INTERNACIONAL
Taiwan general warns China’s military drills could be preparation for blockade or war, vows to resist
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
FIRST ON FOX: Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said China has been conducting training missions in the western Pacific aimed at limiting U.S. and allied military access. The exercises reflect Beijing’s effort to expand its anti-access/area-denial, or A2/AD, capabilities – a strategy meant to keep opposing forces from entering or operating freely in nearby regions.
The military spokesman for Taiwan – officially known as the Republic of China (ROC) – Lt. Gen. Sun Li-fang, told Fox News Digital in exclusive comments that the armed forces of the independently governed island fully understand the threats posed by China’s expanding military might.
Sun said Taiwan has prepared a series of responses if the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) provocations escalate into acts of war and has detailed plans to counter and survive a potential Chinese naval blockade.
RUBIO SAYS COMMITMENT TO TAIWAN WON’T CHANGE AMID TRADE TALKS WITH CHINA
Soldiers pose for group photos with a Taiwan flag after a preparedness enhancement drill simulating the defense against Beijing’s military intrusions, in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan on Jan. 11, 2023. (Daniel Ceng/AP Photo)
Taiwan’s military is on alert for the possibility that Communist China could turn «training» or an exercise into an actual war. Some analysts warn that a Chinese blockade would be difficult to break, but Sun said Taiwan has «holistic plans to breach [any] blockade.» He added that Taipei would «urge its allies and like-minded partners to treat any blockade as an act of war that should trigger a coordinated international response,» noting that shipping disruptions in the seas near Taiwan would have serious effects on the global economy.
Sun said Taiwan expects the PLA to continue its campaign of «hybrid warfare» or «gray-zone operations,» a mix of nonmilitary and paramilitary actions designed to pressure and harass Taiwan without formally declaring war. He warned that the PLA seeks to «exhaust [Taiwan’s] defense capability and blur the battlespace.»
In this undated file photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location. (Taiwan Ministry of Defense via AP/File)
An example of this can be seen in the near-daily incursions by Chinese warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, resulting in Taiwanese air force jets scrambling to intercept them. The tactic, analysts say, is deliberate – part of a broader effort to wear down Taiwan’s air force, degrade equipment and exhaust Taiwan’s personnel.
TAIWAN EYES $15B MILITARY PACKAGE IN SIGNAL TO TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IT IS ‘SERIOUS’ ON DEFENSE: REPORT
Beijing has never ruled Taiwan for even a single day, and Taiwan’s military insists it will not allow China to dictate the rules of any future conflict. Instead, the island democracy is prioritizing the development of asymmetric warfare, a strategy in which, as Sun put it, «the weaker party strikes at the weak point of the stronger party with appropriate tactics and weapons in order to gain advantages on the battlefield and change the outcome of the war.»
The spokesperson for the Taiwanese military, Lt. Gen. Sun Li-fang, addresses the media. (Taiwanese Armed Forces)
The general said Taiwan’s top priorities are to build asymmetric capabilities, strengthen operational resilience, expand reserve force capacity and improve defenses against gray-zone harassment. To achieve these goals, he said, Taiwan is expanding production and deployment of unmanned and AI-driven systems while dispersing command-and-control networks to make a knockout punch much more difficult. He also noted that Taiwan’s surveillance and reconnaissance units are «vigilant» and that they «exchange intelligence and perspectives on PLA activities with our allies and partners.»
CHINA LAUNCHES LARGE MILITARY DRILLS AROUND TAIWAN TO ISSUE ‘SEVERE WARNING’
Sun also rejected the idea that Taiwan lacks the will to defend itself and believes people here would strongly resist any attempt by the PRC to take Taiwan by force. Taiwan’s military wants the world to know it is committed to its own defense, Sun said, pointing to the proposed 2026 defense budget, which will exceed 3% of GDP. Furthermore, he said, the government is actively pursuing reforms to make training «as realistic as possible,» is expanding reserve forces, and has already extended mandatory military service to one year.
Chinese military helicopters fly past Pingtan island, one of mainland China’s closest points to Taiwan, on Aug. 4, 2022, ahead of massive military drills off Taiwan following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island. (Hector Retamal /AFP via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Taiwan’s government is stressing that an attack or blockade by Beijing would not just be a local confrontation but a global crisis. Government and military leaders of democratic Taiwan hope their statements and actions will convince China – and the world – that Taiwan will fight back with everything it’s got.
taiwan,china,conflicts,asia,national security
INTERNACIONAL
La Asamblea Nacional de Francia aprobó un proyecto de ley que prohíbe el acceso a las redes sociales a menores de 15 años
La Asamblea Nacional de Francia aprobó el lunes un proyecto de ley que prohíbe el acceso a las redes sociales a los menores de 15 años y veta el uso de teléfonos móviles en los institutos, con el objetivo de que la medida entre en vigor desde el inicio del próximo curso escolar.
Tras un debate que se extendió hasta pasada la medianoche, los diputados respaldaron el texto con 130 votos a favor y 21 en contra. El proyecto, tramitado por el procedimiento de urgencia, pasa ahora al Senado, cuya aprobación resulta necesaria para su aplicación a partir del 1 de septiembre.
Durante la discusión parlamentaria, la diputada oficialista Laure Miller, una de las impulsoras de la iniciativa, defendió la prohibición con el argumento de que “no se puede dejar que un niño tenga que gestionar algo adictivo (las redes) por sí solo”. En su intervención, aludió a los algoritmos que conducen a los menores hacia contenidos vinculados con tendencias suicidas y de automutilación, con especial énfasis en TikTok.
“Prometía incentivar la creatividad y la alegría y ha sucedido todo lo contrario”, afirmó Miller ante el pleno. La parlamentaria sostuvo además que los estudios científicos muestran que, a causa de las redes sociales, los menores “duermen menos, se mueven menos, leen menos y se comparan más” entre sí.
Entre las intervenciones del Gobierno, destacó la del ministro de Educación, Edouard Geffray, quien celebró la restricción de los teléfonos móviles prevista para los institutos, tras la prohibición decretada en 2018 en secundaria, primaria y preescolar. “Esta medida ha tenido efectos positivos, tanto en el ambiente escolar como en el aprendizaje”, expresó el ministro, al tiempo que lamentó que una gran parte de los jóvenes “pasen más tiempo semanal viendo pantallas que en horas lectivas”.
Antes de la votación final, la Asamblea rechazó una moción de inadmisión presentada por el principal partido de izquierdas, La Francia Insumisa, que calificó la prohibición de “inaplicable” y sostuvo que “no cambia nada”.
El diputado Louis Boyard, de 25 años, expuso sus objeciones al sistema de verificación de edad con ejemplos concretos. “¿Saben cómo es sencillo evitarla? En Australia, basta con que alguien con aspecto de más de 18 años se preste para el reconocimiento facial en el lugar del menor. O que el menor se maquille para parecer de más edad”, señaló.
La propuesta legislativa responde a un impulso político del presidente Emmanuel Macron, quien reclamó un trámite acelerado para su adopción con el objetivo de proteger a los menores. El mandatario celebró en la red social X el avance del proyecto y afirmó: “Porque el cerebro de nuestros hijos no está en venta. Ni a las plataformas estadounidenses ni a las redes chinas. Porque sus sueños no pueden estar dictados por algoritmos. Porque no queremos una generación ansiosa, sino una generación que crea en Francia, la República y sus valores”.
La futura norma consta de dos artículos y busca fijar un marco “claro” sobre el uso del móvil y de las redes sociales para los menores de 15 años. Así lo expresó Macron en un video difundido la víspera por la cadena BFMTV, en el que reiteró la prioridad del Ejecutivo para lograr un consenso parlamentario amplio en un contexto marcado por la falta de mayoría en la Asamblea Nacional.
En otra intervención pública, el presidente subrayó: “El cerebro de nuestros niños y de nuestros adolescentes no está en venta. Las emociones de nuestros menores y de nuestros adolescentes no se venden ni se manipulan, ni por las plataformas estadounidenses ni por los algoritmos chinos”.
El Gobierno fundamenta la iniciativa en informes sanitarios que advierten sobre los efectos psicológicos de las redes sociales en la población menor de edad. A comienzos de este año, la Agencia Francesa de Seguridad Alimentaria, Ambiental y Laboral (ANSES) publicó un informe que señaló que plataformas como TikTok, Snapchat e Instagram perjudican gravemente la salud mental de los adolescentes.
Según la ANSES, los riesgos incluyen la comparación constante, la exposición a contenidos violentos, los mecanismos de captación de la atención que alteran el sueño y el ciberacoso. Estos elementos forman parte del diagnóstico utilizado por el Ejecutivo para sostener la necesidad de una regulación más estricta.
La ley también deberá ajustarse al reglamento de servicios digitales de la Unión Europea, requisito que busca evitar el bloqueo que sufrió una iniciativa similar en 2023, orientada a fijar la mayoría digital en los 15 años y que no se aplicó por su incompatibilidad con ese marco normativo comunitario.
(Con información de AFP)
Government / Politics
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As this weekend’s blizzard blew through the Empire State, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul received blowback for her response to an offer of federal assistance from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose office oversees FEMA.
State snowfall totals topped 22 inches in West Shokan, Ulster County, outside Saugerties, while New City received 17.5 inches, Golden’s Bridge near the Connecticut line in Westchester County received 16.5 inches, Huguenot on Staten Island received 14 inches, and Levittown on Long Island received 13 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Instead of confirming she accepted DHS’s offer to help, Hochul indicated she took the opportunity to criticize federal immigration enforcement:
«Secretary Noem offered assistance to New York ahead of the impending snowstorm,» Hochul said over the weekend.
POTENTIAL GOP CHALLENGER WARNS HOCHUL THAT A CORPORATE TAX HIKE WOULD BE A ‘DISASTER’ FOR NEW YORK’S ECONOMY
«I shared that the fastest way to help is for ICE to back off so people feel safe accessing warming centers, shelters, hospitals, and houses of worship.»
Her response was not well received by several prominent New Yorkers and New York entities.
«Worst governor in history,» the Staten Island Young Republicans said in a statement on X.
TRUMP BRIEFED ON BORDER PATROL-INVOLVED SHOOTING AS MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR DEMANDS END TO ENFORCEMENT OPERATION
NYC Scoop, a popular account sharing events and happenings in New York City, similarly fumed at the governor.
«You literally just told a U.S. Cabinet Secretary offering FREE blizzard relief to f— off because ICE might make your illegal alien constituents feel ‘unsafe’,» NYC Scoop said.
«You’re not a governor. You’re a border checkpoint for cartels. Resign, you treasonous ice queen.»
LARA TRUMP SLAMS TIM WALZ, JACOB FREY FOR ‘FANNING FLAMES’ WHILE RED STATES COOPERATE WITH ICE
Conservative strategist and former Ted Cruz staffer Steve Guest said the governor is «prioritizing politics over her constituents, and people are already dying.»
Guest included a screenshot of a WNBC report of three New Yorkers who had died from the sub-freezing temperatures during the storm.
When asked about the tweet, White House spokesman Kush Desai rebuked the governor:
«What a surprise — while President Trump and his entire Administration have taken steps to ensure all Americans have the resources they need to recover from this historic winter storm, Democrats instead are, once again, prioritizing the well-being of criminal illegal aliens.»
Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman responded in a statement, saying that the governor — who he is challenging this year — «actually rejected federal assistance that was offered to help keep people safe.»
MILLIONS BRACE FOR ‘CATASTROPHIC’ ICE AS 18 STATES DECLARE EMERGENCY AMID HISTORIC WINTER STORM
«When lives are at risk, you don’t turn down help,» Blakeman said.
Another X critic compared the situation to New York’s underuse of military medical ships docked off Manhattan during COVID-19, saying that Democrats did not want to dignify them because President Donald Trump sent them.
However, a source familiar with the situation said Hochul never rejected federal assistance and that all storm-related requests from local governments were supported by Albany.
Hochul later tweeted a call for U.S. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino to be fired and for Noem to resign.
HOCHUL CONFRONTED ICE AGENT, SAID HE WAS ‘TERRORIZING PEOPLE’ BY WEARING A MASK
NYS Div. of Homeland Security commissioner Terry O’Leary, left, listens, as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, right, briefs New Yorkers on snow preparedness. (Lori Van Buren/Albany Times-Union via Getty Images)
«[Noem] has forfeited her right to lead,» Hochul said, further suggesting Bovino is acting as if he is «above the law.»
Later Monday, she also said that President Donald Trump’s dispatch of Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota won’t undo «harm» done by his administration.
In a lighter message, Hochul quipped that as a «governor from Buffalo,» she knows how to handle a snowstorm.
The eyes of the nation often see the kind of hefty snowfall that accumulates in the western New York area during televised Buffalo Bills games in the NFL playoffs.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
«Push it out of the way — no strain on the back doing that… don’t lift much; smaller bits, OK — don’t do a big pile and fill this up because that can lead to a heart attack,» Hochul said in the clip.
In response to Blakeman’s retort, Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki told Fox News Digital, «After blaming Renée Good for her own killing by ICE, Bruce Blakeman is showing New Yorkers yet again that there’s no low he won’t stoop to for Donald Trump – no matter how far he goes to trample over Americans’ rights.»
«New Yorkers want a governor with a backbone who will protect our state from Trump’s abuses of power, not a spineless coward who defends violence against Americans when it suits him politically,» Radulovacki said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Hochul for comment on the criticisms, and to DHS for comment on the situation.
kathy hochul,immigration,illegal immigrants,new york,kristi noem,donald trump
INTERNACIONAL
Skier suffers brutal mauling after stepping within 10 feet of snow leopard for photo, video shows
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A female skier was viciously mauled by a snow leopard on Friday after approaching the predator too closely for a photo, according to chilling footage of the incident.
The encounter, which left the woman’s face severely bloodied, occurred around 7 p.m. in Fuyun County, along China’s northern border with Mongolia, according to Jam Press.
Footage shows a woman, who reportedly edged as close as 10 feet to the leopard, lying motionless in the snow as the predator hovered nearby after the mauling. Witnesses then appeared to help guide her away as blood poured from her face.
Local reports noted that the woman miraculously survived partly because her helmet helped prevent more serious harm.
OREGON CHILD ATTACKED BY COYOTE DURING GAME OF HIDE-AND-SEEK IN BACKYARD, STATE OFFICIALS SOUND ALARM
A snow leopard remains near an injured skier lying in the snow after a mauling in Fuyun County, China, on Jan. 23, 2026. The woman was later rescued and hospitalized. (Jam Press)
Authorities previously issued warnings after multiple people reported animal sightings near the hotel the day before, according to Jam Press. The leopard was believed to be lingering around the area due to a lack of food.
Reports indicated that a skier spotted the leopard while making her way back to the hotel. When she was unable to get a good angle for a photo, she reportedly kept approaching until the leopard pounced and mauled her face. The predator was eventually driven off by a ski instructor waving his poles.
The injured skier was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.
BEAR REMAINS UNDER CALIFORNIA HOME AFTER WEEKS OF FAILED REMOVAL ATTEMPTS
Skiers assist a woman after she was mauled by a snow leopard in Fuyun County, China, on Jan. 23, 2026. (Jam Press)
In the days leading up to the attack, authorities had warned visitors of multiple snow leopard sightings in the area. While snow leopards on humans are historically rare due to the animals’ shy and elusive nature, officials noted that the big cats still possess «aggressive tendencies» and urged tourists to avoid lingering or approaching them for photos.
«Recently, snow leopard activity has been detected in Gem Valley, Keketuohai,» the warning said, according to Jam Press. «Snow leopards are large predators with strong aggressive tendencies. When passing through this area, please move quickly and do not linger. Do not get out of your vehicle or approach to take photos, and never walk alone in the surrounding area.»
KNIFE-WEILDING NUT ALLEGEDLY ASKED CHRISTIAN HIS RELIGION – THEN STABBED HIM AND DOG BEFORE POLICE SHOT HIM
A snow leopard is seen roaming through deep snow near a ski area in Fuyun County, China, on Jan. 23, 2026. (Jam Press)
Tourists staying at a nearby guesthouse confirmed that they saw a leopard in the area prior to the attack, according to the outlet.
«We saw it last night, a few kilometers from where the attack took place, but we can’t confirm if it’s the same snow leopard,» one witness said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
China is home to the largest population of wild snow leopards in the world, according to the Snow Leopard Trust, with the country harboring the majority of the global population.
An investigation into the attack is ongoing.
china,mammals,travel,wild nature
La ANMAT suspendió la venta de más productos para el cabello por contener un componente peligroso
La Asamblea Nacional de Francia aprobó un proyecto de ley que prohíbe el acceso a las redes sociales a menores de 15 años
El momento en el que un empleado estatal le dispara a un fotógrafo: el agresor está prófugo
Reservas: el BCRA extiende racha compradora y ya suma más de u$s1.000 millones en enero
El Gobierno buscó desactivar la controversia por el avión militar de EE.UU. que aterrizó en Ushuaia
Canales para ver el Argentinos Juniors vs. Midland por la Copa Argentina
Carlos Pagni habló sobre las preocupaciones de Cristina Kirchner: “Tiene miedo porque sabe que se viene algo malo”
Mientras Quilmes arde, Mayra Mendoza viaja a Bogotá para defender a Cristina Kirchner
Juan Grabois contó que le pidieron plata para ir a un programa de C5N
El terrible accidente de Marcela Tauro en Intrusos que causó preocupación: “No puedo caminar ni…”
POLITICA2 días agoMientras Quilmes arde, Mayra Mendoza viaja a Bogotá para defender a Cristina Kirchner
- POLITICA1 día ago
Juan Grabois contó que le pidieron plata para ir a un programa de C5N
- POLITICA2 días ago
La apuesta del Gobierno por la “Argentina Week” en Nueva York: los funcionarios y líderes de sectores estratégicos que asistirán
