Here’s What Happened Around The World In June 2025
Here’s what happened around the world in June 2025.
Here’s what happened around the world in June 2025.
What Really Happened This Month And More Updates On Israel's Genocide In Gaza:
1. Targeted by Israel: how Lebanese journalist Christina Assi is rebuilding her life
On Oct. 15, 2023, Christina Assi, a Lebanese photojournalist with AFP, was with six other journalists covering clashes at the border of Lebanon and Israel, when Israeli forces deliberately fired two missiles at them.
The attack killed her friend, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, and Assi had to have her leg amputated.
More than a year later, after the UN confirmed Israel violated international law, Assi spoke to Almost at the International Journalism Festival in Italy about what justice really means, and how she’s learning to live, work and hope again.
2. After Israel bombed Iran’s nuclear sites unprovoked, Iran has retaliated by firing dozens of missiles on Israel
The Israeli airstrikes, which were launched in the early morning, hit more than 100 targets across Iran, including the country’s capital Tehran and Natanz, where Iran’s main uranium enrichment facility is located.
Following Israel’s attacks, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel initiated a war and told it to prepare for a “bitter and painful fate”.
Later that night, Iran then launched about a hundred missiles towards Israel, with Israel’s defense system, the Iron Dome, intercepting most of the missiles, according to the Israeli military.
3. Iran Has Fired Missiles At US Military Bases In Qatar And Iraq In Retaliation To The US Bombing Its Nuclear Sites
On Monday, June 23, Iran then launched a missile attack towards the largest US military base in the Middle East, the Al Udeid Air Base, in Qatar’s capital Doha and the Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq.
The US had joined Israel in bombing Iran after Israel launched a large-scale, unprovoked attack on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities on June 13, claiming that Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon and leading Iran to retaliate.
4. Trump announced that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire but no one knows if it will hold
Israel launched a large-scale, unprovoked attack on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities on June 13, claiming that Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon, and the two continued to attack each other since then.
In retaliation, on late Monday, June 23, Iran launched a missile attack towards the largest US military base in the Middle East, the Al Udeid Air Base, in Qatar’s capital Doha and the Ain al-Asad Air Base in Iraq.
Hours later, Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the US and Qatar, following 12 days of war marked by waves of missile strikes and air raids from both sides.
5. At the same time it started bombing Iran, Israel also imposed a total lockdown on the West Bank
On Friday, June 13, Israel launched a large-scale, unprovoked attack on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, and since then, the two countries have been exchanging attacks, with dozens killed on both sides, plunging the Middle East into a new war.
After initiating the attacks, Israel then imposed a new lockdown on the West Bank on Friday, including sealing off entrances to Palestinian cities and villages with iron gates, concrete barriers and numerous checkpoints, severely restricting Palestinians’ movement and access to essential services.
6. 12 activists are sailing all the way to Gaza from Italy on a ship filled with aid to break Israel’s blockade
12 activists part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FCC) are sailing all the way to Gaza from Italy with a ship carrying aid to break Israel’s blockade and siege on the Strip, just less than one month after their previous ship was attacked and destroyed.
7. Israeli forces have boarded the ship carrying aid to Gaza and abducted the 12 activists in international waters
Israeli forces have intercepted the Madleen, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship carrying aid to Gaza, and abducted the 12 activists.
8. Israel has deported most of the 12 activists from The Madleen Gaza aid boat but some are still detained
Israel has deported most of the 12 activists it abducted from the Madleen, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition aid ship bound for Gaza.
Some of the activists still remain in detention as of June 12, while others who have been deported home have since begun speaking out.
9. Egypt has deported and detained over 200 people who flew in to join the Global March for Gaza
The Global March for Gaza is expected to start on Thursday, June 12, and involves some 4,000 people from more than 40 countries meeting in Cairo and marching to Rafah on Egypt's border with Gaza.
They are expected to meet with a 100-vehicle convoy with thousands of volunteers from Algeria, Mauritania, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia that departed Tunis on Monday, June 9, and is also headed for Rafah, where they are expected to arrive on June 15.
But ahead of the beginning of the march on Thursday, June 12, organizers told AFP that Egyptian authorities had detained, questioned or deported more than 200 pro-Palestine activists who had arrived in the country.
10. Thousands of people are driving from Tunisia all the way to Gaza in an aid convoy to break Israel’s siege
More than 1,700 people from Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania are driving to Gaza in what is called the Somoud — resilience in Arabic — convoy to break Israel’s siege on the strip.
The convoy consists of more than 150 vehicles, including buses and private cars, traveling thousands of kilometers to deliver humanitarian aid and medical supplies, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and to urge for Israel to open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza.
11. Israel killed at least 640 Palestinians as they tried to get aid from the controversial Israeli- and US-backed aid agency
Israel has killed dozens of starving Palestinians in Gaza trying to collect aid from aid distribution centers by the controversial US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), with the UN calling it a “death trap.”
After blocking all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza for almost three months, Israel said on May 19 that it would allow only a “basic” amount of aid into Gaza to feed 2.3 million Palestinians.
The aid is being distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial group backed by Israel and the US, delivering food in small centralized “secure distribution sites,” which are heavily guarded by private security firms, including American contractors.
12. The US has blocked another UN resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza
The US was the only country of the 15-member council that voted against the draft resolution on Wednesday, June 4.
As one of five permanent members of the council, the US holds veto power, allowing it to block the adoption of resolutions on peacekeeping, sanctions and membership, even with overwhelming support from other members.
In addition to a ceasefire, the resolution demanded the “immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups,” as well as the “immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions” on humanitarian aid in Gaza.
US Representative Dorothy Shea said the draft resolution was “unacceptable”.
13. Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Palestine Columbia student kidnapped by US immigration, has finally been freed
30-year-old Mahmoud Khalil, who played a key role in pro-Palestine student encampments in Columbia, had been facing an intense campaign calling for his deportation, and he had asked Columbia for support but the school did not respond.
On March 8 ICE then arrested Khalil — a permanent US resident — in the lobby of his dorm in New York City.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Khalil faced deportation for his involvement in pro-Palestine protests, which he labeled as “antisemitic” and a “threat” to US foreign relations.
However, on Friday, June 20, a federal judge ordered authorities to release Khalil on bail after a district judge ruled that there was no reason for the US to continue his detention since he did not pose a “flight risk” or “a danger to the community”.
14. For the second time, over 150,000 people marched in red in the Hague, the Netherlands to protest Israel’s genocide in Gaza
On Sunday, June 15, about 150,000 people marched a five-kilometer loop around the city center of the Hague to symbolically create the red line they say the government has failed to set to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
It came less than a month after more than 100,000 people marched through the city in a similar protest on May 18 that became the biggest demonstrations in the Netherlands in more than two decades.
15. How Boycotts are leading the fight for a free Palestine with BDS’ Mahmoud Nawajaa at RightsCon 2025
At #RightsCon 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan, earlier this year, Palestinian activist Mahmoud Nawajaa, the general coordinator of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Committee shared with Almost how the struggle for Palestinian liberation is a fight for freedom everywhere.
He highlighted the history of the BDS movement and its effectiveness in successfully pressuring major companies and corporations — from McDonald's to Intel — to withdraw its complicit support for Israel's longtime occupation and apartheid against Palestinians, as well as its ongoing genocide in Gaza.
What's Happening Around The World:
1. A suicide bomber opened fire in a church in Syria and then detonated his vest, killing at least 25 people
During a packed Sunday service on June 22 at the Mar Elias or Saint Elias Greek Orthodox Church in the Dweila neighborhood, a man opened fire at worshippers then detonated himself with an explosive vest, according to the interior ministry.
The attack killed at least 25 people and injured 63 others, with widespread destruction reported across the church.
2. Syrian people’s losses during the past 14 years wasn’t in vain with Ola Osman Abou at RightsCon2025
After 14 years of a brutal conflict marked by killings, torture, disappearances and humiliation, Syria has became a beacon of hope to the entire world.
Syrian activist Ola Osman Abou shared with Almost at RightsCon 2025 how all the losses Syrians have endured were not in vain.
3. South Korea has elected a liberal president after the martial law attempt nearly destroyed it
People in South Korea have elected liberal opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung, as the new president six months after the impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol's attempt to declare martial law threw the country into chaos.
Lee, a human rights lawyer who narrowly lost to Yoon in 2022, was elected on Tuesday, June 3, receiving 49.42% of the votes over the conservative ruling party's candidate.
4. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have finally signed a peace treaty after nearly 30 years of fighting
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have finally signed a peace deal after more than 30 years of fighting.
On Friday, June 27, the DRC and Rwanda finally signed a peace agreement in the US brokered by the US, Qatar and the African Union, marking a significant step toward ending the decades of of conflict.
Both countries agreed to respect each other’s borders and halt hostilities.
5. The queen of the Netherlands appeared to mock Trump’s mouth while next to him on camera
During a press conference at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, the Netherlands, on Thursday, June 26, the queen was caught appearing to mock Trump’s way of talking.
While posing for photos, Trump stood between King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, giving his signature thumbs-up and smiling at the cameras.
6. Belarus unexpectedly freed major opposition leader, Sergei Tikhanovsky, after five years and he looks almost unrecognizable
Belarus has unexpectedly freed a major opposition leader who had been sentenced to 18 years in prison for organizing protests against the country’s authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko.
46-year-old Sergei Tikhanovsky, a popular YouTube blogger, had tried to run against Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential elections but was arrested ahead of the vote.
On Saturday, June 21, authorities suddenly released Tikhanovsky and 13 other prisoners and transferred them to Lithuania as part of a US-brokered deal, according to reports.
7. A student opened fire on his former school in Austria, killing 10 people in the country’s worst mass shooting
A gunman opened fire at his former high school in Graz, Austria, on Tuesday, June 10, killing 10 people, mostly students, and injuring 11 others in the worst mass shooting in the country’s history.
The rampage lasted seven minutes, before the 21-year-old attacker shot himself in the head 10 minutes after beginning the attack.
The victims include nine students aged between 14 and 17, and one former teacher.
8. K-pop group NCT’s ex-member Taeil has admitted he raped a woman and now faces up to seven years in jail
K-pop singer Taeil, a former member of the boy band NCT, has on Wednesday, June 18, admitted he raped a woman and now faces a potential seven-year prison sentence.
The 31-year-old, whose full name is Moon Tae-il, was first charged by South Korean police in June 2024 after they received a sexual misconduct complaint.
He and two other men had allegedly met the woman — a Chinese tourist — in Itaewon district in Seoul, then took her to one of the men’s residence while she was unconscious and raped her in the early hours of June 13, 2024.
On Aug. 28, 2024, his label SM Entertainment then announced Taeil, who had debuted in NCT in 2016, had left the group, stating he had been “involved in a sex crime case” and would no longer be able to continue group activities.
More Women You Should Know About:
1. New Zealand's youngest Māori lawmaker, 22-year-old Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, gave a powerful speech before she was suspended for leading a haka in parliament in November 2024 to protest a bill that would roll back Indigenous rights
During the first reading for bill, Maipi-Clarke had torn up a copy of the bill before breaking into a haka and disrupting the session.
The Treaty Principles Bill had proposed reinterpreting the Treaty of Waitangi, the country's foundational document, signed in 1840 between the British Crown and more than 500 Māori leaders, promising Indigenous Māori people rights over their land and culture in return for British governance.
The bill, which ultimately failed in April, was met with widespread criticism across the country, and tens of thousands of New Zealanders started from the country's northwestern most point and southernmost towns and marched for nine days in protest, culminating with a massive rally outside of parliament.
However, on June 5, the parliament voted to suspend the three lawmakers based on the proposal of a parliamentary committee that found that the haka could have "intimidated" other lawmakers.
Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer were suspended for 21 days and Maipi-Clarke for seven days because she had written a letter of contrition — or apology — to the parliament.
2. Before she was abducted by Israel, Greta Thunberg gave several powerful interviews about why she supports Gaza
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg boarded the Madleen alongside 11 other activists as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FCC) and set sail to Gaza in an attempt to deliver aid to break Israel’s blockade and siege on the Strip on June 1.
Speaking to Middle East Eye from aboard the ship, Thunberg said governments, world leaders and the international community have failed the Palestinian people and are supporting the genocide.
“When our governments are failing us… then it falls on us to step up and be the adults in the room,” she said, adding that sitting and doing nothing is not an option as there is too much at stake.
In another interview, she told Democracy Now! that because she has a platform, she has a moral responsibility to act, and she was willing to take the risk of being on the Madleen if it could raise awareness about the genocide.
3. Norway passed an “only yes means yes” law that clearly defines rape as sex without consent
As of Friday, June 6, any sex without clear and explicit consent is legally considered rape in Norway, even if there was no violence or physical force.
Previously, victims had to prove they were threatened, forced, or otherwise unable to resist, for it to be considered rape.
The law took 13 years of activism, protests and public pressure to push through, making Norway the last Nordic country to make the change, following Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland.
4. A man shot and murdered this 17-year-old Pakistani TikToker just because she rejected him
Sana Yousaf, who had 800,000 followers on TikTok and almost half a million followers on Instagram, was shot twice in the chest in her home in Islamabad by a 22-year-old man on Monday, June 2.
Police said the man had killed Yousaf because she didn’t reply to his repeated attempts to “become friends” with her.
The man had reportedly traveled to Islamabad to wish Yousaf happy birthday, but after being unable to meet her, he forcibly entered her house and shot her in front of her mother and aunt.
Thousands of women are killed each year due to gender-based violence in Pakistan, but conviction rates remain extremely low at close to just 2%.
5. This Brazilian woman tourist has been found dead four days after she fell while hiking a volcano in Indonesia
26-year-old Juliana Marins had been traveling across Southeast Asia since February, visiting the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand before arriving in Indonesia.
On Saturday, June 21, she disappeared while hiking Indonesia’s 2nd largest and active volcano, Mount Rinjani.
After 4 days of intensive search, the rescue team was finally able to locate Marins’ body on June 24 but it had no signs of life.
Family members have accused the guide and Indonesian authorities for being negligent, saying that it took days to reach Marins and she might have survived if they had reached her within 7 hours of her fall, sparking calls for justice.
More Good News For You:
1. Over 100,000 people in Hungary defied the government's ban and held its biggest ever pride parade
In April, Hungary’s government, led by far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán, changed the country’s constitution to ban public events held by the LGBTQ community.
The law, justified as a measure to protect children, criminalizes the organization or attendance of events that go against Hungary’s controversial “child protection” laws, which prohibit the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to individuals under 18, with fines up to US$546 for violators.
The Pride march on Saturday, June 28, marked its 30th anniversary and was described by organizers as the largest LGBTQ Pride celebration in Hungary’s history.
Despite heavy police surveillance and the threat of legal consequences, the march turnout far exceeded previous records, with some estimates ranging from 100,000 to as high as 200,000 marchers, with demonstrators celebrating with music, rainbow flags and calls for solidarity, according to organizers and local media.
2. Italy will now allow lesbian couples who got pregnant abroad using IVF to both be legal parents of their child
In Italy, same-sex couples are banned from accessing IVF, prompting many couples seek it abroad to start a family.
However, the non-biological mother who didn't carry the baby, still had to undergo a complex adoption process that could take years just to be listed as a mother on her child’s birth certificate.
But on May 22nd, Italy's top court ruled that the law violated children’s rights to receive care, education and emotional support from both parents.
The historic win comes at a time when far-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has been rolling back LGBTQ rights in the country.
3. All of BTS’ members have now concluded their military service
K-pop superstar RM and V from South Korean boy band BTS, have officially fulfilled their mandatory military service on Monday, June 9.
Hundreds of fans gathered outside the military base on Tuesday, June 10, to show their support and welcome the members back.
Their discharge comes just one day ahead of those of fellow members Jimin and Jungkook, who are also set to complete their service on June 11, perfectly timed ahead of BTS’ 12th anniversary of their debut on June 13.
With all seven members soon to be reunited, the group has assured fans that a long-awaited comeback is on the horizon.
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Kassy Cho
Kassy Cho
