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A Russian court on Thursday sentenced US basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison over drug possession and smuggling. The two-time US Olympic champion and an eight-time all-star with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury was also fined one million rubles (Rs 13 lakh).

A data protection and privacy bill, which was first proposed in 2019, has been withdrawn by the Indian government. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw moved the withdrawal of the Personal Data Protection Bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday after a committee suggested 81 amendments to it.

During the solar storm, high-speed solar winds may hit the earth due to coral holes. The storm is likely to trigger G-1 class geomagnetic storm.

Chinese Premier Xi Jinping had warned the US not to "play with fire" but that didn't stop US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from visiting Taiwan on Tuesday. Pelosi became the highest-ranking US official in 25 years to visit the self-ruled island claimed by China.

After a lot of controversy, the Delhi government has decided to discontinue the new excise policy and has brought back the old liquor policy. The 468 private liquor shops operating in the national capital will be shut from August 1 as the term of the new excise policy expires on July 31.

Four democracy activists have been executed by Myanmar's military in what is believed to be the first use of capital punishment in decades. The four, including former lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw from Aung San Suu Kyi's party, were accused of committing "terror acts".

NDA's Vice Presidential candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar filed his nomination on Monday in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and other leaders supporting his bid. "Never even in my dreams did I think a person with a humble background like me would get this opportunity. I am grateful to PM Modi and the leadership for giving a humble man from 'kisan family' like me such a historic opportunity," Dhankhar said after filing his nomination.

The US and Israel signed a new security pact on Thursday and declared they would not allow Iran to become a nuclear power. The 'Jerusalem Declaration' on joint security was signed by US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

US President Joe Biden has been a vocal critic of the Saudi Arabia. But, as part of his first Middle East visit as the President, Biden will be visiting Saudi after a 3-day stay in Israel. His Middle East visit will focus on asking Saudi to produce more oil, finding a way to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and improving Israel-Palestine relations.