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US President Donald Trump has suggested that further American strikes on Iran are possible if the country resumes work on its nuclear programme. His comments came during the NATO Summit in The Hague on Wednesday (June 25).When asked whether the United States would strike again if Iran tried to rebuild its nuclear sites, Trump said, “Sure.”Trump's comments come following a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which ended after a US-brokered ceasefire.<h2>US says Iran’s nuclear sites were targeted</h2>The United States launched airstrikes on Saturday targeting three major Iranian nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. These locations were believed to be key components of Iran’s nuclear programme. Bunker-buster bombs were used to attack the underground facilities.<h2>Rubio claims sites have vanished from the map</h2>US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the strikes had erased the sites entirely. “The Iranian nuclear facilities can’t be found on the map,” he said, insisting that they had been completely wiped out by B-2 bombers.A preliminary intelligence assessment suggested that the strikes had not destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but merely set the programme back by a few months. Asked about these findings, Trump responded, “They really don’t know.” He said that US intelligence had underestimated the success of the strike.Following the bombing of its nuclear sites, Iran fired missiles at a US military base in Qatar. Trump later said that Tehran had warned the US in advance, allowing American forces to avoid casualties.

The United States launched airstrikes on Saturday targeting three major Iranian nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. 

US President Donald Trump has suggested that further American strikes on Iran are possible if the country resumes work on its nuclear programme. His comments came during the NATO Summit in The Hague on Wednesday (June 25). When asked whether the United States would strike again if Iran tried to rebuild its nuclear sites, Trump said, “Sure.” Trump's comments come following a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel, which ended after a US-brokered ceasefire. US says Iran’s nuclear sites were targeted The United States launched airstrikes on Saturday targeting three major Iranian nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. These locations were believed to be key components of Iran’s nuclear programme. Bunker-buster bombs were used to attack the underground facilities. Rubio claims sites have vanished from the map US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the strikes had erased the sites entirely. “The Iranian nuclear facilities can’t be found on the map,” he said, insisting that they had been completely wiped out by B-2 bombers. A preliminary intelligence assessment suggested that the strikes had not destroyed Iran’s nuclear capabilities, but merely set the programme back by a few months. Asked about these findings, Trump responded, “They really don’t know.” He said that US intelligence had underestimated the success of the strike. Following the bombing of its nuclear sites, Iran fired missiles at a US military base in Qatar. Trump later said that Tehran had warned the US in advance, allowing American forces to avoid casualties.

The United States launched airstrikes on Saturday targeting three major Iranian nuclear sites, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.&nbsp;

Will the US strike Iran again? Trump says it depends on THIS one thing

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday reacted to US President Donald Trump's statement, where he called Israel and Iran "two kids in a schoolyard." Rutte made a "daddy" remark on the US president's statement on the sidelines of NATO Summit in The Hague.Trump on Tuesday reacted to the Israel-Iran war and the ceasefire violation, as he said that “we basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing”."They’ve had a big fight, like two kids in a schoolyard. You know, they fight like hell. You can’t stop them. Let them fight for about two, or three minutes. Then it’s easier to stop them," Trump said.While discussing this in the Netherlands, NATO's Mark Rutte said, "Daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get it stopped.”US President Donald Trump, during a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague on Wednesday (Jun 25), hailed the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war as a "tremendous victory for everyone, including Iran".Ridiculing reports that suggest that the US strikes, contrary to what Trump says, did not "obliterate" the Iranian nuclear programme, the US president insisted that a "total obliteration" happened and said that the Iranian nuclear programme had been set back "decades".Earlier on Tuesday, NATO Chief Mark Rutte lauded Trump for the decisive and extraordinary action and for ending the Israel-Iran war in 12 days. The NATO chief praised the US president, saying that what he did was something "no one else dared to go. It makes us all safer."He said that Trump will achieve something no US president in decades could get done, adding that it is an important moment for America and Europe."Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe, and the world. You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done," he said, according to a screenshot of their conversation shared by Trump.Further lauding President Trump, Rutte said that Europe will be going to pay in a big way to the US. "Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should and it will be your win," he added.

Trump, during a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO Summit, hailed the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war as a "tremendous victory for everyone, including Iran".

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday reacted to US President Donald Trump's statement, where he called Israel and Iran "two kids in a schoolyard." Rutte made a "daddy" remark on the US president's statement on the sidelines of NATO Summit in The Hague. Trump on Tuesday reacted to the Israel-Iran war and the ceasefire violation, as he said that “we basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing”. "They’ve had a big fight, like two kids in a schoolyard. You know, they fight like hell. You can’t stop them. Let them fight for about two, or three minutes. Then it’s easier to stop them," Trump said. While discussing this in the Netherlands, NATO's Mark Rutte said, "Daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get it stopped.” US President Donald Trump, during a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague on Wednesday (Jun 25), hailed the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war as a "tremendous victory for everyone, including Iran". Ridiculing reports that suggest that the US strikes, contrary to what Trump says, did not "obliterate" the Iranian nuclear programme, the US president insisted that a "total obliteration" happened and said that the Iranian nuclear programme had been set back "decades". Earlier on Tuesday, NATO Chief Mark Rutte lauded Trump for the decisive and extraordinary action and for ending the Israel-Iran war in 12 days. The NATO chief praised the US president, saying that what he did was something "no one else dared to go. It makes us all safer." He said that Trump will achieve something no US president in decades could get done, adding that it is an important moment for America and Europe. "Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe, and the world. You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done," he said, according to a screenshot of their conversation shared by Trump. Further lauding President Trump, Rutte said that Europe will be going to pay in a big way to the US. "Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should and it will be your win," he added.

Trump, during a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO Summit, hailed the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war as a "tremendous victory for everyone, including Iran".

'Daddy has to sometimes...': NATO Chief Rutte reacts to Trump calling Israel, Iran 'two kids' - Here's what he said

US President Donald Trump said that the recent American airstrikes on “ended the war” and left the sites “completely destroyed”. He even compared the strike’s impact to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.<h2>Trump says the strike stopped war before it started</h2>Speaking at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump argued that the military action had prevented further conflict with Iran. “They spent trillions of dollars trying to do this thing, and they didn’t come up with it, and we’re actually getting along with them very well right now,” he said.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-it-takes-to-fly-b-2-bomber-for-40-hours-straight-1750785472440">Stamina and sunflower seeds: What it takes to fly B-2 bomber for 40 hours straight?</a>He said, “That hit ended the war. That hit ended the war.” Trump then added, “I don’t want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don’t want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing that ended that war. This ended that, this ended that war.”According to him, had the US not carried out the operation, “they would have been… they’d be fighting right now.”<h2>What happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?</h2>In August 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time nuclear weapons have been used in warfare. The bomb on Hiroshima killed an estimated 140,000 people, while the strike on Nagasaki claimed around 70,000 lives. Both bombings caused massive destruction and led to Japan’s surrender, ending&nbsp;World&nbsp;War&nbsp;II.<h2>White House claims questioned by media and intel reports</h2>Trump’s statements come as US intelligence agencies and major news outlets oppugn how successful the strikes truly were. Reports from CNN and The New York Times, based on unnamed officials, suggest Iran’s core nuclear infrastructure may have only been delayed by a few months.In response, Trump lashed out at the media on his social platform, Truth Social. “Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history,” he wrote.“The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed!” Trump said, rejecting any suggestion that the damage was limited.

In August 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time nuclear weapons have been used in warfare. 

US President Donald Trump said that the recent American airstrikes on “ended the war” and left the sites “completely destroyed”. He even compared the strike’s impact to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. Trump says the strike stopped war before it started Speaking at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump argued that the military action had prevented further conflict with Iran. “They spent trillions of dollars trying to do this thing, and they didn’t come up with it, and we’re actually getting along with them very well right now,” he said. Also read: Stamina and sunflower seeds: What it takes to fly B-2 bomber for 40 hours straight? He said, “That hit ended the war. That hit ended the war.” Trump then added, “I don’t want to use an example of Hiroshima, I don’t want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing that ended that war. This ended that, this ended that war.” According to him, had the US not carried out the operation, “they would have been… they’d be fighting right now.” What happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? In August 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time nuclear weapons have been used in warfare. The bomb on Hiroshima killed an estimated 140,000 people, while the strike on Nagasaki claimed around 70,000 lives. Both bombings caused massive destruction and led to Japan’s surrender, ending World War II. White House claims questioned by media and intel reports Trump’s statements come as US intelligence agencies and major news outlets oppugn how successful the strikes truly were. Reports from CNN and The New York Times, based on unnamed officials, suggest Iran’s core nuclear infrastructure may have only been delayed by a few months. In response, Trump lashed out at the media on his social platform, Truth Social. “Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history,” he wrote. “The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed!” Trump said, rejecting any suggestion that the damage was limited.

In August 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time nuclear weapons have been used in warfare.&nbsp;

Did Trump compare US Iran airstrikes to Hiroshima, Nagasaki? US president says it's 'essentially the same thing'

As Democratic Party candidate Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic Mayoral Primary, a text message has surfaced on social media claiming that Jewish voters across New York City received it in his campaign. The sender of the text message claims that they are registered Jewish Democrat voters supporting Mamdani, who is a vocal critic of Israel and the war in Gaza.&nbsp;It was framed as a message from “Orthodox Jews who lost loved ones on Oct. 7,” and urged them to vote for Mamdani in the New York mayoral election. The message claimed that his progressive stance on global justice coincides with the “Jewish values of compassion and resistance.”“I want to go a bit off script for a second because I’m Jewish, wear a kippah every day, and I support Zohran,” read the text.&nbsp;“My friend Idan was murdered on October 7 at the Re’im music festival. The war is personal to me, as it is to many in our community. Idan believed in peace, just like Zohran does,” the message continued.&nbsp;“I couldn’t believe what I was reading,” said Miriam Greenblatt, a Brooklyn resident who lost her cousin in the October 7 attacks. “To have our pain exploited to push a political message and for someone who won’t even say Israel has a right to exist? It’s grotesque.”Mamdani is a vocal supporter of the Boycott Divestment and Sanction movement and has always refused to acknowledge the Israeli state, with past slogans like “globalise the intifada”, which he claimed is an advocacy of Palestinian human rights, and is condemned by many, like the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.“This isn’t just poor taste — it’s emotional blackmail,” said Rabbi Ari Goldstein of Manhattan’s Congregation Ner Tamid. “To cite Oct. 7 as a reason to vote for someone who consistently undermines the Jewish state is beyond manipulative. It’s offensive.”The origin of the text remains unclear, but Socialist candidate Mamdani has delivered an earthquake by winning the Democratic Mayoral Primary. “I will fight for a city that works for you, that is affordable for you, that is safe for you," said Mamdani in his victory speech. In cities like New York, where Democratic voters greatly outnumber Republicans, winning the mayoral primary is tantamount to winning the mayoralty.

A text message was allegedly sent to registered jewish democrat voters claiming to have lost loved ones in the October 7 attack and urging them to vote for Zohran Mamdani.

As Democratic Party candidate Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic Mayoral Primary, a text message has surfaced on social media claiming that Jewish voters across New York City received it in his campaign. The sender of the text message claims that they are registered Jewish Democrat voters supporting Mamdani, who is a vocal critic of Israel and the war in Gaza. It was framed as a message from “Orthodox Jews who lost loved ones on Oct. 7,” and urged them to vote for Mamdani in the New York mayoral election. The message claimed that his progressive stance on global justice coincides with the “Jewish values of compassion and resistance.” “I want to go a bit off script for a second because I’m Jewish, wear a kippah every day, and I support Zohran,” read the text. “My friend Idan was murdered on October 7 at the Re’im music festival. The war is personal to me, as it is to many in our community. Idan believed in peace, just like Zohran does,” the message continued. “I couldn’t believe what I was reading,” said Miriam Greenblatt, a Brooklyn resident who lost her cousin in the October 7 attacks. “To have our pain exploited to push a political message and for someone who won’t even say Israel has a right to exist? It’s grotesque.” Mamdani is a vocal supporter of the Boycott Divestment and Sanction movement and has always refused to acknowledge the Israeli state, with past slogans like “globalise the intifada”, which he claimed is an advocacy of Palestinian human rights, and is condemned by many, like the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. “This isn’t just poor taste — it’s emotional blackmail,” said Rabbi Ari Goldstein of Manhattan’s Congregation Ner Tamid. “To cite Oct. 7 as a reason to vote for someone who consistently undermines the Jewish state is beyond manipulative. It’s offensive.” The origin of the text remains unclear, but Socialist candidate Mamdani has delivered an earthquake by winning the Democratic Mayoral Primary. “I will fight for a city that works for you, that is affordable for you, that is safe for you," said Mamdani in his victory speech. In cities like New York, where Democratic voters greatly outnumber Republicans, winning the mayoral primary is tantamount to winning the mayoralty.

A text message was allegedly sent to registered jewish democrat voters claiming to be Orthodox Jews have lost loved ones in the October 7 attack and urging them to vote for Zohran Mamdani.

Jewish voters outrage as Pro-Mamdani campaign texts invoke Oct 7 attacks: 'Weaponising Our Pain"

The B-2 Spirit bombers that struck Iranian nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer last weekend, experienced grave danger in one of the most pivotal moments during their operation in airspace over the Iranian region. The stealth bombers carried 14 "bunker buster" bombs for more than 18 hours.The B-2 stealth bombers were deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri just after midnight and crossed the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea to reach Iran.<h2>What was the 'dangerous moment'?</h2>As pilots moved the aircraft to drop their explosive payloads on three Iranian nuclear sites at 6:40 pm on Saturday, the planes were at risk of losing their stealth capabilities and exposing themselves to enemy fire, according to a report by The New York Times.When the pilots released their weapons bay doors to drop the bombs, the shape of the stealth craft changed and made them more likely to pop up on Iranian radar. It exposed the two crew pilots to potentially deadly counterfire.The B-2 pilots told The New York Times that the moment the dangerous moment they faced was punctuated by the aircraft quickly rising up into the air as it dropped the explosives, which weigh 15 tons apiece.However, the pilots were able to navigate the risk and successfully hit their targets, including the three nuclear enrichment sites Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.Around 7:30 pm on Saturday, the seven Spirits were out of Iranian airspace and were on their way back to Missouri to complete the 37-hour non-stop flight.The pilots also had the basic amenities, including a microwave, a refrigerator, a bathroom, fold-out beds and some snacks.They crew also took turns lying down and resting, however, but both the pilots were required to be in the cockpit for take-off and for the time spent in Iranian airspace to attack their nuclear facilities.&nbsp;

The B-2 stealth bombers were deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri just after midnight and crossed the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea to reach Iran.

The B-2 Spirit bombers that struck Iranian nuclear facilities in Operation Midnight Hammer last weekend, experienced grave danger in one of the most pivotal moments during their operation in airspace over the Iranian region. The stealth bombers carried 14 "bunker buster" bombs for more than 18 hours. The B-2 stealth bombers were deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri just after midnight and crossed the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea to reach Iran. What was the 'dangerous moment'? As pilots moved the aircraft to drop their explosive payloads on three Iranian nuclear sites at 6:40 pm on Saturday, the planes were at risk of losing their stealth capabilities and exposing themselves to enemy fire, according to a report by The New York Times. When the pilots released their weapons bay doors to drop the bombs, the shape of the stealth craft changed and made them more likely to pop up on Iranian radar. It exposed the two crew pilots to potentially deadly counterfire. The B-2 pilots told The New York Times that the moment the dangerous moment they faced was punctuated by the aircraft quickly rising up into the air as it dropped the explosives, which weigh 15 tons apiece. However, the pilots were able to navigate the risk and successfully hit their targets, including the three nuclear enrichment sites Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. Around 7:30 pm on Saturday, the seven Spirits were out of Iranian airspace and were on their way back to Missouri to complete the 37-hour non-stop flight. The pilots also had the basic amenities, including a microwave, a refrigerator, a bathroom, fold-out beds and some snacks. They crew also took turns lying down and resting, however, but both the pilots were required to be in the cockpit for take-off and for the time spent in Iranian airspace to attack their nuclear facilities.

The B-2 stealth bombers were deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri just after midnight and crossed the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea to reach Iran.

B-2 Bomber pilots witnessed 'MOST DANGEROUS' moment while hitting Iran nuclear sites - Here's what happened

A senior Hamas official told AFP on Wednesday (Jun 25) that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group have “intensified in recent hours” with mediator countries. “Our communications with the brother mediators in Egypt and Qatar have not stopped and have intensified in recent hours,” Taher al-Nunu said. He added that the group had “not yet received any new proposals” to reach an agreement to end the war, which has been going on for 21 months. Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump also suggested that progress was being made in the discussions.&nbsp;Trump on Wednesday said that he believes “great progress” was being made in the negotiations to bring the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza to an end. “I think great progress is being made on Gaza, I think because of this attack that we made,” said Trump. The US president also suggested that the US strikes on Iran amid the recent tensions in the Middle East could have a positive impact in the region.&nbsp;After the ceasefire was announced between Israel and Iran on Tuesday (Jun 24) following 12 days of conflict, the Israeli military chief said that Tel Aviv’s focus will now shift back to Gaza and fighting against Hamas.&nbsp;“Now the focus shifts back to Gaza — to bring the hostages home and to dismantle the Hamas regime,” chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement.&nbsp;On Wednesday, the Israeli army said that seven of its soldiers were killed in combat in Gaza as the conflict with the Palestinian militant group continues. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a “very difficult day” after the incident.&nbsp;“It is a very difficult day for the people of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote on X. “Our heroic combattants fell in the battle to defeat Hamas and free our hostages in the south of the Gaza Strip.”&nbsp;Since the war began after the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel, more than 1,219 people have been killed, while 251 were taken hostage by Hamas – 49 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including 27 of whom have died. Following Israel’s retaliation, 56,077 people have been killed in Gaza, according to its health ministry.

Trump on Wednesday said that he believes “great progress” was being made in the negotiations to bring the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza to an end.

A senior Hamas official told AFP on Wednesday (Jun 25) that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group have “intensified in recent hours” with mediator countries. “Our communications with the brother mediators in Egypt and Qatar have not stopped and have intensified in recent hours,” Taher al-Nunu said. He added that the group had “not yet received any new proposals” to reach an agreement to end the war, which has been going on for 21 months. Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump also suggested that progress was being made in the discussions. Trump on Wednesday said that he believes “great progress” was being made in the negotiations to bring the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza to an end. “I think great progress is being made on Gaza, I think because of this attack that we made,” said Trump. The US president also suggested that the US strikes on Iran amid the recent tensions in the Middle East could have a positive impact in the region. After the ceasefire was announced between Israel and Iran on Tuesday (Jun 24) following 12 days of conflict, the Israeli military chief said that Tel Aviv’s focus will now shift back to Gaza and fighting against Hamas. “Now the focus shifts back to Gaza — to bring the hostages home and to dismantle the Hamas regime,” chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement. On Wednesday, the Israeli army said that seven of its soldiers were killed in combat in Gaza as the conflict with the Palestinian militant group continues. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a “very difficult day” after the incident. “It is a very difficult day for the people of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote on X. “Our heroic combattants fell in the battle to defeat Hamas and free our hostages in the south of the Gaza Strip.” Since the war began after the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel, more than 1,219 people have been killed, while 251 were taken hostage by Hamas – 49 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including 27 of whom have died. Following Israel’s retaliation, 56,077 people have been killed in Gaza, according to its health ministry.

Trump on Wednesday said that he believes “great progress” was being made in the negotiations to bring the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza to an end.

Gaza ceasefire talks ‘intensified,’ says Hamas as Trump believes ‘great progress being made’

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday shared a video of B-2 bombers flying in the air as it was about to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, with a controversial parody song "Bomb Iran". This comes just a day after Trump announced Israel-Iran ceasefire.The video posted by the US president on Truth Social, featured footage of B-2 bombers, dropping bunker buster bombs at different locations, set to the 1980 parody track by Vince Vance &amp; the Valiants. The lyrics are, "Went to a mosque, gonna throw some rocks, tell the Ayatollah, ‘Gonna put you in a box!’ Bomb Iran.”. Ol’ Uncle Sam’s getting pretty hot, time to turn Iran into a parking lot.”Hours before posting this video, Trump told reporters while leaving for The Hague, that he is unhappy with both Israel and Iran for violating ceasefire. He had also said that both countries "don't know what they are doing" and need to "calm down".Trump on Tuesday (Jun 24) doubled down on his claims that the Iranian nuclear sites were "obliterated" in US strikes. In a post on Truth Social, the US President insisted that the three nuclear facilities were "completely destroyed" as he ridiculed media houses that published reports casting doubt on his claims of the destruction of three nuclear sites in Iran -Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.The video has grabbed attention on the social media. One of the users wrote, "Tell me he didn't post this." While another said, "I would have never imagined a president posting something like this in a hundred years. I’m here for it.”"Did the President actually post this video?," another user questioned, shockingly.Netizens questioned Trump, expressing shock that a US president would post such a thing, especially after speaking and supporting peace and diplomacy just hours earlier.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-iran-hide-400-kg-of-uranium-before-b-2-bomber-hit-here-s-what-we-know-that-material-can-make-10-nuclear-bombs-1750779102111">Also read: 'Enough to make 10 nuclear bombs': Did Iran hide 400 kg of Uranium before B-2 Bomber hit? Here's what we know</a>

The video posted by the US president on Truth Social, featured footage of B-2 bombers, dropping bunker buster bombs at different locations, set to the 1980 parody track by Vince Vance & the Valiants.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday shared a video of B-2 bombers flying in the air as it was about to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, with a controversial parody song "Bomb Iran". This comes just a day after Trump announced Israel-Iran ceasefire. The video posted by the US president on Truth Social, featured footage of B-2 bombers, dropping bunker buster bombs at different locations, set to the 1980 parody track by Vince Vance & the Valiants. The lyrics are, "Went to a mosque, gonna throw some rocks, tell the Ayatollah, ‘Gonna put you in a box!’ Bomb Iran.”. Ol’ Uncle Sam’s getting pretty hot, time to turn Iran into a parking lot.” Hours before posting this video, Trump told reporters while leaving for The Hague, that he is unhappy with both Israel and Iran for violating ceasefire. He had also said that both countries "don't know what they are doing" and need to "calm down". Trump on Tuesday (Jun 24) doubled down on his claims that the Iranian nuclear sites were "obliterated" in US strikes. In a post on Truth Social, the US President insisted that the three nuclear facilities were "completely destroyed" as he ridiculed media houses that published reports casting doubt on his claims of the destruction of three nuclear sites in Iran -Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. The video has grabbed attention on the social media. One of the users wrote, "Tell me he didn't post this." While another said, "I would have never imagined a president posting something like this in a hundred years. I’m here for it.” "Did the President actually post this video?," another user questioned, shockingly. Netizens questioned Trump, expressing shock that a US president would post such a thing, especially after speaking and supporting peace and diplomacy just hours earlier. Also read: 'Enough to make 10 nuclear bombs': Did Iran hide 400 kg of Uranium before B-2 Bomber hit? Here's what we know

The video posted by the US president on Truth Social, featured footage of B-2 bombers, dropping bunker buster bombs at different locations, set to the 1980 parody track by Vince Vance &amp; the Valiants.

'Tell Ayatollah, gonna put you in a box': Trump shares video of B-2 bombers dropping bunker buster with parody song 'Bomb Iran' - WATCH

In 2017, at the height of US-Iran tensions that led to talk of an American invasion of Iran and a possible regime change, Indian journalist Nadim Siraj travelled to the Islamic Republic. He went in as a tourist, but the intention was to see Iran up, close and personal. The result was a book titled Secret Notes from Iran: Diary of an Undercover Journalist. Nadim's trip happened during President Donald Trump's first term in office, in which he pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal. At the end of the current Iran-Israel war, Trump hinted that the US is not looking for an Iranian regime change. For many Iranians inside and abroad, the Iran-Israel war had brought the country tantalisingly close to a regime change. But that dream is dashed, for now. I asked Nadim why Trump took this stance, rather unusual for the US, which is known for artificial regime changes. He shared what could be the rationale for Trump, and what could have happened if a regime change had indeed happened. &nbsp;<h2>Why would the Americans want to change regime in Iran?</h2>Part of the answer lies in a major, yet under-reported, grouse of the US : Iran’s defiance of the petrodollar, the system by which petroleum and gas resources are sold in exchange for US dollars. "Iran not only sells its crude oil in non-dollar currencies, it successfully runs an oil exchange – the Iranian Oil Bourse on Kish Island – where the US dollar is not even listed as a currency," Nadim said. “Since the Iranian regime is at the forefront of a growing de-dollarisation drive, the US wants it to go – for vested economic interests, not to gift Iranians a more sane and liberal government with no nuclear ambitions.”&nbsp; Trump has essentially gone against this long-standing US interest, at least for now. &nbsp;“Trump holding back prospects of a regime change turns out to be a sensible move,” Nadim shared.&nbsp;<h2>Lack of regime change is a loss of opportunity for Iranian women</h2>During his Iran trip, Nadim found that a considerable section of the Iranian public deeply disliked the cleric-run regime, mainly because of its anti-women policies. “They are not just young women who miss basic freedoms, but even their young male peers. I saw the same wave across Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, and along the Strait of Hormuz. For them, the freeze in a regime-change attempt is a golden opportunity lost,” he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-trump-rejects-leaked-intel-reports-on-iran-s-nuclear-sites-1750844413937/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-trump-rejects-leaked-intel-reports-on-iran-s-nuclear-sites-1750844413937/embed</a> Even though they don’t like the idea of a war, Nadim said, “they feel so stifled by the lack of basic rights that they don’t mind an external power doing the job of getting rid of the clerics and bringing a liberal group to power.” “It is a shame that since coming to power in 1979, the Ayatollah’s ‘kingdom’ has continuously antagonised this section of the Iranian public,” Nadim said. “They will happily welcome the Shah’s family at the helm or a democracy-style political system.”&nbsp;<h2>What would have happened if the Iranian regime was changed?</h2>Recent history may be a guide for answering this: Not a single US-supported regime change resulted in a positive outcome for the affected country’s society, economy, and politics. "Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria are eye-opening examples, where US-backed interventions didn’t make the lives of the public any better," Nadim noted.&nbsp; &nbsp;So, did Trump do the smart thing by declaring US is not interested in Iran regime change? In Nadim's view, Trump’s decision to stop short of a regime change is a welcome relief for both Iran and the wider world, as it would have been unfortunate if a foreign power toppled its government without factoring in the heavy cost on the ground.<h2>A regime change would have split Iran and led to power vacuum and chaos</h2>Iran would have been thrown into the middle of a gigantic political and economic storm had there been a regime change, said Nadim.&nbsp; "For decades, the Ayatollah’s oppressive regime has systematically ensured there’s no major naturally evolved, genuinely domestic political alternative in the country. &nbsp;So, if the clerics are ousted, a liberal yet completely US-backed puppet group would be installed in Tehran – accountable only to the West, not to the public.&nbsp; “And because of its lack of accountability to the Iranian public, the externally installed government won’t be able to fix the economic chaos and political instability that will follow the regime change.”&nbsp; A regime change would have caused severe economic turbulence in Iran, whose economy is reeling under pressure from over 3,000 sanctions slapped by the US and its allies. &nbsp;Hardened by decades of these sanctions, Iran built for itself a robust economy that doesn’t rely on foreign wealth or institutions such as the World Bank and IMF. That self-reliant, independent economy &nbsp;would have been severely damaged by a regime change.&nbsp; Yet, when it comes to gender rights, a regime change would have come as an immense relief for Iranian women who are stifled by outdated patriarchal rules and regulations since they were rolled out in 1981, Nadim noted.

Trump took a stance that is rather unusual for the US known for artificial regime changes. What could be the rationale and what could have happened if a regime change indeed took place?


In 2017, at the height of US-Iran tensions that led to talk of an American invasion of Iran and a possible regime change, Indian journalist Nadim Siraj travelled to the Islamic Republic. He went in as a tourist, but the intention was to see Iran up, close and personal. The result was a book titled Secret Notes from Iran: Diary of an Undercover Journalist. Nadim's trip happened during President Donald Trump's first term in office, in which he pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal. At the end of the current Iran-Israel war, Trump hinted that the US is not looking for an Iranian regime change. For many Iranians inside and abroad, the Iran-Israel war had brought the country tantalisingly close to a regime change. But that dream is dashed, for now. I asked Nadim why Trump took this stance, rather unusual for the US, which is known for artificial regime changes. He shared what could be the rationale for Trump, and what could have happened if a regime change had indeed happened. Why would the Americans want to change regime in Iran? Part of the answer lies in a major, yet under-reported, grouse of the US : Iran’s defiance of the petrodollar, the system by which petroleum and gas resources are sold in exchange for US dollars. "Iran not only sells its crude oil in non-dollar currencies, it successfully runs an oil exchange – the Iranian Oil Bourse on Kish Island – where the US dollar is not even listed as a currency," Nadim said. “Since the Iranian regime is at the forefront of a growing de-dollarisation drive, the US wants it to go – for vested economic interests, not to gift Iranians a more sane and liberal government with no nuclear ambitions.” Trump has essentially gone against this long-standing US interest, at least for now. “Trump holding back prospects of a regime change turns out to be a sensible move,” Nadim shared. Lack of regime change is a loss of opportunity for Iranian women During his Iran trip, Nadim found that a considerable section of the Iranian public deeply disliked the cleric-run regime, mainly because of its anti-women policies. “They are not just young women who miss basic freedoms, but even their young male peers. I saw the same wave across Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, and along the Strait of Hormuz. For them, the freeze in a regime-change attempt is a golden opportunity lost,” he said. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-trump-rejects-leaked-intel-reports-on-iran-s-nuclear-sites-1750844413937/embed Even though they don’t like the idea of a war, Nadim said, “they feel so stifled by the lack of basic rights that they don’t mind an external power doing the job of getting rid of the clerics and bringing a liberal group to power.” “It is a shame that since coming to power in 1979, the Ayatollah’s ‘kingdom’ has continuously antagonised this section of the Iranian public,” Nadim said. “They will happily welcome the Shah’s family at the helm or a democracy-style political system.” What would have happened if the Iranian regime was changed? Recent history may be a guide for answering this: Not a single US-supported regime change resulted in a positive outcome for the affected country’s society, economy, and politics. "Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Syria are eye-opening examples, where US-backed interventions didn’t make the lives of the public any better," Nadim noted. So, did Trump do the smart thing by declaring US is not interested in Iran regime change? In Nadim's view, Trump’s decision to stop short of a regime change is a welcome relief for both Iran and the wider world, as it would have been unfortunate if a foreign power toppled its government without factoring in the heavy cost on the ground. A regime change would have split Iran and led to power vacuum and chaos Iran would have been thrown into the middle of a gigantic political and economic storm had there been a regime change, said Nadim. "For decades, the Ayatollah’s oppressive regime has systematically ensured there’s no major naturally evolved, genuinely domestic political alternative in the country. So, if the clerics are ousted, a liberal yet completely US-backed puppet group would be installed in Tehran – accountable only to the West, not to the public. “And because of its lack of accountability to the Iranian public, the externally installed government won’t be able to fix the economic chaos and political instability that will follow the regime change.” A regime change would have caused severe economic turbulence in Iran, whose economy is reeling under pressure from over 3,000 sanctions slapped by the US and its allies. Hardened by decades of these sanctions, Iran built for itself a robust economy that doesn’t rely on foreign wealth or institutions such as the World Bank and IMF. That self-reliant, independent economy would have been severely damaged by a regime change. Yet, when it comes to gender rights, a regime change would have come as an immense relief for Iranian women who are stifled by outdated patriarchal rules and regulations since they were rolled out in 1981, Nadim noted.

Trump took a stance that is rather unusual for the US known for artificial regime changes. What could be the rationale and what could have happened if a regime change indeed took place? &nbsp;

No regime change in Iran: Trump did the smart thing, but for many Iranians, specially women, it's a loss of historic opportunity

After the 12-day war over Tehran's possession of nuclear weapons came to an end between Israel and Iran in a US-initiated mediation, everyone is looking towards the Middle East and the situations that could prevail in the near future in the region. The ceasefire raises the possibility of renewed talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.&nbsp;Trump's West Asia envoy, Steve Witkoff, while speaking to Fox News channel after the ceasefire was called between both the countries said, "Now it’s time for us to sit down with the Iranians and get to a comprehensive peace agreement."&nbsp;While a preliminary assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency has said that the extent of the damage from 11 days of Israeli attacks and the weekend strikes by U.S. bunker-buster bombs does not indicate severe damage to the nuclear sites - Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan - and that the nuclear program had been set back only a few months.&nbsp;Trump has however maintained that the &nbsp;US strikes “completely and fully obliterated” the nuclear facilities. Speaking to the media on Wednesday (June 25), Trump said, “The US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites were a perfect operation. The intelligence was very inconclusive."“It was very severe. There was obliteration," he added.&nbsp;Restarting US-Iran nuclear talks possible?&nbsp;After the 12-day war, there is no clarity on what happens with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program as the Iranian leadership at the moment is in disarray and it is not entirely clear who in Iran has the authority to make a deal or even agree to reenter talks.&nbsp;Ray Takeyh, a former State Department official and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations speaking to the Associated Press said, "The country’s leadership and the regime is not cohesive enough to be able to come to some sort of negotiations at this point, especially negotiations from the American perspective, whose conclusion is predetermined, namely, zero enrichment."&nbsp;“Is there an Iranian negotiation team empowered to make consequential decisions. The issue is that (Trump) is dealing with an Iranian government whose longtime identity has been based on hostility toward the the United States," added Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.&nbsp;Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, while speaking at the U.N. on Tuesday said, “diplomacy and dialogue are the only path to resolving the unnecessary crisis over Iran’s peaceful program.” &nbsp;

Trump has maintained that the  US strikes “completely and fully obliterated” the nuclear facilities in Iran.

After the 12-day war over Tehran's possession of nuclear weapons came to an end between Israel and Iran in a US-initiated mediation, everyone is looking towards the Middle East and the situations that could prevail in the near future in the region. The ceasefire raises the possibility of renewed talks with Tehran over its nuclear program. Trump's West Asia envoy, Steve Witkoff, while speaking to Fox News channel after the ceasefire was called between both the countries said, "Now it’s time for us to sit down with the Iranians and get to a comprehensive peace agreement." While a preliminary assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency has said that the extent of the damage from 11 days of Israeli attacks and the weekend strikes by U.S. bunker-buster bombs does not indicate severe damage to the nuclear sites - Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan - and that the nuclear program had been set back only a few months. Trump has however maintained that the US strikes “completely and fully obliterated” the nuclear facilities. Speaking to the media on Wednesday (June 25), Trump said, “The US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites were a perfect operation. The intelligence was very inconclusive." “It was very severe. There was obliteration," he added. Restarting US-Iran nuclear talks possible? After the 12-day war, there is no clarity on what happens with negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program as the Iranian leadership at the moment is in disarray and it is not entirely clear who in Iran has the authority to make a deal or even agree to reenter talks. Ray Takeyh, a former State Department official and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations speaking to the Associated Press said, "The country’s leadership and the regime is not cohesive enough to be able to come to some sort of negotiations at this point, especially negotiations from the American perspective, whose conclusion is predetermined, namely, zero enrichment." “Is there an Iranian negotiation team empowered to make consequential decisions. The issue is that (Trump) is dealing with an Iranian government whose longtime identity has been based on hostility toward the the United States," added Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani, while speaking at the U.N. on Tuesday said, “diplomacy and dialogue are the only path to resolving the unnecessary crisis over Iran’s peaceful program.”

Trump has maintained that the &nbsp;US strikes “completely and fully obliterated” the nuclear facilities in Iran.

Diplomacy, dialogue only way forward for Iran? Here's what to expect next after Israel-Iran ceasefire

Spain has reportedly hinted that it will not be matching the new defence spending target of 5 per cent of the GDP proposed by the alliance. Spain argued that it is unreasonable and counterproductive to increase the defence spending. It said that, being a sovereign ally, it reserves the right to decide its own defence budget.In a letter to the NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asked to adopt a more comprehensive framework, on June 19, 2025.&nbsp;Spain currently spends 1.27 per cent of its GDP lowest among the NATO countries. US President Donald Trump called Spain ‘notorious’ for its low defence spending.&nbsp;As the US President Trump is pushing for the new cap of 5 per cent, currently, in 2024, nine nations missed the 2 per cent spending mark; these are Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Montenegro and Croatia. It has to be noted that these agreements are not legally binding, and there is no international court where the defaulters have to be answerable. Trump has reportedly claimed that his NATO allies are not spending enough, holding back their weight and have threatened to pull back support for those who fall short.&nbsp;Belgium and Slovakia have also hinted that they are unlikely to meet the spending cap by the deadline of 2035. Belgium's defence spending in 2024 was 1.3% of GDP, significantly below the 2% target.&nbsp;While Belgium supports the new target, it's pushing for flexibility in how the spending is applied.&nbsp;Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever stated that increasing spending to 3.5% in 10 years is a more realistic objective.&nbsp;Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said it has other priorities like “recovering public finances and catching up with the average standard of living in the European Union.” He said that the state must reserve its sovereign right how much budget it wants to allocate to its defence.&nbsp;

As NATO is planning to push for a defence spending of 5 per cent by the end of 2035, nine nations are already falling behind the current target of 2 per cent. 

Spain has reportedly hinted that it will not be matching the new defence spending target of 5 per cent of the GDP proposed by the alliance. Spain argued that it is unreasonable and counterproductive to increase the defence spending. It said that, being a sovereign ally, it reserves the right to decide its own defence budget. In a letter to the NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asked to adopt a more comprehensive framework, on June 19, 2025. Spain currently spends 1.27 per cent of its GDP lowest among the NATO countries. US President Donald Trump called Spain ‘notorious’ for its low defence spending. As the US President Trump is pushing for the new cap of 5 per cent, currently, in 2024, nine nations missed the 2 per cent spending mark; these are Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Montenegro and Croatia. It has to be noted that these agreements are not legally binding, and there is no international court where the defaulters have to be answerable. Trump has reportedly claimed that his NATO allies are not spending enough, holding back their weight and have threatened to pull back support for those who fall short. Belgium and Slovakia have also hinted that they are unlikely to meet the spending cap by the deadline of 2035. Belgium's defence spending in 2024 was 1.3% of GDP, significantly below the 2% target. While Belgium supports the new target, it's pushing for flexibility in how the spending is applied. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever stated that increasing spending to 3.5% in 10 years is a more realistic objective. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said it has other priorities like “recovering public finances and catching up with the average standard of living in the European Union.” He said that the state must reserve its sovereign right how much budget it wants to allocate to its defence.

As NATO is planning to push for a defence spending of 5 per cent by the end of 2035, nine nations are already falling behind the current target of 2 per cent.&nbsp;

NATO summit: The countries which denied to meet 5% defence spending

United States President Donald Trump decided to join the Iran-Israel war this week and gave the go-ahead to use bunker-busting bombs to strike three key Iranian nuclear sites and their underground bunkers: the Fordow fuel-enrichment plant, the Natanz nuclear facility, and the Isfahan nuclear technology centre. The Pentagon codenamed it Operation Midnight Hammer. This was the first time the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), the 30,000-pound bomb, was ever used. The B-2 stealth bomber was engaged in the operation, as it is the only aircraft that can carry the monster bomb. Trump tooted his horn, saying that they had successfully taken out Iran’s underground nuclear facilities. But have they? A report by CNN suggests that Iran's nuclear program doesn't seem to have been destroyed and has only been pushed back by a few months. This has been claimed by early US intelligence.&nbsp;<h2>Iran's ultra-tough concrete saved the day?</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Iran has affirmed that the attacks did not affect it in any way. Scientists think that this could be true, if history is anything to go by. In fact, Iran's underground nuclear facilities could be partially or wholly intact. Iran might have been trying to build the nuclear bomb for years, but there is one race that it has seemingly already won - a highly resilient concrete. Experts say they have heard about Iran and its ultra-tough concrete. It is believed to be a world leader in the new technology of Ultra High Performance Concrete, or UHPC, Popular Mechanics reported. Rumours of a bunker-buster bomb failing terribly in the late 2000s hint at Iran's strength in the field of concrete.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/did-iran-move-enriched-uranium-stockpile-to-secret-nuclear-sites-before-us-strike-leaked-intel-report-suggests-so-1750829772928">Did Iran move enriched uranium stockpile to 'secret nuclear sites' before US strike? Leaked intel report suggests so</a>&nbsp;<h2>A bunker-buster bomb failed got stuck on the surface&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;Reportedly, a bunker-buster bomb hit a bunker in Iran at the time. But, instead of smashing through it, the bomb got embedded in the surface and failed to explode or cause any destruction. A bomb-disposal team was called in to remove the bomb. This is when experts sat up and took notice of the advancements in concrete technology in Iran.&nbsp;<h2>UHPC concrete is stronger and too strong for today's bombs</h2>&nbsp;UHPC is a type of concrete that is way more advanced than regular concrete. Earlier, concrete rated as "high strength" had a yield of 5,000 pounds per square inch (psi). There were some that went up to 10,000 psi. But UHPC can withstand 40,000 psi or more. This is because in this technology, concrete is turned into a composite material by adding steel or other fibres. They hold the concrete together and prevent it from cracking. Stephanie Barnett, Ph.D, of the University of Portsmouth in the UK, who works to develop stronger concrete to protect civilian buildings from terrorist attacks, told Popular Mechanics, "Instead of getting a few large cracks in a concrete panel, you get lots of smaller cracks. The fibres give it more fracture energy."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-insists-iran-nuclear-sites-completely-destroyed-denies-leaked-us-intel-report-1750824123756">Trump insists Iran nuclear sites 'completely destroyed'; denies leaked US intel report</a>&nbsp;An open-source Chinese study compared normal high-strength concrete with fibre-reinforced UHPC. It noted that projectiles smashed through the reinforced concrete targets, but the UHPC targets only had minor cracking. The bombs “either embedded in or rebounded from” the targets. The United States Air Force had also launched a project to study bunkers made of UHPC. It was reportedly feared that even the 5,000-pound bombs would not get through UHPC. Then it got the 21,000-pound Massive Ordnance Air Blast, "mother of all bombs". This is the biggest bomb one can fly, with only the B-2 Spirit strategic bomber capable of doing so.&nbsp;https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-intelligence-says-main-components-of-nuke-programmme-not-destroyed-1750819190440/embed&nbsp;Experts say that even the biggest and toughest bomb could not get through UHPC. Gregory Vartanov of Toronto-based Advanced Materials Development Corp claims that current bombs cannot break down the high-grade UHPC. "Penetrators with monolithic cases made from materials such as … Eglin Steel … cannot penetrate bunkers made from UHPC,” he wrote in Aerospace &amp; Defense Technology magazine in February 2021. &nbsp;

Irans nuke program hit? Scientists say Iran has some ultra-tough concrete made using advanced technology, which could have saved its underground nuclear sites.

United States President Donald Trump decided to join the Iran-Israel war this week and gave the go-ahead to use bunker-busting bombs to strike three key Iranian nuclear sites and their underground bunkers: the Fordow fuel-enrichment plant, the Natanz nuclear facility, and the Isfahan nuclear technology centre. The Pentagon codenamed it Operation Midnight Hammer. This was the first time the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), the 30,000-pound bomb, was ever used. The B-2 stealth bomber was engaged in the operation, as it is the only aircraft that can carry the monster bomb. Trump tooted his horn, saying that they had successfully taken out Iran’s underground nuclear facilities. But have they? A report by CNN suggests that Iran's nuclear program doesn't seem to have been destroyed and has only been pushed back by a few months. This has been claimed by early US intelligence. Iran's ultra-tough concrete saved the day? Meanwhile, Iran has affirmed that the attacks did not affect it in any way. Scientists think that this could be true, if history is anything to go by. In fact, Iran's underground nuclear facilities could be partially or wholly intact. Iran might have been trying to build the nuclear bomb for years, but there is one race that it has seemingly already won - a highly resilient concrete. Experts say they have heard about Iran and its ultra-tough concrete. It is believed to be a world leader in the new technology of Ultra High Performance Concrete, or UHPC, Popular Mechanics reported. Rumours of a bunker-buster bomb failing terribly in the late 2000s hint at Iran's strength in the field of concrete. Also Read: Did Iran move enriched uranium stockpile to 'secret nuclear sites' before US strike? Leaked intel report suggests so A bunker-buster bomb failed got stuck on the surface Reportedly, a bunker-buster bomb hit a bunker in Iran at the time. But, instead of smashing through it, the bomb got embedded in the surface and failed to explode or cause any destruction. A bomb-disposal team was called in to remove the bomb. This is when experts sat up and took notice of the advancements in concrete technology in Iran. UHPC concrete is stronger and too strong for today's bombs UHPC is a type of concrete that is way more advanced than regular concrete. Earlier, concrete rated as "high strength" had a yield of 5,000 pounds per square inch (psi). There were some that went up to 10,000 psi. But UHPC can withstand 40,000 psi or more. This is because in this technology, concrete is turned into a composite material by adding steel or other fibres. They hold the concrete together and prevent it from cracking. Stephanie Barnett, Ph.D, of the University of Portsmouth in the UK, who works to develop stronger concrete to protect civilian buildings from terrorist attacks, told Popular Mechanics, "Instead of getting a few large cracks in a concrete panel, you get lots of smaller cracks. The fibres give it more fracture energy." Also Read: Trump insists Iran nuclear sites 'completely destroyed'; denies leaked US intel report An open-source Chinese study compared normal high-strength concrete with fibre-reinforced UHPC. It noted that projectiles smashed through the reinforced concrete targets, but the UHPC targets only had minor cracking. The bombs “either embedded in or rebounded from” the targets. The United States Air Force had also launched a project to study bunkers made of UHPC. It was reportedly feared that even the 5,000-pound bombs would not get through UHPC. Then it got the 21,000-pound Massive Ordnance Air Blast, "mother of all bombs". This is the biggest bomb one can fly, with only the B-2 Spirit strategic bomber capable of doing so. https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-intelligence-says-main-components-of-nuke-programmme-not-destroyed-1750819190440/embed Experts say that even the biggest and toughest bomb could not get through UHPC. Gregory Vartanov of Toronto-based Advanced Materials Development Corp claims that current bombs cannot break down the high-grade UHPC. "Penetrators with monolithic cases made from materials such as … Eglin Steel … cannot penetrate bunkers made from UHPC,” he wrote in Aerospace & Defense Technology magazine in February 2021.

Iran's nuke program hit? Scientists say Iran has some ultra-tough concrete made using advanced technology, which could have saved its underground nuclear sites.

Is Iran's concrete unbreakable? Scientists believe even 'mother of all bombs' cannot shatter it

Not everyone knows that the aircraft was inspired by a small yet extraordinary bird of prey: the peregrine falcon.

Meet Israeli bird that inspired B-2 stealth bomber, US used to hit Iran nuclear facilities – See photos inside

Indian citizen and Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, Subhanshu Shukla, successfully boarded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) with a four-member international crew including astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary. Nearly four decades after Rakesh Sharma, he became another Indian citizen to travel to space as a part of the fourth private mission to the International Space Station (ISS).Subhanshu Shukla represents India in a science-heavy mission which involves more than 60 experiments from 31 countries. The mission is a joint venture of the ISRO in collaboration with NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). The involvement of Shukla in space lays the scientific preliminaries for the country’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission.However, there is a list of Indian citizens and Indian-origin people who flew into space on several missions:<h3>Rakesh Sharma</h3>A former Indian Air Force pilot, Rakesh Sharma, flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft on April 3, 1984, as part of the Interkosmos program. During the mission, he spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes aboard the Salyut 7 space station, which conducted experiments in biomedicine and remote sensing. He was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union and India’s Ashok Chakra.<h3>Kalpana Chawla &nbsp;</h3>She was born in Karnal, India, and became a US citizen and joined NASA as an astronaut. She boarded the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-87) in 1997 as a mission specialist, who conducted microgravity and material science experiments. But her second mission (STS-107) in 2003 ended horrendously when the shuttle disintegrated during re-entry, killing all seven crew members. Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honour. She was the first woman of Indian origin to travel to space.<h3>Sunita Williams &nbsp;</h3>Williams was born and brought up to an Indian-American father, who joined as US Navy officer and later turned to NASA astronaut. She has completed three spaceflights (2006, 2012, 2024) and holds records for the most spacewalks by a woman (7) and the longest spacewalking time by a woman (50 hours, 40 minutes). Williams ran the first marathon in space in 2007 and has served as a flight engineer and commander on the International Space Station (ISS), contributing to numerous experiments.<h3>Raja Chari &nbsp;</h3>A US Air Force brigadier general and NASA astronaut was born to an Indian father who commanded the SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the ISS in 2021–22, spending over 170 days in space. Selected for the Artemis Team of NASA in 2020, he is training for future lunar missions. Raja Chari also performed a spacewalk in 2022, demonstrating quick thinking by fixing a crewmate’s helmet camera.<h3>Sirisha Bandla &nbsp;</h3>Born in Andhra Pradesh, India, Sirisha Bandla is an Indian origin-American aeronautical engineer and Vice President at Virgin Galactic. Bandla flew to the edge of space on the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 mission on July 11, 2021, becoming the third woman of Indian origin in space.<h3>Gopi Thotakura &nbsp;</h3>He was also born in Andhra Pradesh, Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot, flew on Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin NS-25 mission in May 2024, a suborbital flight crossing the Kármán line. As part of a six-member crew, he became the first Indian to travel to space as a tourist, carrying a small Indian flag during the mission.<h3>Shubhanshu Shukla &nbsp;</h3>A Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, Shubhanshu Shukla, launched on June 25, 2025, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 as part of a private spaceflight, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). He becomes the second Indian citizen to travel to space, 41 years after Rakesh Sharma. Shukla, trained at NASA, ESA, and JAXA, will spend up to 14 days on the ISS conducting scientific research, including yoga in microgravity, and educational outreach.Other Indian-origin individuals, like Anil Menon, have been selected as NASA astronaut candidates but have not yet flown to space. In addition, Ravish Malhotra also served as a backup for Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission but did not fly.Meanwhile, Rakesh Sharma and Shubhanshu Shukla are the only Indian citizens on this list, representing ISRO and the Indian Air Force. The others are of Indian descent but held US citizenship before or during their missions.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rakesh Sharma and Shubhanshu Shukla are the only Indian citizens on this list, representing ISRO and the Indian Air Force. The others are of Indian descent but held US citizenship before or during their missions.

Indian citizen and Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, Subhanshu Shukla, successfully boarded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 as part of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) with a four-member international crew including astronauts from the US, Poland, and Hungary. Nearly four decades after Rakesh Sharma, he became another Indian citizen to travel to space as a part of the fourth private mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Subhanshu Shukla represents India in a science-heavy mission which involves more than 60 experiments from 31 countries. The mission is a joint venture of the ISRO in collaboration with NASA and ESA (European Space Agency). The involvement of Shukla in space lays the scientific preliminaries for the country’s upcoming Gaganyaan mission. However, there is a list of Indian citizens and Indian-origin people who flew into space on several missions: Rakesh Sharma A former Indian Air Force pilot, Rakesh Sharma, flew aboard the Soviet Soyuz T-11 spacecraft on April 3, 1984, as part of the Interkosmos program. During the mission, he spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes aboard the Salyut 7 space station, which conducted experiments in biomedicine and remote sensing. He was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union and India’s Ashok Chakra. Kalpana Chawla She was born in Karnal, India, and became a US citizen and joined NASA as an astronaut. She boarded the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-87) in 1997 as a mission specialist, who conducted microgravity and material science experiments. But her second mission (STS-107) in 2003 ended horrendously when the shuttle disintegrated during re-entry, killing all seven crew members. Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honour. She was the first woman of Indian origin to travel to space. Sunita Williams Williams was born and brought up to an Indian-American father, who joined as US Navy officer and later turned to NASA astronaut. She has completed three spaceflights (2006, 2012, 2024) and holds records for the most spacewalks by a woman (7) and the longest spacewalking time by a woman (50 hours, 40 minutes). Williams ran the first marathon in space in 2007 and has served as a flight engineer and commander on the International Space Station (ISS), contributing to numerous experiments. Raja Chari A US Air Force brigadier general and NASA astronaut was born to an Indian father who commanded the SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the ISS in 2021–22, spending over 170 days in space. Selected for the Artemis Team of NASA in 2020, he is training for future lunar missions. Raja Chari also performed a spacewalk in 2022, demonstrating quick thinking by fixing a crewmate’s helmet camera. Sirisha Bandla Born in Andhra Pradesh, India, Sirisha Bandla is an Indian origin-American aeronautical engineer and Vice President at Virgin Galactic. Bandla flew to the edge of space on the Virgin Galactic Unity 22 mission on July 11, 2021, becoming the third woman of Indian origin in space. Gopi Thotakura He was also born in Andhra Pradesh, Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot, flew on Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin NS-25 mission in May 2024, a suborbital flight crossing the Kármán line. As part of a six-member crew, he became the first Indian to travel to space as a tourist, carrying a small Indian flag during the mission. Shubhanshu Shukla A Group Captain in the Indian Air Force, Shubhanshu Shukla, launched on June 25, 2025, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 as part of a private spaceflight, Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). He becomes the second Indian citizen to travel to space, 41 years after Rakesh Sharma. Shukla, trained at NASA, ESA, and JAXA, will spend up to 14 days on the ISS conducting scientific research, including yoga in microgravity, and educational outreach. Other Indian-origin individuals, like Anil Menon, have been selected as NASA astronaut candidates but have not yet flown to space. In addition, Ravish Malhotra also served as a backup for Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission but did not fly. Meanwhile, Rakesh Sharma and Shubhanshu Shukla are the only Indian citizens on this list, representing ISRO and the Indian Air Force. The others are of Indian descent but held US citizenship before or during their missions.

Rakesh Sharma and Shubhanshu Shukla are the only Indian citizens on this list, representing ISRO and the Indian Air Force. The others are of Indian descent but held US citizenship before or during their missions.

From Rakesh Sharma to Shubhanshu Shukla: List of Indian-origin people who made history in space

The Iran-Israel war has ended. The 12-day war, as termed by US President Donald Trump, came to an end after Qatar and the US administration mediated. Here's what happened in its aftermath 

Dreadful remains of 12-day war exist even as fragile ceasefire holds: Images of celebrations, and what's happening in the aftermath

At the end of 12 days of mutual aerial bombardment, Iran and Israel appear to have agreed on a ceasefire, brokered and announced by US President Donald Trump after American B2 bombers attacked suspected Iranian nuclear sites. The one-off US Operation Midnight Hammer looked very similar to Operation Sindoor, India's military action against Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam terror attacks. India ended the operation just three days after bombings that targeted Pakistani terror infrastructure and hit near its suspected nuclear installations. Though military officials and political leadership described Operation Sindoor as ‘ongoing’, the hostilities have ended for now. The fact that what threatened to be long-drawn wars ended rather abruptly makes one wonder if we are in the era of quick-fix air wars, as opposed to long wars of attrition.<h2>Operation Sindoor, Operation Rising Lion, Operation Midnight Hammer: Quick operations are better than wars of attrition</h2>As long as the military objectives are achieved, quick, targeted air operations are more practical. In the era of drones, long-range missiles and artificial intelligence, such operations avoid boots on the ground. Israel is already in a war of attrition with Hamas in the Gaza strip, which started after the terror attack of 7 October 2023. The military objectives of that war - defeating Hamas and releasing Israeli hostages it had taken in 2023 - have not been achieved despite more than two years of war. This is an asymmetrical war, as Hamas continues to fight the far better-equipped Israeli Army in spite of its leadership being wiped out in Mossad-led intelligence operations both inside Gaza and abroad.<h2>Ukraine-Russia war, US occupation of Afghanistan: Cautionary tales on how not to conduct warfare</h2>The Russia-Ukraine conflict is an instance of how long wars of attrition are not the order of the day in the present world. Perhaps the quick operations as seen in India-Pakistan and Israel-Iran conflicts would now become a model for future wars, given the failure of long wars of attrition.&nbsp; Another example of the failure of a long and costly military mission is from Afghanistan. The US invaded it with the intention of removing the Taliban regime in October 2001. But after 20 years of occupation, the US Army left Afghanistan in a messy exit as the Taliban rode back to power in August 2021, with hardly any resistance.&nbsp;<h2>People are not interested in joining as foot soldiers for armies</h2>Something that stood out in the Russia-Ukraine war is how difficult it was for both sides to recruit foot soldiers. There have been reports of draft dodging by Russians. North Korean soldiers reportedly joined &nbsp;Russia in fighting Ukraine. Russia reportedly recruited soldiers from jails, meaning hardened criminals were sent to the frontline. There were difficulties in recruitment for the Ukrainian Army, too. Affiliate groups, militias and mercenaries from abroad are fighting alongside the regular Ukrainian forces.<h2>Drones and missiles: Future of warfare will have to be lean and smart</h2>The use of drones in all these wars is a new trend that is here to stay. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have become the face of wars in Ukraine, as well as in the Iran-Israel conflict and Operation Sindoor. Taking out enemies from the comfort of one's room or office is a much cheaper and effective method than sending the troops to the ground.<h2>Interest is growing on non-contact warfare</h2>The emerging new form of war consists of the following main aspects: Identify enemy targets using a combination of on-ground intelligence and satellite imagery; decide on the type of munitions and launchpads (Operation Midnight Hammer of the US, for instance, fired the torpedo missiles from submarines, while the B2 stealth bombers attacked from the air); use numerous drones and missiles to overwhelm the enemey's defence system, and exit without pilot casualties and minimum loss of hardware whenever possible. In Operation Sindoor, all Indian pilots were back home. In Iran's counterattacks, dozens of drones attempted to exhaust the Israeli air defence systems. Drones are seen as dispensable, as the cost involved in developing them would be less than the standing cost of armies. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-israel-ceasefire-trump-tells-israel-to-stop-attacking-iran-report-1750834499577/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-israel-ceasefire-trump-tells-israel-to-stop-attacking-iran-report-1750834499577/embed</a> One thing is clear: Non-contact, air-dominated warfare is going to be a more prominent aspect of combat in future than the olden days of trench warfare and face-to-face combat. Whether it is India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, or Israel's Operation Rising Lion against Iran, Iran's counteroffensive, or Operation Midnight Hammer, the salient features remain the same: Air war, pinpointed targets, extensive planning, and use of unmanned vehicles.&nbsp;

The new trend is to identify enemy targets, decide on the type of munitions and launchpads, use numerous drones and missiles to overwhelm the enemy defence system, and exit without casualties and minimal hardware loss.

At the end of 12 days of mutual aerial bombardment, Iran and Israel appear to have agreed on a ceasefire, brokered and announced by US President Donald Trump after American B2 bombers attacked suspected Iranian nuclear sites. The one-off US Operation Midnight Hammer looked very similar to Operation Sindoor, India's military action against Pakistan to avenge the Pahalgam terror attacks. India ended the operation just three days after bombings that targeted Pakistani terror infrastructure and hit near its suspected nuclear installations. Though military officials and political leadership described Operation Sindoor as ‘ongoing’, the hostilities have ended for now. The fact that what threatened to be long-drawn wars ended rather abruptly makes one wonder if we are in the era of quick-fix air wars, as opposed to long wars of attrition. Operation Sindoor, Operation Rising Lion, Operation Midnight Hammer: Quick operations are better than wars of attrition As long as the military objectives are achieved, quick, targeted air operations are more practical. In the era of drones, long-range missiles and artificial intelligence, such operations avoid boots on the ground. Israel is already in a war of attrition with Hamas in the Gaza strip, which started after the terror attack of 7 October 2023. The military objectives of that war - defeating Hamas and releasing Israeli hostages it had taken in 2023 - have not been achieved despite more than two years of war. This is an asymmetrical war, as Hamas continues to fight the far better-equipped Israeli Army in spite of its leadership being wiped out in Mossad-led intelligence operations both inside Gaza and abroad. Ukraine-Russia war, US occupation of Afghanistan: Cautionary tales on how not to conduct warfare The Russia-Ukraine conflict is an instance of how long wars of attrition are not the order of the day in the present world. Perhaps the quick operations as seen in India-Pakistan and Israel-Iran conflicts would now become a model for future wars, given the failure of long wars of attrition. Another example of the failure of a long and costly military mission is from Afghanistan. The US invaded it with the intention of removing the Taliban regime in October 2001. But after 20 years of occupation, the US Army left Afghanistan in a messy exit as the Taliban rode back to power in August 2021, with hardly any resistance. People are not interested in joining as foot soldiers for armies Something that stood out in the Russia-Ukraine war is how difficult it was for both sides to recruit foot soldiers. There have been reports of draft dodging by Russians. North Korean soldiers reportedly joined Russia in fighting Ukraine. Russia reportedly recruited soldiers from jails, meaning hardened criminals were sent to the frontline. There were difficulties in recruitment for the Ukrainian Army, too. Affiliate groups, militias and mercenaries from abroad are fighting alongside the regular Ukrainian forces. Drones and missiles: Future of warfare will have to be lean and smart The use of drones in all these wars is a new trend that is here to stay. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have become the face of wars in Ukraine, as well as in the Iran-Israel conflict and Operation Sindoor. Taking out enemies from the comfort of one's room or office is a much cheaper and effective method than sending the troops to the ground. Interest is growing on non-contact warfare The emerging new form of war consists of the following main aspects: Identify enemy targets using a combination of on-ground intelligence and satellite imagery; decide on the type of munitions and launchpads (Operation Midnight Hammer of the US, for instance, fired the torpedo missiles from submarines, while the B2 stealth bombers attacked from the air); use numerous drones and missiles to overwhelm the enemey's defence system, and exit without pilot casualties and minimum loss of hardware whenever possible. In Operation Sindoor, all Indian pilots were back home. In Iran's counterattacks, dozens of drones attempted to exhaust the Israeli air defence systems. Drones are seen as dispensable, as the cost involved in developing them would be less than the standing cost of armies. https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-israel-ceasefire-trump-tells-israel-to-stop-attacking-iran-report-1750834499577/embed One thing is clear: Non-contact, air-dominated warfare is going to be a more prominent aspect of combat in future than the olden days of trench warfare and face-to-face combat. Whether it is India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, or Israel's Operation Rising Lion against Iran, Iran's counteroffensive, or Operation Midnight Hammer, the salient features remain the same: Air war, pinpointed targets, extensive planning, and use of unmanned vehicles.

Perhaps the quick operations as seen in India-Pakistan and Israel-Iran conflicts would now become a model for future wars, given the failure of long wars of attrition.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Operation Sindoor, Operation Rising Lion and Operation Midnight Hammer: Are we in the era of quickfix air wars?

US President Donald Trump, during a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague on Wednesday (Jun 25), hailed the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war as a "tremendous victory for everyone, including Iran". Amid uncertainty around the ceasefire, Trump insisted that it was "going very well" and said that thanks to the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, Tehran "won't be building bombs for a long time". Ridiculing reports that suggest that the US strikes, contrary to what Trump says, did not "obliterate" the Iranian nuclear programme, the US president insisted that a "total obliteration" happened and said that the Iranian nuclear programme has been set back "decades".<h2>Trump takes credit for setting back Iran's nuclear programme</h2>Doubling down on his "total obliteration" claims, Trump claimed that Tehran's nuclear programme has been set back by "decades". "They're not going to be building bombs for a long time," he added. The SU President also stated that progress was being made on the war in Gaza. He said he believed that "great progress" was being made to bring an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, thanks to the US strikes. Suggesting that the bombing could have a positive impact on the Middle East, he said, “I think great progress is being made on Gaza, I think because of this attack that we made.”<h2>Trump slams the media</h2>Slamming media publications that reported on the leaked US intel on the assessment of damage at the nuclear sites, Trump called out reporters from certain media houses, including CNN and The New York Times, insisting that their publications were "going down".

Trump at NATO summit hails Iran-Israel ceasefire as 'tremendous victory for everyone' 

US President Donald Trump, during a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in The Hague on Wednesday (Jun 25), hailed the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war as a "tremendous victory for everyone, including Iran". Amid uncertainty around the ceasefire, Trump insisted that it was "going very well" and said that thanks to the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites, Tehran "won't be building bombs for a long time". Ridiculing reports that suggest that the US strikes, contrary to what Trump says, did not "obliterate" the Iranian nuclear programme, the US president insisted that a "total obliteration" happened and said that the Iranian nuclear programme has been set back "decades". Trump takes credit for setting back Iran's nuclear programme Doubling down on his "total obliteration" claims, Trump claimed that Tehran's nuclear programme has been set back by "decades". "They're not going to be building bombs for a long time," he added. The SU President also stated that progress was being made on the war in Gaza. He said he believed that "great progress" was being made to bring an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, thanks to the US strikes. Suggesting that the bombing could have a positive impact on the Middle East, he said, “I think great progress is being made on Gaza, I think because of this attack that we made.” Trump slams the media Slamming media publications that reported on the leaked US intel on the assessment of damage at the nuclear sites, Trump called out reporters from certain media houses, including CNN and The New York Times, insisting that their publications were "going down".

Trump hails Iran-Israel ceasefire as 'tremendous victory for everyone' at NATO summit

Trump at NATO summit hails Iran-Israel ceasefire as 'tremendous victory for everyone'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finally decided to take the formal route at the start of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in The Hague on 24 June. He was seen dressed in a blazer as he attended a heads of state and government dinner at the 'Huis ten Bosch' Royal Palace. Before the social dinner, he was greeted by the royals. Zelensky shook hands with Crown Princess Amalia and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Zelensky's attire has often raised eyebrows as he always turns up in a sweatshirt irrespective of who he is meeting or where.However, he changed things a bit for the social dinner at the Royal Palace in the Hague. He brought a slight twist to his clothes, but still picked the colour black. On Tuesday, Zelensky was seen sporting a black shirt and a black blazer. Zelensky appeared to be wearing the regular black pants, so it wasn't a complete suit.The Ukrainian president has always been seen in a black sweatshirt, even when he is meeting other heads of state. He chose the same outfit for his address to the UN General Assembly in 2023, and also when he addressed the US Capitol when Joe Biden was the president.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spoke-too-soon-preliminary-us-intel-report-ridicules-trump-s-obliterated-iran-s-nuclear-programme-claims-1750820946439">Spoke too soon? Preliminary US intel report ridicules Trump's 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear programme claims</a>&nbsp;Zelensky has often said that his clothes are a show of solidarity with soldiers fighting the Russian army in the war that has been going on since 2022.&nbsp;<h2>Trump mocked Zelensky's clothes while meeting him at the White House&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;It caused quite a stir when he met President Donald Trump at the White House in March this year. Sporting his signature look, military-style black sweatshirt, adorned with the Ukrainian trident, as Zelensky stepped out of the car, Trump greeted him, turned towards the reporters, and said, "He is all dressed up today." The words were perceived to be a way of mocking Zelensky.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-trump-zelenskys-talks-for-peace-turned-into-war-of-words-and-how-world-reacted-js-vance-donald-trump-zelensky-8767122">What exactly happened? Trump-Zelensky talks for peace turn into war of words - a blow-by-blow account</a>&nbsp;Later, inside the Oval Office, a reporter questioned Zelensky on his clothes, asking him why he doesn't wear a suit. Trump interjected and said, "I like how he dresses." The reporter accused the Ukrainian president of disrespecting the occasion by not wearing a suit. Brian Glenn, chief White House correspondent for conservative cable network Real America's Voice, said, "Why don't you wear a suit? You're at the highest level in this country's office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit?"To this, Zelensky replied, "Do you have a problem?" The reporter said, "A lot of Americans have a problem with who don't respect the dress code of the Oval Office." Zelensky shot back, "I will wear a (suit) costume after this war finishes, yes."He didn't let go of the reporter that easily and decided to turn the tables around. Zelensky told him, "Maybe something like yours, yes, maybe something better. I don't know, we will see. Maybe something cheaper. Thank you."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was seen wearing a blazer when he met Dutch royals at a social dinner at the 'Huis ten Bosch' Royal Palace ahead of the NATO summit.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky finally decided to take the formal route at the start of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit in The Hague on 24 June. He was seen dressed in a blazer as he attended a heads of state and government dinner at the 'Huis ten Bosch' Royal Palace. Before the social dinner, he was greeted by the royals. Zelensky shook hands with Crown Princess Amalia and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Zelensky's attire has often raised eyebrows as he always turns up in a sweatshirt irrespective of who he is meeting or where. However, he changed things a bit for the social dinner at the Royal Palace in the Hague. He brought a slight twist to his clothes, but still picked the colour black. On Tuesday, Zelensky was seen sporting a black shirt and a black blazer. Zelensky appeared to be wearing the regular black pants, so it wasn't a complete suit. The Ukrainian president has always been seen in a black sweatshirt, even when he is meeting other heads of state. He chose the same outfit for his address to the UN General Assembly in 2023, and also when he addressed the US Capitol when Joe Biden was the president. Also Read: Spoke too soon? Preliminary US intel report ridicules Trump's 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear programme claims Zelensky has often said that his clothes are a show of solidarity with soldiers fighting the Russian army in the war that has been going on since 2022. Trump mocked Zelensky's clothes while meeting him at the White House It caused quite a stir when he met President Donald Trump at the White House in March this year. Sporting his signature look, military-style black sweatshirt, adorned with the Ukrainian trident, as Zelensky stepped out of the car, Trump greeted him, turned towards the reporters, and said, "He is all dressed up today." The words were perceived to be a way of mocking Zelensky. Also Read: What exactly happened? Trump-Zelensky talks for peace turn into war of words - a blow-by-blow account Later, inside the Oval Office, a reporter questioned Zelensky on his clothes, asking him why he doesn't wear a suit. Trump interjected and said, "I like how he dresses." The reporter accused the Ukrainian president of disrespecting the occasion by not wearing a suit. Brian Glenn, chief White House correspondent for conservative cable network Real America's Voice, said, "Why don't you wear a suit? You're at the highest level in this country's office, and you refuse to wear a suit. Do you own a suit?" To this, Zelensky replied, "Do you have a problem?" The reporter said, "A lot of Americans have a problem with who don't respect the dress code of the Oval Office." Zelensky shot back, "I will wear a (suit) costume after this war finishes, yes." He didn't let go of the reporter that easily and decided to turn the tables around. Zelensky told him, "Maybe something like yours, yes, maybe something better. I don't know, we will see. Maybe something cheaper. Thank you."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was seen wearing a blazer when he met Dutch royals at a social dinner at the 'Huis ten Bosch' Royal Palace ahead of the NATO summit.

Is that a suit? Zelensky finally seen in formal attire at dinner with the Dutch royals

The United Kingdom is substantially expanding its nuclear deterrent. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday (June 24) said that Britain would be purchasing a squadron of 12 nuclear weapon-capable F-35A stealth fighters from the United States, strengthening its nuclear capability in a generation.&nbsp;The decision to purchase the nuclear capable fighter jets comes amid the world witnessing war-like situation between Israel and Iran, India and Pakistan, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.&nbsp;"These F35 dual capable aircraft will herald a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and deter hostile threats that threaten the UK and our Allies," Starmer said.&nbsp;With this, Britain will join NATO's airborne nuclear mission. Starmer will make the announcement to NATO allies in The Hague taking place this week in the Netherlands.&nbsp;Since the end of the Cold War, Britian's nuclear arsenal was limited to submarine-launched missiles aboard Royal Navy submarines.&nbsp;Recent war-like situations prompt action from Britain?&nbsp;Speaking to AFP, &nbsp;nuclear specialist at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) said, "the continued re-nuclearization of Europe, the renewed need for nuclear weapons, and the strengthening of NATO's deterrence, in the face of an adversary, Russia".&nbsp;NATO countries meeting in The Hague this week are expected to pledge five percent of GDP on defence by 2035, under pressure from US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;All this is being seen in the light of growing threat from nuclear capable Russia and the recent conflict between Israel and Iran.&nbsp;European countries, in the wake of the conflicts are scrambling to convince US President Donald Trump they are serious about strengthening their ability to defend Europe, instead of overly relying on the US.&nbsp;"In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted," said Starmer.&nbsp;"The UK's commitment to NATO is unquestionable, as is the alliance's contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure, but we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come," he further said. &nbsp;

Since the end of the Cold War, Britians nuclear arsenal was limited to submarine-launched missiles aboard Royal Navy submarines.

The United Kingdom is substantially expanding its nuclear deterrent. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday (June 24) said that Britain would be purchasing a squadron of 12 nuclear weapon-capable F-35A stealth fighters from the United States, strengthening its nuclear capability in a generation. The decision to purchase the nuclear capable fighter jets comes amid the world witnessing war-like situation between Israel and Iran, India and Pakistan, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. "These F35 dual capable aircraft will herald a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and deter hostile threats that threaten the UK and our Allies," Starmer said. With this, Britain will join NATO's airborne nuclear mission. Starmer will make the announcement to NATO allies in The Hague taking place this week in the Netherlands. Since the end of the Cold War, Britian's nuclear arsenal was limited to submarine-launched missiles aboard Royal Navy submarines. Recent war-like situations prompt action from Britain? Speaking to AFP, nuclear specialist at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) said, "the continued re-nuclearization of Europe, the renewed need for nuclear weapons, and the strengthening of NATO's deterrence, in the face of an adversary, Russia". NATO countries meeting in The Hague this week are expected to pledge five percent of GDP on defence by 2035, under pressure from US President Donald Trump. All this is being seen in the light of growing threat from nuclear capable Russia and the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. European countries, in the wake of the conflicts are scrambling to convince US President Donald Trump they are serious about strengthening their ability to defend Europe, instead of overly relying on the US. "In an era of radical uncertainty we can no longer take peace for granted," said Starmer. "The UK's commitment to NATO is unquestionable, as is the alliance's contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure, but we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come," he further said.

Since the end of the Cold War, Britian's nuclear arsenal was limited to submarine-launched missiles aboard Royal Navy submarines.

For first time since Cold War, UK fighter jets to carry nuclear warheads

The Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others lifted off at 12:01 pm on Wednesday (June 25) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The historic takeoff after multiple delays is special for India and Shubhanshu Shukla's mother couldn't stop her tears as the mission took off. After the takeoff, in a special message from Dragon spacecraft, Shukla said in Hindi, "Namaskar mere deshwasiyon. After 41 years, we are back in space. And what a magnificent journey it was. Right now, we are orbiting the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The tricolour is on my shoulder, showing that I am with all of you." He ended his special message with “Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”<h2>Shubhanshu Shukla's full message</h2>“Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It's an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India's Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride...Together, let's initiate India's Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!”&nbsp;WATCH HERE&nbsp;

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As the Dragon capsule successfully reached orbit and separated from the Falcon 9’s second stage, the moment space fans around the world waited for arrived, the appearance of the zero gravity indicator. A small plush toy named ‘Joy’ floated into view inside the cabin, signaling that the crew had officially entered microgravity. For Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, it marked the first moments of floating freely in space, a milestone in India’s human spaceflight journey. The capsule is now coasting in orbit as it begins its journey to dock with the International Space Station.&nbsp;The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft lifted off at 12:00 PM IST (2:30 AM EDT) on June 25, 2025, and is now en route to the International Space Station (ISS). Docking is expected at approximately 4:30 PM IST on June 26, after a 28-hour orbital journey.This historic flight makes Shukla the first Indian to travel to the ISS, marking a major milestone in India's growing contribution to global space exploration. The mission reflects deepening cooperation between ISRO, NASA, and private partners, reinforcing India's presence in the next era of human spaceflight.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/live-updates/science/shubhanshu-shukla-live-updates-indian-astronaut-set-for-launch-on-nasa-and-spacex-axiom-4-space-mission-shortly-1750825715615">Follow our LIVE covergae for real time updates</a> - Traveling at a staggering speed of 27,000 kilometers per hour, the Dragon spacecraft has entered a stable low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 210 km. This high-velocity orbital path allows the capsule to circle the Earth roughly once every 90 minutes. At this speed and altitude, Shubhanshu Shukla and the Axiom-4 crew are now truly in space, experiencing microgravity as they cruise toward their scheduled docking with the International Space Station.

The historic takeoff of Axiom-4 mission after multiple delays is special for India and Shubhanshu Shukla sent a special message in Hindi for the people of the country as the Dragon spacecraft took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida

The Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others lifted off at 12:01 pm on Wednesday (June 25) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The historic takeoff after multiple delays is special for India and Shubhanshu Shukla's mother couldn't stop her tears as the mission took off. After the takeoff, in a special message from Dragon spacecraft, Shukla said in Hindi, "Namaskar mere deshwasiyon. After 41 years, we are back in space. And what a magnificent journey it was. Right now, we are orbiting the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The tricolour is on my shoulder, showing that I am with all of you." He ended his special message with “Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!” Shubhanshu Shukla's full message “Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in the space once again after 41 years. It's an amazing ride. We are revolving around the Earth at a speed of 7.5 kilometres per second. The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you. This journey of mine is not a beginning to the International Space Station (ISS) but to India's Human Space Programme. I want all of you to be part of this journey. Your chest, too, should swell with pride...Together, let's initiate India's Human Space Programme. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!” WATCH HERE

The historic takeoff of Axiom-4 mission after multiple delays is special for India and Shubhanshu Shukla sent a special message in Hindi for the people of the country as the Dragon spacecraft took off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida

'Tricolour is on my shoulder': Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's special message in Hindi after launch of Axiom-4 mission - Watch

In a stunning political development, Andrew Cuomo, the New York City former governor has conceded in the City’s mayoral Democratic primary to state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. He was trying to pull off a political comeback after resigning from office in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal.The concession of Cuomo was unexpected as counting appeared to continue til next week under the ranked choice system, allowing the people of New York to pick up to five candidates in order of preference. Following the loss of the former governor, it marked the "biggest upset in modern NYC history," Trip Yang, a political strategist, told the BBC."A massive win for Zohran Mamdani that shows that when Donald Trump is President, New York Democrats want to see their leaders fight with enthusiasm and courage, and that's what Zohran showed voters,” he added.In an interview, Cuomo told the New York Times that he was still evaluating whether he would contest the general election in November on the independent line.<h3>Who is &nbsp;Andrew Cuomo?</h3>Andrew M. Cuomo served as the 56th Governor of New York State. He was born into an Italian-American family and raised in Queens. The son of Matilda and the late Governor Mario Cuomo, Andrew Cuomo dedicated his life journey to public service and has proven leadership skills in order to make government work for the people of New York City.Following his graduation from Fordham University and Albany Law School, he successfully led the campaign for his father for governor, and later served as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, according to a report on the website of Andrew Cuomo.He founded Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileged (HELP) in Brooklyn, New York, in 1986. This initiative aimed to provide a single shelter for families who have since developed to become a national leader in the fight against homelessness, serving people of all backgrounds, including veterans, people with health challenges and disabilities, survivors of domestic violence and seniors.&nbsp; In 2006, Andrew Cuomo was elected as Attorney General of New York and later served in the position for 11 years. During this service, with the theory of progressive government, he made it a functional reality, while simultaneously reimagining and rebuilding New York’s outdated infrastructure and putting the fiscal house of the city in order for the first time in a generation.During Andrew Cuomo’s tenure, New York reasserted itself as a national leader in social progress. His time in office saw major strides across key areas, boosting the economy, improving environmental standards, reforming the criminal justice system, and increasing college enrolment among high school graduates.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-origin-zohran-mamdani-likely-to-win-new-york-city-democratic-mayoral-primary-who-is-he-1750826346189">India-origin Zohran Mamdani likely to win New York City democratic mayoral primary. Who is he?</a>Cuomo consistently championed New Yorkers, achieving landmark milestones such as legalising same-sex marriage, safeguarding abortion rights through the state-level codification of Roe v. Wade, implementing the most comprehensive paid family leave policy in the U.S., raising the minimum wage to $15, offering tuition-free college for middle-class families, and enacting some of the nation’s toughest gun control laws.Under his leadership, the state launched the country’s most ambitious infrastructure overhaul, rebuilding LaGuardia and JFK airports, completing the Moynihan Train Hall, expanding the Second Avenue Subway and Javits Center, and constructing major bridges like the Mario Cuomo and Kosciuszko. He also made significant investments in education, healthcare, and economic development, with over one million more New Yorkers gaining health insurance.Throughout Cuomo's administration, New York achieved its highest credit rating in 40 years, saw unemployment drop across all regions, and kept state spending growth under a 2 per cent cap for ten consecutive years.And when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Cuomo’s leadership and clear communication became a steady force, guiding both the state and, in many ways, the country through the crisis and toward recovery.His political career declined after he was accused of sexually harassing 13 women working for the state over eight years in 2021. The Justice Department officials discovered that Cuomo and his staff engaged in “a pattern of discriminating against female employees based on sex. He continuously subjected women in his office to non-consensual sexual contact, ogling and calling them with gender based nicknames. However, he denied the claim of any wrongdoing, according to a report in Politico. &nbsp;

The son of Matilda and the late Governor Mario Cuomo, the former Governor Andrew Cuomo, dedicated his life journey to public service and has proven leadership skills in order to make government work for the people of New York City.

In a stunning political development, Andrew Cuomo, the New York City former governor has conceded in the City’s mayoral Democratic primary to state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. He was trying to pull off a political comeback after resigning from office in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal. The concession of Cuomo was unexpected as counting appeared to continue til next week under the ranked choice system, allowing the people of New York to pick up to five candidates in order of preference. Following the loss of the former governor, it marked the "biggest upset in modern NYC history," Trip Yang, a political strategist, told the BBC. "A massive win for Zohran Mamdani that shows that when Donald Trump is President, New York Democrats want to see their leaders fight with enthusiasm and courage, and that's what Zohran showed voters,” he added. In an interview, Cuomo told the New York Times that he was still evaluating whether he would contest the general election in November on the independent line. Who is Andrew Cuomo? Andrew M. Cuomo served as the 56th Governor of New York State. He was born into an Italian-American family and raised in Queens. The son of Matilda and the late Governor Mario Cuomo, Andrew Cuomo dedicated his life journey to public service and has proven leadership skills in order to make government work for the people of New York City. Following his graduation from Fordham University and Albany Law School, he successfully led the campaign for his father for governor, and later served as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, according to a report on the website of Andrew Cuomo. He founded Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileged (HELP) in Brooklyn, New York, in 1986. This initiative aimed to provide a single shelter for families who have since developed to become a national leader in the fight against homelessness, serving people of all backgrounds, including veterans, people with health challenges and disabilities, survivors of domestic violence and seniors. In 2006, Andrew Cuomo was elected as Attorney General of New York and later served in the position for 11 years. During this service, with the theory of progressive government, he made it a functional reality, while simultaneously reimagining and rebuilding New York’s outdated infrastructure and putting the fiscal house of the city in order for the first time in a generation. During Andrew Cuomo’s tenure, New York reasserted itself as a national leader in social progress. His time in office saw major strides across key areas, boosting the economy, improving environmental standards, reforming the criminal justice system, and increasing college enrolment among high school graduates. Also read: India-origin Zohran Mamdani likely to win New York City democratic mayoral primary. Who is he? Cuomo consistently championed New Yorkers, achieving landmark milestones such as legalising same-sex marriage, safeguarding abortion rights through the state-level codification of Roe v. Wade, implementing the most comprehensive paid family leave policy in the U.S., raising the minimum wage to $15, offering tuition-free college for middle-class families, and enacting some of the nation’s toughest gun control laws. Under his leadership, the state launched the country’s most ambitious infrastructure overhaul, rebuilding LaGuardia and JFK airports, completing the Moynihan Train Hall, expanding the Second Avenue Subway and Javits Center, and constructing major bridges like the Mario Cuomo and Kosciuszko. He also made significant investments in education, healthcare, and economic development, with over one million more New Yorkers gaining health insurance. Throughout Cuomo's administration, New York achieved its highest credit rating in 40 years, saw unemployment drop across all regions, and kept state spending growth under a 2 per cent cap for ten consecutive years. And when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Cuomo’s leadership and clear communication became a steady force, guiding both the state and, in many ways, the country through the crisis and toward recovery. His political career declined after he was accused of sexually harassing 13 women working for the state over eight years in 2021. The Justice Department officials discovered that Cuomo and his staff engaged in “a pattern of discriminating against female employees based on sex. He continuously subjected women in his office to non-consensual sexual contact, ogling and calling them with gender based nicknames. However, he denied the claim of any wrongdoing, according to a report in Politico.

The son of Matilda and the late Governor Mario Cuomo, the former Governor Andrew Cuomo, dedicated his life journey to public service and has proven leadership skills in order to make government work for the people of New York City.

Who is Andrew Cuomo? Former Governor of New York City concedes democratic mayoral primary to Zohran Mamdani

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will today depart for China's Qingdao to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting set to be held from June 25-26. Singh said he is looking forward to presenting India's vision for global peace and security and calling for joint and continuous efforts to eliminate terrorism. In a statement shared on X, Rajnath Singh stated, "Today, 25th June, I shall be leaving for Qingdao, China, to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting. I will have the opportunity to interact with various Defence Ministers on a wide range of issues. Looking forward to present India's vision for global peace and security and also, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism." During the meeting, the leaders are expected to discuss various issues, including regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among the Ministries of Defence of SCO member states. In a press release, Ministry of Defence stated, "Raksha Mantri is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision towards achieving greater international peace &amp; security, call for joint &amp; consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism &amp; extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting." The Ministry of Defence noted that India attaches special importance to the SCO in promoting multilateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. It further said, "SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states." SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2001. India became its full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating Chairmanship in 2023. The SCO members include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus, besides India. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move'.&nbsp;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&nbsp;audience.

In a statement shared on X, Rajnath Singh stated, “Today, 25th June, I shall be leaving for Qingdao, China, to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will today depart for China's Qingdao to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting set to be held from June 25-26. Singh said he is looking forward to presenting India's vision for global peace and security and calling for joint and continuous efforts to eliminate terrorism. In a statement shared on X, Rajnath Singh stated, "Today, 25th June, I shall be leaving for Qingdao, China, to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting. I will have the opportunity to interact with various Defence Ministers on a wide range of issues. Looking forward to present India's vision for global peace and security and also, call for joint and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism." During the meeting, the leaders are expected to discuss various issues, including regional and international peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts and cooperation among the Ministries of Defence of SCO member states. In a press release, Ministry of Defence stated, "Raksha Mantri is expected to highlight India's continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, outline India's vision towards achieving greater international peace & security, call for joint & consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism & extremism in the region, and stress on the need for greater trade, economic cooperation and connectivity within SCO. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Defence Ministers of some participating countries, including China and Russia, on the sidelines of the meeting." The Ministry of Defence noted that India attaches special importance to the SCO in promoting multilateralism, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region. It further said, "SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states." SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2001. India became its full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating Chairmanship in 2023. The SCO members include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus, besides India. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move'. 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.

In a statement shared on X, Rajnath Singh stated, “Today, 25th June, I shall be leaving for Qingdao, China, to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' Meeting."

Rajnath Singh to depart for China today, call for joint efforts to eliminate terrorism at SCO meeting

Axiom Mission 4 is scheduled to launch today (June 25) by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SPACEX. The mission is the first Indian government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in four decades and the fourth commercial mission to the International Space Station. The crew is scheduled to start its flight at 2:31 a.m. EDT, launching towards the orbiting laboratory. &nbsp;It was previously scheduled to lift off on June 11, 2025, from Kennedy Space Centre, but was scrubbed due to a leak of liquid oxygen.&nbsp;Here are the key details of Axiom Mission 4<h2>What is Axiom Mission 4</h2>Axiom Mission 4 is a planned private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). It will use SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, marking the maiden flight of the C213 Crew Dragon. It will dock at the International Space Station following approximately 28-hour journey in orbit.<h2>Who is abroad?</h2>The crew consists of Peggy Whitson, an Axiom employee, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a European Space Agency project astronaut from Poland, and Tibor Kapu representing the Hungarian Space Office.&nbsp;<h2>Why is it significant ?</h2>The Axiom Mission 4 is crucial for India because it is the first time an Indian will be on the International Space Station, also the second time an Indian cosmonaut will be in orbit, after Rakesh Sharma with Soyuz in 1984<h2>Axiom Mission 4 experiments&nbsp;</h2>Axiom Mission 4 will conduct 60 scientific studies representing 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe. These experiments include AstroMentalHealth, AstroPerformance, EEG Neurofeedback, Human Gut Microbiota, Human Gut Microbiota, Leopard Data Processing Unit, etc. Shubhanshu Shukla will also conduct experiments developed by the India Space Research Organisation and other Indian institutions, namely studies of screen use, muscle atrophy and other cognitive effects.<h2>What does Axiom Space intend to achieve?</h2>Axiom Space intends to build the world's first commercial space station once the International Space Station retires. It will allow, government, businesses and research organisations to access space without them developing their own systems. Eventually replacing ISS with a low orbit destination.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Axiom Mission 4 is scheduled to launch today, the first Indian government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in four decades. Here is all you need to know

Axiom Mission 4 is scheduled to launch today (June 25) by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SPACEX. The mission is the first Indian government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in four decades and the fourth commercial mission to the International Space Station. The crew is scheduled to start its flight at 2:31 a.m. EDT, launching towards the orbiting laboratory. It was previously scheduled to lift off on June 11, 2025, from Kennedy Space Centre, but was scrubbed due to a leak of liquid oxygen. Here are the key details of Axiom Mission 4 What is Axiom Mission 4 Axiom Mission 4 is a planned private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). It will use SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, marking the maiden flight of the C213 Crew Dragon. It will dock at the International Space Station following approximately 28-hour journey in orbit. Who is abroad? The crew consists of Peggy Whitson, an Axiom employee, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a European Space Agency project astronaut from Poland, and Tibor Kapu representing the Hungarian Space Office. Why is it significant ? The Axiom Mission 4 is crucial for India because it is the first time an Indian will be on the International Space Station, also the second time an Indian cosmonaut will be in orbit, after Rakesh Sharma with Soyuz in 1984 Axiom Mission 4 experiments Axiom Mission 4 will conduct 60 scientific studies representing 31 countries, including India, the US, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, UAE, and nations across Europe. These experiments include AstroMentalHealth, AstroPerformance, EEG Neurofeedback, Human Gut Microbiota, Human Gut Microbiota, Leopard Data Processing Unit, etc. Shubhanshu Shukla will also conduct experiments developed by the India Space Research Organisation and other Indian institutions, namely studies of screen use, muscle atrophy and other cognitive effects. What does Axiom Space intend to achieve? Axiom Space intends to build the world's first commercial space station once the International Space Station retires. It will allow, government, businesses and research organisations to access space without them developing their own systems. Eventually replacing ISS with a low orbit destination.

Axiom Mission 4 is scheduled to launch today, the first Indian government-sponsored human spaceflight mission in four decades. Here is all you need to know

Axiom Mission 4 liftoff today, taking India’s Shubhanshu Shukla to ISS: Know all the details

A day after ceasefire was announced between Israel and Iran and the 12-day war over Tehran's possession of nuclear weapons came to an end in a US-initiated mediation, Iran said Wednesday (June 25) it has executed three men for spying for Tel Aviv. It also said that 700 persons were arrested for having ties with Israel.&nbsp;"Idris Ali, Azad Shojai and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul, who attempted to import equipment into the country to carry out assassinations, were arrested and tried for... cooperation favouring the Zionist regime," the judiciary said, referring to Israel, reported news agency AFP.&nbsp;"The sentence was carried out this morning... and they were hanged," the judiciary further said.Urmia, a northwestern city near the border with Turkey is where the executions took place. A &nbsp;photograph of the three men in blue prison uniforms was also shared by the court.&nbsp;Arrest and execution of agents having suspected links to foreign intelligence services, including its arch rival Israel happens often in Iran.&nbsp;After the war with Israel started on June 13, Tehran vowed to take quick action against people having links to Israel.&nbsp;Notably, human rights groups, including Amnesty International put Iran second in the list of World's most prolific executioners after China.&nbsp;No major impact of US strikes on Iran reveals leaked US intel report&nbsp;Meanwhile a leaked preliminary, classified report from the United States Defense Intelligence Agency, Pentagon's intelligence arm, suggests that the recent American bombing campaign on Iran's nuclear facilities — touted by President Donald Trump as a mission that crippled Tehran's capabilities has not caused any major dent and has only set the programme back by a few months.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump, However hit back labelling CNN "fake news" and the New York Times as "failing", Trump claimed that the two sites "have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history". &nbsp;

After the war with Israel started on June 13, Tehran vowed to take quick action against people having links to Israel.

A day after ceasefire was announced between Israel and Iran and the 12-day war over Tehran's possession of nuclear weapons came to an end in a US-initiated mediation, Iran said Wednesday (June 25) it has executed three men for spying for Tel Aviv. It also said that 700 persons were arrested for having ties with Israel. "Idris Ali, Azad Shojai and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul, who attempted to import equipment into the country to carry out assassinations, were arrested and tried for... cooperation favouring the Zionist regime," the judiciary said, referring to Israel, reported news agency AFP. "The sentence was carried out this morning... and they were hanged," the judiciary further said. Urmia, a northwestern city near the border with Turkey is where the executions took place. A photograph of the three men in blue prison uniforms was also shared by the court. Arrest and execution of agents having suspected links to foreign intelligence services, including its arch rival Israel happens often in Iran. After the war with Israel started on June 13, Tehran vowed to take quick action against people having links to Israel. Notably, human rights groups, including Amnesty International put Iran second in the list of World's most prolific executioners after China. No major impact of US strikes on Iran reveals leaked US intel report Meanwhile a leaked preliminary, classified report from the United States Defense Intelligence Agency, Pentagon's intelligence arm, suggests that the recent American bombing campaign on Iran's nuclear facilities — touted by President Donald Trump as a mission that crippled Tehran's capabilities has not caused any major dent and has only set the programme back by a few months. US President Donald Trump, However hit back labelling CNN "fake news" and the New York Times as "failing", Trump claimed that the two sites "have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history".

After the war with Israel started on June 13, Tehran vowed to take quick action against people having links to Israel.

Iran hangs 3 men accused of helping Israel carry out assassination attempts just after ceasfire

A leaked intel report on the early assessment of the damage wrought by US bombing on three Iranian nuclear strikes has concluded that the strike has only set Tehran's nuclear programme back by a few months. As per reports, the damage was further lessened by the fact that Iran moved enriched uranium out of the sites before the US strikes. Citing people in the know, reports suggest that Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles were moved before US President Donald Trump ordered strikes that could destroy them. Trump, on his part, has doubled down on his "obliterated" Iran's nuclear sites claim and has slammed news websites that published the US leaked intel.<h2>Iran moved nuclear stockpiles</h2>Citing two people familiar with the classified US assessment, CNN reported that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed and that its centrifuges were largely "intact." One of the people who chose to stay anonymous claimed that the "enriched uranium was moved out of the sites prior to the US strikes". Similarly, The New York Times reported that "much of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was moved before the strikes, which destroyed little of the nuclear material. Some of that may have been moved to secret nuclear sites maintained by Iran."Watch | U.S. intelligence says main components of nuke programmme not destroyed<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-intelligence-says-main-components-of-nuke-programmme-not-destroyed-1750819190440/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-intelligence-says-main-components-of-nuke-programmme-not-destroyed-1750819190440/embed</a>The leaked preliminary, classified report comes from the United States Defence Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon's intelligence arm. It suggests that the recent American bombing campaign on Iran's nuclear facilities — touted by President Donald Trump as a mission that "obliterated" Tehran's capabilities — has, in fact, only set the programme back by a few months. While earlier, as per US estimation, Iran was just three months away from making a bomb, now, as per the leaked assessment, Tehran's nuclear timeline has been delayed by as little as three months. However, quickly slamming the reports, Trump on Truth Social doubled down on his claims that the Iranian nuclear sites were "obliterated" in US strikes. Insisting that the three nuclear facilities were "completely destroyed" he ridiculed media houses that published reports casting doubt on his claims of the destruction of three nuclear sites in Iran -Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.&nbsp;

Citing people in the know, reports suggest that Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles were moved before US President Donald Trump ordered strikes that could destroy them. 

A leaked intel report on the early assessment of the damage wrought by US bombing on three Iranian nuclear strikes has concluded that the strike has only set Tehran's nuclear programme back by a few months. As per reports, the damage was further lessened by the fact that Iran moved enriched uranium out of the sites before the US strikes. Citing people in the know, reports suggest that Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles were moved before US President Donald Trump ordered strikes that could destroy them. Trump, on his part, has doubled down on his "obliterated" Iran's nuclear sites claim and has slammed news websites that published the US leaked intel. Iran moved nuclear stockpiles Citing two people familiar with the classified US assessment, CNN reported that Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed and that its centrifuges were largely "intact." One of the people who chose to stay anonymous claimed that the "enriched uranium was moved out of the sites prior to the US strikes". Similarly, The New York Times reported that "much of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was moved before the strikes, which destroyed little of the nuclear material. Some of that may have been moved to secret nuclear sites maintained by Iran." Watch | U.S. intelligence says main components of nuke programmme not destroyed https://www.wionews.com/videos/u-s-intelligence-says-main-components-of-nuke-programmme-not-destroyed-1750819190440/embed The leaked preliminary, classified report comes from the United States Defence Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon's intelligence arm. It suggests that the recent American bombing campaign on Iran's nuclear facilities — touted by President Donald Trump as a mission that "obliterated" Tehran's capabilities — has, in fact, only set the programme back by a few months. While earlier, as per US estimation, Iran was just three months away from making a bomb, now, as per the leaked assessment, Tehran's nuclear timeline has been delayed by as little as three months. However, quickly slamming the reports, Trump on Truth Social doubled down on his claims that the Iranian nuclear sites were "obliterated" in US strikes. Insisting that the three nuclear facilities were "completely destroyed" he ridiculed media houses that published reports casting doubt on his claims of the destruction of three nuclear sites in Iran -Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

Citing people in the know, reports suggest that Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles were moved before US President Donald Trump ordered strikes that could destroy them.&nbsp;

Did Iran move enriched uranium stockpile to 'secret nuclear sites' before US strike? Leaked intel report suggests so

Mosquito-borne dengue fever was rarely a major problem in Bangladesh's coastal districts, but some hospitals are so full of those with the potentially deadly virus that patients are treated on the floor.&nbsp;As climate change drives erratic weather patterns, experts point to a dire lack of clean drinking water in the wider delta -- where the snaking Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers reach the sea -- as a likely driving force for the surge.&nbsp;Rakibul Islam Rajan said his two-year-old daughter keeps searching for her mother, Azmeri Mona Lisa Zareen, who died of dengue in early June in the southern region of Barisal.&nbsp;"Zareen developed high fever... her blood pressure collapsed -- and then she couldn't breathe," said 31-year-old Rajan.&nbsp;"Our daughter keeps searching for her from one room to another".&nbsp;In the worst cases, intense viral fevers trigger bleeding, internally or from the mouth and nose.Barisal has recorded nearly half of the 7,500 dengue cases across Bangladesh this year, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).&nbsp;Five people have died there this year with dengue fever, out of 31 deaths recorded across the entire country of some 170 million people.&nbsp;Numbers are still far below the deadly outbreak of 2023, when more than 1,700 people died across the South Asian nation, and more than 200,000 were infected.&nbsp;In the Barisal district of Barguna, the hospital is packed full. Barisal health chief Shyamol Krishna Mondal said it was the "worst we've seen". Barguna's 250-bed public hospital was coping with more than 200 dengue patients.&nbsp;"We couldn't even offer beds," Mondal said. "They are getting treatment while lying on the floor."Kabirul Bashar, an expert on disease at Jahangirnagar University, said a lack of clean water was "one of the major reasons".&nbsp;People store rainwater in containers, exactly the conditions mosquitoes love. "The water distribution system is almost absent," Bashar said.<h2>'Vulnerability is soaring'</h2>While a lack of clean water is a long-running problem, climate change is making it worse.&nbsp;Rising seas driven by climate change threaten swathes of low-lying Bangladesh, with increasing numbers of powerful storms bringing seawater further inland, turning wells and lakes salty, according to government scientists.&nbsp;Changing weather patterns, making once predictable rains uncertain, adds to the challenge -- with people storing rainwater when they can.&nbsp;But Mushtuq Husain, a public health expert and adviser at IEDCR, said that the plentiful water storage pots also provided perfect mosquito breeding sites.&nbsp;"We can't allow water stagnation anywhere -- that should be the rule of thumb, but it's not happening," he said.&nbsp;"The vulnerability is soaring because of the high temperatures and erratic rainfall, which are conducive to mosquito breeding."&nbsp;Bangladesh has recorded cases of dengue since the 1960s but documented its first outbreak of dengue haemorrhagic fever, a severe and sometimes fatal form of the disease, in 2000.&nbsp;The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that dengue and other mosquito-borne viruses are spreading faster and further due to climate change.&nbsp;About half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue, with an estimated 100 to 400 million infections occurring each year, and many of those causing only mild illness, according to the WHO.&nbsp;Rajan, mourning his wife, worries that there will be more deaths to come, accusing local authorities of failing to stem mosquitoes.&nbsp;"Dengue has taken her," he said of his late wife. "I don't know how many more are in the queue... but I don't see enough cleanup activities."&nbsp;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. &nbsp;

In the deadly outbreak of 2023, more than 1,700 people died across the South Asian nation, and more than 200,000 were infected.

Mosquito-borne dengue fever was rarely a major problem in Bangladesh's coastal districts, but some hospitals are so full of those with the potentially deadly virus that patients are treated on the floor. As climate change drives erratic weather patterns, experts point to a dire lack of clean drinking water in the wider delta -- where the snaking Brahmaputra and Ganges rivers reach the sea -- as a likely driving force for the surge. Rakibul Islam Rajan said his two-year-old daughter keeps searching for her mother, Azmeri Mona Lisa Zareen, who died of dengue in early June in the southern region of Barisal. "Zareen developed high fever... her blood pressure collapsed -- and then she couldn't breathe," said 31-year-old Rajan. "Our daughter keeps searching for her from one room to another". In the worst cases, intense viral fevers trigger bleeding, internally or from the mouth and nose. Barisal has recorded nearly half of the 7,500 dengue cases across Bangladesh this year, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR). Five people have died there this year with dengue fever, out of 31 deaths recorded across the entire country of some 170 million people. Numbers are still far below the deadly outbreak of 2023, when more than 1,700 people died across the South Asian nation, and more than 200,000 were infected. In the Barisal district of Barguna, the hospital is packed full. Barisal health chief Shyamol Krishna Mondal said it was the "worst we've seen". Barguna's 250-bed public hospital was coping with more than 200 dengue patients. "We couldn't even offer beds," Mondal said. "They are getting treatment while lying on the floor." Kabirul Bashar, an expert on disease at Jahangirnagar University, said a lack of clean water was "one of the major reasons". People store rainwater in containers, exactly the conditions mosquitoes love. "The water distribution system is almost absent," Bashar said. 'Vulnerability is soaring' While a lack of clean water is a long-running problem, climate change is making it worse. Rising seas driven by climate change threaten swathes of low-lying Bangladesh, with increasing numbers of powerful storms bringing seawater further inland, turning wells and lakes salty, according to government scientists. Changing weather patterns, making once predictable rains uncertain, adds to the challenge -- with people storing rainwater when they can. But Mushtuq Husain, a public health expert and adviser at IEDCR, said that the plentiful water storage pots also provided perfect mosquito breeding sites. "We can't allow water stagnation anywhere -- that should be the rule of thumb, but it's not happening," he said. "The vulnerability is soaring because of the high temperatures and erratic rainfall, which are conducive to mosquito breeding." Bangladesh has recorded cases of dengue since the 1960s but documented its first outbreak of dengue haemorrhagic fever, a severe and sometimes fatal form of the disease, in 2000. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that dengue and other mosquito-borne viruses are spreading faster and further due to climate change. About half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue, with an estimated 100 to 400 million infections occurring each year, and many of those causing only mild illness, according to the WHO. Rajan, mourning his wife, worries that there will be more deaths to come, accusing local authorities of failing to stem mosquitoes. "Dengue has taken her," he said of his late wife. "I don't know how many more are in the queue... but I don't see enough cleanup activities." 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.

In the deadly outbreak of 2023, more than 1,700 people died across the South Asian nation, and more than 200,000 were infected.&nbsp;

Deadly dengue fever hits coastal region of Bangladesh

Chinese researchers have discovered at least 20 new viruses in bats from China’s Yunnan province. At least two of these viruses are closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses, raising fresh concerns about the risk of animal pathogens infecting people. The report published on Tuesday (June 25) in the journal PLOS Pathogens said that the viruses, as well as new bacterial species and a new parasite, were discovered in bats inhabiting orchards near villages in southwestern China, raising concerns about transmission to livestock or humans. Scientists have said that the viruses found "underscore critical zoonotic threats," but have not warned of any pandemic or transmission yet. &nbsp;In the new study, researchers looked inside the kidneys of 142 bats from ten species, collected over four years across five areas of Yunnan province, China. Using advanced genetic sequencing, the team found 22 viruses — 20 of them never seen before. Among them were two henipaviruses closely related to Nipah and Hendra - which can cause fatal brain inflammation and respiratory illness in people, with mortality rates as high as 75%. The henipaviruses were found in fruit bats living near orchards close to human villages. Since henipaviruses can spread through urine, the study raises concerns about contaminated fruit and the risk of these viruses jumping to humans or livestock.&nbsp;“These findings broaden our understanding of the bat kidney infectome, underscore critical zoonotic threats, and highlight the need for comprehensive, full-spectrum microbial analyses of previously understudied organs to better assess spillover risks from bat populations,” the authors of the report said. The authors also added: "By analyzing the infectome of bat kidneys collected near village orchards and caves in Yunnan, we uncovered not only the diverse microbes bats carry, but also the first full-length genomes of novel bat-borne henipaviruses closely related to Hendra and Nipah viruses identified in China—raising urgent concerns about the potential for these viruses to spill over into humans or livestock.” &nbsp;

 At least two of these viruses are closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses, raising fresh concerns about the risk of animal pathogens infecting people.

Chinese researchers have discovered at least 20 new viruses in bats from China’s Yunnan province. At least two of these viruses are closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses, raising fresh concerns about the risk of animal pathogens infecting people. The report published on Tuesday (June 25) in the journal PLOS Pathogens said that the viruses, as well as new bacterial species and a new parasite, were discovered in bats inhabiting orchards near villages in southwestern China, raising concerns about transmission to livestock or humans. Scientists have said that the viruses found "underscore critical zoonotic threats," but have not warned of any pandemic or transmission yet. In the new study, researchers looked inside the kidneys of 142 bats from ten species, collected over four years across five areas of Yunnan province, China. Using advanced genetic sequencing, the team found 22 viruses — 20 of them never seen before. Among them were two henipaviruses closely related to Nipah and Hendra - which can cause fatal brain inflammation and respiratory illness in people, with mortality rates as high as 75%. The henipaviruses were found in fruit bats living near orchards close to human villages. Since henipaviruses can spread through urine, the study raises concerns about contaminated fruit and the risk of these viruses jumping to humans or livestock. “These findings broaden our understanding of the bat kidney infectome, underscore critical zoonotic threats, and highlight the need for comprehensive, full-spectrum microbial analyses of previously understudied organs to better assess spillover risks from bat populations,” the authors of the report said. The authors also added: "By analyzing the infectome of bat kidneys collected near village orchards and caves in Yunnan, we uncovered not only the diverse microbes bats carry, but also the first full-length genomes of novel bat-borne henipaviruses closely related to Hendra and Nipah viruses identified in China—raising urgent concerns about the potential for these viruses to spill over into humans or livestock.”

&nbsp;At least two of these viruses are closely related to the deadly Nipah and Hendra viruses, raising fresh concerns about the risk of animal pathogens infecting people.

New ‘brain-inflaming’ bat viruses in China discovered: Can it infect people? Here's what we know

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