Taiwan Warns Ships, Expects Waves in South as Typhoon Nears

In this Thursday, Sept, 9, 2021, satellite image released by NASA, Typhoon Chanthu, right, develops into a powerful typhoon moving towards Taiwan, top left. Chanthu continues gaining strength and is expected to make landfall in Taiwan over the weekend. (NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) via AP)
In this Thursday, Sept, 9, 2021, satellite image released by NASA, Typhoon Chanthu, right, develops into a powerful typhoon moving towards Taiwan, top left. Chanthu continues gaining strength and is expected to make landfall in Taiwan over the weekend. (NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) via AP)
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Taiwan Warns Ships, Expects Waves in South as Typhoon Nears

In this Thursday, Sept, 9, 2021, satellite image released by NASA, Typhoon Chanthu, right, develops into a powerful typhoon moving towards Taiwan, top left. Chanthu continues gaining strength and is expected to make landfall in Taiwan over the weekend. (NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) via AP)
In this Thursday, Sept, 9, 2021, satellite image released by NASA, Typhoon Chanthu, right, develops into a powerful typhoon moving towards Taiwan, top left. Chanthu continues gaining strength and is expected to make landfall in Taiwan over the weekend. (NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) via AP)

Taiwan issued a storm warning to ships at sea as Typhoon Chanthu churned toward the island Friday with wind gusts up to 234 kph (146 mph).

Chanthu was 580 kilometers (360 miles) southeast of Taiwan and northeast of the Philippines, the Central Weather Bureau said. A map on its website showed the storm on track to Taiwan or pass along its east coast on Saturday, reported The Associated Press.

The bureau said high waves were expected along Taiwan’s southern coast and in the Bashi Channel between its southern tip and the northernmost island in the Philippines.



Russia Targets Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure on Christmas Day

Rescuers carry the body of a killed person at the site where an apartment building was hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine December 24, 2024.  Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region/Handout via REUTERS
Rescuers carry the body of a killed person at the site where an apartment building was hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine December 24, 2024. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region/Handout via REUTERS
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Russia Targets Ukrainian Energy Infrastructure on Christmas Day

Rescuers carry the body of a killed person at the site where an apartment building was hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine December 24, 2024.  Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region/Handout via REUTERS
Rescuers carry the body of a killed person at the site where an apartment building was hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine December 24, 2024. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region/Handout via REUTERS

Russia launched a massive missile and drone barrage targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure on Wednesday, striking a thermal power plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said over 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and over 100 attack drones were used to strike Ukraine's power sources, in a statement on X. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said one Russian missile passed Moldovan and Romanian airspace.
“Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. What could be more inhumane?" Zelenskyy said. “They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.”
He said Ukraine has managed to shoot down at least 50 missiles and a significant number of drones.
Ukrainian energy minister, Herman Halushchenko, said Russia again “massively attacks energy infrastructure," in a Facebook statement. Ukraine’s Air Force alerted multiple missiles fired at Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Poltava regions east of the country.
“The (electricity) distribution system operator takes the necessary measures to limit consumption to minimize negative consequences for the power system,” he said. “As soon as the security situation allows, energy workers will establish the damage caused.”
Ukraine’s biggest private energy company, DTEK, said Russia struck one of their thermal power plants Wednesday morning, making it the 13th attack on Ukraine’s power grid this year.
“Denying light and warmth to millions of peace-loving people as they celebrate Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered,” Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK wrote on his X account.
Ukrainian state energy operator, Ukrenergo, applied preemptive power outages across the country, due to a “massive missile attack,” leading to electricity going out in several districts of the capital, Kyiv.
At least seven strikes targeted Kharkiv sparking fires across the city, regional head Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At least three people were injured, local authorities said.
“Kharkiv is under massive missile fire. A series of explosions rang out in the city and there are still ballistic missiles flying in the direction of the city. Stay in safe places,” Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov said.