NEW The Indian Express Tue 14 Jul 2026 10:16:23 PM

Trump reverses decision to impose 20% Hormuz fees in favour of Gulf investment deals

SUMMARY
US President Trump on Tuesday stepped back from his decision to impose a 20 per cent fee on all the cargo being shipped through the Strait of Hormuz as part of the conflict with Iran, saying the Gulf countries would instead make investments and trade deals with America. After Tehran said it had closed the strategic waterway, the US military continued its wave of attacks for the third night in a row.
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Trump reverses decision to impose 20% Hormuz fees in favour of Gulf investment deals

Trump reverses decision to impose 20% Hormuz fees in favour of Gulf investment deals

Trump reverses decision to impose 20% Hormuz fees in favour of Gulf investment deals

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NEW Hindustan Times Tue 14 Jul 2026 10:08:32 PM

NASA's Anil Menon embarks on 8-month sojourn to International Space Station, with drawings made by Indian kids

SUMMARY
Born in Minneapolis to Ukrainian and Indian immigrants, Anil Menon is an emergency medicine physician and a US Space Force colonel.
The Roscosmos spacecraft carrying Menon and Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome at 8:17 pm IST.
After a two-orbit, three-hour trip to the station, the spacecraft will automatically dock at 11:56 p.m. IST to the Prichal module. This marks Menon's first spaceflighT.
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NASA's Anil Menon embarks on 8-month sojourn to International Space Station, with drawings made by Indian kids

NASA's Anil Menon embarks on 8-month sojourn to International Space Station, with drawings made by Indian kids

NASA's Anil Menon embarks on 8-month sojourn to International Space Station, with drawings made by Indian kids

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NEW Markets-Economic Times Sun 12 Jul 2026 01:45:05 PM

Iran moves to close Strait of Hormuz. Should investors fear a Nifty crash in coming days?

SUMMARY
Indian equities may face another volatile week as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and fresh US strikes on Iran raise the risk of higher crude oil prices, foreign outflows and pressure on the rupee. The immediate concern for Dalal Street is oil as India imports a large part of its crude requirement, and any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz can quickly feed into inflation, current account worries and corporate margins.
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - II International Relations
Focus Area Strait of Hormuz
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Iran moves to close Strait of Hormuz. Should investors fear a Nifty crash in coming days?

Iran moves to close Strait of Hormuz. Should investors fear a Nifty crash in coming days?

Iran moves to close Strait of Hormuz. Should investors fear a Nifty crash in coming days?

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NEW The Hindu Fri 10 Jul 2026 04:19:01 PM

China announces temporary export ban on helium

SUMMARY
Earlier this year, the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran ​led to ‌helium shortages, disrupting companies globally, including in China, where the AI industry increasingly relies ‌on domestic chips ​for training and running AI models. Helium is ⁠essential for heat management in semiconductor production. The helium ban ‌is the latest example of Beijing seeking to prevent domestic shortages of critical materials by curbing exports. Previously, it imposed similar ‌measures on fuel, fertilisers and sulphuric ​acid.
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China announces temporary export ban on helium

China announces temporary export ban on helium

China announces temporary export ban on helium

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NEW Hindustan Times Fri 10 Jul 2026 12:24:20 PM

Quantum wars: Redefining future battlespace

SUMMARY
Quantum technology is emerging as a major force in future warfare. Quantum computing, sensing and communication can transform encryption, navigation, intelligence and battlefield decisions. The article argues that countries like the US and China are racing for quantum dominance. For India, building indigenous quantum capability is vital for defence preparedness, secure communications and strategic autonomy.
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Relevant For: Mains Science & Technology
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Quantum wars: Redefining future battlespace

Quantum wars: Redefining future battlespace

Quantum wars: Redefining future battlespace

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NEW The Times Of India Thu 09 Jul 2026 03:40:03 PM

India gets world's first once-a-week insulin: All about Novo Nordisk's Awiqli

SUMMARY
India has become one of the first countries in the world to introduce Awiqli, the world's first once-a-week basal insulin approved for clinical use, offering a new treatment option for adults living with diabetes. The launch comes at a crucial time for India, which has one of the world's highest diabetes burdens. More than 101 million people in the country are living with diabetes, while another 136 million are estimated to have prediabetes.

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India gets world's first once-a-week insulin: All about Novo Nordisk's Awiqli

India gets world's first once-a-week insulin: All about Novo Nordisk's Awiqli

India gets world's first once-a-week insulin: All about Novo Nordisk's Awiqli

Concept not available.
NEW The Hindu Wed 08 Jul 2026 03:14:27 PM

Tehran targets Bahrain, Kuwait after U.S. strikes and limits Iran's oil sales over ship attacks

SUMMARY
The attacks on shipping and the resulting strikes came during the dayslong funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed February 28 in the war's first moments at age 86. The funeral, which ends on Thursday (July 9, 2026), had been thought to be a period of lower tensions — though mourners have repeatedly called for the killings of U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Tehran targets Bahrain, Kuwait after U.S. strikes and limits Iran's oil sales over ship attacks

Tehran targets Bahrain, Kuwait after U.S. strikes and limits Iran's oil sales over ship attacks

Tehran targets Bahrain, Kuwait after U.S. strikes and limits Iran's oil sales over ship attacks

Concept not available.
NEW The Indian Express Mon 06 Jul 2026 01:11:40 PM

Top 20 UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | June 29 to July 5, 2026

SUMMARY
A weekly UPSC current affairs compilation highlighted the 20 most important developments from June 29 to July 5, 2026, covering governance, economy, science and technology, environment, international relations, security, and social issues. The topics include the NCB Annual Report 2025, India's Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs), the VIJAY roadmap, India-Japan relations, dark patterns in digital commerce, and other issues relevant for UPSC Prelims and Mains preparation.
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Top 20 UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | June 29 to July 5, 2026

Top 20 UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | June 29 to July 5, 2026

Top 20 UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | June 29 to July 5, 2026

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NEW The Economic Times Sun 05 Jul 2026 07:10:41 PM

‘America will never be a communist country!’: Trump denounces communism in Independence Day address

SUMMARY
US President Donald Trump delivered a fiery Independence Day address during the America 250 celebration, praising the nation's military, freedom, and founding values while launching a strong attack on communism. Speaking at the "Salute to America" event marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, Trump declared that the United States would "never be a communist country" and described America as the "home of freedom" and the "land of liberty."
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‘America will never be a communist country!’: Trump denounces communism in Independence Day address

‘America will never be a communist country!’: Trump denounces communism in Independence Day address

‘America will never be a communist country!’: Trump denounces communism in Independence Day address

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NEW The Times Of India Sat 04 Jul 2026 07:59:21 PM

China's pawn in the Middle East? How Beijing 'uses' Pakistan to sell weapons

SUMMARY
A profound shift is occurring in Middle Eastern security, largely out of the spotlight. Following the September 2025 strategic mutual defense pact between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, an agreement where an attack on one is considered an attack on both, Pakistan immediately deployed JF-17 fighter jets, troops, and defense assets to the Kingdom.  This deployment, triggered by a recent US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, was not just a show of Pakistani support. It was a live-fire demonstration of Chinese military hardware on Arabian soil.
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China's pawn in the Middle East? How Beijing 'uses' Pakistan to sell weapons

China's pawn in the Middle East? How Beijing 'uses' Pakistan to sell weapons

China's pawn in the Middle East? How Beijing 'uses' Pakistan to sell weapons

Concept not available.
NEW Firstpost Thu 02 Jul 2026 05:53:26 PM

PM Modi, Japan's Takaichi deepen strategic partnership with focus on trade, security and Indo-Pacific

SUMMARY
Takaichi arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. Although it is her first official visit to India, the two leaders have already met twice this year at the G7 Summit in France last month and on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg in November 2025. She was accompanied by a high-level official delegation as well as a large business delegation, highlighting the growing significance of commercial and investment ties between the two countries.
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Focus Area indo pacific policy
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PM Modi, Japan's Takaichi deepen strategic partnership with focus on trade, security and Indo-Pacific

PM Modi, Japan's Takaichi deepen strategic partnership with focus on trade, security and Indo-Pacific

PM Modi, Japan's Takaichi deepen strategic partnership with focus on trade, security and Indo-Pacific

Concept not available.
NEW Firstpost Thu 02 Jul 2026 05:50:21 PM

Can Europe’s brutal heatwave affect the Indian monsoon?

SUMMARY
Weather patterns can sometimes connect places thousands of kilometres apart. The intense heatwave in Europe is shattering records, but can its impact be felt as far as India?
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Relevant For: Mains GS - III Environment & Ecology
Focus Area Indian ocean dipole
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Can Europe’s brutal heatwave affect the Indian monsoon?

Can Europe’s brutal heatwave affect the Indian monsoon?

Can Europe’s brutal heatwave affect the Indian monsoon?

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NEW The Indian Express Thu 02 Jul 2026 05:10:38 PM

Inside India’s secret Seychelles mission: A Cold War story

SUMMARY
In April 1986, Seychelles President France-Albert Rene made a special request to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi during his visit to New Delhi: Depute a small team of Indian security officials to discreetly assess the existing security and police systems in his country. This arose because of his doubts about his own security setup and since the entire Indian Ocean Islands were caught in the whirlpool of Cold War polemics.
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Relevant For: Mains GS - II International Relations
Focus Area Seychelles India Seychelles
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Inside India’s secret Seychelles mission: A Cold War story

Inside India’s secret Seychelles mission: A Cold War story

Inside India’s secret Seychelles mission: A Cold War story

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NEW India Today Thu 02 Jul 2026 07:45:49 AM

WhatsApp is bringing usernames, what does it mean for privacy and cybersecurity?

SUMMARY
WhatsApp has announced that it is bringing usernames to the app. After years of using phone numbers as the sole way to connect accounts, WhatsApp is bringing usernames. You can now have your own username on the app that will allow others to connect to you. But why did WhatsApp bring this feature years after Telegram introduced and mastered it? The answer may lie in how widely WhatsApp is used in India, and how important our phone numbers really are.
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Relevant For: Mains GS - III Defence & Security
Focus Area cyber security
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WhatsApp is bringing usernames, what does it mean for privacy and cybersecurity?

WhatsApp is bringing usernames, what does it mean for privacy and cybersecurity?

WhatsApp is bringing usernames, what does it mean for privacy and cybersecurity?

Concept not available.
NEW The Hindu Thu 02 Jul 2026 06:37:06 AM

VB-GRAM G workers to get a minimum of ₹300 per day as wage rates notified by Centre

SUMMARY
The Union government has fixed a floor wage of ₹300 per day under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G) Act, 2025, which came into effect on Tuesday, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005. Highest wage rate of ₹409/day in Haryana; 21 States/UTs with lower wage rates under MGNREGA see significant hikes to meet new VB-GRAM G floor rate; southern States with higher wages see minimal hikes
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Relevant For: Prelims + Mains GS - III Indian Economy
Focus Area Guaranteed employment
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VB-GRAM G workers to get a minimum of ₹300 per day as wage rates notified by Centre

VB-GRAM G workers to get a minimum of ₹300 per day as wage rates notified by Centre

VB-GRAM G workers to get a minimum of ₹300 per day as wage rates notified by Centre

Concept not available.