Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 as part of the Axiom-4 mission, marking his historic maiden spaceflight. The Crew Dragon spacecraft, carrying four astronauts from India, the US, Poland, and Hungary, is chasing the International Space Station (ISS) for an autonomous docking scheduled at 10:00 pm IST. Shukla, a test pilot of MiG-21 and Sukhoi jets, serves as the mission pilot, monitoring systems and readying for manual intervention if needed. The 14-day mission will see the astronauts conduct scientific experiments aboard the ISS after docking with its Harmony module. The Dragon spacecraft is designed for precision and autonomy. (PC: India Today)

From a persistent teen begging Mira Nair to cast Kal Penn in The Namesake, to defeating political heavyweight Andrew Cuomo in the NYC mayoral primary, Zohran Mamdani's journey is as unconventional as it is inspiring. The Indian-American lawmaker, son of filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, secured the Democratic nomination with Bernie Sanders’ backing and a grassroots campaign promising rent freezes, universal childcare, and fare-free buses. Mamdani once helped shape South Asian cinema history; now, he's reshaping New York politics. Quoting Mandela on victory night, he said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” The general election is November 4. (PC: Reuters)

NATO allies have pledged to increase defence and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a major shift from the current 2% guideline. The Hague Declaration, signed at the NATO summit, reaffirmed commitment to Article 5—"an attack on one is an attack on all"—amid growing global threats. Former US President Donald Trump, who previously criticised NATO’s burden-sharing, claimed the move as his success, calling it a “big win for the US, Europe and Western civilisation.” The declaration aims to signal stronger unity ahead of the US elections, where Trump’s views on NATO remain central to transatlantic concerns. (PC: BBC)

Major Syed Muiz, the Pakistani special forces officer who captured Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman during the 2019 Balakot airstrike fallout, has been killed by the Tehreek-i-Taliban-e-Pakistan (TTP), according to sources. Muiz, part of the 6th Commando Battalion of Pakistan's Special Service Group, died in a clash in the Sarargoha area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The TTP claimed responsibility. Group Captain Varthaman, who downed a Pakistani F-16 in a MiG-21 before being captured, became a national hero and was later awarded the Vir Chakra. His release came after intense international pressure following India's retaliatory Balakot strikes after the Pulwama attack. (PC: NDTV)

Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Indian-American Democratic Socialist and New York State Assembly member, is gaining national attention after a strong performance in the NYC mayoral Democratic primary. Born in Uganda to renowned academic Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair, Mamdani moved to New York as a child and studied at Bowdoin College. He represents a progressive platform focused on housing justice, public transit improvements, universal childcare, and workers' rights. Endorsed by figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mamdani could make history as the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor if elected. (PC: New York Magazine)

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has, for the first time, conceded that its nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan were “badly damaged” in U.S. strikes conducted on June 22 using B‑2 stealth bombers and bunker‑buster bombs . Spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed the damage to Al Jazeera but provided no further details. U.S. President Trump celebrated the operation as a strategic victory, asserting it curtailed the Iran–Israel war and “put back” Iran’s nuclear ambitions . Nevertheless, specifics regarding the extent of the damage and the operational status of the sites remain undisclosed, while the IAEA seeks access to make independent assessments. (PC: Reuters)

At the NATO Summit, U.S. President Donald Trump said recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites were like the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “That hit ended the war,” he said, claiming the attacks stopped the Iran-Israel conflict. Critics called the comparison misleading and insensitive. Historians said it ignores the massive loss of life from the atomic bombs. Trump claimed the U.S. strikes caused major damage, but U.S. intelligence said Iran’s nuclear work was only delayed by a few months. Japan and other nations expressed concern, warning such comments could harm global trust and peace talks. (PC: Reuters)

At the NATO Summit, U.S. President Donald Trump used the F-word on live TV while talking about the Iran-Israel war. He compared the two nations to “kids in a schoolyard” and said strong language was needed to stop them. NATO chief Mark Rutte joked, “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.” Trump claimed U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites ended the war, calling it a “virtual obliteration.” He said, “That hit ended the war.” While U.S. intelligence says Iran’s program was only set back a few months, Trump insisted it was “like Hiroshima” in its effect. (PC: AFP)

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff described negotiations with Iran as “promising,” noting both direct and indirect discussions aimed at forging a long-term peace deal and reviving Tehran’s diplomatic ties with Washington . The remarks followed a fragile ceasefire brokered by President Trump between Iran and Israel after a two-week war involving U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and Iran’s missile retaliation . Witkoff expressed confidence in achieving a comprehensive agreement, as global powers emphasize diplomacy amid ongoing assessments of the conflict’s impact and future nuclear risks. (The Hindu)

Iran’s parliament has passed a bill to stop cooperating with the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. The bill needs approval from the Guardian Council to become law. It would stop inspections and camera use at nuclear sites unless approved by Iran’s top security body. This comes after recent Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran says the IAEA failed to condemn the attacks. Parliament Speaker Qalibaf said Iran will speed up its peaceful nuclear work. The IAEA has not yet responded. Its chief, Rafael Grossi, is trying to restart inspections at sites damaged in the June 13 attacks. (PC: Reuters)