Jun 25, 2026, 05:30 AM UTC

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Ukraine receives Danish long-range shells amid intense fighting and Russian attacks

Denmark has begun delivering long-range artillery shells to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian forces attacked gas stations and other infrastructure in multiple regions, while Ukraine reported intense frontline engagements and Russian losses.

Denmark has begun delivering a portion of the 15,000 long-range artillery shells it pledged to Ukraine, responding to Kyiv's request for partners to prioritize such armaments. On June 25, Russian forces attacked a gas station in Sumy with a drone, causing a fire, and also struck a gas station in Zaporizhzhia. Additionally, Russian attacks targeted a gas station, a municipal equipment warehouse, a college, and a health complex in Dnipropetrovsk region, and an industrial enterprise in Poltava region. Ukraine's General Staff reported 232 combat engagements on June 24, with the Pokrovsk direction experiencing the most intense fighting, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 32 assaults. The General Staff also stated that Russia lost 1,270 military personnel and one tank over the past day. Sources: Громадське, Радіо Свобода, Українська правда

Trump administration seeks $87.6 billion for Iran war costs

The White House has requested $87.6 billion from Congress, primarily for "urgent needs" related to the US war on Iran, following a congressional resolution rebuking the military action.

The White House has formally requested Congress approve $87.6 billion in funding, primarily to address "urgent needs" associated with the United States' military involvement in Iran. This request follows a congressional resolution passed just a day prior, which expressed disapproval of the military action. The majority of the proposed funds, $67 billion, is earmarked for the Department of Defense. This allocation includes $21 billion for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational expenditures, and an additional $12.1 billion designated for classified programs, according to the White House.

Sources: BBC News

Anthropic accuses Alibaba of illicitly extracting AI capabilities

US AI firm Anthropic has accused Chinese tech giant Alibaba of "brazenly" and "illicitly" extracting capabilities from its Claude AI model using thousands of fraudulent accounts, raising IP concerns.

US artificial intelligence firm Anthropic has accused Chinese technology giant Alibaba of "brazenly" and "illicitly" extracting capabilities from its Claude AI model. Anthropic, based in San Francisco, detailed the alleged activity in a letter sent to two members of the US Congress. The company claims that operators linked to Alibaba conducted nearly 29 million interactions with Claude using thousands of fraudulent accounts. This accusation highlights growing concerns over intellectual property protection and data security in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector. The letter underscores the challenges faced by AI developers in safeguarding their proprietary models from unauthorized access and exploitation.

Sources: BBC News

Two powerful earthquakes strike Venezuela's capital Caracas

Venezuela's capital, Caracas, was hit by two powerful earthquakes, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, on Wednesday. The tremors, occurring seconds apart, caused widespread panic, violent shaking, and some building collapses, with the second quake being among the strongest in a century.

Venezuela's capital, Caracas, experienced two powerful earthquakes on Wednesday, striking just seconds apart. The initial tremor registered a magnitude of 7.2, quickly followed by a 7.5 magnitude quake. This second event is noted as one of the strongest to impact the South American country in a century. The seismic activity led to widespread panic, with residents reporting violent shaking and some buildings collapsing. Many people evacuated structures and sought safety in the city streets. One journalist described the experience as the "strongest quake I've ever felt".

Sources: BBC News

Germany's pension reform debate intensifies with expert proposals

Germany's government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has entered a critical phase in its pension reform efforts. An expert commission presented 33 proposals, including a "Swedish-style" model.

Germany's government, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has reached a decisive stage in its efforts to reform the national pension system. On June 23, an expert commission unveiled 33 measures designed to evolve the current structure, notably exploring the implementation of a "Swedish-style" model. This pension overhaul represents a core project for the administration. The presentation of these proposals initiates a significant public and political debate regarding the future of Germany's retirement provisions.

Sources: Le Monde