International

Ukraine has begun mass production of its missile and drone hybrid “Palianytsia”

Ukraine has begun the mass production of its first drone and missile hybrid, called ‘Palianytsia’, which has been developed within the framework of the long-range missile program launched by Kiev after the Russian invasion and which combines the characteristics of both types of weapons.

“A new emerging company has executed the Palianytsia missile project, which has already entered the series production phase thanks to the support of the Ministry of Defense,” said the head of this department of the Ukrainian government, Rustem Umérov, in an article published this Wednesday in the Ukrainian digital media LB.ua.

A word with several meanings

‘Palianytsia’ is the name of a typical Ukrainian bread and the word that Ukrainian soldiers sometimes use to identify citizens of the enemy country, due to the difficulty that its pronunciation poses for those who speak exclusively Russian.

The missile-drone ‘Palianytsia’ was officially presented on August 24, the day of independence of Ukraine, by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who stressed that it is a type of weaponry difficult to intercept for enemy defenses and that it had already been successfully used against enemy military targets.

“The use of foreign missiles often requires coordination with partners,” Minister Umerov wrote in his article on Wednesday.

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Ukraine accelerates missile production

Due to the fear that Moscow’s possible reprisals cause in Western capitals, Ukraine has had to wait until last November for the allies who provide it with ballistic missiles to allow it to use them against targets located within Russia.

“Ukrainian cruise and ballistic missiles will allow our Armed Forces to act independently, making possible localized attacks against key enemy targets,” Umerov added.

Zelenski announced on Tuesday that they were already testing several Ukrainian-made missiles.

The president also stressed that Ukraine is “accelerating” the production of some of the missiles that it has developed in close cooperation with the private sector.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.