India on Tuesday summoned senior Iranian diplomats, including the Deputy Ambassador, to protest the death of an Indian sailor killed in a strike on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over the attack and urged Iran to ensure the safety of Indian nationals and merchant vessels operating in the region. The diplomatic move comes as tensions in the Gulf continue to rise, threatening one of the world's busiest shipping routes. India also called for restraint and stressed the need to protect civilian lives and maintain the security of international maritime navigation. (PC: India Today)

Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah’s government is facing mounting public anger after 25-year-old Ganesh Nepali died following self-immolation triggered by a confrontation with Kathmandu Metropolitan security guards. The incident has united anti-Balen groups and intensified criticism of the government’s handling of policing and displacement. Protesters, including former Gen Z supporters, accused authorities of mistreating vulnerable citizens after nearly 1,000 families displaced during an anti-encroachment drive were allegedly left without promised rehabilitation. Law student Majjid Ansari was among those detained during demonstrations. Two more self-immolation attempts followed. After the government promised an inquiry, compensation, employment for Nepali’s wife and educational support for his children, his family agreed to perform his funeral. (PC: The Indian Express)

Vietnam speedboat tragedy survivor Nirmal Kumar recalled that the vessel capsized within three minutes of departure after a massive wave struck near Hon May Rut Ngoai off Phu Quoc Island on July 11. The boat, carrying 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members, overturned just 300 metres into the journey, killing 15 Indian tourists. Kumar said around 20 passengers escaped by jumping into the water, while 15 others became trapped inside the closed boat despite wearing life jackets. Rescue teams arrived within 10 minutes, but trapped passengers were recovered after 20-30 minutes. Sixteen survivors returned to India, while one remains critically injured in Vietnam. (PC: PTI)

American citizen Jordan Brown, 36, from California, is under investigation after being detained by the Sashastra Seema Bal while allegedly attempting to cross the India-Nepal border without valid travel documents. Brown claimed he lost his passport in Thailand, travelled to Sri Lanka by sea, entered India via the sea route in November 2025, and had since been living in Goa. Authorities said no evidence of suspicious or anti-national links has emerged so far, but multiple intelligence agencies are verifying his identity, travel history and claims. Police registered a case under the Immigration and Foreigners Act after recovering cash, mobile phones and several other items from his possession during the arrest.

US President Donald Trump claimed Iran’s military had been devastated by recent US-Israeli strikes, asserting its navy, air force, air defences and senior leadership had been eliminated. Trump also said Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was “90% gone”, referring to reports that he is recovering from injuries sustained in an airstrike. Trump announced the reinstatement of an “Iranian blockade”, declared the US the “Guardian of the Hormuz Strait”, and proposed a 20% reimbursement on cargo transiting the waterway. Iran rejected the claims, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisting Tehran has always safeguarded the Strait and dismissing Washington’s proposal. (PC: CNN)

England and Argentina renew one of football’s fiercest rivalries in the FIFA World Cup semi-final, with Lionel Messi facing England for the first time. Their World Cup history spans six decades, blending sporting drama with political tensions rooted in the Falklands War. England lead the head-to-head 3-2 across five World Cup meetings. The rivalry began in 1962, intensified after the controversial 1966 quarter-final featuring Antonio Rattin’s dismissal, reached its peak in 1986 with Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” and stunning solo goal, continued through David Beckham’s red card and England’s penalty defeat in 1998, before Beckham’s redemption inspired England’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2002 group stage.

Justin Bieber has officially joined the star-studded FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Halftime Show, scheduled for July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium. FIFA and Global Citizen confirmed Bieber as a co-headliner alongside Madonna, Shakira and BTS, with Burna Boy, Gustavo Dudamel, PS22 Chorus and Coldplay also set to perform. Curated by Chris Martin, the show supports the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which has already raised over $50 million toward its $100 million goal to expand access to education and football for children worldwide. Bieber called the World Cup a unique global unifier and said he was grateful to contribute to a cause benefiting children through music. (PC: Getty/Kevin Mazur/Coachella)

India has officially launched its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar unveiling the SHANTI framework, securing Holistic Advancement through Norms, Trust and Integrity. The campaign highlights India's commitment to UN peacekeeping, strengthening the voice of the Global South, advancing reformed multilateralism, ensuring responsible use of artificial intelligence, enhancing maritime security and intensifying efforts against terror financing. Elections for the 2028-29 term will be held in June next year, when India will compete with Tajikistan for the sole Asia-Pacific Group seat. Jaishankar said India's approach is rooted in SHANTI and focused on global trust and integrity.

Jude Bellingham has climbed to second in the latest FIFA World Cup 2026 Power Rankings after scoring twice in England's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway. The England midfielder earned an Attacking Score of 8.25, overtaking Lionel Messi, who slipped to third with 8.07 after failing to score in Argentina's 3-1 win over Switzerland. France captain Kylian Mbappe retained the top spot with 8.97 following his goal against Morocco. Norway's Erling Haaland dropped to fourth after drawing a blank in defeat, while Ousmane Dembele rose to fifth. England captain Harry Kane slipped to ninth after failing to score. The semifinals feature France vs Spain and Argentina vs England. (PC: UEFA)

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed that two Emirati oil tankers struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz ignored repeated warnings, switched off their navigation systems and attempted to pass through what it described as a "mined route" despite military instructions. The response came after the United Arab Emirates confirmed that the attack in Omani territorial waters killed one Indian crew member and injured eight others. The vessels, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were targeted during heightened regional tensions. Iran defended the strikes by alleging the ships failed to comply with security directives, while the incident has intensified concerns over maritime safety in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. (PC: India Today)