KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant led India’s spirited fightback at Lord’s, stitching a 100+ partnership to reduce England’s 387-run lead. Rahul dazzled with a flurry of boundaries, reaching 76, while Pant, battling a finger injury, smashed 64. Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul and Joe Root’s 37th Test century earned both spots on the Honours Board. England’s bowlers struggled with a soft Dukes ball, prompting ball-change drama. Pant’s aggressive strokeplay frustrated Woakes, while Rahul’s class unsettled Carse. Despite trailing by 190 runs, India’s momentum surged. The match remains finely poised, with India’s lower order and England’s pace attack set for a gripping Day 4. (PC: NDTV & India Today)

India trails England by 242 runs in the 3rd Test at Lord’s. KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant steadied the innings after early setbacks, reaching 145/3 at stumps on Day 2. Rahul scored a composed 53, while Pant added 19, batting through a finger injury. England posted 387, powered by Joe Root’s 104 and lower-order fifties from Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse. Jasprit Bumrah claimed 5/74, earning a spot on the Lord’s Honours Board. Jofra Archer marked his return with a wicket in his third ball. India’s fightback hinges on the Rahul-Pant partnership as Day 3 begins with high stakes and a deteriorating pitch. (PC: News18 & NDTV Sports)

The US Embassy in India has issued a stern advisory warning that visa screening continues even after issuance. Visa holders must comply with all US laws and immigration rules or face revocation and deportation. The statement aligns with the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement. The embassy emphasized that a US visa is “a privilege, not a right,” and violations—including visa fraud or illegal stay—will result in serious penalties. Applicants must now disclose all social media handles from the past five years, with omissions potentially leading to denial or future ineligibility. The embassy’s digital campaign reinforces its zero-tolerance stance on immigration violations. (PC: Wikipedia & Hindustan Times)

State-level tennis player Radhika Yadav, 25, was allegedly shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, at their Gurugram home. WhatsApp messages revealed Radhika felt stifled by restrictions at home and sought independence abroad. She expressed a desire to travel to Dubai or Australia, citing family and familiarity. Despite her father's financial stability, tensions grew over her tennis academy and perceived reliance on her income. Radhika’s coaches noted no prior signs of conflict. Deepak, reportedly depressed over social taunts, confessed to the murder. The tragedy has sparked outrage and reflection on familial control, ambition, and societal pressure. (PC: Hindustan Times & India Today)

India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary report on the June 12, 2025 crash of Air India Flight 171 out of Ahmedabad. The probe reveals that seconds after takeoff, both engine fuel-cutoff switches were flipped from RUN to CUTOFF within a one-second interval, causing immediate loss of thrust . Cockpit audio captured one pilot asking why fuel had been cut off; the other denied responsibility. Though engines were briefly relit when switches were returned, recovery failed. Investigators found no mechanical defect. The cause remains under investigation—possible human error, malfunction, or sabotage. The crash killed 242 onboard and 19 on the ground, leaving just one survivor. (PC: India Today)

At the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament in Croatia, India’s 19-year-old world chess champion D. Gukesh stunned Magnus Carlsen once again by winning the Rapid section, despite entering the event with just a 0.3% chance of victory . His chief trainer, GM Grzegorz Gajewski, revealed that they focused on specialized drills and training games tailored for faster time controls—a regimen he credits for the turnaround . Gajewski also emphasized the mental burden on Gukesh, noting many forget he’s only 19—and sometimes he even does too—amid the high expectations as reigning world champion. (PC: X)

Between February and June 16, 2025, India's central government approved the diversion of 8,518.23 hectares of forest into non‑forest use—surpassing four times the size of Delhi's airport—despite a February Supreme Court directive prohibiting reduction of forest land without prior safeguards . Clearances spanned tiger reserves, protected areas, revenue, degraded, and unclassed forests, sanctioned via RECs, the FAC, and NBWL . Petitioners argue compensatory afforestation is misused by allowing it within legally protected forests, in direct contradiction to the 1996 Godavarman judgment and the Court’s own Feb 3, 2025 order. (PC: iStock)

Satellite imagery captured before and after the June 23, 2025 missile barrage on Al Udeid Air Base near Doha reveals that a geodesic radome—housing a $15 million secure communications terminal—was destroyed in the attack, though surrounding structures suffered only minimal damage. The Pentagon confirmed that one Iranian ballistic missile struck the dome while the other 13 were intercepted by U.S. and Qatari air defenses. Despite Iran’s claims of crippling U.S. capabilities, the base remains fully operational with no casualties reported. The strike followed U.S. air raids on Iranian nuclear facilities and formed part of an escalation that concluded with a ceasefire.  

The Adani Group has signed a major Memorandum of Understanding with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Kolkata (SMPK) to restore, beautify, and redevelop the 300‑metre historic Kumartuli Ghat along the Hooghly River. Known for its artisan community of idol‑makers, the ghat will undergo heritage‑compliant redesign led by conservation architect Anjan Mitra. The initiative emphasizes environmental sustainability, cultural sensitivity, and accessibility, transforming the riverside into a safer and more welcoming public promenade. As Adani Ports’ CSR flagship effort under SMPK’s “Swachhata” drive, this marks its first ghat‑restoration project on the Ganges. Completion is tentatively targeted before Durga Puja. (The Telegraph)  

The European Space Agency (ESA) has indicated that the Axiom‑4 mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS)—with Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu "Shux" Shukla among its four-member crew—is unlikely to return to Earth before July 14, 2025 . The mission, comprising Peggy Whitson (USA), Sławosz Uznański‑Wiśniewski (Poland), Kapu (Hungary), and Shukla (India), launched on June 25 and docked on June 26 . ESA’s advisory emphasizes that undocking remains tentative and weather‑dependent; the crew’s originally planned 14‑day stay has now been extended beyond July 10, with a return window opening no earlier than July 14. (PC: PTI)