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)

In a major breakthrough, investigators have successfully extracted and are analysing black box data from the June 12 Air India AI 171 crash that killed 275 people. The flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), recovered from the Ahmedabad crash site, were damaged but yielded critical data after reaching the AAIB lab in Delhi. The CVR is expected to clarify the final moments, including Captain Sabharwal’s distress call, while FDR data may confirm engine failure. The likely cause appears to be dual engine malfunction or hydraulic failure. A parliamentary panel will meet next week to examine aviation safety. (PC: NDTV)

After successfully entering the International Space Station, Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla shared his excitement and awe at the experience. Calling the journey aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon “a wonderful ride,” he expressed how the view of Earth from space was beyond imagination. He thanked the crew aboard the ISS for a warm and cheerful welcome, saying it immediately made him feel at home. Shukla, who was awarded ISS pin number 634, said he is looking forward to the next 14 days, calling them “amazing” and full of opportunities to learn, contribute, and inspire.

An early Defense Intelligence Agency assessment finds that June 23 U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities inflicted significant damage but fell short of complete destruction—delaying Tehran’s program by only months . President Trump dismissed the report, labeling it “flat‑out wrong,” and reiterated his stance that the strikes delivered a crushing blow . Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard echoed Trump, stating Iran’s nuclear capabilities were “obliterated” and rebuilding would take years . The dispute highlights a rift between political leadership and intelligence analysts over strike effectiveness and implications.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to sign the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Defence Ministers’ communique in Qingdao (June 25–26), citing the absence of any mention of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people . He stressed “no double standards” and called for unified condemnation of cross‑border terrorism, highlighting India’s right to self‑defence through Operation Sindoor . Singh pointed out that the draft statement referenced Balochistan unrest but omitted India’s concerns, prompting New Delhi to withhold endorsement and leaving the meeting without a joint communique. (PC: AP)

Thailand has reversed its 2022 cannabis decriminalisation policy, banning sales without medical prescriptions. Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin signed an order reclassifying cannabis buds as a controlled herb, amid rising addiction and child access concerns. The move follows a surge in cannabis-related smuggling and a sharp rise in addiction cases. The Pheu Thai-led government blamed under-regulation and vowed stricter controls. However, cannabis advocates plan to protest next month, calling the move politically driven. The influential Bhumjaithai Party, which supported decriminalisation, quit the coalition last week after political tensions. The order takes effect once published in the Royal Gazette.

The hatch to the International Space Station (ISS) has officially opened, marking a historic moment as Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to enter the orbital lab. Following a successful docking by the SpaceX Dragon capsule under the Axiom-4 mission, the crew completed pressurization and hatch-opening procedures around 5:00 PM IST on June 26. Shukla, now aboard the ISS, is expected to speak soon in his first public interaction from space. His 14-day mission will include critical India-backed scientific experiments, strengthening India's presence in global space exploration and advancing its Gaganyaan ambitions.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is ready to step into the International Space Station (ISS) after a successful docking by the Axiom-4 mission. The SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying Shukla and three other astronauts docked with the ISS at 4:01 PM IST on June 26, following a smooth 28-hour journey from Kennedy Space Center. Shukla will soon enter the ISS to begin a 14-day stay, where he will lead seven Indian experiments focused on microgravity's impact on human health, plant biology, and algae. This marks a proud moment for India and a key step toward the Gaganyaan mission.