• “Continued aggression in the region will have consequences”: Putin warns Trump
• British naval forces in the Persian Gulf have reportedly been placed on high alert.
• Iranian State media displayed a map of American military bases in the region with the message: “Mr. Trump, you started it, and we will end it”.
• “We are closer to a global military confrontation than at any point in the last 50 years,” said retired General Mark Hastings.

WASHINGTON, June 22: In a dramatic escalation of the Middle East hostilities, the US has joined Israel in launching coordinated airstrikes on three of Iran’s most fortified nuclear facilities. Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan were bombed overnight Saturday. This is the first direct American military intervention in Iran in decades.

President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes late Saturday (local time), calling the mission a “very successful military operation” and declaring that all US aircraft had safely exited Iranian airspace.

“A full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,” Trump posted on Truth Social, referring to the underground enrichment facility near Qom.

The operation, conducted in close coordination with Israeli forces, involved B-2 stealth bombers deploying 30,000-pound bunker-busting bombs, specifically targeting Iran’s deeply buried nuclear infrastructure.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has since reported no immediate signs of off-site radiation leakage.

The strikes follow more than a week of Israeli attacks aimed at crippling Iran’s air defences and missile systems.

Trump’s decision to intervene militarily represents a sharp departure from his earlier campaign promises to avoid foreign entanglements.

“There is not another military in the world that could have done this,” he said. “Now is the time for peace”.

Iran has condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty and international law. Iranian State media aired a stark warning to the US, displaying a map of American military bases in the region with the message: “Mr. Trump, you started it, and we will end it”.

In response to the strikes, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israeli cities, injuring at least 20 people and causing significant damage in Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Iranian officials have vowed further retaliation, and the country’s Supreme Leader has called for an emergency session of the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom announced that it would support the US-led coalition, citing the need to “uphold international security and prevent nuclear proliferation.” British naval forces in the Persian Gulf have reportedly been placed on high alert.

Adding to the geopolitical strain, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning to President Trump, stating that “continued aggression in the region will have consequences.” While details of Russia’s potential response remain unclear, Moscow has called for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic resolution.

With multiple global powers now entangled in the conflict, analysts warn that the situation could spiral into a broader war. “We are closer to a global military confrontation than at any point in the last 50 years,” said retired General Mark Hastings on CNN.

As the world watches with bated breath, diplomatic channels remain open - but fragile. President Trump is expected to address the nation again tonight, while the UN Security Council prepares for an emergency session in New York.

Fordow: This is the most fortified of all nuclear sites in Iran. It is very deep underground than Natanz and Isfahan. Israel wanted the US to strike Fordow as it did not have that powerful bombs. “FORDOW IS GONE”, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the strikes. Fordow is located 30 km northeast of the city of Qom in Qom province, and 95 km southwest of Tehran. Fordow is a fuel enrichment plant, said to be able to produce centrifuges. (To build a nuclear weapon, uranium must be enriched to about 90 per cent U-235. ) When Fordow became public, the US talks began. The 7-nation 2015 deal put strict curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions. B-2 bombers carrying MOPs were used in the Sunday attack.

What is MOP: Massive Ordance Penetrator or MOP is a precision-guided bomb, also called "bunker-buster bomb". About a dozens MOP bombs, each weighing 13,000 kg, were deployed to destroy Iran's Fordow nuclear facility. And 30 submarine-launched missiles also were used. The MOP can penetrate 200 feet into the ground. Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan were hit.

What are B-2 bombers: B-2 stealth bombers carry MOPs, two at a time. Seven bombers were deployed. B-2's range is 9,600 km. With aerial refuelling, the bomber, with low observability (minimise detection by enemy), can reach virtually any target worldwide. Can carry nuclear weapons also. Can seat two pilots. They are based in Missouri.

-With AI

The CCTV footage and the video circulating on social media do not indicate any serious abnormalities in takeoff or descent, it has been confirmed. The disaster is becoming curiouser and curiouser. The flight path was not curvy. And the aircraft maintained a steady, gliding descent with its nose straight and the wings perfectly level. The pilot's distress call does not specify what prevented lift and climb-out. Here are some expert opinions. The sole purpose is to raise travellers' awareness about air travel.

Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Three hundred nineteen body parts have been sent for DNA matching with relatives to determine the identities.

• The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla line provides Kashmir with all-weather connectivity and integrates the Valley with the rest of India.
• The saying 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' is now a dream come true.
• The Chenab bridge on the line, an engineering marvel, is the world's highest railway bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower. (Video: File)

A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924) (Today's headlines )

Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”

Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.

PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.

Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people. (Today's headlines )

"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...

Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.

Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.

As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.

The committee headed by justice Kurian Joseph will study Centre-State relations and make proposals to ensure foolproof separation of powers.

"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.

Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.

ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!

What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America! (Today's headlines )

PROGNOSIS: It looks a Real New Trump is emerging - courageous, balanced, powerful and disinterested. Determined to save his country from the cliff, he has done quite a few draconian things that will reduce the burden of debts of the Federal entity, like the golden handshake, stopping senseless funding, pulling out of a worthless WHO. Shutting the Education Department is another. On the other hand, running it is also not the Centre's job either (We will convincingly elaborate it in the next chapter).

In India the scene is just the opposite. Centralisation is the core agenda and identity of the ruling dispensation without which it has no existence, or in other words, it exists for that set of schemes only. A realisation of this never dawned upon any Opposition party in 2014 or any time thereafter, what to talk of being able to see it coming 70 years ago! The consequence of all this violation of basic natural law of the universe we cannot predict.

THE AMERICAN CONUNDRUM: Political venom has migrated to top echelons in the US. It was reported last year NASA has become politicised, vitiated. But NASA refuted the charge. How Boeing developed a glitch but its unmanned return was smooth. When Suni-Wilmore were stranded last June, why the return was set for February? Because that comes only after January 20! SpaceX called the shots, for itself and for Trump. Then the mission was manipulated for March for a better bargain! In between, what made Elon Musk 'predict' during campaign if Kamala Harris wins he would be in jail. In politics, it is said, "the only rule is there are no rules." Difficult times for Americans too.

The terminations are part of a large-scale exercise going on all across Fed departments and organisations to reduce wasteful Government expenditure as decided by a Trump in a mess gone berserk, and improve administrative efficiency following the whims of billionaire and his associate Elon MusK and his DOGE. It has not been shared how terminations are going to raise the efficiency bar! It looks like Trump has stolen some of the prescriptions meant for India. But the American problems are quite different.

Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See: New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)

ANALYSIS: "The standard operating procedure for deportations by aircraft used by ICE that is effective from 2012 provides for the use of restraints," says the Government. That means, it is taken for granted the US will set the standard for deportations. For another, the Government is more interested in comparing with what happened in 2012 under a different Government to justify its own compliance! No surprise, others are trampling upon us. (How we conduct ourselves inside decides, inherently, how we are treated outside) Thirdly, the Government blamed the gangs doing the business of human trafficking for the illegal migration. For all the crimes taking place in the country, let us blame the criminals! Funny! We will never move an inch forward! The mindset defines what we are.

Meanwhile, a UN-returned Congress leader Shashi Tharoor sounded like a layman when he said, "If they are citizens of India we have an obligation to take them back." Who said 'No'?. He should know that is not the issue now. Who will identify an undocumented person, and how?

The function was held indoors from 12 pm (10:30 pm IST) at the rotunda of the US Capitol building because of unusually intense cold and snow. Delivering his inaugural address, Trump remarked, “The golden age of America begins right now," and just hours later signed a slew of executive orders to redeem the election pledges.