Tehran is cautiously returning to normal after a 12-day Israeli offensive left 627 dead and nearly 5,000 injured across Iran. The capital’s cafes and bazaars have reopened, but fear lingers. “We don’t trust this war has ended,” said head nurse Ashraf Barghi. The state TV complex, heavily damaged in a strike, symbolises the trauma. Israel claims it targeted military sites, but injured civilians, like prison staffer Morteza, dispute this. Citizens, from baristas to students, express a yearning for peace, freedom, and a future beyond sanctions and war. Patriotic concerts offer some solace, but Tehran remains deeply shaken. (PC: BBC)

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has admitted that Israel planned to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei during the recent conflict. Speaking to Israeli media, Katz said Khamenei “went underground” and cut communications, making the strike “unrealistic.” He compared Khamenei to Hezbollah’s Nasrallah, who was killed in 2024. Former US President Donald Trump had also warned Khamenei publicly. Katz clarified Israel aimed to “pressure, not topple” Iran’s regime. Following a ceasefire, he said no strike was currently planned. Khamenei dismissed reports of damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities and claimed Iran had “slapped America” with its missile retaliation. (PC: NDTV)

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed that during the 12-day war with Iran (June 13–25, 2025), Israel aimed to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Katz said, “We wanted to eliminate Khamenei, but there was no operational opportunity” as the Ayatollah went “very deep underground” and cut communications . He added Israel didn’t require U.S. permission and had a “green light” from President Trump to strike Iran’s nuclear program . Post-ceasefire, Katz confirmed Israel will not pursue further strikes on Khamenei, but pledged to act again if Iran resumes nuclear advancements. (PC: Reuters)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer” arguing that 14 GBU‑57 bunker‑buster bombs obliterated key sites like Fordow. He dismissed leaked preliminary DIA assessments suggesting only a few‑month setback and accused media of biased “fake news.” Hegseth, backed by AI modeling and internal damage reviews, denied Iran relocated enriched uranium ahead of the strikes. Iranian officials offered mixed reactions: Supreme Leader Khamenei called the strikes ineffective, while Foreign Minister Araghchi acknowledged serious damage but ruled out fresh negotiations. U.S. intelligence chiefs countered the DIA leak, stating reconstruction could take years. President Trump applauded the mission and condemned critical media coverage.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first public appearance since June 19, claimed Iran was victorious in the recent 12-day war with Israel and warned the US of “great cost” if it attacks again. Criticising President Donald Trump for “showmanship,” he said Iran “slapped America’s face” by targeting a US base in Qatar, though no casualties occurred. Khamenei accused the US of interfering to prevent Israel’s collapse and warned of repeated retaliation. The US-Israel-Iran conflict left 606 dead and over 5,000 injured. Tehran has reopened airspace and resumed daily activities after a US-brokered ceasefire restored fragile calm. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that Iran did not move any nuclear material before last weekend’s American airstrikes on its nuclear facilities. Posting on Truth Social, Trump said workers at the sites were “concrete workers” sealing shafts, not removing uranium, which he described as “too heavy, too dangerous” to transport. He dismissed CNN and The New York Times reports that the strikes caused only minor, temporary damage, calling them “fake news.” Trump demanded reporters be fired. Meanwhile, General Dan Caine confirmed the Pentagon’s operation went as planned and that the 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs “functioned as designed.” (PC: Reuters)

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station, described his maiden space experience as “wonderful,” though admitted his head felt “a little heavy.” Shukla, who earned the ISS astronaut pin as number 634, said it was a privilege to view Earth from orbit. He promised 14 days of exciting science, including experiments in cancer research, DNA repair, and advanced manufacturing. Carrying the Indian tricolour, Shukla said he was “carrying all of India” with him. His humorous note on adapting to microgravity — including “sleeping a lot” — showed his upbeat spirit aboard Axiom-4’s historic mission. 

North Korea will open the long-delayed Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone to domestic tourists on July 1, six years after its scheduled completion. The 4km beachfront resort features hotels, malls, and a waterpark, though foreign access remains uncertain. Kim Jong Un, who has personal ties to Wonsan, attended the opening with his wife and daughter. Tour operators say the resort may attract Russian visitors but is unlikely to appeal widely to Western tourists. The launch follows North Korea’s renewed ties with Russia, including troop support in Ukraine and a newly restored train link between Pyongyang and Moscow after five years. (PC:  BBC)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared victory over the US and Israel following the 12-day conflict, calling Iran’s strike on the US Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar a “heavy slap.” In a televised address, Khamenei said US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites caused minimal damage and were a failed show of force by President Trump. He warned that Iran’s 90 million people would unite against any future aggression. Despite initial denials, Tehran later admitted to severe damage at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Netanyahu responded by vowing continued US-Israel cooperation to defeat “common enemies.” (PC: India Today)

Myanmar officials burned nearly $300 million worth of seized narcotics—including heroin, meth, and opium—across Yangon, Mandalay, and Taunggyi on International Day Against Drug Abuse. The destruction follows a UN warning of record meth production in the Golden Triangle, intensified by Myanmar’s post-coup civil war. Yangon alone incinerated over $117 million in drugs. Myanmar remains Southeast Asia’s top opium producer, with drug trafficking increasing across Laos, Cambodia, and into South Asia. The UN blames ethnic militias and weak state control for the boom. Officials destroyed 66 types of narcotics, marking a symbolic but limited blow to the regional drug trade. (PC: Instagram)