US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he does not support regime change in Iran, reversing comments made earlier suggesting otherwise. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “Regime change takes chaos, and ideally we don't want to see so much chaos.” His weekend post had floated the idea, saying if Iran's regime couldn't "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN," change might be needed. The shift follows backlash from allies and top officials, who clarified that US strikes targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, not its government. Trump now says the Israel-Iran ceasefire is “in effect,” despite fresh explosions in Tehran. (PC: India Today)

The International Widows Conference, hosted by The Loomba Foundation on June 23 in London, brought together global leaders, diplomats, and grassroots voices to mark the 15th UN International Widows Day. The conference urged governments to act on the theme “Don’t Leave Widows Behind.” Mrs Cherie Blair CBE KC, President of The Loomba Foundation, opened the event by highlighting that 258 million widows still face poverty, stigma, and abuse. “When widows are given even half a chance, they lead,” she said. Key speakers included Lakshmi Puri, former UN Assistant Secretary-General, and Lord Khan of Burnley, UK Minister for Faith. Puri called widowhood “one of the most overlooked global injustices” and outlined five priorities: legal reform, economic empowerment, data and accountability, leadership, and cultural change. Lord Khan said widowhood affects over 280 million women and is a global human rights issue. Grassroots leaders from Kenya, Nepal, and Nigeria shared frontline experiences. Kumar Dilip of Sulabh International, India, said, “Widows do not need pity—they need power.” The event concluded with Lord Raj Loomba reaffirming the foundation’s mission: “No woman should be punished for outliving her husband.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared an end to the 12-day "imposed war" with Israel on Tuesday evening. The announcement follows conflicting claims over ceasefire violations. Israel admitted to striking a radar site near Tehran hours before the ceasefire began, prompting criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump. Tehran denied breaking the truce, accusing Israel of continued aggression post-ceasefire. Israel also accused Iran of launching three missiles, including one six minutes after the ceasefire began. Following Trump’s call with Netanyahu, Israel refrained from further strikes. Four Israelis were killed earlier in Beersheba in a missile attack blamed on Iran. (PC: CNBC)

India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra clinched gold at the 2025 Ostrava Golden Spike in Czechia with a best throw of 85.29m. Competing in the 61st edition of the prestigious World Athletics Continental Tour event, the two-time Olympic medallist beat South Africa’s Douw Smit (84.12m) and Grenada’s Anderson Peters (83.63m). Despite the win, Neeraj appeared disappointed, overstepping his final throw in pursuit of a personal milestone. Absent rival Julian Weber did not compete. This marks Neeraj’s second straight win after Paris Diamond League and a crucial confidence boost ahead of July’s major championships. He recorded four legal throws beyond 80m. (PC: India Today)

Tulip Siddiq, UK Labour MP and niece of Bangladesh’s ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accused Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus of interfering in British politics and leading a “smear campaign.” Siddiq, under investigation by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission over alleged land acquisitions and corruption tied to Hasina’s regime, called the charges baseless. She claimed Yunus’s public remarks hurt her chances of a fair probe and demanded the case be dropped. Siddiq resigned as UK Treasury Minister earlier this year. In response, Yunus’s team denied political interference, insisting legal proceedings should continue in Bangladesh. Siddiq vowed not to be dragged into “dirty politics.” (PC: PTI, AFP)

India lost the 1st Test to England at Headingley despite five Indian players scoring centuries — a first in 148 years of Test history. Chasing 371, England clinched victory with five wickets to spare, led by Ben Duckett’s outstanding 149 on Day 5. Shubman Gill, in his first match as India’s Test captain, witnessed a painful defeat as Rishabh Pant scored twin tons, and Jaiswal, Rahul, and Gill also contributed centuries. Yet, India couldn't defend their total, marking a historic anomaly in Test cricket. England now lead the five-match series 1-0 in a thrilling start to the summer contest. (PC: BCCI)

Iran reported explosions in multiple northern cities on Tuesday, just hours after US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran “in effect.” Israeli officials confirmed a strike on a radar site near Tehran, citing retaliation for Iranian missile launches. The IRGC later confirmed that Mohammad Taghi Yousefvand, head of Basij counterintelligence, was killed in Monday’s Israeli missile strike. Iranian media also reported the death of nuclear scientist Mohammad-Reza Sedighi Saber. Trump harshly criticized Israel for violating the truce and urged restraint, calling PM Netanyahu to halt further strikes. Israel later paused attacks, citing Trump’s intervention. (PC: AFP)

A French tourist was allegedly raped in Udaipur, Rajasthan, after a man she met at a party lured her to his flat under the pretext of showing her the city’s sights. The incident occurred Monday night near Tiger Hill. According to the FIR, the woman repeatedly asked to return to her hotel, but the accused took her to his apartment, where he assaulted her. With her phone dead, she was unable to call for help. She later admitted herself to a private hospital, which informed police. Authorities have launched a manhunt to arrest the accused. An investigation is underway. (PC: India Today )

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to make history as part of the multinational Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, now scheduled to launch on June 25 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. The mission marks a significant moment for India, Hungary, and Poland as all three countries send astronauts to the ISS aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Shukla will join veteran US astronaut Peggy Whitson and mission specialists from Poland and Hungary. Originally planned for May, the launch faced repeated delays due to fuel system leaks and aging infrastructure on the ISS. Docking is expected on June 26. (PC: AP)

Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region killed 16 people and injured over 100, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday. The attacks hit Dnipro city, Samar, and a train near Zaporizhzhia, damaging schools, hospitals, and homes. A toddler was among three others killed in separate strikes on Sumy. The assault coincided with Zelensky’s arrival at the NATO summit in the Netherlands, where he is expected to meet US President Donald Trump. Calling out Russia’s “complete disregard for life,” Zelensky thanked allies for support. Ukraine accused Moscow of deliberately escalating violence to sabotage peace talks. Emergency teams shared harrowing images from the scene. (PC: EPA)