Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun a key two-day visit to the United Kingdom, focused on finalising the landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement. Modi will hold talks with British PM Keir Starmer at Chequers and meet King Charles III. The deal, set to remove tariffs on 99% of Indian exports, is seen as Britain's biggest post-Brexit trade success. Defence and tech partnerships are also expected to deepen. Security has been tightened in London to prevent disruption by Khalistan groups. After the UK, Modi will travel to the Maldives to attend Independence Day celebrations as guest of honour and hold bilateral talks. (PC: X)

On July 21, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training jet crashed into Milestone School & College in Dhaka, killing at least 25 children and 31 people total, and injuring over 160. The pilot reported technical issues shortly after takeoff. This tragedy has spotlighted the safety of China-made F-7 jets, which have now been involved in seven crashes in Bangladesh over two decades. Public anger has surged, with students protesting, demanding justice and grounding of the aircraft. Authorities have launched a high-level inquiry and declared a national day of mourning. (PC: Reuters)

India secured the 7th rank globally at the 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2025 held in Australia, matching its best-ever positions from 1998 and 2001. The six-member Indian team achieved its highest-ever team score of 193/252, winning three gold medals (Kanav Talwar, Aarav Gupta, Adhitya Mangudy), two silver (Abel George Mathew, Aadish Jain), and one bronze (Archit Manas). Competing among 630 students from 110 countries, this marks India’s strongest performance in its 35-year IMO history, continuing its streak of excellence with 12 golds earned between 2019 and 2025. (PC: India Today)

An Indian national in his 40s was attacked on the evening of July 19 in Tallaght, Dublin. A group of youths assaulted him, forcibly stripping him and leaving him with severe injuries to his face, arms, and legs before hospitalisation . The attackers falsely accused him of inappropriate behavior toward children—a claim dismissed by Gardaí, who are investigating it as a suspected hate crime . The Indian Ambassador and local leaders have condemned the incident, demanding justice and urging increased protection for immigrant communities. (PC: AP)

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh revisited the infamous 2008 IPL “slap‑gate” and shared that one moment continues to haunt him. In a heartfelt chat, he revealed how S Sreesanth’s daughter confronted him, saying, “You hit my father,” leaving him “heartbroken” and “on the verge of tears” . Despite offering 200 apologies over the years, Harbhajan admitted that he still felt remorse when the child refused to speak to him. He hopes she someday sees his true character and forgives him, striving to erase that regret from his legacy. (PC: X)  

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, India’s first astronaut aboard the International Space Station, returned from his 18-day Axiom‑4 mission on July 15. A video, shared July 23, captures him relearning to walk—assisted first, then on a treadmill—as his body readapts from microgravity, managing fluid shifts, muscle loss, and balance retraining . He expressed gratitude for public support and marvelled at the body's rapid adjustment . Currently in post-mission quarantine until July 23, Shukla’s recovery underscores human resilience and offers valuable insights for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan crewed mission.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS) during the Axiom-4 mission, is now featured in NCERT’s Class 5 Environmental Studies book Our Wondrous World. His reflection—“The Earth looks completely one; no border is visible from outside. It seems that no border exists… We all are part of humanity…”—appears in the chapter “Earth, Our Shared Home” . The inclusion aims to inspire young minds with a sense of global unity. Shukla completed an 18‑day ISS mission on July 15, marking India’s second human spaceflight after Rakesh Sharma and aligning with NEP 2020’s integrated learning approach. (PC: Axiom Space)  

A ballistic missile, reportedly a "Palestine 2" hypersonic weapon, was launched by Yemen’s Houthi militants toward Ben Gurion International Airport, triggering air-raid sirens. The Israeli military successfully intercepted it before reaching the terminal . The attack also damaged the dock at a nearby port—recently rebuilt after previous strikes—according to Houthi sources . The Houthis claimed the strike was in solidarity with Palestine. This escalation follows Israeli airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled areas in Hodeidah. The exchange highlights intensifying regional tensions amid ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.  

A British Royal Navy F‑35B stealth jet, part of HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group, made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram on June 14 due to a hydraulic fault, low fuel, and poor weather . Grounded for five weeks, the aircraft received full support from the Indian Air Force and airport staff . A 24‑member UK engineering team arrived on July 6, towed the jet into a hangar, and completed repairs and safety checks . With clearance granted around July 21, the F‑35B took off early Tuesday, concluding its unplanned stay—which generated social media buzz and memes.

India has dispatched a team of burn specialists and medical staff to Dhaka to assist victims of Bangladesh’s worst aviation tragedy in decades. A Bangladeshi Air Force fighter jet crashed into a school on July 21, killing 31 people, mostly children, and injuring over 170 others. The Indian medical team will assess patients and recommend further treatment, including care in India if needed. PM Modi assured Bangladesh of India’s full support. Protests erupted in Dhaka, with students demanding transparency. Officials confirmed 10 patients remain critical as public anger mounts over the crash and its handling by authorities. (PC: News18)