India Champions have refused to play against Pakistan in the semi-final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 in Birmingham, citing national sentiment following the Pahalgam terror attack. Senior players including Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina voiced their unwillingness to engage in any bilateral cricket with Pakistan. A similar boycott occurred during the group stage. Organisers had earlier apologised for scheduling the match. India secured the semi-final spot after defeating West Indies Champions on Tuesday, despite three prior losses. Pakistan, led by Mohammad Hafeez, topped the league table with four wins. (PC: X)

The joint ISRO-NASA Earth observation satellite NISAR has successfully launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota aboard India’s largest rocket, the GSLV Mk II. The 2,392 kg satellite will enter an 8–10 day deployment phase followed by 65 days of engineering tests. NISAR, equipped with L-band (NASA) and S-band (ISRO) synthetic aperture radars, will map Earth's surface every 12 days with high precision, detecting even slight movements. The mission, 10 years in the making, will help monitor earthquakes, landslides, and climate change, with special focus on Antarctica and global vegetation. Former ISRO chief K Sivan called it “a breakthrough.” 

A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami waves across the Pacific. Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued warnings for waves up to 3 meters, with the first wave hitting Hokkaido’s coast. Russia’s Kuril Islands saw flooding and evacuations, while Hawaii, Alaska, and California activated emergency protocols. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed waves could arrive every 12 minutes, lasting for hours. Ecuador, Chile, and the Philippines also issued alerts. The quake, one of the strongest since 1952, caused building damage and power outages in Russia’s Far East. Authorities urged residents to evacuate coastal areas immediately and remain alert for multiple waves and strong currents.

Tens of thousands of fans have gathered in Birmingham as the cortege carrying Ozzy Osbourne’s coffin moves through the city. The Black Sabbath frontman, who died eight days ago, is being honoured with a special tribute along Broad Street, culminating in a pause at Black Sabbath Bridge—now covered in flowers and messages. Fans dressed in black and leather lined the route, sharing memories and music. The event, privately funded by Osbourne’s family, follows his final performance at Villa Park’s "Black Sabbath: Back to the Beginning" gig. Supporters like Matthew Feane-Jones even tattooed Ozzy’s signature after meeting him recently. (PC: BBC)

A massive 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami waves across the Pacific. Japan’s Hokkaido and Russia’s Kuril Islands were hit first, prompting evacuations and warnings in Hawaii, California, Alaska, and parts of South America. Japan ordered over 900,000 residents to evacuate, while Hawaii shut down water and wastewater systems. Russia declared an emergency in the Kuril Islands, reporting building damage and power outages. The quake, the strongest since 1952, was followed by 30 aftershocks. Tsunami advisories were issued in China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Ecuador. Experts warn the impact could last for hours, with waves arriving every 12 minutes. Authorities urge coastal residents to stay alert and evacuate.

Jyotishko Biswas, a young adventurer from Karimpur, Nadia, has become the first Bengali to conquer Margherita Peak (5,109m) in Uganda’s Rwenzori Mountains, known as the real-life “Chander Pahar.” Inspired by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay’s novel, he cycled from Karimpur to the base camp and trekked to the summit, carrying the book and a tribute note. Facing wild animals, poisonous insects, and snowstorms, he fulfilled the dream that fictional Shankar couldn’t. His journey retraced the path from Mombasa’s railway office, echoing the novel’s century-old legacy. Jyotishko’s feat rekindles Bengali passion for adventure and literature, proving that love and determination can turn fiction into reality.

England captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fifth and final Test against India at The Oval due to a shoulder injury sustained during the Manchester Test. England, leading the series 2-1, announced four changes to their playing XI. Alongside Stokes, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, and Brydon Carse are also out. Ollie Pope will lead the team in Stokes’ absence. Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue have been named as replacements. Bethell will bat at No.6 and serve as the main spinner. Stokes has been England’s top performer with 304 runs and 17 wickets in the series. The match begins July 31. (PC: BBC & BCCI)

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.