QtrendsRussia pummels Ukraine with missile and drone attacks, dozens killed
Russia launched a massive wave of missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, killing at least 22 people. The assault targeted Kyiv and surrounding regions, with Ukraine warning it faces a critical shortage of interceptor missiles. Ukrainian drones struck back at a St Petersburg oil terminal in a long-range counterattack. The New York Times notes that while Ukraine has rebuilt its air defense systems, Russia has adapted its tactics to bypass them.
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Venezuela is reeling from a catastrophic earthquake that has left widespread destruction. Survivors have been pulled from rubble after being trapped for up to 60 hours, with one national guard member rescued after eight days. Harrowing accounts of survivors rationing food and water while trapped have emerged. Before-and-after photos reveal the scale of the damage across affected areas.
NATO leaders gather in Ankara for a critical summit amid growing threats from Russia and internal divisions over defense spending and strategy. Turkey's role as host comes under scrutiny as the government intensifies a crackdown on public life and critics ahead of the meeting. Al Jazeera asks whether NATO is at a breaking point, while the New York Times notes the alliance increasingly values Turkey's strategic position despite concerns over its domestic policies.
FIFA lifted Folarin Balogun's one-match suspension, clearing the U.S. striker to play against Belgium after President Trump confirmed he personally asked FIFA to review the ban. The decision sparked controversy, with Belgium expressing astonishment and filing an appeal that FIFA subsequently dismissed. Trump offered his most detailed account yet of his intervention with the governing body. Al Jazeera reports the decision is seen as one of the most controversial in recent World Cup history.
President Trump provided the most detailed account to date of his direct intervention with FIFA over Folarin Balogun's suspension. He confirmed he instigated the review that led to the ban being lifted, explaining his reasoning in a press conference. Belgium's football federation expressed astonishment at the decision, while CBC reports the controversy continues to simmer.