At June 25–26 defence ministers’ meeting of the SCO in Qingdao, India declined to endorse the joint communique due to the absence of any mention of terrorism, notably the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar endorsed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s stance, stressing that “when the main purpose of the organisation is to fight terrorism,” omitting it was “unacceptable.” He noted consensus failed because one country—widely believed to be Pakistan—blocked the reference, making the statement “meaningless” without unanimity. (PC: PTI)

On June 27, 2025, Puri, Odisha, witnessed the spectacular start of the annual Rath Yatra. Thousands of devotees packed the Jagannath Temple precincts to pull the massive chariots Nandighosha (Jagannath), Taladhwaja (Balabhadra), and Darpadalana (Subhadra) from the temple to the Gundicha Temple via the Pahandi procession. The route was ceremonially swept by the Gajapati King using a gold broom, symbolizing royal humility. Months of preparation preceded the event such as 3,000 kg of flowers adorned the temple entrance, vibrant folk music and dance accompanied the chariot pull and tight security. 200 police platoons, BSF, CRPF, and NSG ensured safety. Devotees chanted “Jai Jagannath” and “Hari Bol”, their fervor filling the city streets.

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)

On the night of 25 June, a 24‑year‑old law student at South Calcutta Law College in Kasba, Kolkata, was allegedly gang‑raped in the campus guard room between 7:30 pm and 10:50 pm . The Kasba Police swiftly arrested three suspects: Monojit Mishra (31), a former student and Trinamool Congress student‑wing leader turned lawyer; and two current students, Zaib Ahmed (19) and Pramit Mukherjee (20) . According to the FIR, the victim had filled exam forms earlier, was lured to the union room, then coerced and raped while being threatened and filmed . All three are in police custody until 1 July (or four days as per court order) . The NCW has taken cognisance, while intense political uproar has ensued, with the BJP accusing the TMC of encouraging impunity and the TMC promising full legal recourse. (PC: India Today)

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.

Tesla’s new car registrations in Europe plunged 27.9 % year‑on‑year in May—the fifth straight monthly decline. This occurs despite overall EV market growth of 27.2 % across the region. Tesla’s share of new‑car sales dropped from 1.8 % to just 1.2 %, even after launching a refreshed Model Y, which has yet to reverse the trend. European drivers are instead flocking to plug‑in hybrids and alternative‑fuel vehicles. Chinese EV manufacturers continue to surge, doubling market share to 5.9 % and selling 65,808 cars in May. BYD virtually matched Tesla’s European registrations last month, overtaking it in April. (PC: Euro News)

India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, meeting Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun at the SCO Defence Ministers’ Summit in Qingdao, urged a permanent solution to border demarcation and structured de-escalation measures. The two held in-depth discussions on maintaining peace and tranquility along the Indo-China border and agreed to continue consultations at multiple levels. Singh stressed reactivating established mechanisms for disengagement, de‑escalation and delimitation to rebuild trust post‑2020 stand-off. He also updated on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor targeting Pakistan-based terror networks. (PC:X)

India’s U‑19 squad is set for a seven‑match tour of England, featuring five Youth ODIs (June 27–July 7) and two Youth Tests (July 12–15; July 20–23). The tour begins with a 50‑over warm‑up game at Loughborough on June 24. Ayush Mhatre, fresh off a strong IPL season, will lead the team with Abhigyan Kundu as vice‑captain. Spotlight shines on 14‑year‑old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Rajasthan Royals' breakout star, who amassed 252 runs in IPL 2025 at a dizzying strike rate. The announced schedule spans venues in Hove, Northampton, Worcester, Beckenham, and Chelmsford, with all matches starting at 11 am local time. (PC: Mint & News Bytes)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, fresh off a rare‑earth trade pact with China, has hinted at a “very big” bilateral trade agreement with India. Speaking at the White House’s “Big Beautiful Bill” event, he emphasized selective diplomacy: “We’re not going to make deals with everybody… Some we … send a letter… you pay 25, 35, 45 per cent.” Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed February discussions between Trump and Prime Minister Modi aimed to finalize a mutually beneficial pact. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described negotiations as “very, very good” and predicted a deal “in the not‑too‑distant future.” The accord aims to deepen trade, investment, and strategic ties between the world’s two largest democracies. (PC: Instagram)

A British Royal Navy F‑35B stealth fighter, valued at $110 million, has been stranded at Thiruvananthapuram Airport since June 14 after an emergency landing due to low fuel and bad weather. A hydraulic snag was discovered post‐landing, preventing its return to HMS Prince of Wales. A small Royal Navy technician team attempted repairs but failed. Now, a 40‑member UK engineering team and specialized tow vehicle are inbound, aiming to shift the jet into Air India’s MRO hangar to shield it from monsoon rains. Parking fees may apply for the extended stay. If on‑site repairs don’t succeed, airlifting the F‑35B via military transport remains an option. (PC: CISF, PTI & CNBC)