Trump says whether he’ll commit to NATO mutual defense guarantee ‘depends on your definition’
President Donald Trump on Tuesday injected some uncertainty over whether the U.S. would abide by the mutual defense guarantees outlined in the NATO treaty as he headed to its summit — comments that could revive long-standing concern from European allies about his commitment to the military alliance, Associated Press reported.
“Depends on your definition,” Trump told reporters as he was headed to The Hague, where this year’s summit is being held. “There’s numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends.” Asked later aboard Air Force One to clarify, Trump said he is “committed to saving lives” and “committed to life and safety” but did not expand further.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he has no doubt about the U.S. commitment to NATO and its Article 5 guarantee, which says an armed attack on one member is an attack on all. But the remarks from Trump, who arrived shortly after 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, previewed what could be another volatile appearance by the Republican president at a summit celebrating an alliance he has often derided, according to Associated Press.
Trump says China can continue to buy Iranian oil
China can continue to buy Iranian oil, U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday (June 24, 2025) in what appeared to be relief for Tehran from sanctions Washington has previously imposed to punish the trade, AFP reported.
"China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran. Hopefully, they will be purchasing plenty from the U.S., also," Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform as he travelled to a NATO summit in The Hague.
China's position as the main buyer of Iranian oil has served as a crucial lifeline for Tehran as its economy is battered by crippling international sanctions.
Beijing buys more than 90% of Iran's oil exports, according to the analysis firm Kpler, according to AFP.
US to give $30 million to Gaza aid operation despite violence concerns
The United States is giving $30 million to a controversial humanitarian group delivering aid in war-torn Gaza despite concern among some U.S. officials about the month-old operation and the killing of Palestinians near food distribution sites, according to four sources and a document seen by Reuters.
Washington has long backed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation diplomatically, but this is the first known U.S. government financial contribution to the organization, which uses private U.S. military and logistics firms to transport aid into the Palestinian enclave for distribution at so-called secure sites.
A document reviewed by Reuters showed that the $30 million U.S. Agency for International Development grant to GHF was authorized on Friday under a "priority directive" from the White House and State Department. The document showed an initial $7 million disbursement had been made, according to Reuters.
The United States could approve additional monthly grants of $30 million for the GHF, said two of the sources, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity.
US tells UN: strikes degraded Iran's capacity to build nuclear weapon
U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities "effectively fulfilled our narrow objective: to degrade Iran's capacity to produce a nuclear weapon," acting U.S. envoy to the U.N. Dorothy Shea told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
"These strikes – in accordance with the inherent right to collective self-defense, consistent with the U.N. Charter – aimed to mitigate the threat posed by Iran to Israel, the region and to, more broadly, international peace and security," Shea told the 15-member council.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the strikes over the weekend "completely and totally obliterated"Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities. Earlier on Tuesday he announced that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel had started, according to Reuters.
"I think it's still early to assess all the strikes. We know we were able to push back the (nuclear) program. We were able to remove the imminent threat that we had," Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon told reporters on Tuesday.
US strikes may have set back Iran nuclear program only months, sources say
A preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment has determined that U.S. strikes over the weekend on Iranian nuclear facilities have set back Tehran's program by only a matter of months, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The initial report was prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon's main intelligence arm and one of 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, said two of the sources, who requested anonymity to discuss classified matters.
The classified assessment is at odds with the statements of President Donald Trump and high-ranking U.S. officials - including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They have said the weekend strikes, which used a combination of bunker-busting bombs and more conventional weapons, essentially eliminated Iran's nuclear program, according to Reuters.
Trump's administration on Tuesday told the U.N Security Council that its weekend strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had "degraded" Iran's nuclear program, short of Trump's earlier assertion that the facilities had been "obliterated."
Khadka gains recognition as a versatile director
Madan Khadka is emerging as a notable figure in Nepal’s music video scene, with his direction in the song ‘Phool Maya Ma Nabhool’ receiving widespread attention on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Other music videos under his direction, such as ‘Timi Marchau Thaha Cha’, ‘Mat Pradeshi’, and ‘Ekauana Bauna’, have also been well-received in the Nepali market.
Having entered the industry more than a decade ago, Khadka has directed nearly a thousand music videos and acted in over four dozen of them. Originally from Butwal, he is now based in Kathmandu and is active in various aspects of video production including direction, choreography, editing, and photography.
Known for his on-screen presence, Khadka has earned the nickname “chocolate model” among fans. He emphasizes the often-overlooked role of directors in shaping a music video's presentation and success.
In addition to his work in music, Khadka has also acted in the feature film ‘Raini’ and is making his directorial debut in cinema with the upcoming movie ‘Mahakabya’. He has worked across multiple genres, from folk and pop to awareness campaigns on topics such as Covid-19, HIV/AIDS, and sanitation.
Despite over a decade of experience, Khadka notes that talents from rural areas still face challenges in gaining recognition. He remains committed to supporting both new and established artists and hopes ‘Mahakabya’ will serve as an important milestone in his career. He has been nominated for more than 15 awards and has won several, acknowledging his contributions to the industry.
China plans to show off new equipment at parade marking 80th anniversary of Japan’s WWII surrender
China plans to hold a military parade Sept. 3 marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender and featuring the People’s Liberation Army’s newest weaponry, Associated Press reported.
President and head of the military Xi Jinping will deliver a speech on the occasion, which will feature “new-type combat capabilities,” including hypersonic weapons and a range of electronic gear, said Wu Zeke, identified as a senor officer of the PLA, the ruling Communist Party’s military wing.
The force is the world’s largest standing military with more than 2 million members and an increasingly sophisticated arsenal of missiles, aircraft carriers and fighter aircraft.
Military parades are a favorite of Xi’s, held primarily to mark the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949, Japan’s surrender and the anniversary of the PLA’s founding. Relentlessly drilled marching units, armored columns and aerial units all feature on such occasions, according to Associated Press.
Israel says Iran violates ceasefire, orders strikes on Tehran
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday he had ordered the military to strike Tehran after Iran fired missiles in violation of a ceasefire, opens new tab after 12 days of war, Reuters reported.
"In light of Iran’s blatant violation of the ceasefire declared by the President of the United States — through the launch of missiles toward Israel — and in accordance with the Israeli government's policy to respond forcefully to any breach, I have instructed the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)... to continue high-intensity operations targeting regime assets and terror infrastructure in Tehran," he said.
The Israeli military said it was working to shoot down Iranian missiles after detecting a launch.
Israel had said on Tuesday a ceasefire was in effect after it had achieved all the goals of the bombing campaign against Iran that it launched on June 13. Iran had confirmed that it would halt retaliation if Israel's bombing stopped, according to Reuters.







