmarks for future generations. (PC: X)

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha revealed the heartfelt words Lionel Messi shared after Argentina’s dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory ended Cape Verde’s historic FIFA World Cup debut. Following the match, Messi hugged Vozinha and told him, “You are great. Your people should be proud of you,” praising Cape Verde’s spirited display. Vozinha, who made eight saves, described the exchange as one of the most memorable moments of his career. He thanked Messi, called him “the best,” and requested a jersey swap, which Messi agreed to complete in the tunnel after interviews. Argentina progressed to the Round of 16, while Messi scored his record-extending 20th World Cup goal against determined opponents. (PC: MSN)

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi created history by becoming India's youngest-ever international cricketer after making his T20I debut against England in Manchester at 15 years, 3 months and 7 days. The Bihar batter received his maiden cap from Tilak Varma following an address by head coach Gautam Gambhir. Vaibhav earned promotion after a sensational India A campaign, including a 94 off 29 balls and the fastest List A fifty in 11 deliveries. His debut surpasses Shafali Verma as India's youngest international and overtakes Sachin Tendulkar as the youngest male debutant. He now tops India's youngest T20I debutants list, ahead of Washington Sundar, Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma. (PC: News18)

Australian authorities have launched an investigation after an alleged death threat against Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared on Facebook ahead of his July 7–9 visit to Australia. The threatening comment, posted under a promotional post for the “Melbourne Meets Modi” community event at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on July 9, came from an account using the name “Abu Mustafa.” According to The Australia Today, investigators have identified the IP address linked to the account as part of the probe. The Australian Federal Police has neither confirmed any arrests nor commented on the ongoing investigation. Security agencies are treating the threat seriously and are strengthening arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit. (PC: Pro Kerala)

A purported Snapchat conversation involving murder accused Siya Goyal has surfaced during the investigation into the death of her fiancé, Ketan Agarwal, adding a new twist to the case. According to police, Siya allegedly asked a friend for an Aadhaar card copy to book flight tickets for a “wedding that would never happen,” raising suspicions that the booking was intended to make the wedding preparations appear genuine. Investigators are examining whether the chat was part of a planned cover-up. A court has sent Siya Goyal and co-accused Chetan Chaudhary to 14 days of judicial custody. (PC: NDTV)

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have married in a lavish ceremony at Madison Square Garden, attended by more than 1,000 guests from entertainment and sports. Actor Adam Sandler officiated the ceremony, while Swift's brother Austin served as Man of Honor and Kelce's brother Jason was Best Man. The couple wore custom Christian Dior outfits, marking the culmination of their high-profile romance that began in 2023. The wedding also included a major charitable donation to U.S. food charities, adding a philanthropic touch to the celebrations. (PC: The Hindu)

The Gauhati High Court upheld a tribunal's decision declaring a man a foreigner despite his submission of 15 documents, including a PAN card, voter ID and Aadhaar. The court ruled that these documents establish identity or residence but do not conclusively prove Indian citizenship. It observed that citizenship must be established through legally admissible evidence under the relevant laws. The judgment reinforces that identity documents alone are insufficient to determine nationality in disputed citizenship cases and upholds the Foreigners Tribunal's findings. (PC: X)

Bhutan has declined India's offer to import E20 petrol, a fuel blended with 20% ethanol, citing concerns over its existing fuel storage infrastructure. Officials said ethanol absorbs moisture easily, raising the risk of fuel contamination in the country's older underground storage tanks, especially in its mountainous terrain. Bhutan clarified it supports cleaner fuels but requires significant upgrades to storage and distribution systems before adopting ethanol-blended petrol. The country has requested India to continue supplying conventional petrol until the necessary infrastructure is in place, highlighting that infrastructure readiness is essential for a successful transition to cleaner energy. (PC: India Today)

Colombia secured the final place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ghana. Jhon Arias scored the decisive goal in the 14th minute after an assist from Luis Suárez, who came on early following an injury to Jhon Córdoba. Colombia dominated possession and defended resolutely despite missed chances, including a disallowed goal by Luis Díaz. The victory extended Colombia's unbeaten tournament run and set up a Round of 16 clash with Switzerland. (PC: Reuters)