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Russia could soon attack Ukraine with 2,000 drones at once, warns German general
At a time when Vladimir Putin has escalated his war on Ukraine, a German general has warned that Russia could soon attack Ukraine with up to 2,000 drones at once. read more Flames and smoke billow from buildings during mass Russian drones and missile strikes on the Ukraine's capital Kyiv on July 4, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo: OLEKSII FILIPPOV/AFP) As Vladimir Putin has ramped up the war on Ukraine, a German general has warned that Russia could soon attack with up to 2,000 drones at once. For weeks, Russia has been attacking Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles on a near-daily basis. It has ramped up attacks consistently and mounted the largest barrage with 741 drones and missiles on the night of July 8-9. Russia is actively expanding its drone production capacity and could soon attack Ukraine with up to 2,000 drones at once, according to Major General Christian Freuding, the head of the Situation Center for Ukraine at Germany's Ministry of Defense. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In an interview with the German military's 'Nachgefragt' programme, Freuding said that such mass deployment of drones could present a major challenge for Ukraine's air defence systems, which are not optimised for intercepting large volumes of low-cost drones simultaneously, according to a translation of his remarks. From a high of around 500 drones and missiles on Ukraine in overnight attacks, Russia went to raining more than 700 drones and missiles in a matter of mere weeks, suggesting it has huge stockpile, well-oiled production capacity, and smooth supply chains. Russia is not alone in its war efforts. China has not just kept the Russian economy afloat by making up for the loss of trade after the invasion of Ukraine but has also provided Russia with drones, machinery to make weapons, and dual-use goods used to make weapons. Iran has provided Russia with several thousands of drones and has also transferred the production know-how. Russia is playing low cost-high effect game against Ukraine Freuding flagged that the cost of launching these attacks is much less for Russia than the cost of tackling these attacks for Ukraine and its partners. While an Iranian-origin Shahed drone costs €30,000 and €50,000, one Patriot interceptor missiles costs more than €5 million, according to Freuding. The US-origin Patriot missile is the mainstay of Ukrainian air defence against Russian missiles and some high-end drones. Due to costs, Ukraine uses conventional anti-aircraft guns, interceptor drones, and electronic warfare to take down drones and reserves Patriot interceptors for largely taking down Russian missiles. Freuding said that Ukraine needs cost-effective air-defence systems, ideally in the €2,000–€4,000 range per interception. The development of such systems is essential to respond effectively to large-scale Russian drone attacks, said Freuding. 'Russia is trying to exhaust Ukraine's air defence supplies' With such continuous attacks, Russia is trying to exhaust Ukraine's air defence supplies, according to Michael Kofman, an analyst focussed on the Russian war on Ukraine, who serves at a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 'They [Russians] target population centres because they're trying to exhaust Ukrainian air defence, and they know Ukrainian air defence will prioritise defending the cities and critical infrastructure,' Kofman told The Telegraph earlier this month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the beginning of this month, Russia launched 537 drones and missiles over the weekend — the highest in the war until then. A few days later, Russia broke the record with 550 drones and missiles. Days later, Russia again broke the record with 741 drones and missiles. Despite such attacks, US President Donald Trump has refused to take any punitive action against Putin, who has continued to refuse to make peace. Instead, he has given him a 50-day window to hit Ukraine with all that he has got.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India's trade gap narrows to $20.7 billion as cheaper oil, sluggish gold imports ease June deficit
Oil imports dip amid shifting global dynamics Live Events Gold imports fall as prices soar Coal imports stable Trade policy measures: Anti-dumping & import curbs Anti-dumping duties on four Chinese chemicals Import bans on jute and woven fabric from Bangladesh due to reported violations Calls to restrict iron ore pellet imports from Oman, with domestic producers raising red flags over alleged Iranian-origin cargo undermining the Indian industry. (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India's merchandise trade deficit eased slightly to USD 20.7 billion in June 2025, down from USD 21.9 billion in May, according to a report by Union Bank of India (UBI).The moderation was attributed to falling crude prices, subdued gold imports, and a recalibrated sourcing strategy that helped buffer the impact of global commodity fluctuations.A short-lived decline in crude prices—following the temporary Israel-Iran ceasefire—alongside increased oil production by OPEC+ helped ease India's oil-related import bill. Although Brent crude rebounded to USD 69.80/bbl in June, up from USD 64.01/bbl in May, the broader supply landscape remained favorable, preventing a sharp spike in crude oil imports stood at 4.66 million barrels per day (mbpd) in June, marginally lower than 4.72 mbpd in May, according to energy analytics firm Vortexa.A noteworthy shift in sourcing further supported the trade balance. Indian refiners ramped up purchases from Russia and the United States, both of which surpassed traditional Middle Eastern oil imports touched a two-year high of 2–2.2 mbpd, while shipments from the US surged over 270% year-on-year in the first four months of 2025. This strategic diversification reduced exposure to geopolitical hotspots, particularly the Strait of the improvement in oil import dynamics, India's petroleum product exports fell nearly 10% in June, dropping to 1.19 mbpd from 1.32 mbpd in May. On an annual basis, exports declined 3.7%, which limited the extent of overall improvement in the trade gold trade deficit also narrowed in June amid a combination of high prices, tighter regulations, and subdued domestic demand. Global gold prices averaged USD 3,353/oz, marking a 5% monthly and 32% year-to-date rise in USD terms. These elevated prices deterred fresh figures indicated a dip in gold imports to 30.56 tonnes in May, down from 34.87 tonnes in April, with expectations of a further fall in imported 16.59 million tonnes (MT) of coal through major ports in June, registering a 1.2% year-on-year increase, though marginally lower by 2.1% compared to coal, accounting for 70.2% of the total, rose 7.2% from the same period last year, reflecting sustained demand from power and industrial government stepped up trade enforcement through several policy interventions. These included:The UBI report cautioned that any continued rise in global commodity prices , especially oil and metals, could add pressure to India's import bill in the coming months. However, softening global demand and sluggish exports may help offset this, keeping the overall trade balance from deteriorating sharply.'Going forward, commodity price trends will remain critical in assessing the trajectory of India's trade deficit,' the report concluded.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labor group issues warning about largely unregulated ‘dark fleet'
WASHINGTON — A group representing maritime shipping labor is warning regulators about rising economic and safety risks caused by foreign flags-of-convenience (FOC) ship registries. Responding to an informal investigation launched in April by the Federal Maritime Commission, the Seafarers International Union (SIU) told the FMC that FOC registries – those that register and flag vessels with significantly less regulatory oversight than other registries – are enabling the expansion of the so-called 'dark fleet,' a network of vessels operating outside virtually all regulatory oversight. 'These ships routinely evade sanctions, safety protocols, and environmental regulations by exploiting permissive flag states and obscured ownership structures,' stated SIU President David Heindel in comments filed with the FMC. He cited analyses from Lloyds List and others that show the dark fleet now comprising 600 to 1,000 vessels. 'We commend the FMC for taking this essential step toward exposing and addressing systemic abuses in vessel flagging – and urge the broader maritime community and international regulators to take coordinated action to restore integrity to global shipping.' In April, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued an update to a 2019 advisory to help the global shipping and maritime industry identify sanctions evasions related to the shipment of Iranian-origin petroleum and petroleum products. The new advisory noted how 'shadow fleet' tankers rely on flag registries with lower operating and due diligence standards. According to OFAC, these tankers regularly: Move their registrations to flag states known to be providing services to other sanctioned tankers. Illegitimately claim to fly a flag they are not registered with (i.e., a 'false' flag). Flag vessels with registries not authorized to provide flagging services (i.e., fraudulent registries). 'Maritime sector stakeholders should consider the flag registry and registration history of a vessel and conduct enhanced due diligence to ensure vessels with which they and their counterparties engage are not participating in trade of Iranian petroleum, petroleum products, or petrochemicals,' OFAC stated. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), with which SIU is affiliated, contends that the FOC system has been the subject of the group's longest-running campaign – launched in 1948 – 'due to its role in circumventing labor regulations, suppressing wages, and enabling unsafe working conditions,' the group stated in May. Data compiled by ITF currently lists 45 FOC registries. SIU, which represents U.S. vessel crews assigned to U.S.-flag vessels trading domestically and internationally, told FMC that the ability to suppress wages and creating unsafe working conditions for seafarers leads to unfair competitive advantages for shipowners, who can circumvent labor protections and fair wage requirements and evade taxation and financial responsibilities. 'Responsible shipowners who maintain high standards are undercut by FOC vessels operating with substandard conditions, creating a 'race to the bottom' that undermines the entire maritime industry,' SIU asserted. It recommended that FMC's investigation 'examine how FOC practices distort fair competition and consider measures to level the playing field for operators maintaining proper standards.' SIU also cited ITF data showing that FOC ships are 'significantly overrepresented' in vessel detentions, maritime casualties and incidents, vessels operating with expired or counterfeit certificates, and vessels with inadequate maintenance and safety equipment. The group recommended that FMC analyze flag state casualty data 'and examine correlation between FOC registration and safety deficiencies.' : Regulator vows to back US exporters fearful about Trump's shipping fees US opening investigation into container shipping choke points FMC investigating Spain's alleged blocking of US ships Click for more FreightWaves articles by John Gallagher. The post Labor group issues warning about largely unregulated 'dark fleet' appeared first on FreightWaves.
San Francisco Chronicle
06-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Iranians react to new Trump travel ban as tensions are high between nations
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranians again face a U.S. travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump, with the decision drawing anger, frustration and some shrugs given the decades of tensions between the countries. Trump imposed a similar ban during his first term before withdrawing America unilaterally from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, under which Iran drastically limited its program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. When he returned to the White House and began seeking a new deal with Iran, it saw the country's rial currency improve and stocks rise. But worries have grown as its government appears poised to reject an initial American proposal. The travel ban has further darkened that mood and led Iranians to fear Trump will lump the nation's 80 million people with its theocratic government even after he repeatedly praised them while seeking a deal. 'Now I understand that Trump is against all Iranians, and his attitude is not limited to the government,' said Asghar Nejati, a 31-year-old man working in a Tehran pharmacy. Even in the years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and subsequent U.S. Embassy hostage crisis, Iranian students traveled to the U.S. to attend universities. Between 2018 and 2024, an average of around 10,000 Iranian students went to the U.S. annually. Estimates suggest some 1 million Iranian-origin people live in the U.S. today. Mehrnoush Alipour, a 37-year-old graphic designer, said the nations could have better relations if they could spoke to each other in softer tones. 'This is another foolish decision. Trump cannot reach his goals by imposing pressures on ordinary Iranians," she said. "The two nations can have better relations through openings, not restrictions.' Bank teller Mahdieh Naderi said Trump was lashing out over his frustrated efforts to reach ceasefires in the Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine war. 'Trump just expressed his anger about his failed plans,' Naderi said. 'He is complaining about the Chinese and others who are living in the U.S., too Some said interest in the U.S. was already waning before the latest ban. 'Over the past years, two of my grandchildren went to Canada to continue their education there," said Mohammad Ali Niaraki, 75. "Iranians are not limited in immigration and they are not as interested to go to the U.S. as they were decades ago. Iranians prefer Canada, as well as neighboring countries with flourishing economies like the (United Arab) Emirates.' Others pointed out that high-ranking government officials have children living or working in the U.S., despite the tensions, and suggested that it would be fair to remove those as well. 'Those who have family members in the U.S, it's their right to go, but a bunch of bad people and terrorists and murderers want to go there as well,' he said. 'So his policy is correct. He's doing the right thing.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iranians react to new Trump travel ban as tensions are high between nations
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranians again face a U.S. travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump, with the decision drawing anger, frustration and some shrugs given the decades of tensions between the countries. Trump imposed a similar ban during his first term before withdrawing America unilaterally from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, under which Iran drastically limited its program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. When he returned to the White House and began seeking a new deal with Iran, it saw the country's rial currency improve and stocks rise. But worries have grown as its government appears poised to reject an initial American proposal. The travel ban has further darkened that mood and led Iranians to fear Trump will lump the nation's 80 million people with its theocratic government even after he repeatedly praised them while seeking a deal. 'Now I understand that Trump is against all Iranians, and his attitude is not limited to the government,' said Asghar Nejati, a 31-year-old man working in a Tehran pharmacy. Even in the years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and subsequent U.S. Embassy hostage crisis, Iranian students traveled to the U.S. to attend universities. Between 2018 and 2024, an average of around 10,000 Iranian students went to the U.S. annually. Estimates suggest some 1 million Iranian-origin people live in the U.S. today. Mehrnoush Alipour, a 37-year-old graphic designer, said the nations could have better relations if they could spoke to each other in softer tones. 'This is another foolish decision. Trump cannot reach his goals by imposing pressures on ordinary Iranians," she said. "The two nations can have better relations through openings, not restrictions.' Bank teller Mahdieh Naderi said Trump was lashing out over his frustrated efforts to reach ceasefires in the Israel-Hamas war and the Russia-Ukraine war. 'Trump just expressed his anger about his failed plans,' Naderi said. 'He is complaining about the Chinese and others who are living in the U.S., too Some said interest in the U.S. was already waning before the latest ban. 'Over the past years, two of my grandchildren went to Canada to continue their education there," said Mohammad Ali Niaraki, 75. "Iranians are not limited in immigration and they are not as interested to go to the U.S. as they were decades ago. Iranians prefer Canada, as well as neighboring countries with flourishing economies like the (United Arab) Emirates.' Others pointed out that high-ranking government officials have children living or working in the U.S., despite the tensions, and suggested that it would be fair to remove those as well. Tehran resident Mehri Soltani offered rare support for Trump's decision. 'Those who have family members in the U.S, it's their right to go, but a bunch of bad people and terrorists and murderers want to go there as well,' he said. 'So his policy is correct. He's doing the right thing.' ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
