A vigilant mountain dog in Siyathi village, Mandi district, barked incessantly around midnight on June 30, waking homeowner Narendra just as the hillside began cracking and water seeped in . Recognizing imminent danger, he alerted neighbours, helping 67 residents from 20 families escape seconds before a landslide obliterated nearly a dozen homes . Survivors now take refuge at Naina Devi temple, coping with anxiety and health issues, while the Himachal government provides ₹10,000 relief per family . Since June 20, monsoon disasters in the state have claimed 78 lives, closed 280 roads in Mandi, and prompted flash flood alerts. (PC: India Today)

A stunning iPhone 16 video from Delhi's Sainik Farms captured the International Space Station (ISS), carrying Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, gliding over the pre-dawn sky on July 8 at 5:42 AM IST . Orbiting at ~400 km altitude at 28,000 km/h and completing a revolution every 90 minutes, the ISS shone brightly as it reflected sunlight upon its pass . Over the next few days, it will repeatedly cross Indian skies. Enthusiasts can spot the station using NASA's “Spot the Station” and ISS Detector apps—letting many say a cosmic “Hello” to Shukla aboard the orbital lab.

Indian prodigy D. Gukesh and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen squared off for their third rapid/blitz encounter at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz in Zagreb on July 6, 2025. The game, featuring the Ruy Lopez Berlin Defense, concluded in just 14 moves and 1 minute 4 seconds, with both agreeing to a threefold repetition draw—Gukesh retained 5:10 and Carlsen 4:45 on the clock . Carlsen, previously in "survival mode," was “surprised” by the swift end . This draw sealed their head‑to‑head score at 1‑1‑1 in Zagreb. Carlsen went on to win the event overall; Gukesh finished a strong third. (PC: The Indian EXPRESS)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is now valued at ₹1.58 lakh crore (USD 18.5 billion), a 12.9% rise from last year, says a report by Houlihan Lokey. The league’s brand alone is worth USD 3.9 billion. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the 2025 champions, is the most valuable team at USD 269 million. Mumbai Indians is second, while Chennai Super Kings dropped to third. Punjab Kings saw the biggest growth—up 39.6%. The IPL 2025 final got over 67.8 crore views on Jio Hotstar. “IPL sets new records in sports business,” said Harsh Talikoti from Houlihan Lokey. (PC: BCCI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded Brazil’s top civilian honour, the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gave him the award in Brasilia for his role in strengthening India-Brazil ties. Modi said, “This is a proud and emotional moment, not just for me, but for 140 crore Indians.” He thanked President Lula and called the award a symbol of friendship between both nations. This is Modi’s 26th international honour. Last week, he also received Trinidad and Tobago’s highest award during his visit to the Caribbean country. (PC: AP)

US President Donald Trump has warned BRICS nations, including India, China, and Brazil, of a 10% tariff for challenging the US dollar. “If they are a member of BRICS, they have to pay a 10% tariff,” Trump said during a cabinet meeting. He claimed BRICS aims to weaken the dollar and added, “The dollar is king. We’re going to keep it that way.” The warning is part of Trump’s broader trade plan, which raises tariffs on over a dozen countries. “They’ll have to pay,” he repeated, making it clear that the US will not tolerate threats to its economic dominance. (PC: Reuters)

Aryna Sabalenka has become the second woman since 2000, after Serena Williams, to reach 10 Grand Slam semi-finals in just 11 appearances. She achieved this milestone after defeating Laura Siegemund in a hard-fought Wimbledon quarter-final. Sabalenka lost the first set but fought back to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Despite Siegemund’s tricky grass-court tactics, Sabalenka adapted her game to secure the win. The world number one showed strength and determination under pressure. This record places her alongside Serena Williams, one of tennis’s greatest players, marking a major achievement in Sabalenka’s rising career. She now advances to her third Wimbledon semi-final. (PC: Getty Images)

A yellow heat health alert has been issued for southern England as a new heatwave is expected this week. The alert will be in place from Wednesday 10am to Tuesday 10am. Areas like London, the Midlands, East and South of England will be affected. Experts warn the heat may strain health and care services. Temperatures could reach up to 34°C by the weekend. People are advised to stay cool and avoid direct sun. A hosepipe ban will also begin in Yorkshire on Friday. This marks the third heatwave of the summer, with more areas affected than the last two. (PC: PA)

Starting November 1, petrol pumps in Delhi and five NCR districts will stop giving fuel to old vehicles. Diesel cars older than 10 years and petrol cars older than 15 years will be affected. The rule will also apply in Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Sonipat. This step is part of a campaign to fight air pollution. Earlier, the ban was paused after strong public backlash. Many said it was unfair to scrap working cars. Now, the government has decided to restart the fuel ban with better planning. Automated cameras and traffic police will help catch rule-breakers at fuel stations. (PC: PTI)

Goldman Sachs has hired former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a senior adviser. Sunak will guide the bank’s global clients on economic and political issues. He was UK Prime Minister from October 2022 to July 2024 and also served as finance minister. Before politics, Sunak worked at Goldman Sachs as an intern in 2000 and later as an analyst. He also co-founded an investment firm. Although he led the Conservative Party to a major election loss, Sunak still serves as a Member of Parliament. Goldman Sachs said Sunak brings valuable experience and insights to the company’s global work. (PC: Bloomberg)