🇮🇳 National News
Sub-Lieutenant Astha Poonia became the first woman to be inducted into the fighter stream of the Indian Navy, marking a major milestone in gender inclusivity in combat roles.
She received the “Wings of Gold” from Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air), on 3 July 2025 at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam.
Poonia completed the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course alongside Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull.
This milestone emphasizes the Navy’s commitment to gender equality and expanding women’s roles in combat aviation.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced that Puri, one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites, will be upgraded to a municipal corporation.
Puri will join Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Berhampur, and Rourkela as the sixth municipal corporation in Odisha.
This transformation aims to enhance civic services and manage the city’s increasing population and footfall, especially during festivals like Rath Yatra and Bahuda Yatra.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has introduced a new toll calculation formula that will reduce toll charges by up to 50% on National Highway stretches that include bridges, tunnels, flyovers, and elevated roads.
The objective is to lower travel costs and boost the use of these roadways.
Kerala is set to launch its first-ever Skin Bank at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College, coinciding with World Plastic Surgery Day.
Key Details:
- Established at a cost of ₹6.75 crore
- Aims to provide crucial support to burn victims across the state
- Approved by Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO) for accepting skin donations
Bengal is set to host India’s first dedicated sports university, named Netaji Subhas University of Sports and Entrepreneurship (NSUSE), in Chinsurah, Hooghly.
Initiated by the Techno India Group, this private university will be a national first, blending sports education with entrepreneurship.
The Netaji Subhash University of Sports and Entrepreneurship Bill, 2025, was recently passed in the Bengal Assembly and awaits the Governor’s assent.
This will be India’s first dedicated sports university, promising to transform India’s sports and youth empowerment landscape.
The Chhattisgarh Cabinet has approved the State Logistics Policy 2025 with the objective of transforming the centrally located state into a logistics and export hub.
The policy is aligned with India’s National Logistics Policy and focuses on:
- Improving infrastructure
- Reducing logistics costs
- Enhancing export competitiveness
Students of S.R.N. Mehta CBSE School, Kalaburagi, secured first prize in the NASA-NSS Space Settlement Design Contest 2025 (8th grade category) for their innovative “IRA” space colony project.
Contest Details:
- Organized by NASA Ames Research Center and National Space Society
- 4,900+ students from 25 countries participated
- Project developed by an 11-member team
The winning project “IRA” emphasized sustainability, safety, and green technologies in a self-supporting orbital colony.
Indian Grandmaster and World Chess Champion D. Gukesh clinched the rapid title at the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz 2025 tournament in Zagreb, Croatia, scoring 14 points out of 18.
Gukesh showcased brilliant form across three days with five consecutive wins. On the final day, he drew with Anish Giri and Ivan Saric, before defeating Wesley So.
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D. Gukesh (India) | 14 |
| 2 | Jan-Krzysztof Duda | 11 |
| 3 | Magnus Carlsen | 10 |
💼 Business & Economy
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has committed ₹460 crore to IndiGrid for building India’s largest standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Gujarat.
Funding Details:
- Long-term financing of USD 55 million (approximately ₹460 crore)
- Structured through listed non-convertible debentures
- USD 38.5 million from IFC’s own account
The project will support Gujarat’s clean energy goals by improving grid stability and ensuring reliable power during peak demand.
🌐 International News
Russia became the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan since it seized power in 2021.
This came after Moscow officially removed the Taliban from its list of outlawed organisations.
The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed it had received credentials from Afghanistan’s newly appointed Ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan.
This decision is likely to influence how other nations interact with Afghanistan going forward, potentially reshaping international relations in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the nation’s highest civilian award, during his first official visit to the Caribbean country.
This honour recognizes his global leadership and efforts to strengthen ties with the Indian diaspora.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Trinidad & Tobago, marking the first Indian Prime Ministerial visit in over 25 years (since 1999).
The visit led to the signing of six important Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in Port of Spain:
- Pharmaceutical standards
- Quick impact infrastructure projects
- Cultural exchange
- Sports development
- Diplomatic training
- Sharing official records and research
This is the first Indian PM visit to Trinidad & Tobago since 1999, symbolizing a renewed diplomatic push.
📅 Important Days
Every year on July 6, World Zoonoses Day is commemorated as the anniversary of the first-ever vaccine given for any zoonotic disease way back in 1885.
The purpose of this day is to raise awareness of illnesses that can spread from animals to humans.
On July 6, 1885, Louis Pasteur successfully administered the first rabies vaccine to a 9-year-old boy named Joseph Meister, marking a breakthrough in fighting zoonotic diseases.
🕊️ Obituaries
Peter Rufai, former Nigeria goalkeeper, passed away at the age of 61.
Career Highlights:
- Instrumental in Nigeria’s victory at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations
- 20-year playing career
- Represented clubs in Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands
Michael Madsen, the iconic Hollywood actor, passed away at the age of 67.
Notable Roles in Quentin Tarantino Films:
- Reservoir Dogs (1992) – as Mr. Blonde
- Kill Bill: Volume 1 & 2
- The Hateful Eight
He was found unresponsive at his Malibu home. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported no foul play.
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