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Mint
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Russia's largest aerial assault on Ukraine: 700 drones, hypersonic missiles target cities as Trump pledges more arms
Russia launched a record 728 drones at Ukraine on Wednesday, marking the latest in a series of escalating air assaults. The disastrous attack happened hours after US President Donald Trump pledged to send more defensive weapons to Kyiv and directed unusually sharp criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Kyiv's military managed to down nearly all the drones, some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia caused unspecified damage. The widespread attacks resulted in one person dying from drone debris in western Ukraine, Reuters reported. Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region. Part of Russia's overnight strike was aimed at the northwestern city of Lutsk, close to NATO-member Poland, where about 50 Russian drones and five missiles were launched. Even though the strike was the biggest of the war, no deaths or injuries have been reported. Only buildings were damaged, including a storage facility of a local enterprise and some parking structures which caught fire, said the city's mayor, Ihor Polishchuk. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, preparing to meet US envoy Keith Kellogg in Rome ahead of a gathering of countries friendly to Ukraine, said the strike highlighted the need for "biting sanctions" on Russia's income, including on countries that buy Russian oil. Zelenskiy also met Pope Leo, who offered to host peace talks at the Vatican, an offer he deemed "entirely possible" but noted that Russia has so far rejected, the news agency reported. President Trump, who returned to power this year vowing a swift end to the conflict, had previously taken a more conciliatory tone toward Moscow, as compared to his predecessor Joe Biden, who supported Kyiv. However, on Tuesday, he said that he might support a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports, Reuters said. He also expressed frustration towards the Russian president, stating, "We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin ... He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless." When pressed for details about his action against Putin, Trump said, "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise." The US president's promise of supplying more defensive weapons appears to reverse a Pentagon decision to halt some critical munitions supplies to Ukraine. Europe is also working separately on sanctions against Moscow. But initial rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine have so far borne little fruit, with Moscow yet to accept an unconditional ceasefire proposed by Trump and accepted by Kyiv. Shortly after Wednesday's attack, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that diplomatic solutions to end the war had been exhausted and vowed to continue supporting Kyiv. Merz said he would make an offer of air defence systems to Ukraine at the Rome conference on Thursday, the news agency reported.
Business Recorder
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Russia attacks Ukraine with 700 drones after Trump vows to send more weapons
KYIV: Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to send more defensive weapons to Kyiv and aimed unusually sharp criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin. The attack was the latest in a series of escalating air assaults in recent weeks that have involved hundreds of drones in addition to ballistic missiles, straining Ukrainian air defences at a perilous moment in the war, now in its fourth year. Kyiv's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who will meet U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg in Rome on Wednesday, said the strike showed the need for 'biting sanctions' on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500% tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. Ukrainian attack on beach in Russia's Kursk kills three, governor says 'We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin … He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless,' Trump said at a cabinet meeting. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: 'I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise.' Separately, Europe is working on a new sanctions package against Moscow. Trump, who returned to power this year promising a swift end to the war in Ukraine, has taken a more conciliatory tone toward Moscow in a departure from the Biden administration's staunch support for Kyiv. But initial rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the Kremlin's February 2022 invasion have so far borne little fruit, with Moscow yet to accept an unconditional ceasefire proposed by Trump and accepted by Kyiv. The U.S. president's promise to supply more defensive weapons appeared to reverse a Pentagon decision days earlier to stall some critical munitions supplies to Ukraine, despite increasing Russian attacks that have killed dozens in recent weeks. Shortly after Wednesday's attack, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that diplomatic means to resolve the war have been exhausted. He vowed to continue supporting Kyiv. Three children among 23 wounded in Russia's drone attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine says Following Trump's new promise, Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he had ordered an expansion of contacts with the United States to ensure critical deliveries of military supplies, primarily air defence. Poland scrambles jets Residents of Kyiv and other major cities spent the night in air raid shelters including metro stations. Part of Russia's overnight strike was aimed at a western region close to NATO-member Poland. The northwestern city of Lutsk, some 200 km (125 miles) from Poland, was the main target, Zelenskiy said, listing 10 other provinces across Ukraine where damage was also reported. Polish and allied aircraft were activated to ensure air safety, Poland's military said. Russian forces claim first foothold in new Ukraine region In Lutsk, buildings were damaged but no deaths or injuries reported in what amounted to the biggest air strike of the war on the city of 200,000 people, regional authorities said. A storage facility of a local enterprise and some parking structures were ablaze, said the city's mayor, Ihor Polishchuk. Ivan Rudnytskyi, governor of the Volyn region that includes Lutsk, said 50 Russian drones and five missiles were in the region's airspace overnight.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Russia attacks Ukraine with 700 drones after Trump vows to send more weapons
Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to send more defensive weapons to Kyiv and aimed unusually sharp criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin. The attack was the latest in a series of escalating air assaults in recent weeks that have involved hundreds of drones in addition to ballistic missiles, straining Ukrainian air defences at a perilous moment in the war, now in its fourth year. Kyiv's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experte: Krampfadern mit 50+? Es kommt auf eine Sache an Venen Kompass Weiterlesen Undo President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who will meet U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg in Rome on Wednesday, said the strike showed the need for "biting sanctions" on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500% tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. Live Events "We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin ... He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless," Trump said at a cabinet meeting. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise." Separately, Europe is working on a new sanctions package against Moscow. Trump, who returned to power this year promising a swift end to the war in Ukraine, has taken a more conciliatory tone toward Moscow in a departure from the Biden administration's staunch support for Kyiv. But initial rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine to end the Kremlin's February 2022 invasion have so far borne little fruit, with Moscow yet to accept an unconditional ceasefire proposed by Trump and accepted by Kyiv. The U.S. president's promise to supply more defensive weapons appeared to reverse a Pentagon decision days earlier to stall some critical munitions supplies to Ukraine, despite increasing Russian attacks that have killed dozens in recent weeks. Shortly after Wednesday's attack, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that diplomatic means to resolve the war have been exhausted. He vowed to continue supporting Kyiv. Following Trump's new promise, Zelenskiy said on Tuesday he had ordered an expansion of contacts with the United States to ensure critical deliveries of military supplies, primarily air defence. POLAND SCRAMBLES JETS Residents of Kyiv and other major cities spent the night in air raid shelters including metro stations. Part of Russia's overnight strike was aimed at a western region close to NATO-member Poland. The northwestern city of Lutsk, some 200 km (125 miles) from Poland, was the main target, Zelenskiy said, listing 10 other provinces across Ukraine where damage was also reported. Polish and allied aircraft were activated to ensure air safety, Poland's military said. In Lutsk, buildings were damaged but no deaths or injuries reported in what amounted to the biggest air strike of the war on the city of 200,000 people, regional authorities said. A storage facility of a local enterprise and some parking structures were ablaze, said the city's mayor, Ihor Polishchuk. Ivan Rudnytskyi, governor of the Volyn region that includes Lutsk, said 50 Russian drones and five missiles were in the region's airspace overnight.
DW
06-07-2025
- Politics
- DW
Germany updates: Thousands join Cologne's CSD parade – DW – 07/06/2025
The western German city has been preparing for this year's Pride event with some 60,000 participants expected. Meanwhile, Pride events also took place in eastern Germany, amid far-right protests. Follow DW for more. Cologne's annual Pride event, Christopher Street Day (CSD), kicked off on Sunday with hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend. The annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts people from around the a visit to NATO-member state Lithuania on Sunday, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier assured the country of German support for its security. "With the stationing of a German brigade in Lithuania, we're giving a lasting promise: Your security is our security." Steinmeier was visiting Vilnius during its national day. The Baltic country, along with Estonia and Latvia, forms part of the NATO border with Russia. "Whoever defends Lithuania, is defending Europe and is defending European values," Steinmeier said. A German tank division is being stationed in Lithuania in 2027, including 5,000 soldiers. The number of people in monastic orders in Germany is sinking, with many convents and monasteries facing dissolution. But what happens to the buildings, traditions, and the communities they once housed? Read the full story on Germany's disappearing monasteries and convents. A report by the research services of the German parliament has expressed "substantial doubt" that strikes by Israel and the US on Iran can be legally justified. The report was produced at the request of Left Party lawmaker Ulrich Thoden. The research services said an "overwhelming number of experts in international law" consider the necessary criteria for Israel's claim of self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter as unfulfilled. The 54-page report said that Israel would have had to prove that Iran was directly about to build a nuclear weapon, not just that it had a sufficient amount of nuclear material. It also said Israel would need to prove Iran was planning to use a nuclear weapon against it. It did not exclude the option that Israel's secret service had further information. "Nevertheless, Israel is now obliged to legally justify its military actions against Iran," the report said. The German government did not immediately respond to the report, but Chancellor Friedrich Merz gave his outspoken support to the strikes, saying that Israel was doing the "dirty work for all of us" in Iran. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Following the decision of the German government to turn back migrants at the border, several individuals have launched lawsuits after their asylum applications were immediately rejected. Germany's magazine reported on Sunday that the government was facing three more lawsuits after a court in June ruled in favor of three Somali nationals who were turned back at a checkpoint on the German-Polish border. "There are currently three further court cases pending in connection with the rejection of asylum seekers," quoted a spokesman for the Interior Ministry as saying. A Berlin Administrative Court made its ruling, which was a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, against the government argument that since they were coming from a safe third country — Poland — officials did not have to consider their application. The court found the immediate transfer of the Somali nationals back to Poland without an adequate review of their applications was unlawful. The government had feared that the ruling would result in a wave of lawsuits, however, this has not appeared to be the case. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said that Berlin would take the case to the European Court, saying he was "convinced that our actions are in line with European law." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Polish officials are set to begin carrying out checks on the border with Germany at midnight on Sunday, following German plans to increase spot checks on its side of the border. Germany had already been conducting spot checks on the border with Poland, but the new Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced in May, shortly after taking office, that the checks would be increased as a measure to tackle irregular migration. Poland said that for its side, no physical barriers would be set up, but signs would tell drivers to slow down and spot checks would be carried out with a focus on buses and cars with multiple passengers. Polish authorities will also introduce checks on the border with Lithuania. Both Poland and Germany are part of the Schengen Zone that allows cross-border travel without checks, however, countries are allowed to introduce temporary measures as "last resort" and "in exceptional situations." Germany introduced limited checks on the Polish border in October 2023, but has repeatedly renewed the temporary measures. Germany last extended its border checks until September 15, 2025 in March, citing "Serious threats to public security and order posed by continued high levels of irregular migration and migrant smuggling, and the strain on the asylum reception system." More than 1.4 million German pensioners are still working after having retired, according to a response from the Bundestag to a question from the Left Party and reported by the RND network. Almost 375,000 of those working pensioners were holding down jobs that counted as more than a small side job. The numbers provided by the Bundestag were dated to December 31, 2023. Dietmar Bartsch, from the Left Party, remarked that Germany is the biggest economy in Europe, but its pension level — the relation between the average income of workers and the average income of pensioners — is ten points lower than the EU average. "Austria, the Netherlands or Denmark are at more than 80%, we're below 50%, no wonder then that more and more old people continue working — many not because they want to, but because they must." Bartsch also called for a "major pension reform" in line with the Austrian is preparing for hundreds of thousands of people to show up for the Christopher Street Day (CSD) demonstration on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (0930 GMT). Organizers and police are expecting around 60,000 participants. Some 90 floats are also expected to join the march. CSD traces its origins back to the Stonewall riot in New York on June 28, 1969, when people at the Stonewall LGBTQ+ bar fought back against a police raid. The incident is an important historical date for the LGBTQ+ community. The Stonewall bar was on Christopher Street, hence the name for the Cologne event. The motto for this year's CSD is "For queer rights. Many. Together. Strong." Cologne's CSD is one of the biggest Pride events in Europe and attracts people from around the world. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Several hundred people on Saturday celebrated the Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade to promote diversity and tolerance for the LGBTQ+ community in Falkensee, a town in the eastern German state of Brandenburg. On the same day, several dozen participants protested against Pride events. Police say both the march and the counter demonstration remained peaceful. Paris Saint-Germain have booked a spot in the Club World Cup semifinals after a tense 2-0 win over Bayern Munich — but the match was overshadowed by a gruesome injury to young German star Jamal Musiala. Desire Doue opened the scoring in the 78th minute after Joao Neves robbed Harry Kane near midfield and sparked a quick counter that ended with Doue's left-footed shot beating Manuel Neuer at the near post. PSG finished with nine men after late red cards for Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez, but clung on as Bayern threw everything forward. Ousmane Dembele sealed the win deep into stoppage time with a breakaway goal. Bayern had two goals ruled out for offside, including a Harry Kane header, and saw a late penalty overturned by VAR. Musiala's injury stunned both teams. In first-half stoppage time, PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma collided with Musiala's left ankle while diving for a loose ball, leaving the 22-year-old's foot hanging at an unnatural angle. Donnarumma was visibly shaken as Musiala was stretchered off. PSG will face either Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in Wednesday's semifinal at East Rutherford, New Jersey. Saturday's quarterfinal drew 66,937 fans to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta — the city's biggest crowd yet ahead of next year's World Cup. A father and his child have gone missing after a boating accident on the Eibsee, an Alpine lake in southern Germany, police said on Saturday. The family of four was out on a pedal boat when the six-year-old fell into the water and the father jumped in to rescue them — but neither resurfaced. Emergency responders are caring for the mother and the couple's other child, aged four. Police said the family is from Bavaria. A major rescue operation is underway with helicopters and divers searching the lake. Firefighters and emergency personnel continue to battle the forest fire in the Gohrischheide region on the border between the eastern German states of Saxony and Brandenburg. The situation on the Saxony side remains more difficult. Around 700 firefighters were deployed on Saturday afternoon, according to a statement from the Meissen district office. The situation in the Saalfelder Höhe in Thuringia has been stabilized, according to authorities. Emergency services were able to prevent the fire from spreading overnight."Our emergency services have the situation under control," the Thuringian State Chancellery, which called the forest fire "the largest of its kind" in the state in over 30 years, posted on X. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leader Alice Weidel says the cente-left Social Democrats' (SPD) push to consider banning her party reminds her of "very dark times." Speaking in Berlin on Saturday, Weidel compared the idea to Adolf Hitler's crackdown on other parties and the press. The SPD's party conference last weekend called for constitutional bodies to prepare conditions to file an application to have the AfD declared unconstitutional. Any party ban would have to be decided by Germany's Constitutional Court and requested by the federal government or parliament. Calls for a ban have gained momentum after Germany's domestic intelligence service upgraded its assessment of the AfD, citing "confirmed right-wing extremist tendencies." The party is challenging this label in court. Meanwhile, AfD lawmakers passed a new code of conduct on Saturday, with co-leader Tino Chrupalla aiming to polish the party's image ahead of any future term in office. The code calls for a united and moderate front in parliament, along with rules to prevent corruption and conflicts of interest. Germany captain Giulia Gwinn will miss the rest of the Women's Euros in Switzerland due to a left knee injury, the German football federation (DFB) announced on Saturday. "Our captain sustained a medial ligament injury in her left knee yesterday in the match against Poland. She is expected to be out for several weeks.", the DFB posted on X. Gwinn had to be helped off the field in tears in the 40th minute of Germany's opening 2-0 victory over Poland on Friday in St. Gallen. She suffered an injury after making a crucial tackle on Poland's striker, Ewa Pajor. It was originally feared that she had suffered a third anterior cruciate ligament tear since 2020. Anti-German graffiti has appeared on shops and cars on the Spanish island of Mallorca, a popular holiday destination for many Germans, the German-language newspaper reported on Saturday. The perpetrators defaced dozens of German-owned shops and cars with foreign licensed plates with slogans such as "Germans out" and "Foreign buyers go to hell" in the small southern village of Santanyi. Police have confirmed the incidents to German news agency "It is frightening to feel such a wave of hatred after 34 years on the island, where I pay taxes and currently employ nine people," one man affected was quoted as saying by the newspaper. In recent years, there have been rising tensions between tourists, foreign property owners, and locals on the holiday island. Thousands have protested at regular rallies against mass tourism and a housing shortage. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video from Bonn! We are continuing our coverage of news from Germany over the weekend. Anti-tourist graffiti was sited on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca, a beloved holidaying spot for Germans. Wildfires continued to rage in eastern Germany. Stick around for the latest on these stories and much more from DW.
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Erdogan vows to boost Turkiye's missile production as Israel-Iran war escalates
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel As the war between Israel and Iran escalates, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he plans to strengthen the country's deterrence capabilities so that no country would dare attack announced plans this week to step up Turkiye's production of medium- and long-range discussed the Iran-Israel war with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a telephone call on Friday. He told Merz that the Iranian nuclear issue can only be resolved through negotiations, according to Erdogan's Turkiye's tense relations with Israel, analysts and officials don't see an immediate threat of the conflict spreading into NATO-member Turkiye. Still, some see the move by Erdogan as a sign that the Israel-Iran war could trigger a new arms race in the region, with countries not directly involved in the fray ramping up their military efforts to preempt future Kasim Han, a professor of international relations at Istanbul's Beykoz University, said that Turkiye was reacting to what he described as an unravelling world order."The Turkish government is drifting toward what is the name of the game in the Middle East right now: an escalation of an arms race," he and the US have set a high standard in aerial warfare, creating a technological gap that Turkiye and others are eager to close, Han said following a Cabinet meeting on Monday that "we are making production plans to bring our medium- and long-range missile stockpiles to a level that ensures deterrence, in light of recent developments.""God willing, in the not-too-distant future, we will reach a defense capacity that is so strong that no one will even dare to act tough toward us," Erdogan an separate address days later, the Turkish leader highlighted Turkey's progress in its domestically developed defence industry, that includes drones, fighter jets, armored vehicles and navy vessels, but stressed that continued effort was needed to ensure full deterrence."Although Turkiye has a very large army - the second largest in NATO - its air power, its air defense is relatively weaker," said Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, a Turkey analyst at the German Marshall Fund think ongoing conflict has reinforced the importance of air superiority, including missiles and missile defense systems, prompting "countries in the region, including Turkiye to strengthen its air power," he the start of the conflict, Erdogan has been scrambling to end the hostilities. He has held a flurry of phone calls with leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, offering to act as a "facilitator" for the resumption of negotiations on Iran's nuclear are deep concerns in Turkey that a prolonged conflict will cause energy disruptions and lead to refugee movement from Iran, with which it shares a 560 kilometer-long (348 mile) relies heavily on energy imports, including from Iran, and rising oil prices due to the conflict could aggravate inflation and further strain its troubled has strongly criticised Israel's actions, saying Iran has the legitimate right to defend itself against Israel's attacks, which came as nuclear negotiations were close allies, Turkey and Israel have grown deeply estranged, especially after the start of the war in Gaza in 2023, with Erdogan becoming one of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fiercest further deteriorated following the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, as Israel grew increasingly wary of expanding Turkish influence in this year, Turkiye and Israel however, established a "de-escalation mechanism" aimed at preventing conflict between their troops in Syria. The move came after Syria's Foreign Ministry said that Israeli jets had struck a Syrian air base that Turkey reportedly hoped to hasn't commented on Turkey's announcement that it plans to ramp up missile production, but Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded to Erdogan's criticisms of Israel over its attack on Iran in an X post on Wednesday. He accused Erdogan of having "imperialist ambitions" and of having "set a record in suppressing the freedoms and rights of his citizens, as well as his country's opposition."Erdogan's nationalist ally, Devlet Bahceli, suggested that Turkey was a potential target for Israel, accusing the country of strategically "encircling" Turkey with its military actions. He didn't say, however, that such statements were for "domestic consumption" to garner support amid growing anti-Israel sentiment in Turkey."I don't think that Israel has any interest in attacking Turkiye, or Turkiye has any interest in a conflict with Israel," Han said.
