Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has joined top Esports team Team Liquid ahead of the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where chess debuts as a competitive title. Magnus Carlsen, already part of Team Liquid, welcomed him saying, “Whole lot of letters in Praggnanandhaa, but no ‘I’.” Hikaru Nakamura hailed him as a “rare gem.” Praggnanandhaa will compete in the Last Chance Qualifiers. Other Indian chess stars—Arjun Erigaisi (Gen.G), Nihal Sarin, and Aravindh Chithambaram—have also signed with Esports teams. The event will host 200 teams and 2,000 players across 24 titles with a record $70 million prize pool. (PC: The Indian Express)

Iran has ruled out resuming diplomatic talks with the US unless Washington pledges to halt further military strikes. Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC that recent US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—undermined negotiations. He demanded clarity on whether such “acts of aggression” would continue during dialogue. The US has reportedly signaled it does not seek regime change. Iran insists on its right to uranium enrichment, calling demands for “zero enrichment” unjust. Meanwhile, the UN’s Rafael Grossi warned Iran could resume uranium production within months. Talks remain frozen since Trump exited the 2015 nuclear deal. (PC: NDTV)

Wimbledon 2025 has kicked off with record-breaking heat, as the Met Office reported the hottest opening day in the tournament’s history. Provisional data showed temperatures reaching 29.7°C at Kew Gardens, surpassing the previous record of 29.3°C. The scorching heat made conditions tough for players and fans alike on Monday. Organisers implemented additional hydration and cooling measures to support athletes and spectators during the extreme heat. The unusually hot weather follows a broader pattern of high summer temperatures across the UK. The Met Office is continuing to monitor conditions as the tournament progresses over the next two weeks. (PC: PA)

Brazil has expressed interest in India’s Akash air defence system following its successful deployment during Operation Sindoor. Ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Brazil for the BRICS Summit from July 5–8, India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed discussions on defence cooperation, including Akash, Garuda artillery guns, and Scorpene-class submarine maintenance. Operation Sindoor saw India repel aerial attacks from Pakistan using Akash and other systems. India’s swift response with indigenous defence platforms reportedly impressed Brazil. The visit is part of Modi’s five-nation tour, covering Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, focusing on bolstering strategic and defence partnerships. (PC: News18)

Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has once again dog-whistled support for extremism, calling terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir a “legitimate struggle.” Speaking at a naval event in Karachi, Munir claimed Pakistan would always back Kashmiris' “right to self-determination” and warned India of a “befitting response” to any future attacks. He also called Pakistan a “net regional stabiliser” and cited past conflicts like Balakot and Operation Sindoor. Munir accused India of suppressing the Kashmiri movement and vowed to continue efforts against terrorism, while India maintains that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of the country. (PC: India Today)

A 24‑year‑old first-year law student at South Calcutta Law College was allegedly gang‑raped on June 25 by ex-student Manojit Mishra and two senior students. The medical report confirms violent rape with bite marks and nail scratches . CCTV footage shows the survivor being dragged into the guard’s room . Two accused recorded the assault on their phones, using the footage to blackmail her . Forensics teams have recovered the hockey stick, DNA samples, and clothing matching CCTV visuals . A nine-member SIT is investigating, and college authorities have suspended classes and taken disciplinary action. (PC: PTI)

A massive heatwave is gripping Europe, with record high temperatures in France, Spain, Italy, and other countries. France has issued orange alerts in 84 regions. Spain and Portugal saw their hottest June days ever, reaching over 46°C. Italy has put 21 cities, including Rome and Milan, on red alert. Schools in France have closed, and emergency services are on standby. Fires have broken out in Turkey, Greece, and Croatia. Rivers are drying, and hospitals report more heatstroke cases. Experts warn that heatwaves are becoming more frequent due to climate change. People are being urged to stay indoors and stay safe. (PC: AFP)

India carried out precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during Operation Sindoor on May 7. Satellite images show major damage to two camps—Syedna Bilal in Muzaffarabad and Gulpur camp in Kotli. Both camps trained terrorists linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Drones were likely used for the attack. One building was split in half, and no harm was done to nearby areas. The strikes followed a terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians. Army sources say over 100 terrorists were killed. Experts say these strikes will hurt terror planning and morale in the region.

India is building a new version of its Agni-5 missile that can carry a huge 7,500-kg bunker-buster warhead. The missile is being developed by the DRDO and will target underground enemy bunkers. It can go 80 to 100 metres deep before exploding. The new missile will not carry nuclear weapons but will still be very powerful. Two types are being made—one for airburst and one for deep strikes. It will travel at hypersonic speed and have a range of 2,500 km. This move follows the US using similar weapons in Iran and shows India’s growing strength in defence technology. (PC: X/@Kunal_Biswas707)

Reports suggest that Pakistan and China are in advanced talks—boosted by a June 19 trilateral meeting in Kunming with Bangladesh—to launch a new South Asian bloc, potentially supplanting the dormant SAARC . The objective is to enhance regional trade, connectivity, and infrastructure cooperation among “willing” members, possibly including Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Bangladesh . Although India might be invited, its participation appears unlikely . The move reflects frustration over SAARC’s inactivity—last summit held in 2014—and signals Beijing and Islamabad's desire to reshape South Asian diplomacy. (The Hindu)