#Trump says US intends to impose 25% tariffs on goods from India
India has changed basically more tariffs than almost any other country, "but now I am in charge, and you just can't do that," the #US President stressed

#Russian troops liberated two settlements in the #Zaporozhye Region and the #Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"Battlegroup Center units liberated the settlement of Novoukrainka in the Donetsk People’s Republic through active operations… Battlegroup East units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlement of Temirovka in the Zaporozhye Region," the ministry said in a statement.
Kiev loses over 1,255 troops along engagement line in past day – latest figures

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,255 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours, according to the latest data on the special military operation in Ukraine released by Russia’s Defense Ministry.

The latest figures show that the Ukrainian army lost over 175 troops, a tank and three armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup North, more than 230 troops, three artillery guns and a foreign-made multiple rocket launcher in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup West and roughly 155 troops and four armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup South.

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian army also lost roughly 425 troops and three armored combat vehicles in the responsibility area of Russia’s Battlegroup Center, over 200 troops and an armored combat vehicle in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup East and more than 70 troops and five jamming stations in the responsibility area of the Battlegroup Dnepr, the latest figures show.
Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 175 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 175 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and three armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units improved their tactical position and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade, an air assault brigade and an assault regiment of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Pisarevka, Alekseyevka, Yunakovka, Andreyevka and Varachino in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of a motorized infantry brigade of the Ukrainian army and a territorial defense brigade in areas near the settlements of Ogurtsovo, Gatishche, Melovoye and Volchansk in the Kharkov Region, the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost over 175 personnel, a tank, three armored combat vehicles, nine motor vehicles, eight artillery guns, a Croatian-made RAK-SA-12 multiple rocket launcher and an Israeli-manufactured RADA RPS-42 radar station in those frontline areas over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed two counterbattery radar stations and four ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.
Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 230 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 230 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy artillery guns and a foreign-made multiple rocket launcher in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units improved their forward positions and inflicted losses on formations of three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Sredneye and Shandrigolovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Kupyansk, Osinovo, Blagodatovka, Boguslavka and Petropavlovka in the Kharkov Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 230 personnel, 12 motor vehicles, three field artillery guns and a Croatian-made RAK-SA-12 multiple rocket launcher in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed five electronic warfare stations and three ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.
Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 155 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 155 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units gained better lines and positions and inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Konstantinovka, Kleban-Byk, Ivanopolye, Pleshcheyevka, Serebryanka, Seversk, Zvanovka, Chasov Yar, Aleksandro-Shultino and Shcherbinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 155 personnel, a British-made Spartan armored personnel carrier, two HMMWV armored vehicles and a MaxxPro armored fighting vehicle of US manufacture in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed three Western-made artillery guns, a motor vehicle, two electronic warfare stations and four ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.
Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 425 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 425 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup Center units "inflicted losses on formations of three mechanized brigades, an airborne brigade of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and two National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Dimitrov, Krasnoarmeysk, Chunishino, Artyomovka, Muravka, Udachnoye and Petrovskogo in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 425 personnel, three armored combat vehicles, four motor vehicles and five field artillery guns in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 200 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 200 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

During the last 24-hour period, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of a mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian army, two territorial defense brigades and a National Guard brigade in areas near the settlements of Charivnoye in the Zaporozhye Region, Novopetrovskoye, Yanvarskoye and Maliyevka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, Aleksandrograd and Novokhatskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost over 200 personnel, an armored combat vehicle and 14 motor vehicles in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.
Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicts over 70 casualties on Ukrainian army in past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted more than 70 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy jamming stations in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade and a coastal defense brigade of the Ukrainian army in areas near the settlements of Lukyanovskoye in the Zaporozhye Region, Antonovka and Sadovoye in the Kherson Region and the city of Kherson," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 70 personnel, two motor vehicles and five electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed three ammunition and three materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.
Russian troops strike Ukrainian military airfield, UAV pilot training center in past day

Russian troops struck a Ukrainian military airfield and an UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) pilot training center over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck the infrastructure of a military airfield, a workshop for the production and a center for the training of pilots of unmanned aerial vehicles, and also temporary deployment sites of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 142 areas," the ministry said.
Russian air defenses down 236 Ukrainian UAVs, Neptune missile over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 236 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and a Neptune missile over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities shot down a Neptune long-range missile and 236 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 664 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 73,389 unmanned aerial vehicles, 624 surface-to-air missile systems, 24,375 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,583 multiple rocket launchers, 27,948 field artillery guns and mortars and 38,855 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

#Pakistani rescuers will try again to reach an injured German climber stranded on a mountain

An explosion and fire at a Nebraska plant are preventing a search for 3 missing people

#Canada: Car theft numbers are dropping, but will your insurance rates? New data shows vehicle thefts dropped 19 per cent nationally in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year. Ontario saw the biggest decline at 26 per cent.

But insurance industry officials say the improvement in theft rates won’t necessarily translate to lower premiums for drivers anytime soon.

“It’s encouraging to see some small steps in the right direction,” Hanna Beydoun, director of auto policy at the Insurance Bureau of Canada, told CTV News. “But the problem remains significantly above historical levels, and it’s far from the only factor that contributes to the cost that drivers pay for auto insurance.”

According to a new report from Equate Association, 23,000 personal cars and trucks were stolen in the first half of this year, which is down substantially from the 34,000 by July of 2023.

While the numbers represent progress, they come after a decade of rising theft rates. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says over the last 10 years, claims are up more than 115 per cent and auto theft costs have skyrocketed 371 per cent.

“One year is great, it’s a great indication of where trends might go,” Beydoun said. “But there’s still lots more work that remains to be done to get us out of this auto theft crisis.”
Why premiums keep rising

Beyond theft, Beydoun says several factors are driving up insurance costs across the country, including repair costs having jumped 22 per cent since the pandemic began, noting that tariffs on vehicle parts are making replacements more expensive. She also says Alberta has seen collision-related lawsuits rise significantly.

“Unless all the cost drivers are completely pulled out of the system, there’s going to be continued upward pressure on auto insurance premiums across the country,” Beydoun said.

For Ryan Tostik of Milton, Ont., the theft statistics aren’t just numbers. They represent a devastating personal loss.

His beloved 2004 Chevy Silverado was stolen from an auto repair shop on July 18. Tostik had spent six years and a lot of money restoring the truck, including a fresh paint job and new engine.

“It’s all a big shock, to be honest. I kind of feel violated,” he said. “Considering how much money that I put into it, and it was considered almost finished.”

Tostik says to him, the truck was worth between $50,000 and $60,000, and he can’t believe it was gone “within minutes.”

He says the response from police was discouraging.

“They just say it’s an everyday occurrence. So, more or less, they tell me you’re on your own,” he said. “Otherwise, call your insurance company.”

Now Tostik is hoping his insurer will recognize the truck’s value, and is armed with receipts for all the restoration work.

“I never had anything stolen in my life. So it’s a big shock and a gut-wrenching feeling in the stomach,” he said. “I’d like to have the vehicle back. I’m not hopeful, but I’m trying to be hopeful.”

Brian Gast, national vice-president of Investigative Services at Equite Association, credits the decline in thefts to increased public awareness and a collaborate effort between various levels of government and law enforcement agencies.

“I do caution that even though the numbers are going down, they’re still high,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that we need to take our foot off the gas.”

Gast says auto theft remains a major funding source for organized crime and criminals are adapting. Gast says investigators are seeing more “chop shops,” where stolen vehicles are dismantled and sold for parts, and they’re also replacing the vehicle identification number on stolen vehicles.
How to protect yourself

Gast has a few recommendations when it comes to vehicle security:

Park in a garage or well-lit area, when possible
Keep windows up and doors locked
Never leave key fobs inside the vehicle
Consider aftermarket tracking devices
Use visible deterrents like steering wheel locks

“You don’t have to do them all, but we call it a layered approach,” Gast said.

#Canada pledges $30M in Gaza aid, $10M for Palestinian Authority work toward statehood.

Canada is adding $30 million to its humanitarian funding for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, along with $10 million to help the Palestinian Authority reform itself for eventual statehood.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is announcing the new funding today at a major United Nations conference in New York aimed at finding ways to preserve the two-state solution.

The conference is taking place as international experts warn of starvation in Gaza, where Israel has slightly loosened its restrictions on aid deliveries to desperate Palestinians.

Anand says the $30 million will get to Gaza “as soon as logistically possible” and calls for a ceasefire to help the region move toward peace.

Canada has not joined France in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state, and is instead saying that the Palestinian Authority must “undertake the comprehensive reforms necessary to govern Gaza and the West Bank.”

Ottawa is pledging $10 million to accelerate reform so that the Palestinian Authority can provide “legitimate, democratic governance.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

Flash floods in Romania kill at least 3 people and force hundreds of evacuations

A Russian overnight air attack on #Kyiv wounded eight residents of an apartment building, including a 3-year-old child, authorities in the #Ukrainian capital said on Monday.

#Israeli settlers attacked the Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank, torching cars and spray-painting threatening graffiti, the Palestinian Authority said on Monday.

Powerful sister of North #Korean leader Kim rejects outreach by South’s new president.

Kim Yo Jong’s comments suggest again that North Korea, now preoccupied with its expanding cooperation with Russia, has no intentions of returning to diplomacy with South Korea and the U.S. anytime soon. But experts said North Korea could change its course if it thinks it cannot maintain the same booming ties with Russia when the Russia-Ukraine war nears an end.

“We clarify once again the official stand that no matter what policy is adopted and whatever proposal is made in Seoul, we have no interest in it and there is neither a reason to meet nor an issue to be discussed with” South Korea, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media.

It’s North Korea’s first official statement on the government of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, which took office in early June. In an effort to improve badly frayed ties with North Korea, Lee’s government has halted anti-Pyongyang frontline loudspeaker broadcasts, taken steps to ban activists from flying balloons with propaganda leaflets across the border and repatriated North Koreans who were drifted south in wooden boats months earlier.

Kim Yo Jong called such steps “sincere efforts” by Lee’s government to develop ties. But she said the Lee government won’t be much different from its predecessors, citing what it calls “their blind trust” to the military alliance with the U.S. and attempt to “stand in confrontation” with North Korea. She mentioned the upcoming summertime South Korea-U.S. military drills, which North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal.

North Korea has been shunning talks with South Korea and the U.S. since leader Kim Jong Un’s high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019 due to wrangling over international sanctions. North Korea has since focused on building more powerful nuclear weapons targeting its rivals.

North Korea now prioritizes cooperation with Russia by sending troops and conventional weapons to support its war against Ukraine, likely in return for economic and military assistance. South Korea, the U.S. and others say Russia may even give North Korea sensitive technologies that can enhance its nuclear and missile programs.

Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has repeatedly boasted of his personal ties with Kim Jong Un and expressed intent to resume diplomacy with him. But North Korea hasn’t publicly responded to Trump’s overture.

In early 2024, Kim Jong Un ordered the rewriting of the constitution to remove the long-running state goal of a peaceful Korean unification and cement South Korea as an “invariable principal enemy.” That caught many foreign experts by surprise because it was seen as eliminating the idea of shared statehood between the war-divided Koreas and breaking away with his predecessors’ long-cherished dreams of peacefully achieving a unified Korea on the North’s terms.

Many experts say Kim likely aims to guard against South Korean cultural influence and bolster his family’s dynastic rule. Others say Kim wants legal room to use his nuclear weapons against South Korea by making it as a foreign enemy state, not a partner for potential unification which shares a sense of national homogeneity.