Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted again on Monday, spewing ash up to 18km high and prompting evacuations of over 4,000 people. The volcano on Flores island, placed under the highest alert level, erupted thrice in 24 hours, with glowing lava and thick ash forcing residents to flee. Flights to and from Bali were disrupted, with at least 24 cancellations. Authorities expanded the exclusion zone to 7km and warned of potential lahar floods if heavy rain follows. Local leaders report urgent shortages of clean water, food, and masks. The volcano has erupted multiple times this year, though no casualties have been reported. (PC: X)

Virat Kohli, in his first public interview since the Bengaluru stampede, compared the pressure of playing at Wimbledon to an India-Pakistan World Cup clash. Speaking to Star Sports’ Vijay Amritraj at Centre Court, Kohli said, “It’s not as intimidating on the cricket field unless it’s an India-Pakistan World Cup game.” The former India captain praised tennis players for their composure, calling Centre Court pressure “tremendous.” Kohli attended the Djokovic-De Minaur Round of 16 match with wife Anushka Sharma. Having retired from Tests and T20s, Kohli will now focus on ODIs, though India has no scheduled matches until October. (PC: News18)

The First Glimpse Of Nitesh Tiwari's Epic Film Ramayana Sparked Massive Investor Excitement, Pushing Prime Focus Studios’ Market Cap Up By ₹1000 Crore Within Two Days. The Company’s Stock Rose From ₹113.47 To A Peak Of ₹176 On July 3, When The Teaser Launched, Before Settling At ₹169. The Surge Came After Approval For Issuing 462.7 Million Shares. Actor Ranbir Kapoor, Who Plays Lord Ram, Is Set To Invest ₹20 Crore In The Studio By Acquiring 1.25 Million Shares. The Film Also Stars Yash, Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, And Ravi Dubey, With Music By AR Rahman And Hans Zimmer. (PC: HT)

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic thanked Indian cricket star Virat Kohli for calling him a "gladiator" during his dramatic fourth-round Wimbledon win over Alex de Minaur. After losing the first set, Djokovic staged a stunning comeback to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Kohli praised the Serb’s resilience in an Instagram story, prompting Djokovic to reply, “Thank you for supporting.” Djokovic, now in his 16th Wimbledon quarterfinal, is chasing a record-equaling 8th title at the All England Club. The duo share mutual admiration, with Djokovic once saying, “I started to play cricket” after watching Indian players. He now faces Italy’s Flavio Cobolli next. (PC: India Today)

The UAE has launched a nomination-based Golden Visa scheme offering lifetime residency for a one-time fee of AED 100,000 (₹23.3 lakh). Initially rolled out for India and Bangladesh, the pilot program is being vetted by Rayad Group and VFS. Applicants can apply via Vasco centres or online platforms. Unlike the older property-based model, the new visa grants permanent residency regardless of property ownership. Eligible categories include professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives. Successful applicants can bring family and employ domestic help. Over 5,000 Indians are expected to apply within three months, signaling strong interest in long-term relocation to the UAE. (PC: HT)

Following a heavy 336-run defeat at Edgbaston, England have requested a livelier pitch at Lord’s for the 3rd Test against India starting July 10. Coach Brendon McCullum wants more bounce and pace to aid returning pacers Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson. Archer, who last played a Test in 2021, is set for a comeback after injury struggles. Atkinson, recovering from a hamstring issue, also returns to the squad. McCullum said, “Jofra is looking fit and strong.” India leveled the series 1-1 in Birmingham, and a spicy surface at Lord’s may set up a thrilling encounter for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. (PC: NDTV)          

The 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil focused on global conflicts and economic pressure points. The bloc condemned Israel-US strikes on Iran and expressed grave concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, rejecting starvation as a weapon of war and reaffirming support for Palestinian statehood. BRICS members also slammed unilateral sanctions and labelled Trump’s tariff threats as a challenge to sovereignty. The Pahalgam attack in Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians, was strongly condemned, though Pakistan was not named. The summit criticised Ukraine’s strikes on Russian infrastructure while calling for a peaceful resolution. Notably absent were Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. (PC: News18)

The US has extended its suspension of 26% reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods until August 1, offering temporary relief to exporters and boosting bilateral trade talks. The extension, originally set to expire on July 9, signals Washington’s willingness to resolve outstanding issues. India was notably absent from the list of countries receiving tariff letters from the Trump administration this week. Indian trade bodies welcomed the move, calling it a crucial window for finalizing a bilateral trade agreement. Experts urged exporters to stay cautious, as President Trump remains unpredictable. Both countries aim to conclude an interim trade deal by fall 2025. (PC: HT)

Greece has closed the Acropolis in Athens from 13:00 to 17:00 local time on Tuesday due to a severe heatwave, with temperatures forecast to hit 42°C. The closure aims to protect both visitors and workers, as the historic site drew 4.5 million tourists in 2024 alone. The labour ministry also enforced a five-hour work stoppage for outdoor workers. Greece is under a Category 4 wildfire warning in five regions, with 41 fires reported on Monday. Wildfires also threaten parts of France and Spain. Experts warn that climate change is intensifying such extreme weather events across southern and western Europe. (PC: BBC)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced a 35% reservation for women in all state government jobs ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. The decision, approved in a Cabinet meeting, will apply to all direct recruitment across government services for women who are permanent residents of Bihar. The government also cleared the formation of the Bihar Youth Commission to address youth employment and education. “We are committed to empowering women and youth,” Kumar said. The move follows a pension hike for the elderly and is seen as a major pre-poll step with elections likely in October-November across Bihar’s 243 Assembly seats. (PC: News18)