Major Sita Ashok Shelke, the sole female officer in her unit, has garnered widespread acclaim for her role in swiftly rebuilding a vital Bailey Bridge in Kerala's Wayanad. The bridge, completed in just 31 hours by the Madras Engineering Group, was crucial after landslides hit the region. Anand Mahindra praised Major Shelke as the "Wonder Woman" of Wayanad, highlighting her bravery and leadership. Major Shelke, reflecting on the achievement, expressed pride in representing the Indian Army and gratitude towards local and state officials who supported the effort.

France, the US, and Britain have issued urgent warnings for foreign nationals to leave Lebanon due to escalating violence. The situation intensified after Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel in retaliation for high-profile Israeli killings, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The Israeli military reported intercepting most of the 30 projectiles launched. The conflict, now nearly ten months old, has seen significant casualties on both sides. Western airlines have suspended flights, and the French foreign ministry has advised its citizens to exit Lebanon promptly due to the "highly volatile" security situation.

Despite a semifinal defeat to Viktor Axelsen at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Lakshya Sen's parents remain optimistic about his chances for a bronze medal. Dhirendra Kumar Sen and Nirmala Sen expressed pride in their son's performance and confidence for the upcoming playoff. “Lakshya tried his best but this happens in matches sometimes. We would have been happier if he had won,” said Dhirendra. He added, “We will prepare for the Bronze medal match tomorrow.” Nirmala noted, “He did his best and reached the semifinals. Now we are waiting for bronze tomorrow.”

Bangladesh is in chaos with at least 52 people killed in violent protests on Sunday. Protesters have set fire to Awami League offices across districts, and security forces have not intervened. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared an indefinite nationwide curfew. The Bangladesh Army has expressed its support for the people, while former military officers have joined the student-led movement. Experts predict a potential military transition if the Hasina government falls. The unrest, sparked by opposition to a quota system for government jobs, continues to escalate.

Rangers at Glacier National Park in the US recovered the body of 26-year-old Siddhant Vitthal Patil, a tech professional from California, who fell into Avalanche Creek on July 6 and drowned. Patil was hiking with friends when he slipped and was swept away by the current. After weeks of challenging search efforts, including aerial and drone searches, his body was found by a park visitor. Patil’s family expressed gratitude to the rangers and Indian American community leader Prem Bhandari for their support. Efforts are underway to repatriate his remains to India for final rites.

Fresh violence erupted in Bangladesh, resulting in 32 deaths and numerous injuries as student protesters clashed with police and ruling party activists. The unrest, demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, led to a nationwide curfew starting at 6 pm. Protesters, opposed to the government job quota system, clashed with police and torched vehicles in Dhaka and other cities. Prime Minister Hasina labeled the protesters as “terrorists” and called for their suppression. The Indian High Commission advised nationals to stay alert amid the escalating situation.

India’s hockey team triumphed over Great Britain 1-1 (4-2 SO) in a gripping quarterfinal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with PR Sreejesh emerging as the hero. Despite being a player down for most of the match, Sreejesh’s exceptional goalkeeping, especially in the shootout, was crucial. “Sreejesh was outstanding. His saves were the difference,” praised Indian coach Harendra Singh. Sreejesh himself commented, “I was just focused on doing my job and helping the team.” Successful shootout conversions from Harmanpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, and Raj Kumar Pal secured India’s place in the semifinals. “It’s a dream come true to reach the semifinals,” said Sreejesh. India will now face either Argentina or Germany for a spot in the final.

In a landmark move 25 years after the US imposed sanctions on India over nuclear tests, NASA will welcome Indian astronauts Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair for the Axiom-4 mission. This mission will see them join astronauts from the US, Hungary, and Poland on a SpaceX Falcon-9 and Crew Dragon to the ISS. The sanctions, which restricted advanced technology transfers to ISRO, have given way to a robust partnership. This collaboration reflects a significant shift in Indo-US relations and a renewed commitment to global space exploration.

Lakshya Sen was defeated by Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles semi-final at the Paris Olympics 2024, with scores of 22-20, 21-14. Despite a strong start, Sen couldn’t sustain his lead against the reigning champion. The loss means Sen will now compete for the bronze medal. Reflecting on the match, Sen noted his need for a more aggressive strategy and is determined to focus on securing a podium finish in the upcoming bronze medal match.              

Violent clashes erupted in Bangladesh today, resulting in 21 deaths amid protests against a controversial government job quota. The protests, demanding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, followed earlier unrest that claimed over 200 lives. Indian nationals in Bangladesh are advised to stay in touch with the Assistant High Commission and remain vigilant. The Bangladesh Home Ministry has imposed a nationwide curfew from 6 pm, while Prime Minister Hasina condemned the violence, labeling protesters as terrorists. The unrest has seen significant property damage and continued calls for justice and government reform.