Remona Evette Pereira, a final-year BA student from St Aloysius University, Mangaluru, danced Bharatanatyam nonstop for 170 hours, setting a new world record. Her performance lasted from July 21 to July 28 and has been recognised by the Golden Book of World Records. She got only a 15-minute break every three hours. Audiences watched in awe as she danced for seven full days. Remona started learning Bharatanatyam at age three. Her dedication and energy amazed everyone. The event drew crowds from across India, and videos of her dance are now viral online. Many called it a proud moment for Indian classical arts. (PC: Instagram/lucky_photographer_03)

A strong earthquake shook Russia’s far east on Wednesday (30 July), causing panic among sea lions near Antsiferov Island. The quake measured 8.8 in magnitude and hit off the Kamchatka Peninsula. A tourist caught the moment on camera as sea lions quickly jumped into the water for safety. The earthquake triggered tsunami waves up to 16 feet high. People across the Pacific, including in Hawaii, were told to leave coastal areas. Some people were hurt, but no one was seriously injured. So far, there is no major damage reported. It is one of the biggest earthquakes ever recorded.

Israel and families of hostages held in Gaza have strongly criticised the UK’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state in September, calling it “rewarding terrorism.” PM Netanyahu accused UK PM Keir Starmer of appeasing Hamas, while a hostages’ forum warned the move disregards 50 captives still in Gaza. Starmer said recognition depends on Israel agreeing to a ceasefire, allowing aid, and halting annexations. Palestinian leaders welcomed the plan as support for a two-state solution. UK Transport Minister Heidi Alexander defended the policy, calling it “about the Palestinian people,” not Hamas. France has also pledged recognition in September. (PC: BBC)

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh slammed PM Modi after US President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods starting August 1. Ramesh accused Modi of staying silent despite Trump’s repeated claims of halting Operation Sindoor and hosting a Pakistan Army Chief after the Pahalgam terror attack. He mocked the “Howdy Modi” event and said Modi expected favours from the US by ignoring insults. Trump justified the tariffs, accusing India of high trade barriers and close Russia ties. Ramesh urged Modi to follow Indira Gandhi’s example and stand up to US pressure. “The bonhomie clearly meant nothing,” he said. (PC: India Today)

A powerful 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on Wednesday, triggering a volcanic eruption and prompting tsunami alerts across the Pacific. The Klyuchevskoi volcano, one of the world’s tallest, began spewing lava on its western slope soon after the quake. “A descent of burning hot lava is observed… powerful glow above the volcano, explosions,” said the Russian Academy of Sciences. While tsunami alerts for the US and Asia are being downgraded, South American countries remain on high alert. The quake ranks among the six strongest ever recorded. Massive landslides and volcanic activity are being reported in the region. (PC: X)

Opposition parties staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday evening over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence during Union home minister Amit Shah’s speech on Operation Sindoor. Heavy sloganeering erupted as Shah began replying to the special debate. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge stood amid the protests, saying, “The PM should come.” Earlier, Shah described the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack site as “horrifying” and said all three terrorists killed under Operation Mahadev were shot in the head. BJP president JP Nadda also addressed the House, slamming the previous UPA regime for inaction against terrorism and a lack of political will. (PC: HT)

India successfully launched the NISAR satellite—a $1.5 billion joint mission between ISRO and NASA—on July 30 from Sriharikota. NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is the world’s first Earth-mapping satellite using dual-frequency radar, capable of detecting Earth’s slightest shifts and changes every 12 days. Weighing 2,393 kg, it will orbit the planet every 97 minutes, aiding global disaster response, glacier tracking, and climate monitoring. The mission, a decade-long collaboration, marks a major leap in space-tech and environmental science. With near real-time, free data, India strengthens its leadership in global climate action and scientific cooperation. 

Russia’s massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake on July 29, centered 119 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the Far East, triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific but had no impact on Moscow. The Russian capital, 6,800 km from the epicentre, lies on the stable East European Platform, far from active tectonic zones. This seismically quiet zone insulated Moscow from the tremors. In contrast, the Kamchatka Peninsula sits atop the volatile Ring of Fire and frequently experiences powerful quakes. The July 29 quake ties for the sixth strongest ever recorded, alongside Chile’s 2010 and Ecuador’s 1906 earthquakes, and was followed by aftershocks and tsunami waves. (PC: NDTV)

Tsunami waves triggered by a massive earthquake near Russia reached Hawaii, prompting thousands to evacuate coastal areas across Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a tsunami warning, later downgraded to an advisory, though flooding and dangerous currents remain a threat. Governor Josh Green urged residents in low-lying zones to seek higher ground. Waves of up to 5.7ft were recorded. Similar advisories were issued for California, Alaska, and British Columbia. No major damage reported yet, but concerns persist. Residents recalled trauma from past disasters, including Maui’s 2023 fires, and prepared for a long night. (PC: BBC)

US President Donald Trump has announced 25% tariffs and additional penalties on India, effective August 1, accusing New Delhi of maintaining "obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers" and deepening economic ties with Russia. Trump criticised India’s continued oil imports and defence purchases from Russia, calling them contrary to global efforts to isolate Moscow over its actions in Ukraine. “India has always bought the vast majority of military equipment from Russia and is among its largest energy buyers,” he wrote. Trump added that India’s high tariffs have long hindered US trade and promised action. “MAGA,” he concluded in his official post. (PC: India Today)