Putin privately backs ‘zero enrichment’ Iran deal, shifts stance after Israel-Iran war: Report

MOSCOW, July 12: In a quiet but significant shift, Russian President Vladimir Putin has conveyed to both Iranian officials and US President Donald Trump that he supports a nuclear deal in which Iran would give up all uranium enrichment, Axios reported, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.

This position is a notable reversal of Russia’s long-standing public support for Iran’s right to enrich uranium, and comes in the wake of the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, which damaged key Iranian nuclear facilities.

According to three European officials and one Israeli official who spoke to Axios, Moscow has privately encouraged Iranian leaders to accept a 'zero enrichment' deal, a key demand of the United States in any future nuclear negotiations.

One senior Israeli official confirmed that Russia even briefed Israel on Putin’s message to Iran, saying, “We know that this is what Putin told the Iranians.”

Putin also relayed the same position to both Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron during recent phone calls, the sources told Axios.

Russia has historically been Iran’s strongest diplomatic ally in nuclear talks, often pushing back against Western efforts to limit Tehran’s enrichment capabilities.

However, Axios reports that Putin’s tone has changed dramatically since the latest escalation between Israel and Iran, during which Iran’s nuclear sites were severely hit by airstrikes, but not fully destroyed.

Despite public posturing, Moscow is now pressing Tehran to accept external control over uranium supply, including having Russia remove Iran’s highly enriched stockpiles and replace them with limited-use nuclear fuel.

According to Axios, Russia has offered to supply Iran with:

3.67 percent enriched uranium for civilian nuclear power
Small quantities of 20 percent enriched uranium for the Tehran research reactor and medical isotopes
The offer reflects a model similar to past nuclear agreements but with much stricter controls on domestic enrichment.
Iran pushes back: No deal without enrichment rights
Despite Russian pressure, Iran has rejected the zero-enrichment idea, Axios reported.

“Putin would support zero enrichment. He encouraged the Iranians to work towards that in order to make negotiations with the Americans more favorable. The Iranians said they won’t consider it,” a European official with direct knowledge of the discussions told Axios.

Iranian officials are said to be disappointed with Russia’s limited support during and after the Israel-Iran conflict. Beyond issuing symbolic press statements, the Kremlin offered no meaningful assistance, a point of tension, especially given Tehran’s military support to Moscow in the Ukraine war, including drones and missiles.

According to Axios, White House envoy Steve Witkoff has been in quiet talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to explore a path forward for nuclear negotiations. A possible meeting in Oslo was considered but has since cooled, with both sides now seeking a new venue for talks.

Pakistan, Russia sign deal ‘reaffirming long-standing industrial ties’

MOSCOW, July 12: The Pakistani embassy in Russia said on Friday that the two countries have signed a “protocol to restore and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) in Karachi", in what it called was a “reaffirmation” of their "long-standing industrial partnership".

The agreement was signed at the Pakistan embassy in Moscow by Pakistan's secretary of industries and production Saif Anjum and Vadim Velichko, general director of industrial engineering LLC from the Russian side.

SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan and Pakistan's ambassador to the Russian federation Muhammad Khalid Jamali were also present.

The project seeks to restart and expand steel production.

“Reviving PSM with Russia’s support reflects our shared history and commitment to a stronger industrial future,” said Khan.

Originally built with Soviet assistance in 1973, PSM remains a lasting symbol of Pakistan-Russia ties, according to the Pakistani embassy in Russia.

Pakistan, Russia to expand road, rail connectivity

Pakistan and Russia have earlier this month also agreed to collaborate on establishing a robust rail and road network to link the South Asian country with Central Asia and Russia, providing landlocked states direct access to warm waters, a media report said on Friday.

Federal minister for communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Russian deputy minister of transport Andrey Sergeyevich Nikitin, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ministerial conference in Tianjin, China, agreed to accelerate infrastructure development across the region to facilitate trade and economic integration.

The initiative aims to transform Pakistan into a strategic transit hub by enhancing trade corridors and logistical routes extending to Russia and Central Asia, Geo News reported.

On Pakistan’s modernisation efforts, Khan said the country was digitising its transport infrastructure, introducing barrier-free motorways, mandatory e-tagging, and comprehensive CCTV surveillance.

He said the reforms were part of Pakistan’s broader goal to optimise regional connectivity and cross-border trade.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Afghanistan last month agreed to advance the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, in a telephonic conversation, agreed to work for an early finalisation of the framework agreement.

Iran Could Recover Enriched Uranium Buried Under Isfahan Nuclear Site, Says Israel

TEL AVIV, July 11: Last month, the United States bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, and US President Donald Trump had claimed that the American military had caused "total obliteration" at the sites even though some US intelligence agencies were skeptical about it. However, a senior Israeli official said that Iran could retrieve the uranium buried underground.

In a briefing with reporters on Wednesday, the Israeli official, who did not want to be named, said that accessing the uranium buried at Isfahan would be difficult and if Iran tried attempting it, it would be detected and Israel would resume the strikes. He also added that most of the enriched uranium is buried at Isfahan.

According to an assessment by Israel, Iran's nuclear programme has been set back two years, although Iran states that the enrichment of uranium is for peaceful purposes and also denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Just before the US struck Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that every country has a right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

"This is an achievement of our own scientists. It's a question of national pride and dignity," he said.

The Trump administration stands on its declaration that the nuclear facilities had been completely destroyed. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement, "As President Trump has said many times, Operation Midnight Hammer totally obliterated Iran's nuclear facilities. The entire world is safer thanks to his decisive leadership."

US intelligence reports had cautioned about the nuclear facilities being damaged, but not completely destroyed. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi told CBS that although the facilities had been "destroyed to an important degree", parts are "still standing". He added, "Frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared, and there is nothing there."

In an interview with Tucker Carlson, Iranian President Mahmoud Pezeshkian said that the nuclear facilities were "severely damaged" and "Therefore we don't have any access to them." He added that a full assessment is impossible as of now.

Imran Khan's Sons To Enter Political Spotlight As They Demand His Release

ISLAMABAD, July 11: Ahead of the nationwide protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on August 5, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's sons, Sulaiman and Qasim, will lead a rally demanding their father's release. The brothers are planning to come to Pakistan after lobbying efforts in the United States.

The protest on August 5, against the government will be to note the day PTI leader Imran Khan was "unlawfully" arrested in 2023.

Khan is currently serving sentence at the Adiala Jail regarding a 190 million pound corruption case and also faces trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act associated with the May 9, 2023 protests. The campaign is being laid out as an effort to reignite public and international pressure.

"This is no longer just about politics, it's about justice," Khan's sister Aleema told local media, and added that the brothers will "stand with their father" and "the people of Pakistan."

Apart from this, the brothers had also appeared in a recent podcast to speak out against the Khan's prison conditions and said that the situation was shaped to "break Imran Khan", and commented on dynastic politics.

They had taken permission from Khan for the podcast, although they said that their father had cautioned them against participating in politics because of the prevalence of dynasty politics and the dominance of only two parties in the region.

In the podcast too, the brothers had shed light on the inhumane conditions Khan is currently living in, "What we want is international pressure on Pakistan right now, because currently he's living in inhumane conditions. They're not giving him basic human rights. They're not really doing anywhere near enough. And what we want is global pressure."

Responding to the planned protest, the Prime Minister's adviser Rana Sanaullah, warned that the brothers could be arrested if they participated in a "violent protest".

Jemima Goldsmith, Khan's ex-wife also spoke up regarding his treatment in prison. In a post on X, she said, "My children aren't allowed to speak on the phone to their father Imran Khan" adding, "He [Imran] has been in solitary confinement in prison for nearly two years. Pakistan's government has now said if they go there to try to see him, they too will be arrested and put behind bars. This doesn't happen in a democracy or a functioning state...this isn't politics. It's a personal vendetta."

Moreover, Khan's sons are British citizens and face the risk of deportation or detention if they violate visa regulations. In the past, PTI protests have been met with mass arrests and mass blackouts.

Berlin Says China Targeted German Plane With Laser Over Red Sea

BERLIN, July 8: Berlin on Tuesday said the Chinese military had targeted a laser at a German aircraft participating in an EU-led mission to protect marine traffic in the Red Sea.

"Endangering German personnel and disrupting the operation is entirely unacceptable," the foreign ministry said on X, adding that Beijing's ambassador to Berlin had been summoned for talks.

The German aircraft was targeted "without reason or prior contact... during a routine operation" over the Red Sea while taking part in the European Union's Aspides mission, a spokesman for the German defence ministry said.

The aircraft in question was a so-called "multi-sensor platform" used as a "flying eye" for reconnaissance.

The Chinese vessel had "taken the risk of endangering (German) personnel and equipment", the spokesman added.

The German aircraft's mission was subsequently abandoned following the encounter and returned to a base in Djibouti.

It was not immediately clear whether the laser was a weapon or a laser guidance system.

According to the Bild daily the incident took place on July 2 near the Yemeni coast.

Up to 700 German soldiers take part in the EU's Aspides mission in the Red Sea aimed at protecting shipping from attacks by Yemen's Huthi rebels.

On Monday the Huthis claimed responsibility for the first such attack this year, on a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged vessel.

The Huthis have targeted Israeli territory and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the Gaza war broke out in October 2023, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians.

They paused attacks earlier this year during a two-month ceasefire in Gaza.

World Court Issues Warrants Against Taliban Leaders For Persecuting Women

THE HAGUE, July 8: The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for two Taliban leaders in Afghanistan including supreme spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, accusing them of the persecution of women and girls.

The ICC said there are reasonable grounds to believe that Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqqani, Chief Justice of the Taliban, have committed the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds against girls, women and other persons non-conforming with the Taliban's policy on gender, gender identity or expression.

Russia's Transport Minister Kills Self Hours After Putin Fired Him

MOSCOW, July 7: Russia's former Transport Minister Roman Starovoit killed himself on Monday, hours after President Vladimir Putin fired him from the job. Starovoyt shot himself in a Moscow suburb after the dismissal was announced, Russian news agencies reported.

The country's Investigative Committee said his body was found in his car.

Putin's decree, published on Russia's legal information portal, gave no reason for the dismissal of Starovoit after barely a year on the job. He was appointed transport minister in May 2024 after spending almost five years as the governor of the Kursk region bordering Ukraine.

Andrei Nikitin, a former governor of the Novgorod region, had been appointed acting transport minister, the Kremlin said.

Asked about Starovoit's sudden departure and Nikitin's swift appointment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "At present, in the president's opinion, Andrei Nikitin's professional qualities and experience will best contribute to ensuring that this agency, which the president described as extremely important, fulfils its tasks and functions."

BRICS slam Pahalgam attack in strong declaration

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 6: The BRICS grouping strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack on Sunday and called for combating the cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said supporting terrorists for political gain should be unacceptable.

The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians and led to four days of hostilities between India and Pakistan after New Delhi targeted terror infrastructure across the border, was denounced in a strongly worded leaders’ declaration adopted at the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

India had stepped up efforts to secure the bloc’s backing for its new approach to fighting cross-border terror.

Without naming the US, the declaration criticised the “indiscriminate rising of tariffs”, saying such measures threaten to undermine global trade and disrupt global supply chains.

The declaration also emphasised the need for urgent reforms to global institutions such as the UN Security Council and the Bretton Woods Institutions to make them more inclusive and capable of facing modern challenges.

The declaration further condemned recent military strikes against Iran, especially the targeting of civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities, and expressed grave concern at the resumption of Israeli attacks against Gaza and obstruction of humanitarian aid into the territory.

The declaration condemned all acts of terrorism as “criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation”.

It said, “We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, during which 26 people were killed and many more injured. We reaffirm our commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens.”

All those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice, the declaration said. “We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism,” it said.

Besides agreeing to deepen counter-terror cooperation, the BRICS called for concerted actions against all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities and the speedy adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework.

The Brics is committed to combating illicit financial flows, including money laundering and financing of terrorism, extremism and proliferation, and other forms of transnational organised crime, including the use of new technologies and cryptocurrencies for terrorist purposes, the declaration said.

While addressing a session of the BRICS Summit focused on peace and security, Modi described terrorism as the most serious challenge confronting humanity and said the “inhuman and cowardly” terror attack in Pahalgam was not just a blow to India but to the entire humanity.

Hamas Naval Commander Killed In Israeli Airstrike

TEL AVIV, July 6: Israeli soldiers eliminated Ramzi Ramadan Abd Ali Saleh, commander of Hamas' Naval Force in the northern Gaza Strip, who was killed in an airstrike in Gaza City, the Israel Defence Forces said on Sunday.

"Saleh was a significant source of knowledge in the Hamas terrorist organisation, and in recent weeks was involved in planning and advancing maritime terrorist attacks against IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip"

Also killed with Saleh were Hisham Ayman Atiya Mansour, Deputy Head of Hamas' mortar shell array cell, and Nissim Muhammad Suleiman Abu Sabha, who operated within Hamas' mortar shell array.

The IDF stressed that steps were taken ahead of the strike to mitigate the risk to civilians, including aerial surveillance, precise munitions and other measures.

The army's announcement came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to depart for Washington, where he is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday.

Media reports indicate the ceasefire will last 60 days and include the phased release of 10 living hostages and 18 bodies. In exchange, Israel will release an unspecified number of Palestinian security prisoners. The deal includes mechanisms for humanitarian aid and a gradual redeployment of Israeli forces in the Strip.

Hamas is expected to provide information on the remaining hostages, and Israel will disclose data on Palestinians detained or killed since October 7. The US, Egypt, and Qatar will act as guarantors.

Netanyahu's July 7 trip will be his third meeting with Trump since the US President returned to office in January. The Prime Minister will also meet with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defence Pete Hasegawa, Congressional leaders, and other senior Trump administration officials.

Trump has intensified his push for a Gaza deal. However, talks remain stalled, with Hamas demanding a permanent end to the war and Israel insisting on a temporary truce that preserves its right to resume fighting.

Netanyahu's discussions are also expected to focus on the next steps with Iran, thawing Israeli-Syrian relations, and finalising elements of a US-Israel trade agreement.

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 50 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead.

Starmer Reveals How 'Good Relationship' With Trump Helped Him Secure A Deal

LONDON, July 5: Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has said that despite "different political backgrounds" he has found common ground with the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, on the first anniversary of the Labour government coming to power, he said that it was "in the national interest" for the two men to connect.

"Building those relationships with international leaders is hugely important," he said.

"We are different people and we've got different political backgrounds and leanings, but we do have a good relationship and that comes from a number of places," he said.

He also said that he "understands what anchors the president", and "what he really cares about". He added, "For both of us, we really care about family and there's a point of connection there."

He also revealed that Trump reached out to him to offer him his consolation after the death of his younger brother Nick Starmer on Boxing Day. He also said that before this call, the last time they had spoken was when Trump was shot at a rally in July last year. "That was a phone call really to ask him how it was, and in particular I wanted to know how it impacted on his family," he said.

He also said that the personal relation with Trump had helped him secure a deal by removing UK industries from some of the sweeping tariffs announced by Trump. He also cited how his discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron "over a glass of wine" on a train to Kyiv had made the foundation for a new agreement with the EU, which he said would lead to lower food prices in British supermarkets.

"That is a good thing for millions of people across the country," he said.

Russia becomes first state to recognise Afghanistan's Taliban government

KABUL, July 4: Russia has become the first country to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan, sparking outrage from opposition figures.

The decision marks a major milestone for the Taliban almost four years after they swept into Kabul and took power.

Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said he hoped it would serve as an example to other countries, which have been reluctant to recognise a regime which implements a version of Sharia law along with severe restrictions on women and girls.

Others have decried the move, with former Afghan politician Fawzia Koofi saying "any move by any country to normalise relations with the Taliban will not bring peace it will legitimise impunity".

Koofi went on to warn "such steps risk endangering not just the people of Afghanistan, but global security".

Meanwhile, the Afghan Women's Political Participation Network said it legitimised "a regime that is authoritarian, anti-women, and actively dismantling basic civil rights".

The Taliban government has previously said it respects women's rights in accordance with their interpretation of Afghan culture and Islamic law.

But since 2021, girls over the age of 12 have been prevented from getting an education, and women from many jobs. There have also been restrictions on how far a woman can travel without a male chaperone, and decrees on them raising their voices in public.

Foreign Minister Muttaqi said Moscow's recognition, which came on Thursday, was "a new phase of positive relations, mutual respect, and constructive engagement", describing the decision as "courageous".

Russia's foreign ministry said it saw the potential for "commercial and economic" co-operation in "energy, transportation, agriculture and infrastructure", and that it would continue to help Kabul to fight against the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking.

Members of the Taliban mark the third anniversary of the fall of Kabul in 2024
Russia was one of very few countries that did not close down their embassy in Afghanistan in 2021 - as the Taliban swept across Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US troop.

The country was also the first to sign an international economic deal with the Taliban in 2022, where they agreed to supply oil, gas and wheat to Afghanistan.

The Taliban was removed from Russia's list of terrorist organisations in April this year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also referred to the Taliban as an "ally" in fighting terrorism in July last year. Taliban representatives had visited Moscow for talks as early as 2018.

However, the two countries have a complex history. The Soviet Union - which included Russia - invaded Afghanistan in 1979 and fought a nine-year war that cost them 15,000 personnel.

Their decision to install a Soviet-backed government in Kabul turned the Soviets into an international pariah, and eventually led to their withdrawal in February 1989.

In its statement, the Afghan Women's Political Participation Network noted it had not forgotten "Russia's role in the destruction of Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion".

"Today, its political interference and direct support for the Taliban represent a continuation of those same destructive strategies, now under the banner of diplomacy," it said.

Pakistan, Russia To Expand Connectivity For Access To Warm Waters: Report

ISLAMABAD, July 4: Pakistan and Russia have agreed to collaborate on establishing a robust rail and road network to link the South Asian country with Central Asia and Russia, providing landlocked states direct access to warm waters, a media report said on Friday.

Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan and Russian Deputy Minister of Transport Andrey Sergeyevich Nikitin, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ministerial conference in Tianjin, China, agreed to accelerate infrastructure development across the region to facilitate trade and economic integration.

The initiative aims to transform Pakistan into a strategic transit hub by enhancing trade corridors and logistical routes extending to Russia and Central Asia, Geo News reported.

Highlighting Pakistan's ongoing modernisation efforts, Khan said the country was digitising its transport infrastructure, introducing barrier-free motorways, mandatory e-tagging, and comprehensive CCTV surveillance.

He said the reforms were part of Pakistan's broader goal to optimise regional connectivity and cross-border trade.

Deputy Minister Nikitin acknowledged the potential of Pakistan-Russia cooperation in transforming regional trade dynamics and reaffirmed Moscow's commitment to pursuing joint transport and infrastructure projects with Islamabad.

Pakistan and Afghanistan last month agreed to advance the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project, a key step toward regional connectivity.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, in a telephonic conversation, agreed to work closely for an early finalisation of the framework agreement.

The railway project to link Pakistan with Central Asia through Afghanistan is vital in improving interconnectivity in the region.

Modi Conferred With Ghana's National Honour

ACCRA, July 3: Prominent awardees of the Order of the Star of Ghana, which was awarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, was also bestowed upon several noted personalities.

The award was presented by Ghana's President, John Dramani Mahama, in recognition of his "distinguished" statesmanship and influential global leadership, Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement.

The award was previously bestowed upon Queen Elizabeth II- as Queen of the United Kingdom in 2007, Nelson Mandela- Former President of South Africa in 1998, Kofi Annan- Former Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2000, Alassane Ouattara - President of Cote d'Ivoire in 2017, King Charles III - Prince of Wales at award in 2018, now King of the United Kingdom, King Mohammed VI - King of Morocco in 2017, Giorgio Napolitano and Former President of Italy in 2006.

Accepting the award on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, the Prime Minister dedicated the honour to the aspirations of the youth of India, its cultural traditions and diversity, and to the historical ties between Ghana and India.

In a post on X, Modi said, "I thank the people and Government of Ghana for conferring 'The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana' upon me. This honour is dedicated to the bright future of our youth, their aspirations, our rich cultural diversity and the historical ties between India and Ghana. This honour is also a responsibility; to keep working towards stronger India-Ghana friendship. India will always stand with the people of Ghana and continue to contribute as a trusted friend and development partner."

Modi also thanked the people and government of Ghana for this special gesture.

Noting that the shared democratic values and traditions of the two countries would continue to nurture the partnership, the Prime Minister stated that the award further deepens the friendship between the two countries and places new responsibility on him to embrace and advance bilateral ties. Prime Minister affirmed he was confident that his historic State Visit to Ghana would impart a new momentum to India-Ghana ties, the MEA statement added.

Island chain in Japan rocked by 900 earthquakes in 2 weeks

TOKYO, July 3: More than 900 earthquakes have rocked the Tokara island chain in southern Japan over the past two weeks, according to Japan’s meteorological agency, raising fears among residents and prompting authorities to urge preparedness.

The seismic activity, which began on June 21, has been described as unusually intense. On Wednesday, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake was recorded at approximately 3.30 pm in the waters surrounding the remote island chain, located south of Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island.

“Seismic activity has been very active in the seas around the Tokara island chain since June 21,” The Guardian quoted Ayataka Ebita, director of the agency’s earthquake and tsunami observation division, as saying during an emergency news conference.

According to the report, Ebita also said, “As of 4 pm today, the number (of earthquakes) has exceeded 900.”

The agency said it was uncertain when the tremors would stop and advised residents to be ready to shelter or evacuate in the event of stronger quakes.

According to The Mainichi Shimbun, a Japanese daily, a record 740 quakes were registered over the 10-day period leading up to Tuesday. Each tremor measured 1 or higher on Japan’s 7-point seismic intensity scale, where 7 represents the strongest possible shaking. A lower 5 is strong enough to cause alarm and make people brace themselves.

Residents of Tokara village have reported severe disruption to their daily lives. “It feels like it’s always shaking,” one resident told regional broadcaster MBC, adding, “It’s very scary to even fall asleep.”

Another said, “It’s not clear when all this will end. I should think about whether to evacuate my kids.”

The number of daily tremors peaked at 183 on June 23, dropped to 15 and 16 on June 26 and 27, respectively, then rose again to 34 on June 28, 98 on June 29, and 62 on June 30.

The region experienced similar seismic activity in September 2023, when 346 earthquakes were recorded in the area.

Seven of the 12 Tokara Islands are inhabited, with a total population of around 700. Experts attribute the recurring earthquakes to the area’s unusual undersea topography, which allows tectonic pressure to build and then release through frequent quakes.

Japan sits atop four major tectonic plates at the edge of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, making it one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations. The country, home to about 125 million people, experiences around 1,500 tremors annually—approximately 18 per cent of all earthquakes worldwide.

Recent disasters underscore the risks. Nearly 600 people died when a powerful earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day in 2024. In 2011, over 18,000 lives were lost after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan and caused a triple meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

The Japanese government has stressed the urgent need to prepare for a potential “megaquake”, predicted to strike the Pacific coast within the next three decades. A government panel in January raised the probability of a major earthquake occurring in the Nankai Trough to between 75 per cent and 82 per cent over the next 30 years.

A revised estimate released in March projected that such a disaster could claim up to 298,000 lives and inflict damage totalling as much as $2 trillion.

Israel Has Agreed To Conditions To Finalise 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire: Trump

WASHINGTON, July 2: U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran-backed Hamas militants on Tuesday to agree to what he called a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire with Israel in Gaza that will be delivered by mediating officials from Qatar and Egypt.

In a social media post, Trump said his representatives had a "long and productive" meeting with Israeli officials about Gaza.

He did not identify his representatives but U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance had been due to meet Ron Dermer, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump said Israel has agreed to the conditions to finalize a 60-day ceasefire, "during which time we will work with all parties to end the War." He said representatives for Qatar and Egypt will deliver "this final proposal" to Hamas.

"I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he said.

Trump told reporters earlier in the day that he is hopeful that a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement can be achieved next week between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. He is set to meet Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.

Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.

The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

The two sides have shown little sign of a readiness to budge from their entrenched positions.

The U.S. has proposed a 60-day ceasefire and the release of half the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the remains of other Palestinians.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said earlier this week Israel has agreed to a U.S.-proposed 60-day ceasefire and hostage deal, and put the onus on Hamas.

Trump and his aides appear to be seeking to use any momentum from U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran nuclear sites, as well as a ceasefire that took hold last week in that conflict, to secure a lasting truce in the war in Gaza.

Trump told reporters during a visit to Florida that he would be "very firm" with Netanyahu on the need for a speedy Gaza ceasefire while noting that the Israeli leader wants one as well.

"We hope it's going to happen. And we're looking forward to it happening sometime next week," he told reporters. "We want to get the hostages out."

Gaza's health ministry says Israel's post-Oct. 7 military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. The assault has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.

Israel strikes pound Gaza, killing 60, ahead of US talks on ceasefire

CAIRO/JERUSALEM, June 30: Israeli strikes killed at least 60 people across Gaza on Monday in some of the heaviest attacks in weeks as Israeli officials were due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by U.S. President Donald Trump.

A day after Trump called to "Make the deal in Gaza, get the hostages back", Israel's strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's, was travelling to Washington for talks on Iran and Gaza, according to an Israeli official and a source familiar with the matter.

Dermer was expected to begin meetings with Trump administration officials on Tuesday, the source in Washington said.

But on the ground in the Palestinian enclave, there was no sign of fighting letting up. The Israeli military issued evacuation orders on Monday to residents in large districts in the northern Gaza Strip, forcing a new wave of displacement.

"Explosions never stopped; they bombed schools and homes. It felt like earthquakes," said Salah, 60, a father of five children, from Gaza City. "In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground we see death and we hear explosions."

"Look at us, we are not just numbers and not just pictures. Every day martyrs like this," said displaced woman Amani Swalha, standing in the rubble of a Gaza city school hit in a strike. "It is our right to live, and to live with dignity, not like this in humiliation."

477 Drones, 60 Missiles: Russia Launches 'Biggest' Aerial Attack On Ukraine

KYIV, June 29: Russia launched its biggest aerial attack against Ukraine overnight, wounding at least six people, including a child, according to Ukrainian officials.

Moscow fired a total of 537 aerial weapons at Ukraine, including 477 drones and decoys and 60 missiles. Of these, 249 were shot down and 226 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed, according to Ukraine's air force.

The Russians were targeting everything that sustains life, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X as the escalated bombing campaign further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the 3-year-old war.
Zelensky noted that bombing damaged homes and infrastructure, and Ukraine lost its third F-16 fighter jet since the start of the war while repelling the attack.

"Almost all night long, air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine - 477 drones were in our skies, most of them Russian-Iranian Shaheds, along with 60 missiles of various types. The Russians were targeting everything that sustains life. A residential building in Smila was also hit, and a child was injured. Emergency services are responding wherever they're needed," the Ukrainian President said.

"Tragically, while repelling the attack, our F-16 pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, died. Today, he destroyed 7 aerial targets. My condolences to his family and brothers-in-arms. I have instructed that all the circumstances of his death be investigated. Ukrainian aviation is heroically protecting our skies. I am grateful to everyone who is defending Ukraine," he added.

Zelensky said Moscow will not stop as long as it has the capability to launch massive strikes, as he noted that just over the past week alone, there have been more than 114 missiles, over 1,270 drones, and nearly 1,100 glide bombs.

"Putin long ago decided he would keep waging war, despite the world's calls for peace. This war must be brought to an end - pressure on the aggressor is needed, and so is protection. Protection from ballistic and other missiles, from drones, and from terror. Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defence - the thing that best protects lives. These are American systems, which we are ready to buy. We count on leadership, political will, and the support of the United States, Europe, and all our partners. I thank everyone who is helping," he added.

UN Nuclear Watchdog Thinks Iran Could Again Enrich Uranium Within 'Months'

WASHINGTON, June 29: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, has warned Iran would likely be able to resume producing enriched uranium within months, despite damage to several nuclear facilities from US and Israeli attacks.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi on Saturday noted that despite damage from attacks, the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure is "still standing" and it can revert to their previous capabilities in "a matter of months."

The Middle East was rattled over the last few weeks after Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities on June 13, saying it was aimed at keeping Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon - an ambition the Islamic republic has consistently denied.

The United States subsequently joined Israel in bombing three key facilities used for Tehran's atomic program, with the US President Donald Trump claiming the sites were completely "obliterated", insisting Iran's nuclear program had been set back "decades".

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, also acknowledged that the extent of the damage to the nuclear sites is "serious", but the details are unknown.

Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said, "some" of Iran's nuclear programme is "still standing."

"They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that," Grossi said in an interview with CBS News Friday.

"Iran had a very vast ambitious program, and part of it may still be there, and if not, there is also the self-evident truth that the knowledge is there. The industrial capacity is there. Iran is a very sophisticated country in terms of nuclear technology, as is obvious," he added.

Another key question is whether Iran was able to relocate some or all of its estimated 408.6-kilo (900-pound) stockpile of highly enriched uranium before the attacks. The uranium in question is enriched to 60 per cent -- above levels for civilian usage but still below weapons grade. That material, if further refined, would theoretically be sufficient to produce more than nine nuclear bombs.

Grossi admitted to CBS: "We don't know where this material could be."

"So some could have been destroyed as part of the attack, but some could have been moved. So there has to be at some point a clarification," he said in the interview.

For now, Iranian lawmakers voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, and Tehran rejected Grossi's request for a visit to the damaged sites, especially Fordo, the main uranium enrichment facility.

"We need to be in a position to ascertain, to confirm what is there, and where is it and what happened," Grossi said.

Taliban Claims Waziristan Suicide Bombing As Pakistan Blames India

ISLAMABAD, June 29: At least 16 security officials were killed on Saturday in a suicide bombing in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Islamabad has blamed New Delhi for the attack that also left over two dozen people, including civilians, wounded.

However, a suicide bomber wing of Hafiz Gul Bahadur's armed group, a faction of the Pakistan Taliban, or TPP, has claimed the attack, according to a report.

"A suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a military convoy," according to a local government official in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

He said that 16 soldiers were killed, raising the previous number of deaths from 13.

"The explosion also caused the roofs of two houses to collapse, injuring six children," a police officer said.

The Pakistani military said the attack was carried out by terrorists backed by India, an allegation New Delhi rejected.

According to a report by The Dawn, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan's military, said in a statement that "in their desperation, an explosive-laden vehicle was rammed by the Indian sponsored kharijis into one of the vehicles of the leading group."

The Foreign Ministry on Sunday strongly rejected Pakistan's claim that India was behind the Waziristan suicide bomber attack.

"We have seen an official statement by the Pakistan Army seeking to blame India for the attack on Waziristan on 28 June. We reject this statement with the contempt it deserves," ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement on X.

Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in violence in its regions bordering Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, with Islamabad accusing its western neighbour of allowing its soil to be used for attacks against Pakistan -- a claim the Taliban denies, saying the terrorism is Pakistan's domestic issue.

Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, an umbrella group of several Islamist terrorist groups, has long been waging a war against Pakistan in a bid to overthrow the government and replace it with its Islamic system of governance.

The Pakistani military, which has launched several offensives against the terrorists, has mostly been their prime target.

Around 290 people, mostly security officials, have been killed in attacks since the start of the year by armed groups fighting the government in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, according to a tally.

India Refuses To Sign SCO Document That Skipped Pahalgam, Had Balochistan

QINGDAO, June 26: Sending a stern message to India's neighbours, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has refused to sign a joint statement at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet because it did not mention the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives and did not reflect India's strong position on terror.

While skipping any mention of Pahalgam, the document mentioned Balochistan, tacitly accusing India of creating unrest there. Pahalgam's exclusion from the document appears to have been done at Pakistan's behest as its all-weather ally, China, holds the Chair now.

India has consistently trashed Pakistan's allegations about its involvement in Balochistan and said Islamabad must look within and stop backing terror instead of making wild allegations.

"India is not satisfied with the language of the joint document. There was no mention of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, there was mention of the incidents that happened in Pakistan, so India refused to sign the joint declaration, and there is no joint communique either," a Defence Ministry source said.

Singh is currently in China's Qingdao to attend the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting. The summit is being attended by member states, including Russia, Pakistan and China, to discuss issues related to regional and international security. Established in 2001, SCO aims to promote regional stability through cooperation. The bloc currently has 10 member states -- Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Addressing the summit, the Defence Minister called upon SCO members to unite to eliminate terrorism for collective safety and security. He said the biggest challenges faced by the region are related to peace, security and trust deficit, with radicalisation, extremism and terrorism being the root cause of these problems.

"Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges requires decisive action. It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations," said Singh, taking in a veiled swipe at Pakistan.

Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack, he said India had exercised its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross-border attacks.

"During the Pahalgam terror attack, victims were shot after they were profiled on religious identity. The Resistance Front, a proxy of UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack. The pattern of Pahalgam attack matches with LeT's previous terror attacks in India. India's zero tolerance for terrorism was demonstrated through its actions. It includes our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them," he said.

He stressed the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terror and to bring them to justice. He termed any and every act of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable. SCO members, he said, must condemn this evil unequivocally.

Iran confirms Commander Ali Shadmani killed in Israeli airstrike

TEHRAN, June 26: Iran's armed forces confirmed on Wednesday the death of top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Ali Shadmani following an Israeli air strike last week, state media reported.

The military's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which Shadmani led, vowed "severe revenge" for what it called the "criminal act" by Israeli forces, announcing the commander had died from injuries sustained in the attack, according to the IRNA state news agency.

Shadmani died just days after he took over the role from Gholam Ali Rashid, who was killed in the first days of Israel's attacks.

On June 13, Israel launched a major bombing campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and senior military figures.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on 17 June claimed that it has killed Iran's senior-most military official and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's closest military advisor, Ali Shadmani, in an air force strike in Tehran.

In a post on X, IDF stated, “For the second time in 5 days, the IDF has eliminated Iran's War-Time Chief of Staff, the regime's top military commander. Ali Shadmani, Iran's senior-most military official and Khamenei's closest military advisor, was killed in an IAF strike in central Tehran, following precise intelligence.”

At least 12 killed in mass shooting at religious festival in Mexico’s Guanajuato

MEXICO CITY, June 26: At least 12 people were killed in the Mexican state of Guanajuato overnight in a mass shooting incident when gunmen opened fire on a religious celebration in the central Mexican city of Irapuato, officials said on Wednesday.

The attorney general’s office in Guanajuato stated that 20 others were hospitalised with gunshot wounds. The office confirmed that one of the deceased was a minor, aged 17.

The incident took place when people were dancing and drinking in the street in the evening in celebration of St. John the Baptist, a Catholic holiday in Mexico. As soon as the shooting started, people ran to take shelter and escape the gunfire, videos circulated online show.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticised the mass shooting attack in Irapuato, stating that it was under investigation. “It is very unfortunate what happened. An investigation is underway,” Sheinbaum said.

Guanajuato has been one of the most violent regions in Mexico for years. In May, at least seven people were killed in a shooting that targeted a party organised by the Catholic Church in the state.

Days After US Strikes, Iran Confirms Nuclear Facilities 'Badly Damaged'

TEHRAN, June 25: Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed Wednesday the country's nuclear facilities had been "badly damaged" in American strikes over the weekend.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Baghaei refused to go into detail but conceded the Sunday strikes by American B-2 bombers using bunker buster bombs had been significant.

"Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure," he said.

Meanwhile, the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran appeared to be holding on Wednesday after a rocky start, giving rise to cautious hope that it could lead to a long-term peace agreement even as Tehran insists it will not give up its nuclear program.

The ceasefire took hold on Tuesday, the 12th day of the war between Israel and Iran, with each side initially accusing the other of violating it until the missiles, drones and bombs finally stopped.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump, who helped negotiate the ceasefire, told reporters at a NATO summit in the Netherlands that it was going "very well."

"They're not going to have a bomb and they're not going to enrich," Trump said about Iran.

Iran has insisted, however, that it will not give up its nuclear program and in a vote underscoring the tough path ahead, Iranian parliament agreed to fast-track a proposal that would effectively stop the country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based UN watchdog that has been monitoring the Iranian nuclear program for years.

Ahead of the vote, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf criticised the IAEA for having "refused to even pretend to condemn the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities" that were carried out by the United States on Sunday.

"For this reason, the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran will suspend cooperation with the IAEA until security of nuclear facilities is ensured, and Iran's peaceful nuclear program will move forward at a faster pace," Qalibaf told lawmakers.

In Vienna, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said he had already written to Iran to discuss resuming inspections of their nuclear facilities.

Among other things, Iran claims to have moved its highly enriched uranium ahead of the American strikes and Grossi said his inspectors needed to reassess the country's stockpiles.

"We need to return," he said. "We need to engage."

The American strikes hit three Iranian nuclear sites, which Trump said had "completely and fully obliterated" the country's nuclear program.

From Tehran, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, confirmed that the strikes on Sunday by American B-2 bombers using bunker-buster bombs had caused significant damage.

"Our nuclear installations have been badly damaged, that's for sure," he told Al Jazeera on Wednesday, while refusing to go into detail.

Trump's special envoy to the Mideast, Steve Witkoff, said on Fox News late on Tuesday that Israel and the US had now achieved their objective of "the total destruction of the enrichment capacity" in Iran, and Iran's prerequisite for talks - that Israel end its campaign - had also been fulfilled.

"The proof is in the pudding," he said. "No one's shooting at each other. It's over."

At the NATO summit, when asked about a US intelligence report that found Iran's nuclear program has been set back only a few months, Trump scoffed and said it would at least take "years" to rebuild.

Israeli military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Wednesday his country's assessment was also that Iran's nuclear facilities had been "significantly damaged" and its nuclear program "set it back by years."

Grossi said he could not speculate on how bad the damage was but that Iran's nuclear capabilities were well known.

"The technical knowledge is there, and the industrial capacity is there," he said. "That no one can deny, so we need to work together with them."

Israel and Iran publicly commit to ceasefire

TEL AVIV, June 24: Israel and Iran entered Tuesday morning into a shaky ceasefire, which faltered and then appeared to hold, bringing an apparent end to 12 days of fighting.

Early Tuesday, each side accused the other of violations, drawing admonishment from President Donald Trump. Later in the day, however, officials in Israel and Iran said they would adhere to the ceasefire — so long as the other side did as well.

“Both Israel and Iran wanted to stop the War, equally!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, en route to a NATO summit in the Netherlands. “It was my great honor to Destroy All Nuclear facilities & capability, and then, STOP THE WAR!”

There are no known details about the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran that Trump announced Monday evening. Both sides have cast it as a victory to their people.

Earlier Tuesday, in the hours after the ceasefire had been expected to go into effect, Israel and Iran accused each other of violating the agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of firing a wave of missiles toward Israel and said he instructed the military to “respond forcefully.”

A message posted on the Telegram channel of Iran’s state broadcaster denied the claim of a missile launch. Iran then accused Israel of launching three waves of attacks shortly after Trump said the truce had gone into effect. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said Israel would refrain from additional attacks.

Israel and Iran launched blistering attacks on each other overnight as a deadline for the truce loomed. At least four people were killed in Israel in an Iranian missile barrage. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it dropped more than 100 munitions on the Iranian capital of Tehran, with massive attacks reported in cities across the country.

The 12-day war between Israel and Iran has cost at least 610 lives in Iran, according to figures released Tuesday by the country’s Health Ministry. The Human Rights Activists News Agency, a Washington-based rights group that monitors Iran, says the death toll is at least 974. In Israel, 28 people were killed in total, the prime minister’s office said in a statement Tuesday.

Iran fires missiles at US bases in Qatar in payback for strikes; blasts in Doha

TEHRAN, June 23: Iran launched six missiles toward US military bases in Qatar on Monday in a dramatic escalation following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, according to a report by Axios.

Iranian state television announced the start of Operation Besharat Fatah, declaring the attacks as part of a campaign against what Tehran called "blatant military aggression" by the US.

Explosions were heard over the Qatari capital, Doha, shortly after the launches, news agencies said, quoting eyewitnesses.

Axios, citing an Israeli official, said that the missiles were aimed at US installations in Qatar, though there was no immediate confirmation of impact or casualties.

The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, after Iran vowed retaliation after the US struck several of its nuclear facilities on Saturday night. Monday’s missile launches marked the first direct Iranian response.

Earlier in the day, Qatar temporarily closed its airspace. The shutdown followed advisories issued by both US and British embassies urging their citizens there to shelter in place due to a "heightened security threat".

The sudden warnings triggered alerts across Doha, with numerous institutions, from schools and universities to offices, sending messages instructing employees and students to remain indoors until further notice.

The US military maintains a significant presence at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military facility in the Middle East. The strikes on US air bases signal a dangerous turning point in the deepening standoff between Washington and Tehran, raising fears of wider regional conflict.

Iran issued threats to retaliate against the US after American bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on the country's underground nuclear installations over the weekend, while President Donald Trump openly raised the possibility of the Iranian government being toppled.

Massive Israeli Attack On Iran, Plume Of Smoke Seen Above Tehran Skyline

TEHRAN, June 23: Latest visuals from Iran's capital, Tehran, show a massive cloud of smoke rising towards the sky: an indication of a fresh round of missile strikes by Israel. According to reports, loud blasts have been heard in the city. Tel Aviv has stressed that it is targeting military sites.

Visuals released on Iran's state-owned broadcaster Press TV show a thick plume of smoke rising from what looks like a busy neighbourhood in Tehran. TV channel Iran International said Israel has launched major strikes on security institutions of the Islamic Republic in Tehran and beyond, including facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and police intelligence units.

According to an Al Jazeera report, an Israeli military spokesman has said they are carrying out strikes in Tehran and targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard command centres.

In a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict over Iran's alleged attempts to build a nuclear weapon, the US yesterday carried out precision strikes at Tehran's three nuclear facilities. "Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier," US President Donald Trump said after the airstrikes at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

The Iran Foreign Minister today met Russian President Vladimir Putin to rally support for Tehran.

After US Strikes, Iran Plans To Close Oil Corridor Strait Of Hormuz: Report

TEHRAN, June 22: Iran is considering closing the key oil shipping route Strait of Hormuz after the US bombed three of its nuclear facilities, Iranian media reported today.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical chokepoints, through which a fifth of global oil and gas supply flows.

It connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The narrow channel, approximately 33 km wide at the narrowest point, separates Iran (north) from the Arabian Peninsula (south).

But shipping lanes in the waterway are even narrower - 3 km wide in each direction, making them vulnerable to attacks and threats of being shut down, which Iran has decided to do now.

The bulk of oil exports from regional powerhouses - Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Qatar, Iran, and Kuwait - must transit this narrow waterway. In the past, it was the West - chiefly the US and Europe - that stood most exposed to disruption in Persian Gulf energy flows, but today it is China and Asia that would bear the brunt of any closure.

For India, the Strait of Hormuz is important as about 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil out of its total import of 5.5 million bpd transits through the narrow waterway.

Having diversified its sources of imports, India, however, is unlikely to lose sleep even if the Strait of Hormuz is shut down as alternative sources from Russia to the US and Brazil are readily available to fill any void, industry officials and analysts said.

Russian oil is logistically detached from the Strait of Hormuz, flowing via the Suez Canal, Cape of Good Hope, or the Pacific Ocean.

On gas, India's principal supplier Qatar does not use the Strait of Hormuz for supplies. India's other sources of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Australia, Russia and the US would be untouched by any closure.

The heightened tensions in the world's largest energy supply basket would however have a near-term impact on prices, with oil prices likely to jump to $80 per barrel, analysts said.

'Reiterated Our Call For De-escalation': Modi Speaks To Iran President

NEW DELHI, June 22: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian today and expressed concern at the recent escalations in the Iran-Israel conflict. The US entered the conflict today by attacking three sites in Iran -- Natanz, Isfahan and the mountain-buried Fordow, all key parts of Tehran's nuclear programme, which it maintains is purely for civilian purposes.

The call that lasted 45 minutes came from Pezeshkian in the wake of the US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, sources said. The Iranian president briefed Modi in detail on the evolving situation, the sources said, adding he described India as a friend and partner in promoting regional peace, security and stability.

Pezeshkian thanked Modi for India's position and called for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy, sources said. India's voice and role was important in restoring regional peace and stability, he said.

"Spoke with President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian. We discussed in detail about the current situation. Expressed deep concern at the recent escalations. Reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional peace, security and stability," Modi said in a post on X.

France's Macron Says Europe To Push Peace Plan To End Iran-Israel Conflict

PARIS, June 20: In a diplomatic initiative, European powers are preparing to present Iran with a sweeping peace proposal aimed at ending its ongoing conflict with Israel, according to the Guardian. The plan, unveiled by French President Emmanuel Macron, would require Tehran to commit to halting all uranium enrichment, curbing its ballistic missile development, and ceasing financial support to militant groups operating across the Middle East.

The proposal marks one of the most expansive peace efforts by Europe in recent years, addressing not just Iran's nuclear ambitions but also the broader spectrum of regional instability linked to Tehran. However, the scope of the plan may complicate the chances of a swift resolution unless an interim deal can be struck to build trust and halt the current hostilities.

Among the ideas being discussed is a temporary freeze on uranium enrichment that would last for the duration of Donald Trump's presidency. Another more ambitious proposal would see a regional consortium, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, take joint control of enrichment activities to prevent weaponisation.

Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), insists on its right to enrich uranium on its soil, a stance it says is legal under international law. But mounting international pressure, particularly in the wake of Israel's recent strikes, has intensified the calls for Tehran to compromise.

Macron shared the European position on Friday as foreign ministers from France, Germany, and the UK met Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva. It was Araghchi's first face-to-face meeting with Western diplomats since Israel launched a surprise offensive against Iranian targets last week.

Araghchi, who had earlier spoken by phone with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, rejected any possibility of direct talks with the US while Israeli airstrikes continued. "In a situation where aggression ... continues, the Americans want negotiations and have sent messages several times, but we have clearly said that there is no room for dialogue until the aggression and aggressor stop. We have no talks with America as a partner in this crime."

The Geneva talks unfolded amid a tense week of retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel, with Washington's role under heavy scrutiny. US President Trump, after days of ambiguous rhetoric, announced he would delay any decision on joining Israel's military campaign for at least two weeks, a move interpreted by Tehran as a sign of American unreliability.

European diplomats, meanwhile, have remained closely coordinated with Washington, even as they emphasise a more de-escalatory approach. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington earlier in the week to align on potential red lines.

Macron laid out Europe's ambitious framework with a stern warning: "It's absolutely essential to prioritise a return to substantial negotiations, including nuclear negotiations to move towards zero [uranium] enrichment, ballistic negotiations to limit Iran's activities and capabilities, and the financing of all terrorist groups and destabilisation of the region that Iran has been carrying out for several years," he said.

He pointed specifically to Iran's heavily fortified Fordow enrichment facility, saying, "No one can seriously believe that this threat can be met with [Israel's] current operations alone. Why? Because there are some [nuclear] plants that are highly protected and because today no one knows exactly where's the uranium enriched to 60%. So we need to regain control on [Iran's nuclear] programme through technical expertise and negotiation."

In previous talks, the US has demanded a complete halt to Iran's domestic enrichment, offering instead a civil nuclear program that relies on imported fuel from a multinational source. Though Iran has consistently refused to abandon domestic enrichment, there is historical precedent for compromise. In the early 2000s, under the Paris Agreement, Tehran agreed to temporarily suspend enrichment as a voluntary confidence-building measure.

Europe, more pragmatic than the US in its approach, has long avoided taking a hard stance on Iran's legal right to enrich, focusing instead on practical safeguards and transparency. The UK, for instance, interprets the NPT as ambiguous, neither explicitly granting nor denying the right to enrich uranium.

The high-stakes diplomacy has been further complicated by security concerns. One of Araghchi's advisers alleged that Israel attempted to assassinate the Iranian diplomat, prompting European governments to provide security guarantees for his travel.

Russia has offered to mediate talks, but European leaders have firmly declined Moscow's involvement.

Despite its military disadvantage, exacerbated by compromised air defences and infrastructure damage, Iran retains a significant strategic card: the Fordow enrichment plant, likely impervious to conventional Israeli strikes. Unless Washington authorises the use of bunker-busting munitions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be forced to recalibrate his objectives.

Netanyahu's hopes for regime change in Tehran also appear to be faltering. Even prominent Iranian reformists have condemned Israel's actions. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi appealed directly to Trump: "Do not join this war. Stop it. Be the voice for peace in the Middle East."

Deadly Iranian missile strike hits Israeli port city of Haifa

TEL AVIV, June 20: The port city of Haifa in Israel was hit with a missile on Friday afternoon.

A column of smoke was seen rising from a building next to the port area, with Israel news sources suggesting a government building was targeted.

Iran fires cluster bombs at Israel as conflict enters 8th day

TEL AVIV, June 20: Iran launched a missile carrying cluster submunitions into central Israel on Thursday, in what Israeli officials say marks the first use of such weapons in the eight-day war. The Iranian missile reportedly scattered dozens of bomblets over civilian areas to maximise the chance of damage inflicted on the enemy side.

"Today, the Iranian Armed Forces fired a missile that contained cluster submunitions at a densely populated civilian area in Israel," the Israeli embassy in Washington said in a statement.

The attack came amid a fresh wave of missile exchanges between Iran and Israel on Friday. According to Israeli media reports, the missile’s warhead detonated at an altitude of around 7 kilometres, releasing approximately 20 submunitions over a radius of 8 kilometres in central Israel. As of now, Iranian officials have not commented on the allegations.

Israeli authorities said on Thursday that the body of a woman was recovered from a building hit by an Iranian missile four days earlier, raising Israel’s death toll to 25 since the war began, according to AFP.

Iran, meanwhile, has reported at least 224 deaths from Israeli strikes as of Sunday. The killed individuals include top military officials, nuclear scientists, and civilians. However, Tehran has not given an updated figure since.

IDF strikes over 20 military targets in Tehran, including nuclear and missile sites

TEL AVIV, June 18: The conflict between Iran and Israel entered its sixth day with full force as both the nations traded missile strikes on Wednesday.

During the early hours of Wednesday, sirens sounded across Israel twice within an hour as Iran launched strikes, said the Israel Defence Forces. Sirens sounded again in northern Israel due to a hostile aircraft infiltration.

IDF fired over 20 military targets in Tehran, including nuclear and missile sites.

The strikes come even after United States President Donald Trump asked for ‘unconditional surrender’ by Iran.

Trump also said that they know the location of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but will not kill him, at least for now, adding that the US does not want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. “Our patience is wearing thin,” said Trump.

The conflict between Iran and Israel is now seeing more active participation from the United States as it is deploying more fighter jets and other warplanes to the Middle East.

Trump also met with his National Security Council on Tuesday afternoon after leaving the G7 summit a day early to discuss what is happening in the Middle East. However, the details of the meeting are not yet known.

UK, India Announce 'Landmark' Trade Deal

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI: In a historic milestone, India and the UK have successfully concluded an ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement, along with a Double Contribution Convention, informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a phone conversation with his British counterpart Sir Keir Starmer, Modi said "these landmark agreements will further deepen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and catalyse trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies."...more

Iran Sought US Pressure On Israel For Ceasefire Via Gulf States: Report

DUBAI, June 16: Tehran has asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman to press US President Donald Trump to use his influence on Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire with Iran in return for Iranian flexibility in nuclear negotiations, two Iranian and three regional sources said on Monday.

Gulf leaders and their top diplomats worked the phones all weekend, speaking to each other, to Tehran, Washington and beyond in an effort to prevent a widening of the biggest ever confrontation between longstanding enemies Israel and Iran.

Iran is willing to be flexible in the nuclear talks if a ceasefire is reached, one of the Iranian sources said.

The Gulf states are deeply concerned the conflict will spin out of control, a Gulf source close to government officials said.

Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia have all appealed to Washington to press Israel to agree to a ceasefire and to resume talks with Tehran towards a nuclear deal, the Gulf source said.

A regional source and an official briefed on Iran's communications with the Gulf said Tehran had reached out to Qatar and Oman to mediate a return to nuclear talks, but insisted that a ceasefire with Israel be put in place first.

Iran made clear to Oman and Qatar that it would not negotiate while it is under attack and will only begin serious negotiations once it has finished responding to Israeli strikes, the official said.

When asked if a diplomatic mechanism was being worked out to end the campaign, Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told Army Radio on Monday: "It is a little early for that. You don't go to war and look to end it three days later."

Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran on Friday morning that wiped out the top echelon of Iran's military command and damaged its nuclear sites, and says the campaign will continue to escalate with the stated goal of eliminating Tehran's ability to develop a nuclear weapon.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is civilian, not military.

Israel, Iran trade deadly strikes for fourth day with no signs of restraint

TEL AVIV, June 16: Israel has attacked civilian targets in Iran, striking a hospital and an Iranian state TV building as intensive strikes exchanged by the two countries rage for a fourth consecutive day, with the military confrontation between the longstanding enemies showing no sign of ending.

After those attacks late on Monday, Iranian state TV reported that a new wave of drone and missile strikes had begun, targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa.

In Haifa, all refineries and subsidiary companies were shut down following the impact of an Iranian missile, with three killed in the strike, the Israeli Bazan oil refinery company said.

A live broadcast on the Iranian TV station captured its most famous presenter on air saying a missile was incoming and scrambling away as an explosion took place and debris flew through the air. There are reports of casualties among journalists in the building.

The strike came after a warning Monday from Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who said: “The mouthpiece of Iranian propaganda and incitement is on the verge of disappearing”. Katz later confirmed the Israeli military carried out the attack.

In response, late on Monday, Iran issued warnings for Israeli news channels. “Iran has issued an evacuation warning for the N12 and N14 channels of Israel. This order comes in response to the hostile attack of Zionist enemy against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s broadcasting service,” Iranian state TV said.

Iran also said Israel targeted a hospital on Monday in the country’s west, condemning it as a “war crime”.

“Farabi Hospital in the city of Kermanshah in western Iran was targeted by the Israeli regime’s aggressive attacks,” said Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding that “attacking hospitals alongside attacks on residential areas is a gross violation of international law and a war crime”.

Pakistan Will Nuke Israel If It Uses Nuclear Weapon Against Us, Claims Iran

TEHRAN, June 16: Pakistan will launch a nuclear attack on Israel if it drops a nuclear bomb on Iran, a top Iranian officer of its elite forces has claimed amid rising tensions in the Middle East. General Mohsen Rezae's remarks came during an interview on Iranian television as a barrage of missiles crisscrossed Iran and Israel.

So far, about 248 deaths (Iran 230 and Israel 18) have been reported in the two countries.

"Pakistan has assured us that if Israel uses a nuclear bomb on Iran, they will attack Israel with a nuclear bomb," said Rezaei, a senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a member of Iran's National Security Council.

Officials in Pakistan have denied the claim.

Iran claims 244 people killed in 3 days of Israeli strikes; over 1,200 injured

TEHRAN, June 15: Iran's health ministry claimed on Sunday that three days of Israeli strikes on the country had killed 224 people and injured more than 1,200, as the two countries continue to trade attacks.

"After 65 hours of aggression by the Zionist regime, 1,277 people have been injured. 224 women, men and children have been martyred," the ministry's spokesman Hossein Kermanpour wrote on X, adding that 90 percent of those killed had been civilians.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard also stated that the country's intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi and two other generals were killed in the attacks, along with other top military personnel and nuclear scientists.

Israel claimed 14 people have been killed in the country since Friday and 390 wounded.

A senior Iranian military official on Sunday warned of a "devastating response" to Israel attacks on the Islamic republic.

"The scale of the devastating response by Iran's brave fighters will certainly encompass all parts of the occupied territories (Israel)," said Colonel Reza Sayyad, a spokesman for the armed forces.

"Leave the occupied territories because they will certainly no longer be habitable in the future," and shelters will "not guarantee security", he added.

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, during an interview with Fox News, stated that the country would continue their military campaign against Iran in order to dismantle their nuclear facilities which pose a threat to them and their allies.

"We're geared to do whatever is necessary to achieve our dual aim, to remove ... two existential threats - the nuclear threat and the ballistic missile threat," Netanyahu said.

He added, “We did act - to save ourselves, but also, I think, to not only protect ourselves, but protect the world from this incendiary regime. We can't have the world's most dangerous regime have the world's most dangerous weapons.”

Israel, Iran Continue To Trade Missile Attacks

TEL AVIV, June 15: Israeli skies were streaked with a barrage of Iranian missiles yet again on Sunday amid a spiralling conflict between the two nations. "Iran missiles incoming, sirens heard in Jerusalem," the Israel army said, even as several videos showed missiles over the skies of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and several of them being intercepted by Israel's air defence system.

Israel launched retaliatory air strikes on Iran, activating air defence systems in the southwest region, as per local media reports.

This is the latest round of attacks in the biggest ever confrontation between the longstanding enemies that have killed scores of civilians and raised fears of a wider conflict.

The military has said that several sites were hit in Israel by the barrage of Iranian missiles. A huge fire was seen in the city of Haifa after Iran's strikes, as per a post by RT International. Four people injured in the barrage so far, it quoted unnamed Israeli authorities as saying.

Sirens have been ringing across Israel since 4 pm (local time) on Sunday, marking the first such daylight alert.

The scene is not very different in Iran either. Images from Tehran showed the night sky lit up by a huge blaze at a fuel depot after Israel began strikes against Iran's oil and gas sector, raising the stakes for the global economy and the functioning of the Iranian state.

Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces or IDF said that it struck an Iranian aircraft at Mashhad Airport in eastern Iran, approximately 2,300 kilometers from Israel, calling it the "longest-range strike conducted since the beginning of Operation Rising Lion".

The goal of the operations, according to Israel, is to dismantle Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and not a change in regime.

Financial markets are holding their breath to see whether oil prices surge further when trading resumes on Monday after the weekend, as Israel has hit the oil depot in Tehran and facilities at Iran's huge South Fars gas field, the world's largest, which produces gas for domestic consumption.

Oil prices already shot up by 9% on Friday before Israel had struck any Iranian oil and gas targets.

Meanwhile, Iran has said the situation at the burning Shahran oil depot in the capital was under control and it told citizens to seek shelter in mosques, schools and subways.

Trump Vetoed Israeli Plan To Kill Iran's Supreme Leader: US Officials

WASHINGTON, June 15: President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said two US officials on Sunday.

"Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we're not even talking about going after the political leadership," said one of the sources, a senior U.S. administration official.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said top U.S. officials have been in constant communications with Israeli officials in the days since Israel launched a massive attack on Iran in a bid to halt its nuclear program.

They said the Israelis reported that they had an opportunity to kill the top Iranian leader, but Trump waved them off of the plan.

The officials would not say whether Trump himself delivered the message. But Trump has been in frequent communications with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

When asked about Reuters report, Netanyahu, in an interview on Sunday with Fox News Channel's "Special Report With Bret Baier," said: "There's so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I'm not going to get into that."

"But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we'll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States," Netanyahu said.

Tehran launches fresh attacks against Israel; Tel Aviv hits Iran's fuel depots

TEHRAN, June 14: Iran on Saturday night launched a fresh attack of drones and missiles against Israel while Israel countered by targeting two of its fuel depots and other targets.

The two countries traded attacks for the second day as conflict escalated after Israel initiated strikes against Iran's military and nuclear infrastructure. Iranian military authorities stated that this was the launch of Operation “Honest Promise 3”.

An Israeli drone caused a “strong explosion” at Iran's Shaharan natural-gas processing plant and one more fuel depot.

Israel stated that residential buildings had been hit during the Iranian strikes, with rescue and fire services stating that 14 people had been injured. Iran also claimed that they had hit key military targets, although Israel has not confirmed these reports.

After the one-hour-long attack, Israeli authorities told the public that they could leave shelters and eased air raid sirens.

In light of the attacks, the US, a key ally to Israel, will no longer be holding talks regarding a nuclear deal with Iran.

Both Israel’s military and Iran state television announced the latest round of Iranian missiles as explosions were heard in parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv, less than an hour before midnight.

The Israeli military stated it was striking “military targets” in Tehran, as Iranian state television confirmed that explosions were heard in the Tehran's east and west.

Israel said three people were killed overnight into Saturday in the first attack and over 170 wounded.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel's strikes so far are "nothing compared to what they will feel under the sway of our forces in the coming days.”

Iran retaliates with ballistic missile, drone attacks on Israel

TEHRAN, June 13: Iran confirmed that it has launched ballistic missile attacks against multiple targets in Israel, and downed Israeli jets. Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israel in response to the overnight Israeli airstrikes that rocked Iranian soil and killed several top military officials, including the chief of its Revolutionary Guards Hossein Salami, local media reported.

Israel said it has already begun intercepting the drones outside its borders. The high-stakes escalation marks one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the region in years.

Israel had already started evacuations in areas it expected might get hit. Air raid sirens sounded in several parts of Israel as the country's army said it has detected a missile from Yemen. People in Israeli capital Tel Aviv rushed to bomb shelters after hearing the sirens.

The fresh escalation comes after Israeli armed forces took Iran by surprise and conducted multiple overnight airstrikes, targeting Iran nuclear and military sites under ‘Operation Rising Lion’. Justifying the strikes, Israel has said that it had intel indicating that Iran's nuclear programme had almost reached ‘point of no return’.

Iran lost several commanders and six nuclear scientists in the attacks. The chief of staff of Iran's armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, was also killed in the strikes, reported Iranian state television.

World leaders urged restraint as Israel-Iran tensions escalated. UN chief asked "both sides to show maximum restraint". China also expressed deep concerns over the situation. France also urged the two countries to "avoid any escalation that could undermine regional stability".

Iran's UN envoy says 78 killed, 320 injured in strikes

NEW YORK, June 13: Iran's UN envoy said on Friday that 78 people had been “martyred” and 320 injured in strikes conducted by Israel against Iran.

Israel destroys key section of Iranian nuclear enrichment plant

TEHRAN, June 13: Iranian authorities confirmed on Friday that a key aboveground section of the Natanz nuclear enrichment plant had been destroyed during the Israeli strikes earlier that day.

The nuclear sites at Fordow and Isfahan have also been struck in Israeli attacks, said the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"At present, the Iranian authorities are informing us of attacks on two other facilities, namely the Fordow fuel enrichment plant, and at Isfahan, (where a) fuel plate fabrication plant, a fuel manufacturing plant, a uranium conversion facility are located," IAEA nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the UN Security Council.

The Iranian authorities said that though there was limited damage to the Fordo nuclear site south of Tehran, Israeli had destroyed a key section of the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

"The damage was limited to areas that did not cause any urban damage in the case of Fordo. In Isfahan, there were also attacks on several points, which were related to warehouses that caught fire," said agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi.

He added, "The damage was not extensive and there is no cause for concern in terms of contamination".

Israeli military have also claimed that they have destroyed Iranian air force military bases in Hamadan and Tabriz.

Israel strikes Iranian nuclear, military sites; Top Iranian commanders, 6 nuclear scientists Killed

TEHRAN, June 13: The Israeli Air Force has conducted airstrikes on Iran, targeting its nuclear and military sites under ‘Operation Rising Lion’. The attack comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran over the latter's progressing work on its nuclear program.

The Israeli military carried out at least two waves of air strikes that targeted locations in the cities of Tehran, Natanz, Tabriz, Isfahan, Arak and Kermanshah. Iran’s state-run media reported that at least six nuclear scientists and Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were among those killed in the Israeli strikes.

Iran's chief of staff of armed forces, Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, was also killed in the strikes, reported Iranian state television.

IDF in a post on X stated "We can now confirm that the Chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Commander of the IRGC and the Commander of Iran’s Emergency Command were all eliminated in the Israeli strikes across Iran by more than 200 fighter jets.

These are three ruthless mass murderers with international blood on their hands. The world is a better place without them," said IDF.

Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said in a statement after the strikes, “Following the preemptive strike by the State of Israel against Iran, a missile and UAV (drone) attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate timeframe.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his country's strikes on Iran are aimed at hurting its nuclear infrastructure, its ballistic missile factories and many of its military capabilities.

"Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat," he said.

Reacting to the attack, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned Israel of ‘bitter and painful fate’ and said that the country will suffer severe consequences.

"With this crime, the Zionist regime has set itself for a bitter and painful fate and it will definitely receive it," Khamenei said in a statement.

The strikes come after the United States made it clear that they do not want Iran to have a nuclear weapon under any circumstances and also started withdrawing their personnel from the Middle-East.

According to Netanyahu, “In recent years, Iran has produced enough highly enriched uranium for nine atom bombs.”

The United States has said that Israel's strikes on Iran is the country's ‘unilateral’ action and the US is not involved.

“We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement released by the White House.

Both Iran and Israel have closed their airspace following the strikes.

Oil spikes 12% as Israeli attacks on Iran stoke confrontation fears

SINGAPORE, June 13: Oil surged after Israel carried out a wave of military strikes against targets in Iran, raising fears of fresh confrontations across a region that accounts for a third of global crude production.

Brent spiked more than 12%, topping $77 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate also soared.

“The risk appetite of oil investors will likely be tested today, with immense volatility and uncertainty,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, a senior market analyst at Phillip Nova Pte in Singapore. The worsening conflict raises the risk of disruptions to oil supplies, as well as contagion, she said.

India concerned after Israeli air strikes on Iran, urges both to avoid escalation

New Delhi: India on Friday expressed deep concern after Israel launched waves of air strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites and urged both countries to avoid escalatory steps.

Iran to activate new nuclear enrichment site as tensions with US rise

TEHRAN, June 12: Iran announced on Friday that it has built and will activate a third nuclear enrichment facility amid tensions with the United States regarding a stalled nuclear deal between the countries, reported Associated Press.

US President Donald Trump had previously warned that Israel or America could launch airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities if negotiators failed to reach a deal on Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme.

A sixth round of Iran-US talks is scheduled to begin Sunday in Oman. Earlier, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly claimed that he had proof of Iran using their nuclear programme to build weapons.

Iran's nuclear programme has been a matter of concern for several Western countries due to the massive level at which nuclear enrichment is conducted, much above the level required for civilian purposes.

Trump said Thursday he is still urging Iran to negotiate a deal, but that he is concerned a “massive conflict” could occur in the Middle East if it does not.

“I don't want to say imminent, but it looks like it's something that could very well happen. Look, it's very simple, not complicated. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” he said.

“As long as I think there is a (chance for an) agreement, I don't want them going in because I think it would blow it," he added.

The International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday, censured Iran, an action it has taken for the first time in 20 years, over its non-compliance wih rules on advancing nuclear enrichment.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has no choice but to respond to this political resolution,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry and Atomic Energy Organisation said in a joint statement in response to the IAEA.

Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners of war

CHERNIHIV REGION (Ukraine), June 9: Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war under the age of 25 on Monday in emotional homecoming scenes, the first step in a series of planned prisoner swaps that could become the biggest of the war so far.

The exchange was the result of direct talks between the two sides in Istanbul on June 2 that resulted in an agreement to exchange at least 1,200 POWs on each side and to repatriate thousands of bodies of those killed in Russia's war in Ukraine.

The return of POWs and the repatriation of the bodies of the dead is one of the few things the two sides have managed to agree on as broader negotiations have failed to get close to ending the war, now in its fourth year.

Fighting has raged on, with Russia saying on Monday its forces had taken control of more territory in Ukraine's east-central region of Dnipropetrovsk and Kyiv saying Moscow had launched its largest drone attack of the war.

Officials in Kyiv said some of the Ukrainian prisoners who came home on Monday had been in Russian captivity since the beginning of the war.

At a rendezvous point for the returning Ukrainian prisoners, soon after they crossed back into northern Ukraine, an official handed one of the freed men a cellphone so that he could call his mother, a video released by Ukrainian authorities showed.

Ukraine Says It Shot Down Russian Su-35 Fighter Jet Over Kursk Region

KYIV, June 7: Ukraine said Saturday that its forces shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet over the Kursk region.

Russia pushed Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk region in late April, months after Kyiv launched a bold cross-border offensive there in August 2024.

"This morning, on June 7, 2025, as a result of a successful Air Force operation in the Kursk direction, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet was shot down," the Ukrainian Air Force said on its Telegram channel.

The Air Force published aerial footage showing what it says is the downed jet, its wreckage in flames.

It did not specify how or exactly where the aircraft was shot down.

Russia’s Defense Ministry has not commented on the reported loss.

Pepel, a local news outlet based in Russia’s Belgorod region, reported that the jet crashed in the Kornevsky district of the Kursk region.

The Russian pro-war Telegram channel Fighterbomber said that the pilot survived the crash.

The Sukhoi Su-35 is among Russia’s most advanced fourth-generation fighters.

Russia is believed to have lost at least seven Su-35s since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, either to friendly fire, crashing or Ukrainian forces shooting them down.

South Korea's Liberal Opposition Candidate Wins Presidential Election

SEOUL, June 5: South Korea's liberal party candidate, Lee Jae-myung, was elected president in Tuesday's snap election, six months to the day after he evaded military cordons to vote against a shock martial law decree imposed by his ousted predecessor.

Lee's victory stands to usher in a political sea change in Asia's fourth-largest economy, after the backlash against the martial law brought down Yoon Suk Yeol, the conservative outsider who narrowly beat Lee in the 2022 election.

Nearly 80% of South Korea's 44.39 million eligible voters cast their ballots, the highest turnout for a presidential election in the country since 1997, with Lee terming the polls "judgment day" against Yoon's martial law and the People Power Party's failure to distance itself from that decision.

With more than 99% of the votes counted, the Democratic Party's Lee stood at 49.3% to PPP candidate Kim Moon-soo's 41.3%, according to National Election Commission data.

A subdued Kim conceded the race and congratulated Lee in brief remarks to reporters.

Lee had long been favoured to win, and his supporters erupted in cheers as exit polls by the country's major broadcasters showed him defeating Kim by wide margins.

In a brief speech to supporters gathered outside parliament after the polls closed, Lee said he would fulfil the duties of the office and bring unity to the country.

"We can overcome this temporary difficulty with the combined strength of our people, who have great capabilities," he said.

He also vowed to revive the economy and seek peace with nuclear-armed North Korea through dialogue and strength.

The martial law decree and the six months of ensuing turmoil, which saw three different acting presidents and multiple criminal insurrection trials for Yoon and several top officials, marked a stunning political self-destruction for the former leader and effectively handed the presidency to his main rival.

Yoon was impeached by the Lee-led parliament, then removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April, less than three years into his five-year term, triggering the snap election that now stands to remake the country's political leadership and foreign policies of a key U.S. ally.

Lee has accused the PPP of having condoned the martial law attempt by not fighting harder to thwart it and even trying to save Yoon's presidency.

Kim was Yoon's labour minister when the former president declared martial law on December 3.

Humanity Is Failing, Situation In Gaza Now Worse Than Hell: Red Cross Chief

LONDON, June 4: Humanity is failing in Gaza, warned Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to whom it is becoming unbearable to watch the suffering of the people unfold daily in the war-torn Palestinian region. The situation has "gone beyond any acceptable legal, moral, and humane standards", she said in an interview to the BBC.

A few weeks ago, during her visit to Gaza, the anguished Red Cross chief had remarked that Gaza has become hell on Earth. Speaking to BBC's Jeremy Bowen on Tuesday, she said "Gaza is now worse than hell".

Amid reports of mass sickness, widespread starvation, children howling with hunger, and rising piles of the dead, the International Red Cross chief said, "We cannot continue to watch what is happening in Gaza. We can no longer watch the level of suffering and destruction. The fact that we are watching a people being entirely stripped of its human dignity, should really shock our collective conscience."

She went on say that the horrors being seen in Gaza today "is the consequence of the whole world (silently) watching a type of warfare that shows utmost disrespect for civilians - that deprives civilians of their dignity entirely."

Appealing to Israel's leadership to act swiftly and take corrective action, Ms Spoljaric said, "Today we are in it, today we can reverse it...we can save lives today. That's why it is important to act now. State leaders are under an obligation to act" to save innocent lives and preserve human dignity. "I am calling on them to do something...to do more...to do whatever they can, because it will reverberate. It will haunt them. It will (someday) reach their doorsteps," a visibly grim Red Cross chief said.

On a question by the BBC about Israel saying that its actions in Gaza are "in self defence", Ms Spoljaric said, "Every State has a right to defend itself, and every mother has the right to see her children return home. There is no excuse for hostage-taking, but there is also no excuse for depriving children from their access to food, health, and security."

She added that "There are rules in the conduct of hostilities that every party to every conflict must respect."

According to the World Health Organisation, "The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing." The WHO report, which was released three weeks ago, noted that "The entire 2.1 million population of Gaza is facing prolonged food shortages, with nearly half a million people in a catastrophic situation of hunger, acute malnutrition, starvation, illness and death. This is one of the world's worst hunger crises, unfolding in real time."

"We do not need to wait for a declaration of famine in Gaza to know that people are already starving, sick and dying, while food and medicines are minutes away across the border," WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said.

Though Israel says it has eased its blockade over the Gaza strip, Gazans are still reportedly without food or water. Children, malnourished and starving, are found scavenging the streets to find any consumables. "If the situation persists, nearly 71 000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished over the next eleven months," according to the WHO report.

The Red Cross is an international organisation that operates in war zones. In Gaza, it has more than 300 staff, most of whom are Palestinians. Red Cross is considered the custodian of the Geneva Conventions in war zones and is there is protect civilians during conflict.

Ukraine Says It Hit Russia's Bridge To Crimea With Underwater Explosives

KYIV, June 3: Ukraine's SBU security service said on Tuesday that it had hit the road and rail bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula below the water level with explosives.

In a statement, the SBU said it had used 1,100 kilograms (2,420 pounds) of explosives that were detonated early in the morning and damaged underwater pillars of the bridge, a key supply route for Russian forces in Ukraine in the past.

The official Russian outlet which provides regular status updates on the bridge said its operation had been suspended for about three hours between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time.

It gave no reason for the temporary closure, but said the bridge had been reopened and was functioning as normal.

"Previously, we hit the Crimean Bridge twice, in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition underwater," the SBU said in its statement, adding that the operation had been prepared over several months.

The SBU shared video footage that showed an explosion next to one of the many support pillars of the bridge.

Russian military bloggers said the attack had been unsuccessful and speculated that it had been carried out by a Ukrainian sea drone.

On Sunday, Ukraine launched drones in an operation codenamed "Spider's Web" to attack Russian nuclear-capable long-range bomber planes at distant airfields across Russia.

The 19-km (12-mile) Crimea Bridge over the Kerch Strait is the only direct link between the transport network of Russia and the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The bridge was a flagship project for Russian President Vladimir Putin. It consists of a separate roadway and railway, both supported by concrete stilts, which give way to a wider span held by steel arches at the point where ships pass between the Black Sea and the smaller Azov Sea.

The bridge was used by Russian forces during their invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, when they crossed it to reach Crimea and from there went on to seize parts of Ukraine's southern Kherson and southeastern Zaporizhzhia regions.

27 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire near aid centre, Gaza authorities say

GAZA, June 3: At least 27 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire as they attempted to collect aid near a distribution site in Gaza, local officials say.

Civilians were fired upon by tanks, quadcopter drones, and helicopters near the al-Alam roundabout, about 1km (0.6 miles) from the aid site, a spokesman for Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency, Mahmoud Basal, said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops fired shots after identifying suspects who moved towards them "deviating from the designated access routes".

Israel previously denied shooting Palestinians in a similar incident on Sunday which the Hamas-run health ministry said killed 31 people and injured nearly 200.

Its denial was in direct contradiction to what dozens of civilian witnesses, NGOs, and health officials said.

Following Tuesday morning's incident, the director of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Atef Al-Hout, described 24 dead and 37 wounded arriving with gunshot injuries, saying Israeli forces had opened fire on "crowds of civilians waiting for aid in western Rafah."

Dutch government collapses after Geert Wilders quits coalition over failed asylum policy talks

THE HAGUE, June 3: The Dutch government has collapsed after far-right leader Geert Wilders pulled his Party for Freedom out of the ruling coalition over disagreements on migration policy.

Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed on Tuesday that he would step down and offer the cabinet's resignation to King Willem-Alexander by the end of the day.

The move capped a dramatic day in Hague, where Wilders’ announcement brought down the fragile coalition months after it was formed.

Schoof said he would submit the resignations of Wilders’ ministers and continue in a caretaker role alongside the remaining cabinet.

No date for new elections has been set, but one is unlikely before autumn.

The Netherlands will operate under a caretaker government when it hosts a NATO summit in three weeks.

Schoof, a veteran civil servant appointed by Wilders to lead the government last year, warned coalition leaders that dissolving the cabinet would be “unnecessary and irresponsible” given the national and international challenges at hand. “We need decisiveness now more than ever,” he said.

Wilders announced his decision on X after a short meeting with coalition partners.

Frustrated by the lack of progress on migration, he accused the government of failing to act on his strict asylum demands. “I signed up for the toughest asylum policy, not the downfall of the Netherlands,” he said.

His proposed 10-point plan—calling for army-guarded borders and the refusal of all asylum-seekers—was rejected by coalition partners.

Dilan Yesilgoz, leader of the right-wing People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, called his exit “super-irresponsible,” adding, “We face enormous international challenges, including war in Europe and an economic crisis.”

Despite winning the last election on anti-migration promises, Wilders found little success pushing them through the divided coalition.

After Schoof formally presents his resignation to Dutch King Willem-Alexander, the head of state, a new election is expected to be called.

It is unlikely that the vote will be held before mid-October, based on previous election cycles.

Wilders' PVV won the last election in November 2023 with a wide margin of 23 per cent of the vote. Polls indicate he has lost some support since then, to about 20 per cent, at par with the Labour/Green combination, the second-largest in Parliament.

Wilders did not emerge as a likely winner of the previous election until a few days before that vote, and other right-wing parties that enjoyed sudden success in recent years have seen their gains disappear as quickly as they came.

Schoof has already said that he and the remaining ministers of the other three coalition parties will stay in their positions to form a caretaker government until a new government is formed after an election.

In the fragmented Dutch political landscape it usually takes months for a coalition to form.

"As caretaker government we will do all we can in the interest of the people in this country, within the room granted to us by parliament. We have decisions to take that do not bear any delay," the outgoing prime minister said.

In the coming days parliament is expected to set out which disputed topics the caretaker government cannot deal with and which they can still make decisions about. The Netherlands is expected to continue its political and military assistance to Ukraine as this enjoys wide political support.

Ukraine and Russia still far apart after peace talks but agree prisoner swap

ISTANBUL, June 2: A second round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have ended without a major breakthrough, and only an agreement between the warring sides to swap more prisoners of war.

Ukrainian negotiators said Russia had again rejected an "unconditional ceasefire" - a key demand by Kyiv and its allies in Europe and the US.

The Russian team said it had proposed a two-to-three day truce "in certain areas" of the vast front line, but gave no further details.

At Monday's talks, which were held in the Turkish city of Istanbul and lasted just over an hour, the two sides did agree to exchange all sick and heavily wounded prisoners of war, as well those aged under 25.

Expectations were low even before the talks started, with both sides remaining deeply divided on how to end the war that has been raging since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula which it annexed in 2014.

Speaking at a briefing after the meeting, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who led Kyiv's negotiating team, said Ukraine was insisting on a "full and and unconditional ceasefire" for at least 30 days on land, at sea and in the air to "end the killings now".

He said Ukraine had handed over its truce proposals to Russia "a few days ago" - but Moscow failed to do the same, presenting its plan only at the Istanbul talks.

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Serhiy Kyslytsia said that Russia had rejected the unconditional ceasefire.

Ukraine also handed over a list of hundreds of children Kyiv said had been forcefully taken to Russia.

Ukraine's negotiators said they were expecting Russia's response to Ukrainian proposals by the end of June, stressing on the need to prepare for direct talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia's Vladimir Putin.

But so far there is no sign of any progress for a meeting between the two presidents.

Speaking at a separate news briefing, Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky confirmed all sick and heavily wounded prisoners of war and those younger than 25 would be exchanged. No timeframe was given as to when this would happen.

Medinsky also said that next week Russia would hand over to Kyiv the bodies of 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers.

Rejecting an unconditional ceasefire, Russia prefers to talk about "lasting peace", repeating its previous tough demands which Ukraine and its allies say are tantamount to Kyiv's de facto capitulation.

The texts of both the Russian and Ukrainian ceasefire proposals have not been made public officially.

Ukrainian Drones Strike Multiple Airbases in Russia, Over 40 Aircraft Hit

MOSCOW, June 1: Ukraine on Sunday launched one of its largest drone-based operations on Russia to date, striking an air base in eastern Siberia, thousands of kilometres (miles) from its border. The Russian governor of the Irkutsk region confirmed the attack, saying Ukrainian remote-piloted aircraft attacked a military unit in the village of Sridni, the first such attack in Siberia.

Russia has confirmed that several of its military aircraft "caught fire" after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack.

Ukrainian media claimed that a large-scale special operation by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has struck "more than 40" Russian aircraft at air bases in the "rear of the Russian Federation".

Citing officials, a news agency reported that Russian airbases in the eastern Siberian city of Belaya, in Olenya, up in the Arctic near Finland, and in Ivanovo and Dyagilevo, both east of Moscow, had been targeted.

The aircraft destroyed in the attack include Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 bombers, and at least one A-50, a report by Kyiv Independent claimed, citing sources.

The attack is aimed at destroying enemy bombers far from the front, in Russia, news agency reported, quoting a source, who added that a fire broke out at the targeted Belaya air base.

If confirmed, the strikes would be the most damaging Ukrainian drone attack of the war, and would be a significant setback for Moscow.

RT also shared a video of a drone attacking a military unit in Russia's Irkutsk region.

Army and civilian responders have already been mobilised to tackle the threat, and the source of the drone launch has been blocked, according to an RT report.

The operation has been launched under a special operation code-named "Pavutyna" - or "Spider Web" - aimed at degrading Russia's long-range strike capabilities, according to a Ukrainian publication, Pravda.

Ukraine reportedly planned the attack for a year. The drones were hidden in mobile wooden sheds, which were placed on cargo trucks. At chosen times, the roofs of trucks opened remotely, giving time for drones to flow out and target the chosen airbases.

Ukraine, which lacks Russia's vast arsenal of missiles, has instead built up a large fleet of attack drones, which it has used to attack Russian military and oil facilities in the past as well.

Russia had proposed a fresh round of talks in Istanbul on Monday, a proposal that was accepted by Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a delegation led by his minister Rustem Umerov will be in Istanbul on Monday for talks with Russia.

"I have also defined our position before the Monday meeting in Istanbul", which includes priorities to reach "a complete and unconditional ceasefire" and the return of prisoners and abducted children, he said on social media on Sunday.

26 Killed, 80 Wounded As Israeli Tanks Open Fire Near Aid Centre In Gaza: Report

GAZA, June 1: At least 26 Palestinians were allegedly killed and over 80 others were injured in gunfire near a US-backed aid distribution site in southern Gaza's Rafah area. Gaza rescuers alleged that thousands of Palestinians had gathered near Al-Alam roundabout-- close to the aid centre run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)-- on Sunday when Israeli tanks approached and opened fire on the crowd.

However, the reports of the attack were denied by sources in the Israeli embassy. The GHF also claimed that its aid distribution in Gaza went on "without" any incident and denied the Hamas allegations of an attack on civilians.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also took to X (formerly Twitter) and denied the reports of Israeli firing on Gazans near the aid centre in Rafah. In a video message, he said, "This morning, all world media reported a huge lie. They said that Israeli tanks opened fire at a food distribution centre... this has not happened. It's simply a lie."

The reports of the attack came shortly after Washington rejected a Hamas ceasefire proposal as "totally unacceptable". The injured were taken to Nasser Hospital -- one of the few functioning hospitals in Khan Younis on donkey carts, according to a BBC report, which confirmed at least 26 people have died in the attack.

Shortly after the attack on Sunday, Hamas accused Israeli forces operating in Rafah of committing "a new massacre against hungry civilians who had gathered at the so-called 'humanitarian aid' distribution sites", calling them "mass death traps, not humanitarian relief points".