India captain Shubman Gill scripted history on Day 2 of the 2nd Test at Edgbaston, scoring a majestic 269 to lead India to 587 all out against England. It was Gill's maiden double century and the highest score by any Indian or Asian captain in a Test match on English soil, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s 221 at The Oval in 1979. Yashasvi Jaiswal (87) and Ravindra Jadeja (89) also made strong contributions. England’s Shoaib Bashir claimed 3 wickets, while Josh Tongue and Chris Woakes picked 2 each. Gill’s innings anchored a dominant Indian performance as England prepare to respond. (PC: BCCI)

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy head of the Russian Navy, was killed during “combat work” in Russia’s western Kursk region near the Ukraine border, Russia’s defence ministry confirmed. Appointed in March by President Putin, Gudkov died alongside 10 others, reportedly in a Ukrainian missile strike near Korenevo, about 30 km from Ukraine’s Sumy region. Gudkov, who once led the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, was a decorated officer honoured with the Hero of Russia medal. Ukraine has not officially claimed responsibility. Simultaneously, strikes in Odesa and Poltava killed 4 and injured dozens, amid ongoing cross-border escalations. (PC: Reuters)

Wimbledon 2025 Day 4 saw Novak Djokovic dominate Daniel Evans 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 to storm into the third round. The 7-time champion looked unstoppable in a straight-sets victory. Women’s top seed Iga Swiatek was in action against Caty McNally, while Elena Rybakina defeated Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1 to progress. Rising star Mirra Andreeva also booked her place in Round 3 with a 6-1, 7-6(4) win over Lucia Bronzetti. Corentin Moutet and Grigor Dimitrov battled through a tight second set on Court 3. Emma Navarro and Alex de Minaur continued their campaigns, with high-stakes matchups expected on Day 5. (PC: India Today)

Rana Sanaullah, adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has revealed that during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan’s military had just 30–45 seconds to assess whether India’s BrahMos missile strike on the Nur Khan airbase carried a nuclear warhead—warning this split-second analysis risked triggering global nuclear war . The missile struck on May 10, targeting multiple airbases, including Nur Khan near Islamabad, damaging runways and hangars . Sanaullah also credited former US President Trump with helping de-escalate tensions—an assertion India denies, stating Pakistan’s own military initiated a ceasefire dialogue. (PC: X)  

A Sports Ministry source confirmed that despite recent political tensions, Pakistan’s men's hockey team has received all-clearances from the Ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, and Sports to travel to India for the upcoming Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, scheduled from 27 August to 7 September 2025 . This move reflects India’s commitment to uphold the principles of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits excluding nations from multilateral sporting events . The approval similarly extends to the Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai this November–December . While bilateral series remain suspended, officials emphasize that allowing participation in continental tournaments supports sports diplomacy and safeguards India’s standing in global sports administration. (PC: Getty Images)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his two-day visit to Ghana’s capital Accra, marking the first visit by an Indian PM in over 30 years, and elevated bilateral ties to a “Comprehensive Partnership.” He engaged with President John Dramani Mahama, signing four pacts on culture, defence, fintech, and healthcare, and was awarded the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana. Modi addressed Ghana’s Parliament, praising trade, energy, critical minerals, and maritime collaborations. He departed for Port of Spain on July 3 to begin the Trinidad and Tobago leg (July 3–4), where he will address Parliament and foster deeper cultural and diplomatic connections. (PC: X)

Global tributes are pouring in after Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in Spain. Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said, “We will miss you so much,” while Cristiano Ronaldo wrote, “It doesn’t make sense.” Prince William and Princess Kate, along with Liverpool FC, Wolves, and FC Porto, expressed shock at the “unimaginable loss.” Jota had been driving to catch a ferry after surgery when the car crashed. Known for his humility and fierce play, Jota’s death has left the football community united in grief and remembrance.(PC: BBC)

India captain Shubman Gill created history on Day 2 of the 2nd Test against England at Edgbaston by scoring a stunning 257*—his highest Test score and the highest ever by an Indian in England, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar’s 221. Gill also went past Virat Kohli’s 254* to register the highest Test score by an Indian captain. Resuming on 114, the skipper powered India to 547/6 by stumps. Washington Sundar supported with a gritty 35*, while England’s bowlers struggled for breakthroughs. Gill’s marathon knock is being hailed as one of the greatest overseas innings by an Indian batter in modern Test cricket. (PC: BCCI)

Producer Namit Malhotra recently premiered the first glimpse of Ramayana, touted as India’s costliest film (₹835 crore), across major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai . Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the two‑part epic stars Ranbir Kapoor (Lord Ram), Yash (Ravana), Sai Pallavi (Sita), and Sunny Deol (Hanuman), with music by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer . The 3‑minute 3D IMAX teaser brought audiences to their feet with slick VFX and emotive visuals . Malhotra emphasized this film celebrates India’s cultural narrative on a global scale, marking a groundbreaking moment in Indian cinema . Part 1 is set to release during Diwali 2026, with Part 2 following in 2027. (PC: Deccan Herrald)  

A transformer near the Trauma Centre at AIIMS in Delhi caught fire following a blast on July 3 at around 3:34 PM. Delhi Fire Services swiftly deployed eight fire tenders, extinguishing the blaze by approximately 3:55 PM. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported, and the fire was confined to the transformer unit. Authorities confirmed the incident and noted AIIMS has yet to release an official statement. The quick emergency response ensured patient safety remained uncompromised. (PC: HT Photo)