Iran-US Conflict: PM Modi Discusses Regional Peace with Iranian President
Nuclear-Capable States striking Iran’s Nuclear facilities
Global Reaction to US Airstrikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities
PM Modi’s Three-State Tour: Key Projects Inaugurated in Bihar and Odisha
NIA Arrests Two for Harbouring Pahalgam Attack Terrorists

What Else

Multiple Flight Disruptions in India and Abroad
F-35 Fighter Jet Still Stranded at Thiruvananthapuram Airport
India Pledges to Secure Fuel Supply Amid Middle East Turmoil
India Aims for Quantum Satellite Communication by 2030
India-Pakistan Tensions: Smooth Sailing Not Expected
NSA Ajit Doval to Visit China for SCO Summit, Counterterrorism on Agenda
By-Elections 2025: UDF and AAP Lead in Key Seats
Bangladesh: Consensus on PM Term Limit Eludes Parties
Bangladesh: BNP Files Case Against Ex-Election Commissioners Over Alleged Poll Rigging
Mob Attacks Former Bangladesh Election Chief
Pakistan ‘Condemns’ US Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities, Calls Emergency NSC Meeting

Iran-US Conflict: PM Modi Discusses Regional Peace with Iranian President

PM Modi spoke with Iranian President Pezeshkian over the phone, discussing the recent escalation in the region following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Pezeshkian sought India’s help in restoring regional peace, appreciating India’s voice and role in promoting peace and stability.
Phone Call: The call lasted 45 minutes, during which Pezeshkian described India as a friend and partner in regional peace efforts.
India’s Stance: PM Modi expressed deep concern over the escalating situation, emphasizing the need for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.
Regional Stability: Modi reiterated India’s commitment to regional stability and thanked the Iranian President for his appreciation of India’s position.
US Strikes: The US launched strikes on three underground nuclear facilities in Iran, prompting international condemnation and vows from Iran to continue its nuclear program.
Evacuation Efforts: India continues to evacuate its nationals from Iran, with multiple flights planned to bring back citizens from the conflict-hit region [June 22, 2025, 17:05:00 IST](more).
“…all their (US) claims about peace, democracy, human rights, and adherence to international norms are nothing but slogans and deception of public opinion,” read the Iranian statement on call.

Nuclear-Capable States striking Iran’s Nuclear facilities

The conflict between Iran and Israel continues to intensify, with global powers weighing in. Here are the latest developments:
Russia Warns US: Russia has cautioned the US against military intervention in the Iran-Israel war, emphasizing the need for restraint and diplomacy to prevent further escalation.
Iran’s Missile Capabilities: Israel “claims” Iran used ballistic missiles with multiple warheads in its attacks, highlighting the country’s growing military capabilities.
Israel’s Direct Threat: Israel’s Defense Minister has made a direct threat against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, stating that he “can no longer be allowed to exist.”
This statement underscores the severity of the conflict and the potential for further military action.
The situation remains volatile, with diplomatic efforts struggling to keep pace with the rapid escalation.
The international community is increasingly concerned about the potential consequences of a full-blown conflict, including the impact on global oil supplies, regional stability, and the risk of wider conflict.
As tensions rise, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. [ June 22, 2025, 22:05:00 IST] (more, more, more)
India debunks claims of U.S. using Indian airspace for Iran strikes, PIB Fact Check confirms: India dismissed claims that US fighter jets used its airspace to launch strikes against Iran as “fake.”
The Press Information Bureau cited Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine’s explanation of the US aircraft route during Operation #MidnightHammer, confirming Indian airspace wasn’t used. (more)
Some Pakistani media claimed that India has provided airspace to US. (more)
Iranian Parliament Votes to Close Strait of Hormuz After US Strikes: Iran’s parliament has voted to close the vital Strait of Hormuz in response to US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global oil shipping route, and any disruption could have significant implications for the global energy market.
While the final decision lies with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, analysts warn that closure could trigger a global recession, push oil prices over $100 per barrel (more)

Global Reaction to US Airstrikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities

The US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities have sparked a mixed reaction from the international community.
Condemnation: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of committing a “grave violation of international law” and warned of “everlasting consequences”.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the strikes, calling for an immediate ceasefire and dialogue.
Saudi Arabia condemns, denounces the violation of Iran’s sovereignty after US strikes
Pakistan, an Iranian ‘ally’, also condemned the attacks, stating they violate international law and Iran has the right to defend itself.
Support: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the move as a “historic turning point” in curbing Iran’s nuclear program.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney supported the US action, emphasizing the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program.
Calls for De-escalation: UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern, warning of a “dangerous escalation” and urging immediate de-escalation.
Indian PM Modi called Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to express deep concern and reiterate the need for dialogue and diplomacy.
Other nations, including France, New Zealand, and Australia, also called for restraint and a return to diplomacy. (more)

PM Modi’s Three-State Tour: Key Projects Inaugurated in Bihar and Odisha

PM Modi embarked on a 2-day tour across Bihar, Odisha, and Visakhapatnam, focusing on development project inaugurations. Here’s what’s on his agenda:
Bihar Projects: Inaugurated the Vaishali-Deoria railway line project worth over Rs 400 crore
Launched the Vande Bharat Express service connecting Patliputra to Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah
Dispatched an advanced locomotive manufactured at the Marhowra plant to the Republic of Guinea
Inaugurated six sewage treatment plants under Namami Gange worth over Rs 1,800 crore
Odisha Projects: Launched development projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore, including drinking water, irrigation, and agricultural infrastructure initiatives, and railway expansion
Inaugurated new train services to the Boudh district, providing its first railway connection
Unveiled Odisha’s Vision Document for 2036 and 2047
International Day of Yoga: Led national celebrations of the 11^th International Day of Yoga in Visakhapatnam with approximately five lakh participants
The tour highlights PM Modi’s focus on infrastructure development, regional connectivity, and sustainable growth in Bihar and Odisha. [June 22, 2025, 22:45:00 IST] (more)

NIA Arrests Two for Harbouring Pahalgam Attack Terrorists

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, for providing shelter and support to the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.
The accused allegedly harbored the Pakistani nationals in a seasonal hut before the assault, which targeted tourists based on their religious identity. Key Details:
Arrests: Both residents of Pahalgam, were arrested under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Terrorist Link: The NIA confirmed the link to Lashkar-e-Taiba and identified the three terrorists involved in the attack as Pakistani nationals.
Investigation: The NIA is further investigating the case to uncover the broader conspiracy and potential groups or individuals involved. [Sunday, June 22, 2025, 22:59:00 IST] (more)

Multiple Flight Disruptions in India and Abroad

Several flights experienced disruptions over the weekend due to bomb threats, technical glitches, and adverse weather conditions. Here are the key incidents:
Air India Bomb Threat: A flight from Birmingham to Delhi received a bomb threat and was diverted to Riyadh, where it landed safely and underwent security checks.
IndiGo Technical Glitch: An IndiGo flight was canceled due to a technical issue identified before taxiing, and passengers were safely disembarked.
Air India Express Diversion: A flight from Delhi to Patna was diverted to Varanasi due to bad weather but reached its destination safely.
IndiGo Emergency Landing: A flight from Guwahati to Chennai made an emergency landing at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport after the captain issued a ‘Mayday’ call citing low fuel.
These incidents highlight the challenges faced by the aviation sector, with safety checks and precautions being prioritized to ensure passenger safety.
The recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad has also led to increased scrutiny and safety checks on the Boeing 787 fleet [June 22, 2025, 22:50:00 IST]. (more)
DGCA launches comprehensive special audit to strengthen India’s aviation safety

F-35 Fighter Jet Still Stranded at Thiruvananthapuram Airport

A Royal Navy F-35 fighter jet remains grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport due to a hydraulic issue that engineers from the aircraft carrier have been unable to repair.
A team of technicians is stationed at the airport, continuing repair work.
Plans are underway to move the jet to a hangar, potentially for an extended stay, until a team of experts from the UK and the US can assess and fix the problem.
Despite the jet’s presence, airport operations remain unaffected, according to officials.
This marks the first time the US-made F-35 has been stranded in a foreign country.
Engineers are working to resolve the issue, but a timeline for the jet’s departure remains uncertain.
This is the first time that a US-made fighter jet is stranded in a foreign country. [June 22, 2024, 00:00 IST] (more)

India Pledges to Secure Fuel Supply Amid Middle East Turmoil

India has assured that it will take necessary measures to safeguard domestic fuel supplies amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East following US and Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.
Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri stated that India has diversified its crude oil import sources, reducing dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.
While less than half of India’s 4.8 million barrels per day of oil imports come from the Middle East, the government is closely monitoring the situation.
India’s oil marketing companies have several weeks’ worth of supplies and continue to receive energy supplies from various routes.
Puri assured that all necessary steps will be taken to ensure stability of fuel supplies to citizens. This move aims to mitigate potential disruptions to India’s energy security and economic stability. (more)

India Aims for Quantum Satellite Communication by 2030

India is poised to achieve quantum satellite communication in the next half-decade, according to Professor Bhaskar Kanseri of IIT-Delhi.
His team recently demonstrated quantum key distribution over one kilometer without cables, a significant breakthrough.
Quantum communication uses photons to create secure keys, and satellite-based transmission can enable long-distance communication.
However, this requires significant funding, multidisciplinary expertise, and startup involvement.
India’s National Quantum Mission is focused on developing satellite-based quantum communication, and Prof. Kanseri believes India can achieve this goal soon.
China demonstrated satellite-based quantum communication nearly a decade ago, and India has been working on similar projects since the 2020s.
With adequate funding and resources, India can bridge the gap and achieve quantum satellite communication, enabling ultra-secure data transmission across the country and beyond. (more)

India-Pakistan Tensions: Smooth Sailing Not Expected

India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, has cautioned that India should not expect “smooth sailing” in its relations with neighboring countries, including Nepal.
He emphasized that while most neighbors understand the benefits of working with India, Pakistan remains an exception due to its military’s “in-built hostility” towards India.
Jaishankar highlighted India’s efforts to create a “collective interest” with its neighbors, ensuring steady relationships despite government changes.
He also discussed India’s growing ties with the Gulf countries, ASEAN, and the Indo-Pacific region, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Regarding Pakistan, Jaishankar pointed to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as a turning point and noted that India’s policy towards Pakistan changed under the Modi government.
He cited examples of India’s assertiveness, including the 2016 Uri surgical strike and the 2019 Balakot air strike. (more)
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned that the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan may not hold, as the underlying issues remain unaddressed.
He expressed concerns about the threat of nuclear war and criticized the West for abandoning regional responsibilities, particularly in Afghanistan (more)

NSA Ajit Doval to Visit China for SCO Summit, Counterterrorism on Agenda

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is set to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where counterterrorism will be a key agenda item.
India plans to confront Pakistan over cross-border terrorism, particularly following the Pahalgam attack, and push for the SCO to identify Pakistan-based groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Doval’s participation is seen as a balancing act, aiming to expose Pakistan’s duplicity while testing China’s neutrality.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will also attend the SCO defence ministers’ conclave in China, potentially holding a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart.
India will seek to institutionalise anti-terror measures through the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure and promote projects like the Chabahar port and International North-South Transport Corridor as alternatives to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Russia is expected to quietly support India’s stance on terrorism. (more)

By-Elections 2025: UDF and AAP Lead in Key Seats

The counting of votes for the assembly by-elections in five constituencies across India has begun, with early trends showing promising leads for some candidates. Here are the key takeaways:
Nilambur, Kerala: UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath of Congress is leading by 2,286 votes over LDF’s M Swaraj of CPI(M).
Ludhiana West, Punjab: AAP’s Sanjeev Arora is ahead of Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu by 2,482 votes, with BJP’s Jiwan Gupta trailing behind.
Kaliganj, West Bengal: TMC’s Alifa Ahmed is leading by 2,715 votes over Congress’s Kabil Uddin Shaikh, with BJP’s Ashish Ghosh in third place.
Visavadar, Gujarat: BJP’s Kirit Patel is narrowly leading AAP’s Gopal Italia by 150 votes, while Congress’s Nitin Ranpariya trails behind.
Kadi, Gujarat: BJP’s Rajendra Chavda is leading Congress’s Ramesh Chavda by 5,752 votes, with AAP’s Jagdish Chavda in third place. The counting is still ongoing. (more)

[Neighborhood]

Bangladesh: Consensus on PM Term Limit Eludes Parties

Most political parties have agreed that a person should not serve as Prime Minister for more than 10 years. Still, three parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have opposed the proposal.
According to Professor Ali Riaz, vice-president of the National Consensus Commission, the opposing parties have requested further discussion after internal consultations.
The commission discussed 2 main topics: the Prime Minister’s term limit and the constitution’s fundamental principles.
After the discussion, the meetings were adjourned for two days to allow parties to discuss the matters at their policymaking levels.
The commission aims to prepare a final proposal incorporating the sentiments and positions of various parties, focusing on equality, human dignity, social justice, and democracy. [18:45 IST, June 23, 2024] (more)

Bangladesh: BNP Files Case Against Ex-Election Commissioners Over Alleged Poll Rigging

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has complained about 19 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and three former top election commissioners, Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, KM Nurul Huda, and Kazi Habibul Awal.
The BNP accuses them of rigging past polls to keep Hasina in power.
The party claims Hasina’s election wins in 2014, 2018, and 2024 were achieved through repressive actions against opposition parties, including killings, enforced disappearances, and persecution.
The BNP alleges that the election commission turned a blind eye and declared Hasina’s party candidates winners despite their failure to secure enough votes.
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has ordered relevant bodies to bring those responsible for irregularities to justice.
The case was filed at a Dhaka police station, and the BNP is seeking investigation and legal action. (more)

Mob Attacks Former Bangladesh Election Chief

Former Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda was detained and physically assaulted by a mob at his Uttara residence in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The attack occurred hours after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) filed a complaint against Huda and two other former CECs, accusing them of conducting “farcical elections” in the past.
A video of the incident shows Huda being pelted with shoes and eggs while in police custody.
The BNP alleged that Huda, who served as CEC during the 2018 general elections, carried out orders from the then-ruling Awami League and allowed ballot box stuffing.
The interim government has condemned the mob attack, stating that all accused persons will be tried according to the law, and law enforcement will take action against those involved in the violence (more)

Pakistan ‘Condemns’ US Strikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities, Calls Emergency NSC Meeting

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has condemned the US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, terming them a “serious violation of international law and the IAEA statute”.
The National Security Committee will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the regional situation.
The NSC, chaired by PM Shehbaz and comprising top civil and military leadership, will assess the implications of the US strikes.
Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir will brief the committee on his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Pakistan has expressed solidarity with Iran and urged diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Reza Amiri Moghadam hinted at potential retaliatory strikes on US bases, while President Asif Ali Zardari called for restraint and dialogue to ensure regional stability. (more)

Top Headlines: Iran-US Conflict: PM Modi Discusses Regional Peace with Iranian President