International
Taiwan registers the highest number of Chinese incursions in a day since October 2021
A total of 56 Chinese Army aircraft crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait or entered the self-proclaimed Taiwanese Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), the highest number of raids in a single day since October 2021, the Island Government reported.
In its latest daily report, the Ministry of National Defense (MDN) of Taiwan reported that 17 of those aircraft crossed the dividing line of the strait, an unofficial border that was respected by Taipei and Beijing for decades.
Another 39 flew over the southwest and southeast regions of the self-proclaimed ADIZ between 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday (10:00 p.m. GMT on Tuesday) and 6:00 a.m. on Thursday (22:00 GMT on Wednesday).
The 56 incursions reported today equal the record recorded on October 4, 2021, when another 56 Chinese aircraft violated the island ADIZ, although on that occasion they passed at a greater distance from the main island of Taiwan.
During these last maneuvers, Chinese Army planes and drones passed 133 kilometers from the northern city of Keelung, where a military base is located, and approached only 61 kilometers from Cape Eluanbi, at the southern end of Taiwan, according to the DND report.
“The Armed Forces of the Republic of China (official name of Taiwan) have monitored the situation and have used fighter jets, Navy ships and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities,” the official text said.
The military portfolio said in a separate statement that it had detected the presence of 37 Chinese aircraft, including J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, operating with the aircraft carrier Shandong in the vicinity of the island early in the morning of that day.
The Taiwanese Minister of Defense, Wellington Koo, said that the Government had “complete control” of the situation, adding that the aircraft carrier did not pass through the Bashi Strait, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, but traveled through the Balintang Canal, located between the Philippine islands of Batanes and Babuyan.
Tensions between Taipei and Beijing have increased since the inauguration of sovereignist William Lai (Lai Ching-te), considered an “independent” and a “rioter” by the Chinese authorities, as the new Taiwanese president on May 20.
Since then, the Ministry of National Defense has discovered a total of 939 Chinese Army aircraft operating around the island, of which 701 crossed the dividing line of the strait or violated the self-proclaimed Taiwanese ADIZ, which yields an average of almost 15 incursions per day.
The island president has offered dialogue to the Chinese Government on several occasions, on the basis that the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China “are not subordinate to each other”; an approach categorically rejected by Beijing, which considers the island as part of its territory.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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