External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will launch India’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term in New York on July 13. He will also meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres during his visit. India will contest the Asia-Pacific Group seat in elections scheduled for June 2027. The country’s campaign theme is “#India4UNSC 2028-29: Peace, Planet, Progress.” After New York, Jaishankar will travel to Brussels for the India-European Union Trade and Technology Council meeting. India has served as an elected member of the UNSC eight times, most recently in 2021-22. (PC: @DrSJaishankar)

Europe will witness its first total solar eclipse in nearly 30 years on August 12. The rare event will turn daytime into darkness in parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, Portugal and Russia. The UK will see a partial eclipse, with up to 95% of the Sun covered in some areas. Experts say the event will briefly reduce light and temperature. People are advised to use certified eclipse glasses and never look directly at the Sun. Millions are expected to watch the eclipse across Europe. Scientists say it will be one of the biggest sky events of the year. (PC: AP)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing growing calls for an independent investigation over the decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension during the 2026 World Cup. Seventy-two members of the European Parliament have asked football associations across the European Union to support the probe. They want to know if political pressure influenced FIFA’s decision. The controversy began after Balogun’s one-match ban was overturned, allowing him to play against Belgium. Infantino denied any personal role and said FIFA’s independent bodies made the decision. UEFA criticised the move, saying it raised concerns about the integrity of the game. (PC: AP)

Typhoon Bavi is moving across the Pacific and is expected to hit Taiwan and parts of China this weekend. The powerful storm has already caused deadly landslides in the southern Philippines, where at least 15 people have died. Rescue teams are searching for missing people. Authorities in Taiwan have warned of heavy rain and possible flooding. Thousands of soldiers are on standby for rescue work. Schools have closed and many flights have been cancelled across the region. Residents are buying food and supplies before the storm arrives. Officials have urged people to stay indoors and follow safety warnings. (PC: EPA, Reuters)

Spain reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals after beating Belgium 2-1 on Friday. While Lamine Yamal impressed on the field, his three-year-old half-brother Keyne became the star in the stands. Television cameras showed the toddler cheering, waving and making funny faces during the match. The clips quickly went viral on social media. It was not the first time Keyne caught fans’ attention during the tournament. He also celebrated Spain’s earlier win over Austria. Spain will now face France in the semi-finals. Fans are looking forward to seeing both Yamal’s football and Keyne’s cheerful support once again.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited New Zealand on Saturday, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country in 40 years. At a special event in Auckland, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcomed him, saying, “You are worth the wait.” Modi said India and New Zealand were taking their ties to a strategic partnership. He expressed confidence that bilateral trade would double by 2030. Modi also highlighted India’s fast-growing economy and opportunities in fintech, space and manufacturing. The two leaders discussed stronger cooperation in trade, defence, education, sports and maritime security.

A Hyderabad couple has gone missing during a holiday in Switzerland, police said. Businessman Pabba Chandrasekhar, 51, and his wife Swapna, 42, left India on June 22. They stayed in touch with family until July 8. After that, their phones became unreachable. Their daughter filed a missing persons complaint. Police are checking the couple's travel records and financial transactions. They are also looking into claims that the couple collected nearly ₹50 crore from more than 60 investors. No cheating case has been registered so far. Police said the investigation is ongoing and all possibilities are being examined.

The Indian Navy will commission the stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. It is the fourth naval ship to join the fleet in less than a month. India aims to build a 200-warship navy by 2035 using Indian shipyards. However, many future warship projects are still waiting for approval. Experts say these delays could create gaps as older ships retire. They also point to slow shipbuilding and dependence on foreign technology as major concerns. The Navy is working to increase local production and improve its defence industry to meet future security needs.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has rejected claims that FIFA is helping his team at the 2026 World Cup. Speaking before Argentina's quarter-final against Switzerland, Scaloni said, “They don’t want us to win” because Argentina are the defending champions. He said the criticism motivates his players to perform even better. The debate began after controversial VAR and referee decisions during Argentina’s match against Egypt. Some fans questioned those calls. However, Scaloni said VAR makes it very hard to favour any team. He added that referees are following the rules. Argentina will face Switzerland on Sunday for a place in the semi-finals. (PC: AFP)

US President Donald Trump has issued one of his strongest warnings to Iran, declaring that the United States would unleash overwhelming military force if Tehran attempts to assassinate him. The statement follows renewed intelligence reports and public threats linked to Iran after the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump claimed he had instructed the US military to respond with devastating strikes, saying hundreds of missiles were ready if such an attack occurred. The remarks further heighten tensions between Washington and Tehran, raising concerns over regional stability and the future of diplomatic efforts. (PC: Reuters)