Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, may soon be scrapped after years of costly and unsuccessful repairs. Dubbed the “Ship of Shame”, the Soviet-era vessel has been plagued by fires, a deadly dry dock accident, and chronic delays since entering overhaul in 2017. Russian officials now admit that restoring the 40-year-old ship may be financially and technically unfeasible. Experts, including retired Admiral Sergei Avakyants, say it symbolizes outdated military priorities, with modern warfare shifting toward drones and unmanned systems. Scrapping Kuznetsov would mark a symbolic decline in Russia’s carrier-based naval ambitions. (PC: Reuters)

A 26‑year‑old woman collapsed while taking a physical assessment for the Home Guard recruitment in Gaya district, Bihar. She was taken in a moving ambulance to the hospital, where she was allegedly gang‑raped by the driver and technician during transit. Authorities swiftly arrested the accused, and the incident sparked outrage across the community. The case has intensified concerns over women’s safety in emergency medical situations, prompting demand for stricter oversight and swift justice to prevent such heinous crimes. (PC: NDTV)

On July 26, 2025, the Supreme Court bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar told the couple—comprising a decorated fighter pilot involved in the 2019 Balakot airstrike and his IIM‑graduate wife—to settle their matrimonial dispute amicably, without treating each other as enemies . The Court issued notice on the wife’s FIR against him and urged both parties to move forward with forgiveness, not vengeance. It highlighted that, despite serious allegations from both sides—including claims of mental harassment—reconciliation should be prioritized over continued litigation.

India and the UK have signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA), eliminating tariffs on 99% of Indian exports and slashing duties on British goods like whisky, cars, and cosmetics. Labour-intensive Indian sectors like textiles, footwear, gems, and processed foods will gain duty-free access to UK markets. British liquor tariffs will drop from 150% to 40% over 10 years; auto duties fall to 10%. The deal also eases professional mobility and social security norms for Indian workers in the UK. While India concedes ground on carbon taxes and visa relaxations, the pact is expected to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030, boosting MSMEs, farmers, and exporters. (PC: News18 & Manorama Yearbook)

Cambodia has called for an unconditional ceasefire with Thailand following two days of intense border clashes that left at least 32 dead and displaced over 196,000 people. Fighting erupted near the disputed Preah Vihear temple, involving jets, artillery, and ground troops. Cambodia’s UN envoy Chhea Keo questioned Thailand’s claim that Cambodia initiated the conflict, citing its limited military capacity. Thailand imposed martial law in eight districts and accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting, urging restraint and diplomacy. Malaysia offered to mediate. The conflict revives a century-old territorial dispute, last flaring violently in 2011. (PC: Al Jazeera & Time Magazine)

NASA is set to lose nearly 3,870 employees, almost 20% of its workforce, through a Deferred Resignation Program initiated under President Donald Trump’s federal downsizing plan. The agency aims to become more “efficient and streamlined” while maintaining safety and mission capability. This marks the second wave of voluntary exits since Trump’s return to office. Concerns mount over the impact on deep-space missions, with hundreds of current and former employees warning of a loss of irreplaceable expertise in a letter titled The Voyager Declaration. NASA’s future workforce will shrink to 14,000, raising alarms about operational readiness for Moon and Mars exploration. (PC: CNN & NASA)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emerged as the world’s most popular democratic leader, securing a 75% approval rating in Morning Consult’s latest global survey. He surpassed South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung and Argentina’s Javier Milei, while U.S. President Donald Trump ranked eighth with 44% approval. BJP leaders hailed Modi’s leadership, citing global respect and strong governance. Critics, however, pointed to his avoidance of press conferences and India’s declining press freedom ranking from 140th in 2014 to 159th in 2024. Modi also became India’s second-longest-serving PM, overtaking Indira Gandhi’s record. The survey reflects a seven-day average of adult opinions across major democracies. (PC: Facebook)

During his visit to Scotland, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that immigration is “killing Europe,” urging nations to “get their act together” and halt what he called a “horrible invasion.” He claimed the U.S. had zero illegal entries last month due to his administration’s crackdown and criticized predecessor Joe Biden for lax border policies. Trump praised unnamed European leaders resisting migration but warned others of losing their national identity. His remarks coincide with rising European tensions over immigration, as UK PM Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced a migrant return deal. Trump is also scheduled to meet Starmer and open a new golf course in Scotland. (PC: The White House)

India’s Ministry of External Affairs revealed that 10,574 Indian nationals are jailed worldwide, with 43 facing death sentences. The UAE tops the list with 2,773 prisoners, followed by Saudi Arabia (2,379) and Nepal (1,357). Countries like Canada, Chile, and South Africa each hold just one Indian inmate. Death row cases are concentrated in the UAE (21), Saudi Arabia (7), and China (4). Indian missions are actively providing legal aid, consular access, and pursuing early release or repatriation. The Indian Community Welfare Fund supports legal costs. India is also negotiating the release of 28 fishermen detained in Sri Lanka. (PC: CNBC TV18 & Kerala Kaumudi)

Bangladesh Bank issued a directive banning women employees from wearing short dresses, sleeveless clothing, and leggings, urging sarees or salwar kameez with hijabs. Men were barred from jeans and chinos. The order warned of disciplinary action and mandated compliance monitoring. Social media erupted, likening the move to Taliban-style governance. Amid backlash, the bank withdrew the directive, calling it “purely advisory.” Simultaneously, a new ordinance banned government employees from protesting, replacing “disobedience” with “misconduct disrupting public duty,” allowing dismissal without appeal. Critics, including rights groups, condemned the developments as authoritarian and culturally regressive under the Muhammad Yunus regime. (PC: India Today)