
Russia pounds Kyiv with largest drone attack of the war
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine's air force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a US pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack "deliberately massive and cynical".
"Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin," Zelenskiy said on X.
"Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror," he said, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv's 10 districts.
Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that 14 of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine's state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country's largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
Trump said the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict's "root causes".
"I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don't think he's there, and I'm very disappointed," Trump said.
"I'm just saying I don't think he's looking to stop, and that's too bad."
A decision by Washington this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying air strikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its "dumb, destructive behaviour".
"For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure," he said.
Ukraine's Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight.
However, air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it said.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.
Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the front lines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
Russia has pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after US President Donald Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine's air force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a US pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack "deliberately massive and cynical".
"Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin," Zelenskiy said on X.
"Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror," he said, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv's 10 districts.
Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that 14 of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine's state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country's largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
Trump said the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict's "root causes".
"I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don't think he's there, and I'm very disappointed," Trump said.
"I'm just saying I don't think he's looking to stop, and that's too bad."
A decision by Washington this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying air strikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its "dumb, destructive behaviour".
"For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure," he said.
Ukraine's Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight.
However, air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it said.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.
Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the front lines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
Russia has pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after US President Donald Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine's air force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a US pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack "deliberately massive and cynical".
"Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin," Zelenskiy said on X.
"Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror," he said, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv's 10 districts.
Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that 14 of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine's state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country's largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
Trump said the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict's "root causes".
"I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don't think he's there, and I'm very disappointed," Trump said.
"I'm just saying I don't think he's looking to stop, and that's too bad."
A decision by Washington this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying air strikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its "dumb, destructive behaviour".
"For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure," he said.
Ukraine's Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight.
However, air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it said.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.
Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the front lines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
Russia has pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after US President Donald Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine's air force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a US pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack "deliberately massive and cynical".
"Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin," Zelenskiy said on X.
"Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror," he said, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv's 10 districts.
Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that 14 of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine's state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country's largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
Trump said the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict's "root causes".
"I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin, because I don't think he's there, and I'm very disappointed," Trump said.
"I'm just saying I don't think he's looking to stop, and that's too bad."
A decision by Washington this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying air strikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its "dumb, destructive behaviour".
"For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure," he said.
Ukraine's Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight.
However, air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it said.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian.
Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the front lines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.

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AU Financial Review
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'It must be a matter of urgent concern for American policymakers to restore an appropriate relationship between spending on debt service and spending on national security.' Enter Donald Trump and his One Big Beautiful Bill. A grab bag of Trump's policy priorities, the bill bounced its way through Congress this week to arrive at the president's desk for signing on Friday, Independence Day (Saturday AEST), in a highly symbolic display of his sway over the Republican Party and indeed the country. Loading It caps an extraordinary two weeks in which Trump bombed Iran, dominated a NATO summit, shepherded a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, won a significant and highly consequential victory in the US Supreme Court, opened a detention centre nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz' and, now, will ink his signature piece of legislation. 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The 26-year-old, who has built an online following of 150,000 criticising Trump over tariffs, said history had shown debt accumulation is the ruin of empires. 'You can't keep adding debt with no limit. Both parties are wrong about this, it's a complete fallacy,' he said. And it was facetious for the administration to argue that the tax cuts didn't really contribute to debt, Hakimian said. The bill lifts the debt ceiling by another $US5 trillion. 'Why would they be raising the debt limit if they weren't adding to the debt?' The feeling on Wall Street is mixed, Hakimian says, but most people are agnostic. Markets are already at all-time highs, with the US economy defying expectations, unemployment staying low and Trump's tariff threats largely petering out. That matches the assessment of The Economist 's British editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes, who said the mood among New York financiers at the Aspen Ideas Festival was insouciant, and ambivalent about the debt. 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'If those interest rates continue to go up, that could be by far the most drastic threat to the American economy and America writ large,' he says. More than the threat posed by Russia or China? 'I don't think that's an exaggeration.'

News.com.au
3 hours ago
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Hamas says holding consultations on Gaza truce proposal
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