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China revealed a new type of graphite bomb - &nbsp;blackout bomb - on Thursday (June 26), claiming that it could knock out enemy power stations and cause a “complete loss of electricity” &nbsp;in the targeted area. Although the CCTV did not explicitly identify the weapon as a graphite bomb, it showed similar features to graphite munitions. A video was published by the state broadcaster of the country that featured the bomb. A social media channel run by China Central Television (CCTV) shared an animated video that showed the bomb being launched from a land-based vehicle before ejecting 90 cylinder-shaped submunitions.&nbsp;The canisters shown in the video bounced upon impact before detonating mid-air. They dispersed chemically treated carbon filaments that are designed to short-circuit high-voltage power infrastructure. The circulated video is now viral on the social media platform X.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: ‡ CHINA’S BLACKOUT BOMB THREATENS TAIWAN WITH SILENT DESTRUCTION China’s new weapon could cripple Taiwan’s power grid, amplifying nuclear risks. Act now or face the dark. 𝕏 China’s “Blackout Bomb” uses carbon filaments to short-circuit power grids, causing… <a href="https://t.co/i4srUD2hZF">https://t.co/i4srUD2hZF</a> <a href="https://t.co/a27W4llIKV">pic.twitter.com/a27W4llIKV</a>&mdash; Morality X (@Morality_X) <a href="https://twitter.com/Morality_X/status/1939442656700203294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The blackout bomb aims at disrupting the enemy command and control systems by triggering widespread electrical outages over an area of at least 10,000 square metres (107,639 sq ft), CCTV said. The channel, however, did not reveal any further details regarding the weapon or its status. CCTV referred to the bombs as a "mysterious type of domestically made missile”.&nbsp;As per the shared video, the weapon has a range of 290km (180 miles) and a warhead weighing 490kg (1,080lbs). All this feature makes the bomb suitable for attacks on military substations and other electrical infrastructure.&nbsp;A threat to Taiwan?&nbsp;&nbsp;After the video was posted, many were seen speculating on social media that the bomb revelation was a threat to Taiwan's power grid. It is being speculated that the blackout bombs could disable Taiwan’s defences, making nuclear escalation more likely if China faces defeat. Although the Taiwanese legislators have limited the nuclear weapons are off the table, the blackout bomb has now raised the stakes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A social media channel run by China Central Television (CCTV) shared an animated video that showed the bomb being launched from a land-based vehicle before ejecting 90 cylinder-shaped submunitions.

China revealed a new type of graphite bomb - blackout bomb - on Thursday (June 26), claiming that it could knock out enemy power stations and cause a “complete loss of electricity” in the targeted area. Although the CCTV did not explicitly identify the weapon as a graphite bomb, it showed similar features to graphite munitions. A video was published by the state broadcaster of the country that featured the bomb. A social media channel run by China Central Television (CCTV) shared an animated video that showed the bomb being launched from a land-based vehicle before ejecting 90 cylinder-shaped submunitions. The canisters shown in the video bounced upon impact before detonating mid-air. They dispersed chemically treated carbon filaments that are designed to short-circuit high-voltage power infrastructure. The circulated video is now viral on the social media platform X.

A social media channel run by China Central Television (CCTV) shared an animated video that showed the bomb being launched from a land-based vehicle before ejecting 90 cylinder-shaped submunitions.

China reveals BLACKOUT BOMB that can knock out enemy power stations. Will this amplify nuclear risk? Here's all about the 'mysterious missile'

Coffee is one of the most loved drinks in the world and is enjoyed by millions of people every day. According to the World Population Review, it is the second most traded product globally, after oil. For many, coffee is more than just a drink it’s part of their daily routine. But beyond regular instant coffee or lattes, there is a world of rare and expensive coffee that is made using unique beans and special methods.&nbsp;In a small but growing market, some coffees sell for hundreds of dollars per pound. These rare types are pricey because they are hard to find, difficult to harvest and have very distinct flavors.&nbsp;World’s 10 most expensive coffees&nbsp;1. Black Ivory Coffee – Up to $500 per poundFrom the hills of Thailand, this coffee is made using a surprising process. Elephants eat the coffee beans which are then collected from their waste. This process is said to reduce bitterness and give the coffee a smooth and chocolate like flavor.&nbsp;2. Finca El Injerto – Up to $500 per poundGrown in the volcanic soil of Guatemala, this coffee is known for its tiny beans packed with strong flavor. The beans are washed with spring water and dried in the sun. The result is a clean taste with hints of apple, tangerine and apricot. It is sold in auctions to high end buyers.&nbsp;3. Hacienda La Esmeralda – Up to $350 per poundThis coffee comes from Panama’s Boquete region and grows under guava trees. Its most famous variety, Gesha has floral and fruity notes like jasmine, bergamot and peach. Its high quality and limited supply make it highly valued.&nbsp;4. Kopi Luwak – Up to $300 per poundOne of the most talked about coffees online, Kopi Luwak is from Indonesia. Civet cats eat the beans and after the digestion the beans are collected. This natural process is believed to lower the coffee’s acidity and boost its flavor.&nbsp;5. Saint Helena Coffee – Up to $79 per poundGrown on the remote island of Saint Helena, this coffee comes from rich volcanic soil. It has a wine like acidity with flavors of citrus and caramel. The small scale production and hard to reach location add to its high price.&nbsp;6. Molokai Coffee – Up to $51 per poundMade on Hawaii’s Molokai island, this coffee grows in volcanic soil and is nurtured on small farms. It has a mild, nutty taste with tropical fruit notes. Limited amounts and its unique island origin make it a rare U.S. coffee.&nbsp;7. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee – Up to $50 per poundKnown as the ‘champagne of coffee,’ this variety is grown high up in Jamaica’s mountains. It’s known for its smooth texture, mild flavor and no bitterness. It is especially popular in Japan and is one of the world’s most famous premium coffees.&nbsp;8. Fazenda Santa Ines – Up to $50 per poundThis Brazilian coffee is grown without chemicals in nutrient rich soil. It has a naturally sweet flavor with berry and caramel notes. Its careful and eco-friendly farming has won awards in global coffee contests.&nbsp;9. El Salvador Los Planes – Up to $35 per poundKnown for its bright rich flavor, this coffee features tastes of tangerine, caramel and spice. It was loved by specialty coffee fans for its balance and smooth finish.&nbsp;10. Starbucks Reserve Rwanda Blue Bourbon – Around $30 per poundThis special Starbucks Reserve coffee comes from Rwanda and is made from the rare Blue Bourbon variety. It has bright, fruity flavors like orange, peach and berries with a clean aftertaste. Though cheaper than others on the list but its quality and limited supply make it stand out.

In a small but growing market, some coffees sell for hundreds of dollars per pound. These rare types of coffee are pricey because they are hard to find, difficult to harvest and have very distinct flavors.

Coffee is one of the most loved drinks in the world and is enjoyed by millions of people every day. According to the World Population Review, it is the second most traded product globally, after oil. For many, coffee is more than just a drink it’s part of their daily routine. But beyond regular instant coffee or lattes, there is a world of rare and expensive coffee that is made using unique beans and special methods. In a small but growing market, some coffees sell for hundreds of dollars per pound. These rare types are pricey because they are hard to find, difficult to harvest and have very distinct flavors. World’s 10 most expensive coffees 1. Black Ivory Coffee – Up to $500 per pound From the hills of Thailand, this coffee is made using a surprising process. Elephants eat the coffee beans which are then collected from their waste. This process is said to reduce bitterness and give the coffee a smooth and chocolate like flavor. 2. Finca El Injerto – Up to $500 per pound Grown in the volcanic soil of Guatemala, this coffee is known for its tiny beans packed with strong flavor. The beans are washed with spring water and dried in the sun. The result is a clean taste with hints of apple, tangerine and apricot. It is sold in auctions to high end buyers. 3. Hacienda La Esmeralda – Up to $350 per pound This coffee comes from Panama’s Boquete region and grows under guava trees. Its most famous variety, Gesha has floral and fruity notes like jasmine, bergamot and peach. Its high quality and limited supply make it highly valued. 4. Kopi Luwak – Up to $300 per pound One of the most talked about coffees online, Kopi Luwak is from Indonesia. Civet cats eat the beans and after the digestion the beans are collected. This natural process is believed to lower the coffee’s acidity and boost its flavor. 5. Saint Helena Coffee – Up to $79 per pound Grown on the remote island of Saint Helena, this coffee comes from rich volcanic soil. It has a wine like acidity with flavors of citrus and caramel. The small scale production and hard to reach location add to its high price. 6. Molokai Coffee – Up to $51 per pound Made on Hawaii’s Molokai island, this coffee grows in volcanic soil and is nurtured on small farms. It has a mild, nutty taste with tropical fruit notes. Limited amounts and its unique island origin make it a rare U.S. coffee. 7. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee – Up to $50 per pound Known as the ‘champagne of coffee,’ this variety is grown high up in Jamaica’s mountains. It’s known for its smooth texture, mild flavor and no bitterness. It is especially popular in Japan and is one of the world’s most famous premium coffees. 8. Fazenda Santa Ines – Up to $50 per pound This Brazilian coffee is grown without chemicals in nutrient rich soil. It has a naturally sweet flavor with berry and caramel notes. Its careful and eco-friendly farming has won awards in global coffee contests. 9. El Salvador Los Planes – Up to $35 per pound Known for its bright rich flavor, this coffee features tastes of tangerine, caramel and spice. It was loved by specialty coffee fans for its balance and smooth finish. 10. Starbucks Reserve Rwanda Blue Bourbon – Around $30 per pound This special Starbucks Reserve coffee comes from Rwanda and is made from the rare Blue Bourbon variety. It has bright, fruity flavors like orange, peach and berries with a clean aftertaste. Though cheaper than others on the list but its quality and limited supply make it stand out.

In a small but growing market, some coffees sell for hundreds of dollars per pound. These rare types of coffee are pricey because they are hard to find, difficult to harvest and have very distinct flavors.

Top 10 world’s most expensive coffees: Would you pay THIS much?

Bangladesh is currently boiling after an alleged rape of a Hindu woman by a local politician from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). As per the Bangladeshi newspaper, Dhaka Tribune, Fazor Ali allegedly raped a 21-year-old woman from the Hindu comminute, a minority in the country, in Muradnagar upazila, Comilla. A total of five men were involved in the rape, among which three have nabbed for recording and sharing a video of the rape survivor on social media. As per the report published in the Bangladeshi newspaper, the incident happened on &nbsp;June 26, 2025, when Fazor Ali, 38, from Ramchandrapur Pachkitta village, allegedly broke into the survivor's father’s house around 10 pm. Th rape survivor was staying at her father's place with her children as her husband was in Dubai.The survivor filed a case against Ali the next day - on June 27, in the Muradnagar police station. The political leader was arrested around 5 am on Sunday in the Sayedabad area in Dhaka. He was later brought back to Comilla for legal proceedings. Four other men who were involved in the case were: Md Sumon, Ramzan Ali, Md Arif, and Md Anik have also been nabbed.&nbsp;What did the police say?&nbsp;As per the police, a neighbour of the survivor heard the loud noises at night and rushed to her house with other people, where he found that her door was broken. When they realised the woman had been assaulted, they beat Fazor Ali and sent him to a hospital. However, Fazor managed to escape later. &nbsp;“All five are in custody, and further legal steps are underway,” Superintendent Nazir Ahmed Khan told Dhaka Tribune.&nbsp;What did BNP claim?&nbsp;BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that the case is an attempt to tarnish his party's image. “For 15 years, the Awami League has carried out a smear campaign against the Zia family, and now they are secretly spending money to continue that propaganda in order to damage the BNP’s reputation. A clear example of this is the recent incident in Muradnagar,” he said at a press briefing on June 29.&nbsp;“It is so disgraceful that I feel ashamed even to utter it. Yet, they tried to shift the blame onto us. Similar incidents are being orchestrated in other places as well,” he added.&nbsp;Bangladesh under protest, again&nbsp;A pool of students of Dhaka University staged marches in the campus condemning the rape of the Hindu woman. This was after the Bangladesh High Court directed authorities to remove the video of the assault that went viral on social media.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As per the report published in the Bangladeshi newspaper, the incident happened on  June 26, 2025, when Fazor Ali, 38, from Ramchandrapur Pachkitta village, allegedly broke into the survivor father’s house around 10 pm. 

Bangladesh is currently boiling after an alleged rape of a Hindu woman by a local politician from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). As per the Bangladeshi newspaper, Dhaka Tribune, Fazor Ali allegedly raped a 21-year-old woman from the Hindu comminute, a minority in the country, in Muradnagar upazila, Comilla. A total of five men were involved in the rape, among which three have nabbed for recording and sharing a video of the rape survivor on social media. As per the report published in the Bangladeshi newspaper, the incident happened on June 26, 2025, when Fazor Ali, 38, from Ramchandrapur Pachkitta village, allegedly broke into the survivor's father’s house around 10 pm. Th rape survivor was staying at her father's place with her children as her husband was in Dubai. The survivor filed a case against Ali the next day - on June 27, in the Muradnagar police station. The political leader was arrested around 5 am on Sunday in the Sayedabad area in Dhaka. He was later brought back to Comilla for legal proceedings. Four other men who were involved in the case were: Md Sumon, Ramzan Ali, Md Arif, and Md Anik have also been nabbed. What did the police say? As per the police, a neighbour of the survivor heard the loud noises at night and rushed to her house with other people, where he found that her door was broken. When they realised the woman had been assaulted, they beat Fazor Ali and sent him to a hospital. However, Fazor managed to escape later. “All five are in custody, and further legal steps are underway,” Superintendent Nazir Ahmed Khan told Dhaka Tribune. What did BNP claim? BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has alleged that the case is an attempt to tarnish his party's image. “For 15 years, the Awami League has carried out a smear campaign against the Zia family, and now they are secretly spending money to continue that propaganda in order to damage the BNP’s reputation. A clear example of this is the recent incident in Muradnagar,” he said at a press briefing on June 29. “It is so disgraceful that I feel ashamed even to utter it. Yet, they tried to shift the blame onto us. Similar incidents are being orchestrated in other places as well,” he added. Bangladesh under protest, again A pool of students of Dhaka University staged marches in the campus condemning the rape of the Hindu woman. This was after the Bangladesh High Court directed authorities to remove the video of the assault that went viral on social media.

As per the report published in the Bangladeshi newspaper, the incident happened on &nbsp;June 26, 2025, when Fazor Ali, 38, from Ramchandrapur Pachkitta village, allegedly broke into the survivor's father’s house around 10 pm.&nbsp;

Bangladesh in turmoil after BNP leader 'rapes' Hindu woman: Protest, slogans, demand for 'direct action' - All you need to know

India is stepping into a bold new era of defence innovation. According to recent updates from IADN and defence circles, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed the country’s first photonic radar, which is now getting ready for trial runs. This path-breaking system has been designed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), located in Bengaluru—a DRDO lab known for creating advanced radars like Arudhra, Aslesha, and Uttam AESA.&nbsp;But what exactly is a photonic radar, and why is it being seen as a game-changer for India’s national security?&nbsp;What is Photonic Radar?&nbsp;Unlike conventional radar systems that use electronic radio frequency (RF) circuits, photonic radar uses light-based technologies, such as lasers and optical fibres, to send and receive signals. In simple words, it works by turning light into radar signals—making them much more accurate, faster, and harder to block.&nbsp;Why It Matters&nbsp;1. Detects Even Stealth Targets – Photonic radars can spot objects that traditional radars miss, including stealth aircraft, drones, and missiles.2. Longer Range, Sharper Image – These radars can see farther and map targets in high-resolution 3D, useful for both surveillance and strike precision.3. Immune to Jamming – They are less affected by electronic warfare tactics that often try to blind or confuse traditional radars.4. Energy-Efficient – Since they use light, they generate less heat and operate more efficiently.&nbsp;Why China and Pakistan Should Be Worried&nbsp;China and Pakistan have both invested heavily in stealth aircraft and drone technology. China’s J-20 stealth fighter and Pakistan’s growing UAV fleet depend on staying “invisible” to regular radars. But India’s photonic radar could break that invisibility cloak.&nbsp;With its ultra-wide bandwidth, low signal noise, and high precision, India’s new radar may be able to spot threats early, even if they are designed to avoid detection. For Pakistan, which uses older radar systems and imports Chinese tech, this puts it at a clear disadvantage. For China, it challenges their strategic edge in the skies.Photonic radar is so advanced that it could be used in airborne warning systems—like those installed on aircraft to detect enemy planes, missiles, or drones from far away. Because photonic radar is extremely sensitive and accurate, it would make surprise attacks very difficult, as it can detect threats earlier and more clearly than traditional radar.&nbsp;As a result, this technology gives India a big advantage in defending itself—especially compared to nearby countries. It strengthens India’s position in regional military balance and makes its defense systems much harder to bypass or fool.&nbsp;Why Indians Should Care&nbsp;This radar is more than a defence tool—it’s a symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Developing such cutting-edge technology within India reduces our reliance on foreign equipment and shows the world that we are ready to lead in futuristic warfare.&nbsp;If trials go well, DRDO’s photonic radar could soon become one of the most powerful systems of its kind, making our borders smarter, safer, and stronger.&nbsp;

This path-breaking system has been designed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), located in Bengaluru—a DRDO lab known for creating advanced radars like Arudhra, Aslesha, and Uttam AESA.

India is stepping into a bold new era of defence innovation. According to recent updates from IADN and defence circles, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully developed the country’s first photonic radar, which is now getting ready for trial runs. This path-breaking system has been designed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), located in Bengaluru—a DRDO lab known for creating advanced radars like Arudhra, Aslesha, and Uttam AESA. But what exactly is a photonic radar, and why is it being seen as a game-changer for India’s national security? What is Photonic Radar? Unlike conventional radar systems that use electronic radio frequency (RF) circuits, photonic radar uses light-based technologies, such as lasers and optical fibres, to send and receive signals. In simple words, it works by turning light into radar signals—making them much more accurate, faster, and harder to block. Why It Matters 1. Detects Even Stealth Targets – Photonic radars can spot objects that traditional radars miss, including stealth aircraft, drones, and missiles. 2. Longer Range, Sharper Image – These radars can see farther and map targets in high-resolution 3D, useful for both surveillance and strike precision. 3. Immune to Jamming – They are less affected by electronic warfare tactics that often try to blind or confuse traditional radars. 4. Energy-Efficient – Since they use light, they generate less heat and operate more efficiently. Why China and Pakistan Should Be Worried China and Pakistan have both invested heavily in stealth aircraft and drone technology. China’s J-20 stealth fighter and Pakistan’s growing UAV fleet depend on staying “invisible” to regular radars. But India’s photonic radar could break that invisibility cloak. With its ultra-wide bandwidth, low signal noise, and high precision, India’s new radar may be able to spot threats early, even if they are designed to avoid detection. For Pakistan, which uses older radar systems and imports Chinese tech, this puts it at a clear disadvantage. For China, it challenges their strategic edge in the skies. Photonic radar is so advanced that it could be used in airborne warning systems—like those installed on aircraft to detect enemy planes, missiles, or drones from far away. Because photonic radar is extremely sensitive and accurate, it would make surprise attacks very difficult, as it can detect threats earlier and more clearly than traditional radar. As a result, this technology gives India a big advantage in defending itself—especially compared to nearby countries. It strengthens India’s position in regional military balance and makes its defense systems much harder to bypass or fool. Why Indians Should Care This radar is more than a defence tool—it’s a symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Developing such cutting-edge technology within India reduces our reliance on foreign equipment and shows the world that we are ready to lead in futuristic warfare. If trials go well, DRDO’s photonic radar could soon become one of the most powerful systems of its kind, making our borders smarter, safer, and stronger.

This path-breaking system has been designed by the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE), located in Bengaluru—a DRDO lab known for creating advanced radars like Arudhra, Aslesha, and Uttam AESA.

DRDO’s photonic radar: India’s light weapon shakes China and Pakistan

A debate on President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” of tax breaks and sweeping cuts to healthcare and food programmes was initiated by the United States Senate on Sunday ahead of Monday's session. The bill was narrowly passed by the House last month, and since then, Senate Republicans have been working to put their mark on the legislation in order to avoid the delicate balance in the lower chamber.According to a report in CBS News, the House will be required to approve the changes to the bill by the Senate before it reaches the desk of the president for signature. Meanwhile, lawmakers are going ahead quickly to get the measure signed by July 4.The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the legislation would increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the coming years. The bill will increase spending for border security, energy production, and defence, which are offset in part by cuts to healthcare and nutrition programs.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-rejects-bid-to-curb-trump-s-war-powers-on-iran-potus-can-strike-tehran-again-whenever-he-wants-without-congress-authorisation-1751069697657">US Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s war powers on Iran; POTUS can strike Tehran again, whenever he wants, without Congress authorisation</a>Senate Republicans pushed the legislation forward late Saturday, with all but two GOP senators backing the move after hours of delay spent resolving last-minute concerns and negotiating changes to win over sceptics. The procedural vote remained open for more than three hours as Republican leaders offered reassurances and adjusted parts of the bill to gain the necessary support.Meanwhile, Senate Democrats slowed the process by forcing a full reading of the bill, which began late Saturday and lasted nearly 16 hours. Once the reading ended, formal debate began, with each side allotted 10 hours. Democrats are expected to use all their time to strongly oppose the bill.<h3>When will the Senate begin a "vote-a-rama"?</h3>The GOP is advancing the measure using the budget reconciliation process, which enables the majority party to pass legislation without needing bipartisan support. This approach only requires a simple majority rather than the usual 60-vote threshold, leaving Democrats with limited tools to stop the bill.In addition, the Senate will begin a "vote-a-rama," after the debate, in which it could offer an unlimited number of amendments and force the chamber to cast vote after vote. The process was likely to begin in the early morning on Monday, but the Senate added on late Sunday that once the debate ended, it would not reconvene until 9 a.m.With a 53-seat majority, Senate Republican leaders can afford to lose the backing of only three members—any more would require Vice President JD Vance to cast a tie-breaking vote. While several GOP senators who had earlier opposed the measure ultimately voted to advance it on Saturday, their stance on the final vote remains uncertain.Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated on Saturday that “it’s time to get this legislation across the finish line,” noting that full agreement among all 53 members is unrealistic. However, he emphasised that Republicans remain “united in our commitment to the goals of this bill.” &nbsp;

Senate Republicans pushed the legislation forward late Saturday, with all but two GOP senators backing the move after hours of delay spent resolving last-minute concerns and negotiating changes to win over sceptics.

A debate on President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” of tax breaks and sweeping cuts to healthcare and food programmes was initiated by the United States Senate on Sunday ahead of Monday's session. The bill was narrowly passed by the House last month, and since then, Senate Republicans have been working to put their mark on the legislation in order to avoid the delicate balance in the lower chamber. According to a report in CBS News, the House will be required to approve the changes to the bill by the Senate before it reaches the desk of the president for signature. Meanwhile, lawmakers are going ahead quickly to get the measure signed by July 4. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the legislation would increase the deficit by nearly $3.3 trillion over the coming years. The bill will increase spending for border security, energy production, and defence, which are offset in part by cuts to healthcare and nutrition programs. Also read: US Senate rejects bid to curb Trump’s war powers on Iran; POTUS can strike Tehran again, whenever he wants, without Congress authorisation Senate Republicans pushed the legislation forward late Saturday, with all but two GOP senators backing the move after hours of delay spent resolving last-minute concerns and negotiating changes to win over sceptics. The procedural vote remained open for more than three hours as Republican leaders offered reassurances and adjusted parts of the bill to gain the necessary support. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats slowed the process by forcing a full reading of the bill, which began late Saturday and lasted nearly 16 hours. Once the reading ended, formal debate began, with each side allotted 10 hours. Democrats are expected to use all their time to strongly oppose the bill. When will the Senate begin a "vote-a-rama"? The GOP is advancing the measure using the budget reconciliation process, which enables the majority party to pass legislation without needing bipartisan support. This approach only requires a simple majority rather than the usual 60-vote threshold, leaving Democrats with limited tools to stop the bill. In addition, the Senate will begin a "vote-a-rama," after the debate, in which it could offer an unlimited number of amendments and force the chamber to cast vote after vote. The process was likely to begin in the early morning on Monday, but the Senate added on late Sunday that once the debate ended, it would not reconvene until 9 a.m. With a 53-seat majority, Senate Republican leaders can afford to lose the backing of only three members—any more would require Vice President JD Vance to cast a tie-breaking vote. While several GOP senators who had earlier opposed the measure ultimately voted to advance it on Saturday, their stance on the final vote remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated on Saturday that “it’s time to get this legislation across the finish line,” noting that full agreement among all 53 members is unrealistic. However, he emphasised that Republicans remain “united in our commitment to the goals of this bill.”

Senate Republicans pushed the legislation forward late Saturday, with all but two GOP senators backing the move after hours of delay spent resolving last-minute concerns and negotiating changes to win over sceptics.

US Senate begins debate on Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ ahead of final vote

Iranian officials have indicated that the recent American B2 bomber and missile strikes on Iran's nuclear sites were not as devastating as they had expected, the Washington Post reported on Sunday (June 29), citing unnamed US intelligence sources. According to the report, the US intelligence intercepted communications between senior Iranian officials. The officials, as per the paper, wondered “why the strikes were not as destructive and extensive as they had anticipated.”&nbsp;<h2>Report contradicts Trump, US govt claims on destroying Iran nuclear sites</h2>The report came amid claims by US President Donald Trump on the effectiveness of the strikes that ended the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.&nbsp;Trump had insisted on several occasions that the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” the Iranian nuclear programme. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trumps-optimism-maximum-pressure-for-iran-nuclear-deal-9073088/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trumps-optimism-maximum-pressure-for-iran-nuclear-deal-9073088/embed</a>&nbsp;<h2>White House calls the intercepted call report 'nonsense'</h2>In a sharp reaction, the White House described the alleged Iranian conversation as “out-of-context leaks” and “nonsense.” “Their nuclear weapons programme is over,” insisted Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, echoing the stance of Trump.&nbsp;Another intelligence official cited in the WP report asked not to depend only on a single intercepted call to assess the damage, saying. “A single phone call... is not the same as an intelligence assessment.”<h2>Uncertainty remains on extent of damage to Iranian nuclear sites</h2>The report, and the White House rebuttal, came amid questions on the extent of damage caused to the Iranian nuclear programme by the US strikes. The US had deployed bunker buster bombs from B2 stealth bombers, and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles to strike the nuclear sites buried deep underground.&nbsp;Reports soon after those strikes said, citing intelligence inputs and satellite imagery, that Iran might have moved some 400 kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium out of these sites. Remember that 60 per cent enriched uranium is near weapons-grade, which is 90 per cent.&nbsp;There are also indications that the entrances of the facilities were sealed, and underground structures might still be intact.<h2>Claims and counterclaims on US strikes on Iran</h2>As questions began to arise, Trump railed against both the media and the opposition Democrats. He called the intelligence leaks to media 'criminal'. He played down as 'premature' an initial Pentagon assessment that the damage might delay Iran's nuclear programme only by months. “They should be prosecuted!” he said in a post on Truth Social.&nbsp;Trump officials made claims of varying degrees of success, with one saying that the US destroyed the 'metal conversion facility' at a nuclear site. CIA Director John Ratcliffe told the US Congress that key sites were “completely destroyed”, adding it would take years for Iran to rebuild them.&nbsp;Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said the US has not obliterated the Iranian nuclear programme as claimed by Trump, adding, "You cannot bomb knowledge out of existence.”&nbsp;Republican Senator Lindsey Graham acknowledged that the threat from Iran remains, even as he described 'obliteration' as a good word.&nbsp; Rafael Grossi, the chief of UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency, said there was&nbsp; "very serious level of damage” to the Iranian nuclear sites, but added that Iran still has some capability.<h2>How did Iran react to the attack on its nuclear sites?</h2>On the Iranian side, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dismissed Trump’s claims, saying the US “was unable to do anything important” with the strike. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the impacts on the programme from the attack were 'not little'&nbsp;

Another intelligence official cited in the report asked not to depend only on a single intercepted call to assess the damage.

Iranian officials have indicated that the recent American B2 bomber and missile strikes on Iran's nuclear sites were not as devastating as they had expected, the Washington Post reported on Sunday (June 29), citing unnamed US intelligence sources. According to the report, the US intelligence intercepted communications between senior Iranian officials. The officials, as per the paper, wondered “why the strikes were not as destructive and extensive as they had anticipated.” Report contradicts Trump, US govt claims on destroying Iran nuclear sites The report came amid claims by US President Donald Trump on the effectiveness of the strikes that ended the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. Trump had insisted on several occasions that the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” the Iranian nuclear programme. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trumps-optimism-maximum-pressure-for-iran-nuclear-deal-9073088/embed White House calls the intercepted call report 'nonsense' In a sharp reaction, the White House described the alleged Iranian conversation as “out-of-context leaks” and “nonsense.” “Their nuclear weapons programme is over,” insisted Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, echoing the stance of Trump. Another intelligence official cited in the WP report asked not to depend only on a single intercepted call to assess the damage, saying. “A single phone call... is not the same as an intelligence assessment.” Uncertainty remains on extent of damage to Iranian nuclear sites The report, and the White House rebuttal, came amid questions on the extent of damage caused to the Iranian nuclear programme by the US strikes. The US had deployed bunker buster bombs from B2 stealth bombers, and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles to strike the nuclear sites buried deep underground. Reports soon after those strikes said, citing intelligence inputs and satellite imagery, that Iran might have moved some 400 kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium out of these sites. Remember that 60 per cent enriched uranium is near weapons-grade, which is 90 per cent. There are also indications that the entrances of the facilities were sealed, and underground structures might still be intact. Claims and counterclaims on US strikes on Iran As questions began to arise, Trump railed against both the media and the opposition Democrats. He called the intelligence leaks to media 'criminal'. He played down as 'premature' an initial Pentagon assessment that the damage might delay Iran's nuclear programme only by months. “They should be prosecuted!” he said in a post on Truth Social. Trump officials made claims of varying degrees of success, with one saying that the US destroyed the 'metal conversion facility' at a nuclear site. CIA Director John Ratcliffe told the US Congress that key sites were “completely destroyed”, adding it would take years for Iran to rebuild them. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said the US has not obliterated the Iranian nuclear programme as claimed by Trump, adding, "You cannot bomb knowledge out of existence.” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham acknowledged that the threat from Iran remains, even as he described 'obliteration' as a good word. Rafael Grossi, the chief of UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency, said there was "very serious level of damage” to the Iranian nuclear sites, but added that Iran still has some capability. How did Iran react to the attack on its nuclear sites? On the Iranian side, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dismissed Trump’s claims, saying the US “was unable to do anything important” with the strike. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the impacts on the programme from the attack were 'not little'

Another intelligence official cited in the WP report asked not to depend only on a single intercepted call to assess the damage, saying. “A single phone call... is not the same as an intelligence assessment.”

B2 bombers failed? US intel intercepts Iranian officials saying US strikes on nuclear sites less damaging, says report

Doctors in China came across a strange case where an 8-year-old girl threw up live worms consecutively for a month. The girl was from Yangzhou City in Jiangsu province in China, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. Doctors treated her and investigated that the cause of the issue was something so common in a household - drain flies, also known as moth flies. The child was vomiting live larvae, approximately 1 centimetre long, indicating a severe infestation. Although her other family members were fine - which indicated that the issue was not contagious. When her health started deteriorating, the girl was taken to many doctors, but none of them could find the actual cause of the medical problem.&nbsp;&nbsp;At last, the girl was taken to the Children's Hospital of Soochow University in Jiangsu, where a doctor, Zhang Bingbing, suggested that her family submit the samples to the local Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. A staff member at the centre identified the worms. The worms were previously identified in the body of a 60-year-old woman.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/court-cancels-israel-pm-netanyahu-s-testimony-in-corruption-trial-this-week-1751254204348/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/court-cancels-israel-pm-netanyahu-s-testimony-in-corruption-trial-this-week-1751254204348/embed</a>&nbsp;The moth flies are small insects with distinctive heart-shaped wings. They thrive in environments rich in organic matter, such as clogged drains.&nbsp;The SCMP report quoted Xu Yuhui, who is a department chief at the Yangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. He explained that the drain flies' larvae had contaminated the running underground water. &nbsp;"When the child brushes her teeth or flushes the toilet, the worms might enter her system through splashes of water," Xu said in the report.&nbsp;&nbsp;

When her health started deteriorating, the girl was taken to many doctors, but none of them could find the actual cause of the medical problem.

Doctors in China came across a strange case where an 8-year-old girl threw up live worms consecutively for a month. The girl was from Yangzhou City in Jiangsu province in China, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. Doctors treated her and investigated that the cause of the issue was something so common in a household - drain flies, also known as moth flies. The child was vomiting live larvae, approximately 1 centimetre long, indicating a severe infestation. Although her other family members were fine - which indicated that the issue was not contagious. When her health started deteriorating, the girl was taken to many doctors, but none of them could find the actual cause of the medical problem. At last, the girl was taken to the Children's Hospital of Soochow University in Jiangsu, where a doctor, Zhang Bingbing, suggested that her family submit the samples to the local Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. A staff member at the centre identified the worms. The worms were previously identified in the body of a 60-year-old woman. https://www.wionews.com/videos/court-cancels-israel-pm-netanyahu-s-testimony-in-corruption-trial-this-week-1751254204348/embed The moth flies are small insects with distinctive heart-shaped wings. They thrive in environments rich in organic matter, such as clogged drains. The SCMP report quoted Xu Yuhui, who is a department chief at the Yangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. He explained that the drain flies' larvae had contaminated the running underground water. "When the child brushes her teeth or flushes the toilet, the worms might enter her system through splashes of water," Xu said in the report.

When her health started deteriorating, the girl was taken to many doctors, but none of them could find the actual cause of the medical problem.

Chinese girl, 8, vomits live worms for a month - THIS is why

A top cleric of Iran has called the US President Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the "enemies of God" in a newly issued fatwa (an Islamic judgement). Iran's Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued the fatwa while urging Muslims across the world to take action.&nbsp;A suspect opened fire on firefighters responding to a blaze near Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho in the US on Sunday, killing two and sparking a police operation to track down the shooter, who was still active in the area by afternoon. Authorities confirmed that emergency crews had reached the scene of the fire around 1:30 pm local time.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jun 29) appeared to downplay concerns about recent aggressive actions linked to China — including the arrest of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous agricultural pathogen into the United States — saying such moves are simply part of how global affairs operate.&nbsp;Click on the headlines to read more&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-enemies-of-god-iran-cleric-issues-fatwa-against-trump-and-netanyahu-here-s-what-it-says-1751253737121">'Enemies of God'? Iran cleric issues fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu | Here's what it says</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250630/image-1751253961952.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="'Enemies of God'? Iran cleric issues fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu | Here's what it says"></figure>A top cleric of Iran has called the US President Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the "enemies of God" in a newly issued fatwa (an Islamic judgement). Iran's Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued the fatwa while urging Muslims across the world to take action.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firefighters-attacked-in-idaho-two-killed-gunman-at-large-1751243400309">Firefighters attacked in Idaho; two killed in sniper fire, gunman at large</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250630/image-1751244695630.jpg?rect=(0,404,1206,905)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="Firefighters attacked in Idaho; two killed in sniper fire, gunman at large"></figure>A suspect opened fire on firefighters responding to a blaze near Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho in the US on Sunday, killing two and sparking a police operation to track down the shooter, who was still active in the area by afternoon. Authorities confirmed that emergency crews had reached the scene of the fire around 1:30 pm local time.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-downplays-china-threat-after-pathogen-smuggling-case-says-that-s-the-way-the-world-works-it-s-a-nasty-world-1751249068703">Trump downplays China threat after pathogen smuggling case, says 'That's the way the world works. It's a nasty world'</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250630/image-1751249375398.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="Trump downplays China threat after pathogen smuggling case, says 'That's the way the world works. It's a nasty world'"></figure>US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jun 29) appeared to downplay concerns about recent aggressive actions linked to China — including the arrest of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous agricultural pathogen into the United States — saying such moves are simply part of how global affairs operate.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/beyonce-escapes-major-mishap-after-car-malfunctions-mid-air-during-cowboy-carter-tour-1751249190227">Beyonce escapes major mishap after car malfunctions mid-air during Cowboy Carter Tour</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250630/image-1751249935721.jpg?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="Beyonce escapes major mishap after car malfunctions mid-air during Cowboy Carter Tour"></figure>American singer Beyonce is in full swing with her ongoing Cowboy Carter Tour, which commenced on April 28 in Inglewood. Beyonce was recently performing in her hometown Houston, but she had to face a scary situation in which a car malfunctioned and got stuck mid-air while she was performing a song.&nbsp;WATCH | Puri stampede: probe to be completed in 30 days, ex‑gratia announced for victim's families<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/puri-stampede-probe-to-be-completed-in-30-days-ex-gratia-announced-for-victim-s-families-1751255094241/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/puri-stampede-probe-to-be-completed-in-30-days-ex-gratia-announced-for-victim-s-families-1751255094241/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Good morning! Start your day with WION morning news brief. 

A top cleric of Iran has called the US President Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the "enemies of God" in a newly issued fatwa (an Islamic judgement). Iran's Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued the fatwa while urging Muslims across the world to take action. A suspect opened fire on firefighters responding to a blaze near Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho in the US on Sunday, killing two and sparking a police operation to track down the shooter, who was still active in the area by afternoon. Authorities confirmed that emergency crews had reached the scene of the fire around 1:30 pm local time. US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jun 29) appeared to downplay concerns about recent aggressive actions linked to China — including the arrest of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous agricultural pathogen into the United States — saying such moves are simply part of how global affairs operate. Click on the headlines to read more 'Enemies of God'? Iran cleric issues fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu | Here's what it says A top cleric of Iran has called the US President Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the "enemies of God" in a newly issued fatwa (an Islamic judgement). Iran's Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued the fatwa while urging Muslims across the world to take action. Firefighters attacked in Idaho; two killed in sniper fire, gunman at large A suspect opened fire on firefighters responding to a blaze near Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho in the US on Sunday, killing two and sparking a police operation to track down the shooter, who was still active in the area by afternoon. Authorities confirmed that emergency crews had reached the scene of the fire around 1:30 pm local time. Trump downplays China threat after pathogen smuggling case, says 'That's the way the world works. It's a nasty world' US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jun 29) appeared to downplay concerns about recent aggressive actions linked to China — including the arrest of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous agricultural pathogen into the United States — saying such moves are simply part of how global affairs operate. Beyonce escapes major mishap after car malfunctions mid-air during Cowboy Carter Tour American singer Beyonce is in full swing with her ongoing Cowboy Carter Tour, which commenced on April 28 in Inglewood. Beyonce was recently performing in her hometown Houston, but she had to face a scary situation in which a car malfunctioned and got stuck mid-air while she was performing a song. WATCH | Puri stampede: probe to be completed in 30 days, ex‑gratia announced for victim's families https://www.wionews.com/videos/puri-stampede-probe-to-be-completed-in-30-days-ex-gratia-announced-for-victim-s-families-1751255094241/embed

Good morning! Start your day with WION's morning news brief.&nbsp;

Morning news brief: Iran cleric issues fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu; Firefighters attacked in Idaho, and more

Idaho authorities on Sunday night (Jun 29) found a "deceased male" near a "firearm" on Canfield Mountain. The discovery comes after at least two firefighters were killed in what was an apparent ambush as they responded to a wildfire in the northwestern US state of Idaho. During an early morning press conference on Monday (Jun 30), the Kootenai Sheriff's Office said that based on the preliminary assessment, they believe there was only one shooter. They also said that the assailant's body had to be moved to another location because the wildfire was still blazing on the mountain. The identity of the suspect is yet to be released.Watch | Idaho ambush: Two firefighters killed while responding to brush fire, manhunt underway for gunman<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/idaho-ambush-two-firefighters-killed-while-responding-to-brush-fire-manhunt-underway-for-gunman-1751252409940/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/idaho-ambush-two-firefighters-killed-while-responding-to-brush-fire-manhunt-underway-for-gunman-1751252409940/embed</a><h2>Kootenai County Sheriff's Department's latest statement on the Idaho shooting</h2>"This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain," said a statement from Idaho's Kootenai County sheriff's department, adding that "a firearm was found nearby."A statement confirmed that the shelter-in-place order, implemented amid a stand-off involving authorities and an unspecified number of gunmen, "is being lifted". However, the release added that “Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken”.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GuqKW9DXEAAACjr?format=jpg&amp;name=large" alt="Image"></figure><h2>What happened in Idaho?</h2>On Sunday, firefighters responding to a wildfire on Canfield Mountain were ambushed by unknown assailants. Authorities confirmed that emergency crews had reached the scene of the fire around 1:30 pm local time. About 30 minutes later, gunshots were reported. The attack, as per the sheriff, was carried out with high-powered rifles.Idaho Governor Brad Little called the act "a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters". He added that "multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more".&nbsp;

 In a statement, the Kootenai Sheriff's Office said that additional information will be released at a news conference scheduled for 12:30 am ET.

Idaho authorities on Sunday night (Jun 29) found a "deceased male" near a "firearm" on Canfield Mountain. The discovery comes after at least two firefighters were killed in what was an apparent ambush as they responded to a wildfire in the northwestern US state of Idaho. During an early morning press conference on Monday (Jun 30), the Kootenai Sheriff's Office said that based on the preliminary assessment, they believe there was only one shooter. They also said that the assailant's body had to be moved to another location because the wildfire was still blazing on the mountain. The identity of the suspect is yet to be released. Watch | Idaho ambush: Two firefighters killed while responding to brush fire, manhunt underway for gunman https://www.wionews.com/videos/idaho-ambush-two-firefighters-killed-while-responding-to-brush-fire-manhunt-underway-for-gunman-1751252409940/embed Kootenai County Sheriff's Department's latest statement on the Idaho shooting "This evening, members of the SWAT team located a deceased male on Canfield Mountain," said a statement from Idaho's Kootenai County sheriff's department, adding that "a firearm was found nearby." A statement confirmed that the shelter-in-place order, implemented amid a stand-off involving authorities and an unspecified number of gunmen, "is being lifted". However, the release added that “Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken”. What happened in Idaho? On Sunday, firefighters responding to a wildfire on Canfield Mountain were ambushed by unknown assailants. Authorities confirmed that emergency crews had reached the scene of the fire around 1:30 pm local time. About 30 minutes later, gunshots were reported. The attack, as per the sheriff, was carried out with high-powered rifles. Idaho Governor Brad Little called the act "a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters". He added that "multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more".

&nbsp;In a statement, the Kootenai Sheriff's Office said that additional information will be released at a news conference scheduled for 12:30 am ET.

Idaho firefighters ambush LIVE updates: 'No threat to the community,' says sheriff's office after shooter found dead on Canfield Mountain

US President Donald Trump called the pinpoint precision bombing of three nuclear facilities in Iran on June 21 “a spectacular military success” and there is no doubt that it was a stunning display of American military might. Hard power without equal.But Operation Midnight Hammer, as the Pentagon termed it, also served as a reminder that under Trump, the United States pays little attention to soft power, the ability to influence other countries through attraction and persuasion. In the international information war waged around the world, Trump’s America tends to fare badly.That was highlighted again in the aftermath of the strike on the Iranian facilities with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs never before used in war. No other country has a bomb that can penetrate 250 feet of solid rock. &nbsp;Four days after the strikes on nuclear enrichment facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, one of the oldest and best-known instruments of US soft power, the Voice of America, was the subject of heated discussion in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.Kari Lake, the top advisor of the US Agency for Global Media, which includes the Voice of America, was called to defend her decision to abolish the broadcaster. Founded in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda, it grew into a multi-media operation broadcasting in almost 50 languages and claiming a weekly global audience of more than 350 million people.Trump ordered VOA dismantled when he began his second term. By the time of the strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, around 85 per cent of the workforce had been fired. They included almost all journalists running the Persian-language service.&nbsp;If ever independent news were important for Iranians, it was when Israel and Iran began exchanging missile strikes, one of which hit the Iranian State TV and Radio Station at the moment a chador-clad anchor began her programme and had to run out of the studio seconds before the lights went out. &nbsp;In Washington, even ardent critics of VOA realised the importance of news unfiltered by Iranian propaganda. The government hastily ordered the Farsi-speaking staff to return to work from “administrative leave.” &nbsp;The Persian service had been shut down by an executive order Trump issued on March 15. The abrupt dismissal of the staff prompted various lawsuits.Though the need to recall the fired staff spoke volumes of the administration’s inept handling of the global information war, Kari Lake, on behalf of her boss, kept insisting that VOA must go.“Some say it’s the Voice of anti-America,” she told the hearing, a reference to oft-repeated charges that the broadcaster’s staffers were “left-wing radicals.” Lake added: “Hopefully, we can root out the Russian, Chinese, Iranian propaganda that has been prevalent on our airwaves at VOA and we are going to work to do that.”Lake suggested that the purpose of the broadcaster is “to promote President Trump’s message to people around the world. She sharply criticised VOA coverage of Trump in the run-up to the 2024 elections and accused the organisation of pro-Chinese Communist Party propaganda.Democrats on the committee interpreted her remarks as evidence she was on a mission to turn VOA into an international mouthpiece for President Trump.America’s adversaries around the world have had fulsome praise for the administration’s apparent mission to dismantle its global influence and information structure, chief of all the media that, in the words of the New York Times media analyst Tiffany Hsu “helped market the United States as the world’s moral and cultural authority.”America’s competitors in the influence market were overjoyed by VOA’s demise. Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of RT, the Kremlin-backed news network, &nbsp;said “this is a holiday for me and my colleagues.” Praise also came from China. Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of Global Times, &nbsp;a Chinese government outlet, commented that dismantling VOA was “really gratifying.” &nbsp;Both China and Russia are now spending more money and effort on the information war that runs parallel to hard power moves. In Trump’s first term, attempts to deeply cut budgets for international development and diplomacy failed to pass Congress. &nbsp;The main reason: opposition from the then leaders of the Armed Forces, who argued that military might alone could not solve America’s conflicts and should be complemented by soft power. The present top leaders of the Pentagon are inclined to bow to the president’s wishes. &nbsp;Across the Atlantic, the British government is going into the opposite direction from the Americans. The British Broadcasting Service (BBC) is held in high esteem and members of the parliament recently clamoured for more funding for a network with a sterling reputation and followers around the world.“The BBC plays an indispensable role in the fight against misinformation,’ the meeting was told, with speakers noting that “where services have been cut, we have seen other countries rush in to fill the space.” &nbsp;Perhaps the most devastating criticism of the Trump administration’s failure to appreciate the importance of its international media assets has come from Jamie Sheah, a British former NATO official.“The soft power suicide of the U.S. will be incomprehensible for future historians who will be dumbfounded in their attempts to explain why the global leader voluntarily wrecked one of its greatest national assets.”&nbsp;

Operation Midnight Hammer, as the Pentagon termed it, also served as a reminder that under Trump, the United States pays little attention to soft power, the ability to influence other countries through attraction and persuasion. 

US President Donald Trump called the pinpoint precision bombing of three nuclear facilities in Iran on June 21 “a spectacular military success” and there is no doubt that it was a stunning display of American military might. Hard power without equal. But Operation Midnight Hammer, as the Pentagon termed it, also served as a reminder that under Trump, the United States pays little attention to soft power, the ability to influence other countries through attraction and persuasion. In the international information war waged around the world, Trump’s America tends to fare badly. That was highlighted again in the aftermath of the strike on the Iranian facilities with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs never before used in war. No other country has a bomb that can penetrate 250 feet of solid rock. Four days after the strikes on nuclear enrichment facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, one of the oldest and best-known instruments of US soft power, the Voice of America, was the subject of heated discussion in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives. Kari Lake, the top advisor of the US Agency for Global Media, which includes the Voice of America, was called to defend her decision to abolish the broadcaster. Founded in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda, it grew into a multi-media operation broadcasting in almost 50 languages and claiming a weekly global audience of more than 350 million people. Trump ordered VOA dismantled when he began his second term. By the time of the strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, around 85 per cent of the workforce had been fired. They included almost all journalists running the Persian-language service. If ever independent news were important for Iranians, it was when Israel and Iran began exchanging missile strikes, one of which hit the Iranian State TV and Radio Station at the moment a chador-clad anchor began her programme and had to run out of the studio seconds before the lights went out. In Washington, even ardent critics of VOA realised the importance of news unfiltered by Iranian propaganda. The government hastily ordered the Farsi-speaking staff to return to work from “administrative leave.” The Persian service had been shut down by an executive order Trump issued on March 15. The abrupt dismissal of the staff prompted various lawsuits. Though the need to recall the fired staff spoke volumes of the administration’s inept handling of the global information war, Kari Lake, on behalf of her boss, kept insisting that VOA must go. “Some say it’s the Voice of anti-America,” she told the hearing, a reference to oft-repeated charges that the broadcaster’s staffers were “left-wing radicals.” Lake added: “Hopefully, we can root out the Russian, Chinese, Iranian propaganda that has been prevalent on our airwaves at VOA and we are going to work to do that.” Lake suggested that the purpose of the broadcaster is “to promote President Trump’s message to people around the world. She sharply criticised VOA coverage of Trump in the run-up to the 2024 elections and accused the organisation of pro-Chinese Communist Party propaganda. Democrats on the committee interpreted her remarks as evidence she was on a mission to turn VOA into an international mouthpiece for President Trump. America’s adversaries around the world have had fulsome praise for the administration’s apparent mission to dismantle its global influence and information structure, chief of all the media that, in the words of the New York Times media analyst Tiffany Hsu “helped market the United States as the world’s moral and cultural authority.” America’s competitors in the influence market were overjoyed by VOA’s demise. Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of RT, the Kremlin-backed news network, said “this is a holiday for me and my colleagues.” Praise also came from China. Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of Global Times, a Chinese government outlet, commented that dismantling VOA was “really gratifying.” Both China and Russia are now spending more money and effort on the information war that runs parallel to hard power moves. In Trump’s first term, attempts to deeply cut budgets for international development and diplomacy failed to pass Congress. The main reason: opposition from the then leaders of the Armed Forces, who argued that military might alone could not solve America’s conflicts and should be complemented by soft power. The present top leaders of the Pentagon are inclined to bow to the president’s wishes. Across the Atlantic, the British government is going into the opposite direction from the Americans. The British Broadcasting Service (BBC) is held in high esteem and members of the parliament recently clamoured for more funding for a network with a sterling reputation and followers around the world. “The BBC plays an indispensable role in the fight against misinformation,’ the meeting was told, with speakers noting that “where services have been cut, we have seen other countries rush in to fill the space.” Perhaps the most devastating criticism of the Trump administration’s failure to appreciate the importance of its international media assets has come from Jamie Sheah, a British former NATO official. “The soft power suicide of the U.S. will be incomprehensible for future historians who will be dumbfounded in their attempts to explain why the global leader voluntarily wrecked one of its greatest national assets.”

Operation Midnight Hammer, as the Pentagon termed it, also served as a reminder that under Trump, the United States pays little attention to soft power, the ability to influence other countries through attraction and persuasion.&nbsp;

US-Iran conflict: A spectacular military win, another information war loss

A top cleric of Iran has called the US President Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the "enemies of God" in a newly issued fatwa (an Islamic judgement). &nbsp;Iran's Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued the fatwa while urging Muslims across the world to take action. The fatwa said that anyone who &nbsp;threatens or attacks the leadership and authority of the Islamic community is considered a “warlord" or “criminal of mohareb." Mohareb is a term used in the Iranian law for a person who wages war against God. “Any person or regime that threatens or attacks the leadership and authority in order to harm the Islamic Ummah and its sovereignty is considered a warlord," Ayatollah Makarem said in his fatwa. He said that any support or cooperation with such figures is forbidden for Muslims. &nbsp;He stressed the need for global Muslims to make Trump and Netanyahu “regret their words and mistakes" and said they would be rewarded as “mujahid fi sabilillah" — warriors in the path of God.&nbsp;“May God protect the Islamic community from the evil of the enemies and hasten the reappearance of the Master of the Age and Time," the fatwa said.&nbsp;What is the punishment for "enemies of God"?&nbsp;As per the Iranian law, a person proven to be a mohareb may face severe punishments: execution, crucifixion, amputation of the right hand and left foot, or exile.&nbsp;The fatwa came after a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran over the nuclear programme of the Islamic Republic. The tensions persist even after a ceasefire was announced by Trump.&nbsp;How much damage did Iran face in the war?&nbsp;As per the American news agency CBS News, US defence officials said that three American B-2 bombers were used to strike the Fordow nuclear site of Iran. Each of the B-2s was armed by 2 US-made "bunker-buster" bombs - also known as GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, or MOPs bombs. These bombs are extremely heavy in weight and can only be dropped using a B-2.&nbsp;Iran's key nuke facility, Fordow, was attacked by the US. It is Iran's high-grade uranium enrichment facility and is buried around 300 feet under a mountain. Apart from this, Natanz and Isfahan, two other nuclear sites, were also targeted by the US via Tomahawk missiles launched by submarines.&nbsp;The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a social media post that there was "no increase in off-site radiation levels" after the US strike. Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation also confirmed the US attacks on its three nuclear facilities but said the strikes will not stop it from progressing in its nuclear program.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The fatwa said that anyone who  threatens or attacks the leadership and authority of the Islamic community is considered a warlord or criminal of mohareb. Mohareb is a term used in the Iranian law for a person who wages war against God.

A top cleric of Iran has called the US President Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the "enemies of God" in a newly issued fatwa (an Islamic judgement). Iran's Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi issued the fatwa while urging Muslims across the world to take action. The fatwa said that anyone who threatens or attacks the leadership and authority of the Islamic community is considered a “warlord" or “criminal of mohareb." Mohareb is a term used in the Iranian law for a person who wages war against God. “Any person or regime that threatens or attacks the leadership and authority in order to harm the Islamic Ummah and its sovereignty is considered a warlord," Ayatollah Makarem said in his fatwa. He said that any support or cooperation with such figures is forbidden for Muslims. He stressed the need for global Muslims to make Trump and Netanyahu “regret their words and mistakes" and said they would be rewarded as “mujahid fi sabilillah" — warriors in the path of God. “May God protect the Islamic community from the evil of the enemies and hasten the reappearance of the Master of the Age and Time," the fatwa said. What is the punishment for "enemies of God"? As per the Iranian law, a person proven to be a mohareb may face severe punishments: execution, crucifixion, amputation of the right hand and left foot, or exile. The fatwa came after a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran over the nuclear programme of the Islamic Republic. The tensions persist even after a ceasefire was announced by Trump. How much damage did Iran face in the war? As per the American news agency CBS News, US defence officials said that three American B-2 bombers were used to strike the Fordow nuclear site of Iran. Each of the B-2s was armed by 2 US-made "bunker-buster" bombs - also known as GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, or MOPs bombs. These bombs are extremely heavy in weight and can only be dropped using a B-2. Iran's key nuke facility, Fordow, was attacked by the US. It is Iran's high-grade uranium enrichment facility and is buried around 300 feet under a mountain. Apart from this, Natanz and Isfahan, two other nuclear sites, were also targeted by the US via Tomahawk missiles launched by submarines. The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a social media post that there was "no increase in off-site radiation levels" after the US strike. Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation also confirmed the US attacks on its three nuclear facilities but said the strikes will not stop it from progressing in its nuclear program.

The fatwa said that anyone who &nbsp;threatens or attacks the leadership and authority of the Islamic community is considered a “warlord" or “criminal of mohareb." Mohareb is a term used in the Iranian law for a person who wages war against God.

'Enemies of God'? Iran cleric issues fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu | Here's what it says

In a sweeping and controversial move, Iran's parliament, as per reports, has passed a law that imposes the death penalty for a broad range of activities deemed as cooperation with Israel, the United States, or any group considered hostile to the Islamic Republic. The new legislation has also criminalised unauthorised use of satellite internet tools, including Starlink by Elon Musk's SpaceX. As per reports, the law frames such collaborations as "corruption on earth"—a term rooted in Islamic jurisprudence that is punishable by death under Iranian law.<h2>Punishable by death</h2>According to an Iran International report, the law states that "any intelligence, espionage, or operational activity for Israel, the US, or other hostile regimes and groups or their agents against the country’s security or national interests is considered corruption on earth and punishable by death".It further criminalises "any security, military, economic, financial, or technological action or any direct or indirect assistance knowingly done to approve, strengthen, consolidate, or legitimise Israel." This, too, is punishable by death.The third article outlines further capital punishments for manufacturing, importing, or using drones for sabotage or military purposes against critical infrastructure. It also includes cyberattacks and interference with communication networks or public utilities under its death penalty provisions. Even receiving money from foreign intelligence sources—whether or not one acts on it—can be prosecuted under the law.Beyond capital crimes, the law carries heavy prison terms for various forms of dissent. Political, cultural, media, or propaganda activities that, in the government's view, could incite public fear or division or harm national security can result in 10 to 15 years behind bars. Furthermore, sharing content with "hostile foreign networks" that weakens morale or create division results in two to five years in prison. Meanwhile, participating in unauthorised protests during wartime can carry a sentence of five to ten years.The legislation also targets digital tools used to bypass Iran's state-controlled internet. As per the law, the use or import of unauthorised internet communication using tools like SpaceX's Starlink is punishable by six months to two years in prison. Importing more than ten such devices "with intent to oppose the Islamic Republic" could lead to up to a decade in jail.<h2>No statute of limitations applicable?</h2>As per reports, perhaps most controversially, the law applies retroactively—meaning individuals can be punished for actions committed before the law was passed. Legal experts and rights groups, as per AFP, warned that this violates Iran’s own constitutional and penal provisions, which prohibit retroactive criminal laws.

According to reports, the law states that "any intelligence, espionage, or operational activity for Israel, the US, or other hostile regimes and groups or their agents against the country’s security or national interests is considered corruption on earth and punishable by death".

In a sweeping and controversial move, Iran's parliament, as per reports, has passed a law that imposes the death penalty for a broad range of activities deemed as cooperation with Israel, the United States, or any group considered hostile to the Islamic Republic. The new legislation has also criminalised unauthorised use of satellite internet tools, including Starlink by Elon Musk's SpaceX. As per reports, the law frames such collaborations as "corruption on earth"—a term rooted in Islamic jurisprudence that is punishable by death under Iranian law. Punishable by death According to an Iran International report, the law states that "any intelligence, espionage, or operational activity for Israel, the US, or other hostile regimes and groups or their agents against the country’s security or national interests is considered corruption on earth and punishable by death". It further criminalises "any security, military, economic, financial, or technological action or any direct or indirect assistance knowingly done to approve, strengthen, consolidate, or legitimise Israel." This, too, is punishable by death. The third article outlines further capital punishments for manufacturing, importing, or using drones for sabotage or military purposes against critical infrastructure. It also includes cyberattacks and interference with communication networks or public utilities under its death penalty provisions. Even receiving money from foreign intelligence sources—whether or not one acts on it—can be prosecuted under the law. Beyond capital crimes, the law carries heavy prison terms for various forms of dissent. Political, cultural, media, or propaganda activities that, in the government's view, could incite public fear or division or harm national security can result in 10 to 15 years behind bars. Furthermore, sharing content with "hostile foreign networks" that weakens morale or create division results in two to five years in prison. Meanwhile, participating in unauthorised protests during wartime can carry a sentence of five to ten years. The legislation also targets digital tools used to bypass Iran's state-controlled internet. As per the law, the use or import of unauthorised internet communication using tools like SpaceX's Starlink is punishable by six months to two years in prison. Importing more than ten such devices "with intent to oppose the Islamic Republic" could lead to up to a decade in jail. No statute of limitations applicable? As per reports, perhaps most controversially, the law applies retroactively—meaning individuals can be punished for actions committed before the law was passed. Legal experts and rights groups, as per AFP, warned that this violates Iran’s own constitutional and penal provisions, which prohibit retroactive criminal laws.

According to reports, the law states that "any intelligence, espionage, or operational activity for Israel, the US, or other hostile regimes and groups or their agents against the country’s security or national interests is considered corruption on earth and punishable by death".

Iran criminalises Starlink use; imposes death penalty for cooperation with Israel, US, or 'hostile groups'

Canada said Sunday it will rescind taxes impacting US tech firms in hopes of reaching a trade agreement with Washington, after US President Donald Trump called off talks with Ottawa in retaliation for the levy.Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne "announced today that Canada would rescind the Digital Services Tax (DST) in anticipation of a mutually beneficial comprehensive trade arrangement with the United States," a government statement said.It added that Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney "have agreed that parties will resume negotiations with a view towards agreeing on a deal by July 21, 2025."Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne "announced today that Canada would rescind the Digital Services Tax (DST) in anticipation of a mutually beneficial comprehensive trade arrangement with the United States," a government statement said.

Canada said Sunday it will rescind taxes impacting US tech firms in hopes of reaching a trade agreement with Washington, after US President Donald Trump called off talks with Ottawa in retaliation for the levy. Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne "announced today that Canada would rescind the Digital Services Tax (DST) in anticipation of a mutually beneficial comprehensive trade arrangement with the United States," a government statement said. It added that Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney "have agreed that parties will resume negotiations with a view towards agreeing on a deal by July 21, 2025." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne "announced today that Canada would rescind the Digital Services Tax (DST) in anticipation of a mutually beneficial comprehensive trade arrangement with the United States," a government statement said.

Canada rescinds tax hitting US tech firms: govt

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jun 29) appeared to downplay concerns about recent aggressive actions linked to China — including the arrest of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous agricultural pathogen into the United States — saying such moves are simply part of how global affairs operate. Talking to Fox News, Trump said, "that's the way the world works".<h2>'It's a nasty world'</h2>Appearing on a Fox News morning show, Trump was asked about a string of alleged Chinese misconduct — from intellectual property theft and cyber espionage to COVID-19-related controversies. In answer, Trump suggested that the US itself engage in similar behaviour. "You don't think we do that to them? We do, we do a lot of things," he said, without elaborating. "That's the way the world works. It's a nasty world," he added.His comments come just weeks after federal prosecutors charged Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, with conspiracy, false statements, visa fraud and attempting to smuggle Fusarium graminearum into the US. The fungus, which causes a disease known as 'head blight,' can severely damage crops like wheat, barley, corn, and rice.Trump seemed untroubled by the case, casting doubt on its wider implications. "You don't know where that came from, though. I mean, did that come from the country, or is that three wackos that happened to carry something?" he said.Trump also suggested that ties with Beijing remained manageable. Referring to the ongoing US-China trade war, he said, "We're getting along well with China." Seemingly referring to ongoing trade negotiations, he said, "I think getting along with China is a very good thing, but they are paying substantial tariffs."The comments come as the White House signalled trade progress with Beijing last week. AFP, citing a White House official, reported that the two nations have reached an understanding on issues including expediting rare earth shipments to the United States.

When asked about a string of alleged Chinese misconduct, Trump suggested that the US itself engage in similar behaviour. "You don't think we do that to them? We do, we do a lot of things," he said, without elaborating.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (Jun 29) appeared to downplay concerns about recent aggressive actions linked to China — including the arrest of two Chinese nationals accused of smuggling a dangerous agricultural pathogen into the United States — saying such moves are simply part of how global affairs operate. Talking to Fox News, Trump said, "that's the way the world works". 'It's a nasty world' Appearing on a Fox News morning show, Trump was asked about a string of alleged Chinese misconduct — from intellectual property theft and cyber espionage to COVID-19-related controversies. In answer, Trump suggested that the US itself engage in similar behaviour. "You don't think we do that to them? We do, we do a lot of things," he said, without elaborating. "That's the way the world works. It's a nasty world," he added. His comments come just weeks after federal prosecutors charged Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, with conspiracy, false statements, visa fraud and attempting to smuggle Fusarium graminearum into the US. The fungus, which causes a disease known as 'head blight,' can severely damage crops like wheat, barley, corn, and rice. Trump seemed untroubled by the case, casting doubt on its wider implications. "You don't know where that came from, though. I mean, did that come from the country, or is that three wackos that happened to carry something?" he said. Trump also suggested that ties with Beijing remained manageable. Referring to the ongoing US-China trade war, he said, "We're getting along well with China." Seemingly referring to ongoing trade negotiations, he said, "I think getting along with China is a very good thing, but they are paying substantial tariffs." The comments come as the White House signalled trade progress with Beijing last week. AFP, citing a White House official, reported that the two nations have reached an understanding on issues including expediting rare earth shipments to the United States.

When asked about a string of alleged Chinese misconduct, Trump suggested that the US itself engage in similar behaviour. "You don't think we do that to them? We do, we do a lot of things," he said, without elaborating.

Trump downplays China threat after pathogen smuggling case, says 'That's the way the world works. It's a nasty world'

Iran’s judiciary has revealed that at least 71 people were killed in Israel’s attack on Tehran’s Evin prison, a notorious facility where many political prisoners and dissidents have been held. Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said in a post on the official Mizan news agency website on Sunday that those killed included staff, soldiers, prisoners, and members of visiting families. It was not possible to independently verify the claim. Several prison buildings were hit in the June 23 attack, the day before the ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect, and prompted concerns from rights groups about the safety of the inmates.&nbsp;The news of the prison attack was quickly overshadowed by an Iranian attack on a US base in Qatar the same day, which caused no casualties.Jahangir did not share details of the casualty figures but said the attack had hit the prison’s infirmary, engineering building, judicial affairs, and visitation hall, where visiting family members were killed and injured.&nbsp;<h2>‘Evin prison a symbol of the Iranian regime’s repression’</h2>&nbsp;The New York-based Centre for Human Rights in Iran criticised Israel for striking the prison that is a symbol of the Iranian regime’s repression.The group said Iran was legally obligated to protect the prisoners held in Evin, and slammed authorities in Tehran for their “failure to evacuate, provide medical assistance, or inform families” following the attack.&nbsp;Jahangir said some of those injured were treated on site, while others were sent to hospitals.Iran had not shared any death figures till now, but on Saturday it confirmed that top prosecutor Ali Ghanaatkar—whose prosecution of dissidents, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, led to widespread criticism by human rights groups—had been killed in the attack.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Foreign reporters from <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Reuters</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/AJEnglish?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AJEnglish</a> , <a href="https://twitter.com/AP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AP</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/RT_com?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RT_com</a>, and others visited Evin Prison after Israel’s deadly strike. The attack killed 71, including staff, inmates, and visiting families. What happened in Evin must not be forgotten.<a href="https://t.co/KfnbottQKU">https://t.co/KfnbottQKU</a>&mdash; mizan news agency (@Mizannews_En) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mizannews_En/status/1939336744035332590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists killed: Israel</h2>&nbsp;Israel attacked Iran on June 13 in a bid to destroy the country’s nuclear programme.After the ceasefire, Israel claimed it killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists while hitting eight nuclear-related facilities and more than 720 military infrastructure sites.&nbsp;In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, but those that got through caused damage and killed 28 people.&nbsp;While both sides have adhered to truce, Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief of staff for Iran’s armed forces, said in a conversation with Saudi Arabia’s defence minister that the country is prepared if there were to be another surprise Israeli attack.“We did not initiate the war, but we responded to the aggressor with all our might, and since we have complete doubts about the enemy’s adherence to its commitments, including the ceasefire, we are prepared to give them a strong response if they repeat the aggression,” Mousavi said, according to Iranian state TV agency IRNA.

After the ceasefire, Israel claimed it killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists while hitting eight nuclear-related facilities and more than 720 military infrastructure sites. In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel.

Iran’s judiciary has revealed that at least 71 people were killed in Israel’s attack on Tehran’s Evin prison, a notorious facility where many political prisoners and dissidents have been held. Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said in a post on the official Mizan news agency website on Sunday that those killed included staff, soldiers, prisoners, and members of visiting families. It was not possible to independently verify the claim. Several prison buildings were hit in the June 23 attack, the day before the ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect, and prompted concerns from rights groups about the safety of the inmates. The news of the prison attack was quickly overshadowed by an Iranian attack on a US base in Qatar the same day, which caused no casualties. Jahangir did not share details of the casualty figures but said the attack had hit the prison’s infirmary, engineering building, judicial affairs, and visitation hall, where visiting family members were killed and injured. ‘Evin prison a symbol of the Iranian regime’s repression’ The New York-based Centre for Human Rights in Iran criticised Israel for striking the prison that is a symbol of the Iranian regime’s repression. The group said Iran was legally obligated to protect the prisoners held in Evin, and slammed authorities in Tehran for their “failure to evacuate, provide medical assistance, or inform families” following the attack. Jahangir said some of those injured were treated on site, while others were sent to hospitals. Iran had not shared any death figures till now, but on Saturday it confirmed that top prosecutor Ali Ghanaatkar—whose prosecution of dissidents, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, led to widespread criticism by human rights groups—had been killed in the attack.

After the ceasefire, Israel claimed it killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists while hitting eight nuclear-related facilities and more than 720 military infrastructure sites. In retaliation, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel.

At least 71 killed in Israel’s strike on Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, says Iran’s judiciary

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (Jun 29) said that the recent 12-day conflict with Iran had paved the way for new "opportunities"—chief among them, the potential return of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. "Many opportunities have opened up now following this victory," Netanyahu said during an address to security service officials, adding, “first of all, to rescue the hostages”. Netanyahu's statement, as per reports, has given rise to speculation that progress could be achieved in bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict and securing the hostages' release.<h2>What did Netanyahu say about hostages?</h2>On his Sunday visit to the security facility of Israel's Shin Bet Intelligence service, the Israeli PM said, "I want to inform you that as you probably know, many opportunities have opened up now following this victory, many opportunities.""First of all, to rescue the hostages. Of course, we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I estimate that we will achieve both tasks," he added, as per a statement issued by his office. However, he insisted that "the Gaza issue" and the defeat of Hamas are also to be achieved. "Of course, we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I estimate that we will achieve both goals".<h2>Shifting priorities?</h2>Netanyahu's remarks appear to signal a shift in priorities, coming after nearly two years of public pressure from families of hostages captured during the Hamas-led October 7 attack. Welcoming the Israeli PM's statement, 'The Hostages and Missing Families Forum', the main group representing hostage families, said it was "a very important statement". Lauding "the fact that after 20 months, the return of the hostages has finally been designated as the top priority by the prime minister", the group said, "This is a very important statement that must translate into a single comprehensive deal to bring back all 50 hostages and end the fighting in Gaza."According to Israeli authorities, 49 hostages remain in Gaza, with 27 believed to be dead. Hamas is also reportedly holding the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in 2014.But while Netanyahu spoke of "rescue", the families of hostages insisted on the hostages' "release, not rescue"."The only way to free them all is through a comprehensive deal and an end to the fighting, without rescue operations that endanger both the hostages and (Israeli) soldiers."

"Many opportunities have opened up now following this victory," Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said during an address to security service officials, adding, “first of all, to rescue the hostages”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (Jun 29) said that the recent 12-day conflict with Iran had paved the way for new "opportunities"—chief among them, the potential return of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. "Many opportunities have opened up now following this victory," Netanyahu said during an address to security service officials, adding, “first of all, to rescue the hostages”. Netanyahu's statement, as per reports, has given rise to speculation that progress could be achieved in bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict and securing the hostages' release. What did Netanyahu say about hostages? On his Sunday visit to the security facility of Israel's Shin Bet Intelligence service, the Israeli PM said, "I want to inform you that as you probably know, many opportunities have opened up now following this victory, many opportunities." "First of all, to rescue the hostages. Of course, we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I estimate that we will achieve both tasks," he added, as per a statement issued by his office. However, he insisted that "the Gaza issue" and the defeat of Hamas are also to be achieved. "Of course, we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I estimate that we will achieve both goals". Shifting priorities? Netanyahu's remarks appear to signal a shift in priorities, coming after nearly two years of public pressure from families of hostages captured during the Hamas-led October 7 attack. Welcoming the Israeli PM's statement, 'The Hostages and Missing Families Forum', the main group representing hostage families, said it was "a very important statement". Lauding "the fact that after 20 months, the return of the hostages has finally been designated as the top priority by the prime minister", the group said, "This is a very important statement that must translate into a single comprehensive deal to bring back all 50 hostages and end the fighting in Gaza." According to Israeli authorities, 49 hostages remain in Gaza, with 27 believed to be dead. Hamas is also reportedly holding the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in 2014. But while Netanyahu spoke of "rescue", the families of hostages insisted on the hostages' "release, not rescue". "The only way to free them all is through a comprehensive deal and an end to the fighting, without rescue operations that endanger both the hostages and (Israeli) soldiers."

"Many opportunities have opened up now following this victory," Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said during an address to security service officials, adding, “first of all, to rescue the hostages”.

Netanyahu says 'victory' over Iran created 'opportunities,' for hostage rescue; families insist 'release, not rescue'

A suspect opened fire on firefighters responding to a blaze near Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho in the US on Sunday, killing two and sparking a police operation to track down the shooter, who was still active in the area by afternoon. Authorities confirmed that emergency crews had reached the scene of the fire around 1:30 pm local time. About 30 minutes later, gunshots were reported. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said police were still “taking sniper fire” several hours later.&nbsp;Idaho Governor Brad Little called the act “a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters”. “Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken,” Little said.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken. As this…&mdash; Brad Little (@GovernorLittle) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorLittle/status/1939460833354072306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;“We’re actively taking sniper fire as we speak,” Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said at a news conference. “This is an active situation.”The Kootenai Sheriff’s Office said the attack took place at Canfield Mountain outside the city of Coeur d’Alene in Kootenai County. The shooter remains at large, and the fire continues to blaze.&nbsp;Officials in neighbouring Shoshone County described the unfolding event as “an active shooter situation where the shooter is still at large.” Residents were urged to avoid the Canfield Mountain Trailhead and nearby Nettleton Gulch Road, located around four miles north of downtown Coeur d’Alene.&nbsp;The fire at the mountain site was still burning. Coeur d’Alene is home to about 55,000 people and lies close to the Washington state border.&nbsp;The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to requests for further information.Firefighters had been dispatched to fight the blaze at about 1:30 pm, the sheriff’s office said.&nbsp;As per the CNN report, Officials reported that the exact number of injured people in the shooting is still unknown, and hikers and residents are still “stuck” on the mountain. Meanwhile, they are also asking civilians to stay away from the area as law enforcement and firefighters conduct their operations.The incident occurred in the Canfield Mountain Natural Area, a 24-acre park located on the eastern side of the city, which features multiple hiking and biking trails and is heavily wooded. &nbsp;

Officials informed that the exact number of injured people in the shooting is still unknown, and residents and hikers are still “stuck” on the mountain.

A suspect opened fire on firefighters responding to a blaze near Canfield Mountain in northern Idaho in the US on Sunday, killing two and sparking a police operation to track down the shooter, who was still active in the area by afternoon. Authorities confirmed that emergency crews had reached the scene of the fire around 1:30 pm local time. About 30 minutes later, gunshots were reported. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said police were still “taking sniper fire” several hours later. Idaho Governor Brad Little called the act “a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters”. “Multiple heroic firefighters were attacked today while responding to a fire in North Idaho. This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters. I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more. Teresa and I are heartbroken,” Little said.

Officials informed that the exact number of injured people in the shooting is still unknown, and residents and hikers are still “stuck” on the mountain.

Idaho shooting: Two firefighters killed while responding to blaze near Canfield Mountain, Governor calls it ‘heinous assault’

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned UK punk duo Bob Vylan for “appalling hate speech” and urging “death” to Israeli troops at the Glastonbury Festival. Rapper Vylan had triggered a major controversy at his Glastonbury Festival performance when he led the crowd to chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF.” Glastonbury Festival organisers said they were “appalled” by the incident that prompted a backlash from government officials and the Israeli embassy, while police launched an official investigation into possible hate speech or incitement. In a statement, Starmer said the BBC had questions to answer over its live broadcast of the group’s performance on Saturday.A BBC spokesperson previously said some of the comments were “deeply offensive”, adding it had issued a warning on screen about “very strong and discriminatory language”.&nbsp;&nbsp;Starmer also criticised the Irish-language rap group Kneecap, who previously described Israel’s military action in Gaza as a genocide.He said, “There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.”&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Culture Secretary seeks urgent explanation from BBC on its vetting process</h2>&nbsp;A government spokesperson said Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had pressed BBC boss Tim Davie for an urgent explanation of the broadcaster's vetting process.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Embassy of Israel in the United Kingdom is deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival. Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic…&mdash; Israel in the UK 🇮🇱🤝🇬🇧 (@IsraelinUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraelinUK/status/1939019339161563147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;Health Secretary Wes Streeting said Bob Vylan's comments were “revolting” and added that the “irony of that music festival is that Israelis were taken from a music festival, killed, raped and in some cases are still being held captive”.&nbsp;Glastonbury Festival against all forms of war and terrorism, says organiser&nbsp;A joint Instagram post from Glastonbury Festival and organiser Emily Eavis on Sunday said the event stood “against all forms of war and terrorism”, and that with almost 4,000 performances on site “there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share”.“However, we are appalled by the statements made by Bob Vylan. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”&nbsp;<h2>‘Deeply disturbed by inflammatory and hateful rhetoric’</h2>&nbsp;The Embassy of Israel in the UK issued a statement noting that it is deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric. “Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleansing, it must be called out—especially when amplified by public figures on prominent platforms,” it said. Chants such as “Death to the IDF,” and “From the river to the sea” are slogans that advocate for the dismantling of the State of Israel and implicitly call for the elimination of Jewish self-determination. When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence,” the statement added.

PM Starmer said the BBC had questions to answer over its live broadcast of the group’s performance. A BBC spokesperson previously said some of the comments were “deeply offensive”, adding it had issued a warning on screen about “very strong and discriminatory language”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned UK punk duo Bob Vylan for “appalling hate speech” and urging “death” to Israeli troops at the Glastonbury Festival. Rapper Vylan had triggered a major controversy at his Glastonbury Festival performance when he led the crowd to chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF.” Glastonbury Festival organisers said they were “appalled” by the incident that prompted a backlash from government officials and the Israeli embassy, while police launched an official investigation into possible hate speech or incitement. In a statement, Starmer said the BBC had questions to answer over its live broadcast of the group’s performance on Saturday. A BBC spokesperson previously said some of the comments were “deeply offensive”, adding it had issued a warning on screen about “very strong and discriminatory language”. Starmer also criticised the Irish-language rap group Kneecap, who previously described Israel’s military action in Gaza as a genocide. He said, “There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.” Culture Secretary seeks urgent explanation from BBC on its vetting process A government spokesperson said Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy had pressed BBC boss Tim Davie for an urgent explanation of the broadcaster's vetting process.

PM Starmer said the BBC had questions to answer over its live broadcast of the group’s performance. A BBC spokesperson previously said some of the comments were “deeply offensive”, adding it had issued a warning on screen about “very strong and discriminatory language”.

Starmer condemns ‘appalling’ Bob Vylan chants against IDF at Glastonbury Festival

Zohran Mamdani, the presumptive Democratic nominee for mayor in New York City, said on Sunday that billionaires contribute to inequality and hence he doesn’t believe they should exist. Mamdani, who claims to be a democratic socialist, was asked whether billionaires should have a right to exist during ‘Meet the Press’ show on NBC News, and he said, “I don’t think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city and across our state and across our country.”&nbsp; “And I look forward to working with everyone, including billionaires, to make a city that is fair for all of them,” he added.&nbsp;Mamdani’s remarks come at a time when some wealthy people in New York City were reportedly annoyed after it became clear that he would be the presumptive nominee.&nbsp;<h2>‘His policies would be disastrous for NYC,’ says billionaire&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager who has backed President Donald Trump in the past, has pledged to use his money to bankroll a challenger to Mamdani in the general election.&nbsp;“[Mamdani’s] policies would be disastrous for NYC. Socialism has no place in the economic capital of our country. The ability for NYC to offer services for the poor and needy, let alone the average New Yorker, is entirely dependent on NYC being a business-friendly environment and a place where wealthy residents are willing to spend 183 days and assume the associated tax burden,” Ackman wrote in a post on X.&nbsp;“Importantly, there are hundreds of millions of dollars of capital available to back a competitor to Mamdani that can be put together overnight (believe me, I am in the text strings and the WhatsApp groups) so that a great alternative candidate won’t spend any time raising funds. So, if the right candidate would raise his or her hand tomorrow, the funds will pour in,” he added.&nbsp;<h2>Mamdani shares plan of raising taxes on the wealthiest</h2>&nbsp;Mamdani also shared his plan of raising taxes on the wealthiest people living in the Big Apple, as he told the moderator Kristen Welker, “Ultimately, the reason I want to increase these taxes on the top 1%, the most profitable corporations, is to increase quality of life for everyone, including those who are going to be taxed.”&nbsp;Mamdani has also faced critics—including President Donald Trump—who call him a communist.&nbsp;“I am not” a communist, Mamdani said in response to a question about Trump’s comments.&nbsp;“I have already had to start to get used to, get used to the fact that the president will talk about how I look, how I sound, where I’m from, who I am, ultimately, because he wants to distract from what I’m fighting for, and I’m fighting for the very working people that he ran a campaign to empower, that he has since then betrayed,” he added.&nbsp;<h2>Trump threatens to pull federal funding from New York City</h2>&nbsp;In a separate interview on Fox News that was taped Friday, Trump again spoke about Mamdani, issuing a threat to pull federal funding from New York City if the next mayor doesn’t “do the right thing.”&nbsp;“But let’s say this: If he does get in, I’m going to be president, and he’s going to have to do the right thing or they’re not getting any money, he’s got to do the right thing,” the president told Maria Bartiromo of Fox News.&nbsp;“It was the focus on the fact that we live in the most expensive city in the United States of America. It’s also the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, and yet 1 in 4 New Yorkers are living in poverty, and the rest are seemingly trapped in a state of anxiety,” Mamdani said.

Bill Ackman, a billionaire who has backed President Donald Trump in the past, has pledged to use his money to bankroll a challenger to Mamdani in the general election. “[Mamdani’s] policies would be disastrous for NYC. Socialism has no place in the economic capital of our country. 

Zohran Mamdani, the presumptive Democratic nominee for mayor in New York City, said on Sunday that billionaires contribute to inequality and hence he doesn’t believe they should exist. Mamdani, who claims to be a democratic socialist, was asked whether billionaires should have a right to exist during ‘Meet the Press’ show on NBC News, and he said, “I don’t think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city and across our state and across our country.” “And I look forward to working with everyone, including billionaires, to make a city that is fair for all of them,” he added. Mamdani’s remarks come at a time when some wealthy people in New York City were reportedly annoyed after it became clear that he would be the presumptive nominee. ‘His policies would be disastrous for NYC,’ says billionaire Bill Ackman, a billionaire hedge fund manager who has backed President Donald Trump in the past, has pledged to use his money to bankroll a challenger to Mamdani in the general election. “[Mamdani’s] policies would be disastrous for NYC. Socialism has no place in the economic capital of our country. The ability for NYC to offer services for the poor and needy, let alone the average New Yorker, is entirely dependent on NYC being a business-friendly environment and a place where wealthy residents are willing to spend 183 days and assume the associated tax burden,” Ackman wrote in a post on X. “Importantly, there are hundreds of millions of dollars of capital available to back a competitor to Mamdani that can be put together overnight (believe me, I am in the text strings and the WhatsApp groups) so that a great alternative candidate won’t spend any time raising funds. So, if the right candidate would raise his or her hand tomorrow, the funds will pour in,” he added. Mamdani shares plan of raising taxes on the wealthiest Mamdani also shared his plan of raising taxes on the wealthiest people living in the Big Apple, as he told the moderator Kristen Welker, “Ultimately, the reason I want to increase these taxes on the top 1%, the most profitable corporations, is to increase quality of life for everyone, including those who are going to be taxed.” Mamdani has also faced critics—including President Donald Trump—who call him a communist. “I am not” a communist, Mamdani said in response to a question about Trump’s comments. “I have already had to start to get used to, get used to the fact that the president will talk about how I look, how I sound, where I’m from, who I am, ultimately, because he wants to distract from what I’m fighting for, and I’m fighting for the very working people that he ran a campaign to empower, that he has since then betrayed,” he added. Trump threatens to pull federal funding from New York City In a separate interview on Fox News that was taped Friday, Trump again spoke about Mamdani, issuing a threat to pull federal funding from New York City if the next mayor doesn’t “do the right thing.” “But let’s say this: If he does get in, I’m going to be president, and he’s going to have to do the right thing or they’re not getting any money, he’s got to do the right thing,” the president told Maria Bartiromo of Fox News. “It was the focus on the fact that we live in the most expensive city in the United States of America. It’s also the wealthiest city in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, and yet 1 in 4 New Yorkers are living in poverty, and the rest are seemingly trapped in a state of anxiety,” Mamdani said.

Bill Ackman, a billionaire who has backed President Donald Trump in the past, has pledged to use his money to bankroll a challenger to Mamdani in the general election. “[Mamdani’s] policies would be disastrous for NYC. Socialism has no place in the economic capital of our country.&nbsp;

‘I don’t think we should have billionaires,’ says Zohran Mamdani, triggers controversy

Europe is sweltering under a heatwave as early summer heat is on a record-breaking spree with mercury hovering above 40°C in many countries. The heatwaves sweeping across Europe have forced authorities to urge caution as extreme heat, dry conditions, and strong winds threaten wildfires. Temperatures hit 46°C (114.8°F) in the town of El Granado in Spain, near the Portuguese border, setting a new national heat record for the month of June. The previous June high of 45.2°C (113.4°F) was set in Seville in 1965.&nbsp; Several Italian regions are considering banning certain works during the hottest hours of the day as a severe heatwave prompted authorities to issue red alerts in 21 cities by Sunday morning.Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia, and Umbria are planning the measure amid soaring temperatures. The Italian Health Ministry placed 17 out of 27 monitored cities, including Rome, Milan, and Naples, under its highest heat alert.&nbsp;In Rome, tourists sought shade near the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, some using umbrellas and drinking from public fountains to stay cool.&nbsp;<h2>People advised to avoid strenuous activity during peak heat</h2>&nbsp;Spain’s national meteorological agency AEMET warned that June is on track to become the hottest on record, with temperatures in Seville and other southern cities climbing to 42°C.&nbsp;Health officials advised people to avoid strenuous activity during peak heat and to stay hydrated, particularly the elderly and young children.&nbsp;High temperatures were also reported across Greece and Portugal, with both locals and tourists seeking relief from the extreme weather.Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in southern Europe to climate change.&nbsp;Local authorities in Greece also issued fresh warnings about the risk of wildfires.&nbsp;<h2>Extreme heat to reach London, Wimbledon set for its hottest opening day</h2>&nbsp;Hot weather is expected to persist into the start of the week, with London predicted to reach up to 35°C on Monday, marking the hottest day of the year so far.Wimbledon is set for its hottest opening day on record Monday, possibly breaking the tournament’s all-time heat record.The current opening day high is 29.3°C, set in 2001. The hottest day ever at Wimbledon was 35.7°C on July 1, 2015.The German Weather Service also issued heat warnings for southern and western regions, with peaks of 39°C likely on Wednesday.French firefighters were battling early summer wildfires, and blazes in the Corbieres region forced evacuations as temperatures soared past 40°C, peaking at 40.9°C in Grospierres.&nbsp;<h2>Heatwaves becoming more frequent, taking a toll on biodiversity</h2>&nbsp;Meteorologists warn that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and arriving earlier due to human-driven climate change.Spain’s state weather agency, AEMET, noted that only two June heat waves were recorded between 1975 and 2000, but that number has increased to nine since 2000. Temperatures normally witnessed in August arrived by late May this year.In France, experts warned the heat is taking a toll on biodiversity.

Temperatures hit 46°C (114.8°F) in the town of El Granado in Spain, near the Portuguese border, setting a new national heat record for the month of June. The previous June high of 45.2°C (113.4°F) was set in Seville in 1965. 

Europe is sweltering under a heatwave as early summer heat is on a record-breaking spree with mercury hovering above 40°C in many countries. The heatwaves sweeping across Europe have forced authorities to urge caution as extreme heat, dry conditions, and strong winds threaten wildfires. Temperatures hit 46°C (114.8°F) in the town of El Granado in Spain, near the Portuguese border, setting a new national heat record for the month of June. The previous June high of 45.2°C (113.4°F) was set in Seville in 1965. Several Italian regions are considering banning certain works during the hottest hours of the day as a severe heatwave prompted authorities to issue red alerts in 21 cities by Sunday morning. Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia, and Umbria are planning the measure amid soaring temperatures. The Italian Health Ministry placed 17 out of 27 monitored cities, including Rome, Milan, and Naples, under its highest heat alert. In Rome, tourists sought shade near the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, some using umbrellas and drinking from public fountains to stay cool. People advised to avoid strenuous activity during peak heat Spain’s national meteorological agency AEMET warned that June is on track to become the hottest on record, with temperatures in Seville and other southern cities climbing to 42°C. Health officials advised people to avoid strenuous activity during peak heat and to stay hydrated, particularly the elderly and young children. High temperatures were also reported across Greece and Portugal, with both locals and tourists seeking relief from the extreme weather. Experts attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves in southern Europe to climate change. Local authorities in Greece also issued fresh warnings about the risk of wildfires. Extreme heat to reach London, Wimbledon set for its hottest opening day Hot weather is expected to persist into the start of the week, with London predicted to reach up to 35°C on Monday, marking the hottest day of the year so far. Wimbledon is set for its hottest opening day on record Monday, possibly breaking the tournament’s all-time heat record. The current opening day high is 29.3°C, set in 2001. The hottest day ever at Wimbledon was 35.7°C on July 1, 2015. The German Weather Service also issued heat warnings for southern and western regions, with peaks of 39°C likely on Wednesday. French firefighters were battling early summer wildfires, and blazes in the Corbieres region forced evacuations as temperatures soared past 40°C, peaking at 40.9°C in Grospierres. Heatwaves becoming more frequent, taking a toll on biodiversity Meteorologists warn that heatwaves are becoming more frequent and arriving earlier due to human-driven climate change. Spain’s state weather agency, AEMET, noted that only two June heat waves were recorded between 1975 and 2000, but that number has increased to nine since 2000. Temperatures normally witnessed in August arrived by late May this year. In France, experts warned the heat is taking a toll on biodiversity.

Temperatures hit 46°C (114.8°F) in the town of El Granado in Spain, near the Portuguese border, setting a new national heat record for the month of June. The previous June high of 45.2°C (113.4°F) was set in Seville in 1965.&nbsp;

Europe bakes as heatwave breaks records; nations issue red alerts, mull work bans

US President Donald Trump has shared an article on Truth Social about the postponement of the trial against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just hours after he demanded that the proceedings should end. Earlier on Sunday, the Jerusalem District Court agreed to cancel Netanyahu’s scheduled days of testimony in his criminal trial for this week, after Netanyahu appeared before the judges in a closed-door hearing to lay out the reasons the hearings must be put off, and not due to Trump’s demand. The Jerusalem District Court agreed to postpone Israeli PM’s corruption trial—just hours after Trump called for the case to be dropped while suggesting that American aid could hang in the balance over the decision.The court revealed Sunday that Netanyahu will not have to testify for the next two weeks due to diplomatic and national security issues, two days after the judge initially rejected the premier’s repeated requests to postpone the trial, and Trump promptly jumped in to claim credit.&nbsp;Trump had slammed the corruption trial against Netanyahu as a “political witch hunt” and called on Israel to drop the corruption charges.&nbsp;“It is terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump wrote. “He is a War Hero, and a Prime Minister who did a fabulous job working with the United States to bring Great Success in getting rid of the dangerous Nuclear threat in Iran.”“The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this,” he warned.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trump also said that keeping Netanyahu occupied with the trial would hinder the efforts for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release.“Thank you again, @realDonaldTrump. Together, we will make the Middle East Great Again!” Netanyahu replied.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thank you again, <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>. Together, we will make the Middle East Great Again! <a href="https://t.co/hfkct0Sqw7">https://t.co/hfkct0Sqw7</a>&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1939225607658704916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A White House official said Trump made the personal decision to back the embattled prime minister during the ride back from the NATO summit last week, Axios reported.The leader of the opposition Democrats party, Yair Golan, said prolonging the war in Gaza personally benefits Netanyahu, who has set a goal of fighting until the terror group is completely eliminated without any timeline.“Trump’s proposal proves: The hostages are held by Hamas, but they are captive to Netanyahu’s interests,” Golan wrote on X.&nbsp;Netanyahu stands accused of accepting more than $200,000 from wealthy businessmen and granting regulatory benefits worth hundreds of millions of dollars to a telecom owner in exchange for favourable news coverage.Netanyahu claims that the charges are fabricated and part of a political coup, with his allies slamming the case as “judicial overreach.”

The Jerusalem District Court agreed to postpone Israeli PM’s corruption trial—just hours after Trump called for the case to be dropped while suggesting that American aid could hang in the balance over the decision.

US President Donald Trump has shared an article on Truth Social about the postponement of the trial against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just hours after he demanded that the proceedings should end. Earlier on Sunday, the Jerusalem District Court agreed to cancel Netanyahu’s scheduled days of testimony in his criminal trial for this week, after Netanyahu appeared before the judges in a closed-door hearing to lay out the reasons the hearings must be put off, and not due to Trump’s demand. The Jerusalem District Court agreed to postpone Israeli PM’s corruption trial—just hours after Trump called for the case to be dropped while suggesting that American aid could hang in the balance over the decision. The court revealed Sunday that Netanyahu will not have to testify for the next two weeks due to diplomatic and national security issues, two days after the judge initially rejected the premier’s repeated requests to postpone the trial, and Trump promptly jumped in to claim credit. Trump had slammed the corruption trial against Netanyahu as a “political witch hunt” and called on Israel to drop the corruption charges. “It is terrible what they are doing in Israel to Bibi Netanyahu,” Trump wrote. “He is a War Hero, and a Prime Minister who did a fabulous job working with the United States to bring Great Success in getting rid of the dangerous Nuclear threat in Iran.” “The United States of America spends Billions of Dollar a year, far more than on any other Nation, protecting and supporting Israel. We are not going to stand for this,” he warned.

The Jerusalem District Court agreed to postpone Israeli PM’s corruption trial—just hours after Trump called for the case to be dropped while suggesting that American aid could hang in the balance over the decision.

Trump posts article on Israeli court deferring Netanyahu’s trial hours after his call for dropping case

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has announced he will not seek re-election, just hours after being targeted by former US President Donald Trump for voting against the controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill”.The announcement came on Sunday, moments after Trump took to Truth Social to criticise Tillis for joining Democrats and two other Republican senators in opposing the massive spending package.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-hear-what-s-in-this-monstrosity-democrats-stall-trump-s-940-page-one-big-beautiful-bill-by-forcing-it-to-be-read-aloud-in-senate-1751202608845">'Hear what’s in this monstrosity': Democrats stall Trump’s 940-page ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ by forcing it to be read aloud in Senate</a>“Thom Tillis has hurt the great people of North Carolina,” Trump posted. “Even on the catastrophic flooding, nothing was done to help until I took office. Then a MIRACLE took place! Tillis is a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER,” he added.<h2>Tillis calls it quits, says he’s had enough of ‘political theatre’</h2>Soon after Trump’s post, Tillis released a statement confirming that he will not contest the next election. “As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven’t exactly been excited about running for another term,” he said.“That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election,” he added.Tillis’s decision follows his vote with Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson to block the bill’s progress. The measure passed narrowly, 51-49, with Vice President Kamala Harris not required to cast a tie-breaking vote.<h2>What is the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’?</h2>The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025”, or OBBB, is a sweeping legislative package championed by Trump. Spanning over 1,000 pages, it aims to fast-track several of the former president’s core campaign promises. The bill includes a mix of tax cuts, increased defence spending, and efforts to cut government waste, rolled into one massive proposal.<h2>What’s included in Trump’s flagship bill?</h2>The bill outlines five major policy shifts:• Permanent tax cuts: Locking in the tax reductions from Trump’s 2017 reforms.• New tax relief: Fresh cuts for overtime earnings, tips, and Social Security income. The White House claims those earning between $30,000 and $80,000 could see a 15% tax cut.• Military and border funding: A sharp boost in funding for defence and border security upgrades.• Government waste crackdown: A push to root out “waste, fraud and abuse” in federal spending.• Debt ceiling hike: Raising the borrowing cap to allow the government to continue paying its bills.

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has announced he will not seek re-election, just hours after being targeted by former US President Donald Trump for voting against the controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill”.

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has announced he will not seek re-election, just hours after being targeted by former US President Donald Trump for voting against the controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill”. The announcement came on Sunday, moments after Trump took to Truth Social to criticise Tillis for joining Democrats and two other Republican senators in opposing the massive spending package. Also read: 'Hear what’s in this monstrosity': Democrats stall Trump’s 940-page ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ by forcing it to be read aloud in Senate “Thom Tillis has hurt the great people of North Carolina,” Trump posted. “Even on the catastrophic flooding, nothing was done to help until I took office. Then a MIRACLE took place! Tillis is a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER,” he added. Tillis calls it quits, says he’s had enough of ‘political theatre’ Soon after Trump’s post, Tillis released a statement confirming that he will not contest the next election. “As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven’t exactly been excited about running for another term,” he said. “That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election,” he added. Tillis’s decision follows his vote with Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson to block the bill’s progress. The measure passed narrowly, 51-49, with Vice President Kamala Harris not required to cast a tie-breaking vote. What is the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’? The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025”, or OBBB, is a sweeping legislative package championed by Trump. Spanning over 1,000 pages, it aims to fast-track several of the former president’s core campaign promises. The bill includes a mix of tax cuts, increased defence spending, and efforts to cut government waste, rolled into one massive proposal. What’s included in Trump’s flagship bill? The bill outlines five major policy shifts: • Permanent tax cuts: Locking in the tax reductions from Trump’s 2017 reforms. • New tax relief: Fresh cuts for overtime earnings, tips, and Social Security income. The White House claims those earning between $30,000 and $80,000 could see a 15% tax cut. • Military and border funding: A sharp boost in funding for defence and border security upgrades. • Government waste crackdown: A push to root out “waste, fraud and abuse” in federal spending. • Debt ceiling hike: Raising the borrowing cap to allow the government to continue paying its bills.

North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis has announced he will not seek re-election, just hours after being targeted by former US President Donald Trump for voting against the controversial “One Big Beautiful Bill”.

'Tillis is a talker, complainer': Trump lashes out at GOP senator over ‘one big beautiful bill’, and he quits politics

India’s Embassy in Jakarta has dismissed reports claiming that the Indian Air Force lost jets to Pakistan during recent cross-border operations. The embassy stated that the remarks made by its defence attaché at a seminar were taken out of context and misrepresented in the media.“We have seen media reports regarding a presentation made by the Defence Attaché at a seminar. His remarks have been quoted out of context and the media reports are a misrepresentation of the intention and thrust of the presentation made by the speaker,” the embassy posted on X.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/f-16-operation-sindoor-pakistan-profit-us-brief-history-of-us-pakistan-f-16-deals-9065466">F-16 in fine print: How much Pakistan paid and how much profit US made? | A brief history of US-Pakistan F-16 deals</a><h2>Comments were about civilian control and non-escalation</h2>According to the embassy, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar’s comments were meant to underline the Indian Armed Forces’ accountability to civilian leadership. “The presentation conveyed that the Indian Armed Forces serve under civilian political leadership unlike some other countries in our neighbourhood,” the embassy added.“It was also explained that the objective of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorist infrastructure and the Indian response was non-escalatory,” it said.<h2>What did Captain Shiv Kumar actually say?</h2>Captain Shiv Kumar, the defence attaché in Jakarta, made the remarks during a presentation at a seminar on 10 June at Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma. The seminar focused on analysing the India–Pakistan air conflict and Indonesia’s defence strategies.During the 35-minute talk, Kumar reportedly acknowledged that India did lose some aircraft, something Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan had previously hinted at. “I may not agree that we lost so many aircraft, but I do agree we did lose some aircraft,” Kumar stated. General Chauhan, had dismissed as “absolutely incorrect” Pakistan’s claim that it shot down six Indian jets.<h2>‘It’s not how many jets, but why they were lost’</h2>General Chauhan had previously told Bloomberg that the focus shouldn’t be on the number of jets lost, but rather on why they were downed. He said that after the initial losses, India altered its tactics.“After the loss, we changed our tactics and we went for the military installations. So we first achieved suppression of enemy air defences, and then that’s why all our attacks could easily go through using BrahMos missiles,” Kumar added, referring to the Indian strike on Pakistani air bases on 10 May.<h2>Congress accuses government of misleading the nation</h2>The Congress party seized on these comments to attack the government, accusing it of withholding the truth about India’s losses in Operation Sindoor. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on X, “First the Chief of Defence Staff makes important revelations in Singapore. Then a senior defence official follows up from Indonesia. But why is the PM refusing to preside over an all-party meeting?”Pawan Khera, another senior Congress leader, alleged the government “misled the nation from the start.” He added that previous references to losses were vague and only acknowledged indirectly by IAF officials.Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised the government after General Chauhan’s comments, demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss the matter.

According to the embassy, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar’s comments were meant to underline the Indian Armed Forces’ accountability to civilian leadership. 

India’s Embassy in Jakarta has dismissed reports claiming that the Indian Air Force lost jets to Pakistan during recent cross-border operations. The embassy stated that the remarks made by its defence attaché at a seminar were taken out of context and misrepresented in the media. “We have seen media reports regarding a presentation made by the Defence Attaché at a seminar. His remarks have been quoted out of context and the media reports are a misrepresentation of the intention and thrust of the presentation made by the speaker,” the embassy posted on X. Also read: F-16 in fine print: How much Pakistan paid and how much profit US made? | A brief history of US-Pakistan F-16 deals Comments were about civilian control and non-escalation According to the embassy, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar’s comments were meant to underline the Indian Armed Forces’ accountability to civilian leadership. “The presentation conveyed that the Indian Armed Forces serve under civilian political leadership unlike some other countries in our neighbourhood,” the embassy added. “It was also explained that the objective of Operation Sindoor was to target terrorist infrastructure and the Indian response was non-escalatory,” it said. What did Captain Shiv Kumar actually say? Captain Shiv Kumar, the defence attaché in Jakarta, made the remarks during a presentation at a seminar on 10 June at Universitas Dirgantara Marsekal Suryadarma. The seminar focused on analysing the India–Pakistan air conflict and Indonesia’s defence strategies. During the 35-minute talk, Kumar reportedly acknowledged that India did lose some aircraft, something Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan had previously hinted at. “I may not agree that we lost so many aircraft, but I do agree we did lose some aircraft,” Kumar stated. General Chauhan, had dismissed as “absolutely incorrect” Pakistan’s claim that it shot down six Indian jets. ‘It’s not how many jets, but why they were lost’ General Chauhan had previously told Bloomberg that the focus shouldn’t be on the number of jets lost, but rather on why they were downed. He said that after the initial losses, India altered its tactics. “After the loss, we changed our tactics and we went for the military installations. So we first achieved suppression of enemy air defences, and then that’s why all our attacks could easily go through using BrahMos missiles,” Kumar added, referring to the Indian strike on Pakistani air bases on 10 May. Congress accuses government of misleading the nation The Congress party seized on these comments to attack the government, accusing it of withholding the truth about India’s losses in Operation Sindoor. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on X, “First the Chief of Defence Staff makes important revelations in Singapore. Then a senior defence official follows up from Indonesia. But why is the PM refusing to preside over an all-party meeting?” Pawan Khera, another senior Congress leader, alleged the government “misled the nation from the start.” He added that previous references to losses were vague and only acknowledged indirectly by IAF officials. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised the government after General Chauhan’s comments, demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss the matter.

According to the embassy, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar’s comments were meant to underline the Indian Armed Forces’ accountability to civilian leadership.&nbsp;

'Out of context, misrepresented': Did India lose jets to Pakistan? India reacts to remarks by defence attaché in Indonesia

Russia fired its largest air assault yet against Ukraine on Sunday (June 29), a Ukrainian official said, as part of an intensifying bombing campaign that further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in attempts to bring an end to the 3-year-old war. Russia launched a combined total of 537 aerial munitions against Ukraine, consisting of 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, according to Ukraine's air force. 249 were downed and 226 were lost, probably electronically jammed. Click on the headlines to know more&nbsp;<a href="Russia launches 'biggest aerial attack' on Ukraine with 537 aerial weapons; multiple injured">Russia launches 'biggest aerial attack' on Ukraine with 537 aerial weapons; multiple injured</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250629/image-1751192420942.png?rect=(0,160,960,720)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="Russia launches 'biggest aerial attack' on Ukraine with 537 aerial weapons; multiple injured"></figure>Russia fired its largest air assault yet against Ukraine on Sunday (June 29), a Ukrainian official said, as part of an intensifying bombing campaign that further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in attempts to bring an end to the 3-year-old war. Russia launched a combined total of 537 aerial munitions against Ukraine, consisting of 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, according to Ukraine's air force. 249 were downed and 226 were lost, probably electronically jammed. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/puri-stampede-top-officials-suspended-and-transferred-after-jagannath-ratha-yatra-tragedy-1751186404488">Puri Stampede: Top officials suspended and transferred after Jagannath Ratha Yatra tragedy</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250629/image-1751187458365.png?rect=(0,0,1200,900)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="Puri Stampede: Top officials suspended and transferred after Jagannath Ratha Yatra tragedy"></figure>Investigation into the stampede that claimed three lives and injured over a dozen others on Sunday (Jun 29) morning is underway. As per reports, two officials have been suspended for negligence of their duty, while another two have been transferred in the aftermath of the tragic crowd crush that happened in Puri during the Jagannath Rath Yatra.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-hear-what-s-in-this-monstrosity-democrats-stall-trump-s-940-page-one-big-beautiful-bill-by-forcing-it-to-be-read-aloud-in-senate-1751202608845">'Hear what’s in this monstrosity': Democrats stall Trump’s 940-page ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ by forcing it to be read aloud in Senate</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250629/image-1751202995370.jpeg?rect=(0,619,4881,3661)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="'Hear what’s in this monstrosity': Democrats stall Trump’s 940-page ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ by forcing it to be read aloud in Senate"></figure>President Donald Trump’s latest budget proposal, officially named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), runs to a staggering 940 pages, just shy of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. 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Iran has always remained one of the greatest adversaries of the US since the 1979 Islamic revolution, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini threw pro-Western Mohammad Reza Pahlavi out of power in Tehran. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-we-have-a-buyer-for-tiktok-says-trump-withholds-buyer-s-name-1751210325202">'We have a buyer for TikTok', says Trump; withholds buyer’s name</a><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250629/image-1751210653839.jpg?rect=(0,29,454,341)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="'We have a buyer for TikTok', says Trump; withholds buyer’s name">US President Donald Trump on Sunday (June 29) announced that a purchaser had been identified for social media app TikTok, which is on the brink of being banned in the United States because it is owned by a Chinese company, and vowed to reveal the buyer in two weeks. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-persistent-warm-temperature-air-india-tokyo-delhi-flight-diverted-to-kolkata-1751213078683">'Persistent warm temperature': Air India Tokyo-Delhi flight diverted to Kolkata</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250629/image-1751213363589.png?rect=(0,160,960,720)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="'Persistent warm temperature': Air India Tokyo-Delhi flight diverted to Kolkata"></figure>An Air India flight from Tokyo to Delhi on Sunday (June 29) was diverted to make an unscheduled landing in Kolkata as a precautionary measure, the airline said in a statement. The flight was diverted to Kolkata because of ‘persistent warm temperature’ experienced in the cabin. The flight landed safely and is now being inspected. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pilot-killed-f-16-downed-russia-shoots-down-ukrainian-f-16-in-biggest-air-attack-how-many-f-16s-kyiv-has-and-why-are-they-crucial-1751213391775">Pilot killed, F-16 downed: Russia shoots down Ukrainian F-16 in BIGGEST air attack - How many F-16s Kyiv has and why are they crucial?</a><figure class="image"><img src="https://cdn1.wionews.com/prod/wion/images/2025/20250629/image-1751213841296.jpg?rect=(0,0,4083,3062)&amp;imwidth=800&amp;imheight=600&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=medium" alt="Pilot killed, F-16 downed: Russia shoots down Ukrainian F-16 in BIGGEST air attack - How many F-16s Kyiv has and why are they crucial?"></figure>A Ukrainian fighter pilot was killed and an F-16 fighter jet destroyed during a fierce night-time battle with Russian forces, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday. 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Although nothing is confirmed yet, the latest reports suggest that the tournament might begin in early September, around the 10th.

Top 10 world news Russia launches biggest aerial attack on Ukraine Three dead in Puri stampede and more

Russia fired its largest air assault yet against Ukraine on Sunday (June 29), a Ukrainian official said, as part of an intensifying bombing campaign that further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in attempts to bring an end to the 3-year-old war. Russia launched a combined total of 537 aerial munitions against Ukraine, consisting of 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, according to Ukraine's air force. 249 were downed and 226 were lost, probably electronically jammed. Click on the headlines to know more Russia launches 'biggest aerial attack' on Ukraine with 537 aerial weapons; multiple injured Russia fired its largest air assault yet against Ukraine on Sunday (June 29), a Ukrainian official said, as part of an intensifying bombing campaign that further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in attempts to bring an end to the 3-year-old war. Russia launched a combined total of 537 aerial munitions against Ukraine, consisting of 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles, according to Ukraine's air force. 249 were downed and 226 were lost, probably electronically jammed. Puri Stampede: Top officials suspended and transferred after Jagannath Ratha Yatra tragedy Investigation into the stampede that claimed three lives and injured over a dozen others on Sunday (Jun 29) morning is underway. As per reports, two officials have been suspended for negligence of their duty, while another two have been transferred in the aftermath of the tragic crowd crush that happened in Puri during the Jagannath Rath Yatra. 'Hear what’s in this monstrosity': Democrats stall Trump’s 940-page ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ by forcing it to be read aloud in Senate President Donald Trump’s latest budget proposal, officially named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), runs to a staggering 940 pages, just shy of the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy. The bill passed the House of Representatives by a razor-thin margin of one vote. Kolkata rape case: Main accused Monojit Mishra has criminal record of assault, theft In a significant development, Kolkata Police on Sunday (June 29) said that Monojit Mishra, the main accused in the alleged gangrape of a 24-year-old law student at South Calcutta Law College, has a criminal record with multiple past charges. Mishra has reportedly been chargesheeted in several cases including harassment of women, assault, vandalism, and theft. EXPLAINED: Is Iran really a threat or a victim of US? Know history of 70 years of betrayals, coups and bombs Tension between the United States and Iran has increased to the highest point after decades following the order of President Donald Trump to strike the key nuclear facilities across the Middle Eastern country. Conflictss between these nations are not new. Iran has always remained one of the greatest adversaries of the US since the 1979 Islamic revolution, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini threw pro-Western Mohammad Reza Pahlavi out of power in Tehran. 'We have a buyer for TikTok', says Trump; withholds buyer’s name US President Donald Trump on Sunday (June 29) announced that a purchaser had been identified for social media app TikTok, which is on the brink of being banned in the United States because it is owned by a Chinese company, and vowed to reveal the buyer in two weeks. 'Persistent warm temperature': Air India Tokyo-Delhi flight diverted to Kolkata An Air India flight from Tokyo to Delhi on Sunday (June 29) was diverted to make an unscheduled landing in Kolkata as a precautionary measure, the airline said in a statement. The flight was diverted to Kolkata because of ‘persistent warm temperature’ experienced in the cabin. The flight landed safely and is now being inspected. Pilot killed, F-16 downed: Russia shoots down Ukrainian F-16 in BIGGEST air attack - How many F-16s Kyiv has and why are they crucial? A Ukrainian fighter pilot was killed and an F-16 fighter jet destroyed during a fierce night-time battle with Russian forces, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday. The aircraft was part of Ukraine’s efforts to repel what authorities are calling the largest aerial attack since the full-scale war began. According to reports, this marks the fourth confirmed loss of a US-made F-16 aircraft in the ongoing war. Street Fighter adds 50 Cent to its cast with Jason Momoa and Noah Centineo; expect a knockout character Since Legendary Pictures announced its plans for a live-action Street Fighter movie, its massive star cast keeps growing. Rapper 50 Cent is the latest addition to the cast. 50 Cent is no stranger to action films and has starred in movies like Set Up, Blood Out, Den of Thieves and Expend4bles. India, Pakistan to be part of Asia Cup 2025; six-team event to start by early September; final schedule out soon – Report Asia Cup 2025 will get underway amid speculations, with both India and Pakistan confirmed to feature in it. India, the host of this year's six-team tournament, might not stage it, with the UAE tipped to be its host. Although nothing is confirmed yet, the latest reports suggest that the tournament might begin in early September, around the 10th.

Here are the top 10 stories from across the world

Top 10 world news: Russia launches 'biggest aerial attack' on Ukraine; Three dead in Puri stampede, and more

A Ukrainian fighter pilot was killed and an F-16 fighter jet destroyed during a fierce night-time battle with Russian forces, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday. The aircraft was part of Ukraine’s efforts to repel what authorities are calling the largest aerial attack since the full-scale war began. According to reports, this marks the fourth confirmed loss of a US-made F-16 aircraft in the ongoing war.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-2-billion-gone-up-in-smoke-the-most-expensive-plane-crash-in-history-was-caused-by-humidity-1751135142161">'$2 billion gone up in smoke': The most EXPENSIVE plane crash in history was caused by humidity</a><h2>Russia launches over 500 drones and missiles in one night</h2>Russia launched a wave of drones and missiles targeting Ukraine’s western, southern, and central regions. The attack damaged infrastructure, homes and left at least six people injured, local officials confirmed.Ukraine’s air force reported that the assault involved 477 drones and decoys, along with 60 missiles. Of these, 249 were intercepted, and the rest were believed to have been taken out through electronic jamming systems. A Ukrainian official told the Associated Press that this was the largest aerial attack since the invasion began.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/b-2-bomber-has-only-crashed-once-and-it-was-not-because-of-enemy-fire-what-downed-the-invincible-b-2-spirit-1751133891162">B-2 bomber has only CRASHED once and it was not because of enemy fire: What downed the 'invincible' B-2 Spirit?</a><h2>Why does the F-16 matter so much to Ukraine?</h2>The F-16 Fighting Falcon, developed by General Dynamics and now manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft in the world. It is widely used by many NATO countries and has a strong reputation for performance, agility, and precision. Ukraine’s F-16s are mainly used for air patrols and defending against Russian cruise missiles, drones, and aircraft.<h2>What makes the F-16 such a critical asset?</h2>• Versatile in combat: It can perform a wide range of missions — from air-to-air combat to bombing ground targets.• Highly manoeuvrable: The F-16’s design and flight control system allow it to handle high-speed, high-G turns with ease.• Advanced technology: It carries modern radar, navigation, and electronic warfare tools that help detect and respond to threats quickly.• Fly-by-wire system: This replaces traditional mechanical controls with electronic signals, improving responsiveness.• Efficient single engine: The aircraft’s lightweight, single-engine design gives it good range and fuel efficiency.<h2>Ukraine’s shrinking F-16 fleet</h2>Ukraine is believed to have only 16 operational F-16s at the moment. Losing even one is a major blow, especially as Russian attacks intensify. Kyiv was promised 85 F-16s from Western allies, 24 from the Netherlands, 19 from Denmark, 12 from Norway (plus 10 for spare parts), and 30 from Belgium. The first jets arrived in August 2024, and the most recent batch came in March 2025, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine’s air force reported that the assault involved 477 drones and decoys, along with 60 missiles. Of these, 249 were intercepted, and the rest were believed to have been taken out through electronic jamming systems.

A Ukrainian fighter pilot was killed and an F-16 fighter jet destroyed during a fierce night-time battle with Russian forces, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday. The aircraft was part of Ukraine’s efforts to repel what authorities are calling the largest aerial attack since the full-scale war began. According to reports, this marks the fourth confirmed loss of a US-made F-16 aircraft in the ongoing war. Also read: '$2 billion gone up in smoke': The most EXPENSIVE plane crash in history was caused by humidity Russia launches over 500 drones and missiles in one night Russia launched a wave of drones and missiles targeting Ukraine’s western, southern, and central regions. The attack damaged infrastructure, homes and left at least six people injured, local officials confirmed. Ukraine’s air force reported that the assault involved 477 drones and decoys, along with 60 missiles. Of these, 249 were intercepted, and the rest were believed to have been taken out through electronic jamming systems. A Ukrainian official told the Associated Press that this was the largest aerial attack since the invasion began. Also read: B-2 bomber has only CRASHED once and it was not because of enemy fire: What downed the 'invincible' B-2 Spirit? Why does the F-16 matter so much to Ukraine? The F-16 Fighting Falcon, developed by General Dynamics and now manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft in the world. It is widely used by many NATO countries and has a strong reputation for performance, agility, and precision. Ukraine’s F-16s are mainly used for air patrols and defending against Russian cruise missiles, drones, and aircraft. What makes the F-16 such a critical asset? • Versatile in combat: It can perform a wide range of missions — from air-to-air combat to bombing ground targets. • Highly manoeuvrable: The F-16’s design and flight control system allow it to handle high-speed, high-G turns with ease. • Advanced technology: It carries modern radar, navigation, and electronic warfare tools that help detect and respond to threats quickly. • Fly-by-wire system: This replaces traditional mechanical controls with electronic signals, improving responsiveness. • Efficient single engine: The aircraft’s lightweight, single-engine design gives it good range and fuel efficiency. Ukraine’s shrinking F-16 fleet Ukraine is believed to have only 16 operational F-16s at the moment. Losing even one is a major blow, especially as Russian attacks intensify. Kyiv was promised 85 F-16s from Western allies, 24 from the Netherlands, 19 from Denmark, 12 from Norway (plus 10 for spare parts), and 30 from Belgium. The first jets arrived in August 2024, and the most recent batch came in March 2025, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine’s air force reported that the assault involved 477 drones and decoys, along with 60 missiles. Of these, 249 were intercepted, and the rest were believed to have been taken out through electronic jamming systems.

Pilot killed, F-16 downed: Russia shoots down Ukrainian F-16 in BIGGEST air attack - How many F-16s Kyiv has and why are they crucial?

Tension between the United States and Iran has increased to the highest point after decades following the order of President Donald Trump to strike the key nuclear facilities across the Middle Eastern country. Conflictss between these nations are not new. Iran has always remained one of the greatest adversaries of the US since the 1979 Islamic revolution, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini threw pro-Western Mohammad Reza Pahlavi out of power in Tehran.Since then, the region has always remained heated, beginning with the conflicts on the issue of oil production to nuclear ambitions, Iran’s backing of proxies in the region, and US political interference. Trump was dragged into the recent war after Israel, considering Iran a nuclear threat, launched unprecedented strikes across the country, accusing Tehran of developing nuclear weapons.So, how has Iran always remained a target of the US? What is the real history behind this war? Was Iran a threat to the US or other nations else US begin war and always target Iran with the influence of colonial rulers (England) for its own selfish purpose?Let's delve into the timeline of the history of both nations' conflicts and know the facts:<h3>(1953) CIA-Backed Coup and Return of the Shah:</h3>Tensions between Iran and Western powers escalated when Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, elected in 1951, initiated steps to nationalise the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, an enterprise largely under British control since the early 20th century. This move to take control of Iran’s oil resources infuriated Britain, prompting it to seek American support. In response, the US Central Intelligence Agency collaborated with British intelligence to orchestrate a coup that ousted Mosaddegh and reinstated Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the previously exiled monarch, as shah.<h3>(1957) Civilian nuclear agreement – Atoms for Peace:</h3>Iran’s interest in developing nuclear energy began to take shape under the Shah’s leadership, with significant backing from the United States and its allies. In 1957, the two nations entered into a nuclear cooperation agreement under US President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s "Atoms for Peace" initiative. This agreement was aimed at promoting the peaceful use of nuclear technology. By the late 1960s, the US had supplied Iran with a nuclear research reactor and uranium fuel, laying the groundwork for Iran’s current nuclear programme and the global debates that followed.<h3>(1979) Islamic revolution:</h3>While relations between Tehran and Washington were increasing, people of Iran were agitating under the dictatorship of the shah, demanding the removal of Western influence in the nation. Revolutionary protests also began rocking the country in late 1978, which forced the shah to flee in January 1979. As a result, the exiled Islamic scholar Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to power in Iran as the new Islamic Republic.<h3>(1980) Diplomatic break with the US:</h3>After the United States permitted the exiled Shah of Iran to receive cancer treatment, Iranian students stormed the American embassy in Tehran, taking 52 hostages and holding them for 444 days. In response, the US severed diplomatic relations and implemented economic sanctions. The former shah eventually died in exile.<h3>(1980–1988) US support for Iraq in war:</h3>When Saddam Hussein launched a military assault on Iran, aiming to weaken Ayatollah Khomeini’s revolutionary influence, the US aligned itself with Iraq. This decision escalated hostilities between Washington and Tehran. The brutal conflict continued until 1988, causing massive casualties on both sides, with Iraq even deploying chemical weapons against Iranian forces.<h3>(1984) Iran labelled terror sponsor:</h3>Amid increasing regional unrest, President Ronald Reagan designated Iran as a "state sponsor of terrorism" following deadly attacks in Lebanon, where US troops were stationed after Israel’s incursion. One of the deadliest assaults, on a US Marine barracks in Beirut, killed 241 American personnel. Washington attributed the attack to Hezbollah, a militant group with Iranian support. Despite this, Reagan’s administration later covertly negotiated with Iran for the release of hostages held by Hezbollah — a revelation that sparked the infamous Iran-Contra scandal.<h3>(1988) Civilian plane downed by US Navy:</h3>Amid escalating military tensions in the Persian Gulf, a US Navy warship mistakenly shot down Iran Air Flight 655 en route to Dubai on July 8, killing all 290 people aboard. Although the US called the incident an error, it neither issued a formal apology nor accepted full responsibility. However, it eventually compensated victims' families with a payment totalling $61.8 million.<h3>(1995) Sanction against Iran:</h3>US's sanctions against Iran escalated between 1995 and 1996 as then President Bill Clinton’s executive orders banned US companies from making any deal with Iran. Meanwhile, the Congress also passed a law penalising foreign entities from making any kind of investment in the country's energy sector or selling Iran advanced weapons. Meanwhile, the US also went for nuclear advancement and support of groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.<h3>(2002) Post-9/11 tensions:</h3>In the wake of the September 11 attacks, US President George W. Bush labelled Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as an “Axis of Evil” during his State of the Union speech. This declaration came despite Iran and the US having cooperated covertly at the time to combat mutual enemies, including the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. However, the relationship quickly deteriorated, and by late 2022, Iran was found to possess highly enriched uranium, prompting renewed international sanctions.<h3>(2013–2015) Iran’s Nuclear Agreement:</h3>Beginning in 2013, President Barack Obama initiated direct negotiations with Iran, which culminated in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The deal, also signed by China, Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, required Iran to restrict its nuclear enrichment to 3.67 per cent in return for sanction relief.<h3>(2018) US Exit from JCPOA:</h3>In 2018, President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the JCPOA, reinstating sanctions on Iran. The move was supported by Israel and criticised the agreement’s effectiveness. In response, Iran abandoned its nuclear restrictions under the deal and resumed uranium enrichment beyond agreed limits.<h3>(2019) The US designates Iran’s military institution as a terrorist org:</h3>The US designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the most powerful military institution of Iran, as a terrorist organisation. Following this, it has become the first time that the Americans assigned such a classification to a part of a foreign government.<h3>(2020) Assassination of Qassem Soleimani:</h3>In one of the most escalatory moves of Trump’s presidency, Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad. The assassination followed the US decision in 2019 to designate the Quds Force as a terrorist organisation. Iran retaliated with missile attacks targeting American bases in Iraq.<h3>(2025) Letter to Tehran and US attack:</h3>Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in March demanding new negotiations on a nuclear deal, giving deadlines of 60 days. During the negotiations, Khamenei rejected the proposal, viewing it as the US trying to dictate terms. The discussions had quietly begun in countries like Oman and Italy, with Muscat playing a mediating role. Former US President Donald Trump stated that his administration had come “very close” to reaching an agreement after several dialogue rounds, even cautioning Israel against military actions.Iran remained cautiously hopeful but firmly maintained its right to continue uranium enrichment, which remained a major point of contention. A day before the sixth round of US-Iran negotiations, Israel carried out airstrikes across Iranian territory.Shortly after, the US joined the Israeli assault, targeting three of Iran’s major nuclear sites, including Fordow and Natanz. This offensive included the first combat use of America’s most powerful "bunker-buster" bomb. In retaliation, Iran launched missile strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts US forces. Qatari officials later confirmed the missiles were intercepted and that the base had been evacuated ahead of the attack. &nbsp;

Conflicts between these nations are not new. Iran has always remained one of the greatest adversaries of the US since the 1979 Islamic revolution, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini threw pro-Western Mohammad Reza Pahlavi out of power in Tehran.

Tension between the United States and Iran has increased to the highest point after decades following the order of President Donald Trump to strike the key nuclear facilities across the Middle Eastern country. Conflictss between these nations are not new. Iran has always remained one of the greatest adversaries of the US since the 1979 Islamic revolution, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini threw pro-Western Mohammad Reza Pahlavi out of power in Tehran. Since then, the region has always remained heated, beginning with the conflicts on the issue of oil production to nuclear ambitions, Iran’s backing of proxies in the region, and US political interference. Trump was dragged into the recent war after Israel, considering Iran a nuclear threat, launched unprecedented strikes across the country, accusing Tehran of developing nuclear weapons. So, how has Iran always remained a target of the US? What is the real history behind this war? Was Iran a threat to the US or other nations else US begin war and always target Iran with the influence of colonial rulers (England) for its own selfish purpose? Let's delve into the timeline of the history of both nations' conflicts and know the facts: (1953) CIA-Backed Coup and Return of the Shah: Tensions between Iran and Western powers escalated when Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, elected in 1951, initiated steps to nationalise the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, an enterprise largely under British control since the early 20th century. This move to take control of Iran’s oil resources infuriated Britain, prompting it to seek American support. In response, the US Central Intelligence Agency collaborated with British intelligence to orchestrate a coup that ousted Mosaddegh and reinstated Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the previously exiled monarch, as shah. (1957) Civilian nuclear agreement – Atoms for Peace: Iran’s interest in developing nuclear energy began to take shape under the Shah’s leadership, with significant backing from the United States and its allies. In 1957, the two nations entered into a nuclear cooperation agreement under US President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s "Atoms for Peace" initiative. This agreement was aimed at promoting the peaceful use of nuclear technology. By the late 1960s, the US had supplied Iran with a nuclear research reactor and uranium fuel, laying the groundwork for Iran’s current nuclear programme and the global debates that followed. (1979) Islamic revolution: While relations between Tehran and Washington were increasing, people of Iran were agitating under the dictatorship of the shah, demanding the removal of Western influence in the nation. Revolutionary protests also began rocking the country in late 1978, which forced the shah to flee in January 1979. As a result, the exiled Islamic scholar Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to power in Iran as the new Islamic Republic. (1980) Diplomatic break with the US: After the United States permitted the exiled Shah of Iran to receive cancer treatment, Iranian students stormed the American embassy in Tehran, taking 52 hostages and holding them for 444 days. In response, the US severed diplomatic relations and implemented economic sanctions. The former shah eventually died in exile. (1980–1988) US support for Iraq in war: When Saddam Hussein launched a military assault on Iran, aiming to weaken Ayatollah Khomeini’s revolutionary influence, the US aligned itself with Iraq. This decision escalated hostilities between Washington and Tehran. The brutal conflict continued until 1988, causing massive casualties on both sides, with Iraq even deploying chemical weapons against Iranian forces. (1984) Iran labelled terror sponsor: Amid increasing regional unrest, President Ronald Reagan designated Iran as a "state sponsor of terrorism" following deadly attacks in Lebanon, where US troops were stationed after Israel’s incursion. One of the deadliest assaults, on a US Marine barracks in Beirut, killed 241 American personnel. Washington attributed the attack to Hezbollah, a militant group with Iranian support. Despite this, Reagan’s administration later covertly negotiated with Iran for the release of hostages held by Hezbollah — a revelation that sparked the infamous Iran-Contra scandal. (1988) Civilian plane downed by US Navy: Amid escalating military tensions in the Persian Gulf, a US Navy warship mistakenly shot down Iran Air Flight 655 en route to Dubai on July 8, killing all 290 people aboard. Although the US called the incident an error, it neither issued a formal apology nor accepted full responsibility. However, it eventually compensated victims' families with a payment totalling $61.8 million. (1995) Sanction against Iran: US's sanctions against Iran escalated between 1995 and 1996 as then President Bill Clinton’s executive orders banned US companies from making any deal with Iran. Meanwhile, the Congress also passed a law penalising foreign entities from making any kind of investment in the country's energy sector or selling Iran advanced weapons. Meanwhile, the US also went for nuclear advancement and support of groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. (2002) Post-9/11 tensions: In the wake of the September 11 attacks, US President George W. Bush labelled Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as an “Axis of Evil” during his State of the Union speech. This declaration came despite Iran and the US having cooperated covertly at the time to combat mutual enemies, including the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. However, the relationship quickly deteriorated, and by late 2022, Iran was found to possess highly enriched uranium, prompting renewed international sanctions. (2013–2015) Iran’s Nuclear Agreement: Beginning in 2013, President Barack Obama initiated direct negotiations with Iran, which culminated in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The deal, also signed by China, Russia, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, required Iran to restrict its nuclear enrichment to 3.67 per cent in return for sanction relief. (2018) US Exit from JCPOA: In 2018, President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the JCPOA, reinstating sanctions on Iran. The move was supported by Israel and criticised the agreement’s effectiveness. In response, Iran abandoned its nuclear restrictions under the deal and resumed uranium enrichment beyond agreed limits. (2019) The US designates Iran’s military institution as a terrorist org: The US designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the most powerful military institution of Iran, as a terrorist organisation. Following this, it has become the first time that the Americans assigned such a classification to a part of a foreign government. (2020) Assassination of Qassem Soleimani: In one of the most escalatory moves of Trump’s presidency, Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad. The assassination followed the US decision in 2019 to designate the Quds Force as a terrorist organisation. Iran retaliated with missile attacks targeting American bases in Iraq. (2025) Letter to Tehran and US attack: Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in March demanding new negotiations on a nuclear deal, giving deadlines of 60 days. During the negotiations, Khamenei rejected the proposal, viewing it as the US trying to dictate terms. The discussions had quietly begun in countries like Oman and Italy, with Muscat playing a mediating role. Former US President Donald Trump stated that his administration had come “very close” to reaching an agreement after several dialogue rounds, even cautioning Israel against military actions. Iran remained cautiously hopeful but firmly maintained its right to continue uranium enrichment, which remained a major point of contention. A day before the sixth round of US-Iran negotiations, Israel carried out airstrikes across Iranian territory. Shortly after, the US joined the Israeli assault, targeting three of Iran’s major nuclear sites, including Fordow and Natanz. This offensive included the first combat use of America’s most powerful "bunker-buster" bomb. In retaliation, Iran launched missile strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts US forces. Qatari officials later confirmed the missiles were intercepted and that the base had been evacuated ahead of the attack.

Conflicts between these nations are not new. Iran has always remained one of the greatest adversaries of the US since the 1979 Islamic revolution, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini threw pro-Western Mohammad Reza Pahlavi out of power in Tehran.

EXPLAINED: Is Iran really a threat or a victim of US? Know history of 70 years of betrayals, coups and bombs

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Is Iran really a threat or a victim? Know 70 years of conflicts with US