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.

New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani has come under political fire after reports surfaced alleging that a Pakistan-based PR campaign was promoting his candidacy. Leaders from both India’s BJP and Congress parties criticized Mamdani, accusing him of indirectly benefiting from propaganda allegedly linked to Pakistan’s ISPR. Mamdani, a sitting New York State Assembly member, has denied any involvement with foreign campaigns. The controversy has sparked debate on diaspora politics and foreign interference. While the BJP condemned the promotion of "anti-India narratives," Congress leaders voiced similar concerns, marking a rare alignment between the rival parties on an international issue. (PC: PTI)  

India’s aviation ministry has begun extracting data from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) of the Boeing 787‑8 Dreamliner that crashed near Ahmedabad on June 12, killing 241 onboard and around 19 on the ground. The Crash Protection Module was recovered and flown to Delhi on June 24, with data downloaded by June 25 at the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau lab . A multidisciplinary AAIB-NTSB team is reconstructing the crash sequence to identify causes and recommend safety improvements. Meanwhile, Air India faces scrutiny over maintenance irregularities and overdue checks, prompting fleet-wide inspections and regulatory directives to tighten safety compliance. (PC: Reuters)

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla made history on Thursday as the SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying the Axiom-4 crew successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 4:43 pm IST. This marks the first time an Indian has reached the ISS. The docking concluded a 33-hour journey from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the mission launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The historic moment took place 424 km above Earth, marking a giant leap in India’s human spaceflight ambitions. Shukla, part of a four-member team, will spend 14 days aboard the ISS conducting scientific research.

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is minutes away from making history as the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft "Grace," which he is piloting, approaches final docking with the International Space Station (ISS). After over 24 hours in orbit since its launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, the Dragon is now just 20 meters from the ISS, having maneuvered from beneath to above the station. Shukla, the first Indian to journey to the ISS, leads the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission’s 14-day stay in space. The docking process is being streamed live as India awaits the historic soft capture 400 km above Earth.

 U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to make a second state visit to the UK in September 2025, following a formal hand-signed invitation from King Charles III. The invitation was hand-delivered to the White House by UK embassy officials in Washington. Although an initial private meeting was proposed, scheduling issues prevented it. Buckingham Palace confirmed that all preparations are in line with government advice, and the Palace and government remain fully coordinated. Aides say King Charles looks forward to hosting Trump and the First Lady. Official confirmation of the visit dates will be made in the coming weeks.