India’s External Affairs Ministry and Petroleum Minister strongly pushed back on U.S. and NATO secondary sanctions targeting countries importing Russian oil. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that energy security remains India’s top priority, guided by market offers and global realities, and cautioned against inconsistent sanctioning approaches . Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri assured India can diversify its supply chain—expanding from about 27 to 40 countries—to offset any restrictions on Russian imports . The statements mark New Delhi’s first official pushback on evolving Western sanction threats, underlining India’s strategic autonomy in foreign and energy policies. (PC: Reuters)

  The US Department of State has officially labeled The Resistance Front (TRF)—a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The move responds to TRF’s claim of responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, which claimed 26 civilian lives, mainly Hindu tourists. The designation freezes the group’s assets, criminalizes support, and aligns with former President Trump’s call for justice. The review process remains ongoing, but the action underscores mounting international pressure to curtail Pakistan-based proxies and counter cross-border terrorism. (PC: TRF)

Eight babies have been born in the UK using a groundbreaking three-person DNA technique to prevent hereditary mitochondrial disease. The method combines the mother’s and father’s DNA with healthy mitochondria from a female donor. All eight children are confirmed healthy and free from the hereditary condition, which can cause severe disability or death. Developed by the Newcastle Fertility Centre, the technique has been legal in the UK since 2015. Children inherit 0.1% of their DNA from the donor. Families expressed gratitude, calling it life-changing. Experts say this success brings hope to families facing hereditary mitochondrial diseases. (PC: BBC)

Actor Vijay Deverakonda has been hospitalised after being diagnosed with dengue, just weeks ahead of the release of his much-anticipated film Kingdom on July 31. The actor is currently receiving treatment and is expected to be discharged within a couple of days. Sources close to the actor confirmed that his condition is stable and he is recovering well. Fans expressed concern on social media, wishing him a speedy recovery. Deverakonda has been busy promoting Kingdom, which is set for a nationwide release. His team assured fans that he will resume engagements once his health improves. (PC: India Today)

Speaking at a special event in London hosted by Here & Now 365, Bollywood actress and cancer survivor Manisha Koirala said that Nepal’s democracy is failing because every leader undoes the work of the previous one. In conversation with Manish Tiwari, she said, “I am a democrat, but I believe Nepal needs a monarchy on top to maintain balance.” Koirala, who belongs to Nepal’s influential Koirala family, known for producing four Prime Ministers, reflected on her personal battles too. Sharing her experience with ovarian cancer, she said, “I thought I was going to die. But by God’s grace, I learned to live again.” On her Bollywood journey, she recalled, “I hadn’t even finished Class 12 when I was acting alongside Dilip Kumar.” Tiwari suggested she create a global project to represent Nepal better. Laughing, she added, “Girls want to be a Koirala but no man wants to marry one!”      

India’s chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa stunned world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen at the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Las Vegas. The 19-year-old Grandmaster forced Carlsen to resign after 39 moves in Round 4, marking victories over him in Classical, Rapid, and Blitz formats this year. Praggnanandhaa now jointly leads Group White with 4.5 points. Carlsen, meanwhile, failed to advance and was eliminated in a playoff by Levon Aronian. The tournament’s knockout stage will see Carlsen fight from the lower bracket. The competition continues with players vying for the USD 200,000 top prize. (PC: NDTV)

5 men walked into Patna's Paras Hospital with guns and shot gangster Chandan Mishra dead inside Room 209. CCTV shows them entering calmly, pulling out pistols from under their shirts. After the shooting, four ran out while one walked out slowly, staring at a witness. Mishra, serving life for a 2011 murder, was out on parole for treatment. He had over 20 criminal cases against him. The police are probing possible lapses in security. One shooter has been identified, and reports say one was arrested. Mishra’s death has raised fresh questions about law and order in Bihar. (PC: CCTV grab/HT)

The UK government has announced plans to lower the voting age to 16 for all elections, fulfilling a Labour manifesto promise. Deputy PM Angela Rayner said the move aims to boost youth participation and break down barriers to democracy. If passed, it will align the UK with Scotland and Wales, where 16-year-olds already vote in devolved polls. The reforms come amid record-low voter turnout of 59.7% in 2024. The government also unveiled measures to prevent foreign influence, including tighter donation rules, higher fines, and stricter checks on donor companies’ legitimacy to safeguard election integrity. (PC: X)

On 16 July 2025, the Indian Army and DRDO successfully test-fired the Akash Prime missile system at an altitude exceeding 15,000 ft in Ladakh. The upgraded variant intercepted and destroyed two high‑speed unmanned aerial targets, showcasing its enhanced precision and reliability in tough high‑altitude conditions . Armed with an indigenously developed radio-frequency seeker and capable of engaging threats within a 20 km range, Akash Prime is set to form the 3rd and 4th regiments in India’s air-defence arsenal . The successful trial reinforces India's multi-layered air defence strategy, drawing lessons from its deployment during Operation Sindoor. (PC: NDTV)

On June 4, a tragic stampede outside Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed 11 lives and injured over 50 during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations. A status report submitted July 17 to the Karnataka High Court blamed Royal Challengers Bengaluru, their event-management partner DNA Entertainment, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association for organizing the parade “unilaterally and without permission” . The report highlighted absence of legal approvals, chaotic social-media invites—including a Virat Kohli video—poor crowd and gate control, unclear pass distribution, and lack of medical amenities . Despite existing police plans, organizers pressed ahead, triggering panic and the fatal stampede. Judicial and administrative probes, FIRs, arrests, and official suspensions are underway. (PC: The Hindu)