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Tensions are rising in the Indo-Pacific as Taiwan, the Philippines and other US-aligned partners push back against surprise missile launches and military drills. Taiwan has criticised planned China-Indonesia naval exercises near its eastern coast, while the Philippines has described a recent Chinese missile test as a reckless display. With around 40 countries calling for advance warnings before missile launches, concerns are growing over regional stability and the risk of miscalculation.

Millions of Europeans are looking to the skies as a rare total solar eclipse sweeps across parts of the continent, briefly turning daylight into darkness. During totality, the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the Sun’s disc and revealing its normally hidden outer atmosphere, known as the corona. The eclipse’s path begins in Russia’s remote Arctic north before moving across Greenland and Iceland and into Spain. Northern Spain is expected to offer some of the best viewing opportunities, with the Moon’s shadow crossing the country from the Atlantic coast towards the Mediterranean. The event has also become a major tourism attraction, with hundreds of thousands of visitors travelling towards the path of totality. Hotels and other accommodations in several locations have reportedly filled up, while authorities have increased emergency, transport and security resources to manage the expected crowds.

Taiwan has stepped up military readiness with its annual Han Kuang military exercises, designed to test the island’s ability to respond to a potential Chinese attack. The drills use live troops, real terrain and military equipment to test command coordination, combat responsiveness and homeland defence capabilities. Taiwanese authorities say the exercises are aimed at strengthening national defence capabilities and improving coordination between the military and coast guard in the face of external threats. The annual drills come amid continued tensions across the Taiwan Strait and growing concerns over China’s military pressure on Taiwan.

The German government says the reforms are needed to better combat the growing threat from cyber and hybrid attacks. They will give domestic and foreign intelligence services more scope in gathering and storing information, as well as operational powers to fight acts of sabotage and hacking.

The Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate, with both sides exchanging heavy long-range strikes far beyond the front lines. Ukrainian drone attacks in Russia’s southern regions reportedly killed two people, including an eight-year-old child, while debris damaged buildings in the port city of Novorossiysk. Russian authorities said their air defenses shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones over Russian territory and the Black Sea. Ukraine, meanwhile, reported that Russian drone and missile strikes killed civilians in Kherson. Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched a large wave of missiles and drones targeting areas including the Odesa region and northeastern Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also warned that Russia could be preparing for a new mobilisation following its September parliamentary elections. Ukrainian authorities say intelligence points to preparations for a potential large-scale recruitment drive, although Russian officials have not confirmed such a plan.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police are investigating a 1990 double murder case involving a Kashmiri Pandit father-son duo. The case relates to the killing of the father and son during a period of heightened violence and unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. The investigation is focused on establishing the circumstances surrounding the killings and identifying those responsible. The development has once again brought attention to cases involving Kashmiri Pandits from the turbulent period of the 1990s and the continuing efforts to investigate unresolved cases. Watch this space for the latest updates on the J&K Police investigation, the 1990 killings and developments in the case.

Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim faces mounting losses as Ukrainian attacks target warehouses, threatening Russia’s biggest e-commerce empire.

Salman Khan has recently spoken about his upcoming film 7 Dogs, starring Egyptian actors Karim Abdel-Aziz and Ahmed Ezz. Praising the action and scale of the project, he said Indian audiences will enjoy it.

Promoted at Copenhagen Fashion Week, lingerie pieces are replacing wardrobe staples—like pairing a bra top with a blazer to redefine the three-piece suit, or brides repurposing corsets for post-wedding wear.

Cristiano Ronaldo left a touching comment on Lionel Messi’s emotional tribute to his late father, Jorge Messi. Read Ronaldo’s full message of support here.

A ferry carrying 95 people capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba, triggering a major search-and-rescue operation. The vessel overturned near Long Island, with rescue teams working to locate passengers amid reports of possible fatalities. Authorities have urged the public to await official casualty figures.

Parliament has witnessed disruptions through almost the entire Monsoon Session, with the Opposition raising issues including the July 20 student protest, alleged Ram Mandir donation theft and the NEET paper leak.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a resolution opposing delimitation, urging the Union government to permanently retain the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats based on the population figures of the 1971 Census. The resolution, moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, received support from the DMK, despite the party previously skipping Vijay’s all-party meeting on delimitation. Vijay also called for the immediate implementation of 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, arguing that the quota should be calculated on the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats. The Tamil Nadu government has also taken strong positions on several other issues, including NEET, the proposed FCRA amendments, and the state’s anti-drug campaign.

Philippines Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio said the BrahMos missile deal with India provides “real credible deterrence” for Manila while strengthening its territorial defence and deepening India-Philippines defence cooperation amid South China Sea tensions.

A rail route gives Moscow alternate route to reach markets in India and the wider Global South without facing major Western sanctions and shipping, logistics constraints it has been subjected too since 2022, after it launched an attack on Ukraine.

Following the release of Ramayana trailer, several social media users questioned film’s visual effects and CGI. Recently, Ranbir Kapoor took an aim at what he described as “CG critics”.

Test cricket returns to Darwin after 22 years as Australia hosts Bangladesh in the 1st Test. Check the match preview, pitch conditions, and Australia's confirmed XI.

Kazakhstan is building a major new highway that could reshape the economics of trade between China and Europe. The project is expected to cut nearly 1,000 kilometres from existing transit routes through Kazakhstan while improving connections to the Trans-Caspian, or Middle Corridor. The route will move cargo from China through Kazakhstan toward Caspian ports, across the Caspian Sea and onward through the South Caucasus and Türkiye toward Europe. Kazakhstan expects the project to reduce delivery times to around three days and increase cargo volumes along the route by nearly 2.5 times. The shift comes as geopolitical tensions, sanctions, insurance costs and disruptions have made the traditional northern corridor through Russia less attractive. Meanwhile, Red Sea attacks have forced shipping routes to take longer journeys around Africa, increasing costs and transit times.

This AI-generated video of less than a minute has been shared online by viewers across the world and has garnered more than 5 million views across social platforms in less than four days. Most social media users assumed it to be a creation of a film studio or a professional 3D animation team.