🌐🛡️ 1. OPERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER: U.S. Hits Iran with Massive Strike

The United States has officially entered the Iran-Israel conflict, launching Operation Midnight Hammer, a precision airstrike using stealth B-2 bombers.

💥 What happened:

• The U.S. dropped 30,000-pound “bunker buster” bombs on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facility in Fordow.
• Other targeted sites: 🇮🇷 Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — all key nuclear research and development hubs.

✈️ The B-2 Spirit Bomber is a long-range stealth aircraft capable of penetrating enemy air defenses undetected. This marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing regional tensions.

📍 Context:

The strike was a direct response to Iran’s alleged military cooperation with proxies threatening Israeli territory. The move risks widening the Middle East conflict into a full-scale war involving global powers.

⛔🌊 2. IRAN CLOSES STRAIT OF HORMUZ: Oil Market on Edge

In retaliation, the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) has voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, a decision with major global implications.

🛢️ Why it matters:

• The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, through which 20% of global oil passes daily.
• Closure could lead to global oil supply disruptions, sending crude prices skyrocketing and affecting fuel inflation worldwide.

⚠️ Geopolitical ripple:

This closure draws a direct threat to international shipping lanes and could provoke military responses from the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the UK, and other Gulf states that rely on safe passage through the strait.

🚢⚓ 3. INS Tamal to Join Indian Navy’s Western Fleet on July 1

India is set to commission the stealth frigate INS Tamal at Kaliningrad, Russia, marking the final import in the Krivak-class warship series 🇮🇳🇷🇺.

🚢 Key Features:

• Multi-role stealth capabilities
• Anti-submarine, anti-ship, and air defense weapons
• Last Indian Navy warship to be built abroad

🛡️ INS Tamal will join the prestigious Western Fleet, also known as the “Sword Arm” of the Indian Navy, securing the Arabian Sea and key maritime routes.

📍 Why it's important:

India is shifting focus towards Make in India under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, meaning future warships will be indigenously built for both economic and strategic autonomy.

🏑🇮🇳 4. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay Retires from International Hockey

Indian hockey forward Lalit Kumar Upadhyay has announced his retirement from international hockey, bringing down the curtain on a glorious career.

🥉 Achievements:

• Bronze 🥉 in Tokyo 2020 Olympics
• Bronze 🥉 in Paris 2024 Olympics
• A key member of the Indian men’s hockey revival era

👏 Lalit’s skill, agility, and consistency made him a fan favorite. His retirement signals a generational shift in Indian hockey as new talent begins to emerge for the 2028 LA Olympics.

⚡🇮🇳 5. India’s Energy Leap (2014–2025): A Decade of Power Progress

India has made stunning strides in power generation and energy access over the past decade under ambitious energy reforms and clean energy initiatives.

📊 Energy Achievements (2014–2025):

• 🔌 Total installed capacity: 476 GW
• 🔋 Non-fossil fuel contribution: 235.7 GW (49%)
• 🏠 2.8 crore households electrified
• 🏘️ 100% village electrification achieved
• 🔥 Thermal power: 240 GW (still ~50.5% of capacity)
• ⚡ Per capita electricity use up by 45.8%
• ⬇️ Power shortages down from 4.2% to 0.1%

🌿 Clean energy initiatives like:

• Ujjwala Yojana, Saubhagya Scheme
• Massive investment in solar, wind, and green hydrogen

📌 Context:

India aims to become a net-zero emitter by 2070, and this progress is a significant step toward energy sustainability, economic growth, and climate leadership.