This Week in Explainers: Is a peace deal with Iran Trump’s biggest birthday gift?

Today, Donald Trump turns 80. And looks like the “President of Peace” is getting a peace deal as a gift. On Thursday (June 11), Donald Trump claimed that an initial agreement aimed at ending the war with Iran was close after he had cancelled strikes on the country. While Iran was initially non-commital, on Friday (June 12), Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that a deal “has never been closer”.

This came after tensions between the two sides escalated after the downing of an American Apache helicopter. Iran and the US traded missiles with growing fears of the fragile ceasefire crumbling. While the Islamic Republic targeted US bases in the Gulf, explosions were heard across Iran, including near the Strait of Hormuz. Three vessels, including one Indian ship, were targeted while others had Indian crew on board.

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It looked like West Asia was back in conflict mode until Trump’s big claim that the US has ended the war with Iran.

In the UK, Northern Ireland has been gripped by violent anti-immigration protests. Houses and vehicles have been set on fire, with a rise in racist attacks in Belfast. It all started after a brutal stabbing carried out by a man granted asylum in the country.

Closer home, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was on the boil. At least 15 people have been killed in protests, which are centred around the 12 seats reserved for migrants from Jammu and Kashmir to different parts of Pakistan. Authorities have responded with a crackdown, banning the JAAC, the group leading the stir.

In our weekly roundup of news from around the globe, we talk about all this and more.

1. “The war with Iran has ended.” This was what Donald Trump claimed on Thursday (June 11), as he decided to call off a third consecutive night of strikes. He said that the US negotiators had “just made a great settlement” with Iran, which he hoped would be finalised over his birthday weekend. According to the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, an agreement with the US to extend the ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and launch negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program “has never been closer”. However, some sticking points remain. We explain how a peace deal could pan out and the challenges ahead.

2. Before Trump’s big declaration, there was a rise in hostilities in West Asia. It all started with the US Apache helicopter being downed, which the president held Iran responsible for. Two crew members who were in the waters near the coast of Oman were located and rescued in a first-of-its-kind mission using an unmanned drone. We tell you how it all unfolded.

3. Donald Trump turns 80 today, and he had a big birthday wish. He wanted to host the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at the White House. Setting up a mammoth sporting event to accommodate more than 100,000 spectators at a venue without an arena is challenging enough. Doing so at one of the most protected buildings in the world adds challenges of its own. It is expected to cost $60 million. Here is what it took to get the South Lawn ready for fight night.

UFC Freedom 250 logo sits next to a setup ahead of the fights on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 11. Reuters

4. The other big news from the US is the launch of the SpaceX IPO. It makes Elon Musk, already the richest man, the world’s first trillionaire. But just how much is $trillion? Here is some context. Even if someone spends $1 million (Rs 9.5 crore) per hour around the clock, it could take over 100 years to spend such a vast fortune.

A SpaceX banner is pictured on the day of the firm's initial public offering (IPO) at the Nasdaq MarketSite, in New York City, on June 12. Reuters

6. Northern Ireland grabbed headlines for its violent anti-immigration riots. The violence that targeted minority ethnic people started after a knife attack by a Sudanese man. Police had to use water cannon and plastic bullets to quell the mob. Here’s what happened.

A fire burns in bins as anti-immigrant protesters clash with police at Antrim Road, following a knife attack on June 8, which left a man seriously injured and prompted police to declare a critical incident, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Reuters

7. Protests erupted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir earlier this week. Pakistani Rangers and police responded with a violent crackdown that led to dozens of deaths and several injuries. At the centre of the protest is the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). What is this group, and what are its demands? We explain.

8. Our last story is about exams and geopolitics. After India’s Neet paper leak row, the Chinese embassy has taken a subtle dig. Yu Jing, the Chinese embassy spokesperson in India, highlighted on X how the "Gaokao” was conducted smoothly for 1.3 crore students in just two days. But what’s this exam considered one of the toughest in the world? We tell you all about it.

That’s all from us this week. If you like the way we explain the news, you can bookmark this page.