Air Commodore Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, one of the astronauts selected for India's Gaganyaan mission, has been awarded the Kirti Chakra by President Droupadi Murmu. The Kirti Chakra is India's second-highest peacetime gallantry award. Nair received the honour for his contribution to India's human spaceflight programme and his role as a backup astronaut for the Axiom-4 mission. A decorated Indian Air Force test pilot, he is among the four astronauts chosen for the Gaganyaan mission. Nair has undergone extensive training in India and Russia and has played a key role in advancing India's ambitions in human space exploration. (PC: Screengrab)

6.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of western Cuba late on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake occurred about 118 kilometres west-northwest of Mantua at a depth of 33 kilometres. Tremors were also felt across parts of Southwest Florida. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or major damage. No tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake. Officials are continuing to monitor the situation and assess any possible impact. The quake comes just hours after a powerful earthquake in the Philippines caused widespread damage and loss of life. 

Iran and Israel have announced a halt to attacks after exchanging fire for the first time since an April ceasefire. Iran launched around 30 missiles at Israel in response to an Israeli strike in Beirut, while Israel carried out air strikes on military targets in Iran. Iran said it had delivered a "painful response" and warned of stronger action if Israel attacks Lebanon again. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is holding fire for now but will respond to any future attacks. The pause came after US President Donald Trump urged both sides to stop fighting immediately. (PC: Reuters)

7 Indian workers were killed and nine others injured in a road accident on Dubai's Emirates Road on Monday. The workers were travelling in a minibus when it crashed into a truck that had stopped on the road due to a mechanical fault. Dubai Police said preliminary investigations suggest the bus driver failed to maintain a safe distance and collided with the truck from behind. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. The Indian Consulate in Dubai expressed condolences and said officials had visited the injured workers in hospital. It is also coordinating with local authorities and affected families.

US federal court has ruled that the $100,000 fee imposed on new H-1B visa applications by President Donald Trump was unlawful. US District Judge Leo Sorokin made the decision in a case brought by 20 Democratic state attorneys general. The fee was introduced in September as part of efforts to reduce the hiring of foreign workers. The H-1B visa programme allows US companies to employ skilled foreign professionals, many of whom are from India. The court's ruling means the fee must be invalidated. The decision is expected to benefit employers and skilled workers seeking H-1B visas. (PC: Bloomberg)

India and the United States are moving closer to finalising the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement, but an Indian trade official said the deal can only be concluded after Washington completes its Section 301 unfair trade practices investigation. India is seeking assurances that it will not face additional US tariffs after the agreement is signed. The issue is significant because the temporary 10% US tariffs expire on July 24, after which MFN tariffs would apply. The Trump administration has also proposed 12.5% tariffs on India and 53 other countries following a USTR probe. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said negotiations are progressing rapidly, with both sides targeting a mid-July implementation timeline. (PC: X)

At least 32 people were killed and more than 100 injured after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Authorities reported widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings, landslides and damaged infrastructure, while nearly two dozen people remain missing. Around 10,000 residents were evacuated as tsunami alerts were issued across the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Australia, though several warnings were later lifted. General Santos City and Sarangani province were among the hardest-hit areas. More than 130 aftershocks followed the main quake. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered an emergency response and suspended classes in affected regions as rescue operations continued.

At least seven people were killed and nine others injured after a minibus carrying Indian workers collided with a truck on Emirates Road in Dubai. According to Dubai Police, the truck had reportedly stopped in the middle of the road due to a technical fault when the bus crashed into it from behind. Authorities said five of the injured sustained serious injuries, while four suffered moderate wounds and were shifted to hospital for treatment. The Indian Consulate in Dubai expressed grief over the tragedy, confirmed assistance for affected nationals, and said officials had visited the injured. Investigators are examining the exact circumstances that led to the crash. (PC: Reuters)

India has issued a fresh travel advisory urging citizens to avoid travelling to Iran and advising those already in the country to leave immediately through available transport options. The advisory follows renewed hostilities between Iran and Israel, marked by missile exchanges and retaliatory strikes. The Indian Embassy in Tehran reiterated its earlier warning, citing the deteriorating regional security situation. The escalation saw Iran launch ballistic missiles toward Israel, followed by Israeli strikes on military targets in western and central Iran. Explosions were also reported in Beirut, while the United States issued security alerts in Jordan. The developments have heightened concerns over stability and civilian safety across the region.

A Germany-based engineer, Sushant, sparked an online discussion after sharing five aspects of German workplace culture that surprised him. He noted that employees address everyone, including CEOs, by their first names instead of using titles like “sir” or “madam.” Meetings typically end once the agenda is completed, while lunch breaks are treated as protected personal time. Vacations are respected, with employees considered fully unavailable and not expected to respond to work messages. Sick leave is also taken seriously, without guilt or repeated questioning. Reflecting on his adjustment, Sushant said he still occasionally says “sir” out of habit. The post triggered wider comparisons between Indian and European workplace norms. (PC: HT)