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)

Meghalaya police recovered a country-made pistol, two magazines, and two live .32 calibre rounds from a stream in Indore, linked to the murder of businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. His wife, Sonam, and her alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, confessed to planning the murder during their Meghalaya honeymoon. Eight people have been arrested, including three for evidence tampering. ₹50,000 in stolen cash was also found in a suspect’s car. Raja, 29, was murdered on May 23 near Wei Sawdong falls; his decomposed body was found on June 2. Police say the recovery confirms "meticulous planning" behind the killing. Charges include murder and conspiracy. (PC: HT)

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)

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian in space after 41 years, sent a heartfelt message from orbit aboard the Axiom-4 mission. “Namaskar, my dear countrymen! What a ride! We are back in space once again after 41 years. It's an amazing ride,” he said, as the spacecraft orbited Earth at 7.5 km/s. Shukla added, “The Tiranga embossed on my shoulders tells me that I am with all of you.” He hailed this mission as the beginning of India’s human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. Shukla will spend 14 days on the ISS conducting experiments on India’s behalf with international crew members. 

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)

India celebrated a milestone as Axiom‑4 successfully launched, carrying Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to the International Space Station—marking India’s return to human spaceflight after 41 years . Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh captured the national pride, stating: “This is a moment we’ll remember for generations,” as Shukla symbolically carried the hopes of 1.4 billion Indians . Prime Minister Modi also extended congratulations, emphasizing Shukla’s role in uniting and inspiring the nation. The mission, part of a multinational crew, is set for a two‑week ISS stay with over 60 scientific experiments planned.

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)