Iran fires back at Israel after onslaught targets nuclear facilities

• Air raids sirens and explosions rang out across Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the airwaves to warn he expected "several waves of Iranian attacks."
• Smoke could later be seen billowing above the skyscrapers in downtown Tel Aviv, an AFP journalist reported, as Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it had attacked dozens of targets

Nations advance ocean protection, vow to defend seabed

• The summit was just the third -- and largest yet -- dedicated entirely to what the United Nations calls an "emergency" in the world's oceans.
• More than 60 heads of state and government joined thousands of business leaders, scientists and environmental campaigners over five days in the southern city of Nice.

Iran calls Israeli strikes ‘declaration of war’ amid international calls for restraint

• Top brass killed included the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, and the chief of staff of its armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri.
• Trump said Israel fully informed him of its raids ahead of time, but insisted the United States was not involved.

Nuclear states spent $100 billion on atomic arsenals in 2024, say ICAN

• ICAN said Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United States together spent nearly $10 billion more than in 2023
• The United States spent $56.8 billion in 2024, followed by China at $12.5 billion and Britain at $10.4 billion, ICAN said in its flagship annual report

US still wants talks with Iran on Sunday: US official

• The official had no further information on whether Iran had agreed to the talks
• Oman had earlier planned talks Sunday involving Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's friend

MENA brief Jun 13: Prince Salman to skip G7 meet, OpenAI in funds talks with PIF

• Qatar’s real estate sector recorded transactions exceeding QAR 1 billion in the first five days of June, driven by strong demand for residential and commercial assets.
• Morocco emerged as North Africa’s financial leader, with six of the region’s top 20 listed firms based in the country.

Israel says Hamas ‘weaponising suffering in Gaza’ as aid workers killed

• The distribution of food and basic supplies in the blockaded and war-ravaged Gaza has become increasingly fraught and perilous
• Asked to respond to the GHF accusation, the Hamas government media office in Gaza said GHF was a "filthy tool" of Israeli forces

Israel strikes Iran’s nuclear sites, kills top generals; Tehran, Iraq shut airspace, casualties reported

• Israel's operation struck at the "heart of Iran's nuclear enrichment programme", taking aim at the atomic facility in Natanz and nuclear scientists
• Iranian state media said residential buildings in Tehran were also hit, killing a number of civilians including women and children

Flames and smoke in aftermath of crashed India passenger jet

• Air India's flight 171 -- a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London's Gatwick Airport -- crashed shortly after takeoff around 0810 GMT.
• The passengers included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and a Canadian. Two pilots and 10 cabin crew were also aboard.

UN to vote on calling for unconditional Gaza ceasefire