UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi has warned that Iran could resume enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels within months, despite recent US-Israeli strikes on its nuclear sites. Grossi contradicted Donald Trump’s claim that Iran’s nuclear facilities were “totally obliterated,” stating that Tehran retains the industrial capacity to restart enrichment. Iran’s refusal to cooperate with the IAEA, suspending inspections and access to bombed sites, has raised further concern. A Pentagon leak suggests the strikes only delayed Iran’s program by months. While Iran and Israel observe a ceasefire, Tehran doubts its permanence, and Trump has vowed further strikes if Iran crosses nuclear thresholds. (PC: EPA)

Ukrainian Air Force pilot Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Ustymenko was killed during a massive overnight Russian air assault, the largest since the full-scale invasion began. Flying an F-16, he downed seven Russian aerial threats before his jet was hit. Steering it away from civilian areas, he died in the crash. Russia launched 537 projectiles, including 477 drones and 60 missiles, targeting multiple regions. Ukraine intercepted most, but infrastructure damage and civilian injuries occurred. President Zelenskiy praised the pilot’s heroism and urged the U.S. to provide more air-defense systems, stressing Ukraine’s urgent need amid escalating Russian attacks. (PC: Reuters)

Russia unleashed its largest aerial assault since early 2022, launching 477 drones and 60 missiles overnight. Ukraine’s air force intercepted 211 drones and 38 missiles, while electronic warfare disrupted another 225 unmanned systems. The barrage covered at least six regions Lviv, Poltava, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Ivano‑Frankivsk damaging homes, industrial facilities, schools, and injuring seven civilians. A Ukrainian F‑16 pilot, Lt. Col. Maksym Ustymenko, was killed after shooting down seven air targets; his jet was lost and he steered it away from populated areas before crashing. President Zelenskiy urged Western allies, especially the U.S., to supply advanced air‑defence systems like Patriots to strengthen Ukraine’s protection. (PC: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump has reignited calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, urging Israel and Hamas to “make the deal in Gaza” and secure the release of hostages, predicting an agreement within a week. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have intensified across Gaza, killing dozens of civilians in Khan Younis, Jabalia and al‑Tuffah. The 20‑month war persists despite a recent ceasefire with Iran, which had already claimed over 600 lives in Iran and at least 71 at Tehran’s Evin prison. EU figures, including Josep Borrell, urge stronger action on Israel’s international‑law violations. Evacuation orders in northern Gaza precede threats of a wider offensive. Indirect ceasefire talks remain stalled over Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament. (PC: The Guardian)

A Russian drone strike hit a 21‑storey residential building in Odesa overnight on June 28, killing two and wounding at least 14, including three children, one in critical condition, regional Governor Oleh Kiper said. Emergency teams evacuated residents amid blaze damage. Video shows firefighters guiding people down dark stairwells. This attack is part of a recent surge in Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, occurring as stalled diplomatic efforts mean the conflict now in its nearly three-and-a-half-year phase continues unabated.

A suicide bomber drove an explosives‑laden vehicle into a Pakistani Army convoy in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on June 28, killing 13 soldiers and wounding 10 military personnel plus 19 civilians, according to an anonymous government official. The blast also destroyed nearby homes, collapsing two roofs and injuring six children. No group has claimed responsibility yet, but the region has a history of Tehrik‑i‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP) activity. The attack follows a marked surge in militant strikes across northwest Pakistan, where terrorism‑related deaths rose 45% in 2024, making it the second-highest globally per the Global Terrorism Index. (PC: The Times Of India & AFP)

On May 31, a 67‑year‑old man surnamed Won doused a moving Seoul Metro Line 5 subway carriage with petrol and ignited it while traveling through an undersea tunnel, reportedly in anger over his divorce . CCTV footage shows panicked commuters fleeing; a pregnant woman slipped in the chaos. Authorities treated the act as “tantamount to terrorism.” Six people were injured, and 23, including the suspect, treated for smoke inhalation; no fatalities were reported . Won faces charges including attempted murder, arson, and railway safety violations. Engineers credited fire‑resistant materials and rapid evacuation for preventing casualties.

Iran on June 28 held a large state funeral in Tehran for approximately 60 individuals—including high-ranking IRGC commanders like Generals Hossein Salami, Mohammad Bagheri, and Amir Ali Hajizadeh, alongside 14 nuclear scientists—who were killed during Israel’s 12-day air campaign, “Operation Rising Lion,” which began June 13 . Hundreds of thousands—possibly over a million—mourned across Azadi Street, chanting anti‑American and anti‑Israeli slogans . The funeral underscores the heavy toll inflicted: Iran reported over 600 deaths and 4,700+ injuries, while Israel stated 28 fatalities on its side . Tensions remain high despite a ceasefire, marking a solemn milestone in the escalating Iran‑Israel standoff. (PC: AP)

Billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffett on June 28 donated $6 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares—approximately 12.36 million—to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and four Buffett family charities, marking his largest annual gift since 2006 . Of this, 9.43 million shares went to the Gates Foundation; the rest were allocated to the Susan Thompson Buffett, Sherwood, Howard G., and NoVo Foundations . This raises his total donations to over $60 billion. Post-donation, he retains a 13.8% stake in Berkshire. At age 94, Buffett plans to leave 99.5% of his estate to philanthropy, managed by his children within a decade of his death. (PC: NDTV)

Pakistan has begun reconstructing terrorist launchpads and training camps demolished during India’s May 2025 “Operation Sindoor” strikes, with active support from its military, ISI, and government . The new facilities are purportedly smaller, tech‑advanced, and hidden in dense forests along the Line of Control, designed to evade satellite, radar, and thermal detection . Rebuilt sites include Luni, Jamil Post, Umranwali, Kel, and Kotli, among others, while launchpads are being decentralized into dispersed units housing under 200 militants . Intelligence suggests this is a strategic effort to re‑establish terror infrastructure aimed at India. (PC: NDTV)