A major controversy erupted ahead of the fifth Test at The Oval as India head coach Gautam Gambhir clashed with chief curator Lee Fortis, who restricted Indian players from approaching the pitch. Gambhir responded sharply, questioning Fortis’ authority. Tensions escalated further when a viral 2023 photo surfaced showing Fortis standing on the pitch with England’s coach, exposing alleged double standards in treatment. Ex-cricketer Irfan Pathan criticized the apparent bias, calling it colonial in tone. India’s coaching staff played down the incident, but the issue sparked widespread debate online and in cricketing circles. (PC: NDTV)

In the early hours of July 30, 2025, tsunami waves triggered by a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula reached Northern California, marking the first impact on the continental U.S. Waves up to 1.5 ft were recorded in Crescent City and Arena Cove, while Bay Area gauges detected about 1 ft . A tsunami warning was active for the northern coast from Cape Mendocino to the Oregon border, while the rest of California remained under an advisory . Officials warned of a build-up of waves through high tide and urged residents to avoid beaches, harbours, and low-lying zones for the next several hours. (PC: India Today)

Since late June 2025, Pakistan has been ravaged by a deadly combination of glacial lake outburst floods, cloudbursts, and relentless monsoon rain, claiming at least 293 lives and injuring over 600 people across the country from the Himalayan north to southern plains . Critical infrastructure, homes, roads, and local economies have been severely damaged. Rescue teams evacuated over 500 tourists stranded by a cloudburst, while authorities issued urgent alerts amid forecasts of another impending monsoon spell. Climate vulnerabilities, accelerated glacier melt, and inadequate early warning systems have heightened the scale of devastation. (PC: The Times of India)

As the long-anticipated India–U.S. trade agreement awaits final approval, U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted on a direct call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before signing off, according to informed sources . While the deal's draft is endorsed by both sides—including U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal—it remains pending on Trump’s desk for over a week . The sitting Prime Minister, currently attending India’s monsoon parliamentary session, is expected to coordinate with Washington for this decisive conversation. Following the call, a formal announcement is expected to usher in the agreement. (PC: Reuters)

A magnitude‑8.7 (later revised to 8.8) earthquake struck roughly 125 km southeast of Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky, at a shallow depth of 19 km, marking the strongest in the region since 1952 . The quake generated tsunami waves of 3–5 metres, flooding Severo‑Kurilsk and damaging infrastructure including a kindergarten; several minor injuries were reported in Kamchatka . Tsunami warnings and evacuations were issued across the Pacific—including Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, and parts of the U.S. West Coast, Guam, and Micronesia . In Japan, officials forecasted waves up to 3 metres and advised coastal evacuations; no major damage was reported yet . The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of persistent wave activity and issued alerts from California to Chile, underscoring elevated risks across multiple continents 

ISRO will launch the joint NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite on July 30, 2025, using the GSLV-F16 rocket from Sriharikota. Weighing around 2,393 kg, NISAR will be placed in a 743 km Sun-synchronous orbit. This first-of-its-kind collaboration combines NASA’s L-band and ISRO’s S-band radars to capture high-resolution, all-weather images of Earth every 12 days. Designed to monitor changes in land, vegetation, glaciers, and disasters, NISAR represents a major leap in climate and disaster research. After a 90-day calibration phase, it will begin scientific operations, marking a $1.5 billion milestone in Indo-US space cooperation.

19-year-old chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh will be felicitated by the Maharashtra government after making history by winning the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup, becoming the first Indian woman to do so. In a gripping all-Indian final in Georgia, she defeated Koneru Humpy and clinched her Grandmaster title, becoming India’s 88th GM and only the fourth Indian woman to achieve the feat. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde praised her as a symbol of Maharashtra’s sporting spirit. Deshmukh credited her success to intense focus and inspiration from sports films, marking a defining moment for Indian women’s chess on the global stage. (PC: The Hindu)

DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi sharply rebuked Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, asserting: “Even the Congress doesn’t remember Nehru ji as much as you do” . Shah had repeatedly invoked Jawaharlal Nehru and Congress legacy failures, blaming them for Pakistan’s creation, PoK disputes, and military shortfalls . Kanimozhi’s comment highlighted opposition frustration over using historical blame to dilute scrutiny of the government’s handling of the Pahalgam terror attack and India's response . The exchange underscored growing political polarization as parliament examines accountability and narrative control during national security discussions.

France has officially announced it will recognize Palestine as a sovereign state at the UN General Assembly in September, becoming the first G7 nation to take this step. The UK has also warned it will follow unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, lifts Gaza restrictions, halts West Bank annexation, and engages in a two-state solution. Both nations called on Hamas to release hostages and disarm. Israel has strongly condemned these moves, claiming they reward terrorism. These announcements signal a major diplomatic shift and growing Western pressure on Israel amid mounting humanitarian concerns in Gaza.

During his official visit to the Maldives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over 72 heavy vehicles to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), strengthening bilateral defence ties. The donation includes buses, pickup trucks, excavators, tractors, and construction equipment, aimed at enhancing the MNDF’s operational capacity. This gesture is part of broader cooperation efforts, including a $565 million line of credit, agreements on digital payments (via UPI), fisheries development, and renewed free trade negotiations. The move reflects India’s continued strategic partnership with the Maldives amidst shifting regional dynamics and reaffirms its commitment to regional security and development. (PC: Defence.In)