Day five at Wimbledon 2025 showcases pivotal third‑round clashes under warm, sunny skies. Naomi Osaka finds her grass‑court groove, comfortably advancing early. Centre Court headlines feature former champions: Carlos Alcaraz aims for a hat‑trick against Jan‑Lennard Struff, while world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka meets British hope Emma Raducanu, seeking redemption after outlasting Marie Bouzkova earlier. Britain’s singles contenders remain thin: Cam Norrie and Sonay Kartal follow Draper’s exit to Marin Cilic, with Norrie facing Mattia Bellucci and Kartal up against Diane Parry. Naomi Osaka battles Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, while Taylor Fritz and Madison Keys also strive for deeper runs. A mix of emerging talent and seasoned stars fuels steady drama at SW19. (PC: The Guardian & BBC)

On Day 3 of the 2nd Test at Edgbaston, England resumed at 77/3, trailing India’s mammoth 587 declared, powered by Shubman Gill’s majestic 269 off 387 balls. India’s highest individual Test score in England, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 and breaking a 46‑year record. Gill’s innings included partnerships of 203 with Ravindra Jadeja (89) and 144 with Washington Sundar (42), rescuing India from 211/5. Indian bowlers Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj reduced England to 77/3, with Root and Brook mounting a minor recovery at stumps. England’s Bazball strategy yielded mixed returns on a flat pitch, while clear skies and a fired‑up crowd set the tone for a pivotal Day 3. (PC: BCCI, X & NDTV Sports)

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed on July 2 by IP advocate Ganesh S. Hingemire in the Bombay High Court against Prada Group and Prada India Fashion Pvt Ltd, accusing them of unauthorised commercial use of GI‑tagged Kolhapuri chappals in their Spring/Summer 2026 “toe‑ring sandals” showcased on June 22 in Milan. The plea demands a public apology, injunction, and damages, highlighting misrepresentation, cultural misappropriation, and economic harm to Maharashtra’s artisan community. Though Prada acknowledged the sandals were “inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear,” the petitioners argue the response was inadequate, lacking formal recognition to artisans, GI registry, or public. The court has yet to schedule the hearing. (PC: Pinterest)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visiting Trinidad & Tobago, the first Indian PM since 2009 announced that Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards will now be issued up to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora there. With over 40% of the nation’s 1.36 million people of Indian origin, Modi emphasized deep cultural and historical bonds, urging descendants to “visit the villages of your ancestors”. He also praised the diaspora’s successes from political leaders to artists and commended Trinidad & Tobago’s adoption of India’s UPI system, promising digital transactions “faster than West Indies bowling”. (PC: X)

India’s Deputy Army Chief Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai has spotlighted a growing “Pakistan–China nexus” during Operation Sindoor, underlining China’s deep military backing for Islamabad. He noted the use of Chinese-made weaponry—J‑10C fighter jets, PL‑15 missiles, HQ‑9 air‑defence systems and UCAVs—during Pakistan’s response to India’s precision strikes on terror camps post‑Pahalgam attack. While Chinese military aid boosted Pakistan’s capabilities, Indian forces effectively bypassed these defences using BrahMos missiles and indigenous systems. China has vehemently denied transporting arms via Y‑20 cargo planes or its jets' involvement. Meanwhile, Pakistan confirmed ongoing intelligence cooperation with China. The exchange underscores escalating regional tensions and the strategic implications of Beijing’s defence partnership with Islamabad.

Wimbledon has moved into the digital age. From June 30 to July 13, 2025, the All England Club has replaced human line judges after 147 years with Hawk‑Eye Live electronic line calling on all 18 match courts. The system uses pre‑recorded voices to announce “Out” and “Fault,” promises near‑instant and consistent decisions, and aligns Wimbledon with other Grand Slam events. Fans and players including John McEnroe, Aryna Sabalenka, and Cam Norrie commend its precision and black‑and‑white clarity. Some traditionalists lament the loss of human presence and worry about officials’ career paths. CEO Sally Bolton says it’s not cost‑cutting but evolution. The French Open remains the only Slam retaining judges. (PC: BBC, The Guardian & CNN)

Liverpool and Portugal striker Diogo Jota (28) and his brother André Silva were killed in a Lamborghini crash in Zamora, Spain, on July 3. The car reportedly suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking, veered off the A‑52 motorway, and caught fire. Jota had married childhood sweetheart Rute Cardoso on June 22 and had three children. Having failed to arrive in Benavente, a relative alerted authorities, prompting discovery of the crash. Due to unidentifiable license‑plates and charred remains, Rute was called to identify the bodies and personal effects. She has since been given psychological counselling. The Civil Guard is probing the accident; initial reports indicate no other cars were involved. (PC: Liverpool FC)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Trinidad & Tobago on July 3, marking the first Indian PM visit since 1999. He warmly addressed the local Indian diaspora in Port of Spain and spotlighted strong Indo-Caribbean links. Notably, he called T&T’s PM Kamla Persad‑Bissessar “Bihar ki Beti,” acknowledging her family’s roots in Buxar, Bihar, and praising her cultural bond with the region. At the airport, Persad‑Bissessar and her Cabinet, donning Indian attire, welcomed him, and a Bhojpuri chautaal performance further underscored shared heritage. Modi also presented a Ram Mandir replica and sacred waters from Ayodhya’s Sangam and Sarayu River. He lauded Bihar’s global legacy in democracy and education, believing it will inspire the world. (PC: X/Narendra Modi)

Indian prodigy D. Gukesh stunned World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen with a rapid win at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz Croatia in Zagreb, extending his lead to 10 points and reinforcing his supremacy in the tournament . Former world champion Garry Kasparov, commentating, stated this “isn’t just his second loss…it’s a convincing loss,” adding that Carlsen’s dominance is now questionable . Gukesh’s strategic resilience, especially under time pressure, showcased his evolution as a top-tier threat. Carlsen had earlier labeled Gukesh as “presumably weaker” in rapid/blitz—a notion now refuted on the board. (PC: X)

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved ₹1.05 lakh crore worth of acquisitions, replenishing surface‑to‑air missile (SAM) stocks and adding 12 undersea mine‑countermeasure vessels. Triggered by Operation Sindoor where layered SAM defences shot down hundreds of Pakistani drones and missiles the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Rajnath Singh, cleared Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for ten military systems via indigenous procurement. While the exact number of SAMs was undisclosed, sources confirm restocking of missiles expended during recent skirmishes. The DAC also approved an electronic‑warfare suite and a joint logistics inventory‑management software, alongside the long‑awaited specialised naval vessels. (PC: News18 & DD News)