After nearly two years of conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House, as US President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to finalize a Gaza ceasefire. A proposed 60-day truce involving phased hostage releases and Israeli troop withdrawals is on the table. While Hamas has responded positively, disputes remain over aid control and troop timelines. Meanwhile, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, with malnutrition and displacement worsening. Israeli public sentiment leans toward a deal, as families of hostages push for full releases. Trump hopes success here will support broader Middle East diplomatic priorities, including Israel-Saudi normalisation.
TRUMP THREATENS BRICS
US President Donald Trump has warned that countries aligning with BRICS policies opposing US interests will face an additional 10% import tariff starting August 1. The announcement comes as Trump intensifies pressure on nations ahead of a July 9 trade deadline. So far, the US has reached deals with the UK, Vietnam, and partially with China. BRICS, recently expanded to include 11 members, has criticised US tariffs and proposed IMF reforms. Trump’s move risks global trade disruptions, especially with countries dependent on China. Business leaders warn shifting supply chains from China remains difficult in practice.
UK ENGINEERS INSPECT STRANDED JET
A British F-35B stealth fighter jet has been grounded in Kerala, India, for over three weeks after being diverted due to bad weather and developing a technical snag. Despite initial inspections by engineers aboard HMS Prince of Wales, the issue remains unresolved. A 14-member UK team with specialised equipment has now arrived to assess and potentially repair the aircraft. Until then, the $110 million jet remains at Thiruvananthapuram airport under round-the-clock RAF guard. If it cannot be made airworthy, it may need to be dismantled and flown out on a large cargo aircraft like a C-17.
INDIAN ASTRONAUT CAPTURES GLOBAL ATTENTION
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has captured global attention with breathtaking photos from the International Space Station (ISS), shared by the Indian government via MyGovIndia. Shukla, aboard the ISS as part of the Axiom-4 mission, is the first Indian in space since Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission. The viral images show him gazing at Earth from the Cupola Module and conducting experiments in microgravity. Now 11 days into his 14-day mission, Shukla’s achievement represents a significant milestone in India’s human spaceflight ambitions. His journey marks a new era in Indian space exploration and global collaboration aboard the ISS.
INDONESIA JOINS BRICS
At the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, leaders formally welcomed Indonesia as a full BRICS member. Ten other nations—Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Cuba, Vietnam, Uganda, and Uzbekistan—were named as partner countries. The joint declaration emphasized global collaboration on climate finance, AI governance, and eradicating socially determined diseases. PM Modi called for reforming institutions like the UN Security Council and WTO, stating that global systems must match today’s fast-paced technological world. This expansion reflects BRICS’ evolving relevance and ambition to shape global governance frameworks more inclusively and dynamically.
